Editor: David Mills
PORTLAND, ME - The following are great events happening at One Longfellow Square in Portland, ME during the month of May.
DARRELL SCOTT with Mark Erelli | Friday, May, 4th, 2012
8:00 PM | $20 adv/$23 door
New CD: Long Ride Home
Darrell Scott became one of the more successful country songwriters of the late '90s and early 2000s, placing songs with the biggest names in country music, including several major chart hits. Garth Brooks, the Dixie Chicks, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and many others recorded his work. At the same time, he worked consistently as a studio musician and released a series of his own solo albums.
In 2006, Scott appeared on albums by Casey Dreissen, Rascal Flatts, Doug & Telisha Williams, John Cowan, and Johnsmith. "Simple Man," a song he wrote with Hal Ketchum, appeared on John Corbett's self-titled album. The Cowan album, New Tattoo, featured "6 Birds (In a Joshua Tree)" and "Drown," both co-written by Scott and Cowan, and a cover of "With a Memory Like Mine" by Scott and Wayne Scott, originally heard on Real Time. Sam Bush recorded Scott's "River Take Me," a song from Theatre of the Unheard, on his album Laps in Seven. And Johnsmith's Break Me Open included a cover of "Love's Not Through with Me." On June 27, 2006, Scott released The Invisible Man, his first album of newly written material since Family Tree in 1999. It was his fourth solo studio album and sixth album overall. ~ William Ruhlmann, Rovi.
Mark Erelli embodies many of the best qualities of the folk-populist lineage that began with Woody Guthrie, and is carried today by Bruce Springsteen and others. His voice, a beautiful combination of wine and whiskey, is as intimately conversational as a fireside chat. And, by exploring some of the big themes of American life--family, redemption, war and love, among others--and by describing how those themes affect a single life, he makes topical songs personal.
Artist Website: www.darrellscott.com
Artist Website: www.markerelli.com
RACHEL EFFRON CD RELEASE with Liz Longley |
Saturday, May, 5th, 2012
8:00 PM | $15 adv/$18 door
Maine-native Rachel Efron is delighted to celebrate the release of her latest and most ambitious album yet, Put Out The Stars. Named for its boldest track, it continues Efron's inquiry into the inner life -- replete with its beauty, danger, grief, joy, and surprise. What separates this album from her previous works -- Say Goodbye and 4am -- is its immediacy. It is as though the window to her mind and heart has been wiped clean; as though the audience has been invited to sit just a little bit closer.
Efron recorded Put Out The Stars at the world-renowned Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, with the help of all-star producer Jeffrey Wood and top-notch performers such as Scott Amendola (Madeleine Peyroux), Dawn Richardson (Four Non-Blondes, Tracy Chapman), and Paul Olguin (Mazzy Star). Standout tracks include the dark and saucy Too Soon, the wistful waltz, Marigold, and of course the deeply-felt, no holds barred Put Out The Stars. The soundscape of the album includes drums, bass, strings, accordion, gypsy violin, and trumpet, but these instruments only hang on the centerpiece of Rachel's sound, which remains the simple intimacy of piano and voice.
A recent Berklee College of Music graduate, Liz Longley is already showing signs of becoming the next acoustic breakout artist. In 2010, Liz received first prize in the BMI John Lennon Scholarship competition, grand prize in the International Acoustic Music Award contest (among 9,000 entries) as well as the Chris Austin Songwriting Award. She also appeared at the Newport and Rocky Mountain folk festivals. In 2009, Liz garnered first place in the Rocky Mountain Folk Fest Songwriter Showcase, and was co-winner of the Mountain Stage NewSong Contest, among several other honors.
Artist Website: www.rachelefron.com
Artist Website: www.lizlongley.com
Kids' Open Mic | Sunday, May 6th, 2012
3 pm - 6 pm $5 at the door
A monthly open mic for kids 10 - 18 years old. Hosted by Portland musicians Liam Swift and Sadie Grant. All levels of experience welcome. Sign-ups begin at 3 pm. For more information, call 761-7099
Music Movie Mondays: American Folk Blues Festival | Monday, May 7th, 7pm |
($7 or ($25 series pass - phone orders only.)
From 1962 through 1966, the best American blues musicians went on annual tours of Europe. Many of them appeared on a tv show in Germany. The shows recorded the best performers while they were still in their prime. Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, John Lee Hooker, Sippie Wallace and many others all played on the show. The shows were recorded, then the tapes were lost...but after 30 years, they were found, and they are astounding! Full performances, with excellent sound and video quality, not those choppy, grainy clips you see in most documentaries. This is the best!
Sponsored by:
Mexicali Blues Mainewww.mexicaliblues.com
Enterprise Records www.enterpriserecords.net
Acoustic Artisans www.acousticartisans.com
The Paint Pot www.paintpotportland.com
The Multicultural Program at the Center for Grieving Children presents: Inner Strength a CD release party. | Wednesday, May, 9th, 2012
6:00 PM | Suggested Donation at the door.
