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Nina Gerber & Kenny Edwards

Friday, March 7 , 8:30
p.m.

$20. in advance, $25. at the door.
 

Nina and Kenny match up well.  Kenny released his first solo CD in 2002 – rootsy, country folk with spare, tasteful arrangements – following a stellar career in The Stone Poneys (with Linda Ronstadt) and Bryndle (with Karla Bonoff, Wendy Waldman and Andrew Gold) and writing and scoring music for TV and film. He was also a session musician for folks like Don Henley and Jackson Browne. Nina, who has backed-up everyone from Kate Wolf to Greg Brown to Nancy Griffith to Tom Paxton, has several CDs to her credit and recently released her first as a leader, Not Before Noon. She is well-known for her impeccable guitar work and the precision with which she can convey the true feeling of a song. We are incredibly lucky to have their talents together for this concert! 

On Nina:   "One of the best acoustic and electric guitarists in the folk genre."
 -- Frets       

                    Magazine

                 “. . . a not-so-underground legend.” – Oakland Tribune

 

Jim Hurst

Thursday, March 20, 8:00 p.m.

$15. in advance, $20. at the door. 

Country and bluegrass roots are alive in the music of Jim Hurst. He has toured with Travis Tritt, Claire Lynch and Missy Raines, and others, and is one of the cream of Nashville studio musicians. We first saw Jim at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass with Tim O’Brien, where his bluegrass leads just soared. He is perennially nominated for the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Guitar Player of the Year, winning in 2001 & 2002. We have very few flatpickers come by the shop, but when we do they are the best.  

”Jim is one of the most under-rated musicians on today's acoustic scene.” – Tim O’Brien 

"In a field known for great instrumental work, Hurst is as good as they come...His guitar playing is marked by pure abandon." 
- Country Standard Time

 

Geoff Muldaur

Thursday, April 10, 8:00 p.m.

$20. in advance, $25. at the door. 

Geoff’s resume starts with the groups he founded with Jim Kweskin and Paul Butterfield. He’s clearly had a celebrated and distinctive career. But when he sings tonight it will be just his voice and guitar leading us through his unique arrangements of classic and sometimes obscure American songs and blues and the tunes he’s composed himself. Geoff’s genius is inseparable from his voice – a voice that embraces black and white while transcending both. His vocal range is a pure vibration in the air and “otherworldly,” to quote the New York TImes; the result is blues stripped of any gimmick or affectation. We think he is peerless. And there is no way to overstate the beauty of his performances in our small room. He plays here once in a blue moon; come and be transported by an American master.

“There are only three white blues singers, and Geoff Muldaur is at least two of them.” – Richard Thompson

 

Duck Baker

Thursday, April 24, 8:00 p.m.

$15. in advance, $20. at the door.

Duck has played so many styles for so long – Scots-Irish, traditional American roots, jazz, gospel & blues – alone and with so many great artists, he’s become a finger-style institution and a national treasure. Based now in London Duck has nearly 20 solo CDs to his credit and still another 20 counting the duos, groups and anthologies that he’s been part of.  He was the first to make a solo Celtic finger-style record (1980) and acclaimed for his 1997 recording of the songs of jazz great, Herbie Nichols. In between lies mastery, inspired improvisation, a number of great original compositions, and an exuberance that demonstrates how Duck has kept playing at such a high level for so long.  He recently recorded “The Expatriate Game” (with Maggie Boyle and Ben Paley), a superb presentation of traditional Irish and American music. This one concert is a must if you care about great finger-style guitar.

About ‘Spinning Song’—“one of the best guitar records ever recorded – by anyone.” – Acoustic Guitar Magazine

 

Rick Ruskin

Friday, May 2, 8:30 p.m.

$15. in advance, $20. at the door.

Rick knows a good groove when he hears one . . . And he brings that kind of rhythmic exuberance to his own finger-style tunes and to other pieces, like the old Motown songs he performs. In the Sixties he was invited by the legendary Reverend Gary Davis – a master blues, ragtime and gospel guitarist – to spend a summer with him on Long Island, so impressed was Davis with Rick’s playing. After that, Rick made a number of recordings for Tacoma, and has since become a musician’s musician – a top guitar player, singer, composer and arranger of note. But don’t get caught up in his resume – this man makes listening to the guitar a sheer foot-tapping joy.

“Ruskin’s solo guitar pieces. . . will stand the test of time for beauty and musicality. Amazing talent.” – Chris Lunn

 

Del Rey

Thurs, May 15, 8:00
p.m.

$15. in advance, $20. at the door.

Del has the best left hand in the business, moving her fingers through the country blues, stride piano and ragtime enthusiasms of old-timers like Bo Carter and Memphis Minnie. She plays the resonator guitar and resonator uke, sings, and takes us to places only hillbilly boogie will get us to! It’s easy to call her incomparable, as no one brings the same verve and virtuosity to this music. She has two Homespun instructional DVDs to her credit, Blue Uke and Boogie Woogie Guitar, as well as numerous CDs. We’re pleased to call her one of our favorite performers – if you miss Del tonight, don’t say we didn’t warn you!

“If you like your blues warm, wise, witty and well-played, give Del Rey a listen.” – Dirty Linen

“Del Rey packs a whole orchestra into her resonator guitar.” – Southland Blues

 

Michael Stadler

Friday, June 6, 8:30 p.m.

$15. in advance, $20. at the door.

An argument can be made that some of the best roots music isn’t old, it’s new – and being written and performed by folks like Michael. We were lucky to have Michael with us when his brilliant CD, North Country, was just released. His work is country-flavored, old-timey, original and beautiful. His vocal performances are a combination of power and nuance, gravel and silk.  His guitar and fiddle work evoke a world where electricity has yet to be invented and virtuosity is honed on the front porch with friends and family. If you have ever wondered where the great writers and singers are, look no further. Michael will be a revelation you won’t stop talking about. 

"Michael Stadler has the voice of a very loud articulate angel. He's a master interpreter with a beautiful voice, a thoughtful & humorous songwriter. And he's an accomplished & sophisticated player of just about anything with strings.  A total pleasure. Don't miss him!" – Mary Tilson, America's Back Forty, KPFA 94.1FM

“. . . one hell of a country singer.” – Laurie Lewis

 

Roy Book Binder

Thursday, June 26, 8:00 p.m.

$15. in advance, $20. at the door. 

Roy has the goods: the original, the bare-knuckle, the low-down . . . blues.  Who can say they were friends with the Rev. Gary Davis and Pink Anderson?  Roy can.  He has the stories, the licks, and the mystery of timeless music in his fingers.  He’s been featured on a PBS special and interviewed by Terry Gross on “Fresh Air.”  When he brings his motor home to Tiburon, a one-man blues-fest ensues.  He plays and he entertains, and the evening is a celebration for all of us. You owe it to yourself to hear Book.

"Here is a master storyteller who can really crank out the blues." –  R.T. (Blues and Rhythm)

"Behind the humor lurks a musical master. Roy Book Binder makes country blues a living music that he plays with rare mastery." – John Shand (Sydney Morning Herald)

 

Please reserve tickets by calling the shop at (415) 789-0846