Saturday, February 13,  2010,   8:00 p.m.

Erica Wheeler is an award-wining singer/songwriter based in western Massachuetts. With six CD's to her credit, Erica has headlined clubs from Boston to Berkeley and shared the stage with Shawn Colvin, Indigo Girls, Greg Brown and more. Her music charted in the Top 10 on Billboard's Gavin Americana Chart and she has been a featured guest on NPR's All Things Considered. Her most recent CD Good Summer Rain was sponsored in part by the Trust for Public Land, a national land conservation organization.

Known for her visual, cinematographic style of songwriting, Erica Wheeler's songs take listeners on a journey though the American landscape and the lives lived there with poetic beauty and grace. Her music is pure Americana, falling into the categories of folk, country and bluegrass. On stage, armed with an acoustic guitar and her richly expressive voice, Erica is also known for her engaging warmth, colorful stories and hilarious stage patter.

Originally entering college to become a wildlife field biologist, Erica has combined her career as a performing artist with her lifelong interest in natural and cultural history to offer writing workshops and keynote programs in addition to her concert schedule. Entitled The Soulful Landscape, Erica has offered this inspiring and educational program at conferences, events and learning centers across the country, from Yosemite National Park (CA) to the National Land Conservation Conference (TN.)

“ Insightful, imaginative songs...her imagery can nail down relationships in a single verse.” The Washington Post

“Erica writes songs that could make Wendell Berry hum” -Gayle Olsen, Hilltown Folk Music Series, Shelburne Falls, MA

http://www.ericawheeler.com/index.php?page=homepage

 “Wheeler is the perfect Americana fit.” Gavin’s Billboard Americana Chart

 “Her voice and lyrics are beautifully expressive....a Major Talent.” The Boston Herald

“Erica’s songs are composed of interior landscapes as well as open road panoramas. Her keen-edged, almost conversational singing style creates a surprising immediacy to her performance.” -Jordi Herold, former talent buyer, The Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton, MA 

Tarish   (Formally Circled by Hounds)

Kokesh is a songwriter with an eye for the hard detail, the grit and dirt of real life. A renowned fiddler and singer, Chris has been touring festival stages with northwest folk stars Misty River for years. Back stage and back home, she has been developing her own songwriting voice and guitar chops- much to her own surprise. She didn't even expect to be a professional musician.

Soon after moving to Portland, Chris was waiting tables and wondering what was next. In walked the founding members of Misty River and they invited her to play with them. Chris dug into roots music with a new fervor and her band members encouraged her to try her hand at songwriting. The results have been amazing.

Chris Kokesh

* Runner-Up, Portland Songwriter's Association 2009 Performing Songwriter of the Year

* Judge’s Choice 2008 NW West Coast Songwriters Performing Songwriter Competition

* Winner: 2003 Maryhill Winery Amphitheater’s     Singer/Songwriter competition

     * Americana Song of the Year nomination,              2001  Just Plain Folks

* Best Song and Best Songwriter at the 1999 Columbia Gorge Bluegrass Festival

*  Best Song from the Portland Songwriters Association, April 2000

Folk legend Tom Paxton discoered Jonathan Byrd's music and sent him a quick email, saying, "What a treat to hear someone so deeply rooted in tradition, yet growing in his own beautiful way." He had just released "Wildflowers," in late 2001, simple tales of love and death that seemed to be a hundred years old or more. In 2003 Byrd released his second album, "The Waitress" and won the prestigious New Folk competition in Kerrville, TX. That year, he set CD sales records at the festival.

As Jonathan grows into a contemporary artist of increasing influence, his traditional roots are always evident in his simple, poetic storytelling and classic flatpick guitar style. But, as quoted in a recent interview for Dirty Linen magazine, Jonathan says, "Everything I do is a departure from what I've done." "The Sea and the Sky" is certainly evidence of that. Keep an ear out for an upcoming electric album, sure to take us further out on a limb without forgetting our roots.

Jonathan Byrd

"Jonathan Byrd doesn’t sing songs;  he sings truth."
- performingsongwriter.com -

Saturday, April 10,  2010,   8:00 p.m.

Chris Kokesh and Jonathan Byrd

Chris Kokesh

http://www.chriskokesh.com/home.html

Jonathan Byrd