Opening for Tim Rice – Feb 19th in Maine!

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Tim RiceI am beyond excited to make my first trek up to Maine to open for my friend Tim Rice.  I met Tim a couple of years ago at the North East Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) conference and this past year I got to share a showcase with him there.  Tim is one of the most soulful singers and songwriters I’ve seen in a long time.  His tunes skirt the edge of jazz, r & b, a little funk and whole lot of soul.  He’s also one of the nicest and most genuine folks I’ve met in this community of very nice people!

If you live near, or know of anyone who lives near East Central Maine, please come out to Tim’s show on February 19th.  I think his new CD will be available … and it’s a good one!  Take a listen to a few of his older tunes.  You’re gonna like it!

Chocolate Church Winter Showcase Series Featuring Tim Rice (chris lavancher opens)

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Chocolate Church, 804 Washington Street, Bath, ME

Looking forward to 2016!

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Happy New Year everyone!  I hope 2015 was as great a year for you as it was for me.  I got to spend a lot of it playing music, which in and of itself makes for a great year.  I’m looking forward to 2016 and hoping that I get to continue doing what I love.  Great plans this year to travel a bit more … in February I’ll be playing in Maine for the first time – opening up for a new friend Tim Rice.  I met Tim at our annual North East Regional Folk Alliance conference and I’ve become a big fan … not just of his music, but of the man himself.  Be sure to check out his music.  I’m working on booking a quick tour to North Central PA and Southern New York in April and … in May Esther and I will be traveling south, making stops in Nashville, New Orleans, Clarksdale MS, North Fork AR, Memphis TN, and Asheville NC.  We’ll be soaking up as much musical inspiration as we can pack into our little souls!

I’ll also be starting work on a new CD that I hope to release sometime toward the end of 2016!  Stay tuned for more details.

Songwriter Showcase with Geoff Bartley & Mark Whitaker!

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This will be my second time hosting the Somerville Songwriter Sessions at Arts Armory Cafe in Somerville.  What a great gig this is … I get to invite some of my favorite musicians and friends to share the night with me.  I couldn’t be more delighted to present two of the very best local songwriters – Geoff Bartley & Mark Whitaker.

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Geoff Bartley is one of the greatest guitar players on the planet – hands down, he’s that good!  I just have to shake my head and smile whenever I get to see him play.  Robert Johnson may have made a deal with the devil, but Mr. Bartley just plays the devil out of whatever he picks up.  And he’s a stellar songwriter with more than 15 CDs in his catalog.  But perhaps the greatest aspect of Geoff Bartley is his dedication to the local folk and bluegrass scene – hosting the folk open mic and bluegrass pickin’ party at the Cantab Lounge for over 25 years!

Mark Whitaker is a young local banjo phenom who I recently met at the annual Lizard Lounge Open Mic Challenge Big Event.  This guy just blew me away with his soulful vocals and understated, tasty banjo supporting great lyrics and beautiful melodies.  Roll that all up into one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet and you’ve got Mark Whitaker.

I can’t wait to share the stage with these guys.  It’s gonna be a good one!