04Jan 2021 by biff

FRANK RICHARD RELEASES FIRST ALBUM

Music
Frank Richard was born and partly raised in East Texas, but moved north at age 12 with his family to New York when his dad’s job was transferred. Following school in New York City, he headed for California, but got only as far as New Orleans when he called his lawyer who told him, “You better get back here, we’re going to trial.” He’d been arrested in the Columbia student strike against the Vietnam War and racial discrimination. Somewhere on that trip west, he read about the music scene in the little town of Woodstock, NY in the Catskills that had become a mecca for musicians following Bob Dylan’s move there. After his trial, he made his way to the little town of Shady just outside of Woodstock, got a…
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09Jun 2020 by biff

URBAN ACOUSTIC COALITION

Music
Pleased to announce the release of the new album from Jefferson Berry and his band of amazing players, the Urban Acoustic Coalition.  The new album, Double Deadbolt Logic is now going to radio, and the press have been raving. "With their new album Double Deadbolt Logic, Jefferson Berry and the Urban Acoustic Coalition (UAC) deliver a solid mix of blues-tinged folk-rock songs that tell stories about everyday life that all of us can relate to quite easily.  With Double Deadbolt Logic, Jefferson Berry and The UAC have created an enjoyable listening experience that will have you singing along with the songs after just a few listens, which during these crazy times that we are all living through, is a distinctly laudable feat".  AMERICANA HIGHWAYS "Whether playing straight up folk, country,…
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02Apr 2020 by biff

RESOURCES ~ COVID-19

News
Each of these organizations (and more) are providing funding for artists and business executives.  This list is ever-growing as more companies are dedicating monies to artists and their teams.  I will update this resource list regularly as it develops.  These links are to apply for funding or to contribute to the fund for others.  I've heard from a number of additional organizations sending more links for help.  This guide came from Finimpact, an emergency funding group that focus on small businesses. https://www.finimpact.com/covid-19-coronavirus-smbs/ The Recording Academy - MusiCares https://www.grammy.com/musicares This is the biggest and the most experienced music industry organization.  To my knowledge it is for artists only, not executives.  You do not need to be a member of the Recording Academy to participate.  I was Committee Chair in Philadelphia when…
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07Nov 2018 by biff

JOHN FLYNN “VINTAGE” ALBUM DEBUTS #1

News
John Flynn's new album, Vintage, has debuted at #1 on the FOLK-DJ charts with the song "She Persisted".  The record was the Most Played track among 130+ DJ's in the US, Canada and internationally for the month of October.  Other songs played from the album include the title track "Vintage", "Sing Me On My Way" featuring Arlo Guthrie, Kris Kristofferson, Kathy Mattea, Billy Swan and others, "Let In the Song", "Take It Down" and other new songs with a political or cultural stance.  Produced by Philadelphia radio DJ, Harvey, the record is the 11th album in the Flynn discography.  See the video for "Vintage" here, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCmbV_EHwMw
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07Nov 2018 by biff

ALICE HOWE FORMAL SHOWCASE ARTIST

Live Performance, Music
Boston's Alice Howe will be appearing at the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference in Stamford CT the weekend of Nov 10 for a Formal Showcase for agents, radio programmers, venue owners, industry executives and fellow musicians.  She was selected to appear after a successful showcase last year as part of the FOLK-DJ voting, as she was chosen "by acclamation".  Appearing with Alice will be renowned West Coast bassist and songwriter Freebo.  The two of them have been touring and recording together for the past year.  Alice will showcase songs from her new album, Visions, throughout the weekend. 
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29Sep 2017 by biff

THROWING SHADE

Music
Totally amazing new album from Living Colour, Shade, just out. I'm a huge fan and this sounds like, in some ways, the follow-up to Vivid. The band is rocking harder than I've heard in quite a while, with Corey Glover sounding like he's 25 again. Three strong covers including songs from Robert Johnson, Biggie and Marvin Gaye. The BRC is very much still relevant and still necessary. Strong and important messages, huge drums and aggressive guitars make these songs as powerful as any band coming out of New York could be. Their use of sound bites and interview segments is better than ever. Check out "Preachin' Blues", "Program", "Who Shot Ya", "Blak Out", "Who's That" with horns. Actually the entire record hangs together and flows as an album should, with…
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29Sep 2017 by biff

SUSAN WERNER – An American in Havana

Music
For her thirteenth studio recording, the woman named by NPR “The Empress of the Unexpected” has created yet another unique concept album. This time, it’s An American In Havana, a collection of original songs written during Susan Werner’s recent travels to Cuba. Featuring performances and arrangements by legendary Cuban percussionist Mayra Casales (Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente), the record blends the pulsing rhythms of Cuban music with Werner’s trademark wry, poetic lyrics. Werner’s songs have been covered by Tom Jones and Michael Feinstein among others, and she is composer/ lyricist of the forthcoming Broadway production “Bull Durham, The Musical.” With An American In Havana, she confirms her reputation as, in the words of the Chicago Tribune, “one of the most innovative songwriters working today.” “Werner, a clever songwriter and engaging performer,…
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12Feb 2017 by biff

ANGELS BEND CLOSER

Music
Angels Bend Closer is the first new album in the USA from Jane Siberry in over five years.  Siberry crafts her storytelling while genre skipping through Folk, Gospel, Jazz, R&B, Rock, Electronic, Pop and at times a bit of Celtic.  Her voice is charismatic, vulnerable, soulful, sultry, intimate and powerful, often with an evocative quality that only great singers posses.  http://www.janesiberry.com When Siberry began crafting Angels Bend Closer, she set a clear goal: connecting with the “wider world.” Instead of going for original and esoteric, Siberry sought renewed mainstream accessibility. To achieve it, she went in the exact opposite direction: off the grid. Siberry, it turns out, spends most non-winter months living without running water or electricity at her remote North Ontario log cabin. “It’s so quiet,” she says, “it can actually…
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04Feb 2017 by biff

FAVORITES OF 2016

Music, News, Radio
Here's a random list of my favorite albums and songs from the year.  As always, thankfully, I have no trouble finding new music I love, that will live far beyond the calendar year. David Bowie - 'I Can't Give Everything Away' Band of Horses - 'In a Drawer' The Stray Birds - 'Sabrina' Day of the Dead - 'Cassidy' Tedeski Trucks Band - 'Anyhow' Phish - 'Miss You' Rag 'n Bone Man - 'Human' Parquet Courts - 'Dust' Big Thief - 'Masterpiece' Karl Blau - 'Falling Rain' Animal Collective - 'Floridada' Kyle Craft - 'Eye of a Hurricane' Jim James, Adia Victoria, Chance the Rapper, Margaret Glaspy, Kishi Bashi, Mitski, Norah Jones, A Tribe Called Quest. Some records I returned to regularly over the year included The New Pornographers 'Twin…
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21Jul 2013 by biff

GHOST OF YOUR CHARMS ARRIVING

Music
NEW COUNTRY REHAB love it here. Spearheaded by lead singer and fiddle player John Showman, joined by bandmates Anthony da Costa on guitar, Ben Whiteley on double bass and Roman Tome on drums and backing vocals, the Toronto based collective is back for another extensive run across the US.  With dates already in Nashville, Asheville, Raleigh and now at Grey Fox Bluegrass for the weekend, the band heads back out to Montpelier, Boston, Portland in the next two weeks.  Luxury Motel, the second full record from New Country Rehab, has just been released in the US, and will be supported with touring thru September. Maverick magazine’s Russell Hill describes the band’s sound as ”Successfully merging the old and new in a rambunctious way”and describes the band as having”their feet planted firmly on the ground, this Canadian…
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