Violin, aka, Fiddle
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PAST CONCERTS


Juni Fisher
8 pm Saturday December 3, 2005
Otherlands Coffee Bar 641 S. Cooper

Juni Fisher It was a 45 of Marty Robbins’ “El Paso,” a present from her dad at age five or six, that inspired Juni Fisher to become a western singer. Indeed, the first cut on Tumbleweed Letters, her debut CD, is a continuation of the “El Paso” story, which she calls “Red Velvet Slippers.” And that’s just the beginning. Her story songs have been likened to the sweeping movie epics of John Ford, her lyrics to those of Tom Russell and Ian Tyson. She seamlessly weaves story and song, and her cast of characters easily rivals Larry McMurtry or Louis L’Amour. Juni’s concert credits include the Grand Ole Opry’s 75th Anniversary show at the Ryman Auditorium and the 2004 Monterey Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival. Her second CD, Sideshow Romance, was released in 2004; she received four nominations for the 2005 Academy of Western Artists Awards and won the title of Western Female Vocalist of the Year. Ranger Doug of Riders in the Sky, who duets with Juni on the title cut of Tumbleweed Letters, calls her “one of Nashville’s great undiscovered secrets.” Don't miss this chance to discover her for yourself.

Tickets $10
Available at Otherlands Coffee Bar and Davis-Kidd Booksellers

GERRY O'BEIRNE
8 PM Saturday October 29, 2005
Otherlands Coffee Bar 641 S. Cooper, Memphis Tennessee

Gerry O'Beirne MAMA welcomes back Irish songwriter, guitarist and singer Gerry O’Beirne. Gerry is not only a self-taught master of the six- and twelve-string guitar, he is also a renowned songwriter, taking his influences from old and new music and poetry.

His first solo album Half Moon Bay received much deserved critical acclaim and features his own compelling performances of his songs, as well as his beautiful instrumental music.The album was chosen as one of the 12 best independent releases of 2000 by Performing Songwriter magazine, which featured him in the May 2000 issue, and Folkworld called it one of the top ten albums of the year, "a masterpiece."

His songs tell of a yearning for home, romantic love, and the spiritual qualities of place. Gerry has called many places home ( he grew up in the West of Ireland and in Ghana, and has lived in England, California, Mexico), but after listening to his music, it is clear that ‘home’ is anywhere he can sit with his twelve string guitar and play.

Gerry O’Beirne has toured around the globe with several bands and artists including Patrick Street, The Sharon Shannon Band, Midnight Well (which featured his unique slide guitar playing), The Waterboys, Andy M Stewart, Martin Hayes, Kevin Burke and Andy Irvine. Many artists, including Mary Black, Cathie Ryan, and Maura O'Connell, have recorded his songs, and he has produced albums for numerous musicians, Kevin Burke, Andy M. Stewart, Anam, Martin O'Connor, Clandestine, and many others. He has performed at the White House, opened for the Grateful Dead, and played electric guitar with Marianne Faithfull.

Don't miss this concert. "The instrumentals are out of this world---superlative and subtle." Dirty Linen.

MAMA would like to thank Mike Cannito for underwriting this concert in honor of his daughters, Caitlin and Tess.

Tickets are $10.00 at Otherlands and Davis-Kidd Booksellers

Gove Scrivenor Web Site
8:00 PM Saturday October 8, 2005
Otherlands Coffee Bar 641 S. Cooper, Memphis Tennessee

