Sweet Music

June 4, 2005 - Twangzilla

Let's get ready for some rockin' bluegrass from Twangzilla, at the music side of the market, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., in between all the other events happening this day!

posted May 31, 2005 | permanent link to this article

May 28, 2005 - Mandy Mercier

Mandy Mercier

Come hear some tunes that will move you at the music tent, 10:00-11:30 a.m. by Mandy Mercier, a great singer/songwriter of Austin's music scene!

A longtime member of Austin's legendary music scene, Mandy Mercier's resume is as impressive as her live performances. Mercier burns up the stage with her fiery vocals and raw, original songs.

As a fiddle player and harmony vocalist, Mandy Mercier has worked professionally with Lucinda Williams, Billy Joe Shaver, Steve Forbert, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock, Joe Ely, Townes Van Zandt, Blaze Foley, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Charlie Robison, Tom Pacheco, Willy DeVille, Mick Ronson, David Rodriguez, Angela Strehli, Rusty Wier, Chris Gaffney, Ted Roddy, Champ Hood, Walter Hyatt and David Ball, Shake Russell and Dana Cooper, Sisters Morales and has also appeared onstage with Willie Nelson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.W. Stevenson, John Stewart, Doug Sahm, Gene Clark, and Lyle Lovett.

Mercier's true love, songwriting, was the driving force in making her new record, Wild Dreams of the Shy Boys, released early 2001 on Wild Cantinas Records. Mandy's new album, "Call It Love" is in production and scheduled for 2005 release!!.

Bio and picture from website: http://www.mandymercier.com

posted May 25, 2005 | permanent link to this article

May 21, 2005

Eric Hisaw

Hisaw's musical stylings, lyrics, vocals and guitar work meet somewhere between those of Steve Earle, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, the Rolling Stones and even former American Music Club frontman Mark Eitzel.

The 32-year-old's always moving in some direction, having started his nomadic lifestyle when he graduated early and left Las Cruces at 17. He's spent the past 14 years in Austin, when he's not traveling the parts of the world at least partly familiar with his music.

Hisaw's first record, 2000's "Thing About Trains," had a strong hitting-the-road-now/again theme to it. "Never Could Walk the Line" talks plenty of movin' on, but stops briefly to take a quick but deep look at where he's been, where he's at -- and even some of the reasons why.

"...Hisaw's songs are solid, his mostly acoustic delivery strong, his melodies memorable."
Thirsty Ear Magazine, Santa Fe, NM

"Many people, including millionaire rock stars, write about working class life, but Hisaw has an edge on all of them, authenticity. This is powerful stuff."
-- John Conquest, Third Coast Music

Catch this and more of Eric at the Music Tent, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Market this Saturday.

Picture and bio information from website

posted May 17, 2005 | permanent link to this article

May 14, 2005 - Jim Ivy & Jinx Street Band

Jim Ivy and the Jinx Street Band

Get your "mow-nin kawfee" and come sit in the café area to listen to some smooth tunes of jazz by Jim Ivy & Jinx Street Band, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

A Texan by way of Alabama, Jim Ivy grew up listening to dixieland recordings by bands like the Firehouse Five + 2 and the Dukes of Dixieland. Pete Fountain and Benny Goodman were his childhood heroes and you can hear that they are still important influences in his music. He began playing dixieland jazz in high school in Huntsville, Alabama. His first professional performances were with "The Flamingos", a band he had formed with several of his high school buddies. Jim's high school band director, Bill Sloan, was a talented jazz pianist who encouraged Jim and soon arranged for him to play with some of the local "society" orchestras.

After high school, Jim attended the University of Alabama where he studied classical clarinet with Lawrence Morgan and earned a bachelor's degree in Clarinet Performance. While studying the classical clarinet repertoire was necessary to earn his degree, Jim's true love remained jazz clarinet, especially dixieland jazz. He picked up the saxophone and was soon playing each weekend at the local country clubs and restaurants.

After graduating from the University of Alabama, Jim embarked upon a teaching career and continued to perform and perfect his jazz style on both the sax and clarinet. Eventually he made his way to Austin and the the University of Texas where he earned his Master of Music degree.

Jim continues to maintain an active performance schedule in Austin. He has played with rock bands, blues bands, circus bands, pit orchestras, ice shows, stage shows, dance clubs, and of course many, many weddings and private parties.

Jim's first love, dixieland jazz, is still his strongest interest, and he is probably best known as the clarinetist with Tommy Griffith's Old Waterloo Jazz Band which has been performing in Austin since the early 1970's. In 2004 Old Waterloo was selected by the Austin Chronicle Reader's Poll as one of Austin's Top Ten Jazz groups.

Bio information from website: jinxstreet.com

posted May 10, 2005 | permanent link to this article

May 7, 2005

Music is all day!

9-10 Stephen Kearley
Stephen Kearley is one of the founding members of the Colorado based band The Kudzoo Brothers who play their own brand of home grown plunkin' music. As a Kudzoo Brother, Stephen has opened for David Wilcox, Sam Bush, Peter Rowan and Tim O'Brien. Stephen and band mate Bill Sneed formed the band in the mid-90's as a vehicle to share their individually written and co-written songs. In 2000 the Kudzoo Brothers Released their CD "Time Around Again." Stephen now resides in Buda, Texas with his wife Janice. He is working on a new song-cycle and aims to release a new CD in the fall of 2005.

10-11:30 Will Harrell & Chris Collins
Will is a Texas musical artist in the tradition of Willie Nelson, Townes Van Zandt, and Billy Joe Shaver -- secure in his unique artistic vision, and fiercely dedicated to the necessity of honesty. He plays the country like only he can. Come see and hear in the cafe area.

11:45 - 1 Day Tripper
Come hear the tunes of the Beatles' cover band, Day Tripper, and take yourself back to the 60's and 70's. Day Tripper is a local premier Beatles tribute band. The four piece lineup includes: Peter Bleicher on lead guitar, Oscar Decker on rhythm/lead vocals, Larry Seyer on bass and Steve Meador on drums. Day Tripper provides a very real, live re-creation of Beatles' music with strong vocals, detailed lead solos and a powerful rhythm section. Day Tripper performs a broad selection of Beatles' hits which capture and reflect the spirit of the music. Expect to also hear Rolling Stones, Eagles and original material entering your Saturday morning juant to the market.

posted May 3, 2005 | permanent link to this article

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