Denver — Swallow Hill Music Association is pleased to welcome two stellar singer/songwriters for a special evening on Friday, September 14 at 8 p.m.: Kelly Joe Phelps and Gregory Alan Isakov.

As a tunesmith, Kelly Joe Phelps already has a proven track record, with a catalogue of original songs infused with what The Washington Post calls "poignancy, passion and spirituality." With his sixth studio album, Tunesmith Retrofit, he offers a dozen compositional gems that show Phelps at the peak of his songwriting powers, tackling engaging story songs and soul-baring ballads with equal aplomb. Although his musical foundation remains country-blues and folk music, there’s nothing traditional or predictable about Phelps' lyrical approach, which features distinctive images and refreshing turns of phrase. Phelps launched his recording career in his early 30s, after immersing himself in Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and free improvisation and then discovering the blues of Skip James, Robert Pete Williams, and Mississippi Fred McDowell. His first three albums, Lead Me On, Roll Away the Stone, and Shine Eyed Mister Zen, featured just Phelps on guitar and vocals, performing a mix of traditional and original songs. With 2001's Sky Like a Broken Clock, he moved to strictly original compositions, adding bassist Larry Taylor (Canned Heat, Tom Waits) and drummer Billy Conway (Morphine). Slingshot Professionals, another album of all-Phelps material, added renowned guitarist Bill Frisell and three Canadian musicians: slide guitarist Steve Dawson, fiddler-mandolinist Jesse Zubot and keyboardist Chris Gestrin. The talents of Dawson, Zubot and Gestrin show up again on Tunesmith Retrofit. Phelps' music comes alive thanks to masterful musicianship and superb songwriting, and his newest album is one of a musical depth and poetic charm that seems destined to bring this gifted artist the larger audience he deserves.

"Strong, subtle, a lyrical genius," is what the Boulder Weekly has to say about up-and-coming singer/songwriter Gregory Alan Isakov, who has been compared to his influences, Bruce Springsteen, Kelly Joe Phelps, Iron & Wine, and Gillian Welch. Isakov’s humble presence, overwhelming voice, and guitar style have been treasured by an ever-growing and captivated fan base. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and raised in Philadelphia, Isakov moved to Colorado at the end of the last decade. He has taken the folk music scene by storm with his 2003 LP release, Rust Colored Stones and his 2005 release, Songs For October. His song craft lends to the deepest lyrical masterpieces, and his live performance has been known to quiet and shake the biggest rooms. Most recently he was named by Westword as Denver’s Best Singer/Songwriter 2007 and is the 2007 winner of Telluride Troubador Competition. Isakov has shared the stage with numerous touring artists such as Rodrigo y Gabriela, Alexi Murdoch, and Fiona Apple, and has performed throughout the United States and has appeared at festivals such as South by Southwest, Falcon Ridge Folk Fest, Rocky Mountain Folks Fest, and the Southpark Music Festival. "Comforting and collected, Isakov’s sounds create an American soundscape where trains are your travel and ghosts are your confidants." — Dirt Magazine

For tickets visit www.swallowhillmusic.org or call (303) 777-1003. Discounts are available for Swallow Hill members.

About Swallow Hill Music Association:
Helping people make music since 1979 years, Swallow Hill Music Association is one of the largest institutions of its kind in the United States as a source for folk, roots and acoustic music. With more than 2,100 members—some of whom are also volunteers—Swallow Hill provides a place to celebrate music that is rarely heard elsewhere in the Rocky Mountain Region. Three concert venues house more than 150 performances a year, featuring some of the world's great artists as well as up-and-coming new talent. The Julie Davis Music School at Swallow Hill provides a valuable and affordable extra-curricular educational resource to the community with more than 50 music instructors involved in more than 240 adult classes and 70 children's classes annually.

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