Grove Scrivenor When looking for expressive and uncommon sounds, Dolly Parton, Neil Young, Dan Seals, Hank Williams, Jr., Iris Dement and Glen Campbell all turned to the evocative sound of Gove Scrivenor's autoharp. When Gove released early albums on Flying Fish Records, his friends, Doc Watson, John Hartford, Marty Stuart, Buddy Emmons...all lined up to contribute to his recordings. Now joined by John Prine, Nanci Griffith and Lari White for his first Compass Records release Shine On, Gove has created a collection of five self-penned and selected favorites of fellow artists. Gove, once again, introduces songs that are full of life and energy and his very personal, soulful sound. Gove moved to Nashville in the early 70's after a four-year stint as a submarine sonar technician in the Navy. This move proved to be a wise one, as he was signed by the largest music publishing company in the world, Acuff-Rose. Wesley Rose saw in Gove the qualities that his struggling TRX record label needed, and Gove was soon signed to a recording contract as well as a songwriter agreement. Things began to happen. Scrivenor signed a management and booking deal with the Don Light Talent Agency in Nashville. During his years with Don Light, Gove toured with fellow agency artists Delbert McClinton and Jimmy Buffett and the Original Coral Reefer Band. These successes opened doors for opportunities and he was soon performing on the popular PBS series Austin City Limits, where he appeared with The Amazing Rhythm Aces. His performance was nominated for an Emmy and he was asked to return again the following year for a show with Doc Watson. Bookings at colleges, festivals and clubs poured in and Gove soon found himself playing all over the US and Australia. Standing ovations and rave reviews were the order of the day, and then the bottom fell out of the Folk and Blues circuit with the advent of "alternative music" in the early '80s. Not one to be brought down, Scrivenor kept his optimistic attitude alive and settled right into Nashville. He established himself as a highly sought after sessions player and he met with continued success by singing many jingles, including the early Opryland campaigns for TV and Busch Beer. Shine On follows the success of Gove's two prior releases on Flying Fish Records. Shady Gove featured such masters as Doc Watson, John Hartford, Buddy Emmons and a host of others. It was the first of two highly regarded albums for the label. Coconut Gove, his second release, drew participation from such favorites as Marty Stuart, Ben Keith, and Dave Loggins. Solid Gove was re-released as a compilation on Rounder Records in February of 1998. Gove Scrivenor's music has been described as "high energy folk blues," with inventive slide work and powerful vocals, tempered with singular work on the autoharp and beautiful ballads of his own writing. He's well known for his magical rapport with audiences of all ages. Scrivenor has experienced his share of luck, but this time, we're the charmed ones. We're provided with another unique opportunity to hear this master at work. To once again experience the thumping of our hearts dancing with joy to the rhythm of his beat. “Gove’s first appearance was such a success, we had to bring him back the following year”…Terry Likona, exec. Producer…AUSTIN CITY L IMITS… “Thanks for opening up the skies on top of “Ol’Smokey”!!…Burl Ives…

Tickets are $10.00 at Otherlands and Davis-Kidd Booksellers
Malcolm Holcombe Web Site
8 PM Saturday Sept 10, 2005
Otherlands Coffee Bar 641 S. Cooper, Memphis Tennessee

Malcolm Holcombe Born and raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Malcolm Holcombe is an acclaimed singer/songwriter/musician in the insurgent country/folk vein.

Holcombe's album "A Hundred Lies"(Hip-O/Universal) received a four star review in Rolling Stone by music editor David Fricke, and received accolades from USA Today, No Depression, and Dirty Linen as well as international press. His moody poetry, country blues guitar and rumbling baritone has garnered comparisons to notable musicians such as Tom Waits and John Prine. He has also earned raves from such Nashville notables as Lucinda Williams.

Malcolm has toured nationally with Shelby Lynne and opened for artists such as Richard Thompson, Merle Haggard and Wilco. Malcolm tours throughout the year, and his live performances are legendary among his legions of fans. He continues to write prolifically, appears regularly on radio in areas he is performing in, and has most recently been involved with the "Return To Cold Mountain" CD, produced by Grammy winner Bil VornDick.

Tickets are $10.00 at Otherlands and Davis-Kidd Booksellers




Smithfield Fair Web Site
Smithfield Fair
8 PM Saturday August 13, 2005
Otherlands Coffee Bar 641 S. Cooper, Memphis Tennessee

Smithfield Fair Acoustic music.Scottish spirit. Scottish traditional influence is strong in the music of Smithfield Fair. Song-driven, the music is a balance of traditional songs and strong, critically acclaimed originals, lively and contemporary without losing the traditional focus. The trio of Jan Smith (Vocals, accordion, guitar), Dudley-Brian Smith (Vocals, guitars, mandolin) and Frang Bladen (Vocals, bodhran, percussion) effectively utilize tight harmonies and driving rhythms. After eight CDs (their newest is Winds of Time) and 15 years, their music continues to receive worldwide radio airplay. The trio has performed in concert with a "who's who" in Celtic music, but retains the warmth and intimacy of a house concert even in large venues. Dirty Linen magazine commented that "..the playing is wonderful, and the harmonies are exquisite," and that they are "hearty singers and capable multi-instrumentalists".

Tickets are $10.00 at Otherlands and Davis-Kidd Booksellers

MAMA would like to thank Dr. Nancy Chase and an anonymous donor for underwriting the Smithfield Fair concert.


