ACOUSTIC ROCK

"Sandman" Sandy Allen

Biography: Sandman grew up in the woods about fifty miles north of NYC. Born musical, his God-given talent was nurtured by his parents and teachers, and especially by his nearest neighbor, "Uncle Jack" Allison, who had a studio over his garage where he painted and wrote and recorded music (he was a "retired" folksinger). Sandman started playing guitar around age ten, teaching himself on a guitar Uncle Jack generously lent him. By twelve he was playing in bands, and at fifteen, had a song published by Paradox Music (Elektra Records). After a year at Carnegie-Mellon U. studying acting, Sandman dropped out and began a recording career that lasted about ten years, first with the band Papa Nebo (Atlantic), then with the group Free Beer (Buddha,RCA). During these years, Sandman toured extensively, worked as a sideman and appeared as a guest artist on several records. For most of the`70s, he lived in Greenwich Village. In 1980, he moved to Mystic, Ct. and took a hiatus from music for a couple of years. When his mother died in `85, he reaccessed his own life and decided music is what he should be doing. He started playing in the local "country" scene, began writing again and eventually found some other singer/songwriters - kindred souls. In the early `90s, he joined a band with Jim Carpenter and Mike Palazzolo (and a rotating crew of other fine players). Sandman still plays with Jim and Mike in Jim`s band The Hoolios, and along with Mike, he`s a Rivergod (one of S.E. Ct.`s most enduring and popular bands). Sandman began doing solo gigs in `04, with Mike joining him on bass/vocals when he`s available (he plays in 5 or 6 groups). In `06, Sandman released his first solo record (ok, it`s a CD) "Horses to Water", in `07, "Anthology", a collection of his songs from the Papa Nebo/Free Beer albums came out. Both are available at CDbaby, as well as other online venues. Check out sandmanmusic.net for more ... love & peace.

Contact: sman54@sandmanmusic.net

Website: Click Here

Christopher M. Listorti

Biography:

Progressively from; word of mouth demographic sprawls, independent national tours, local anticipation, and camaraderie with those in the same artistic endeavor all over the map. Chris Listorti brings you honest, prolific tongue-in-cheek, aesthetically pleasing song-writing that will calm a new heart everyday. You`ll hear your haunting melodies, heavy acoustic, indie-rock timbre.

You could pick up a self-help book, or, you could listen to "Roughs" intellectual spin on the usual masochistic downpour of sadistic natured emotions that spawn from most artists meticulously observant minds Calm Down It`s just real music. It chills you out like "Crosby Stills Nash & Young" did, and "Elliott Smith" and "Ben Gibbard" will too only It`s an entity of its own. So listen and enjoy your catharsis...

Contact: christopher.listorti@gmail.com

Website: Click Here

Golden Ratio

Biography: About: - All music is about love – too much, not enough, the wrong kind, and, hopefully, sometimes, it all comes together for a moment, so let’s love and laugh! Description Golden Ratio brings you the finest ethically grown, fairly traded, and sustainable musicians for delicious listening. With a broad range of musical interests and experience, Golden Ratio creates a sound known to few as Cosmic Folk-Jazz. Biography: The current incarnation of Golden Ratio is Bernadette Golden, Larry Kern, and Jim Fitzgerald. Bernadette has been writing songs for only about 7 years now, but she’s played guitar since she was 11. In college, she played in a (perish the thought) top 40’s band and a lounge jazz duo in New Jersey. Since moving to CT, she played in the folk duo, Crazy Quilt, worked as a church musician, and hosted The Words and Music Night at The Watermark until it floated downriver in the big flood. Golden Ratio came together in its first incarnation in 2005, and evolved into the band on Bernadette’s first cd, Unless. A second cd is being recorded now, by Hugh Birdsall. Larry began playing 5-string banjo and 12 string as a teen. Influenced by John Fahey and Leo Kotke, he began experimenting with unusual tonalities (don’t get him started on Pythagoras), tunings, and home-built electronic and acoustic instruments. Individually, he’s writes beautiful instrumentals, and songs not meant for polite company. In addition to now collaborating on songs, Bernadette and Larry also play improvisational music at quarterly Labyrinth Walks at Dragon’s Egg Studio, and have written original music and songs for a HS production of Midsummer Night’s Dream, and local performances of several somewhat obscure classics: Aristophanes’ Lysistrata, Dantes’ Inferno, and the poems of Yeats, to name a few. Jim Fitzgerald began his musical career when he wanted to play trumpet in the Jr. High band, and was handed a bass viol and a "How to Play" booklet instead. He was a band & orchestra nerd throughout high school. In 11th. grade he obtained an inexpensive Teisco Del Rey bass guitar and played in, what would later be termed, a garage psychedelia band. He soon also started playing about in the local folkie scene with the upright. Here in New London since 1982, he’s well-known in the local music scene, especially for his bass playing in Dogbite, and for his knowledge of, and insistence on playing unusual vintage hybrid string instruments, like the banjolin and mandola.

