A trio of Carolina-based songsters will comprise the early show at The Evening Muse in Charlotte on April 26 from 8 pm. Tickets are only $5 and are available in advance!

Heidi Sidelinker is a woman of many loves and passions, but music is where she feels most at home. Raw lyrics combined with her ability to reach through a wide range of sounds with her voice births a beautiful realness for everyone to cling to. Sidelinker leaves you feeling unlocked inside after each and every song. Her key is the undeniable marriage she has with her heart and her feelings. It’s enough to humble the vain and blossom the wilting when she performs. Heidi, along with “Willow,” her twelve-string guitar, can suck you into remembering that the universe has a path for us all and if we listen to our gut and walk through life with our hearts guiding the way, we can find a balance in the beauty of change. Sidelinker has released two solo albums “Dreamtime” and “Poetry Essence and Romance.” She has also released an album with Josh Pender as “Autumn in August” which is available at any Autumn in August performance. Heidi toured coast-to-coast with New York-based band “Lowry” in 2006. She regularly travels to New York, performing and taking mini-tours with Lowry throughout the year. Heidi also tours with the Carolina-based band, “The New Familiars.”

Billy Jones has been making his way across the Carolinas with a six-string and a suitcase full of well-crafted tunes for the better part of the last decade. Whether he’s performing solo or with his dynamite trio, Jones always delivers with danceable rhythms and an intimate delivery that makes every venue a living room. A native of the North Carolina Piedmont, Jones pens songs that reflect the deep musical roots of the South and beyond. Equal parts folk and rhythm & blues, his songs paint streetscapes of downtown Americana and offer reflections of a journey well-traveled. His debut album, “Without A Fight” has caught airplay around the southeast and has garnered some solid reviews. But for Jones, playing live has always been his bread and butter. After hawking and honing his sounds for the last ten years, Jones puts on a show that is as unique as it is memorable.

Many distinct music personalities yield a single sound; sometimes rock, sometimes pop, sometimes jazz, sometimes folk, other times funk, with soaring vocals laced together with melodies that never leave you. Nevertheless, it can only be described as Jeff Hartman’s eclectic blend. In the tradition of Bruce Hornsby and Dave Matthews, Jeff has carved out an impressive place for himself on the live music circuit, having appeared with a variety of musicians, also as “Scott Jeffrey’s Band,” approximately 200 dates yearly for nearly a decade in Charlotte and surrounding areas. Jeff most recently closed production on “Streets of Hickory,” an original musical on the heels of earning Best Actor in competition at the 2006 North Carolina Theatre Conference for his stage work in “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.” A published poet and influenced in equal parts by folk and funk artists alike, Jeff’s songs are a mix of “dazed beauty and bitter-sweetness.” Here are tales of abuse and misuse, of vulnerability and resolve; poetic trances like the Appalachia-esque “Erica’s Song” and the biographical “Northern Accent.” Hartman has most notably appeared in recent years with Steely Dan, Michael McDonald, and the Allman Bros. Band. Jeff is currently wrapping up his third solo studio album.

*Hartman and Sidelinker are both Hickory natives, having appeared together through the years on various occasions.

The Evening Muse, the perfect setting for an intimate folk scene, is usually the quietest of Charlotte’s rooms. Listeners actually come to hear music and that music is usually good. While home to local artists like The Near Misses and Poprocket, the Muse also welcomes cutting-edge songwriters like Martha Wainwright, sister of Rufus Wainwright, and witty British folkie Martin Stephenson.Courtney Devores, Charlotte.com

The Muse brings acoustic music and much more to Charlotte in a great-sounding room. Excellent original artwork on the walls, a great selection of beer and wine, and music from some of the finest local and regional talent. The Muse is located in the NoDa Arts District in Historic North Charlotte, a great neighborhood with a diverse mix of galleries, shops, restaurants, and homes. While The Muse is a non-smoking venue, smoking is permitted outdoors in front of and alongside the building. All concerts and events are open to all ages unless otherwise specified.

Thursday, 4/26/2007 The Evening Muse CHARLOTTE, NC from 8 pm
The Early Show featuring Heidi Sidelinker, Billy Jones, and Jeff Hartman
3227 N. Davidson St.
Charlotte, NC 28205
704-376-3737
theeveningmuse.com
heidismusic.net
billyjones.net
jshartman.com

Tickets are $5 and available in advance!

God bless you and thank you for supporting performing arts.

Hi, Peeps! Wow! What an amazing week. It all begins with The Visulite Theatre on Thursday. I am so blessed and absolutely honored to be splitting the bill with the fantabulous Jeremy Shaw, and we have the pleasure of featuring Hipshack. Advance tickets are still available. More information about Jeremy can be found at jeremyshaw.com. Further information about Hipshack and the other incredible musicians involved can be found at hipshack.com and brianburtondrummer.com.

The Visulite Theatre is one of the best places to enjoy live, original music in Charlotte and is located on the edge of Uptown Charlotte within five minutes of both I-77 and I-85, in the heart of the historic Elizabeth Community.

Friday continues with a break from the norm with an intimate, acoustic duo performance at The Wine Room at Afton Village in Concord with friend and percussionist Brian Burton.

