The music of Autumn McEntire portrays her heart with honesty and simplicity, as her voice tells her stories of love and life. The music from her childhood is lined in her melodies, with influences from country, pop, and acoustic rock.

Her latest album “Seven Seasons” is the culmination of years of songwriting, singing, and recording in Nashville…literally seven seasons. “This album took a lot of blood, sweat and tears,” says McEntire. “There were obstacles we faced while making this record that seemed impossible and there were days when I felt like it was just too hard. But the end result is beyond what I could’ve ever imagined. I’m really proud of it. I poured myself into this record being very aware of what I wanted to say, and how I wanted it to sound and come across to the listener.”

Autumn is the niece of country music legend Reba McEntire and gospel singer Susie McEntire Luchsinger. Needless to say, her musical legacy runs deep. Autumn knew at age seven that she would move to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue a music career. She grew up in small town, rural Oklahoma learning to sing from her father at a very young age. In middle school she joined her two younger sisters and formed a second generational singing group called "The Singing McEntires,” performing for audiences all over Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, and Kansas. Autumn began playing guitar and writing songs in high school, mimicking sounds from her favorite artists like Trisha Yearwood, Sheryl Crow, Jewel, and Patty Griffin. She wrote songs about her heart, her family, and her life. Autumn realized her childhood vision and moved to Nashville only two weeks after her high school graduation.

In the fall of 1997, Autumn enrolled at Belmont University in Nashville, and with a band of her fellow students and a few original songs in her pocket, Autumn made a name for herself on campus when she was featured in several showcases including “The Best of The Best Showcase” held at the historical Ryman Auditorium. Upon graduating, Autumn signed a songwriting contract with Still Working Music Group, a Barbara Orbison company, and began working with hit songwriter/producer Tommy Lee James. Over the next three years, Autumn and Tommy wrote and recorded her debut album, “Same Ole Me”. She also received her first cut on Big Machine recording artist Danielle Peck's debut album. The song entitled " Kiss You On The Mouth" was released on Danielle's album in June of 2006.

Since then Autumn and her band have continued to tour the country, writing and recording every step of the way. Joining forces with Nashville producer Jamey Perrenot for this second album, “Seven Seasons” has been a labor of love. Autumn describes her new material as "...a definite reflection of where I am in my life...a little more confident, a little less lonesome." Autumn currently lives in Nashville with her husband Mark and her dog Lenny.









 About Fred Shafer 

New Record is coming…

Fred has just finished his new, self-titled EP! Collaborating with producers BrianSperber(Moby, Hinder, 3 Doors Down) and Mike Mushok(guitarist from the band Staind), Fred is poised to release his best work yet.

“Joined by an All-Star backing band, Shafer delivers these Rock infused Pop songs with veteran precision. Standout tracks like “Breakaway” and “Here I Am” only further showcase Shafer’s uncanny ability to move between rock anthem, classic ballads and catchy pop…all the while, continuing to sound both modern and fresh. Anchoring the strong song selection has to be Shafer’s vocals. Sperber and Mushok successfully traverse the task of highlighting Shafer’s impressive range and power, without sacrificing the subtle nuances of his raspy tenor. “

Set to be released this summer, Fred will be touring behind this record through the end of the year.

Bob and Mary Fry are a husband and wife team that have been playing music most of their lives -  they have been playing for over 20 years together. They both have been in various bands separately and for the last 10 years have been members of the 3rd Floor Band which they still perform with.  They recently decided to start performing again as a couple also.  Their style of music is a combination of easy listening, country, classic rock, with a few original songs thrown into the mix.



www.myspace.com/melodyroad

Melody Road Website: www.myspace.com/melodyroad

Jay and John play an acoustic version of classic rock songs from the 60’s and 70’s with a few newer tunes included. “Jammin Jay” hails from the Findlay area with well over 20 years experience, both vocally and on the harmonica. “Johnny Red” is also from the Findlay area, playing acoustic guitar and singing for over 30 years. Meeting for the first time in April “08” Jay and John hit it off, sharing similar interests in music, and loving the simplicity of an acoustic band that could play at your local bar, or just sitting around a campfire. Both have strong roots in classic rock and still “spin the vinyl” from their record collections. They bring a fresh feeling to timeless classics and really enjoy performing them for the older crowd or introducing them to new listeners.

