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SHOCKOE
CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL
Friday
and Saturday, Aug 25-26, 2006
Friday
featuring: The NewOldz, The Atkinsons, Copper Sails & Sin City
Revival
Saturday
featuring: Shockoe Bottom Boys, Gypsy Roots, The Taters,
Special
Ed and the Shortbus & Modern Groove Syndicate
Richmond
Roots Revival stage at The Canal Turning Basin
Fri
8/25 5-10pm and Sat 12pm-7pm
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SCHNITZEL
 THE
NEWOLDZ
This little band plays mainly original music, and stays true it its roots - but the roots include rock, blues, acoustic rock, alt country/bluegrass -- even zydeco and jazz influences! In addition to tight harmonies, jivin' piano, funky bass, poppin' drums, and sparklin' guitar; you'll enjoy the occasional banjo, pedal
steel, harp, saxophone, accordion, mandolin, and a few other surprises as TNO fills your heart and soul with its special brand of musical charm.
It's original/unique Americana music - fun to listen to, and even if you're hearing the tune for the first time, halfway through it you'll be singing along! The ideal venue for The NewOldz is any place where people want to hear fresh, fun sounds, executed by a tight quartet (and usually a few special guests) who enjoy making people smile, dance, and raise a glass or two. They're highly versatile, perfect for a variety of appreciative listeners.
Contact The NewOldz for additional samples of live shows, and bring 'em on for your next party, BBQ, poolside shindig, corporate picnic - or come see 'em live in the Richmond area
(just don't ask 'em to play "Brown Eyed Girl")!
Website:
www.newoldz.com
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THE ATKINSONS
 THE
ATKINSONS
The Atkinsons formed in the fall of 2003 in
Richmond, VA. Their main focus was to write and perform their own brand of
original music, as well as incorporating select cover songs that complement
their Americana style. Rooted in rock, touched by country, and rich in
harmonies, The Atkinsons merge their signature sound with bittersweet tales of
woe and heartbreak. Their originals are written with a hardcore honesty that
chronicles Americas lost and lonely souls and their life struggles and turmoil.
Influences range from Whiskeytown, Old 97s and Son Volt - to Old Crow Medicine
Show, The Avett Brothers and Scott Miller - to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers,
The Rolling Stones and Nirvana. The soulful lyrics and whiskey-stained vocals of
Dickie Wood are complemented with three-part harmonies offered up by Jamie Wood
and Kris Krull. Kris also gives the band a new edge on drums working with Ricky
Breland on bass to create a pounding rhythm section. Combine Mike Ferry's fiddle
with Jeff Williams mandolin, and you got a potent mix of rock and country
creating one kickass rockin' Americana band.
"American
Gothic” (self-released): "Dickie Wood has a lot of words floating
around in his head. That’s the thought that comes to mind listening to the
new release from this ubiquitous Richmond group. Serving the role as lead
singer and guitarist, Wood is accompanied by multi-instrumentalist Jeff
Williams, bassist Ricky Breland, fiddler Mike Ferry, drummer Kris Krull and
percussionist/ vocalist Jamie Wood. Throughout 10 tracks (and a bonus track),
they weave stories of loneliness, desertion, romance, boozing, traveling . . .
very much a cross-section of the American experience. Songs are written
more in the form of rhyming prose than as couplets, which helps bolster the
storytelling. Sonically, the group resembles alt-rock pioneers Uncle Tupelo or early
Ryan Adams. The idea behind the music is well-communicated, and the songs
are executed with precision. The Atkinsons have been performing on Richmond
stages for more than four years, and the time and experience are reflected in
the maturity of this recording."
- Style
Weekly, Local Bin by Josh Bearman June 2007
Website: www.theatkinsons.us
www.myspace.com/theatkinsons
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SCHNITZEL
 COPPER
SAILS
Those
new to Copper Sails will be excited by its energetic and powerful live shows;
the band leaves its audience with hooky melodies to savor a unique musical
experience. At any given Copper Sails' show, the audience will hear well-crafted
original material in addition to well-known covers. Copper Sails' shows flow
from original to cover in a seamless progression that leads the listener on a
musical journey.
The audience is treated to re-arranged classics
such as Run Like Hell and I Will Follow. Copper Sails regularly plays to
packed crowds in college towns such as Blacksburg and Charlottesville and has
traveled as far north as Dartmouth, New Hampshire, and as far south as
Jacksonville, Florida.
When listening to Copper Sails' music, fans will
be treated to well-blended harmony, unique melodic interplay, carefully
constructed instrumental passages, and introspective songwriting. The band's
lineup features Jim Courtney-drums, Jonathan Crawley-guitars, vocals, Kyle
Crosby-keyboards, and Boomer Muth-vocals, bass.