Contact: bernadette@bernadettegolden.com

Website: Click Here

John Lamar

Biography: A Carolina expatriot, John has been in New England since 1979. He presents a weekly alternative music radio show on WCNI New London called "Rodeo Joe & the Rock `n` Roll Roundup" and has had the pleasure of playing many types of new music including local & national artists for many years. In the past couple of years, he has felt the need to become a more integral part of the music scene around New London & has had the joy of singing and playing his harmonica in public several times. He hopes to keep learning and associating with the incredibly talented folks in this area. We are very lucky to have so many creative people in this small community, and he feels priviledged to be a part of the scene.

Contact: eggstremes@aol.com

Website: Click Here

Lauren Agnelli

Biography: LAUREN AGNELLI: is a songwriter, musician, co-organizer and band leader for the Small Town Concert Series (STCS) with Matthew Male, longtime New Yorker and recent Chesterite. She’s a proud stepmom to Matthew’s three young ladies (all now teenagers!). One of Lauren’s former groups, folk rockers The Washington Squares, was nominated for a Grammy Award. Her most recent cd, Love Always Follows Me, came out on the BongoBeat label. She plays music everywhere she goes and plays with her cat, Mister Kitten, to excess. N owadays, Lauren works on music with the STCS Big House Band, Dave Rave, Becca Atkins & Dick Pape (2nd Step Players & Artreach), along with leading the Small Town Concert Series Big House Band in song on their numerous tributes, benefits, and appearances. Salud to SAMs – a great bunch of music lovin’ musicians. Contact leagnelli@comcast.net Visit Lauren online at www.myspace.com/LaurenAgnelli

Contact: leagnelli@comcast.net

Website: Click Here

Maggie`s Guitar

Biography: "Maggie`s Guitar" is the new musical venture featuring Ron and Margaret Gletherow, Steve Fagin and Mike Bailey.

Contact: info@maggiesguitar.com

Website: Click Here

Matthew Male

Biography: Manages the Small Town Concert Series in Chester CT. Concert producer, drum box builder/player. Attempts to play the recorder. Sound tech for Agnelli/Rave/Maxwell etc. Matthew works with endangered seabirds and restores antique furniture and houses when not working the music thing........

Contact: malematthew@comcast.net

Website: Click Here

Mike Bailey

Biography: Mike Bailey is a Norwich area singer-songwriter and an original member of the Shoreline Acoustic Music Society. He claims to play both guitar and harmonica. People who have heard him may dispute that. His first CD, Point, was released in 2002.

