Flatpicking, bluegrass, and Americana is the order of the day for Travis Oliver. Originally from the Smoky Mountains, after a stop in Florida, the Virginia, Oliver arrived in Ocean Beach in 2009. Is it hard to grab an audience’s attention with original music? It can be, especially in a lounge setting where you are creating […]
While I have been a performing artist and studio producer for most of my musical career, there was a very brief period in the late 1980s when I was also a studio musician. Not as a guitarist or keyboard player. No, I would walk through the studio doors with my axe tucked under my arm […]
Sails are just like wings The wind can make ‘em sing Songs of life, songs of hope Songs to keep your dreams afloat —From Guy Clark’s “Boats to Build” Sometimes the creative spirit will pursue and haunt us until we give birth to a work of art. But then there are times when it patiently […]
The latest from James Lee Stanley is Without Susie, which collects a dozen new originals by the LA-area singer-songwriter who frequently performs locally. Stanley is a prolific musician who has 34 releases over a span dating back to the early 1970s. His music is finely crafted acoustic folk and pop that features his world-wise vocals […]
We all want the same things for our children. Success in school, strong social skills, and a positive environment are just a few of those aspirations. Ultimately, we want our children to develop into confident, competent young adults, ready to thrive in whatever career path they pursue. There has been much discussion around the importance […]
Rufus Wainwright has been called one of the great male vocalists, songwriters, and composers of his generation. Indeed, it is noteworthy how the 45-year-old Canadian-American excels at each artistic endeavor. Wainwright returns to the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach on Sunday, June 9, for a performance that promises to be a night of superlatives […]
Tim Flannery is a true 21s-century Renaissance Man, a Kentucky native who was a fan favorite as an athlete on the Padres, continuing in baseball as a coach and manager, then a TV analyst. During more than 30 years in these careers, he was also active making music and writing songs, and he has released […]
San Diego-based jazz flutist Lori Bell, one of the many world-class musicians calling our town their home, has been an active and essential part of our local music community for a good while. An elegant improvisor, Lori’s efforts as band leader, arranger, composer, educator, and collaborator in a wide field of styles has built a […]