Formed in 1995, Copper Sails has played
festivals, fraternities, and clubs along the east coast sharing the stage with
such major label acts as Collective Soul, Sister Hazel, Train, Fighting Gravity,
Blue Oyster Cult, Molly Hatchet, War, Loverboy, the Wailers and Sixpence None
the Richer. Copper Sails has sold over 2000 copies of their three independent
releases, and the band's MP3's have been frequently downloaded from Napster and
MP3.com.
Fans can discover the infectious songs of Copper
Sails by picking up their self-titled debut CD or their August 2000 release Some
Strange Reason on Frozen Rope, produced by Brad Wells, and distributed by
Planetary.
Website:
www.coppersails.com
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SIN CITY REVIVAL
 SIN
CITY REVIVAL
In a world where it has become increasingly difficult to differentiate one band from the next, where manufactured sounds dominate the radio landscape and originality is sacrificed for marketability, the time has come for a revival.
And there is no better place for that rebirth than Richmond, Virginia, a city steeped in revolution. Sin City Revival’s brand of southern rock is a breath of fresh air in a stagnant musical environment.
SCR is the newest addition to the proud heritage of rock ‘n roll. Like any good southerners, SCR knows its musical history. The band’s unique sound is rooted in some of music’s finest traditions, paying homage to such luminaries as Taj Mahal, Albert Collins and Duane Allman, The Rolling Stones, and Led Zepplin.
The band consists of Brian Fones (guitar/vocals), Ryan Underhill (bass/vocals), Brian Sperberg (keys), Dean Berry (guitar), Dave Smith (drums), Jill Blankenburg (backing vocals) and Michelle Ford (backing vocals). The songwriting is handled by Fones and Underhill who achieve the unique trick of writing lyrics that draw from personal experience yet elicit an almost universal sense of empathy. The band’s sound is unmistakably evocative of the south, eliciting its unique mixture of sultry passion and slow summer heat.
The band’s self-titled debut album is proof that SCR is much more than a three-chord, one act wonder. The songs range from the hard-driving “Loaded” to the achingly soulful “Hungry”. Fones and Underhill are masterful story tellers, using their voices to lend an identifiably personal side to every song. They are perfectly complimented by the soulful and sententious voices of Blankenburg and Ford.
Sperberg lends an electronic flair to the group’s sound. Berry and Fones play some of the finest guitar this side of the Mississippi, ripping solos that leave the listener simultaneously smiling and shaking his head in amazement. Underhill and Smith provide the band’s backbone, making for a lethal bass and drum combination that will leave you nodding your head and tapping your foot.
The sum of the parts results in a sound that is instantly addicting, subtly coaxing everyone who hears it to kick back and enjoy the moment. The band’s live performances are second-to-none, they clearly love playing music and that love is infectious. So give yourself a break from the all-substance pop acts, it is high time for a revival.
Let the Sin City family remind you why you fell in love with rock n roll.
Website:
www.sincityrevival.com
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SCHNITZEL
 SHOCKOE
BOTTOM BOYS
In
the spring of 2004, three downtown architects who shared a passion for bluegrass
music
decided to pick a little one day at lunch down in the Shockoe Bottom area of
Richmond,
Virginia. When the mandolin player brought his guitar pickin' brother along, a
band was
formed. Taking their name from the area that has been the home to many of their lunchtime
jams, the Boys' music is drawn from the catalogue of early bluegrass pioneers.
Songs from
Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, Jimmy Martin and the Carter Family dot their
playlist.
Website:
www.shockoebottomboys.com
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SCHNITZEL
 GYPSY
ROOTS
Gypsy Jazz is an idiom pioneered in the 1930s
by guitar legend Django Reinhardt. Django was foremost among a group
of guitarists working in and around Paris in the late 1920s and 30s.
This group included the Ferre brothers, who also made important
contributions to the development of what has come to be known as Gypsy jazz.
One of the primary sources of employment for musicians in Paris at that time
was in various popular Musette ensembles. The Musette style waltz
remains an important component in the Gypsy jazz repertoire. Reinhardt
combined a dark, chromatic Gypsy flavor with the swing articulation of the
period to create a beautiful and original style of jazz. His genius
for improvised melody was characterised by ornamented arpeggios. This
approach continues to form the basis for contemporary Gypsy jazz guitar.
Reinhardt's most famous group, the Quintette Du Hot Club De France, also
brought fame to jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli. Gypsy jazz is
thriving today, with fans and practitioners found all over the globe.
In Gypsy jazz, guitar and violin are the
primary solo instruments, although clarinet and accordion are also common.
The rhythm guitar is played using a distinct percussive technique, "la
pompe", that essentially replaces the drums. An upright bass fills out
the ensembles. Although many instrumental lineups exist, the most
common is one that includes one lead guitar, violin, two rhythm guitars, and
bass. The core of Gypsy Roots is made up of Jeff Powell and Thomas
Wakefield, both on guitar and Larry Lyles on violin. When the band
performs as a quartet, they typically complement the group with the upright
bass. Gypsy Roots also incorporates the accordion and a drum for
select venues.
