WEST REGIONAL
ROUND
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Tuesday, September
2; Los Angeles
Sarah Sample of Seattle Wins the
Sixth and Final Round at the West Regional at The Mint
www.sarahsample.com
"This has been such a wonderful event
to be part of . . . I love the idea of gathering great people
and their music from all over the country and coming together
to celebrate the art of songwriting. The NewSong family is
wonderful to be a member of, and I am completely honored to
represent the Western Region in the finals coming up. Thank
you Mountain Stage and NewSong for this opportunity!" -
Sarah Sample |
INFORMATION
Date: Tuesday,
September 2
Venue: The Mint
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Time: 8:00 PM
Tickets: $10 Adv/$12 Door
Youth Showcase:
Paden West |
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Sponsored in part by FAR-West,
the Folk Alliance West Coast Region. FAR-West Conference
October 23-26 – Mesa, AZ
www.far-west.org |
FINALISTS
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Acoustic
Minds
Portland, Oregon
Formed in 2002 by identical twins Amanda & Jenni Price.
This eclectic group has been blessed to play with many skilled
musicians in the North West and across the United States.
The current lineup has been together for 1.5 years.
With 140 shows complete and another 80 booked -
2008 is proving to be the busiest year yet for this soulful
twin fronted group.
www.myspace.com/acousticminds |
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Stephanie Bettman
Los Angeles, California
Stephanie Bettman has the goods. A triple threat with diverse
songwriting, soulful vocals, and dynamite fiddling – all featured
on her debut CD “GET CLOSE TO ME”. She and her band are
the grand prize winners of the 2008 Southern California Live
Acoustic Music Band Competition, proclaiming them the “best
live acoustic band in Southern California”. Last year
were they among the winners in the Topanga Banjo / Fiddle contest,
and at the 2007 Sedona Bluegrass Festival, buzz on the street
labeled her “the next Alison Krauss”.
www.stephaniebettman.com |
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John Cruz
Honolulu, Hawaii
From the time he was a young boy growing up in Palolo Valley
on Oahu, John Cruz knew was destined to play music. Whether
inside or outside the home, his earliest memories were filled
with song.
Although John grew up in Hawaii, it wasn't until he moved to
the East Coast that he developed his own style as a singer songwriter.
During his 12 years in the Northeast, John cut his musical teeth
in subways, coffeehouses and bars in New York's Greenwich Village.
www.johncruz.com |
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The Invasion
Nampa, Idaho
The Invasion plays piano and vocal driven indie rock sprinkled
with classical, jazz, and classic rock influences... but it's
all about the songwriting. The Invasion's debut album... co-produced
by Art Hodge (who shared in the 2001 Best Album Grammy for
his work on Santana's Supernatural)... covers a vast musical
landscape, and is all tied together by singer / songwriter
Aaron Brown's voice and melody.
www.the-invasion.com |
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Jeremy Lev
Encino, California
In 2006, after living in France for a year and being inspired
by a variety of music, love and travel experiences, Jeremy
came back to the US reinvigorated with a passion for music.
So following graduation from UNC-Chapel Hill in May 2006, Jeremy
decided to put his degree on standby and pursue a music career
instead.
www.myspace.com/jeremylev |
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NIAYH
Portland, Oregon
NIAYH is a collective of musicians who have come together
to express an appreciation for the present. An acronym
for Now Is All You Have, the term NIAYH has also come to signify
the divinity of the moment. Drawing from a variety of
old school and cultural influences with a contemporary vibe,
NIAYH describes their sound as hip-hop infused, psychedelic
soul, rock, rhythm & blues. Above all, their music
is deeply physical: hypnotic grooves and rhythms support eclectic
compositions, classic lead guitar, and folk-soul vocals.
www.myspace.com/niayhband |
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Matt Owens
Santa Monica, California
Matt Owens & Jason Hiller met in 2003 or 2004 (who can
remember) and slowly began writing songs together. In the summer
of 2007, they set out to record what would become 'Til The
Wheels Fall Off', a ten song collection of country infused
rock 'n roll songs that explore life, love, dirty bars, six-shooters,
trains and other such things. The record was recorded at Walden
Recordings in Beverly Hills, California and produced by Jason
Hiller himself. Marc Ford (formerly of The Black Crowes), and
other friends came by to play on the album.
www.myspace.com/mattowensla |
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Sarah Sample
Seattle, Washington
The last thing Sarah Sample wanted to make was just another
folkie -girl-with-acoustic-guitar album. Sure, the songs were
born as just an acoustic guitar and a voice. And, in the folk
tradition she loves and respects so much, would likely be taken
across America that way. But she didn’t want to document
them that way. At least not this time.
www.sarahsample.com |
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Sudden Anthem
Portland, Oregon
Sudden Anthem emerged out of a friendship between two established
songwriters, Hunter Paye, and Joshua Rivera. Their ecstatic
late-night combinations of songwriting and harmonies soon layed
visions of promise in their head. The band has only been gigging
since march (2008) but their commitment to long practices and
fine-tuning of the songs slowly created a project that has
mesmerized attendees at the small handful of shows they've
played.
www.myspace.com/suddenanthem |
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True Margrit
San Francisco, California
True Margrit's signature piano-pop is whip smart, expertly
crafted, and has more hooks than a pirate ship. On SEAWORTHY,
the trio's 4th and most ambitious album to date, True Margrit
navigates the waters of interpersonal politics, vanity, history,
time-travel, and mortality, and arrives wth a group of songs
that is both emotionally raw and musically evolved.
www.truemargrit.com |
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