Headliner
Jonathan Edwards

Warm as summer sunshine, real as the truth, intimate as a long overdue visit between old friends … such is a Jonathan Edwards concert. Four decades into a stellar career of uncompromising musical integrity, the man simply delivers, night after night – songs of passion, songs of insight, songs of humor, all rendered in that pure and powerful tenor which, like fine wine, has only grown sweeter with age.

This is one veteran performer who is neither grizzled nor nostalgic. These days Jonathan Edwards, a vital and relevant artist in today’s folk and Americana scenes, is most likely to be found on the road with longtime accompanist Stuart Schulman on bass, piano, fiddle, and vocals and Taylor Armerding, formerly of Northern Lights, on mandolin and high-tenor vocals. “I’ve been … doing what I do best, which is playing live in front of people. I’ve been concentrating on that and loving it,” he says.

An artist who measures his success by his ability to attract and take good care of an audience for four decades, Jonathan maintains that it is the feedback he receives after his shows that keeps him going. “It is really gratifying to hear [someone say], ‘Your stuff has meant a lot to me over the years.’”

The “stuff” he’s referring to is a highly respected repertoire that includes such classics as “Honky Tonk Stardust Cowboy,” “Sometimes,” “One Day Closer,” “Don’t Cry Blue,” “Emma,” “Everybody Knows Her,” “Athens County,” and everyone’s favorite ode to putting a good buzz on, “Shanty.” And then, of course, there’s the anthemic “Sunshine (Go Away Today),” that fierce proclamation of protest and independence that resonated with thousands and thousands of frustrated and angry young men and women when it was first released in 1971. Almost 40 years later, at show after show, the song continues to be embraced by faithful followers and new fans alike.

Since 1971, Jonathan has released 15 albums, including Blue Ridge, his standard-setting collaboration with bluegrass favorites the Seldom Scene, and Little Hands, his collection of children’s songs, which was honored with a National Library Association award.

As for album #16, Jonathan says, “Young people that are getting back to the land and trying to get off the power grid encourage me. My next studio album will reflect some of those themes.”

www.jonathanedwards.net
itunes.apple.com/us/artist/jonathan-edwards/id2902557
 

Second Act
Stephan B. Jones

For a guy who keeps such a low profile (he does not have a website and only recently bought a cell phone), Steve Jones is one of Maine's best-known bandleaders and musicians. Throughout his 20-year career, he has played with the best of the best in the music scene, including The Coming Grass, Cindy Bullens and Sara Cox (to name a few). In addition to fronting his own band, he still plays guitar and sings in The Boneheads, one of Northern New England's most beloved roots-rock bands. He has been called Maine's most in-demand session guitarist and has released two full-length original CDs, "Stephan B. Jones" and "It Is What It Is And It Does What It Does." In 2010, he released a compilation CD, titled "Dreamer's Blues." Steve, also a producer and arranger, is also currently working with members of jam-band Strangefolk in new group called Dirigo. Their debut CD "Jamericana" will be released in September 2011.

You can also connect with Stephan B. Jones on his Facebook or Myspace pages:

www.facebook.com/pages/Stephan-B-Jones/117166875002357
www.myspace.com/sjonesmaine

Opening Act
Amy Allen

Amy Allen is a singer/songwriter from South Portland, Maine, who burst onto the local music scene in the summer of 2010. At the age of 12, she began playing with the famed Portland-based bluegrass band, The Jerks of Grass, and has continued playing with them around the Portland area ever since. During the spring of 2010, she recorded her first 5-track EP, Honey with producer Jon Wyman.

Amy then enrolled at Boston College but remained in close contact with the Portland music scene. In December of 2010, “Love Fool” (from her first EP) was featured on the Maine-based Greeting from Area Code 207 v.8 CD. Also during December of 2010, Amy performed at WCYY's Home for the Holidaze concert, recorded a track entitled "Home" and recorded a 4-track CD of cover songs. In the spring of 2011, Amy won the Portland Phoenix Reader's Poll for Best Female Vocalist and Best New Act of 2010. She is currently working on a new album for 2012 release. Growing up, her greatest musical influences have been Fleetwood Mac, Joni Mitchell, and more currently, Ingrid Michaelson, Adele and Colbie Caillat.

Tell Amy on Facebook that you’re excited she’s coming:

www.facebook.com/pages/Amy-Allen-Music/130938426950356
www.amyallenmusic.com