Saturday book ends with a performance I look forward to every year. The Walk to Cure Diabetes for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at Paramount’s Carowinds. This is something I am very proud to have been a part of for several years, now. If you have an opportunity, please register to walk this week and help contribute to the cause. The boys and I will take to the stage at approximately 10 am. Event details courtesy of Carowinds can be found at the following link.

paramountparks.com/carowinds/events/event_detail.cfm?event_id=81&ec_id=11

God bless you and thank you for supporting performing arts!

I am pleased to announce that I will be splitting the bill with Jeremy Shaw, featuring Hipshack at The Visulite Theatre on April 19 from 9 pm. Order your tickets now! More information about Jeremy can be found at jeremyshaw.com. Further information about Hipshack and the other incredible musicians involved can be found at hipshack.com and brianburtondrummer.com.

Jeremy Shaw is a performing, recording, and songwriting artist based in Charlotte, NC. He blends a wide variety of styles and traditions into his own unique sound. His guitar work ranges from acoustic fingerstyle to angular modern jazz. Jeremy studied composition and performance at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He has worked professionally with numerous acts and musicians throughout the North and Southeast for over fifteen years. Jeremy has extensive studio recording experience and appears on many CD releases. He maintains a sizable student roster in Charlotte, NC.

Thursday, 4/19/2007 The Visulite Theatre CHARLOTTE, NC 9 pm
Jeff Hartman from 9 pm, Jeremy Shaw from 10:30 pm
featuring Hipshack
1615 Elizabeth Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28204
704-358-9200
visulite.com
Tickets are $7

Streets of Hickory opens Friday, March 16 from 8 pm at Hickory Theatre! It’s been an honor and a privilege working with John again. Some of you may know that John first cast me opposite my wife at The Green Room in 1996 which ultimately led to our marriage and three kids! It’s all his fault! Carol Anne and I eventually wed on stage in the Charles E. Jeffers Theatre of HCT in 2000.

I want to personally dedicate my part in the show to James “Buzz” Atwood. Buzz is a father, a husband, an actor, a singer, a director, a teacher, a friend, and a mentor. Buzz lobbied for me and helped “get me in circulation” succeeding college. One of my fondest experiences was as music director for Buzz and his production of Little Shop of Horrors at Foothills Performing Arts in 1995. I can’t say enough about Buzz and enough can’t be said. Buzz appeared in the original production of Streets of Hickory.

Streets of Hickory was originally performed on the Hickory Theatre stage in 1987. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of its debut, HCT and Coffey responded to overwhelming requests to bring the show back to the stage. It’s a period piece with a few added surprises.

The show features a new employee in a company orientation program. The musical explains unique Hickory phenomena such as its world-renowned street system, social politics and just “What is Hickory.” It’s a musical look at Hickory through the eyes of a newcomer to the “city.”

Coffey, who resides in New York City, worked with the touring company of Rent. Currently, he is touring with Marion J. Caffey’s 3 Mo’ Divas, which is a theatrically staged concert in the tradition of Ain’t Misbehavin’.

Streets of Hickory features 20 musical numbers and a cast of 15. The incomparable Julia Rush reprises her role as herself! Others in the cast include Carmen Phaup, Chris Sepulveda, Joni Coppinger, Christa Shuford, Ty Shelton, Julie Huffman, Sarah Reidland, Zach Roe, John Rambo, Kevin Wilcox, Courtney Bissette, Ralph Mangum, and Marny Taber.

Coffey, who was an artist in residence in 1982-1983 with the United Arts Council of Catawba County, is in residence with HCT and the UAC for a two-month period traveling to schools throughout the county to teach the children about music. Coffey is also working with HCT’s Youth Theatre Academy, writing a musical that will be performed one day only on March 24.

I am always in awe and discovery of John. I first wrote about him in May of 2000 (below), following an incredible Green Room production of Godspell prior to his return to New York. My tribute to John remains posted on this page.

In other news, I will be splitting the bill with Jeremy Shaw at The Visulite in full armor on April 19 from 9 pm then unplugged with Billy Jones and Heidi Sidelinker at The Evening Muse on April 26 from 8 pm. Order your tickets now!

Please visit my profile on FolkAlley.com to hear and rate your favorite Jeff tunes!

All music is folk music. I ain’t never heard a horse sing a song.Louis Armstrong

Streets of Hickory
A Musical Performed on the Mainstage
Hickory Community Theatre
30 Third St. NW
Hickory, NC 28601
828-327-3855
hickorytheater.org

Performances:
8:00 pm Fridays & Saturdays, March 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 & 31
7:30 pm Thursdays, March 22 & 29
2:30 pm Sunday, April 1
7:30 pm Tuesday & Wednesday, April 3 & 4 at Lenoir-Rhyne College

Tickets: $16 Adults; $14 Seniors/Students; $7 Ages 18 and younger. Thursday performances are $10 adults/seniors. March 22 is Ladies Night.

Thursday, 4/19/2007 The Visulite CHARLOTTE, NC from 9 pm
Appearing with Jeremy Shaw
1615 Elizabeth Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28204
704-358-9200
visulite.com

Tickets are $7

Thursday, 4/26/2007 The Evening Muse CHARLOTTE, NC from 8 pm
Appearing with Heidi Sidelinker and Billy Jones
3227 N. Davidson St.
Charlotte, NC 28205
704-376-3737
theeveningmuse.com

Tickets are $5

Click here for more tour dates!

God bless you and thank you for supporting performing arts!