Continuing to develop newer artists
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
As the summer season winds down we are looking towards the winter months and the 2009 festival season. In addition to our fine roster of established headline talent like JOHNNY WINTER , JAMES COTTON, CEPHAS & WIGGINS, RORY BLOCK and others, we wanted to make you aware of some of the many fine developing artists that we represent.
Some people have commented that Piedmont Talent isn’t known for developing artists. Historically this isn’t true as we signed Michael Burks, Corey Harris, Shemekia Copeland and Debbie Davies before they released their first cds! We just don’t treat new artists like circuit fodder. We would like you to get familiar with the newer artists listed below; three of which are shoe-ins for Blues Music Awards nominations next year in the Best New Artist category, and a few that were in that category this past year.
Homemade Jamz Blues Band – With an upcoming segment scheduled for the NBC Today Show, and recent segments on NPR’s All Things Considered and CBS’s Morning Show, the Homemade Jamz Blues Band has taken off like a rocket. This trio of siblings from Tupelo, Mississippi (9 year old Taya on drums, 13 year old Kyle on bass and 16 year old Ryan on guitar) have ignited an unstoppable fire in the media and on festival and concert stages in the U.S., Canada and Europe.
Samuel James - Here is a young man, still a few years away from 30, whose debut CD is a set of 12 truly original songs. Each song is a story, an often humorous tale, of love gone haywire, or small town racism, or a folk tale of mythical symbolism. During his first year on the scene he has played or is scheduled to play festivals in Ireland, Wales, Poland, the Philadelphia Folk Festival, Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival and more. “James is still in his 20’s, but he already has a leg up on Keb' Mo' and other more established acoustic bluesmen. He's a terrific finger-picking guitarist and promising banjo player, with his feet serving as an ample percussion section.” – Chicago Sun Times
Moreland & Arbuckle - The great state of Kansas is best known for producing “Dorothy” and a bombastic rock band in the 1970s. Until now. Enter Moreland & Arbuckle fresh from the heartland with their hair-raising mix of stomping Mississippi Hill Country, Delta and rural blues. Reaching the finals at the 2005 International Blues Competition in Memphis allowed them to bust out of their regional confines after performing together for only three years, and since then the dynamic duo have taken their emotionally searing music around the world. Moreland & Arbuckle’s blistering live shows have become nothing short of legendary. Moreland & Arbuckle are clearly a must see for any music enthusiast. Not only are they keeping a strong blues tradition alive, but they are pushing it into new boundaries for generations to come.
Seth Walker - is a different point of blue in American music. His songwriting draws from the entire spectrum of the roots canon and infuses it with a wellspring of authentic Southern soul. It would feel just right hearing Walker between Ollabelle on one side and Derek Trucks on the other. Based out of Austin, Texas, he's become a shining light on a local scene where only the real thing stands a chance to thrive. It's fitting then that Walker has signed with HYENA Records, the independent label who've built a genre-eclectic roster in which superlative artistry, first and foremost, serves as the unifying thread. Look for a new cd this winter. The truth of the matter is Seth Walker is an artist who is here to stay. He'll be making records, touring the world and singing his songs with as much conviction and heart as there is to give now and always. Count on it.
Robin Rogers - Music has been Robin Rogers' consuming passion ever since her days as a teenage street singer. Possessing a deeply expressive and soulful voice and an infectious enthusiasm for the blues, Robin and her band have developed a devoted and growing following. Her Blind Pig debut, Treat Me Right, fulfills the promise of her previous two releases, revealing an accomplished artist of rare polish and originality. It features perhaps her most powerful composition, "Color-Blind Angel", a moving account of the life and death of white civil rights worker Viola Liuzzo, who was assassinated by the KKK in 1965. "Color-Blind Angel" won second place in the blues category of the 2007 International Songwriters Competition. "The album is consistently good -- no matter what she sings, Rogers pours herself into it. She's tough and tender, sometimes both at the same time." - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Gina Sicilia - Philadelphia's own Gina Sicilia as a songwriter has proven herself to have a deep understanding of American roots music, as well as the ability to compose music that perfectly suits her unique persona. Her expertly crafted songs pay homage to the great roots music of the past, which has inspired Gina throughout the years, and now comes full circle to help her create her own distinct voice in this American art form. Gina's potential as a vocalist and songwriter is boundless. She is sure to make her mark among a new generation of blues artists. "Gina Sicilia may be the best blues singer on the music scene today and she still is only twenty-two years old. Her CD Allow Me To Confess demonstrates maturity that belie her years, passion that usually only comes from years of heartbreak, epic moments and wonderful love filled moments. She is the female counterpart to Jonny Lang who while still in his teens blew audiences away with his gritty vocals." -JazzReview.com
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