PETER MULVEY PLOTS ‘ARE YOU LISTENING?’ TOUR AS ALBUM TO BE RELEASED MARCH 24 ON RIGHTEOUS BABE RECORDS INCLUDES SHOWS IN LA, NYC, DC, ALASKA

ALBUM PRODUCER ANI DIFRANCO WEIGHS IN ON MULVEY “GOODNESS”

NPR’S FOLK ALLEY TAPES VIDEO SESSION

MULVEY RAISES OVER $8K FOR RESISTANCE EFFORTS VIA 12-HOUR CONCERT WITH ~100 SONGS PLAYED, NO REPEATS

Million-plus mile troubadour Peter Mulvey’s producer Ani DiFranco has weighed in on Mulvey’s new album ‘Are You Listening?,’ out March 24 on her Righteous Babe Records. She says, "Mulvey has been honing his craft for many a decade and it shows. He can play some badass guitar, sing to touch your heart, and write a song that will knock you down, and by knock you down, I mean lift you up." Of ‘Are You Listening?’ she says, "This record is pure, timeless Mulvey goodness. Supported by a spare but badass backing band, the sound here is organic and real and unaffected by the whims of fashion.”

Mulvey is launching a tour that’s set to hit New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Alaska, among other spots. He recently taped a video session with NPR’s Folk Alley.

Last month, Mulvey raised approximately $8,500 for a variety of non-profits during a 12-hour Concert Window show that saw him play around 100 songs with none repeated. Beneficiaries are the ACLU, the Southern Poverty Law Center, Planned Parenthood, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Relief International, and Public Allies.

Peter Mulvey Tour Dates

February 15 - Tales from the Tavern - Santa Ynez, CA (w/ Heather Maloney)                 

February 16 - Brick 15 - Del Mar, CA (w/ Heather Maloney)

February 18 - Hotel Café - Los Angeles, CA (w/ Heather Maloney)

February 19 - Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse - Berkeley, CA (w/ Heather Maloney)

February 22 - North Star Theatre - Cordova, AK                

February 23 - Bunnell Street Arts Center - Homer, AK                  

February 24 - Latitude 62 - Talkeetna, AK                      

February 25 – TapRoot - Anchorage, AK (w/ w/ Heather Maloney, Anna Tivel)             

February 26 - Vagabond Blues - Palmer, AK (w/ Heather Maloney, Anna Tivel)   

March 9 - The Walnut Room - Denver, CO             

March 10 - Friends House Concerts - Colorado Springs, CO                      

March 11 - Old San Ysidro Church - Corrales, NM            

March 12 - Kitchen Sink Studio - Santa Fe, NM                 

March 17 - The Etude Sessions @ Paradigm - Sheboygan, WI                    

March 18 - Lost Moth Gallery - Egg Harbor, WI                

March 19 - Cafe Carpe - Fort Atkinson, WI            

March 24 - Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2 - New York, NY
March 25 - Philadelphia Folksong Society - Philadelphia, PA         

March 26 - Jammin Java - Vienna, VA                     

April 1 - Beal House - Kingston, MA                      

April 2 - Nelson Odeon - North Cazenovia, NY                  

April 6 - Club Passim - Cambridge, MA                  

April 7 - Club Passim - Cambridge, MA                  

April 8 - Club Passim - Cambridge, MA

WASHINGTON POST FEATURE TO SPOTLIGHT KINGSLEY FLOOD AS BAND’S MOST PERSONAL ALBUM TO DATE EARNS RAVES

The Washington Post is planning a profile on Kingsley Flood to run Friday and new album 'Another Other,' written by Palestinian-American frontman Naseem Khuri about his powerful and sometimes contradictory experiences. Rave reviews are coming in for the Newport Folk Fest alums' first full-length since 2013. Kingsley Flood will perform next at the Sinclair in Cambridge, MA November 18 and at Rock & Roll Hotel in Washington, D.C. November 19. Here’s what we’re reading:

“Acute, razor-sharp tales.”
– Cady Siregar, Stereogum, November 17, 2015

“Ripping… tangle with American identity.”
- Luke O’Neil, Bullet Media, August 16, 2016

“One of those bands that matter… it’s music with something important to say, like the Clash, all backed with a hard-charging folk-inflected rock sound.”
- Pop Matters, October 14, 2016

"A triumphant sound."
- Sjimon Gompers, Impose, October 7, 2016

“Exhilarating… Potent lyrical punch.”
- Glide Mag, September 28, 2016

“Much more than just a boisterous barroom rocker.”
- Chris Palermino, MySpace Music, October 4, 2016

“So good… Every turn comes with something special: a ’70s punk crescendo, a bit of Britpop, a dusty, Western country melody.”
- Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, October 28, 2016

