July 2008

Deeta Pasero Bellydance http://www.moderngypsy.org/ Friday, July 4th @8pm Tickets $6 Born to Zaramaya, instructor and performer of oriental belly dance for over 30 years,  Deeta had the opportunity to begin studying the art of Middle Eastern dance at a very early age.  She began performing belly dance professionally at the age of seven, while taking traditional classes in jazz, tap, and ballet.  Over the years Deeta mastered the Zaramaya technique and has taken workshops throughout the United States, studying with master teachers.  Deeta is a professional, award winning performer and instructor of Middle Eastern dance.  She directs Redding’s premier eclectic belly dance troupe Modern Gypsy and produces Shasta County’s annual professional stage production “Belly Dance Extravaganza!” Deeta Pasero

Dorian Michael / Kenny Blackwell  http://www.dorianmichael.com/  Saturday, July 12th @8pm Tickets $12, at door $15 Dorian Michael has played about every style of guitar and in every type of work situation a blue collar musician could hope for. After years of honky-tonk electric guitar in Southern California, his focus has been fingerstyle guitar and composition and now he's trying to get his flatpicking chops up to keep up with Kenny. Kenny Blackwell studied mandolin with Jethro Burns before moving to California in 1978. Kenny quickly became a sought after artist, soon to be working with such luminaries as Linda Ronstadt, Neil Diamond, and Johnny Rivers. Kenny has performed all over the world, from the Tonight Show, to the Grand Ol' Opry to Tokyo Disneyland, and his playing can be heard on the film soundtracks for feature movies and television shows such as Maverick, Spitfire Grill, Malcom in the Middle, and News Radio. Along with being a great mandolin and guitar player, Kenny Blackwell composes instrumental music in styles ranging from Celtic and Bluegrass, to Blues, Jazz and beyond.

Mollys Revenge  http://mollysrevenge.com/ Friday, July 18th @8pm Tickets $12, at door $15 Born out of the timeless tradition of Celtic music sessions, Molly's Revenge is a band with a genuine affection for the music they play; their enthusiasm for the music carries over in all their live and recorded performances. The classic combination of solo instruments such as the Highland bagpipes, uilleann pipes, whistles, fiddle, and mandolin against a backdrop of guitar and bouzouki accompaniment, with an occasional rousing chorus song mixed in, guarantees an enjoyable and memorable listening experience. Add the visual excitement of award-winning Irish step dancing to the mix and you've got yourself a party! Equally at home in front of audiences several thousand strong or in small intimate venues, Mollys Revenge has performed at many of the top folk festivals in the USA, performing arts events, and countless private concerts. Internationally, they have performed at prestigious events in Australia and China. The band's skilled musicianship and boundless enthusiasm for its music guarantees enjoyable entertainment for people of all ages. Their arrangements of traditional Celtic jigs and reels brings these dance tunes up to date with a driving, hard-edged accent in a way that will leave your feet tapping, your hands clapping, and your voices shouting for more. Mollys Revenge

September

Houston Jones http://www.myspace.com/houstonjonesband   Friday, September 12th 8pm Tickets $12, at door $15 Houston Jones is a California based high-octane Americana quintet. The band's blend of musical spices; Bluegrass, Rock, Folk, Blues Gospel, and Celtic, seamlessly mixes tight vocal harmonies and lightning fast picking into a tasty stew of Americana. Founded in 2001 as a duo by vocalist and guitarist Travis Jones and guitar wizard Glenn "Houston" Pomianek, the duo began adding the talents of classically trained cellist Chris Kee on Bass, percussionist Peter Tucker on drums and Henry Salvia on keyboard and accordion. Houston Jones

Alice DiMicele http://www.alicedimicele.com/ Friday, September 19th 8pm Tickets $12, at door $15 The first thing you'll notice about Alice Di Micele is her voice. With a five-octave range that is intense, sensual, rich and soulful, Di Micele has been known to turn a noisy bar silent within a few notes. Her warm presence and humor disarm and create a rare intimacy between audience and performer. Whether singing a jazzy-folk number, belting a sassy blues, or rocking out on one of her trademark rhythmic earthy grooves, Alice is a vocalist that moves people. A kick-ass guitarist as well, whether playing solo or with a band her acoustic guitar conjures percussive poly-rhythms, bass lines, and melodies that perfectly frame her vocals. Alice Dimicele

October

Gypsy Soul http://www.myspace.com/gypsysoulmusic Friday, October 10th 8pm Tickets $15, at door $18 * They have produced eight acclaimed CDs, selling over 100,000 independently; winning many indie music awards. * They've earned nearly 1.5 million downloads on MP3.com with 10 number one songs * Their music has aired over 90 times in more than 14 different countries on hit TV shows such as: Providence, Felicity, Roswell, The Young & The Restless, MTV Specials and Movies of The Week among others. * Their music has been featured in the Movies: Quick Sand (Michael Kane), After Sex (Brooke Shields) and others * They have licensing deals in the Far East and wrote the theme song for Japan's Wow-Wow TV show * They've opened for Grammy Winners: Larry Klein & Tony Childs; CMA Winner: Beth Neilsen-Chapman & others * As both Duo & Group (up to 5), they consistently play to 150-500 fans in the western states; many shows sell out * They have an active base with over 8,000 fan email addresses Allow me to introduce Cilette Swann (singer/lyricist) & Roman Morykit (music writer/producer)...A.K.A. Gypsy Soul: Their Soulful, Acoustic Rock with Celtic and Americana Roots has been likened to artists: Sarah McLachlan, Eva Cassidy, Allison Kraus,Fleetwood Mac, Bonnie Raitt and Kate Bush. Their world-class music has earned them "Critics Choice" in over 50 publications. This is a must see show. It makes for a beautiful intimate evening. Gypsy Soul

