Calliope Acoustic Masters Series 2010-11
Presenting the best in traditional and contemporary roots music

September 25--John Hammond
October 23--Tom Rush
November 20--Ken Whiteley & The Levy Sisters
December 11--Geoff Muldaur & Jim Kweskin
January 22--Harry Manx
February 26--Red Horse (featuring John Gorka, Eliza Gilkyson, & Lucy Kaplansky)
March 5--Solas
April 16--Patty Larkin

Contact ProArtsTickets: (412) 394-3353, www.proartstickets.org

All concerts are held on Saturday evenings-- 7:30pm, Carnegie Lecture Hall (Oakland)

For information on other Calliope concerts:
Calliope Center Stage Concerts
Calliope Emerging Legends Concerts
Calliope Collaboration Concerts
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September 25
John Hammond

"John's sound is so compelling, complete, symmetrical and soulful with just his voice, guitar and harmonica, it is at first impossible to imagine improving it... He's a great force of nature. John sounds like a big train coming.
He chops them all down." - Tom Waits

John Hammond does justice to classic blues by combining powerful guitar and harmonica playing with expressive vocals and a dignified stage presence. Within the first decade of his career as a performer, he began crafting a niche for himself that is completely his own: the solo guitar man, harmonica slung in a rack around his neck, reinterpreting classic blues songs from the 1930s, '40s, and '50s. John is a multiple Grammy nominee; his album Rough & Tough was nominated for a Grammy in 2010, in the category of Best Traditional Blues Album. John was also the host of the film The Search for Robert Johnson.

Over the course of his career, John has performed or recorded with Jimi Hendrix (discovered while playing in John's band), Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Duane Allman, Mike Bloomfield, JJ Cale, Tom Waits, The Band, John Lee Hooker, and Dr. John.

Opening Act: Daryl Fleming & David Bernabo
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October 23
Tom Rush

Tom Rush is a gifted musician and performer, whose shows offer a musical celebration--a journey into the tradition and spectrum of what music has been, can be, and will become. His distinctive guitar style, wry humor and warm, expressive voice have made him both a legend and a lure to audiences around the world. His shows are filled with the rib-aching laughter of terrific story-telling, the sweet melancholy of ballads and the passion of gritty blues.

Rush's impact on the American music scene has been profound. He helped shape the folk revival in the '60s and the renaissance of the '80s and '90s, his music having left its stamp on generations of artists.

James Taylor told Rolling Stone, "Tom was not only one of my early heroes, but also one of my main influences."

View a live Tom Rush performance

Opening Act: Carol Lee Espy
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November 20
Ken Whiteley
& The Levy Sisters

Ken Whiteley has been called "...a cross between
Pete Seeger and Tony Bennett on 11!"

A Canadian roots music legend, Ken's musical journey has included: jug band, folk, swing, blues, children's music, and gospel. Ken's shows are soul stirring, inspiring,
participatory fun.

Joining Ken will be the gorgeous vocal harmonies and percussion of the Levy Sisters. Deeply rooted in the gospel tradition, they have been associated with Ken for 15 years and have performed with people as diverse as Pete Seeger, Celine Dion and Kirk Franklin. Ken's son Ben Whiteley is quickly establishing himself as one of Canada's hottest acoustic bass players.

Ken has performed with musical legends including: Pete Seeger, Odetta, Tom Paxton and Leon Redbone (with whom he performed on Saturday Night Live). Recognized as a gifted guitarist and mandolinist, Ken has an impressive repertoire and a prodigious ability to play over 20 instruments.

An award winning songwriter with over 300 compositions, Ken’s songs have been covered by numerous artists and his walls are adorned with a dozen gold and multi-platinum records. Among numerous accolades, he has won a Canadian Folk Music Award, and Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals and Mariposa Folk Festival. A producer of over 125 recording projects, Ken’s productions have garnered 2 Grammy nominations, and sold over 8 million copies.

Opening Act: Joy Ike

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December 11
Geoff Muldaur &
Jim Kweskin

When it comes to acoustic folk, blues, and ragtime, Jim Kweskin and Geoff Muldaur are unparalleled exponents of the best aspects of American music.

As founding members of the nationally popular ‘60s group, Jim Kweskin & The Jug Band, they
helped create a new style in the American musical scene. Jerry Garcia’s first band (Mother McCree’s Uptown Jug Champions, a forerunner to The Grateful Dead), was formed after hearing the Kweskin Band’s first album. 

After many years apart, Jim and Geoff were brought back together in 2006 for a Fritz Richmond
memorial concert in Tokyo and their chemistry was instantly re-activated.They’ve been doing
select dates as a duo since then.

Opening Act: Brett Howland
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January 22
Harry Manx

Harry Manx has been dubbed an “essential link” between the music of East and West, creating musical short stories that wed the tradition of the Blues with the depth of classical Indian ragas. His unique sound is bewitching and deliciously addictive to listen to.