The Sound:                                       

Percussive, finger-style acoustic guitar, tribal percussion and lush male-female harmonies are the signature sound of ilyAIMY. The songs, a modern take on folk and roots music that includes elements of alternative rock, metal, country and R&B, have been recognized by some of the nation’s most prestigious festivals and contests. ilyAIMY has been called “a welcome jolt in folk,” and “a combustible attack on the usual singer-songwriter fare.”   Often compared to a combination of Rusted Root, Buckingham/Nicks, acoustic Tool, Ani Difranco, Keller Williams, "Nickel Creek on crack," Alice in Chains and the Indigo Girls. Their serious songwriting is contrasted by their wacky and well-versed sense of humor which merely amplifies their intensely intimate relationship with every audience.

ilyAIMY Website: http://ilyaimy.com/

Homegrown in the Glass City, 22-year-old pop singer-songwriter Steven Mullan is already taking off with an arsenal of songs. Fresh off the college circuit at Miami University, Mullan’s songs take you on a journey both musically and lyrically. Having already performed on tours with acts such as A.R. Rahman (recent Golden Globe and Academy Award Winning Composer for Slumdog Millionaire), jazz legend Dave Brubeck, and Rockridge Recording Artist Andrew Hoover, Mullan's performance history is extensive. Inspired by artists such as The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, James Morrison, and Marc Broussard, his shows are powerful, yet intimate—you’ll tap your feet to his grooves and relax into the crafted melodies of his slow tunes. Since seventh grade, he’s been studying and performing music classically; now, he’s packing piano and guitar (and his voice, of course) in his car to spread this “pop” music that he’s also been playing and singing for so long—performing both solo shows and with his band.  Mullan’s live shows are packed with passion, energy, and spontaneity that always keep regulars, followers, and newcomers delightfully entertained.  And yes, like many other singer-songwriters, he did indeed write his first song after a break-up with a girl. To listen in on his newest album (Loveland EP), recorded in studios in Chicago and Toledo, visit www.myspace.com/stevenmullanmusic . 

Ed was halfof an acoustic folk duo that started way, way, way back in his college days. He and his partner Tim played extensively for several years in the Youngstown area, playing gigs anywhere they could from Western Pennsylvania to the greater Cleveland area. Career opportunities in the real world sent his partner to Pittsburgh , and Ed eventually landed in Findlay fourteen years ago with his wife and two daughters. As a solo performer, Ed’s music is heavily influenced by his musical heroes James Taylor, Paul Simon, andDan Fogelberg, as well as many other singer/songwriters from the 70’s on up totoday.

Fred Shafer delivers Rock infused Pop songs with veteran precision. Standout tracks like “Breakaway” and “Here I Am” only further showcase Shafer’s uncanny ability to move between rock anthem, classic ballads and catchy pop…all the while, continuing to sound both modern and fresh. Anchoring the strong song selection has to be Shafer’s vocals.

About Chris Castle



The New London (CT) Day calls Chris Castle "a visionary songwriter", while Folk Alley has named him "a rising Americana stand-out". Cleveland Magazine dubbed him "an authentic connection to the world-weary soul of American roots music", and the Free Times says "his songs are so well-written, they never seem sparse, despite their minimal production".



Bassist Nolan Mendenhall (Chuck Berry, Joan Baez) described Castle's January 2009 performance at the Ark (in Ann Arbor, MI) as "a fistful of stunning songs and a truth serum voice". Cool Cleveland.com says of Castle's 2007 release hollow bones in monotone: "from the opening strains of Fields of Stone to the picturesque set-stealer Both Ends of a Gun, there just isn't a bad cut on the disc".



