THE SONG IS THE STAR AT "WRITERS IN RARITAN"
Special UpstageMagazine.com Online Only Article
(RARITAN, NJ) --
RARITAN, NJ) -- American Roots Live with Nasty Ned, the popular, weekly open-mic celebration of American roots music - currently in its 76th week - announced today, the creation of "Writers in Raritan", a singer/songwriter showcase series that will take place every Wednesday night, 8:30 pm at DeCicco's, 10 Anderson St. in Raritan, NJ starting October 17, 2007. No cover charge.
Featuring the area's finest veteran and upcoming singer/songwriters, Writers in Raritan is not an open mic event like its "American Roots Live" parent show. Instead, Writers in Raritan is a pre-booked by invitation event showcasing the most talented singer/songwriters available to play 30 to 40 minute performance sets every Wednesday night. Writers in Raritan will also feature irregularly scheduled songwriter's workshops conducted by the show's co-host, renowned performer and songwriter, JR Bradfield.
Writers in Raritan will be hosted by American Roots Live founder and promoter; performer/producer, Nasty Ned.The "roots" and "live music" proponent says, "we want this showcase series to help people better connect with live music by focusing on the song and the artist who writes it. We'll have no drums, no bands and no accompanying players. The song in its stripped down form is the star".
DeCicco's in Raritan offers an intimate music setting with cold beer, blue-collar prices and an earthy, worn-brick back drop reminiscent of a Greenwich Village venue. The show host adds, "With the train station two blocks away, connecting us to Hoboken and New York, DeCicco's is perfect for our series". The New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania tri state area is a hot-bed of songwriting talent. Writers in Raritan looks to create a new and much needed outlet for this talent to be heard and appreciated.
The New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania tri state area is a hot-bed of songwriting talent. Writers in Raritan looks to create a new and much needed outlet for this talent to be heard and appreciated.Opening night, October 17th will feature five of the area's most talented songwriting-story-tellers: Robert Ross, John Powers, The Wiliamzboy, Bruce Jepson and Peter Prasa. Please include Writers in Raritan in your regular calendar of events.
Artists BiosRobert Ross is a distinctive and soulful singer who knows how to sell a song. Rafael Alvarez wrote in Guitar World magazine, "Robert Ross is an imaginative writer with files of Twilight Zone tales", while Tom "Bones" Malone of Blues Brothers fame calls Ross, "the new Bob Dylan". Bill Carlton of the NY Daily News once wrote, "Robert Ross is a fine singer, a snappy lyricist, and an even better blues rock guitarist ... time after time Ross delivers the goods".Ross is an able guitarist indeed. His spine-tingling solos tell stories words alone cannot express. Blues legend Albert King once said of Ross' guitar playing, "He's so fast, lightning would have to get on roller skates to catch him". Robert Makin of the Aquarian once wrote of Ross, "If you closed your eyes you'd swear Ray Charles was playing Buddy Guy's guitar. In 1980 Johnny Winter recorded Robert's composition, "Sittin' In The Jailhouse" for Columbia then re-released the song on Legacy in 1994 as part of a "best of" CD entitled, "A Rock 'n" Roll Collection". Robert Ross is a NY Music Award winner for Best Blues Artist.Having performed on network television's "Alive at Five" and "Good Morning America" as well as the Chicago Blues Festival, Montreal International Jazz Festival and countless venues large and small across the U.S. and Europe, Robert holds the enviable distinction of having played on stage with Muddy Waters, Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Robert Ross lives in New York City, NY.
John Powers, at 28 years of age is already a veteran of the New Jersey music scene. Having spent a third of his life in recording studios and clubs across the northeast, he has built a loyal fan base of music lovers and fellow musicians. John taught himself to play guitar at age seven and by 15 had recorded his first EP in New York City. He is about to release his much anticipated, first full-length CD, "Highway Lines" in the coming weeks.John spent a year as co-host of American Roots Live with Nasty Ned and most recently opened for John Eddie at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park. A young man with a special ability to communicate age-old human experience through music, John Powers writes and performs songs that get stuck in your head, your heart and your soul. There is no escaping them playing over and over again in your mind once you've heard them. John Powers lives in Bridgewater, NJ.
The Wiliamzboy is a regular performer at the House of Blues in Atlantic City, the Bitter End in New York and the Trocadero in Philadelphia. He is a singer/songwriter whose ferocious live performance and gritty original music has helped him garner acclaim and notoriety wherever he plays. Equally at home playing bar-room-blues, ramshackle folk, alternative country or acoustic funk, the Wiliamzboy's sound is timeless. Playing guitar and harmonica on a neck-rack, he sings soulful, moving songs that are uniquely his own. With sincerity in his voice and forthright truth in his music, his songs speak their own language. The Wiliamzboy lives in Philadelphia, PA.
Bruce Jepson, a multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter delivers songs that are well crafted and from the heart. A central New Jersey native, Bruce is a two-time finalist in The Chris Austin songwriting contest at Merlefest in Wilkesboro, North Carolina and has twice performed at the International Bluegrass Music Association's "Songwriter Showcase" during the "World of Bluegrass" festival in Louisville, Kentucky. Along with festival work Bruce has appeared at such venues as the Stone Pony, CBGB'S, Albert Hall, John and Peter's, Turning Point and many more. He is largely known in the tri state area as the lead singer and guitarist for bluegrass band "String Fever". Look for Bruce Jepson's first solo release, "I'm Still Blue" in the coming weeks. Bruce Jepson lives in Somerset County, NJ.
Peter Prasa says, he "wasn't born for these times", but everyone he's touched is grateful for his life at this time. Like many songwriters, he's taken life experience and put it to words. In his songs he displays melodic explosions of depth and level headedness with a dash of confusion. A multi-instrumentalist, he writes about lost love, found love, heaven, pain and even a recipe for Banana Bread. His father's first guitar, left in the basement of the family's home in Hillside NJ, where Peter spent his teenage years, became his first songwriting tool. Peter's song, "Angels Breath" gained an honorable mention from VH-1. Peter Prasa is a piano technician where while tuning pianos, some of his compositions are crafted. He says, "Everything has a song in it and every emotion creates a melody". Peter Prasa lives in Somerville, NJ.
JR Bradfield (co-host) is a singer/songwriter and guitar virtuoso who has logged over 100K skymiles during the 90's playing venues throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, North Africa, the Middle East and the U.S. He has entertained Governors and Officials of the British West Indies, the Royal Family of Qatar, played the Royal Palace in Abou Sofaine, Tunisia, and has entertained guests at Wyndham, Allegro, and Club Med Resorts. Bradfield's recordings showcase his comedic songwriting prowess. His repertoire features hilarious compositions like "Butt n' a Half" and the "Honky Blues". JR Bradfield lives in Piscataway, NJ.
Nasty Ned (host) has been performing and writing since 1966. He released his first recordings in 1981 and is best known as the singing, harmonica playing front man of Nasty Ned & the Famous Chili Dogs, and for his studio work and live performance with Johnny Charles and others. Ned is founder and host of American Roots Live with Nasty Ned and Writers in Raritan and is currently working to complete a cable television show entitled American Roots Live. Nasty Ned lives in Middlesex, NJ.
For more information please visit
www.american-roots.blogspot.comwww.nastyned.blogspot.comwww.myspace.com/americanrootswww.myspace.com/writersinraritanwww.nastyned.com
American Roots Live 86 and Writers in Raritan in the week leading up to this Christmas holiday was full of comfort and joy, new and old friends - and lots of love.
