Alice DiMicele

"AlicAlice Di Micele has a dynamism to her delivery not always associated with folk music. Not only does she back up her powerful voice with heartfelt conviction in every word, but her guitar ability is fast setting her apart from the sea of folk artists whose repertoire consists mostly of strumming."
—Kip Ward, Good Times, Santa Cruz, CA


"...her rich, jazzy vocals, laid upon a bed of easygoing folk pop, are as warm and inviting as a cup of thick cocoa."
—The Oregonian

"A dynamic and provocative songwriter, DiMicele's straightforward lyrics invoke real life and stir the soul."
—Tacoma City Paper

Saturday, February 18  at 8:00 p.m.

For more than 23 years, Alice DiMicele has been playing her unique blend of Americana, groove folk, and acoustic soul to crowds across the United States. Based in the Pacific Northwest, DiMicele's music celebrates the natural world and the people in it. Well-known for unique voice, original songs, and soulful delivery Alice has the ability to both turn a noisy bar silent within a few notes, and rock any festival stage with her full band.

She has shared billings with musical luminaries such as Bonnie Raitt, Joan Baez, David Grisman, Steve Winwood, Michael Franti, JJ Cale, Arlo Guthrie and has performed at prestigious festivals including: Strawberry Music Festival, High Sierra, Oregon Country Fair, Earthdance, Health and Harmony, Britt Festivals, Joshua Tree Music Festivals.

With 11 previous solo recordings under her belt, Alice’s new album Lucky Dogs features... 15 original songs including a remake of her classic tune "It's A Miracle" from the 1989 release of the same name.

"Alice DiMicele has 'that thing' that every other singer wants...that mix of amazing technique and dirty grit that will put you in that magic place right between crying and laughing. She's a waterfall of soul!"
—Sid Lewis, Founder of Acoustic College and Jamming 101 seminars

"Di Micele's voice is a high performance instrument that powers finely tuned songwriting like no other instrument could. This CD [Demons & Angels] could stand on the strength of that powerful, bluesy voice alone, but because of the quality of the songwriting, this stuff would sound great even if Bob Dylan sang it. Ouch!"
—The Rocket, Seattle, WA

"...simple and stirring songs...prolific and poetic."
—Laura Post, Sing Out

"...testament to the not-so-simple art of songwriting and tasteful performance...with warmth, purpose and a lot of guts."
—Dirty Lin

http://www.alicedimicele.com/

 Saturday, March 24, 8:00 P.M.

A unique collective of four distinct voices and musical backgrounds, Blame Sally has forged a compelling and original sound that has earned the band the well-deserved reputation as Bay Area phenomenon. The San Francisco Chronicle raved that Blame Sally’s music recall(s) the artful romanticism of Jane Siberry, the rich folk harmonies of the Indigo Girls, and the percolating soulfulness of Joy of Cooking. Poised for greater national attention, they’ve performed for audiences across the US, sharing festival stages with the likes of Los Lobos, Ani DiFranco, Richard Thompson, Roseanne Cash and Greg Brown.

Pam Delgado, Jeri Jones, Renee Harcourt and Monica Pasqual hit their stride well after the first blush of youth, watching their audiences grow and their independently-released record sales balloon as they set their own career pace and direction.

Called a San Francisco Bay Area phenomenon, this powerhouse all female band is suddenly finding themselves more and more in the national spotlight. In the fall of 2008, they signed a three-year album recording contract with Bay Area Opus Music Ventures. The ink was barely dry on the contract before Blame Sally found themselves in a brand new, state-of-the-art recording studio and in the very capable hands of Grammy-nominated producer, Lee Townsend, (Bill Frisell, Louden Wainwright, Noe Venable, Crooked Still).

In 2007 Blame Sally reached an audience of millions through XM Satellite Radio’s Starbuck’s XM Café where the band’s previous album Severland charted at number one. Their anti-Bush/anti-war song and video, “If You Tell a Lie” is featured on Neil Young’s Living With War website where it was number 2 in downloads for six months.

http://blamesally.com/
 

Blame Sally

Back by popular demand!

"Their lush, lovely melodies draw from folk and rock traditions, but they really distinguish themselves through their unusual storytelling."
The San Francisco Chronicle

"One of the best bands I've run across in years."
San Francisco Examiner Online

"One of the finest Americana bands in the country right now, like a folk-based U2."
San Diego Troubadour
 

Blame Sally combines lush electric and acoustic instrumental textures with sensuous harmonies and intriguing original compositions
Dirty Linen – January/February 2010 by Mike Parrish

           Saturday, April 14, 8:00 p.m. c

Keelaghan who sings in a a strong melodic style that gives depth to the stories.
Kerry Dexter, Dirty Linen Magazine

"Superb interpretation of Traditional songs by one of Canada's leading singer songwriters"
Maverick Magazine

.. Performance-wise, James is as classy and compelling as ever, his gorgeously rich baritone voice and exemplary guitar work the hallmarks of an artist in full command of his material and his resources. And James and Hugh provide just the right level of sensitive accompaniment to match James’s songwriting vision. Netrhythms

 

James Keelaghan    

James Keelaghan is an artist who has proven to be a man for all seasons.

As the calendar pages have turned, for almost a quarter of a century now, this poet laureate of the folk and roots music world has gone about his work with a combination of passion, curiosity intent and intensity.

Possessed of an insatiable appetite for finding the next unique story line, Keelaghan forges his pieces with brilliant craftsmanship and monogrammed artistic vision, making him one of the most distinctive and readily identifiable voices on both the Canadian and international singer-songwriter scenes.