Since early 2008, Castle has shared stages with some amazing artists, including: Chris Hillman (the Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers), Herb Pederson (James Taylor), Tommy Ramone (the Ramones), Junior Brown, Richard Shindell, the Wood Brothers, Jonathan Edwards, Jeff Black, Tommy Womack, Eilen Jewell, Jim White, the everybodyfields, Fiona McBain (Ollabelle), Peter Case, and Will Kimbrough.

Hal Walker



About the artist

Hal Walker is a natural-born musician with a gift for engaging children in music. As a veteran performer in Ohio, his playful and passionate style delights audiences of all ages. His original songs celebrate work, community, local history and geography. He composes and improvises on the piano, guitar, voice, harmonica, and jew’s harp. As an artist-in-residence with the Ohio Arts Council, he teaches songwriting, shares the joy of choral singing and creates mass harmonica choirs.

This is a show you will not want to miss.

Philip is a dynamic entertainer performing original music with an evocative lyrical sense, a soaring vocal style and a contemporary edge. He is a passionate performer with a creative song style that is truly unique. His original music has been wildly popular. Come in for an enjoyable evening. Philip's shows at Amici are always engaging.





http://www.myspace.com/philipallenmusic    

Please go to following website to help Philip raise money for the James Cancer Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.  Thank you for your support!!!!!!!

http://www.pelotonia.org/ride/riders_profile.jsp?MemberID=74626&SearchStart=0&PAGING

Fred Gillen Jr. cut his teeth as bassist in the popular roots-rock band Rain Deputies in the mid- nineties, before going solo in 1997 and releasing his first CD Intentions As Big As The Sky. As a solo artist he has since released five other full-length CD's and two ep's. His latest CD Coney Island has been well-received by local critics and fans. Building up a strong following by playing at practically every small venue in the Hudson Valley, Gillen was voted "Best Folk Artist" for three consecutive years by readers of The Westchester Weekly. In 2002 he was awarded a New York Foundation for the Arts grant to cover expenses for his first European Tour. 2006 saw Gillen speaking on a panel at the International Folk Alliance Conference in Austin, TX. In 2007 Gillen was asked to read his poetry at a New Year's Eve concert hosted by U. S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Fred Shafer delivers Rock infused Pop songs with veteran precision. Standout tracks like “Breakaway” and “Here I Am” only further showcase Shafer’s uncanny ability to move between rock anthem, classic ballads and catchy pop…all the while, continuing to sound both modern and fresh. Anchoring the strong song selection has to be Shafer’s vocals.

Local Columbus singer/songwriter Rj Cowdery has been singing and writing songs since she was a teenager. This labor of love — from playing open mics to opening for Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival many years later — paid off when Rj won the coveted Mountain Stage NewSong Contest in September, 2007.   

The Mountain Stage NewSong Contest showcased 12 musicians who were finalists in an intensive summer-long competition made up of live regional rounds held across North America. Hundreds of aspiring singer-songwriters submitted and performed their original songs. Columbus Ohio’s Rj Cowdery was one of five co-winners selected at the River to River Festival in New York City. To see the rest of the winners and hear their talent, visit www.newsongfestival.com. 

Rj Cowdery has been influenced by some of the great musical story tellers of our time; from Nancy Griffith, Carol King, The Carpenters and John Denver to Jackson Browne, Jim Croce and Neil Young…to name a few. In 1995, Cowdery wrote and recorded "Bernie's Daughter" and developed a strong regional fan base.  She also contributed a cut to the “ripe!” compilation made up of singer/songwriters from the Columbus, Ohio area. Cowdery's latest effort, "One More Door" was released in February, 2008."One More Door" was recorded live in Parkersburg, West Virginia with Michael Lipton and Ammed Solomon from National Public Radio’s Mountain Stage Band and Don Dixon, legendary producer of REM and Marshall Crenshaw.  West Virginia singer-songwriter icon Todd Burge produced the album. 



Columbus Singer/Songwriter Wins Kerrville Folk Festival Competition

May 28, 2008- Columbus, Ohio - Columbus based singer-songwriter Rj Cowdery was selected as one of six winners of the prestigious 2008 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition.  The other winners include Devon Sproule (Charlottesville,  VA), CJ Watson (Nashville, TN), Hans York (Seattle, WA), Robby Hecht (Nashville, TN) and BettySoo (Austin,TX).

