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MIDWEST SONGWRITER’S SHOWCASE
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Down Home Guitars welcomes these great acoustic singer/ songwriters for the first in-store Midwest Songwriter’s Showcase. This lineup features some of the best in folk/ country musicians with roots in the midwest. Each act is strong in their own right, telling their stories of American life through song. Flying just below the radar of popular music, these musicians play day in and day out from coffee shops, to honky tonks and bars, to the big stages of America, festivals and radio. Join us for this all ages event. Contact Down Home Guitars to reserve tickets now at (815)469-6321.
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About Nathan Blake Lynn
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Nathan Blake Lynn may be new to Chicago, but is a veteran of the midwest music scene. He successfully bridges together the deep traditions of oldtime, country & bluegrass music. His songs define his childhood days running through the backwaters of Western Kentucky, his long nights hauling cars across the country and his love of honky-tonk life. A writer of historical fiction, Lynn sheds new light on forgotten stories from the deep south to the high north.
Originally from Paducah, KY Nathan put himself on the map singing and playing guitar with the experimental americana band Bawn in the Mash. He has since went on to record two solo albums in Nashville, TN with such music greats as Mike Bub, Tim O'Brien, and Josh Williams to name a few. An accomplished songwriter, he has won the West Kentucky Old-Time Singing Competition in 2008, and his song 'Last Night in Grandma's Bed" was featured on WSM radio's Bluegrass Underground.
"Nathan Blake Lynn paints the human condition and vivid landscapes with words and music using broad strokes of color and character. One could draw comparisons, but it's not necessary. Nathan's songs not only stand on their own, but he stands among the finest of contemporary folk, americana, and blues songwriters today." Mike Bub
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About Chicago Farmer
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Chicago Farmer, aka Cody Diekhoff, is a folk-singer's folk-singer and a poet's poet. He was born and bred in Delavan IL, population 25, surrounded by the endless skies of the American Midwest. Before moving to Chicago in 2003, Cody tried his hand at sessions in Nashville and carefully hewed and tested his art in college town bars and honky-tonks around the Midwest. He now plays regularly in the city and it's not uncommon to see whole rooms full of strangers erupt and sing along to the choruses of his songs on their first listen. Cody's voice is powerful and gritty, emotionally piercing while subtly imbuing additional layers of meaning and poignancy in his lyrical delivery. His song-writing is deeply rooted in the American Folk tradition and all of its grit but with a post Dylan sense of wit, perspicacity and that certain savior-faire.
Every folk-singer has to migrate to the city, in a way it seems to be hidden in definition of a folk singer anymore. Cody has come to remind Chicago that it is in Illinois. And to remind the rest of the world that when Louis Armstrong redefined, some say invented the art of Jazz in the 1920's he brought his Hot Fives to Chicago to do it. When Robert Johnson wanted to put his Mississippi Mud on wax, his hellhound chased him to Chicago to do it. And same like, Cody has come to Chicago to deliver what it needs, when it isn't even sure itself. He is currently recording a collection of songs from his vast back-catalog and performing across the heartland.
To call him a folk singer or categorize Chicago Farmer as a singer/songwriter wouldn’t be wrong. It might, however, not accentuate his commanding poetic voice and passion behind his storytelling. Maybe it’s because each song tells a story that first-time listeners feel his songs speak to them personally. Chicago Farmer’s catalog of 50+ originals draw on themes of racism, tradition, loss, quarter-life crisis, and, finally, instill hope. Touring as a solo artist over the past few years, Chicago Farmer’s music has created a buzz throughout small towns, college towns and big cities across the Midwest.” Chicago Interview Magazine
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About Brent James and Kev Wright
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Brent James and Kev Wright are Joliet, IL area natives who have been leaving their mark on the southland region for quite some time. They have been playing as an acoustic duo since 2007 and both currently play in the high powered ‘supergroup’ The Righteous Hillbillies.
Brent James has been a singer, songwriter, producer & engineer for over 16 years. His lyrics are substantial, with real feeling in them that go right to the heart. You’re able to look deep into the souls of people and walk away feeling as if you’ve lived the song. James put his name on the map leading his own band The Brent James Band through 2 albums singing his own songs and old favorites. He went on to join The Stone City Stragglers, a Joliet, IL(aka Stone City) based band as the front man, recording 3 albums with them.
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"Brent James has an innate ability to seamlessly blend alternative and traditional country that would make Waylon, Willie, Kris & Johnny, proud." Steve Downes 97.1FM The Drive
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Kev Wright is a veteran of the midwest music scene and is a musician’s musician with over 25 years active in the music industry. He’s a singer, songwriter, studio musician, producer and teacher and plays many instruments including guitar, bass, drums and harmonica. He has many albums to his credit, including writing and playing on the 2 Brent James Band albums, 2 solo albums, recording with Nicole Jamrose(Nashville star), The Stone City Stragglers (also with James), The Rattlesnakes, the newly released sel titled album with James, ‘The Righteous Hillbillies” and many more.
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Great Guitarists." His inspiration to learn guitar came from exposure to Bill Monroe while his father, Lamar Grier, played banjo for the Blue Grass Boys in the middle 1960s.
David's first solo recording "Freewheeling" appeared on Rounder Records, as did his acclaimed 1991 duet project "Climbing the Walls" with mandolinist Mike Compton. David's "Lone Soldier" project is listed in Acoustic Guitar Magazine's "100 Essential Acoustic Guitar Recordings of All Time. " His most recent solo release is "I've Got the House to Myself." His work is also captured on a Homespun video called "Building Powerful Solos." In addition to touring solo, David also appears as the guitarist for Psychograss, who are currently celebrating a critically acclaimed new album, "Now Hear This".
