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Voted Westword
Best of Denver
2008! |
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Cult hipster denizens of the uke
and resonator guitars Del Rey & Steve James perform and teach at Swallow Hill |
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PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Contact: Rodolfo Betancourt
rudy@swallowhillmusic.org
Laura McGaughey
laura@swallowhillmusic.org
303.765.2488 |
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DENVER, COLO. (9/30/08) --
Swallow Hill is
pleased to host Del Rey & Steve James in a performance together on their
Daniels Hall stage on Saturday, October 25 at 8 p.m. Both will also
conduct special artist workshops the following day, Sunday, October 26
at 11 a.m. with Rey presenting "Blue Uke" while James conducts a "Roots
& Blues Fingerstyle/Slide Guitar" workshop.
Del Rey is a complex, pianistic guitarist, described as "a combination
of Bo Carter and the Andrews Sisters" (Observant Fan). Steve
James, songsmith and bottleneck guitarist is "a true Americana
hero...his intensity and focus always reminds me of James Coburn's
character in the Magnificent Seven" (Third Coast Magazine).
These two powerful exponents of American vernacular guitar-playing have
joined forces to make music testament to the
hillbilly/smarty-pants/country blues aesthetic. Sharing a sense of humor
and a similar manic intensity, their duets are smart, funny and full of
instrumental virtuosity. Del Rey doubles on resonator ukulele and Steve
James is known for his "noble savage" mandolin style.
Longtime colleagues and collaborators at festivals and workshops
worldwide, they met in 1992 in Santa Cruz. Their friendship developed
over many years in different places around the world, as they exchanged
stories and hot tips in various hotel bars. They kept running into one
another, sharing double-bills in Belgium and at the Gloucester Blues
Festival in England. In 2001, when they saw each other at the Port
Townsend Country Blues Workshop, they got serious about playing and
recording together. Audiences and critics have since responded so
favorably that they've been spending the majority of their time on the
road playing as a duet.
With nine solo albums between them, they have recorded two CDs together,
Tonight (2004) and Twins (2002). Recent shows include King
Biscuit Blues Festival. Merlefest, Waterfront Blues Festival and "A
Prairie Home Companion." A recent Pacific Sun review of their song,
"Sweet Lovin' Ol' Soul" noted, "...they sound so natural and authentic
that this recording sometimes seems like a time machine."
Their workshops the day following their performance will offer
participants a way to get tips directly from the music pros. In "Blue
Uke," Del Rey will show students how to break out of the six finger
jacket by learning how to fingerpick melodies and accompaniment in the
blues style on a ukulele. For James' "Roots & Blues Fingerstyle/Slide
Guitar" he will cover blues repertoire, picking techniques, blue notes,
and a toolbox of handy runs and fills in standard and open tunings.
For tickets and to register visit
www.swallowhillmusic.org
and www.learnmusicdenver.org
or call (303) 777-1003 x2.
Discounts are available for Swallow Hill members. Buy in
advance and save!
This press
release is also available online at
http://www.swallowhillmusic.org/newsroom/newsmain.htm and also as a RSS Feed at
http://www.swallowhillmusic.org/xml/newsroom/rss/SwallowHillNews.xml.
About Swallow Hill Music
Association
Helping
people make and enjoy music since 1979, Swallow Hill Music Association
is one of the largest nonprofit institutions of its kind in the United
States as a source for folk, roots and acoustic music. With more than
2,300 members, Swallow Hill provides a place to celebrate music that is
rarely heard elsewhere in the Rocky Mountain Region. Three concert
venues house more than 200 performances a year, featuring some of the
world's great artists as well as up-and-coming new talent.
Swallow Hill’s Julie Davis School of Music
offers classes for every interest, skill level and member of the family. Each
year, a faculty of 60 instructors provides training to more than 4,000 students.
A Tier II member of the
Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), Swallow Hill has won both
the Mayor's and Governor's Awards for Excellence in the Arts, countless
"Best of Denver" awards, has been recognized by the the North American
Folk Alliance, and is one of the most sought-after venues by folk and
roots performers in the country.
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