May I recomend another folk singer for you?

[paddletothesea]

Since almost everyone on this site is into good heartfelt meaningful songwriting, I thought I would recommend John Gorka to you if you already dont have anything by him. He's been around for 15 years and has 8 CDs out including one you can download free from his web site entitled "Temporary Road". Please click on his other cds too to hear samples of his music. Very good somewriter. Below is his web site. http://www.johngorka.com/

[LSH]

Gonna check it out right now. Thanks Norm

[The Rez]

John Gorka - excellent dude!

I read a quote attributed to him last week.

"In my circle of friends, we decided that to be in the Witness Protection Program was not near as safe and lost as joining the folk circuit."

The Rez

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It was a Beautiful Rainbow
A Beautiful Time in my Life
A Thing to Share
A Time to Care
To Be Alive

[Janice]

John Gorka played for our concert series last December. Wonderful performer and a very nice, humble, down-to-earth guy. Definitely check him out!

[LSH]

Excellent stuff. Started listening last night, then listened all day at work with my headphones. I downloaded and burned Temporary Road to a CD. The first CD of many of his that I plan to own.
Best musical introduction I've had in a long long time. thanks again Norm.

just had to add that Gypsy Life and All That Hammering are first impression favorites, but I love the whole CD.

[This message has been edited by LSH (edited March 25, 2005).]

[The Rez]

There's a fine Country lady - Kathy Mattea - who absolutely does not fit the Nashville mold. She and her husband write very well together and Kathy is quite the expressive singer/performer w/ a crackerjack band.

The songs she chooses from other pens are wonderfully eclectic, ranging from Celtic influences to Gospel w/ seriously silly songs thrown in the mix.

I've seen her a number of times in the same venue in Cerritos, CA Gord will play in April.

Two times John Gorka did the openers slot. Kathy is very, very vocal of her support for him. He was as amazing as she was - each time. He joined her each time for an encore sing-a-long thing w/ the audience.
Then, hush . . . silence except the two and his guitar.

It's so good to see quite successful artists champion less known, but worthy, artists - especially singer/sonwriters.

So, keep those eyebones peeled in case Kathy Mattea comes to your town. She very well might be coming w/ John Gorka.

Ain't the Music grand!

The Rez

------------------
It was a Beautiful Rainbow
A Beautiful Time in my Life
A Thing to Share
A Time to Care
To Be Alive

[The Rez]

Kathy Mattea's Christmas Album is a Masterwork.

A few years ago she presented a Christmas program at the Cerritos Center (where Gord will be.) I absolutely could not stay away.

"Mary, Did You Know?" Oh, yes - best.

Her program that evening consisted of songs from that album. It was almost - no, it was - church.

A fine lady, w/ a fine ear, a fine voice, and a presence unlike others.

One of her secular songs (written by another,) "The Summer of My Dreams" has the same effect on this old piano guy and dreamer as Gord's most gentle touches.

The Rez

PS: I'm happy for your "smilies." A skill I have not been able to master since the early 70s



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It was a Beautiful Rainbow
A Beautiful Time in my Life
A Thing to Share
A Time to Care
To Be Alive

TAKE THIS TIP : AN EMERGING FOLK SINGER FROM AUSTRALIA WHO IS ABOUT TO RELEASE HER ALBUM IN THE US (AND PRESUMABLY CANADA) IS A STAR ABOUT TO BURST. HER NAME IS MISSY HIGGINS AND HER INITIAL KILLER SINGLE IS CALLED "SCAR" AND IS OFF THE ALBUM " THE SOUND OF WHITE". RESIST THE SINGLE IF YOU CAN! (P.S. I know it sounds like a record exec . push but I am just a ordinary GL fan who loves the folk genre from Sydney ...)

[charlene]

I love Kathy Mattea - a unique voice to be sure. Somewhere I have a video of one of her XMAS shows taped at a ski resort several years ago. It would be great to hear her in a live performance but she never makes it this far north.

[joveski]

sydney,

i've been to gigs a couple of years back where missy higgins was the opener

another folk group from australia worth checking out is The Waifs..
a mix of folk/country/ballads/pop!

[charlene]

my 21 year old son thinks John Butler is fabulous. He was here in toronto in Feb. and he saw him and just raved about the guy and his two bandmates. they will be on Letterman on tuesday night.I'll check him out.