The winners competed against more than 800 applicants nationwide and internationally for prizes and national recognition.  Cowdery submitted two of her original songs from the recent independent CD release entitled “One More Door” and was one of just 32 applicants that made in into the final round.  As a winner, she will perform both songs in Kerrville, Texas in front of 30,000 festival attendees on Sunday, June 1.  To hear the songs she submitted, “One More Door” and “Now and Then,” go to

www.rjcowdery.com.

 

In the 80ʼs Eric Sommer broke out of the Boston folk music scene with a mixture of roots-pure fingerstyle acoustic guitar and new wave pop, a blurred combination of Nick Lowe, The Cars and Spider John Koerner influences. This unique alchemy created a driving, guitar-based sound backed by a tight, infectious beat and laced with Byrds-style jingle jangle guitar work; this sound landed him and his band The Atomics into Cantones, the hardcore, working-class punk bar in downtown Boston, just off an area called The Combat Zone, as the house band.



First writing power pop rock songs, Eric slowly blended his acoustic feel, open-tunings and slide guitar into a more personal writing approach, producing a wide rang of very personal songs, songs based on years of road work, travel and observations as well as autobio material. Eric was regularly called on by legendary promoter Don Law to fill in at the new Paradise Theatre, where he shared the stage and a number of tours with many national acts such as David Bromberg, Leon Redbone, John Mayall, Dr. John, John Hammond, Little Feat, The Byrds (McGuinn Clark and Hillman) and new wave British acts like Nick Loweʼs Wreckless Eric, Brahm Tschikovsky and Gang of Four.



Sommer, who paid his guitar dues on the streets of Boston during high school, left the US for Europe and played in Amsterdam and Hamburg, before settling in Aarhus, Denmark where he toured with Danish bands and held steady gigs at Den Hoyle and De Gavverit, very popular clubs for American ex-pats in Europe, and then moved to Amsterdam and lived on a houseboat while playing the Netherlands music clubs, Amsterdam scene and German concert circuit.



Back in Boston, now broke and homeless, Eric lived on the streets and in abandoned warehouses in South Boston while playing every open mic and working every short-order cook job he could find. He took guitar tips from legendary guitar master David Landau, brother of Springsteen manager Jon Landau, then from Mick Goodrick of the Gary Burton Quartet and Steve Howe of YES fame, and listened to all the Joe Pass, Jeff Beck and Charlie Christian vinyl recordings he could find.



The Atomics continued to hold down the house band spot at Cantone’s and after shows and tours with a number of new wave and punk acts like The Dead Kennedyʼs, The Atomics evolved into one of the best local power pop/new wave bands in Boston. The trio disbanded in the mid 80ʼs and Eric moved to New York, then Atlanta working in record stores and one-stops and finally settled around the Mid-Atlantic area, choosing Adams Morgan, a hip, cosmo-type east village like area of Washington DC, as a base of sorts. Eric mixed his music and visual interests together and launched the Georgetown Film Festival which combined indie films and animation with a music festival. This combination led Eric into “motion music” and he has created film scores and soundscapes for a number of short films, features, animations and docs.



Eric is starting to receive long-overdue national and international recognition for his song writing and his unique and explosive guitar style; his vast collection of songs, stories and prose make for a wonderful evening in any venue, and a lot of his writing and free downloads can be found on www.ericsommer.com/trailer.html.



Building a name for himself and becoming a well-known and in-demand performer in many music venues across the US, Europe and Japan seems to suit this guitar hobo just fine; in fact, Eric has found a home - and many couches - in Knoxville TN, Chicago IL, Wilmington NC, Macon GA, Little Rock AR, Ithaca NY, Madison WI, Nashville TN, Lexington and Louisville KY and Sioux Falls SD plus a whole slew of local spots we can't even spell.



But touring and road work is Ericʼs passion, and he is a regular performer in many national venues, and has built a solid musical and performance reputation across the country. Ericʼs goals are rooted in what John Lee Hooker once said to him at a J.Geils show at The Catacombs in Boston : “If you ainʼt playinʼ, then you payinʼ”.