Contact: mike@shorelineacousticmusic.org

Website: Click Here

Peter Magrane

Biography: Singer, songwriter and guitarist Peter Magrane has been playing guitar since his early days in New York. When he was eight years old he heard a neighborhood guitarist play a cool rendition of Ghost Riders in the Sky and from that moment on he was hooked. His many years of devotion have turned him into a premier guitarist and songwriter. His mastery of folk, blues, country and classical styles have allowed him to create his unique and exciting approach to fingerstyle guitar and songwriting. When he is performing his solo guitar arrangements you’ll hear Peter range from the Beatles to Burt Bacharach. Then he’ll throw in a few traditional Irish tunes that remind him of his Irish grandfather who played the piano and was a beloved musical influence. And then he’ll start wailing on some country blues and maybe end up with a classical virtuoso number. Peter has studied with John Knowles, noted Nashville fingerstyle guru. John was Chet Atkins right hand man and was also a member of the Nashville Guitar Quartet along with Chet. Peter has paid his dues and his original songs reflect the trials and tribulations in his life as well as the joy he finds in his friends and music. From his romantic tunes that will bring a tear to your eye, to laugh out loud funny songs that will let you see Peter’s views on the world, his real life stories will intrigue and captivate you.

Contact: 203 245-1694

Website: Click Here

Phil Newland and Chuck Davis

Biography: Phil Newland and Chuck Davis are both New England Natives with way too much in the regional music scene to go into here.Mostly because of the fact that we`d saso totally date ourselves ,OK..... so we`re "almost old".We play a mix of good listening music from The Band, Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Doc Watson, The Greatful Dead,, Little Feat plus standards and of course(ta da!) Original Material!Phil plays guitar and sings pretty much all the time. He comes from an extremely musical family. As any one from middle Massachusetts, especially Monson, can tell you. Chuck plays double bass( acoustic and electric upright) as well as acoustic bass guitar ,adds harmonies and as of late is singing a few tunes himself. He`s been knocking around the bar ciruit for longer than he`d rather cop to. The duo has been successful playing hte local pubs for the last year. Prior to that Phil had performing solo ,and still does a few of those gigs. Chuck had been performing with the local band "High Times"and still does a few of those gigs. What you get here is a warm rich mix of acoustic music that is very entertaining and packs a lot of punch for two guys .We hope you will come and join us and enjoy the exsperiance.

Contact: pnewland@comcast.net

Website: Click Here

Ron Gletherow

Biography: Ron Gletherow is a singer/songwriter, originally from London, England, now living in Gales Ferry Connecticut. Has been writing and performing both solo and with London based bands for many years. He`ll tell you the highlight of his career was appearing before a British TV audience of 10 million, on a show called "Stars In Their Eyes", performing as his all time hero, Jim Croce.

Contact: rongletherow@tvcconnect.net

Website: Click Here

COUNTRY

jbbutterfield

Biography: it all began with a beat up guitar, a handful of dreams n songs, smallltown indifference! THEN! the big bad world! like minded people, new horizons, tours of america, thye british isles, all of europe and even india!THEN! the record deal! `spook records` currently promoting my latest album " the passionate pilgrim" via itunes, amazon napster etc.now a full decade on from my beginnings, contemplating yet another tour, catch the rest of me on myspace, facebook,nessmp3, and no depression..my genre has been described as an acoustic johnny cash meets tvz.

Contact: jbbutterfield@hotmail.co.uk

Website: Click Here

FOLK

Bernadette Golden

Biography: The songwriting muse found Bernadette 7 years ago, and has given her no rest since. If you’ve had the opportunity to hear her perform, you know that her wide vocal range and nuanced expression insist that you listen as she speaks the secrets everyone knows about being human. Her songs, humorous to esoteric, inhabit your wildest dreams, and a musical niche that is warm and candlelit. Let her music melt in your mind as her sultry and sensuous voice takes you to all the places relationships can go, and a few they shouldn’t. Bernadette has played guitar since she was 11. In college, she played in a (perish the thought) top 40’s band and a lounge jazz duo in New Jersey. Since moving to CT, she played in the folk duo, Crazy Quilt, worked as a church musician, and hosted The Words and Music Night at The Watermark until it floated downriver in the big flood. Golden Ratio came together in its first incarnation in 2005, on Bernadette’s first cd, Unless. She hosts Golden Ratio`s Originals and Traditionals Open Mic in New London, on the second Sunday of each month. Golden Ratio`s current members now include Larry Kern and Jim Fitzgerald. A second CD is coming soooooon!

