Some amazing musicians: Share yours.

[crazyme5kids]

I'm going to plug some amazing musicians. My husband and I first heard these guys when we were in Mexico. We went out for dinner and they were playing at the restaurant. We were blown away by them. They play an eclectic mix of musical styles, so it would be hard for me to describe them (jazz, folk, bluegrass etc.).

Here is a web site that you can listen for yourself: www.gctmusic.com

They have a new CD called "The Lonely Hippo". You can hear a sample.

So, can you share some musicians, most that are relatively unkown, but are trying to catch a break and a following?

 

[SetzKitten]

I saw an opening band at a Setzer concert once that I really liked. Very fun music, kind of Tex-Mex. They're called Billy Bacon and the Forbidden Pigs.

http://www.forbiddenpigs.com/

 

[crazyme5kids]

Oh I love Tex-Mex music! I went to the web site, looks like it would be a fun band to see. I'll have to get a CD.

 

[GoofyDad869]

There are a couple of area musicians / acts that I think *should* be making it to the big time. I know them all personally. One is Robinella & the CC String Band. The 'CC' stands for Cruz Contreras, who is Robinella's husband. She's got a good musical blend - some jazz, some bluegrass, some zydeco, a little funk...

Another is a gentleman by the name of Jay Clark. He's a more traditional bluegrass musician. His 'day job' is a wildlife researcher (his specialty is brown bear habitats in the Great Smoky Mountains). He's living in Huntsville AL right now, but still plays some gigs in East Tennessee. Cruz is also his guitarist & mandolin player.

There's a local bluegrass radio station in downtown Knoxville called WDVX. That's also the name of their website (with a ".com" after it, of course). Pretty much every single weekday lunch (12 Noon to 1:00pm) they do a free concert with a different act - it's called the Blue Plate Special. They webcast it and have the artist schedule up on the website. It's less than a block away from the office, so I try to catch a show every couple of weeks. Jay Clark will be Blue Plating on Feb. 3rd, and Robinella will be Blue Plating on Feb. 14 (as she traditionally does). If you tune in, remember any time zone (we're Eastern DST). If you tune in for either show you'll probably hear me clapping in the audience - I'll be second table over from the left...

 

[Sparx]

One of my friends will be a professional musician one day. Hes 14 and plays guitar better than most adults. He's got a website, with one of his solos on it. He plays alternative/metal music. he's fastastic. I've heard him recorded, and I've watched him play in person. he loves it and hes good at it.

 

[chell]

The Push Stars and Chris Trapper Solo are the two at the top of my list.

Chris is the front man for The Push Stars and I love all of his music. Actually I have to give him and the band a lot of credit for where I am today. Without them I would still be hiding under my "shell" and wouldn't have opened up to all of you so much and wouldn't be willing to be open right now and go through the processes that I need to. They saved me.

 

[barkley]

i have a friend from high school who always said "i'll make it some day" and he did-he has done back up (tumpet ) for aretha franklin, earth wind and fire, rosemary clooney, tower of power and most of the top jazz musicans of the past 20 years. he is currently affiliated permanantly with "huey lewis and the news" among others. he does orchestral sittings for movies and broadway soundtracts, he does drop in gigs with international performers as needed.

while i give him tremendous credit for his talent and drive, i give even more to his wife-she has provided the stability that has allowed him and their children to have a "normal" homelife despite her husbands erratic work hours and availability for over 25 years. he is one of the few musicians he keeps company with that has managed to maintain a marriage and a relationship with his children.

being a sucessful professional musician is a tremendous balancing act-while the financial rewards can be huge-the emotional toll can be horrendous.

 

[LittleMissMickey]

A friend of mine back in high school is now in a band that is starting to do quite well for itself! It's a rock/pop/punk mix of stuff I guess (don't really know how to explain them?) and they put on a good show and are great to listen to in the car. Check out www.quietdrivemusic.com and let me know what you think!

This is a great idea for a thread!

Ashley

 

[crazyme5kids]

barkley boy are you ever right! My husband is in the entertainment field (not a musician though), the divorce rate is so high. We don't know too many people that have stayed together, there are some, but not many.

Thanks for posting and letting people know about some other artists! Who knows, maybe we'll each find some new favorites.

 

[Feralpeg]

My new favorite band is Enter The Haggis a celtic rock band out of Toronto. They played the Scottish Festival in Orlando this past weekend and we got to talk to them. They are really great guys an play terrific music.

http://www.enterthehaggis.com

 

[Micheme]

Wow Enter the Haggis!! I love them, they always play in and around Toronto and are a big hit at the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival here in Ontario.
It's a small world indeed

 

[Ronda93]

If you ever get the chance to see Raul Midon, go! Saw him open a show this summer and he was amazing. His guitar comes alive.

His site

 

[pdchris]

One of my favorite musicians (singers) is Mariza. She's a Portuguese Fado singer. I love her voice even tho I don't understand a word of Portuguese.

 

[olena]

There's a brilliant, local composer/pianist here in Georgia that I've performed with and I'm currently working on one of his pieces that's just beautiful. Listening to it just melts away stress and brings peace to the soul. I only hope I can do it justice at my next concert.

 

[Feralpeg]

Wow Enter the Haggis!! I love them, they always play in and around Toronto and are a big hit at the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival here in Ontario.
It's a small world indeed

Yes, it is a small world! They will be taking fans, who want to go, with them to Scotland for five days in March. DD and I would love to make the trip, but she is graduating this year and doesn't feel that she can be gone from school for five days so close to the end of her school year.

I talked to Trevor and James about the trip and it sounded like it would be so much fun. Oh well. Maybe next year!

 

[GoofyDad869]

My new favorite band is Enter The Haggis a celtic rock band out of Toronto.

Enter the Haggis put on such a good show!

 

[Feralpeg]

Enter the Haggis put on such a good show!

Absolutely!