“The band’s best… rocks hard while tackling tough questions about what it means to be an American… as with all of Kingsley Flood’s work, it’s an energy with a purpose.”
- Pete Chianca, Gatehouse Media, November 4, 2016

“Can’t-miss.”
- Mark Zaretsky, New Haven Register, October 21, 2016

MUSIC MAKER GUITARIST DRINK SMALL NAMED NEA HERITAGE FELLOW

The Music Maker Relief Foundation is pleased to announce that blues guitarist Drink Small has been named a 2015 National Endowment for The Arts National Heritage Fellow. The Fellowship recognizes recipients’ artistic excellence and supports their continuing contributions to the nation’s traditional arts heritage. Small joins the ranks of other NEA Fellowship honorees, such as blues legends B.B. King and Mavis Staples.

Small is one of eleven artists of the folk and traditional arts to be honored with the Fellowship in 2015. A blues musician, Small is honored among artists in a range of traditional crafts, from Slovak fiber arts to the circus arts and more.
The Bishopville, S.C., native started playing music at the age of 11, practicing on an old pump organ. After playing the piano in church and learning to sing, Small eventually picked up the guitar and started playing gospel and the blues.
Small joined The Spiritualaires, playing with the likes of Sam Cooke, The Harmonizing Four, and The Staple Singers. He became a founding member of the Music Maker Relief Foundation in 1994, helping to preserve the southern traditional music he continues to perform to this day.

Small will be honored with other 2015 NEA National Heritage Fellows at an awards ceremony and free concert on October 1st and 2nd in Washington, D.C.

2015 Capitol Blues Night

RECENTLY SPOTLIGHTED ON NPR AND PBS NEWSHOUR, MUSIC MAKER RELIEF FOUNDATION TO BRING LONG LOST SOUL MAN & MONSTER GUITAR PLAYER TO DC MARCH 12

Clyde’s of Gallery Place will host “Capitol Blues Night” to benefit Music Maker Relief Foundation’s programming. Music Maker partner artists Cool John Ferguson and Ironing Board Sam will perform at the event, which only has one hundred tickets available.

The “legendary” (Billboard) Ironing Board Sam was a house musician on the first televised African-American music revue called “Night Train” and then became one of the best-loved entertainers on the Crescent City’s music scene, before relocating to N.C. It was just announced that he will be returning to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival lineup for 2015, and has recently been profiled in Offbeat Magazine.

Cool John Ferguson, of Beaufort, S.C., began playing the guitar at 3 years old and has been called by blues legend Taj Mahal “…among the five greatest guitarists in the world.” Cool John was recently profiled in Premier Guitar.

Listen:
Ironing Board Sam – Cherry Pie

Cool John Ferguson – The Cat Ate the Rat, the Rat Ate the Wizard

The event is co-sponsored by Puckett & Associates and Clyde’s Restaurant Group. Bill Puckett of Puckett & Associates and Bart Farrell and Tom Meyer Clyde’s Restaurant Group are members of Music Maker’s Board of Directors. Clyde’s has been hosting Capitol Blues Nights for five years to raise funds and awareness for Music Maker, which helps roots musicians in need to develop their careers and meet their day-to-day needs. The event brings together Music Maker artists who perform and mingle with the audience in an intimate setting.

“We are so grateful to Bill, Tom and Bart for their wonderful generosity to our mission, and for bringing great Music Maker artists to Washington, D.C.,” said Tim Duffy, Music Maker’s founder. “Ironing Board Sam and Cool John playing in the same night is an epic show, not to be missed. It will be an intimate night of excellent music, incredible food, and fellowship. Clyde’s recreates a true juke joint atmosphere in the heart of D.C.”

Capitol Blues Night will be March 12th from 7:30pm – 10:30pm at Clydes of Gallery Place. Tickets will include the show, beer and wine and an assortment of heavy hors d'oeuvres. Tickets can be purchased for $100 from Music Maker’s website, http://www.musicmaker.org, or directly from Clyde’s of Gallery Place at shop.clydes.com.

DC Venue The Hamilton to host Blues legends at re-vamped Capitol Blues Night

DC Venue The Hamilton to host Blues legends at re-vamped Capitol Blues Night

Washington, D.C. music venue and restaurant The Hamilton will present the Music Maker Blues Revue on Wednesday, October 24th at 7:30 p.m. The Blues Revue, comprised of artists from the Music Maker Relief Foundation, will feature performances by Ironing Board Sam, Captain Luke, Cool John Ferguson, Big Ron Hunter, Ardie Dean, and Sol Roots. The Hamilton has hosted the Blues Revue previously on New Years Eve 2011.

