Saturday, May 20th, 2017
JOHN GORKA & CHERYL WHEELER
Tickets $30.00 ~ Showtime 7:30 pm
Plenty of tickets available, doors open 6:30.
Beer & Wine available.
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Rising from a milieu of lovelorn singer/songwriters, John Gorka illuminates instead with his trademark wordplay, twisting, turning and typing words and phrases in the way a balloon artist creates complex creatures from simple balloons. Few contemporary songwriters coax language as deftly as Gorka. For over two decades, Gorka’s keen ear has picked up the stories of those along his path, folding them into poetry and song. His keen perceptiveness inspires people from all over the world to share their stories. By involving those tales in his music, he escapes the trap of introspection that hobbles less gifted singer/songwriters. John Gorka flies below the pop culture radar with an almost cult-like following that never fails to fill concerts. Speak with any of his fans and one instantly feel’s their enthusiasm and genuine affection. His shy, almost self-effacing stage presence rightfully focuses attention on the songs. John’s versatility on guitar and piano keeps his sets musically interesting, while his rich baritone effortlessly executes his bidding. And he’s never short of the sly comment or clever joke that invariably ignites his audience. His latest recording is Bright Side of Down.
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It has always seemed as if there were two Cheryl Wheelers, with fans of the New England songwriter relishing watching the two tussle for control of the mic. There is poet-Cheryl, writer of some of the prettiest, most alluring and intelligent ballads on the modern folk scene. And there is her evil twin, comic-Cheryl, a militant trend defier and savagely funny social critic. The result is a delightful contrast between poet and comic. Poet-Cheryl writes achingly honest songs of love and loss. Contrasting the prosaic landscapes of her native small-town America with the hopelessly rootless life of the traveling performer, she touches the common chords with any who feel the tug between our busy, clamorous times and the timeless longing for simplicity and silence. Her deceptively plain-spun songs have been hits for such main-stream stars as Suzy Bogguss (Aces) and Dan Seals (Addicted), and have been recorded by everyone from Bette Midler, Maura O’Connell, and Peter Paul and Mary; to Juice Newton and Garth Brooks. Comic-Cheryl comes on like Groucho-in-a-housecoat; a fiercely everyday woman with a barbed-wire tongue. Shredding the mores of our gossipy, greedy, trend-obsessed culture, Wheeler always aims enough darts at herself to never seem sanctimonious.
Wheeler was born in the small town of Timonium, Maryland. The wistful rural vistas she glimpses so poignantly through her fleeting windshield really do represent the deep pull of place she feels in her wandering life. With the possible exception of Greg Brown, no modern songwriter comes to mind who can write as convincingly about the sheer, simple-hearted joy of a nice day; whether a warm spring one spent driving down southern back roads, or a chilly gray one spent thinking properly dark thoughts at a bayside hotel. Where others seek the startling image, the ‘Big Event,’ Wheeler wraps her songs around the familiar image, the shared event. When it’s comic-Cheryl’s turn, the poet simply turns over the mic and allows the comic to be displayed in her native habitat: the stage. Wheeler can comically lampoon modern culture while thoughtfully teasing herself and the audience. As the two forces smooth their conflict, taking their separate turns and melding into the same artistic vision, Wheeler emerges as a gifted and openhearted songwriter approaching the sure summit of her craft. Audience members’ abilities to find their own lives reflected in the sweet spaces of her songs reveals an artist comfortably wearing the austere genius that defines folk music’s best traditions. More confidently and beautifully than ever before, she proves that the poet and the comic are one and the same. |
Saturday, August 26th, 2017
VANCE GILBERT &
ELLIS PAUL
Tickets $30.00 ~ Showtime 7:30 pm
“Boston based, Philadelphia raised guitarist Vance Gilbert is among the quintessential musical poets of his time. His lyrics are highly personal, his tenor vocals fluid and enthralling . . . musical risks punctuated by passionate vocal delivery, brilliantly intuitive guitar playing, and immeasurable courage . . . .gives you a feeling of utter joy.” (Dirty Linen Magazine)
Vance Gilbert burst onto the singer/songwriter scene in the early 1990s when the buzz started spreading in the folk clubs of Boston, about an ex-multicultural arts teacher who was knocking ’em dead at open mikes. Word of the Philadelphia-area bred performer quickly spread to New York City. Then Shawn Colvin invited Gilbert to be a special guest on her Fat City national tour. Vance Gilbert took audiences across the country by storm. More than 12 accomplished albums later, Vance continues to refine his unlikely union of humor, virtuosity and the unexpected. Whether with classic, original songwriting or ageless interpretation of covers, his is a presentation steeped in deep humanism and bravery, stunning artistry and soul and contagious, unbridled joy — unarguably the blue ribbon that tie and seal the seemingly impossible package….