A celebration and expression from children at the Multicultural Program at the Center for Grieving Children. An intercultural and intriguing medley of speakers and performers will showcase music written by students resettled from war-torn countries. The evenings performances and speakers will include: The album Inner Strength grew from collaboration between University of Southern Maine (USM) and the Multicultural Program @ the Center for Grieving Children.
Three years ago, four USM media studies students collaborated with the Center on a service learning project, which resulted in the production of a short film entitled Walk a Mile in My Shoes. During this course of the project, senior media studies major, Billy Libby, experienced realization about the healing that occurs in community and the power of the expressive qualities that art, play and theater have on processing intercultural responses to change and loss with children.
With guitar in hand, Billy Libby joined the group, bringing songwriting into the fold. With support from the Center volunteers, Your Song, Your Story and the Center's staff, the children as authors, and music directors, have created the seven songs on Inner Strength. The children's songs have themes ranging from the power of love, to issues such as isolation, war and racism, to the power of community support in rising above insurmountable obstacles. Who is participating: CGC Multicultural Children
Portland Youth Dancers
Billy Libby, Sorcha Cribbons-Merrill, Jordan Bennisan
El Fa-del Arbab - Fur Cultural Revival
Hamady N'Daiye (Red claws)
Dynamite Dancers
Michael Brennan, Mayor of Portland Show time: Reception 6-6:30 p.m. Program 6:30-7:30
Billy Libby, Sorcha Cribbons-Merrill, Jordan Bennisan
El Fa-del Arbab - Fur Cultural Revival
Hamady N'Daiye (Red claws)
Dynamite Dancers
Michael Brennan, Mayor of Portland Show time: Reception 6-6:30 p.m. Program 6:30-7:30
AZTEC TWO STEP | Friday, May, 11th, 2012
8:00 PM | $25 adv/$28 door
Aztec Two-Step was born in 1971 when Rex Fowler and Neal Shulman met at an open mic in Boston. Exactly one year later they burst upon the music scene with their self-titled debut album on Elektra Records and have spent a lifetime making music together ever since. Their first album, along with their subsequent albums for RCA Records were staples of progressive FM and college radio and helped usher the pioneering folk/rock sound of the 1960s into the 70s and beyond.
As their recording career continued, so did the critical acclaim. In 1987 Living in America received the New York Music Award for Best Folk Album and was named in Billboard's year-end critic's poll. They have been praised in countless major US newspapers and magazines, including Rolling Stone, and have appeared on numerous TV and radio shows, such as the David Letterman Show, the King Biscuit Flour Hour, and World Café Live. In 1999 they were the subjects of the documentary, "No Hit Wonder", which was aired on PBS.
Of their 2005 release, Days of Horses, the Boston Globe said "fans of the duo's harmony-driven tunes and easygoing acoustic guitar riffs will recognize their James Taylor-meets-Simon & Garfunkel sound. What's new is the mood. "In June 2007, Real Simple named Aztec Two-Step one of the top five classic folk albums joining work by Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, Tom Rush and Phil Ochs. The article cites the duo as "surpass[ing] Simon and Garfunkel for exquisite harmonies, musicianship and emotion."
Aztec Two-Step continues to impress audiences with intelligent songwriting, dazzling acoustic lead guitar, and inspiring harmonies. They are one of acoustic music's most popular and enduring acts.
Artist Website: www.aztectwostep.com
ERIC BETTENCOURT with Monique Barrett |
Saturday, May, 12th, 2012
8:00 PM | $10 adv/$12 door
Bettencourt is a songwriter at heart, expertly crafting a wide range of tunes around his scratchy, Janis Joplin-esque voice. Whether equipped with just an acoustic guitar, or with his whole backing band, Bettencourt combines folk, blues, and classic rock elements into always-pleasing melodic concoctions. He has admittedly learned from the rock gods themselves - Hendrix, Clapton, Page, Dylan - but is able to stay contemporary, also drawing on current artists like Iron and Wine and Ray LaMontagne.
A life-long musician with no formal training, Monique Barrett has created a sound that is uniquely hers. With influences from traditional folk, soul and R&B she weaves lyrical melodies and vocal instrumentation into songs that range from heartbreaking to toe-tapping to simply lovely. .
Artist Website: www.eric-bettencourt.com
Artist Website: www.reverbnation.com/moniquebarrett
WMPG 10TH ANNUAL BLUEGRASS SPECTACULAR | Monday, May, 14th, 2012
6:30 PM | $12
WMPG celebrates Bluegrass like no one else! Join The Grassholes, Tricky Britches and The Jerks of Grass for an amazing night of bluegrass. The evening's special guests will be the young musicians of 317 Main Street Community Music Center. Proceeds benefit WMPG Community Radio.
