Monday, April 13, 2009

“Most Wanted” Emerging Artists from the 2008 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Abi Tapia and Blue Moose and the Unbuttoned Zippers to play 6 shows in the NE


“Most Wanted” Emerging Artists from the 2008 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Abi Tapia and Blue Moose and the Unbuttoned Zippers will play 6 shows in the Northeast

Each year the audience at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival votes for their favorite acts from the Emerging Artists Showcase. The top 4 vote getters are invited to return to the Festival the following year to perform in the “Most Wanted Song Swap.” The selected artists from the 2008 festival are Abi Tapia, Blue Moose and the Unbuttoned Zippers, Lucy Wainwright Roche, and Amy Speace.

These selected artists often participate in a “Preview Tour” before the festival. Due to previous commitment
s and scheduling difficulties, this year’s preview tour will only include six dates and two of the acts. Still, these shows will be a great opportunity for loyal Falcon Ridge Folk Festival-goers and Northeast folk fans to get to know these emerging artists and reconnect with friends. www.falconridgefolk.com

Artist Biographies:

Brewing up a
tasty mix of traditional music infused with zesty rhythms and innovative arrangements, Blue Moose and the Unbuttoned Zippers is one of the most dynamic groups based in the Boston area today. True citizens of the 21st century world, BMUZ takes from the rooted traditions of many cultures and translates their essence into a unique, vibrant sound.

The members of BMUZ use an eclectic group of instruments. Bronwyn Bird plays the accordian and the ethereal nyckelharpa, the traditional bowed stringed instrument from Sweden, where she lived for a year. Andy Reiner, who comes from a musical family and has
studied at many a fiddle camp across the country, plays the five string fiddle and is especially rooted in the lively music of Cape Breton. A fiddler who has studied traditional music in Ireland and Norway, Mariel Vandersteel also plays hardanger fiddle, the traditional string instrument of Norway. Stash Wyslouch, who has traveled with guitar through South America and is influenced by hip hop and funk, brings a driving sense of rhythm and groove to the group with his guitar and melodica. www.bmuz.net

Abi Tapia undoubtedly gets her optimism from her mom who was expelled from Catholic School for being pregnant with her, but called it “the best day of her life.” Abi’s first fifteen years were a blur of Southern towns and yearly uprooting as her mother chased work and higher education. But the constant moving was presented as a big adventure and instilled in Abi the idea that new places have potential for happiness, discovery and success. So she kept moving. In fact, she just moved from Austin, TX to Berkshire County, MA.

Her new album, The Beauty in the Ruin, explores sadness and frustration, which after 8 years of the starving artist’s life Abi had plenty of, but there is a common thread of hope, redemption and joy in all of these supposedly sad songs. It is full of sing-able hooks and straddles country, folk and rock with ease, incorporating fiddle and pedal steel as well as some crunchy electric guitars and big drums. www.abitapia.com

Performance Dates:


Saturday, April 18, 2009 8pm
The Golden Apple Coffeehouse
Mt Kisco, NY
www.goldenapplecoffeehouse.com
Price: $15/$8 Seniors and students

Sunday, May 10, 2009 6pm
The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Washington, DC
www.kennedy-center.org
Tickets: Free

Friday, May 15, 2009 8:00 PM
Cafe Veritas
Rochester, NY
www.cafeveritas.org

Saturday, May 16th, 2009 8:00 PM
Common Ground Coffeehouse
Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
http://www.commongroundfusw.com

Saturday, May 23rd, 2009 8:00 PM
Notlob Folk Concerts
Park Avenue Congregational Church
Arlington, MA
http://notlobmusic.googlepages.com
Price: $15/$12.50/$10

Friday, May 29th, 2009 8:00 PM
Pioneer Arts Center of Easthampton (PACE)
Easthampton, MA
http://www.pioneerarts.org
Price: $12/$10 Members

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