Rupert Wates
Rupert Wates was born in London and has been a full time songwriter since the 1990s, originally penning material in varying styles and genres for all kinds of artists. Since coming to the U.S. in 2006, his accomplishments include over thirty songwriting awards. His music is an eclectic mix of acoustic, melodic art/folk, with flavors of jazz, vaudeville and cabaret. His seven solo CDs have been very well reviewed in the online press and tracks from them have been played on radio all over the world. Wates' songs have been recorded by other artists in the UK, Canada and the U.S. Rupert Wates averages 120 live shows every year in acoustic venues across America, in Canada and in Europe. He sometimes performs alone, sometimes with his trio or quartet. He prefers smaller listening rooms where the audience is close up and the emphasis is on the music. He was voted an Artist of the Year in both 2013 and 2016 by the international house concert network, Concerts In Your Home. He is the only artist to have been honored with this twice. Despite Wates' British background, and underpinning the universality of his music's appeal, Folk and Acoustic Music Exchange has called him "a prime figure in American music". Audiences everywhere respond to Wates' brand of melodic art/folk -- haunting songs that ring true.
Here's the buzz on Rupert Wates...
"Lyrically articulate and literate...he's been comparted to Brecht, Gordon Lightfoot and Brian Protheroe..
-- Mike Davies, Folk Radio UK
"...A smidgen of Django, and a little dose of the English music hall leavened with the panache of an expert Continental quartet. Wates is ... a marvelous lyricist..he writes words that sing."
-- Steve Klingaman on "The Rank Outsider's Ball"
" A songwriter of great emotional depth."
-- Sandi Durell, Times Square Chronicles
"This is one gifted sonofabitch...If you're not hip to this guy yet, you're missing out."
-- Folk and Acoustic Music Exchange
Jeremy Aaron
Jeremy Aaron is a NYC singer, storyteller, bluesman, guitarist, violinist and poet. Warm and real, his music evokes nights around the campfire between old friends.
Jeremy was raised in Nyack, NY where he studied classical violin with Alicia Edelberg, Associate Concertmaster for the NYC Opera. He grew up attending Jay Ungar's "Ashokan Fiddle and Dance Camp" where he was taught his first fiddle tunes by Jay Ungar, David Kaynor and John Krumm. Jeremy began writing songs as a teenager and after earning an undergraduate degree at Oberlin College, he began pursuing music and songwriting full time. As a songwriter, Jeremy has appeared at the Huntington Folk Festival, GAGA Arts Festival, Oberlin Folk Festival, NYC Friends of Clearwater Festival, The Living Room NYC, Caffe Lena, Jalopy Theater and School of Music, Rockwood Music Hall and many others. As an ensemble musician, he has played such impressive venues as ASTA National Orchestra Festival, Riverspace Arts, Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center and has opened for the American Brass Quintet at First Reformed Church of Nyack, NY. In addition to performing his own songs, Jeremy is the fiddler and guitarist in the popular Americana folk band, Spuyten Duyvil.
Here's what folks are saying about Jeremy Aaron...
"A major new folk talent has arrived"
-- Kevin Hugger (mp3hugger Blog)
"Makes me nostalgic for a childhood I never had"
-- Nick Walker (Musolist.com)
"His songs are intelligent, the arrangements subtly inventive, stylistically spanning genres -- folk/jazz/theater - demanding and holding your attention at every turn"
-- Christine Lavin
"the earthy, traditional folk sound of Jeremy Aaron is contemplative, poetic, evocative of campfires"
-- Jamendo.com