"I’ve always had the urge to write," says the Calgary native who has been calling Winnipeg home for the past few years. "Some things weren’t being said in the way I wanted to say them, some thing were not being written about at all. That's why i started to write the historical material. That led me to writing my own personal narratives as well.”

Keelaghan is a disciplined visionary with several aces up his sleeve. He loves language and history, a subject in which he earned a degree; he is a skilled thespian, which explains his ability to make an immediate connection with a live audience; and he has an ear for memorable melodies and harmonies that make those melodies glisten.

Admiration and respect for his work amongst his peers is reflected in the words of David Francey who recently stated that “James Keelaghan is a voice in contemporary Canadian songwriting that has helped us define who we are as a people. He writes with great humanity and honesty, with an eye to the past and a vision of the future. He has chronicled his times with powerful and abiding songs, with heart and eyes wide open.”

Terry Wickham, the producer of the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, is one of many longtime admirers of Keelaghan’s music, and he sums up the artists appeal by saying, “James has become the complete artist. A brilliant tunesmith who has become one of the most engaging performers of our time…"

It was Dave Marsh, the award-winning American music critic and historian who not so long ago stated that James Keelaghan is “Canada’s finest songwriter.” Those few but powerful words of praise say it all about an artist who continues to set the bar at a lofty height.

http://web.me.com/jameskeelo/Keeloweb/KEELOWEB.html

Ray Bonneville

Ray Bonneville calls his music "a gumbo of American roots stylings." A style that involves generating a tremendous amount of sound: laying down a surprisingly complex guitar groove, rock-solid footboard percussion, intricate but understated harmonica licks, and weathered vocals that are always cool but never aloof. He often streamlines his touring act, accompanying himself on guitar, rack harmonica and footboard. This same spare quality applies to the evocative songwriting that won him a 1999 Juno Award - the Canadian equivalent of a Grammy - for his third album, "Gust of Wind". Bonneville’s next two albums were also nominated for the coveted award. His latest CD, “Goin’ by Feel” is slated for release in January 2008 and includes the song “I am the Big Easy”, a song in which the city of New Orleans speaks to the world.

"Trimming down and taking away leaves room for the silence between the sounds," says Ray. "It allows listeners to put their own lives into the song. There can be more to a song than lyrics and notes... dust, heat, wind." Ray's been in demand as a live performer for three decades, playing not only clubs and concert halls, but also such prestigious festivals as New Orleans Jazz & Heritage, Montreal Jazz, Kerrville, Ottawa Folk, Strawberry, Winnipeg and Edmonton. Audiences respond well to Ray's portraits of conditions he considers human and universal. "My music isn't aimed at the intellect. It's aimed at the visceral level, closer to the belt."

Ray describes himself as a North American. Born in Canada, he moved to the Boston area in his early teens where he started playing guitar and harmonica. Being a dual citizen allows him the freedom to live between Montreal Canada and Austin Texas. His last 30 or so years have seen him seeking adventure and playing music throughout the world. Ray tours extensively due to the popularity he's gained in North America and Europe through radio play of his recordings. He writes most of his songs at the kitchen table of an apartment he keeps in Montreal, but hones the lyrics in hotel rooms, cars and planes during his frequent road trips. Ray creates his own powerful and unique version of the blues. “I learned that solid, but laid back rhythm is like a tightrope on which the notes and words can do their dance.” The resulting work reflects a modern North American journey.

http://raybonneville.com
 

Saturday, May 19, 8:00 p.m.

 c “Like Gunpowder and Opium . . .”
— Ray Wylie Hubbard

“Bonneville is a true diamond with many facets within his arsenal….a master of cut & paste; a 21st century musical alchemist!”
— Blues Matters (UK)

“a master of the slow burn, the gentle funk, the infectious rhythm.”
— The Ottawa Citizen

“moods and feelings that go beyond the bare facts of his tales… funny and quirky one minute, and cerebral and reflective the next.”
— PopMatters

“Bonneville is a top-flight troubadour”
— San Antonio Express-News

           Saturday, June 2, 8:00 p.m. c

http://www.houstonjones.com/

Houston Jones

WWhile the members have always been virtuoso players and arrangers, it's the depth of Kee's songs that adds a defining element to the band. It has expanded the sound somewhat with some down-home honky-tonk on "Born in the Moonshine," some funk on "Mighty Red," and the experimental 11-minute "Roads to Dominion" which adds some middle eastern influences to a basic Texas rhythm. As always, Houston Jones remains one of the West Coast's most talented and entertaining bands. 

PETER TUCKER

A Percussionist extraordinaire who has worked with the latest, the greatest and the oldest, from THE MONKS to THE WAYBACKS and everything in between.

GLENN HOUSTON

Winner of Northern California Bluegrass Society's "Best Guitarist" award for 2009, a Bammie award winner, and co-founder of THE WAYBACKS and HEARTS ON FIRE.

HENRY SALVIA

Wizard of the keyboard, who has worked with artists such as Bo Diddley, Rickie Lee Jones, Johnny Colla (of Huey Lewis and the News), Big Jay McNeeley, Jessica Mitford, Tommy Ridgely, Al Kooper, Peter Coyote, Big Lou the Accordion Princess, Jan Fanucci, and (his favorite) Johnny Adams.

TRAVIS JONES

Popular blue-eyed Bay Area singer and guitarist, seen in many venues with bands such as LARGE AND IN THE WAY and  who has worked closely over the years with leading Bay Area musicians.

CHRIS KEE

A classically trained cellist with a degree in ethnomusicology, Chris is a busy Bay Area bassist, having recorded and performed with, among others, Peter Rowan, Norah Jones and Jim Lauderdale, as well as being an original member of the Waybacks.

 " This is as good as it gets! Stellar musicians with a  great sound!"