It's no trick to say Eric is, hands down, one of the hardest working tour players out there today, taking every opportunity to make friends, make music and make a difference. His creative and recording output is significant musically, but add that to the stories, poems, observations and sketches he is constantly posting and publishing and you can get a sense of what drives this unique artist and the message he is trying to communicate.



His most recent collection of prose is called "Red Chairs" and is available at http://www.ericsommer.com/d.sales.html. Sadly, the 40 songs he had recorded last year were all lost in a studio fire, and the 50 or so he had recorded the previous year vanished when the studio closed one night and the engineer and janitor made off with all the gear, all the studio recordings and the office plants.



Since 1995 Eric has been touring and playing all over the US and plays an average of 200 - 270 shows a year. He has been a regular performer at The Bayfront Blues Festival in Duluth, MN, The Carrboro Festival in Carrboro, NC and the Festival for the ENO in Raleigh, NC. Recent shows have included bills with Mates of State, OLD 97ʼs, Austin Guitar wiz Monte Montgomery and Jerry Douglas of Union Station, Sarah Watkins of Nickel Creek and Built to Spill...



Jim Reed of Savannah Connect said “Anyone whoʼs been in need of a fix of spectacular, percussive and virtuosic guitar work can rest easily. Eric Sommerʼs coming to town; One of the finest American guitar players on the road today Eric is an American original ... a poet, songwriter and showman... and the master of all things Americana”



Amen.

Eric Sommer Website: http://www.ericsommer.com

Kerry Clark Website: http://www.kerryclark.net/Kerry_Clark/Welcome.html

   Jack plays a mixture of old rock and roll, blues, country rock,and original songs, focusing on songs that most everyone knows, but seldom hear. He's been playing guitar and writing songs since the early seventies. http://www.myspace.com/jackschilb

Jack Schilb Website: http://www.myspace.com/jackschilb

I've been singing and playing for over 20 years. Started in High School. Playing in small bands and then moving into playing in a working rock band, Myriah. We played throughout Northwest Ohio. Moved onto playing in a Christian Rock band. Then as a recording artist for 5th Dimension records, with my one man outfit Dementia 13. It was a clash of styles, incorporating performance art and musical genres like metal, industrial, minimalist electronica, space rock and noise. I dubbed the style Art Noise Terrorism, or Anti-rock, or Neo-Tokyo Jazz, depending on the situation. After a brief stint in numerous other projects, I finally decided that solo performance was the way to go. I have been playing solo acoustic rock for about 10 years now. I also still record music. Have been listed in the linux journal as a performance artist and in numerous music rags for my recorded music and live performances. In 2003 I composed the original electronic music for the Fort Findlay Playhouse production of Ken Kesey's 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'. Hailed, for it's bizzare and cutting take on insanity, by the former President of the Gem Theatre in Detroit.

Ryan Hensley expresses his appreciation for the singer/songwriter genre of music by performing a collection of songs written by artists such as Neil Young, Bob Dylan, James Taylor, and many others. Ryan also performs his own interpretation of soul/R&B covers with the guitar and harmonica. He also has a knack for transforming classic pop songs into beautiful lullabies with his ukulele. The ukulele is an instrument that is guaranteed to put a smile on everyone�s face. You may recognize Ryan Hensley from a number of other bands; Mystic Rhythms, the Civil Surfers, Blues 215. His solo act is a side project that he does in between all of the other bands he is in. Ryan is currently a student at the University of Findlay. He is studying to be a middle school teacher.

I am originally from Liberty Center, which is just about 40 minutes Northwest from Findlay. I'm a 23 year old, considering myself a professional, writer and singer. I am still starting out as a touring act, I've tried setting up my own gig for 5 years, bars, but have also opened for several National acts (Patty Griffin, John Mayer, Hootie and The Blowfish) Nino's is one that I play at with a band, but I do not get to showcase my songs often or get in front of a crowd who is there to hear about original music.