This music band was established in autumn time in 1960 by four members of Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, mainly by initiative of Ivo Mach, nick name Dědek (Granfather). It was man quartet. Members were Miroslav Keller (tenor – nick Velký Bubo (Great Bubo)), Miloslav Kastelovič (barytone – nick Kagan, or Malý Bubo (Small Bubo)) and Jiří Tichota (usually bandmaster – nick Tichák).
The first public presentation came after 2 years, on International Jazz Festival in Karlovy Vary. The name was Spiritual Kvartet and this band was the first folk music band in Czechoslovakia. In that time, the word “folk” was unknown in this area. That’s why they present themselves on jazz concerts, usually with band Junior Trio, S+H Quintet or Tradiotional Jazz Studio P. Smetáčka. With last band they recorded some albums for recording studio Supraphon.
It was so long time ago, when they had listened american legend music band The Weavers. From that time, they wanted to be like them. After Věra Nerušilováwho was also a member of band Incognito Kvartet, Růženka Helebrantová (nick Odetta) came in and from that time here is Kvintet. Later the band had more members, but the name didn’t change more.
From 1964 Spiritual Kvintet had periodic program in Theathe Na Zábradlí. In 1967 two members Mach and Keller leaved band (they went on long-term business trip abroad). Next year (in August) Růženka emigrated to Swiss.
Everybody thought this would be end of this band but it didn’t. In 1969 came Karel Zich and Jarka Hadrabová. The band showed also with Olda Ortinský Dušan Vančura and Honza Thorovský (he substituded Kagan who returned to Slovakia).
This membership existed only 4 years, but during this period the band wined recognition on country and folk festivals (Porta 70, Golden Tele 71). Also they changed scene to Theatre Atelier. They released their first albums in czech Písně amerického západu and Písničky z roku dva.
As I said more times (try to see Rangers, Taxmeni, Greenhorns, Fešáci), came normalization and everything pertinated with it. Club were closed, some students had to leave Faculty, band had to finished its activities. Fortunately only for shot time.
On Saturday, the country world lost one of his members, the famous and memorable singer Waldemar Matuška.
He won recognition by his low and flannelly voice. Death cause was pneumonia and heart failure. He died on Florida, May 30, 2009, aged 76.
His success in 60-teen became with song Suvenir. As one czechoslovak agency wrote about him: “he has hoodlumy sex appeal, beard, evil-eyes and sparkle by energy, he was oposite of his show-business college Karel Gott”. And Waldemar said: ” I m type of vagabond, tramp and singers”.
Maybe it is destiny, but this weekend I was on one country action. Some friends met, played guitar, sang. We played many songs of him. It was shock to came home on Sunday evening and got to hear that bad news.
Quit Quittin
Quit Quittin
Waldemar, Walda, will always of my heard. For ever.
The 2009 Grammy Awards show took place on February 8, 2009. The following is a list of the winners in the Country Categories. Winners will be marked with ** WINNER ** Winners in our AboutCountry Polls will be marked with ** FAN-VOTED WINNER **
Record Of The Year (Award to the Artist and to the Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s) and/or Mixer(s), if other than the artist.)
** WINNER ** Robert Plant & Alison Krauss Track from: Raising Sand read review T Bone Burnett, producer; Mike Piersante, engineer/mixer [Rounder]
Album Of The Year (Award to the Artist(s) and to the Album Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s)/Mixer(s) & Mastering Engineer(s), if other than the artist.)
** WINNER ** Raising Sand Robert Plant & Alison Krauss T Bone Burnett, producer; Mike Piersante, engineer/mixer; Gavin Lurssen, mastering engineer [Rounder]
Best New Artist (For a new artist who releases, during the Eligibility Year, the first recording which establishes the public identity of that artist.)
** WINNER ** Adele
Best Female Country Vocal Performance (For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)
** WINNER ** ** FAN-VOTED WINNER ** Last Name Carrie Underwood Track from: Carnival Ride read review [19/Arista/Arista Nashville]
Best Male Country Vocal Performance (For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)
** WINNER ** ** FAN-VOTED WINNER ** Letter To Me Brad Paisley Track from: 5th Gear read review [Arista Nashville]
Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals (For established duos or groups with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)
Best Country Collaboration With Vocals (For a collaborative performance, with vocals, by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or Tracks only.)