“This classic drink-house lineup will be seen in one of DC’s finest venues. Ironing Board Sam filled the Blues Tent to capacity at Jazzfest all by himself. Add Cool John Ferguson and Captain Luke and others, and this show will be just that much more explosive,” said Tim Duffy, Music Maker Founder.

The October 24th show marks the second time Ironing Board Sam will perform at The Hamilton with the Music Maker Blues Revue. This year has been a big one for Sam – he’s released two albums (Going Up and Ninth Wonder of the World of Music), filled the Blues Tent to capacity at the 2012 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and was named Comeback Artist of the Year by Living Blues Magazine. In addition, Sam is playing the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival in mid-October, with two upcoming features in Offbeat Magazine and the New Orleans Times-Picayune. The show at the Hamilton will give DC area music fans a chance to see the artist at the center of all this buzz – and they will not be disappointed.

The Music Maker Blues Revue highlights electric blues, boogie-woogie, R&B and soul music with the performances by Music Maker Relief Foundation partner artists. Music Maker works with these artists to elevate their careers and present them to the world, while preserving Southern musical traditions for future generations.

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. and lasts until 10 p.m. with doors opening for the event at 6:30 p.m. Tickets will be $25 per person. A cash bar and entrées from The Hamilton’s menu will be available for purchase. Tickets can be purchased from The Hamilton’s website, http://www.thehamiltondc.com/live.

•    Cool John Ferguson, of Beaufort, S.C., began playing the guitar at 3 years old and has been called by blues legend Taj Mahal “…among the five greatest guitarists in the world.”
•    Luther Mayer, known as “Captain Luke,” has a deep resounding baritone voice that has entertained thousands throughout his long career; the African-American working class of the N.C. Piedmont heavily influences his music.
•    Ironing Board Sam, a singer, songwriter and piano player, was a house musician on the first televised African-American music revue called “Night Train” and then became one of the best-loved entertainers on the Crescent City’s music scene, before relocating to N.C. and working with Music Maker.
•    Big Ron Hunter plays both electric and acoustic guitars in dramatically different styles, varying between R&B, Rock and B.B. King Blues on electric, and his own sound on acoustic.
•    Sol Roots ,while earning a degree in the Recording Industry, performed throughout the South, fronting his own blues and rock bands. He has also performed with Blues Legends from Guitar Gabriel to Taj Mahal.
•    Ardie Dean has drummed for Ernie K-Doe, Bo Diddley, Jerry McCain, Greg Allman, Taj Mahal, and Henry Grey since he began playing the blues in 1969.

Listen:

Ironing Board Sam – Bye Bye Blackbird

Cool John Ferguson – Here Comes Floyd

Captain Luke – Put On Your Red Dress

Watch:

Cool John Ferguson & Captain Luke – Rainy Night in Georgia

Ironing Board Sam – “Rock Me Baby,” Live at Grace Hall – May 25, 2012

Veteran Bluesman and Carolina Chocolate Drop join forces in DC show

Music Maker is pleased to announce the addition of several upcoming tour dates for Boo Hanks and Dom Flemons, one of which will be at The Hamilton in Washington, D.C. on August 19.  The two blues artists plan to promote their new collaborative album Buffalo Junction, which will be released June 19.

Hanks, one of the most important ‘discoveries’ in recent blues history, grew up sharecropping in Vance County, N.C., where he learned to play guitar from his father and from listening to Blind Boy Fuller on a wind-up gramophone. After partnering with Music Maker he went from being heard only in his community to playing for thousands at shows and festivals across the South, at the Lincoln Center and in Belgium, and opening for the Carolina Chocolate Drops. Flemons, who won a Grammy in 2011 with the Drops, was at the Music Maker office the day Hanks first arrived, and their friendship and collaborations grew from that first jam session over the next six years.

Dom Flemons said of the recording experience: "Boo Hanks is a treasure. His vocal and guitar phrases are something so unique and forgotten in the modern world of folk and blues.  He an absolutely engaging songster and it has been a pleasure to have played with him for several years and to be a part of this album which will hopefully present his music to a much wider audience.”

Hanks’ and Flemons’ new album Buffalo Junction, named for Hanks’ hometown in Virginia, features upbeat, country blues that crosses generational lines. The album highlights Hanks on the guitar and vocals, while Flemons plays a variety of traditional instruments such as the jug, harmonica, bones and also sings backup vocals.

Music Maker president Tim Duffy said of the upcoming tour: “Audiences will have a chance to enjoy this new collaboration in person through these performances. They will see live the passing of the torch from Piedmont Blues veteran Boo Hanks to an artist like Dom, who is poised to take the sound into this new century.”

The Illinois Entertainer calls Buffalo Junction, "Fascinating, important, a singular musical experience, and required listening for blues, folk, and musical history fans alike featuring dazzling picking."

