Fri., July 11, 2008 @ 8:00 pm.

Enter the Haggis

There aren't many groups who can lay claim to possibly 18 different genres of music, but Toronto's Enter The Haggis is one of them. To engage this quintet is to indulge rock, fusion, bluegrass, traditional Celtic fare, agitpop, folk and even Latin flavors. ETH is that rare band that can pull it all off and actually own everything. The Celtic influence remains intact, which is likely the reason why core fans have stayed so loyal over the past decade. Still, ETH continue to break new ground with every offering, and the power of the music is only made more significant by their socio-political conviction. Their live show is a musical feast; viscerally dynamic, emotionally uplifting and intellectually stimulating. The band's oeuvre darts effortlessly from the trad strains of, say, The Chieftains and the Pogues to the frenetic pop of early Elvis Costello and even to the Latin-tinged spirit of the Buena Vista Social Club and beyond; complete with Trevor Lewington's deft guitar playing, the reeling of Brian Buchanan's flawless fiddle, the diverse rhythmic machinations of bassist Mark Abraham and drummer James Campbell, and Craig Downie's transporting pipes, not to mention the near-perfect vocal harmonies. And the fans love them. “We think the whole star system is pretty silly. We're just regular, well-mannered guys who are very fortunate to be playing music for a living and I think our fans see us the same way.”

Opener: Brian Chaffee

$14 advance and $18 day of show.
 

Sat., July 12, 2008 @ 8:00 pm.  (Sawtelle Room)

The Fools

The Fools barged their way onto the Boston music scene with their first single "She Looks All Right in the Dark" . Known for their outrageous live performances the band quickly gathered a loyal and ever-growing audience. Their first national (and then international) hit record, "Psycho Chicken," was a parody of Talking Heads' Psycho Killer . With the signing of the band to EMI Records came the first two albums "Sold Out" and "Heavy Mental" . A second single "Its a Night (For Beautiful Girls)" then charted, followed by a cover of Roy Orbison's "Running Scared" . Touring North America first with The Knack and then with Van Halen helped to place the band firmly on the national stage. European tours including shows with Cheap Trick and Journey resulted in huge overseas record sales. Back home again The Fools released their biggest album "World Dance Party" .   Be a fool - smile for yourself.

Opener: The Ragamuffins of Love

$16 advance and $20 day of show.

Sat., July 12, 2008 @ 8:00 pm.  (Ball Room)

Toby Walker & Pat Wictor

BLUES AT THE CROSSROADS: SAINTS AND SINNERS
Think Yin and Yang, opposites attract and all those men trying to get in touch with their feminine side - each an example of how we seek out and embrace our oppositional counterparts for completemess. Toby Walker and Pat Wictor's Blues at the Crossroads: Saints and Sinners celebrates the varied, often contradictory, faces of the Blues. Toby's forte is the more traditional Blues sound: a low-down, earthy growl about people coping with hard times and bad choices. Pat finds inspiration in both Blues and Gospel where redemption is within reach for all. On stage, the contrast is just a great. Pat, tall and lean with a cascade of red hair, blends wry humor and a generousity of spirit as he welcomes people to his world. Toby is more compact with an infectious laugh and a sense of coiled energy on stage as he narrates his musical oddyssey. The contrast stops there. Both are superb instrumentalists. Toby roamed southern states seeking out the more obscure - but immensely talented - musicians who helped create the sound he loves. From them, he learned to both respect the tradition and carry it forward, adding his own flair. Pat took a circuitous route to acoustic music, moving through rock, heavy metal and jazz. His instrument selection was just as adventurous, starting with guitar, moving to bass, on to saxophone before finding slide guitar. Both men bring a level of expertise to the stage that allows them to improvise fearlessly. Both pull their audiences in with their own pleasure in sharing the music and their fierce dedication to their craft.

$15 advance and $19 day of show.

Fri., July 18, 2008 @ 8:00 pm.

The Roys

You know it when you hear it - a song or sound that strikes a rare balance between brilliantly fresh and disarmingly familiar. Maybe it's the deeply resonant imagery of the new single "Grandpa's Barn," the arresting sibling harmonies on "Raining On The Roses" or the searing guitar of "We're Gonna Get There.”    The Roys aim to take advantage. Finally, The Roys are in a position to do what they've spent their entire lives preparing to do. Lee says, "We're just your typical 15-year overnight sensation."