Contact: bernadette@bernadettegolden.com

Website: Click Here

Caryl P. Weiss

Biography: Caryl P. Weiss is an international performing and recording folk artist whose vast experience covers everything from traditional American and British music to her own award-winning compositions. At home on land and at sea, this multi-instrumentalist also gives participatory sea shanty and spoons-playing workshops at schools, festivals, and museums. She`s played 38 instruments in 12 countries and 26 states, and has recorded 8 albums on her own label, as well as lending her talents to over 25 others.

Contact: Caryl P. Weiss

Website: Click Here

Chris Castle

Biography: Chris Castle is a Folk/Americana songwriter from the Firelands region of Ohio (settled just after Benedict Arnold razed much of New England). His touring schedule brings Chris to Connecticut at least a few times each year, and these days, he considers it more a second home than a tour stop. The Day`s Rick Koster calls Castle "a visionary songwriter", while Folk Alley has named him "a rising Americana stand-out". Cleveland Magazine dubbed him "an authentic connection to the world-weary soul of American roots music", and bassist Nolan Mendenhall (Chuck Berry, Joan Baez) described his January `09 performance at the Ark (in Ann Arbor, MI) as "a fistful of stunning songs and a truth serum voice". Since early 2008, Chris Castle has shared stages with such renowned artists as: Chris Hillman (the Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers), Herb Pederson (James Taylor), Tommy Ramone (the Ramones), Junior Brown, the Wood Brothers, Jonathan Edwards, Jeff Black, Tommy Womack, Eilen Jewell, Jim White, the everybodyfields, Fiona McBain (Ollabelle), Peter Case, and Will Kimbrough. His latest CD, Crazy Wind, was recorded in August of 2008 at the home stusio of American music legend, Levon Helm (the Band, Bob Dylan).

Contact: castle@dirtsandwich.com

Website: Click Here

Kat Wyand

Biography: Kat Wyand is a name that has become synonymous with folk music in her hometown of East Lyme, Connecticut. She shows a true and constantly improving ability to make "music of the people": down-to-earth vocals, simple arrangements, songs that speak for the spirit. She has appeared as a featured artist on Indiegrrl.com. Kat is at work writing, recording and producing her first CD, Paper Crane.

Contact: kat@katwyand.com

Website: Click Here

Mikaela Pearson

Biography: Mikaela Pearson is best known as the frontwoman of the goth-rock outfit, CURSE . Her influences include folk, ritual chants, celtic music and avant-garde jazz. (CURSE released a CD single of the beat generation classic “Pull My Daisy” featuring composer David Amram and guitarist Marc Ribot.) Mikaela`s solo shows are a melancholy mix of traditional and original songs that explore the moodier side of life. Listeners can expect a blend of murder ballads, traditional vodou chants and other dark folk/blues influences, plus originals in the same vein. There`s also a song cycle in the works featuring the words of female poets and priestesses from times long past. Tales of desperate characters, tortured souls, and eerie encounters. Solo voice and autoharp.

Contact: mikaelapearson@comcast.net

Website: Click Here

Pat Daddona

Biography: A New London transplant, Pat writes and plays contemporary folk music. She has published two CDs with the help of producer Ron Gletherow, "Letting Go" http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/PatDaddona and "Love Is Hard" http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/PatDaddona2 . Guitarist Mike Ball accompanies her on some pieces. Among her influences are Catie Curtis, Kris Delmhorst, Janis Ian, Tracy Chapman and Lui Collins. You can catch her at area open mics and venues and the SAM`s folk festival in July.

Contact: patd@ct.metrocast.net

Website: Click Here

Randy Hogg

Biography: Unfortunately, Randy fell in with the "wrong crowd" as a teenager in the 60s, became indelibly imprinted with Dylan lyrics, Peter Paul and Mary guitar stylings and Simon and Garfunkel vocal harmonies and has been in recovery ever since. Not even his more recent fling with Bluegrass Banjo could overwrite these hard-wired brain segments. Needless to say, Randy`s fan base is virtually limited to nursing home audiences but he did once have a nickel left in his banjo case by a homeless person on the NL waterfront.

Contact: banjo.randomizer@gmail.com

Website: Click Here