He most recently recorded on Steve Martin’s Grammy nominated album “The Crow” and was the featured cover story/ artist in the winter ‘10 edition of The Fretboard Journal.
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MIKE COMPTON & JOE NEWBERRY
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Sunday June 13th 2010
7:30pm $20
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Down Home Guitars welcomes back world renown mandolin player Mike Compton. This time Mike is joined by banjo, fiddle, singer, songwriter Joe Newberry. Joe is a North Carolina native steeped in the old-time and bluegrass traditions. Join us for this special concert of a collaboration of two very great musicians. Seating is limited in our intimate concert hall, so call (815)469-6321 to reserve tickets now.
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Join Mike Compton for a Mandolin Workshop and Joe Newberry for an Old-time Banjo Workshop during the afternoon on June 13th. More info Here.
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About Mike Compton
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Mandolinist extraordinaire Mike Compton was born in 1956 in Meridian, Mississippi, hometown of Jimmie Rodgers. He was exposed to music at an early age and received his first mandolin at the age of fifteen. Mike moved to Nashville in 1977 and for the next several years played with legendary North Carolina banjoist Hubert Davis and the Season Travelers.
In 1985 he was recruited for the Nashville Bluegrass Band and during his initial stint in the group (1985-1989), he appeared on the four albums that first brought the band to prominence. After a year of working in the Catskill Mountains, Mike returned to Nashville and began playing with John Hartford in the Hartford String Band, a fertile association that continued until John's death in 2001.
In the fall of 2000, after a tour of the Southwest with David Grier, Mike was offered his mandolin slot with Nashville Bluegrass Band and he didn't hesitate to rejoin. The band has won two Grammy Awards, two "Entertainer of the Year" honors from the International Bluegrass Music Association, and four IBMA Vocal Group of the Year titles. A perennial MerleFest favorite; their Sunday morning gospel set with Doc Watson is not to be missed.
A prolific composer, Mike has made a powerful mark in the old-time and bluegrass music worlds. His resume includes more than 75 recordings with a virtual "Who's Who" of old-time and bluegrass musicians. Among his credits are the O, Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack, the Songcatcher soundtrack, and the Down From the Mountain CD that followed O, Brother. This year has seen Mike Compton touring with Elvis Costello in support of the rock legend's Secret, Profane, and Sugar Cane CD, produced by T-Bone Burnett and featuring performances by Compton, Stuart Duncan, and Jerry Douglas.
The multiple Grammy Award-winner treasures his memories of a friendship with his mentor, Bill Monroe. John Hartford once said that Mike Compton knows more about Bill Monroe-style mandolin than the "Father of Bluegrass" himself. To learn more, visit Mike's website here.
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About Joe Newberry
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Joe Newberry is a favorite with Folk audiences. During the past five years, he has performed with Julee Glaub, Big Medicine, and Mike Craver, Bill Hicks, and Jim Watson, founding members of the legendary Red Clay Ramblers. His powerful banjo playing has won contests around the country, including first place at the Appalachian String Band Music Festival in Clifftop, West Virginia. Joe is also a fine guitarist, fiddler, singer, and songwriter. His 2005 solo project, Two Hands, drew well-deserved critical acclaim and serves as a showcase of his multiple talents. Joe's songwriting is characterized by the same clean, elegant style as his banjo playing. A number of his songs have been recorded by fellow musicians. Most recently, the Gibson Brothers included two of Joe's compositions, Jericho and I Know Whose Tears, on their 2009 recording, Ring the Bell.
Joe grew up in Boone County, Missouri in a family that loved to sing -- old Ozark songs, sacred songs, and popular songs of the day. His mother's family loved dancing, singing, and fiddling. He took up the guitar as a teenager and learned fiddle tunes from great Missouri fiddlers like Taylor McBaine, Pete McMahan, and Jake Hockemeyer. Younger musicians Cathy Barton, Lee Ruth, and Dave Para also influenced his music; Para introduced him to clawhammer-style banjo.
Joe came to North Carolina in 1982 and found an incredible old-time music scene in Chatham County, with players such as Red Clay Ramblers Bill Hicks and Tommy Thompson. With Rob Golan and Jamey Tippens, Joe first played in the New Chatham Rabbits, a square dance band. Later, he formed the Piedmont Hepcats with Allin Cottrell, Susie Crate, and Ted Ehrhard and they won the band contest at Fiddlers Grove more than once.
Joe began playing with Jim Collier, LaNelle Davis, and Margaret Martin in the early '90s as the Tar Heel Hot Shots. Later, he formed Big Medicine with Jim Collier, Kenny Jackson, and LaNelle Davis. The name is a tribute to the transcendent nature of their collective music making and was affirmed by their winning first place in the 2002 Traditional Band Contest at Clifftop. LaNelle Davis stepped down from the band in 2004 and Bobb Head joined the group. Big Medicine released their third CD, Pine to Pine, and performed on Prairie Home Companion in May.
When not working as a writer and editor, Joe does solo and studio work, and plays and teaches at festivals and workshops here and abroad. Sample Joe's recordings here and enjoy video performances on YouTube.
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Join Mike Compton for a Mandolin Workshop and Joe Newberry for an Oldtime Banjo Workshop during the afternoon on June 13th. More info Here.
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