** WINNER ** Killing The Blues Robert Plant & Alison Krauss Track from: Raising Sand [Rounder]
** FAN-VOTED WINNER ** Life In A Northern Town Sugarland, Jake Owen & Little Big Town Track from: Love On The Inside [Deluxe Fan Edition] read review [Mercury Records]
Best Country Instrumental Performance (For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, without vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)
** WINNER ** ** FAN-VOTED WINNER ** Cluster Pluck Brad Paisley, James Burton, Vince Gill, John Jorgenson, Albert Lee, Brent Mason, Redd Volkaert & Steve Wariner Track from: Play read review [Arista Nashville]
Best Country Song (A Songwriter(s) Award. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.)
** FAN-VOTED WINNER ** Dig Two Graves Ashley Gorley & Bob Regan, songwriters (Randy Travis) Track from: Around The Bend read review [Warner Bros.; Publishers: Songs of Combustion Music, Music of Windswept/Famous Music, Mt. Tallac Music]
** WINNER ** Stay Jennifer Nettles, songwriter (Sugarland) Track from: Enjoy The Ride [Mercury Records; Publisher: Jennifer Nettles Publishing]
Best Country Album (Vocal or Instrumental.)
** WINNER ** Troubadour George Strait [MCA Nashville]
** FAN-VOTED WINNER ** Around The Bend Randy Travis [Warner Bros.]
Best Bluegrass Album (Vocal or Instrumental.)
** WINNER ** ** FAN-VOTED WINNER ** Honoring The Fathers Of Bluegrass: Tribute To 1946 And 1947 Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder [Skaggs Family Records]
Best Traditional Folk Album (Vocal or Instrumental.)
** WINNER ** At 89 Pete Seeger [Appleseed Recordings]
Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album (Vocal or Instrumental.)
Record Of The Year (Award to the Artist and to the Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s) and/or Mixer(s), if other than the artist.) * Chasing Pavements Adele Eg White, producer; Tom Elmhirst & Steve Price, engineers/mixers Track from: 19 [XL Recordings/Columbia]
* Viva La Vida Coldplay Markus Dravs, Brian Eno & Rik Simpson, producers; Michael Brauer & Rik Simpson, engineers/mixers Track from: Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends [Capitol Records]
* Bleeding Love Leona Lewis Simon Cowell, Clive Davis & Ryan “Alias” Tedder, producers; Craig Durrance, Phil Tan & Ryan “Alias” Tedder, Engineers/mixers [J Records/SYCO Music]
* Paper Planes M.I.A Diplo, producer; Switch, engineer/mixer Track from: Kala [Interscope]
* Please Read The Letter Robert Plant & Alison Krauss T Bone Burnett, producer; Mike Piersante, engineer/mixer Track from: Raising Sand read review [Rounder]
Album Of The Year (Award to the Artist(s) and to the Album Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s)/Mixer(s) & Mastering Engineer(s), if other than the artist.) * Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends Coldplay Markus Dravs, Brian Eno & Rik Simpson, producers; Michael H. Brauer, Markus Dravs, John O’Mahoney, Rik Simpson & Andy Wallace, engineers/mixers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer [Capitol Records] * Tha Carter III Lil Wayne Babyface, Brisco, Fabolous, Jay-Z, Kidd Kidd, Busta Rhymes, Juelz Santana, D. Smith, Static Major, T-Pain & Bobby Valentino, featured artists; Alchemist, David Banner, Vaushaun “Maestro” Brooks, Cool & Dre, Andrews “Drew” Correa, Shondrae “Mr. Bangladesh” Crawford, Darius “Deezle” Harrison, Jim Jonsin, Mousa, Pro Jay, Rodnae, Skillz & Play, D. Smith, Swizz Beatz, Robin Thicke, T-Pain & Kanye West, producers; Angel Aponte, Joshua Berkman, Andrew Dawson, Joe G, Darius “Deezle” Harrison, Fabian Marasciullo, Miguel Scott, Robin Thicke, Julian Vasquez & Gina Victoria, engineers/mixers; Vlado Meller, mastering engineer [Universal Motown/Cash Money] * Year Of The Gentleman Ne-Yo Chuck Harmony, Ne-Yo, Polow Da Don, StarGate, Stereotypes, Syience, Shea Taylor & Shomari “Sho” Wilson, producers; Kirven Arrington, Jeff Chestek, Kevin “KD” Davis, Mikkel Eriksen, Jaymz Hardy Martin, III, Geno Regist, Phil Tan & Tony Terrebonne, engineers/mixers; Herb Powers, Jr., mastering engineer [Def Jam/Compound] * Raising Sand Robert Plant & Alison Krauss T Bone Burnett, producer; Mike Piersante, engineer/mixer; Gavin Lurssen, mastering engineer [Rounder] * In Rainbows Radiohead Nigel Godrich, producer; Nigel Godrich, Dan Grech-Marguerat, Hugo Nicolson & Richard Woodcraft, engineers/mixers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer [TBD Records]