Stevi Marie ://www.myspace.com/stevimariemusic   Saturday, October 25th 8pm Tickets $12, at door $15 From her humble beginnings in a small logging community, Stevi has risen to become one of the Northwest’s most active performers. At age 21, she went to Nashville, pitching a song to a publisher at CURB Records, who represents artists such as Tim McGraw and also showcased at the internationally renowned "Bluebird Cafe".  Since that experience, she has worked hard to pursue a full-time career in music.  Shortly after her trip to Nashville, she was offered a record deal in Portland, OR to make her debut album, “I Thought I Told You”.  The first cut on the album won her a finalist spot in the Oregon Symphony Songwriting Contest.  Currently, supporting her debut release, the album has received airplay from the United Kingdom to Florida to Texas to Oregon, and accompanying rave reviews.  She recently finished her second album, Second Sight, with her band “Jackson Road”, to be released January 2008. Stevi Marie

November

Corinne West Saturday, November 8th 8pm Tickets $12, at door $15 There's magic in Corinne West's voice. It aches and breaks. It soars. It's clear, penetrating and washed in emotion. When she wraps that voice around songs as sublime as those on her latest CD, Second Sight, she's spellbinding. That's because she's unlocked the secret that so many singers spend entire careers looking for and never find. It's right there on Second Sight. It's in every note and lyric. But most important, it's there in West's voice. What's the secret? Great singers are great communicators and every note sung can be a complete story in itself. This will be Corinne's 3rd time playing here at Mamma Llama which is a 1st for us. Come see why people travel to Weaverville from Redding, Oregon and the coast to just to see her. It will leave you wanting more! Corinne West

Walter Strauss/Mamadou Sidibe http://www.walterstrauss.com/index.html http://www.musicmali.com/ Saturday November 15th 8pm Tickets $12, at door $15 A Transcultural Night of Rhythm and Inspiration: Walter Strauss with special guest Mamadou Sidibe from Mali Walter Strauss is a spellbinding finger-style guitarist whose fiery technique conjures several instruments playing at once. With roots in American music and musicality that evokes far reaches of the globe, he weaves world beat, Americana, and jazz into a brand uniquely his own. Walter’s songs are romantic yet edgy, filled with intelligent and vivid imagery. Strauss has performed throughout the US, Canada, and UK, alongside musicians ranging from Grammy nominated kora master, Mamadou Diabate, to eclectic folksters The Burns Sisters and fiddle legend Vassar Clements. His duo collaboration with Mamadou Diabate has graced California stages several times in the last few years. Master kamal’ngoni player, Mamadou Sidibe is from the Wassoulou region of Mali, West Africa. Twenty-five years ago, Mamadou played a groundbreaking role in transforming the music of this region from it's origins in hunters' sacred melodies--played on six string donso ngoni (hunter's harps)-- to a music of philosophical observations, politics and daily life. Mamadou was one of the first to expand the instrument's range with two extra strings, creating the popular kamal’ngoni. Mamadou, with artists Coumba Sidibe, Oumou Sangare and Ramatu Diakite, spread the new sounds through recordings and performances in Europe, Africa and the United States. Not only is Mamadou a master of the kamal’ngoni, he is accomplished on several other African instruments as well. To hear these two musicians from far flung places collaborate is to to take in two souls, listening and greeting one another in a universal language – seamlessly interweaving two continents and two bright musical sensibilities. Walter Strauss/ Mamadou Sidibe

Storm Session http://www.myspace.com/stormsession Saturday, November 22nd 8pm Tickets $12, at door $15 Together since 2005, the four musicians of Storm Session are from distinctly different musical backgrounds--folk, jazz, classical, traditional Scottish, folk/country/newgrass-- yet produce beautiful and unusual music together. "Thirty years ago, Maggie McKaig took hold of the horn of her saddle and the handle of her guitar case and headed to Alberta, Canada, where she worked as a ranch hand during the day and worked on her musical guitar chops and songwriting at night. One day she wandered into the shop of Luke Wilson, luthier (who then and now plies his meticulous craft with the same lovely tools once used by his grandfather) and musician. Somewhere in the process of his fixing some aspect of her guitar, and playing the banjo for her, they fell together, and thirty years, two sons, and five albums later, they are still going strong. Their band, Storm Session, which includes Scottish violinist and horn player Murray Campbell, as well as San Francisco jazz bassist Michael Zisman (who also plays mandolin), performs astonishing and eclectic music: once known as folk, the music now definitely classifies as “world”. In addition to their long love affair with Celtic forms, Maggie’s been digging deep into her Russian ancestry, and her accordion, for some new tunes, such as the lovely “La Napoletana Mazurka”, as well as commemorating the journey she and Luke took to Italy in 2006, beautifully concocted in the album title, and in the songs “Neptune’s Garden”, “Travelers”, and “Tutto Va Bene”. Onstage with Luke and Maggie, in addition to two world-class musicians, is an array of instruments that are part of their music: accordion, guitar, tenor guitar, banjo, dobro, violin, oboe, English horn, electric bass, and mandolin. Storm Session