Opener: Jacy Dawn

$15 advance and $18 day of show.

Sat., July 19, 2008 @ 8:00 pm.

Paul Geremia

Paul Geremia is possibly the greatest living performer of the East Coast and Texas fingerpicking and slide styles. He has been called a national treasure. John Hammond says that he’d drive a thousand miles to see Paul play. “When Paul plays Leadbelly, you can close your eyes and swear that it is Leadbelly himself.” Paul has created a style which is very much his own combining his interpretations of the music of Blind Lemon Jefferson, Robert Johnson, Blind Willie McTell, Scrapper Blackwell and Blind Blake . His superb recordings have made him a critical favorite and place him firmly among the legends who inspired and influenced him over the past four decades. Paul has been traveling far and wide, performing in every capacity from street singing to club and concert bookings throughout the U.S.A., Canada and Europe. He has built a reputation as a first rate bluesman, songwriter, "scholar" of early jazz and blues, and one of the best country blues fingerpickers ever with his tools - six and twelve-string guitars, harmonica, piano and a husky soulful voice.
Paul has a new DVD from Stefan Grossman's Guitar Artistry Series . You can check it out at:
http://guitarvideos.com/guitarartistr...

Opener: Carl Goddard

$15 advance and $19 day of show.

Fri., July 25, 2008 @ 8:00 pm.  (Sawtelle Room)

Ellis Paul

Ellis Paul is one of the leading voices in America's thriving singer-songwriter/ folk circuit. His folk credentials are unassailable. They are as genuine as the thirteen Boston Music Awards he has earned, as indelible as the tattoo of Woody Guthrie that adorns his arm and as authentic as the musical roots he draws upon with every single note he plays. Most importantly, every musical step that Ellis has taken over the course of his storied 15+ year folk career has rung true. He was a principle leader in what has become known as the Boston school of songwriting, an urbane, literate folk-pop style that helped ignite the folk revival of the 1990s. His charismatic, personally authentic performance style has influenced a generation of artists. Though he remains among the most pop-friendly of today's singer-songwriters - his songs regularly appear in hit movie and TV soundtracks - he has bridged the gulf between the modern folk sound and the populist traditions of Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger more successfully than perhaps any of his songwriting peers. His work has always and will always reflect his passion for the music he creates. This is the bedrock for everything he has ever done and it is the reason his catalog up to and including his newest release, The Dragonfly Races, which has been designated a 2008 Parents' Choice Silver Honor award winner, is so enduring.

Opener: Linda Sharar

$20 advance and $25 day of show.

Fri., July 25, 2008 @ 8:00 pm.  (Ball Room)

Dwight & Nicole

Described as "Soulful," "Sexy," and "Riveting," Dwight Ritcher & Nicole Nelson have been charming music fans & critics for years with their fresh & beautiful spin on blues/soul music. Their ingredients are powerful, but simple enough: Rock: At their live shows, Dwight plays the hell out of a Flying V guitar while Nicole beats wildly on a tambourine, each moving to their rhythm in a way that almost makes you blush. Folk: a lyrical sensibility, songs that seem to be crafted not only to get you moving, but breathe with feeling and point. Blues: they both have the kind of voices that only come from an understanding of why this is the mother of all American music. A little spattering of gospel-style country, and classic soul & jazz round out their fresh sound, and there you have it. For artists like Dwight & Nicole that defy simple categorization, coming up with a single definite label just doesn't quite do the trick. And until Bad-ass/Folk/Rock/Blues/Jazz/Funk/Gospel/Country/Soul becomes a genre of it's own, you'll just have to go see them and decide for yourself.

Opener: TBA

$15 advance and $19 day of show.

Sat., July 26, 2008 @ 8:00 pm.

The Starlings

CD Release Party !
The Starlings have captured the ears of fans both in the Northwest and beyond. The anticipated 2008 release of their sophomore album, "Marveling the While" follows their successful 2006 release of debut album "Songbook." Based out of Seattle, they've received accolades from notable sources as Maverick Magazine and Americana UK . Led by the magnetic harmonies and songwriting of Joy Mills and Tom Parker, this murmuration combines lyrics and vocals that are all at once wistful and fierce, haunting and soothing.

$10