Best New Artist (For a new artist who releases, during the Eligibility Year, the first recording which establishes the public identity of that artist.) * Adele * Duffy * Jonas Brothers * Lady Antebellum * Jazmine Sullivan
Best Female Country Vocal Performance (For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.) * For These Times Martina McBride Track from: Waking Up Laughing read review [RCA Nashville] * What I Cannot Change LeAnn Rimes Track from: Family [Curb Records] * Last Name Carrie Underwood Track from: Carnival Ride read review 19/Arista/Arista Nashville] * Last Call Lee Ann Womack Track from: Call Me Crazy read review [MCA Nashville] * This Is Me You’re Talking To Trisha Yearwood Track from: Heaven, Heartache And The Power Of Love read review [Big Machine]
Best Male Country Vocal Performance (For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.) * You’re Gonna Miss This Trace Adkins Track from: American Man, Greatest Hits Volume II read review [Capitol Records Nashville] * In Color Jamey Johnson Track from: That Lonesome Song read review [MCA Nashville] * Just Got Started Lovin’ You James Otto Track from: Sunset Man read review [Raybaw] * Letter To Me Brad Paisley Track from: 5th Gear read review [Arista Nashville] * Troubadour George Strait Track from: Troubadour read review [MCA Nashville]
Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals (For established duos or groups with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.) * God Must Be Busy Brooks & Dunn Track from: Cowboy Town read review [Arista Nashville] * Love Don’t Live Here Lady Antebellum Track from: Lady Antebellum read review [Capitol Records Nashville] * Every Day Rascal Flatts Track from: Still Feels Good read review [Lyric Street Records] * Blue Side Of The Mountain The SteelDrivers Track from: The SteelDrivers read review [Rounder] * Stay Sugarland Track from: Enjoy The Ride read review [Mercury Records]
Best Country Collaboration With Vocals (For a collaborative performance, with vocals, by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or Tracks only.) * Shiftwork Kenny Chesney & George Strait Track from: Just Who I Am: Poets And Pirates read review [BNA Records] * Killing The Blues Robert Plant & Alison Krauss Track from: Raising Sand [Rounder] * House Of Cash George Strait & Patty Loveless Track from: Troubadour [MCA Nashville] * Life In A Northern Town Sugarland, Jake Owen & Little Big Town Track from: Love On The Inside [Deluxe Fan Edition] read review [Mercury Records] * Let The Wind Chase You Trisha Yearwood & Keith Urban Track from: Heaven, Heartache And The Power Of Love [Big Machine]
Best Country Instrumental Performance (For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, without vocals. Singles or Tracks only.) * Sumatra Cherryholmes Track from: Cherryholmes III: Don’t Believe [Skaggs Family Records] * Two Small Cars In Rome Jerry Douglas & Lloyd Green Track from: Glide [Koch] * Sleigh Ride Béla Fleck & The Flecktones Track from: Jingle All The Way [Rounder] * Is This America? (Katrina 2005) Charlie Haden, Pat Metheny, Jerry Douglas & Bruce Hornsby Track from: Family & Friends — Rambling Boy [Decca Records] * Cluster Pluck Brad Paisley, James Burton, Vince Gill, John Jorgenson, Albert Lee, Brent Mason, Redd Volkaert & Steve Wariner Track from: Play read review [Arista Nashville]
Best Country Song (A Songwriter(s) Award. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.) * Dig Two Graves Ashley Gorley & Bob Regan, songwriters (Randy Travis) Track from: Around The Bend read review [Warner Bros.; Publishers: Songs of Combustion Music, Music of Windswept/Famous Music, Mt. Tallac Music] * I Saw God Today Rodney Clawson, Monty Criswell & Wade Kirby, songwriters (George Strait) Track from: Troubadour [MCA Nashville; Publishers: Big Red Toe/Extremely Loud Music, Steel Wheels Music, Steel Wheels Music/Blind Mule Music] * In Color Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller & James Otto, songwriters (Jamey Johnson) Track from: That Lonesome Song [Mercury Records; Publishers: EMI Blackwood Music/Big Gassed Hitties, EMI Blackwood Music/New Songs of Sea Gayle/Noah's Little Boat Music, Eldorotto Music Publishing/Lucky Thumb Music] * Stay Jennifer Nettles, songwriter (Sugarland) Track from: Enjoy The Ride [Mercury Records; Publisher: Jennifer Nettles Publishing] * You’re Gonna Miss This Ashley Gorley & Lee Thomas Miller, songwriters (Trace Adkins) Track from: American Man, Greatest Hits Volume II [Capitol Records Nashville; Publishers: EMI Blackwood/New Songs of Sea Gayle/Noah's Little Boat Music/Songs of Combustion Music]