Born on the Isle of Man, Manx spent his childhood in Canada and left in his teens to live in Europe, Japan, India and Brazil. He honed his hypnotic live show on street corners, in cafes, bars and at festivals. But it was Indian music that captured his attention and in the mid 80s he began a five-year tutelage with Rajasthani Indian musician Vishwa Mohan Bhatt (Grammy winner with Ry Cooder for A Meeting by the River). Receiving the gift of Bhatt’s custom-made, self-designed Mohan Veena (a 20-stringed sitar/guitar hybrid) was the catalyst for Harry to forge a new path with his now signature east-meets-west style of music. While the mohan veena itself is beyond exotic, Manx uses it within traditional Western sound structures.

A successful touring performer, Manx has brought his breathtaking solo shows across Canada and into the USA, Australia, and Europe. He has appeared at many prestigious festivals, world-class theatres, concert halls and infamous blues clubs around the globe. Playing the Mohan Veena, lap steel, harmonica, stomp box, and banjo, Manx quickly envelops his audience into what has been dubbed “the Harry Zone” with his warm vocals and the hauntingly beautiful melodies of his original songs.

Opening Act: Gordon Neidinger Trio

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February 26
Red Horse

Red Horse features Eliza Gilkyson, Lucy Kaplansky and John Gorka.

Red Horse was recently featured on
NPR's All Things Considered
Hear the interview here

Red Horse is one of folk’s newest supergroup featuring Eliza Gilkyson, John Gorka and Lucy Kaplansky. Together these three veteran
songwriters team up to cover each other’s songs and breathe new life into old favorites. Awash in gorgeous harmonies and simple acoustic production, this album is sure to be an instant folk classic and a big hit with fans.

Although they have been friends for years and recorded on each other's albums, Red Horse is the first truly collaborative effort by Eliza, John and Lucy. Inspired by shows they did during Red House Records’ 25th Anniversary Tour, they decided to make a recording together, which has been a treat for all involved.

The three friends began by recording their basic tracks in their hometowns of Austin, TX, Stillwater, MN and New York City. Then they worked out the harmonies while on the road together and when they converged for a few days in St. Paul this spring. The result is a perfect patchwork of new and old songs, mixing traditional folk and contemporary Americana. Red Horse’s sparse instrumentation allows these three wonderful singers to carry the magic of great songwriting.

Displaying their impressive talents as writers, singers and musicians, Red Horse shows why Eliza Gilkyson, John Gorka and Lucy Kaplansky are three of folk music’s most popular artists and why their music speaks to fans of all generations.

Opening Act: Andina & Rich

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March 5
Solas

“...Mind-blowing Irish folk music, maybe the world’s best.”
--The Philadelphia Inquirer

Although Solas can play undiluted traditional Irish music as well as anyone alive or departed, they are always varying the mix of fire tested tradition and contemporary sensibility with an ease and naturalness that is as astonishing as their overwhelming musicianship. As a result, they transcend musical genres into the realm of pure musical expression that only a relative handful of musicians attain.

The internationally acclaimed supergroup has not only captured the hearts and ears of Irish music fans, but fans all around the globe with their blend of Celtic traditional, folk and country melodies, bluesy sometimes jazz-inspired improvisations and global rhythms. Solas has built a fanbase that includes the likes of Bela Fleck, Emmylou Harris and the much sought-after rap producer Timbaland who sampled the band on his radio hit “All Y'all.” Their latest release is a live CD and DVD called Reunion (Compass Records) which celebrates the band's tenth anniversary.

Opening Act: Corned Beef & Curry
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April 16
Patty Larkin

Patty Larkin has been described as “riveting” (Chicago Tribune), “hypnotic” (Entertainment Weekly) and a “drop-dead brilliant”  performer (Performing Songwriter).

Patty Larkin is part of the urban-folk/pop music phenomenon that spun off of the singer/songwriter explosion of the seventies, reinterpreting traditional folk melodies, rock, pop, bossa nova, drawing on anything from Dylan (Bob) to Dylan (Thomas). 

A self described “guitar driven songwriter,”
Larkin has wound her way through soundscapes
of evocative vocals, inventive guitar wizardry and imaginative lyrics.  Her songs run from impressionistic poetry to witty wordplay. 

In 2010 Patty releases a collection of 25 love songs in celebration of 25 years in the recording industry.  Here Patty has reworked 25 of her favorite songs in an acoustic, “unplugged” release, joined by friends along the way.

Artists joining Patty on her new record include:
Roseanne Cash, Suzanne Vega, Janis Ian, Greg Brown, Martin Sexton, Jonatha Brooke, Bruce Cockburn, David Wilcox, Shawn Colvin, Lucy Kaplansky, Chris Smither, Cheryl Wheeler, Catie Curtis, Erin McKeown, Dar Williams, John Gorka, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and more.

Opening Act: Merrie Amsterburg

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