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Upcoming Show Schedule:
*Blues at Gray Pine*
Click image to view promotional poster
We have added something we think is very special to our Gray Pine Farm schedule. Saturday, September 27 two very popular Blues bands will hit our stage, The Volker Strifler Band *(VSB)* and Heavy Dose of Blues
*(HDB)*. Tickets are on sale on our website, www.oaksongs.org at Bernie's Guitar, 3086 Bechelli Lane, Redding 530-223-2040 and the Oak Run Country Store. Concert only is $20 each and with dinner $34.
*Here is some background on VSB followed by (HDB):*
Volker Strifler - Guitar & Vocal; Don Bassey - Bass & Vocal; Gary Silva
- Drums; Roland Condon - Keys; Carl Bowers - Trombone; David Schrader -
Saxophone; Claus Bubik - Bass; Stefan Bollack - Drums
The Volker Strifler Band is a sizzling package of roots and soul mixed with a little rock, jazz and a taste of the Delta just to let everyone know it’s still the blues. The increasingly popular Sonoma County Band
is the recipient of the 2007 North Bay Area Music Awards for Blues, the Monterey Bay Blues Festival competition and returned from Memphis to well received accolades at the Blues Foundations International Blues Challenge as well as being selected for the pre-nomination round of the
2008 Grammy’s in 7 categories.
Moving from languorous jazz and roots, to white hot blues/rock to a funky calypso rhythm Strifler connects his disparate influences into a seamless whole showing that blues is a feeling more than a style. He has a compelling soulful voice that is confident but not brash putting life in perspective offering frank discourse and humor dealing with the tribulations that periodically come our way. Strifler aptly proves that music is a refuge where optimism and human resiliency reign, souls are cleansed and spirits raised.
Having shared the stage with such luminaries as Robben Ford, Lowell Fulson, Chris Cain, Elvin Bishop, and BB King, Volker Strifler has become a talent one cannot ignore. However it is his songwriting that truly stands out from the crowd, lending a caring sensitivity that erases lines and connects his audience by recognizing that life is the
ultimate shared experience, one that is defined by both joy and sorrow and an acute social awareness. “Volker is a wonderful songwriter in the
blues genre, which is an important contribution in keeping the Blues genre vital” Robben Ford.
The Volker Strifler Band is an extraordinary group of musicians that is more than just the sum of their shared and individual experience as performers. With Volker Strifler on guitar and vocals, Gary Silva on
drums, Don Bassey on bass, David Schrader on saxophone, Carl Bowers on trombone, and “Chip” Roland Condon on keyboards, they conjure up a
seductive mixture of old and new styles and hard to find originality.
In 1996 Volker recorded his first solo release titled ‘Full Moon’ and in 2002 released his eponymous 1st release on Blue Rock’It records to great reviews. It is compiled of mostly originals and showcases his talents as a player, singer, songwriter. The release of his third solo CD ‘The
Dance Goes On’ shows just how gifted Strifler is as a guitar player, singer, songwriter and producer. As proof, the CD was added to play lists in numerous radio markets throughout the United States and abroad, including the legendary WWOZ in New Orleans, San Francisco’s KPFA, Santa Cruz’s KPIG and many more. “One of my favorite releases of the year, it’s as impressive lyrically as it is musically. That he’s a killer guitarist with a superb voice adds to the overall appeal…” Mark Gallo of Blues Bytes writes.
Strifler has also lent his talents to the Ford Blues Bands releases of ‘Tribute To Paul Butterfield’ ‘In Memory Of Michael Bloomfield’ ‘Another Fine Day’ and ‘1999’ as well as currently fronting the band, touring Europe and the US.
“The Dance Goes On”, released in late 2006 on Blue Rock’It Records, is being distributed world-wide by Blind Pig Records.
*Heavy Dose of Blues:*
LeRoy Hofer, Harmonica and Vocals: Andres Acuna, Lead Guitar, vocals:
Larry Reaves, Guitar, Vocals: Michele Robinson, Drums: Rod Harvey,
Drums: Mark Stienmetz, Bass
*HDB* began in the living room of their female drummer, Michele on a Friday night late in 2005. After jamming for a couple months they took
the band to the Red White and Brew for a Christmas party. And, have been playing for the Shasta Blues society, The Odd fellows, and any other
reason to celebrate. They have opened for Chris Cain, Chris Bell and Monster Space toast. They consider themselves a blues jam band, so
practice seems like a bad thing at times. Their motto "Have fun playing and the audience will join in the fun."
See you at the music,
Barry "