Bill Ellis, Andy Cohen and Janie B. Goode
8 PM Saturday July 23, 2005
Otherlands Coffee Bar 641 S. Cooper, Memphis Tennessee

Ellis Cohen












There are some moments that just deserve reliving. Such is the case with Preachin’ in That Wilderness, a recording made fifteen years ago by William Lee Ellis, Andy Cohen, and Janie B. Goode, newly re-released on the Riverlark label. This “rowdy weekend of music making” (according to Andy), was originally put on tape at Marimac Recordings up in Crown Point, Indiana, “in a haze of Mexican cuisine and bourbon.” The successful musical formula was “four guitars, a ten-string banjo, a National Steel, an off-brand slide guitar, … borrowed instruments,” and a newly tuned piano, plus the aforementioned Mexican food and bourbon. The result: unique arrangements by talented artists of the earliest blues and gospel music on record. Celebrating the magic of that long-ago weekend, and bearing a clutch of other new CDs, William Lee Ellis and Andy Cohen, familiar to local audiences as two of Memphis’ more accomplished acoustic guitarists, present a CD-release party for MAMA which promises to be a highlight of the summer. Standing in for Eleanor, unable to attend because of distance, is local chanteuse Janie B. Goode, an able accomplice who has done these songs with Andy since he arrived in Memphis ten years ago. Don’t miss this!

Tickets are $10.00 at Otherlands and Davis-Kidd Booksellers


Yellow Dog Logo MAMAwould like to thank Yellow Dog Records and Riverlark Music for underwriting this concert.

Riverlark Music Logo







Sid Selvidge DVD Release Concert
8 PM Saturday June 4, 2005
Otherlands Coffee Bar 641 S. Cooper, Memphis Tennessee

Tickets are $12.00 at Otherlands and Davis-Kidd Booksellers

Sid Selvidge Photo By Mark Loft



Archer Records is pleased to announce the national release of the “Sid Selvidge - Live at Otherlands,” a new live performance DVD + CD. Advance orders are now being taken at www.archer-records.com.

Recorded live in the fall of 2004, this two-disc release features Selvidge in his finest element, on stage and telling the stories behind the songs. [Sept. 2004 MAMA show!!]

Disc One is a DVD, featuring a 14-song live set of Sid’s favorite songs at Otherlands coffee house. Full of Delta mojo and coffee house charm, viewers are also treated to an interview section where Sid candidly talks about his roots, the 60s and 70s Memphis Music scene, the Delta, MudBoy and the Neutrons, “Furry” Lewis, his first encounter with Sam Phillips and much more.

Disc Two is ear candy.  A sweet CD version of the songs from the live performance DVD, ready to pop into your player for your next road trip or blues party.

Selvidge began his recording career in 1969 with a subsidiary of the Stax label, and since has made five critically acclaimed albums as a solo artist and three as a member of the legendary Mudboy and the Neutrons. His last record, A Little Bit Of Rain, was his first release on Archer Records.

Selvidge will celebrate the new release with the Memphis Area Acoustic Music Association (MAMA) at Otherlands on Saturday, June 4th at 8 p.m. Tickets are $12 at the door.

Selvidge’s talents, his music and stories are a rare Memphis gem that has been referred to as “a precious treasure” by Rolling Stone (2003). His tenor voice has been coined as “so pure it almost approaches precious” by No Depression (2003).

Over the years, critics have written glowing reviews about Selvidge and his music. The New York Times summed it up by saying, “his voice is an astonishing instrument,” (1976).

For more information about Sid Selvidge or Archer Records, please contact:

Nancy Apple
Archer Records
88 Union Avenue, Suite 107
Memphis, TN 38103
901-521-0700
901-521-1489 fax


Archer Logo
MAMAwould like to thank Archer Records for underwriting Sid's concert.




Robin Bullock
8 PM Saturday May 7, 2005
Otherlands Coffee Bar 641 S. Cooper, Memphis Tennessee

Robin's Web Site

Robin Bullock Robin is a prolific composer and multi-instrumentalist, whose virtuosity on guitar, cittern and mandolin blends the ancient melodies of the Celtic lands and their vigorous Appalachian descendants into one powerful musical vision. The 17th-century harp tunes of legendary Irish bard Turlough O'Carolan, the spirited jigs and reels of rural Ireland, the haunting ballads of the southern Appalachians and evocative original compositions all find a musical common ground in Robin's music, where lightning-fast fingerwork one moment is perfectly balanced with tender, quiet intimacy the next. A warm, friendly presence onstage, Robin effortlessly creates a magical world for the audience with his multi-instrumental wizardry, taking them on a journey to the heart and soul of Celtic and American traditions.

Originally rising to prominence as a founding member of the innovative acoustic world-music trio Helicon (winners of the Association for Independent Music's prestigious INDIE Award for Best Seasonal Recording), Robin's solo career has won him three Washington Area Music Association WAMMIE Awards, a Governor's Award from the Maryland State Arts Council, and a feature broadcast on National Public Radio's hugely popular Celtic music program "The Thistle and Shamrock." His recorded work includes four critically acclaimed solo CDs (Green Fields, Midnight Howl, Between Earth and Sky and The Lightning Field), and four collaborations: Travellers with legendary bluegrass mandolinists Butch Baldassari and John Reischman, A Midnight Clear: A Celtic Christmas with fellow INDIE winners Al Petteway and Amy White, The Irish Girl with French flute and whistle champion Michel Sikiotakis, and Celtic Guitar Summit with California fingerstylist Steve Baughman – the last honored by Acoustic Guitar Magazine with an "Editor's Pick" as one of the top CDs of 2003.

