A focus on some fine acoustic music (along with some great electric
rock) this week as an equipment failure and lots of changes in the
set-up create a rather different sound, I think.
One of the most powerful rainbows I've seen over the house last
night - when there was sun as well as rain. Tonight. Just rain, and
lots of it for the past 15 hours and counting. Enjoy the music!
Same ol' bend - Sheila
Sondergärd (California, USA)
From her album Spoke too loud.
Picking up the trumpet at the age of 9 and the guitar at 11
cannon-balled Sheila Sondergärd into something she couldn't wait to
'tap'. Having been inspired by each of her diverse and contrasting
homes and drenched in exotic cultures her style has evolved as a
copasetic
[Copacetic: in
excellent order - early 20th century of unknown origin. So now we
know!] melting-pot of genres such as: Classical, Reggae,
Folk, Rock n Roll, Punk, and many others. Sheila is not only a
musician, but she holds down three jobs and in her spare time, she
works on cars, & professionally trains horses. This seemingly
lends to a common sense in Sheila's lyrics and music that both men
and women can relate to. Becoming a staple of the SD music scene
over the past 5 years, Sheila has had the opportunity to play aside
many amazingly, talented artists at many great and diverse venues.
She also hosts one of San Diego"s most popular and longest running
open mics for 10-12 local musicians every week. Sheila is ready to
bring her music to the world, and we hope you can help to be a
vessel in which that is possible! And as always, thank you for
supporting independent music.
www.sheilasondergard.com/
www.myspace.com/sheilasondergard
View from the N16 - Peter
Miller (Queensland, Australia)
Hailing from Australia, fingerstyle guitarist Peter Miller is a
player that has been inspired by the styles of Phil Keaggy, Bruce
Cockburn and many of the players like Michael Hedges from the
Windham Hill label that brought us such greats as Will Ackerman and
many more...
"It's very flattering that reviewers can pick up that I'm inspired
by such players I owe a lot to those sort of players." says
Peter.
His playing has a tasteful use of space, without being
underplayed.
His live performances are a mixture of solo and layered guitar
pieces using a loopstation (JamMan) to build the multiple guitar
parts.
Peter has received great responses from fellow musicians and
reviewers
for his 2007 release "From A Distant Shore".
www.peter-miller.com/
www.myspace.com/petermillerguitarstyle
http://cdbaby.com/cd/petermiller
Mangue sauvage - Abakuya
(France)
The musical project Abakuya was born with the meeting of two
musicians, Jimi Sofo (Australia) and François Essindi (Cameroon),
and took place in 2006 thanks to an exchange travel organized by
the Akiba Association in Cameroon. Other musicians came in turn and
decided to travel together...
www.myspace.com/abakuya
The Frog and the Princess - Brent
Lewis (Joshua Tree, California, USA)
Journey of Souls is Brent Lewis' newest CD. Master melodic drummer,
Brent Lewis has created a new dimension in music. He uses his one
and only melodic drums as the lead instrument surrounded by
beautiful counter point melodies and harmonies.
Brent's life is his music, and the study of tribal rhythms. His
education has been intense and in-depth studying with drum masters
in different parts of the world. His experience studying with the
master professor Mr. Kwasi Badu of Ghana, Africa, was profound and
very meaningful. Brent has travelled throughout Africa to study the
roots of African music, tribal ceremonies and rhythms. His music
takes ancestral rhythms from all over the world and combines them
for a unique world beat.
www.brentlewis.com/
www.myspace.com/brentlewisusa
15 minutes - Mal Fry (Suffolk,
UK)
I am a Singer songwriter from Suffolk, England and have been
playing guitar for 8 years and writing songs for 7 years. Started
playing live Sep 1999 (nerve wracking or what!) now have regular
gigs in the local area.
Well after 10 years of trying finally a modicum of success. A Dutch
TV show called
Hello
Goodbye about Schiphol airport has used 2 of my songs "You
Were There" and "In Your Arms" on 3 episodes so it just goes to
show it's worth persevering.
www.castmp3.com/mal_fry
www.myspace.com/malvanmusic
www.cdbaby.com/cd/malfry
Grounded - Ruth Theodore
(London, UK)
A singer/songwriter like no other. With words as dangerous as her
guitar playing, Ruth Theodore reminds us why songwriting is
important in the first place. Refreshingly original and
relentlessly imaginative. - River Rat Records Debut album Worm
Food. 13 tracks of beautifully twisted, political and personal
mayhem. River Rat Records supports Creative Commons. If you like
what you hear, please consider buying a CD. Their releases are
packaged beautifully and manufactured using 100% recycled card.
£9.99
www.ruththeodore.com
Bees and flowers / Joe Smallwood's
Reel - Duane Andrews (Newfoundland, Canada)
Heavily influenced by the brilliance of early twentieth century
French Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt, Duane Andrews' unique
blend of jazz and traditional Newfoundland folk music is
consistently recognized by both industry and fans with awards and
accolades. A couple of duo performance with Icelandic guitarist
Bjorn Thoroddsen are coming up.
14 July Atlantic Jazz Festival, Halifax, Nova Scotia
19 July The Evergreen Theatre, East Margaretsville, Nova Scotia
www.duaneandrews.ca/
www.myspace.com/duaneandrews
http://cdbaby.com/cd/duaneandrews2