Best Country Album (Vocal or Instrumental.) * That Lonesome Song Jamey Johnson [Mercury Records] * Sleepless Nights read review Patty Loveless [Saguaro Road] * Troubadour George Strait [MCA Nashville] * Around The Bend Randy Travis [Warner Bros.] * Heaven, Heartache And The Power Of Love Trisha Yearwood [Big Machine]
Best Bluegrass Album (Vocal or Instrumental.) * Cherryholmes III: Don’t Believe Cherryholmes [Skaggs Family Records] * Del McCoury Band — Live At The 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Del McCoury Band [MunckMix] * The Ultimate Collection / Live At The Ryman Earl Scruggs With Family & Friends [Rounder Records] * Honoring The Fathers Of Bluegrass: Tribute To 1946 And 1947 Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder [Skaggs Family Records] * Wheels read review Dan Tyminski [Rounder]
Best Traditional Folk Album (Vocal or Instrumental.) * Coal read review Kathy Mattea [Captain Potato Records] * Comedians & Angels Tom Paxton [Appleseed Recordings] * Bring Me Home Peggy Seeger [Appleseed Recordings] * At 89 Pete Seeger [Appleseed Recordings] * Strangers In Another Country Rosalie Sorrels [Red House Records]
Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album (Vocal or Instrumental.) * Day After Tomorrow Joan Baez [Bobolink/Razor & Tie] * I, Flathead Ry Cooder [Nonesuch Records] * Sex & Gasoline Rodney Crowell [Work Song/Yep Roc Records] * All I Intended To Be read review Emmylou Harris [Nonesuch Records] * Raising Sand Robert Plant & Alison Krauss [Rounder Records]
Grammy Nominees –The Song of the Years —- The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The nominees for the 51st Annual Grammy Awards were announced on December 3, 2008 and the awards were awarded for winners in ceremonies on February 8, 2009.
Best Bluegrass Album
nominated:
Cherryholmes – Cherryholmes III: Don’t Believe
Del McCoury Band — Live At The 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Earl Scruggs With Family & Friends – The Ultimate Collection / Live At The Ryman
Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder – Honoring The Fathers Of Bluegrass: Tribute To 1946 And 1947
Dan Tyminski – Wheels Winner: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
Best Traditional Folk Album
nominated:
Kathy Mattea – Coal
Tom Paxton – Comedians & Angels
Peggy Seeger – Bring Me Home
Pete Seeger – At 89
Rosalie Sorrels – Strangers In Another Country Winner: Pete Seeger
Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album
nominated:
Joan Baez – Day After Tomorrow
Ry Cooder – I, Flathead
Rodney Crowell – Sex & Gasoline
Emmylou Harris – All I Intended To Be
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Raising Sand Winner: Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Jerry Douglas & Lloyd Green – “Two Small Cars In Rome” (Glide)
Bela Fleck & the Flecktones – “Sleigh Ride” (Jingle All the Way)
Charlie Haden, Pat Metheny, Jerry Douglas & Bruce Hornsby – “Is This America? (Katrina 2005)” (Family & Friends — Rambling Boy)
Brad Paisley, James Burton, Vince Gill, John Jorgenson, Albert Lee, Brent Mason, Redd Volkaert & Steve Wariner – “Cluster Pluck” Winner: Brad Paisley, James Burton, Vince Gill, John Jorgenson, Albert Lee, Brent Mason, Redd Volkaert & Steve Wariner
Folk and Bluegrass Artists Nominated in Other Categories
Winner: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss won Record of the year (“Please Read the Letter”), Best Country Collaboration With Vocals (“Killing the Blues”), Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals (“Rich Woman”), and Album of the Year.