“His catchy, pop friendly melodies support keenly crafted, hard-hitting lyrics. His guitar is supple, his milk-warm tenor honest and gently acrobatic… He does not duck hard truths and never succumbs to the temptations to tie his points up in a neat platitudes or truth-isms. He writes powerfully and uncompromisingly about the wrenching separation suffered by single parents, the tug between love’s desire and its demands, and the bitterness of being nonwhite in this Eurocentric culture… He is that rare performer for whom people lean forward in their seats as eagerly between songs as they do during them.” ~ The Boston Globe.
Artists as varied as Arlo Guthrie, Anita Baker, and the late George Carlin have in recent years requested Vance to be added to their evenings. Now is your chance.
“Despite his success and sense of history, Mr. Paul remains an Artist with his eye on the future and an interest in discovering the transformative potential of his music.” ~New York Times.
Ellis Paul’s songwriting credentials are unassailable. They are as genuine as the 14 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 note he plays. Since emerging from the Boston music scene, Ellis Paul’s music has been consistently recognized and celebrated worldwide. His 16 releases and loyal, enthusiastic audiences reinforce this acclaim and have since cemented his place as one of America’s most talented songwriters. With 16 CDs, a concert DVD, and a book of poems and short stories to his credit, Ellis’ songs have been featured on the soundtracks to documentaries, TV shows and big Hollywood films such as The Farrelly Brother’s ‘Hall Pass’, ‘Me, Myself & Irene’, and ‘Shallow Hal’. Ellis is a true American troubadour, performing over 150 tour dates a year, for over 20 years all around the world. He has shared the stage with some of the top names in the music world including: Pete Seeger, John Mayer, Arlo Guthrie, Richie Havens, Dar Williams, Shawn Colvin, and multi-platinum band Sugarland, among others.
“Ellis has a voice that is so powerful that you know who it is the second he comes through your radio. His music and songs are a new birth in American sound that makes me want to go see concerts again.” ~Kristian Bush / Sugarland.
Woody Guthrie’s daughter, Nora, says of Ellis, “A singer songwriter is only as good as the times he reflects. Wise, tender, brilliant and biting, Ellis is one of our best human compasses, marking in melodies and poems where we’ve been and where we might go if we so choose to. Personally Ellis, I’m goin’ where you’re goin’!”
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UPCOMING SHOWS
AUGUST
(26) Vance Gilbert &
Ellis Paul |
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Directions:
Fulton, MD 20759
NOTE: Scaggsville Road is the old name of the road that is now Route 216. It is referred to by both names in different parts of the roadway between Route 29 and Route 108. Between Route 29 and Route 216, follow signs for Route 216 to get to Temple Isaiah.
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TICKETS & INFORMATION:
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On-Line:
Use the Brown Paper Tickets button on the left to order tickets online until 7:00pm the night of the show.
There is a 2.75% fee for credit card orders, either in advance or at the door.
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At The Door:
Tickets go on sale at the door at 7:00 pm.
WE NOW ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS AT THE DOOR.
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By Mail:
Please send your check or money order to Uptown Concerts Inc.
PO Box 1053, Randallstown, MD 21133
Please make checks payable to Uptown Concerts Inc. Include a phone number and email address and I’ll e-mail you a receipt. Tickets are held at the door. Please be sure specify the show(s) for which you are purchasing tickets. Include your e-mail address.
ALL SALES FINAL
NO REFUNDS
NO EXCHANGE
NO FLASH CAMERAS
NO VIDEO OR AUDIO RECORDING
PERMITTED
GET ON OUR E-MAIL MAILING LIST AND STAY INFORMED See the link on our web site to sign up on our email list of upcoming shows.
The Uptown Concerts website is made possible by Paul Hartman host of the radio folk show “Detour” on WTMD-FM, 89.7 Sundays 5-7pm or on line at www.wtmd.org | | |
