THE FOLK CLUB OF SOUTH FLORIDA, INC.
ACOUSTIC UNDERGROUND CONCERT SERIES
presents
ANDREW CALHOUN
LUNA STAR CAFÉ, SATURDAY, November 2, 2013 – 8:00 P.M.
775 NE 125TH Street, North Miami, FL 33161 305-799-7123
Requested Contribution: $10, members of any folk club $7
ANDREW CALHOUN
Drawing on his father’s Scottish roots, Andrew Calhoun is a consumate wordsmith and story teller. Sensitive, often poetic lyricism is set to gentle or powerful acoustic melodies by this Chicago-based singer/sngwriter and record company owner/producer. Influenced by early John Prine, Leonard Cohen and Martin Carthy, Calhoun brings a poetic approach to his unique style of songwriting. Andrew Cahoun’s music is innovative and rooted in tradition. In forty years as a performer he has evolved an increasingly varied repertoire including original songs, Irish and American folk songs, Scottish ballads, African-American spirituals, hymns, historical background, comic songs and poems and songs by writers such as Dave Carter, Mary Oliver and Robert Frost.
At age seven, Andrew memorized W.B.Yeats’ “Song of Wandering Aengus” thus earning a nickel from his mother. He got his first guitar in 1967 at the age of ten, and began writing songs at twelve. By the late seventies, he was perfoming in the Chicago folk scene. Six months of janitorial work ath the DAVEA Center in Addison, IL funded a trip to Europe in 1977 leadinghim to hear Martin Carthy at the Cambridge Folk Festival in England and Carthy along with Leonard Cohen have remained guiding musical inspirations. He has since toured internationally, performing at folk clubs and festivals, pubs and house conceerts. In 1992 he founded Waterbug records, an artists cooperative folk label which has grown to 115 titles, bringing some of the brightest singer-songwriters and folk musicians to an international audience. His own recordings have been released on Hogeye, Flying Fish and Waterbug Records. Recent projects
include a comedy book, The Trilogy Trilogy, and his twelfth recording, Living Room, a collection of original songs. Recently has worked with Andrew Calhoun and Campground; The Band ZoZo; and in a duo and trio with his daughter Casey Calhoun. In October, 2012, Andrew was given the Lantern Bearer Award for twenty-five years ofservice to the folk arts in the Midwest by the Folk Alliance Regional Midwest.
Andrew now draws from decades of writing with many and varied subjectsand moods. From the bawdy to the wry and insightful he fills an evening with laughter as well as with rousing music. A master musician and guitarist, there is no throwaway song on his play list. He is one of the best at his craft in the nation.
“A wonderful songwriter and funny, warm performer” – The Daily Iowan
“Calhoun is a master at story songs, finely crafted works that swiftly and economically capture a moment or express an emotion. Like the best novelists, he is able to assumedifferent personas and see the world through other peoples’ eyes.” – June Sawyers, Chicago Tribune
“He’s blessed with a resonant baritone, crystalline fingerpicking, and a writer’s ear.” -The Oregonian
“Calhoun…has made himself a welcome presence… Bring your listening hat for his literate songs, some sober and some silly. – Jeff Rosenberg, Willamette Week
“His songs are majestic in their imagery an endlessly challenging in their themes.”
– James Tarbox, St. Paul Pioneer Press-Dispatch
“…he goes a awfully long way toward overturning the prevelant image of folksingers trying to live in a past that never was.” – Renaldo Migaldi, Chicago Reader
“…unbelievably poweful imagery.” – Merlin David, Performing Songwrite
“Andrew’s writing reminds me of impressionistic painting – an image here and there, a splash of color, light and shadow. His songs defy analysis; the impact of word and sound alone is enough to move me deeply. Andrew’s music bypasses the mind and goes straight to the soul.” – Lui Collins
“The greatest songwriter of his generation, mentionable win the same breath with Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Martin Carthy.” – John McLaughlin, WESS
“He is a creative force in the songwriter movement, a dynamite guitarist, and a traditional song interpreter of great skill. His introductions to songs can keep you doubled up with laughter, his songs run the gamut of human experience and emotion.” – Phil Cooper
“Andrew Calhoun tells the truth. To my knowledge, there is no greater songwriter alive.” – Dave Carter
“Andrew Calhoun’s persistent pursuit of faith and beauty in the face of everything is the driving theme in his work. A demanding poet among lyricists, Calhoun delivers to standards that many songwriters know exit. Calhoun rejects pat answers, and the characters in his songs often follow a heroic journey of loneliness, misunderstanding, and harsh judgements…”
“Calhoun’s music is a great companion for anyone who has ever ventured off the well-paved road to forge their own path in life. If you ever find yourself choosing art overcommerce, conscience over conformity, or inner wealth over the kind that you can show off, you will know this man when you meet him. He will welcome you home. – Brad Warren
“Andrew Calhoun is a powerful songsmith, a quiet and sly performer, and a finetraditional singer as well…fascinating and unpredictable.” – Phil Shapiro, Bound for Glor
http://www.waterbug.com/calhoun/