JEFFREY FOUCAULT | Thursday, May 17th, 2012
8:00 PM | $15 adv/$18 door
Longtime disciple of the rich and strange music that sings behind the American veil, Jeffrey Foucault has spent the last decade mining the darker seams of country and blues, producing a string of spare and elemental albums of rare power while garnering accolades across the United States and overseas for a tersely elegant brand of songwriting set apart by its haunting imagery and weather-beaten cool. Foucault started in music in his teens playing his father's acoustic guitar, and doing John Prine songs.
A stolen copy of Live and Obscure by Townes Van Zandt led Foucault to immerse himself in Lone Star singer-songwriters like Van Zandt and Guy Clark, as well as the distinctive Midwesterner Greg Brown. By 19, he tried his hand at writing his own songs, and by the time he graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in history, he was performing regularly in coffeehouses. He released his self-distributed debut album in 2001, and followed that up in 2004 with Stripping Cane, which did have national distribution. He has been touring extensively, and with Kris Delmhorst and Peter Mulvey also was part of a trio of Bay State singer-songwriters called Red Bird, which released a pleasing recording of acoustic covers of other people's music.
Artist Website: www.jeffreyfoucault.com
DANIELLE MIRAGLIA AND AMY BLACK |
Friday, May 18th, 2012
8:00 PM | $12 adv/$15 door
Danielle Miraglia (murr-Ä L e a) Danielle Miraglia comes armed with a strong steady thumb on an old Gibson, an infectious stomp-box rhythm and harmonica. Her tunes range from heart-felt to socially conscious and will move both your heart and hips. Danielle's latest release "Box of Troubles" a bare-bones expression of all these attributes, explores the highs and lows that life has to offer and has already received rave reviews. Acoustic Root says "Danielle Miraglia's guitar work keeps Delta traditions alive. Her steady thumb and playing style trace a direct line to the blues of the field and chicken shacks. Vocally, Danielle's voice digs in, twisting within the delivery, seeming to break but more likely soaring before the fall. 'Box of Troubles' balances good times with the bad, her characters roles' defined and believable."
Amy Black is a Boston based singer/songwriter with storytelling and Southern tradition in her blood. In record time, she's become one of the most sought after acts in New England, sharing stages with Chris Isaak,The Courtyard Hounds, Suzy Boggus and Rodney Crowell and playing to a packed house at the The Boston Music Festival. Black also recently made her mark down south on the live radio show Music City Roots hosted by Jim Lauderdale, as a headliner at The Basement (Nashville) and Eddie's Attic (Georgia) and at the Americana Music Association Conference. The Boston Herald wrote that her "stunning debut" of original music on One Time brims with "beautifully imagined sound and soul."
Artist Website: www.daniellem.com
Artist Website: www.amyblack.com
AN EVENING WITH TISH HINOJOSA |
Saturday, May 19th, 2012
8:00 PM | $17 adv/$20 door
Tish Hinojosa's music crosses borders - between cultures, languages and musical genres. Moving with equal grace through folk, country, pop and latino styles, her music reflects contemporary America's multicultural richness. Combining a vision that embraces all of these musical styles with her characteristic warmth and a pure, soulful voice, this enchanting Texan singer- songwriter has gained a loving and loyal audience throughout America, Europe and beyond.
Martin Murphy and Bill and Bonnie Hearne, which inspired her to begin writing her own songs, both in English and Spanish. After a stint in Nashville, Tish - by now married and mother of two children - moved back to New Mexico where she made her first independent release (Taos to Tennessee - 1987), before finally re-locating to Austin, TX, where she was eagerly welcomed by the city's thriving music scene. In 1988, she was signed by A&M Records and finally achieved a national debut release. Homeland (1989), found her weaving all the threads of her artistic ethos into an intriguing tapestry that immediately put her on the international musical map.
Tish has contributed her talent to numerous issues such as bilingual education, immigration and farm workers' rights. She has also performed by invitation at the White House for Bill and Hillary Clinton. She has gained the respect and admiration of many well-established musicians, not only her contemporaries, but also some of those who were important early influences, including Linda Ronstadt, who recorded her own version of Tish's song "Donde voy". Amongst other artists that Tish has recorded and worked with are Joan Baez, Kris Kristofferson, Dwight Yoakam, Nanci Griffith, Pete Seeger, Flaco Jimenez and Los Lobos. Presently, Tish is dividing her time between Austin, Texas and Hamburg, Germany, where she is remarried and happily residing. A biographical DVD, spanning the 30 years of her musical career, is in the making. She is also pursuing new forms of expression outside the realms of music, with the writing of a book about her family and her life.
