Texas
The Austin Family Jewels is a five-piece band, which was formed in the spring of 2005. Full of foot-stomping rhythms and flowing harmonies, their style has been likened to the Greencards, The Be Good Tanyas and The Roches. Each member of AFJ is a songwriter in their own right, so their repertoire is full of original tunes. As a mostly-female band, AFJ hails the vocal talents of Elizabeth Suggs (guitar), Gretchen Janzow (bass) and Lauren Dickson (percussion). As per the male contingency, Stephen Kearley and Bill Sneed from Colorado bring 12 years of picking experience as the Kudzoo Brothers, opening for the likes of David Wilcox. Among their accomplishments in their short career, AFJ have played the Arlo Guthrie and made quite a splash at the Kerrville Folk Festival. They have opened up for the Austin Lounge Lizards and performed at the Americana Music Festival in in April of this year. Their live-recorded, self-titled album debuted in July.
My name is Marc Gunn. I play the autoharp and sing for our group. Andrew McKee is my fellow bard. He plays the recorder, mandolin, and sings too.
We are The Original Celtic Renaissance performing music unlike anything you’ve heard before. Many of our songs are from Ireland and Scotland, others are popular at Renaissance Festivals. Our sound is like a romantic musical comedy. And since 1999, we’ve played over a thousand performances and get over 1000 people listening to our music daily.We are also one of the most prolific folk music bands online.
We play mostly Celtic songs, on very unique instruments: the autoharp, recorder and mandolin. And we play every chance we get at Renaissance Festivals, on street corners, at Universities, in coffee houses, at weddings, Celtic music festivals, and in front of concert halls. You name it, we’ll be there. Sheesh! You’ll even find us in an office fixing your computer.
Despite our unique sound, we’ve been compared to such remarkable Celtic music groups as The Dubliners, The Clancy Brothers, Incredible Strings Band, Phil Coulter, Martin Carthy, Dervish, The Fureys, Ewan MacColl, and the Wolf Tones. But our frequent performances at Renaissance festivals earned us the title "a Renaissance version of They Might Be Giants".
Bricks In The Wall is the premier Pink Floyd Tribute. Bricks is the exclusive House Of Blues Dallas, Pink Floyd Tribute Act. Based in Dallas Texas, Bricks in The Wall has been entertaining Pink Floyd fans for over eight years. The 9 members faithfully re-create the music of one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Bricks also performs a music and theatrical version of Pink Floyd's legendary album - The Wall. Complete with the building of a wall on stage and actors acting scenes for each song.
Biography: John Gaar Southern Roots, Southern Soul. John Gaar was born and raised in the midst of the magical music melting pot of Louisiana. He picked up the guitar at 13 and was playing gigs in smalltown, smoke-filled bars by the time he was 16. From that point on it became all about the music and how it made him feel - and how he could make others feel deep into their souls through his own singing and playing. It was at 18 he had the choice to go on the road with a band, or go to college on a music scholarship -- John chose the road and hasn't looked back! The Journey. In 1981 John's first real taste of R&B, Soul, Blues, and Zydeco music was a two-year stint with his brother, Red Hot recording artist, Burton Gaar, with Zydeco-musician, Rockin' Sydney - best known for his grammy-award winning hit crossover song, "My Toot Toot." John then toured throughout the South with two bands, one a seven-piece R&B horn band, and the other a New Orleans groove band. Then he landed a gig with Miss Molly and the Passions, a ballsy, foul-mouthed, bull-whip-toting band from Lake Charles, LA, that was voted Houston's No. 1 Band -- three years running. After three years with the Passions, John's circumstances forced him to move to the Bay Area where he had to deal with culture shock, a deference of musical attitudes, and no money -- so he played every gig he could get his hands on in the area. By 1993 it was time to re-up on his "Southerness", so John moved back to the South (after four years in California) and headed first to Tulsa, then to Nashville, and then finally back to Louisiana, where he landed a gig with Blind Pig recording artist, Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, a rockin' Zydeco Blues band. John toured the US and Europe 250 dates a year for the next four years with Carrier. Then John decided to "get off the bus and stay awhile," by going back to the Bay Area to play local gigs, put his own band together, record his own songs and have a lot of fun doing what he loves! After much success with his own band, including being selected for the Monterey Blues Festival after the band was just 5 months old, John decided to pick up and move to Austin, Texas to further his career goals in the land that he loves -- the South! Guitarist--Vocalist--Songwriter--and Showman! John has emerged from his journey so far to find that it's time to do his own "thang" -- and it's about time! If his incredibly soulful guitar playing doesn't give you the goose bumps, his unmistakably talented and unique voice will. Throw that in with page after page of skillfully penned rockin' blues songs and his southern charm -- and you have John Gaar, a true and consummate player and showman. Soulful, Rockin', Gritty, Guitar-Lickin' Blues! With their 80 years plus combined experience, the band John has put together will "wow" you with a unique sound that is unmatched today. From soulful, gitty lyrics and harmonized background vocals to the tight rythmic beat of the bass and drums, you will find your crowd "dancing in the streets" - or at least tapping in their seats! If you are looking for that new, cutting-edge, yet traditional, sound of soulful, guitar-lickin' blues -- then the John Gaar Band can't be beat. John Gaar Awards Awarded honorable mention by Billboard Magazine as one of top new songwriters in 2003 for the song, "Memphis", on CD release "Bittersweet Success". John Gaar Album Credits include: John Gaar Band, 2004, "Bittersweet Success"; Rockin' Sidney, 1983's "The Other Woman"; Burton Gaar & the Mudkats, "Still Singing the Blues"; Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band, "Too Hot to Handle"; and, Red Archibald, "Everything I Got".