The Steeldrivers were nominated for Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals (“Blue Side of the Mountain”).
James Taylor was nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance (“Wichita Lineman”) and Best Pop Vocal Album (Covers).
Winner: Bela Fleck & the Flecktones won for Best Pop Instrumental Album (Jingle All the Way).
Sheryl Crow was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album (Detours).
Neil Young was nominated for Best Solo Rock Performance (“No Hidden Path”).
The Ditty Bops were nominated for Best Recording Package (Summer Rains).
Aimee Mann was nominated for Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package (@#%&*! Smilers).
Winner: Art Of Field Recording Volume I: Fifty Years Of Traditional American Music Documented By Art Rosenbaum won Best Album Notes and Best Historical Album.
Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder – I`m ready to go!
Somebody of you will know him as lead of music band named The Verve Pipe.
Brian was born in June 19, 1966, in Holland, Michigan. In US of course, as most of country singers. The first time, when he felt guitar, he was 8 years old. After leaving of US Army he started to join with music band His Boy Elroy (he played on guitar) and later with Johnny With an Eye. He stayed there to 1992 when he leave to band The Verve Pipe. There Brian played with his brother Brad Vander Ark (bassist) and Donny Brown (drummer).
The first great success came in 1997 with single The Freshmen and the lead single of band named Never Let You Down (from album Underneath) came in 2001. This single was one of the Top 50 Most Played songs for Adult Top 40 and Modern A/C radio in same year.
The first solo album Brian released after two years, in May 2003. The name was Resurrection. Next album came only after three years, again in May, 2006 (Maybe May is happy month of Brian ) ) named Angel, Put Your Face On.
You could see him also in the films. For example :
in Rock Star (2001), (as bass player), his song Colorful was used at the end of the movie.
in Road Kill (as director Matthew Leutwyler)
in Dead and Breakfast (he composed the musical scores)
and in Unearthed (he composed the musical scores)
. In 2008, Brian signed a contract with recording studio named Second Motion Records. This studio released his first two solo albums Resurrection and Angel, Put Your Face On and also his new album Brian Vander Ark.
Family: Brian was married with his girlfriend Michelle when he was 18 years old and they had a son named Joshua Vander Ark. After his coming from US Army, they divorced. Now Brian is married to folk singer Jenna Land, who performs under the name Lux Land. They have a daughter together.
In this post there are used also information which were send me by Billy Craig.
Billy was born in small town Big Rapids, in Michigan, US. He was the second youngest child of nine kids.
The first experiences with music he got very early, when he watched and listen his older siblings – brother and sister. When he was seven years old, his mother bought him his first guitar. From that time, he had unforsaked it. In his eight years, he started play with his older brother. In the same year, he won the Eastern Michigan Battle of the Bands and gained more fans.
From childhood, he has had many shows, he has played with players, who were much older than he.
Later he established his own music bands, playing jazz, country and rock. He played in front of many thousands people in all USA. He played also abroad included Scandinavian countries – Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark.
Bill was featured in two radio show named Country Legends in the Making and The American Collection with his last CD This Side Of Somewhere. This CD was prepared two years and was recorded in legendary Sun Studio (This recording studio is the birthplace of rock & roll, launching household names like Johnny Cash, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and U2‘s Rattle and Hum . . .).
In present time, he is one of the hardest working artist in this business, his radio presence is growing in states and abroad too. He prepare the new project, with 18 new songs, which will come in spring time.
His music is being played on country stations in the USA from Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, New Jersey, New York, Maine, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Oregon, Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi, Florida and around the world including Canada, Ireland, England, Australia and New Zealand.
Stations include, off the shores of England Radio Caroline, Radio Logan (Down Under) 101FM, My Country 105.9 FM Australia, Oamaru Heritage Radio 88.3 & 107 fm, 98.1FM Raglan Radio New Zealand, WORLD.FM, 1.FM Absolute Country Hits, Country Music USA, K94 New Country, LA’s Hot Country, Arizona’s Pure Country and Arizona’s Pure Country Canada as well as Detroit’s 99.5 The Wolf Country, Constant Country KRS, The Right Country Radio Network, FunSeekers Radio Network which includes WCON, WDMG, WHIE, WKLY, WTRP, WKUN, WMTM, WCOH, WTWA, WIMO, WGAA, WHEP, WSFC, WCVP, WPCC, WCLE, WBRY as well as WCTH , WDYN, WMME, WATZ, WQTE, WWBR, WGDN, WBWC, WCRC, WRBC, WFDU, WCEF, WCYO, WRVK, WDXE, WNKX, WVIM, KEIF, KVLG, KBUK, KYTE FM, WOYS, WOCY, KSOC and CHFX and the list is growing as America and the world discover this exciting new artist
Unfortunately I can’t offer you any video, I was able to find nothing.
