THE FALCON RIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL PREVIEW SHOW with Blue Moose and the Unbuttoned Zippers and Abi Tapia May 16, 2009

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Were thrilled to announce that this May, we welcome back the annual
Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Preview Tour, for its sixth annual
appearance at Common Ground. This year, were featuring two of the
artists that were selected at the 2008 Festivals Most Wanted Showcase
as the audience favorites: Bostons Blue Moose and the Unbuttoned
Zippers and Austins Abi Tapia.
Brewing
up a tasty mix of traditional music infused with tangy rhythms and
innovative arrangements, Blue Moose and the Unbuttoned Zippers is one
of the most dynamic groups based in the Boston area today. True
citizens of the 21st century world, BMUZ takes from the rooted
traditions of many cultures and translates their essence into a unique,
vibrant sound. Starting out as a group of friends jamming and swapping
tunes, BMUZ has evolved into a group which performs widely in the
Boston area at local venues such as Club Passim in Cambridge and
festivals such as Boston Celtic Music Festival and the International
Folk Festival at the Berklee Performance Center. The members of BMUZ
use an eclectic group of instruments. Bronwyn Bird plays the accordion
and the ethereal nyckelharpa, the traditional bowed stringed instrument
from Sweden, where she lived for a year. Andy Reiner, who comes from a
musical family and has studied at many a fiddle camp across the
country, plays the five-string fiddle, and is especially rooted in the
lively music of Cape Breton. A fiddler who has studied traditional
music in Ireland and Norway, Mariel Vandersteel also plays hardanger
fiddle, the traditional string instrument of Norway. Stash Wyslouch,
who has traveled with his guitar through South America and is
influenced by hip hop and funk, brings a driving sense of rhythm and
groove to the group. Their many original compositions, while grounded
in traditional genres, are refreshing, lively and full of verve. The
evocative sound of Bronwyns nyckelharpa and Mariels hardanger fiddle
is held together with the fiery tone of Andys fiddle and the dynamic
force of Stashs guitar. Completely entertaining on stage, it is
obvious that BMUZ is having as much fun playing together as the
audience is while listening to them.
Abi Tapia smiles big when she sings. She cant help it - shes having
so much fun. Abi undoubtedly gets her optimism from her mom who was
expelled from Catholic School for being pregnant with her, but called
it the best day of her life. Abis first fifteen years were a blur of
Southern towns and yearly uprooting as her mother chased work and
higher education. But the constant moving was presented as a big
adventure and instilled in Abi the idea that new places have potential
for happiness, discovery and success. So she kept moving. Following her
nomadic childhood she attended college in Iowa, where she was a
Sociology major at Grinnell College, and began her professional music
career while living in Portland, Maine. But Abi found herself attracted
to the sweet twang and straightforward approach of country music so she
migrated to Austin, Texas in 2002, where she quickly rooted herself in
the citys thriving live music scene. With its blend of country
sincerity, cosmopolitan snap and plethora of skilled pickers, she
continued maturing and developing her own style. Along the way she
picked up awards and recognition for her songwriting from The
Wildflower Music Festival, Austin Songwriters Group and the Kerrville
Folk Festival. Her lyrically driven songs have been sparking acclaim
all over the U.S. She writes vulnerable ballads that dissect what it
means to be confused or struggling, punchy songs about the life of a
girl rocker and, like any good folksinger, her repertoire would not be
complete without a few songs from the road. Abi recently relocated once
again to the Massachusetts Berkshires just in time to experience a
Northeastern Winter! Abi names diverse artists like Ani Difranco,
Madonna, Steve Earle, Dolly Parton and Dar Williams as some of here
favorite songwriters and performers.

Organized by Common Ground Coffeehouse
Common Ground Coffeehouse was founded as an effort to build community and to support regional and national musicians and other artists. Since 2005, Common Ground has used its profits to operate the Common Ground Microcredit Fund. The fund has raised over $20,000 for local, regional and global community groups and organizations that provide either much needed social services or work toward progressive, nonviolent social change. For more information on Common Ground Coffeehouse, click here.

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Ticket Info:  

• Adults, $15.99
• Seniors (60+)/Students (12+), $10.99
• Kids Under 12, Free

Official Website: http://falconridgepreviewshow-upcoming.eventbrite.com