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Blog Entry 132 of 144 Swallow Hill Shakedown
This is a blog about the events held at Swallow Hill: our upcoming concerts, field trips, school offerings, special workshops and festivals, and more! Come see what's shakin' at Swallow Hill!

Blog Url: http://denver.yourhub.com/~SwallowHillShakedown

Cult hipster denizens Del Rey & Steve James @ SHMA

Contributed by: Laura McGaughey   on 9/30/2008

Swallow Hill is pleased to host Del Rey & Steve James in a performance together on their Daniels Hall stage on Saturday, October 25 at 8 p.m. Both will also conduct special artist workshops the following day, Sunday, October 26 at 11 a.m. with Rey presenting "Blue Uke" while James conducts a "Roots & Blues Fingerstyle/Slide Guitar" workshop.

Del Rey is a complex, pianistic guitarist, described as "a combination of Bo Carter and the Andrews Sisters" ( Observant Fan). Steve James, songsmith and bottleneck guitarist is "a true Americana hero...his intensity and focus always reminds me of James Coburn's character in the Magnificent Seven" ( Third Coast Magazine).

These two powerful exponents of American vernacular guitar-playing have joined forces to make music testament to the hillbilly/smarty-pants/country blues aesthetic. Sharing a sense of humor and a similar manic intensity, their duets are smart, funny and full of instrumental virtuosity. Del Rey doubles on resonator ukulele and Steve James is known for his "noble savage" mandolin style.

Longtime colleagues and collaborators at festivals and workshops worldwide, they met in 1992 in Santa Cruz. Their friendship developed over many years in different places around the world, as they exchanged stories and hot tips in various hotel bars. They kept running into one another, sharing double-bills in Belgium and at the Gloucester Blues Festival in England. In 2001, when they saw each other at the Port Townsend Country Blues Workshop, they got serious about playing and recording together. Audiences and critics have since responded so favorably that they've been spending the majority of their time on the road playing as a duet.

With nine solo albums between them, they have recorded two CDs together, Tonight (2004) and Twins (2002). Recent shows include King Biscuit Blues Festival. Merlefest, Waterfront Blues Festival and "A Prairie Home Companion." A recent Pacific Sun review of their song, "Sweet Lovin' Ol' Soul" noted, "...they sound so natural and authentic that this recording sometimes seems like a time machine."

Their workshops the day following their performance will offer participants a way to get tips directly from the music pros. In "Blue Uke," Del Rey will show students how to break out of the six finger jacket by learning how to fingerpick melodies and accompaniment in the blues style on a ukulele. For James' "Roots & Blues Fingerstyle/Slide Guitar" he will cover blues repertoire, picking techniques, blue notes, and a toolbox of handy runs and fills in standard and open tunings.

For tickets and to register visit www.swallowhillmusic.org and www.learnmusicdenver.org or call (303) 777-1003 x2. Discounts are available for Swallow Hill members. Buy in advance and save! Swallow Hill Music Association is located at 71 East Yale Avenue (just off Broadway) in Denver.


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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Laura McGaughey

Denver , CO

Laura McGaughey has posted 144 blog entries and 1 comment since joining on 2/15/2007. Laura McGaughey 's average blog rating is 4.83.
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