Hanks is a partner artist of Music Maker, while Flemons is a Next Generation Artist. Through Next Generation partnerships, MMRF fosters the continuation of Southern traditional music among younger generations of musicians. Buffalo Junction is a collaborative album that does just that.

Listen to a track from Buffalo Junction here.

Ticket information for tour dates will soon be available at musicmaker.org.

The Hamilton is located at 600 14th Street Washington, DC 20005, call (202) 787-1000.

Music Maker Blues Revue to Play The Hamilton New Year’s Eve

Music Maker Relief Foundation’s Blues Revue will play new D.C. music venue and restaurant The Hamilton on New Year’s Eve. The Revue, which has toured internationally and received worldwide recognition, will include performances by Cool John Ferguson, Captain Luke, Ironing Board Sam, Pat “Mother Blues” Cohen, Big Ron Hunter, Robert Lee Coleman, Albert White, Nashid Abdul Khaaliq, Ardie Dean, and Hook Herrera. This will be the largest group of artists to perform together in the Revue in many years.

The Music Maker Blues Revue highlights electric blues, boogie-woogie, R&B and soul music with the performances by Music Maker Relief Foundation partner artists. Music Maker works with these artists to elevate their careers and present them to the world, while preserving Southern musical traditions for future generations.

“Get ready for non-stop shredding guitars, soaring vocals and tight rhythms pulling you out of your seat and on to the dance floor,” said Tim Duffy, Music Maker Founder.

The show begins at 9 p.m. and lasts until 1 a.m. with doors opening for the event at 7 p.m. Tickets will include the show, an assortment of heavy hors d'oeuvres and a champagne toast at midnight. A cash bar and entrées from The Hamilton’s new menu will be available for purchase. Tickets can be purchased for $100 from The Hamilton’s website, http://www.thehamiltondc.com/live.

• Cool John Ferguson, of Beaufort, S.C., began playing the guitar at 3 years old and has been called by blues legend Taj Mahal “…among the five greatest guitarists in the world.”
• Luther Mayer, known as “Captain Luke,” has a deep resounding baritone voice that has entertained thousands throughout his long career; the African-American working class of the N.C. Piedmont heavily influences his music.
• Ironing Board Sam, a singer, songwriter and piano player, was a house musician on the first televised African-American music revue called “Night Train” and then became one of the best-loved entertainers on the Crescent City’s music scene, before relocating to N.C. and working with Music Maker.
• Pat “Mother Blues” Cohen has been a fixture in New Orleans, performing there six nights a week until Hurricane Katrina destroyed her home; she has relocated to N.C. and now tours with the Music Maker Blues Revue.
• Big Ron Hunter plays both electric and acoustic guitars in dramatically different styles, varying between R&B, Rock and B.B. King Blues on electric, and his own sound on acoustic.
• Robert Lee Coleman played guitar for Percy Sledge from 1964 to 1969, as well as on James Brown’s album “Hot Pants”; he most recently performed at PRS Experience 2011, where Paul Reed Smith personally gifted him with a custom guitar.
• Albert White, from Atlanta, G.A., has toured Europe with the Music Maker Blues Revue and frequently plays festivals with former band-mate Beverly “Guitar” Watkins.
• Nashid Abdul Khaaliq, a graduate of Berkeley College of Music, has played bass with Muddy Water's son Big Bill Morganfield and released an incredible Jazz album, proving he is versatile with his musical skills.
• Ardie Dean has drummed for Ernie K-Doe, Bo Diddley, Jerry McCain, Greg Allman, Taj Mahal, and Henry Grey since he began playing the blues in 1969.
• Hook Herrera, who recently released his newest album “No Matter What I Do” plays rhythm guitar, harmonica and harp, and has toured with the Allman Brothers.

Listen:

Ironing Board Sam – Life is Like a Seesaw

Robert Lee Coleman – Kin Folk

Cool John Ferguson – Here Comes Floyd

Captain Luke – Put On Your Red Dress

Watch:

Big Ron Hunter – How to Play Blues In Your Underwear

Robert Lee Coleman – PRS Experience 2011

Ironing Board Sam – Night Train, 1965

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About Music Maker Relief Foundation:
Music Maker Relief Foundation, Inc. is a tax exempt, public charity under IRS code 501(c)3. Music Maker aims to keep our Southern culture vital by directly supporting senior (over 55) American roots musicians in need, expanding their professional careers, and assisting Next Generation artists in the development of their professional careers. Since the organization’s founding in 1994, Music Maker has assisted hundreds of musicians who represent the traditions of Blues, Gospel, Old-Time String Band, Jazz and more. Music Maker’s programs ensure the talents of these cultural treasures are accessible so that our rich musical heritage can be shared with the world and preserved for future generations.