Big Wide Grin

Saturday, Sept 4th at 3pm

A Soulfully Acoustic 3 Peace Band

• This bi-coastal trio of Elaine Dempsey, Lawrence Lambert & Karl Werne, from California and Virginia, bring diverse backgrounds of experience, music and theater together to form a rich, soulful blend of character and deep harmony. It will move you to an understanding of their name: BIG WIDE GRIN.
• They are constantly on the move- whether at festivals, concert series, shows, or select house concerts and have shared the stage, collectively, with such artists as Janis Ian, Harriett Schock, Lowen & Navarro, Richie Havens, Bruce Hornsby and toured with legendary blues man Keb' Mo'.
• Their recent seasonal CD, “Holiday” features a wide variety of world class arrangers and studio musicians from both coasts, proving to be the most diverse self-produced musical endeavor from this group so far. Guest artists include ODU Jazz Professor John Toomey, former Kool and the Gang bassist, Dana Silvercloud and Dan Martier from Tim Reynolds’ TR3.
• BWG's "Live" release is a collection of original and cover material that have become trademark favorites of their live performances from the likes of Steve Earle and Tracy Chapman to Sly & The Family Stone.
• Their debut CD, "Live Simple, Breathe Deep" (released under previous group name: "E.L.K.") was produced by Clayton Gibb (Keb' Mo' band) and features Mark Andes (Spirit, Canned Heat), Rob Hooper (Jimmie Dale Gilmore), Cha Cha Friedken (Keb' Mo' band) and Eddie Williams.

Big Wide Grin



Bluegrass Intentions

Saturday, Sept 25th at 3pm

Bluegrass Intentions Reunite! A special one-time only East Bay performance featuring Eric and Suzy Thompson, Bill Evans, Alan Senauke and Markie Sanders!

• The Bluegrass Intentions are back with their one-of-a-kind blend of traditional bluegrass, old-time, Cajun and blues. A veritable Bay Area Roots music super group, the Bluegrass Intentions are Suzy Thompson on violin and accordion; Eric Thompson on mandolin and guitar; Bill Evans on five-string banjo; Alan Senauke on guitar and mandolin and Markie Sanders on bass. They intend to play bluegrass, but along the way you might hear anything from Muddy Waters song to Cajun dance music or a Bill Evans original banjo tune.
• All of the Bluegrass Intentions band members have been active on the international folk, old-time and bluegrass music scenes since the 1960’s and 70’s, performing with folks like David Grisman, Laurie Lewis, California Cajun Orchestra, High Country, Peter Rowan, Blue Flame String Band, Dry Branch Fire Squad, Rose Maddox, Tony Trischka, Dewey Balfa, the Backwoods Band, Country Cooking, the Lynn Morris Band, the Fiction Brothers, Any Old Time String Band, the Good Ol’ Persons, the Black Mountain Boys (with Jerry Garcia) and the Charles River Valley Boys, among many others.
• The Bluegrass Intentions are rooted in the classic styles they have learned and absorbed from older musicians like Bill Monroe, the Osborne Brothers, Benton Flippen, the Stanley Brothers, Cousin Emmy, Flatt & Scruggs, Tommy Jarell and more, but they are now seen as traditional music sources themselves, teaching many of the current generation of young bluegrass and old-time virtuosos.
• From Dave Briggs, WPLN-FM, Nashville, Tennessee "What a mesmerizing blend of the old and the new! Ancient primeval tones played with a modern precision; tough, gritty vocals; sparkling instrumentation creativity and a bouncing, buoyant groove that just doesn't quit. It’s music that simultaneously looks both to the future and that primordial bluegrassical ooze and comes up with something fresh, exciting and new in the process.
• Writes KPFA radio’s Sing Out! host Larry Kelp of the band’s CD Old As Dirt: “This band of some of the best and most eclectic roots musicians have put their group chemistry onto a fine and fun recording. While it sounds like a traditional bluegrass album, Old As Dirt brings in so many other American roots elements that it keeps offering not just surprises at every turn of phrase, but also insight into just what constitutes American music.”
• Combining over 150 years of collective professional musical experience, this Bluegrass Intentions reunion show is something not to be missed!

Bluegrass Intentions Web

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Stephanie Bettman & Luke Halpin

Saturday, November 6 at 8pm 2010

Original folk/bluegrass/Americana music

• We are Stephanie Bettman and Luke Halpin, and together we create original folk/bluegrass/Americana music. Our shows are uplifting and energetic. And our songs range from up tempo bluegrass to groovy jazzy acoustic pop to heart wrenching ballads with a focus on memorable lyrics, stunning musicianship, and beautiful vocal harmonies
• Stephanie Bettman might be considered a triple threat. An accomplished writer, she infuses her music with wit and wisdom, exploring many facets of the human heart. Stephanie’s songs are sometimes sad, sometimes sassy, but always spellbinding. As a vocalist, she moves effortlessly from her up-tempo bluegrass originals (featuring her fiery fiddling), to a soothing honey-sweet ballad, to a rousing passionate anthem. While her first-rate fiddling combines elements of bluegrass and jazz, in her essence there is tribute to such masters as Stephane Grappelli, Byron Berline, and Johnny Gimble. One thing’s for sure, if Stephanie Bettman is on the bill, you are in for an unforgettable performance that will have you hooked from the first fiddle line to the last sweet harmony.
• Currently touring with Stephanie is multi-instrumentalist Luke Halpin, who is equally adept on mandolin, fiddle and guitar. Inspired by the likes of Sam Bush, Tony Rice, and Mark O’Connor, Luke’s perfectly blended harmonies and his instrumental expertise together with Stephanie’s artistry and performance make for a dynamic experience audiences are discovering from coast to coast. Luke was formerly a member of the band Fanny Grace. With them, he worked all over the country opening for such musical heavyweights as Merle Haggard, Lone Star and The Steve Miller Band. His instrumentals have received national television placements, and now in concert with Stephanie, Luke has the opportunity to share some of his original songs as well. Together, Stephanie Bettman & Luke Halpin have been regulars at some of LA’s best listening rooms including The Coffee Gallery Backstage, as well as the California Traditional Music Society’s concert series, and BASC’s annual Taste Of Folk Festival and monthly concert series.
• Her debut CD “Get Close To Me” received national radio play while reaching the top ten in the Folk DJ chart, and her interpretation of Deford Bailey’s rare gem “Evening Prayer Blues” was the sixth most played song of the month. DJ Eddie O’Strange in Lower Hutt, New Zealand writes: “How can such a classy performer go wrong with quality moments channeling Emmylou? My album of the week … without question.” Stephanie’s songwriting talent, instrumental prowess and artistry have been recognized in various Regional and National competitions, including: • Grand Prize Winners in the 2008 So Cal Live Acoustic Music Competition. • Winners in the 2007 Topanga Banjo / Fiddle contest. • Folk Works Top Ten Los Angeles based female singer-songwriters of 2008. • Music Connection’s Top Twenty-Five New Music Critiques of 2008.

Stephanie Bettman & Luke Halpin

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