It’s very difficult to find some information about himself. But I got something from two different visitors of blog. Please be kind to apologize this pure introduction of Andy. Thank you a lot.
“Andy Mullen sports the rich baritone of Crash Test Dummies’ Brad Roberts and a sense of humor somewhere between Bob Newhart and a classic cast of Saturday Night Live. “ Performing Songwriter
Andy Mullen plays music that he describes as, “folk fusion,” but don’t get the wrong idea, there is nothing sedate or staid about it. Rather, his music bursts out of the speakers in a stream of imagery and sound, and Mullen’s command of his craft is so palpable that in listening, one immediately knows they are hearing an artist with his own unique vision of life and music.
“His clever lyrics will instantly grab your attention, but behind the humor is a man with a fierce intelligence and the soul of a poet. His ability to fashion the insane beauty and unexpected heartache of everyday life into short, well-crafted songs with catchy melodies and sharply etched image is remarkable.” PlanetOut.com
Featuring his exceptional finger-picking style on guitar, the songs’ arrangements are uncommonly skillful, with light and subtle touches, like the fiddle and djembe on Sun Goes Up, Sun Goes Down, and the galloping banjo on Quit Quittin’, all which inspire a quiet sense of joy and wonder.
The utterly moving So Does The Beer tells the story of the death of his father, who died while he recorded the album. The song is an affectingly wry observation on love and loss; his vocals perfectly convey the balance of sadness and acceptance, while never succumbing to excessive sentimentality.
“Simple and stunning acoustic folk.” Hybrid
But the album is also a showcase for Mullen’s wry and subtly wicked sense of humor, befitting an artist who calls himself “Folk Music’s New Bad Boy.” “Crooked Deck” inspires a multitude of smiles, in his description of himself as a man in possession of only, “The same rhyme all the time/Smokes and jokes and a dozen lines/They say that all I ever sing about is booze.” It’s ironic without being at all jaded, and in that, it is utterly invigorating.
Few days ago I got e-mail which ask to write something about popular folk singer Amy Speace.
Unfortunatelly I have to tell you, I wasn’t able to find many information about her. That’s why I use all info what were sent by Marios P – visitor of blog. Thanks a lot.
She was born on February 8, 1968 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA as Amy F. Speace.
On her new album Songs for Bright Street, New York-based singer/songwriter Amy Speace demonstrates why she’s quickly become one of her adopted hometown’s most celebrated emerging artists. Possessing a commanding voice, a distinctive melodic sensibility and an uncanny knack for nailing complex emotions in song, Speace makes music that’s both illuminating and effortlessly accessible.
From the rustic rush of Step Out of the Shade to the bittersweet lilt of Water Landing to the gentle acoustic intimacy of “Two,” Songs for Bright Street’s 12 original compositions (plus a slyly countrified reading of the Blondie classic “Dreaming“) showcase Speace’s unique gifts, offering catchy Americana with indelible hooks, sharply observed lyrics and a gritty urban edge. Among those impressed by her sassy songcraft is legendary folk-pop songstress Judy Collins, who chose Songs for Bright Street to release on her new Wildflower label.
Amy Speace has already won a loyal grass-roots fan base, thanks in large part to live performances that merge warmth, humor and emotional immediacy, and to a tireless touring schedule that’s already taken her across the United States. She’s also won considerable critical acclaim, with The Village Voice observing that Speace is “taking her Americana away from twangy contemplation toward tangy confrontation” and noting that she’s “not another of those breathy would-be child poets, but a real singing writer of songs.” Time Out New York stated, “Amy Speace plays sweet, twangy folk music with a clear voice and an innocent vulnerability,” while The Nashville Scene noted that she “balances wry humor with open-hearted honesty.” And renowned Nashville critic Robert K. Oermann, writing in Music Row, dubbed her a “new star.”
She is young but she has already released three albums:
) ) named 
