details on the 5/12/07 Fallston Acoustic Music Fest to be held from 3-7pm at the Unitarian Universalists of Fallston (1127 Old Fallston Rd, Fallston, MD 21047)- right across 152 from Fallston High School. It turns out my first attempt at being a festival promoter left something to be desired so bear with me while I clarify some things:
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- THE FESTIVAL IS FREE (we are accepting freewill donations to benefit needy children in Harford County, but if you can't give anything don't worry about it- we want you to come anyway) Raising $ for charity is only one of the goals of this festival- other goals include building community and supporting local artists.
- THE FESTIVAL IS OUTSIDE (unless it rains, then we will move it inside)- we have a natural amphitheatre in the back of our property where we have a stage set up so musicians can play to an audience seated on the hill. Bring blanket/chair, hat, beach umbrella or whatever would make you more comfortable.
- THERE WILL BE FOOD AVAILABLE (a bake sale will be held to benefit the needy children of Harford County, and we will also have grilled hot dogs, chips and soda for sale at a minimal price-this may even be a freewill donation – haven't decided yet because I don't know how much help I'm going to have)
- THIS IS A FAMILY/COMMUNITY ORIENTED EVENT (i.e. we are not selling alcohol)
- Here are some extended bios on the performers in the order that they are scheduled to play(3pm- Dave Eske, 4pm: Uncle John Sawbriar, 5pm:Woody Lissauer, 6pm: Kip Martin):
1) Dave Eske:
Dave Eske is the founder of Eskepades. After traveling afar in the pursuit of his music goals he now endeavors to share his exploits with his first solo CD, Eskepades-Train to ..:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Nashville. Coming from the hard rock stages of the 80's and 90's, Dave is combining concept with experience, and no boundaries apply. All instruments are played by Dave except percussion on Borderline which is played by Donna DiStefano. Dave started writing acoustic guitar material about 3 years ago. He hopes to add to the collection of Eskepades material with more CDs and like minded unbridled musicians.
2) Uncle John Sawbriar:
Many people have said "I've never seen anyone play the guitar like that before!", or "I didn't know you could do that with a guitar!", or have made similar statements in regard to the music of Uncle John Sawbriar. Possibly because not that many people outside of real guitar enthusiasts have heard or seen this type of playing on a lone instrument.
Within the mainstream of the music industry, there exists no real category for instrumental acoustic guitar--with such eclectic styles as those of Michael Hedges, Leo Kottke, Tommy Emmanuel and other such players being filed under "New Age" or "Folk" because their innovative styles of playing defy description by genre. Uncle John is just that type of guitarist. He moves through elements of rock, jazz, ragtime, blues, folk, bluegrass, classical, and totally experimental sounds as easily as you might change radio stations. His compositions may be extremely tranquil and melodic, or frenetically percussive--but always with harmonic and rhythmic qualities that appeal to anyone's musical sensibilities.
As stated by Uncle John, "For me, any sort of music worth playing, is worth playing my own way. I can't just be satisfied with doing what everyone else does, so I look for methods and means for making new sounds."
Listen, and you may just find yourself immersed in something completely captivating, completely original, somewhat enigmatic, and possibly different from any guitar music that you might've ever heard before.
3) Woody Lissauer:
Over night sensation? Not if you have been listening to Multiplex, Strangelove, The Gordon Michael's Band, Cinematrix, U. S. Bang, Crack the Sky, Living Colour or countless other popular bands. His original band, Cubic Feet (Warner Bros. Pub.) has charted songs from their 4 CDs.
"My father played wonderful old folk songs for us & at age six I made him teach me how & I've never stopped." He played with Steppenwolf while still a teenager. Then a BA in music comp at T U & post grad with the late, great guitarist Larry Wooldridge (Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald etc.), graduating into a full-time life on the road, Jazz, New Wave, Prog-rock, Folk, Fusion and more featured his dazzling guitar playing.
Out of TU Woody immediately joined the popular Gordon Michael's band (A&M records) where his sophisticated musicianship, multiple instruments & stage presence made him an instant favorite with the crowds. He played in various bands and styles during the years like Cinematrix w/Laura Hunter (Chrysalis Records), Crack the Sky (Lifesong Records), U.S. Bang (teaming up with Aerosmith's Joe Perry, Kix etc.), Multiplex - the first band to take the 'New Wave' music full-time in the Mid Atlantic. Touring up and down the East US and Caribbean continued with Strangelove, Zanzibar, & even Maryland's 1988 ..1 country band The Alamo Band, on keyboards with Pebbles & the Bam Bam Boys in front of 80,000 people.
All the while he was writing and working on the CDs of his original group, Cubic Feet. Produced by the famous Peter Solley (The Romantics, Peter Frampton, Oingo Boingo etc.), and engineered by Shelly Yakus (Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks etc.) they've received international airplay, cracked the top 100 at a mainstream radio station, reached the top ten on several college stations, even to number one! As a producer, Woody has made recordings for dozens of artists in many styles and learned to work the intricate modern studio like an instrument.
All that experience taught him how to express himself on almost every instrument & on his solo CDs he puts it much of it on display. In 1998 he teamed up with English folk recording artist (& sister) Kate Lissauer, folk singer Chris Noyes, opera singer Julia McCabe & others to infuse a female and Celtic component into his sound. This, combined with the futuristic drum tracks, exotic instruments, sophisticated production, and strange chords creates fascinating, emotional recordings that change from song to song! A must-hear!
Woody's voice is also like many instruments, sometimes growling sometimes soaring, always emotional. Woody has been compared to Joseph Arthur, David Grey, Beck, Bowie, Peter Gabriel and Radiohead. Find out why this CD has been called "Music you must hear" by Music Monthly Mag!
4) Kip Marin: a fingerstyle guitarist who is well known from the coffee house circuit in Maryland- has recently been living in Florida but we were able to catch him on a promotional trip back to Maryland for his new CD "Chasing Hedges". Kip plays in the style of the late great acoustic guitarist Michael Hedges and has been known to wow audiences with his Harp Guitar playing. (Kip is the 4th musician playing on the myspace site)