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PAST CONCERTS John Lilly 8 PM Saturday December 2, 2006 Otherlands Coffee Bar 641 South Cooper Memphis TN John Lilly is a multi-talented acoustic music performer from Charleston, West Virginia, specializing in Americana, roots country, and traditional folk music. His creative original songs recall the sounds of earlier generations, while his innovative treatment of early country and traditional music is timeless. According to one reviewer, "If Hank Williams had a sunny disposition, he'd be John Lilly." John has released three self-produced CDs. "Broken Moon," released in 2000, earned enthusiastic reviews and widespread radio airplay. Bluegrass Unlimited magazine called it one of the "most unusual and interesting acoustic disks of the year." John's second CD, "Last Chance to Dance," released in 2003, debuted at the #1 position on the international Freeform American Roots radio chart and rose to the #4 position in Europe on the Euro-Americana radio chart. His third CD, "Blue Highway," released in 2005, is a collaboration with legendary Tennessee fiddler Ralph Blizard. John is recognized nationally as a powerful performing songwriter. In 2005, he won the national Ghost Writers In the Sky songwriting contest, sponsored by HankFest, a Chicago-based festival honoring the music of Hank Williams. John won a customized guitar for his original song "Blue Highway." He was a finalist in the 2002 Chris Austin Songwriting Competition at MerleFest in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, chosen from 853 entries and placing third in the Country category for his song "Broken Moon." Tickets are $12.00 at Otherlands and Davis Kidd Bookseller. The Cantrells 8:00 PM Saturday October 28, 2006 Otherlands Coffee Bar 641 South Cooper Memphis TN National public radio favorites THE CANTRELLS bring "hot picking and smooth harmonizing" for their second MAMA concert Al and Emily Cantrell cast a magical spell with their airy, joyful acoustic songs. Emily Cantrell sings in a fluid, jazzy style reminiscent of Joni Mitchell, while husband Al plays off his wife's Martin guitar with spirited fiddling and a dazzling mandolin technique -- his music weaves through her words as if the two were locked together in an intuitive dance. They put a pop spin on acoustic folk and bluegrass, with detours into Celtic, western swing and traditional American tunes. Robert Redford chose them to appear playing fiddle tunes in his hit movie “ A River Runs Through It.” Emily Cantrell draws from her childhood on a Tennessee cotton farm, her musical theater experience, and her love of the Great American West to present a variety of original and traditional songs. "Emily simply has a beautiful voice - a velvety, expressive, rich soprano in a class with the best artists", says Bluegrass Unlimited. Her collusion with fiddle champion Al Cantrell since 1985 has led to 4 CDs, concerts in 33 states and Canada. Their CDs feature Emily Cantrell's original songs as well as folk and bluegrass classics, with help from some of Nashville's finest, including Bela Fleck, Tim O'Brien, Jerry Douglas and members of Riders in the Sky. "Emily can just flat out sing and Al's a fiddler's fiddler." - THE TENNESSEAN, Nashville Tickets are $12.00 at Otherlands and Davis Kidd Bookseller. Afrissippi Web Site 8pm Saturday February 11, 2006 Otherlands Coffee Bar 641 S. Cooper Afrissippi’s debut album, Fulani Journey, tells the story of Guelel Kumba, singer-songwriter from the delta of Senegal, West Africa. Kumba moved to Oxford, Mississippi in 2002 where he jammed with Eric Deaton, apprentice to the late R. L. Burnside. The two discovered the eerie similarities between the hill country blues of North Mississippi and traditional Senegalese melodies, and thus the nucleus of Afrissippi was born. The group has a revolving lineup. Performing for MAMA will be Guelel Kumba, Justin Showah, Kinney Kimbrough (the late Junior Kimbrough’s son), and John Sinclair, 60s counter-culture icon immortalized by John Lennon in his 1971 “Free John Sinclair” rally. Go to the Afrissippi Web Site to hear song clips and learn more about Afrissippi. Read the full scoop on the legendary John Sinclair at www.johnsinclair.us And above all else, come to Otherlands to hear cultures collide head-on. It’s world boogie like you’ve never experienced before. MAMA would like to thank Laurence Hall for underwriting the Afrissippi concert. Tickets $12 Available at Otherlands Coffee Bar and Davis-Kidd Booksellers Sid Selvidge 8:00 PM Saturday, Aug 12, 2006 Otherlands Coffee Bar, 641 South Cooper, Memphis TN Tickets $15.00 at Otherlands and Davis Kidd Bookseller Memphians who love music love Sid Selvidge. An acoustic artist in the blues, gospel, and folk traditions, his unmistakable tenor voice has been heard from the stage for more than thirty years. Although best known and loved for his solo performances, Selvidge was also part of Mud Boy and the Neutrons in the 70s, along with Jim Dickinson, Jim Crosthwait, and Lee Baker. In 1992, he performed at Carnegie Hall with his son Steve in a program entitled “The Family Tradition.” In 1993, he released his 6th CD, Twice-Told Tales, as part of Elektra/Nonesuch Records’ American Explorer series. Rave reviews followed. Sing Out! wrote, “Selvidge achieves a powerful intensity that is downright scary.” Guitar Player said, “ His rhythmic fingerpicking and emotional slide playing dance around his soulful voice.” All of these well-hewn words simply echo what Memphians already knew — Sid Selvidge is a Memphis treasure. He passes on to us the Delta blues traditions and musical craft that he learned straight from the masters: Furry Lewis, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Mississippi John Hurt. After paying those early dues, Selvidge is a bit more comfortable now as senior producer of the syndicated radio show, Beale Street Caravan, and his performances are not as frequent as they once were — all the more reason not to miss this one! Sid's concert is underwritten by Bill Schosser and Kim Halyak Spencer Bohren 8pm Saturday September 23, 2006 Otherlands Coffee Bar 641 S. Cooper Tickets $12.00 at Otherlands and Davis-Kidd Bookseller 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. While the horrific events resulting from Hurricane Katrina's devastating visit to New Orleans in 2005 have dramatically affected Spencer and his family, he, like so many others, is in the process of rebuilding his home and life. His career is healthier than ever, and a new song, 'The Long Black Line,' currently functions as a sort of post-traumatic touchstone for every New Orleanian who hears it. You can hear this song at Spencer Bohren.com Copyright January 2001, Memphis Acoustic Music Association. Contact the Web Master