CHICAGO BLUEGRASS LIFERS PROVIDE A TREAT FROM ABOVE AT CHICAGO BLUEGRASS & BLUES FESTIVAL
October 22nd, 2008INNOVATIVE TRADITIONALISTS THE GIVING TREE BAND AND TANGLEWEED TO TREAT FESTIVALGOERS WITH POP-UP SETS FROM THE HISTORIC CONGRESS THEATER BALCONY
When each of the main stage acts finish their set at the Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival, fans won’t have to wait a half-hour for a continuation of their musical fix. They’ll merely have to turn around.
Festival organizers have finally announced a poorly-kept surprise long in the making, and confirmed that two of Chicago’s leading bluegrass acts will in fact be part of the day’s festivities. When the lights go down on each main stage set, the spotlight will immediately shift to the boys of Tangleweed, stationed around a sole mic up in the wings of the historic Congress Theater balcony.
After a few pop-up sets by Tangleweed, they’ll pas the torch to The Giving Tree Band, who’ll entertain fans from above leading up to David Grisman and The Avett Brothers’ headlining sets.
ABOUT THE GIVING TREE BAND (WWW.THEGIVINGTREEBAND.COM):
The Giving Tree Band is a four-piece group of versatile Chicago musicians. Their sound is all acoustic, expanding from a variety of folk and roots traditions. The band has a very dynamic and inventive approach to songwriting and music-making, which they use as a tool for exploring the mystery of life and serving the needs of the community and environment. These troubadours creatively chronicle their own experiences, random thoughts, and deep feelings into a musical diary. By opening it freely, they hope to bring a little joy and inspiration to the lives of the listeners.
The Giving Tree Band’s eclectic and unique brand of soulful folk is the collaboration of four friendly multi-instrumentalists. Bob Salihar adds appeal on guitar. Pat Burke brings brightness on mandolin. Todd Fink contributes color on banjo. Eric Fink delivers depth on upright bass. The members also perform with other instruments such as the classical guitar, slide dobro, dulcimer, ukulele, violin, harmonica, and harmonium. The band sings in four part harmony with each member taking his turn as lead vocalist.
ABOUT TANGLEWEED (WWW.TANGLEWEED.ORG):
Formed in 2004 on Chicago’s north side, Tangleweed is rapidly developing their own innovative slice of Acoustic Americana. Their first two cd’s have received positive press and frequent radio play in over 20 countries, and they have just released their third, “Most Folk Heroes Started Out As Criminals.”
In 2008, Tangleweed was named “Traditional Musicians of the Year” by the Rural Roots Commission, heard their music featured on the PBS series “Roadtrip Nation”, and performed warmly-received debut shows in Tennessee, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Colorado.
The band features four very different lead vocalists, and is just as nimble with classic bluegrass, folk, mountain music, hot jazz, western swing, and Irish rebel songs as they are re-interpreting the occasional Pere Ubu or Velvet Underground cover. And yes, their bassist custom-built his own instrument out of a de-commissioned Howitzer Shell.
ABOUT THE CHICAGO BLUEGRASS & BLUES FESTIVAL:
On November 22nd, 2008, the Congress Theater will host the inaugural Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival (cbbfestival.com). While rooted in the foot-stomping influences of bluegrass and blues, the festival will transport the concertgoer through the genre-defying evolution of music today. The one-day event will serve as a tribute to two schools of music that continue to shape and inspire contemporary rock, jamband, funk, folk, roots, Americana, and indie cultures, while allowing festivalgoers to save a heart. A portion of each $31 ticket will be donated to the Saving tiny Hearts Society (www.savingtinyhearts.org), an non-profit organization that raises money for America’s #1 birth defect, congenital heart defects (CHD).
Tags: Avett Brothers, Chicago Bluegrass & Blues, Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival, David Grisman, giving tree band, Grisman, Tangleweed, THe Giving Tree Band