Artist Website: www.mundotish.com
AN EVENING WITH CHRIS SMITHER |
Sunday, May 20th, 2012
8:00 PM | $22 adv/$25 door
"Back in the old days," muses resilient troubadour Chris Smither, "writing new songs and making new albums were just chores. My priority was, and still is, performing live. I guess I still write the songs and make the records so that I can go out and play - except that now I actually look forward to it. I've learned how to do it, and I'm very eager to get stuff recorded once I've written it."
CHRIS SMITHER - NEW ALBUM! If you've seen Chris in concert over the last few months you've probably gotten a taste of his upcoming record. He's been playing all the new songs he wrote over the past year. Well, June 19, 2012 marks the release of Hundred Dollar Valentine (Signature Sounds) - and this, his twelfth studio record, will not disappoint. In fact, it is the first record that has all Smither originals. Back again working with his longtime producer, David "Goody" Goodrich, they're joined by some veterans of the Boston rock/pop scene. The Hundred Dollar Valentine album package was designed by Chris-fave Meghan Dewar (with interior photos by Devin Dobbins-McCarthy).
Artist Website: www.smither.com
DECOMPRESSION CHAMBER MUSIC SEASON 4 |
Monday, May 21st, 2012
6:00 PM | $12 adv/$15 door, $48 for a season pass.
The Celebrity And The Rebel Masterwork by the father of the string quartet: Joseph Haydn's beloved "Quinten" Quartet, Op. 76 #2, and young Beethoven's Op. 18 #4. This "rush hour" concert series is designed for you! Stop in for an entertaining hour on your way home from work. Bring a date! Have glass of wine, listen to beautiful music, become a connoisseur.
Decompression Chamber Music: This "rush hour" concert series is designed for you! Stop in for an entertaining hour on your way home from work. Bring a date! Have glass of wine, listen to beautiful music, become a connoisseur.
Goup Bio, Piotr Buczek, Colin Davis, Mark Berger, and Decompression Chamber Music creator Priscilla Hayes Taylor combine their expertise, humor, and artistic talents to bring you five compelling new concerts of sumptuous music.
Maine Clean Communities and Sierra Club of Maine Present The Maine Movie Premiere of "Revenge of the Electric Car"
Tuesday, May 22, 2012 6:30 PM
Maine Clean Communities and Sierra Club of Maine Present The Maine Movie Premiere of "Revenge of the Electric Car" A film by Chris Paine - Director of "Who Killed the Electric Car?" This film is a follow-up to the very successful "Who Killed the Electric Car" which chronicled the demise of the Electric Vehicle (EV) market and destruction of electric cars in the early 1990s. The newest film follows four entrepreneurs battling from inside GM, Nissan, Tesla and a private business who stake everything on the comeback of the electric car.
For tickets go to: http://mainecleancommunities.gpcog.info/
THE PORTLAND JAZZ ORCHESTRA |
Thursday, May 24th, 2012
8:00 PM | $5 students, seniors, and advance. $9 door
Dr. Chris Oberholtzer and his 18 piece ensemble perform an evening of big band swing!
Artist Website: www.myspace.com/pjomaine
THE DUKE ROBILLARD BAND |
Friday, May 25th, 2012
8:00 PM | $20 adv/$23 door
Guitarist. Bandleader. Songwriter. Singer. Producer. Session musician. And a one-man cheering section for the blues, in all its forms and permutations. And every one of those names has shared recording studio space or stage time with a man who is a legend in the blues community.
The Blues Music Awards (formerly W.C. Handy Awards) have named Duke Robillard "Best Blues Guitarist" four years out of five (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004) making him the second most honored guitarist for that award! He was also nominated in that category in 2005, 2007 and 2008.
In 2007 Duke received a Grammy nomination for his Guitar Groove-a-rama CD and was also honored with the prestigious Rhode Island Pell Award for "excellence in the arts" along with actress Olympia Dukakis, actor Bob Colonna, and R.I. Choreographer/Festival Ballet director Mihailo "Misha" Djuric.The Pell award is named for Senator Claiborne Pell who help establish the the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities in 1965. Other awards over the last decade include three Canadian Maple Blues Awards in 2001, 2002, and 2003 for "Best International Blues Artist," The Blues Foundation's "Producer of the Year" award in 2004, The French Blues Association "Album of the Year" award in 2002 (Living with the Blues) and "Guitarist of the Year" awards in 1999 and 2002.
BB King himself has called Duke "One of the great players," The Houston Post called him "one of God's guitarists. And the New York Times says "Robillard is a soloist of stunning force and originality. But none of that goes to Robillard's head. He's still on the road, still playing as many as 250 dates a year. And still proving, night after night, that his true talent is bringing people out to hear the music, appreciate the show, and dance to the blues.
Artist Website: www.dukerobillard.com
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