Born in 1964 in Washington DC, a major focal point for both bluegrass and Irish music, Robin began playing guitar at age seven, initially inspired by Doc and Merle Watson, Norman Blake and John Fahey. Robin's apprenticeship years were spent at fiddlers' conventions, bluegrass festivals and Irish seisuns, mastering the subtleties of a half-dozen instruments in both American and Celtic styles. Today, Robin is recognized as one of the few musicians who can so successfully blend the ancient airs and dance tunes of the Celtic lands with the roots music traditions of the "New World."

In 2000, Robin relocated to France, and now lives in the tiny village of Tripleval, on the Seine river northwest of Paris. He continues to tour and record on both sides of the Atlantic, in a number of contexts: solo, duos with guitarist Steve Baughman and flute player Michel Sikiotakis, and an annual Christmas concert tour with Al Petteway and Amy White. "Dazzling spirit...what he offers is not just virtuosity for the sake of virtuosity, but also the sensibility of one on a quest between past and present, traditional and modern." - Trad Magazine (France)

Tickets are $10.00 at Otherlands and Davis-Kidd Booksellers

Bill Metzger








SPENCER BOHREN
8 PM Friday April 15, 2005
Otherlands Coffee Bar 641 S. Cooper, Memphis Tennessee

Spencer Bohren Spencer Bohren lovingly calls New Orleans home, but for much of any given year, he can be found roaming the globe, traveling by train, plane, car and boat, sharing his deep love of American blues, folk and gospel music. From Portland to Paris, Denver to Dublin, enthusiastic audiences rise to their feet night after night to celebrate Spencer’s unique mix of traditional and original songs, casual instrumental prowess and unpredictable storytelling. He’s been a frequent guest on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion, a perennial winner of New Orleans’ coveted Big Easy Award for Best Folk Artist, the composer of an evocative score for Louisiana’s hit play, Earl Long in Purgatory, and an instructor at Jorma Kaukonen’s Fur Peace Ranch in Southern Ohio. Spencer has released more than a dozen albums, and his most recent, Southern Cross, is hailed by critics around the world as some of his best work in a thirty-five year career. Still, live performance is Spencer’s greatest pleasure, and no two shows are ever the same. This year’s itinerary includes dates all over the United States as well as concerts in Ireland, Sweden, France, Germany, England and Belgium. Always a MAMA favorite, Spencer Bohren never fails to deliver. Mark your calendar for this one.

Tickets are $12 At Otherlands Coffee Bar and Davis-Kidd Booksellers

This concert is underwritten by long-time MAMA supporter Dr. Nancy Chase

Celtic Grace (Larkin Bryant and Friends)
8 PM Saturday March 19, 2005
Otherlands Coffee Bar 641 S. Cooper, Memphis Tennessee

Celtic Grace
CELTIC GRACE
A familiar performer to MAMA audiences, Larkin Bryant has played Celtic and American folk music professionally since the early sixties and has appeared at folk venues throughout the United States and Canada. She co-founded the Memphis Dulcimer Festival held for eleven years at Idlewild Presbyterian Church, has authored a book on mountain dulcimer, and has released a CD, Lark in the Twilight. Now she has collaborated with friends to make a new CD, Celtic Grace, adding yet another layer to her musical accomplishments. Bill Ellis of the Commercial Appeal gave it four stars and listed it as a “hot pick.” Larkin plays hammered dulcimer, accompanied by Robert Feol on guitar. Feol is a full-time Orff music teacher for the Memphis City Schools and is in demand as an accompanist and soloist/composer. Jeanne Elting Simmons, who has played with the Memphis Symphony and for many productions at Theatre Memphis, adds her talents on wooden flute and Irish whistle. Harpist Mary Abbay Gourley comes to Memphis from New Orleans, where she performed with the Louisiana Philharmonic and New Orleans opera and ballet companies. Like Feol, she currently teaches Orff music with the Memphis City Schools. These four talented musicians will treat us to duos, trios, and full ensemble performances. The music will come primarily from the CD, subtitled “Contemplative Music for the Spirit”; the group promises to liven it up for us at times by adding some jigs and reels. Larkin’s hammered dulcimer is the featured instrument, but fans of the mountain dulcimer won’t be disappointed either—Larkin promises to round out the evening with a few numbers on that instrument as well. You don’t want to miss this!

Tickets are $10.00 at Otherlands and Davis-Kidd Booksellers


Copyright January 2001, Memphis Acoustic Music Association.
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