Website:
www.gypsyroots.com
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THE TATERS
 THE
TATERS
The
Taters play an eclectic mix of roots rock, pop, country, skiffle &
Americana, a sound that's been compared favorably to a mixture of Everlys,
Orbison, Beatles, and Nick Lowe.
When
Craig Evans and Brad Tucker started singing together in the early 1980's,
neither could have guessed how long that partnership would last. With the new
release of Just One Night, their 4th album as The Taters, it's obvious to
listeners that their music is still getting stronger all the time. And now those
new to the band can get a glimpse of what goes on during a live show the
interplay and harmonies, and just the wide range of song styles that make up
their musical identity.
A lot
has been written over the last 10 years about the influences of the band, and
comparisons have been made to Roy Orbison, The Everly Brothers, The Mavericks,
Nick Lowe and others. "We decided it was time to do a live album this time
out, said Craig in a recent interview, since that's where we meet most of our
listeners, and vice versa. It gave us a chance to do some covers that are
regular requests at our shows, and to kind of pay tribute to some of the
influences that have guided us for so long. We're also using the album as a
chance to re-work some of the tunes from our early albums. The cool thing was
how well all of it came together in a single show!
Just One
Night was recorded in Ashland , VA , and includes Craig & Brad along with a
host of side Taters, including Diana Carr (pedal steel) , Stu Grimes (drums),
Jim Wark (guitar), Ned Henson (guitar), and Alan MacEwen & Chris Watling
from The Grandsons on horns.
Writing
in Billboard magazine, the internationally published "bible" of the
music industry, critic Gordon Ely described the Taters as "determinedly-and
gleefully-forging a path with no limits or end in sight. This is music for which
you've been waiting a long, long time... Without a trace of self-consciousness
or pretension, the Taters draw up a formula that can rightly be claimed as their
own".
Website: www.thetaters.com
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SCHNITZEL
 SPECIAL
ED AND THE SHORTBUS
Special Ed and the Shortbus is a bubbling fountain of virtuosic insanity. Seeing them play is like watching a high-speed train about to jump the tracks. Unstoppable energy matched with technical mastery, outlandish humor and fully engaging entertainment, the Shortbus is a sight to behold.
Jug band, Bluegrass, Old-Timey, String Band, Vaudevillian, call it what you will, it's just American music (except when it's Eastern European). They make this music on two banjos, two guitars, a mandolin, a fiddle, a trap set, a doghouse bass, many kazoos, and a whole host of other toys.
Special Ed and the Shortbus have been playing music since the Spring of 2002. Based in Richmond, VA, they have traveled far and wide through VA, MD, NC, and WV; as well as up through NY and New England. Over time, the music has moved in many directions as their individual characters have come together, creating a many-limbed frenetic bluegrass beast. They have gained a reputation both near and far for high energy and sometimes bizarre live acts.
In 2004 they released two albums simultaneously. "Special Ed and the Shortbus Bluegrass Band," is a more straight ahead endeavor, while "Downhill From Here," contains more "blue" material. They are in the process of recording a third, which is tentatively set for release in the summer of 2006.
Special Ed and the Shortbus resist words like "zany," or "wacky." The group's on and offstage demeanor is not an intentional attempt to set themselves apart, it's just instinct. The same is true of the music. They play it that way because that's what they like. Experience Special Ed and the Shortbus for yourself and your life will be changed forever.
Website:
www.specialedshortbus.com
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SCHNITZEL
 MODERN
GROOVE SYNDICATE
A funky quintet based out of Richmond, VA, the Modern Groove Syndicate has created a unique sound guaranteed to make your head spin, soul stir, and ass shake. Their genre defying sound is a veritable gumbo of funk, jazz, latin, soul, hip-hop, and whatever else they might have been listening to that
day.
What began as a trio in the beginning of 1998, then a quartet by the fall of the same year, and finally a quintet in the summer of 2001, the Modern Groove Syndicate is primarily an instrumental group relying heavily on composition, improvisation, and their own unique brand of energy and individual talents to get their point
across. While the groups' influences are all over the map, one can hear elements of P-Funk, John Cage, Brecker Brothers, the Crusaders, Jimmy Smith, and the Meters within their sound. Five musical powerhouses coming together to take the listener on a journey the likes of which he or she has never experienced before, that is the Modern Groove
Syndicate.
The Modern Groove Syndicate has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with a wide variety of Bands. Some of them
include - Cracker, The Tom Tom Club, The Samples, Dr. Didg, Agents of Good Roots, Ulu, Jimmies Chicken Shack, Eddie From Ohio, Zen Tricksters, Ike Willis & Project Object, Lake Trout, Schleigho, and Moon Boot
Lover. MGS includes members of national recording acts such as Agents of Good Roots, Moterico, and Buzby.
Website:
www.moderngroovesyndicate.com
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RICHMOND ROOTS REVIVAL Concert Series
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