CHRIS BARRON:
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SAM NESS:
At 24 years old, many people have a quick double-take when meeting Sam Ness. “His hair and beard conjure images of Jim Morrison circa 1969, and, like Morrison, Ness writes poetry that he sets to music and prefers the character of old European cities. But Ness isn’t as lost as Morrison was” (Wisconsin State Journal). But it’s not just his looks that often surprise. After leaving his small hometown of Sauk City, WI, Sam has already seen and lived more than most could in several lifetimes.
Sam started seriously writing his own songs at age 15, and started religiously playing 8 open mic nights a week in Madison, WI as soon as he got his drivers license. This landed him his first residency gig performing weekly at Madison’s Tip Top Tavern. While his family and friends urged him to pursue theater, Sam felt connected to his songwriting and needed to see it through first.
With several scholarships to study theater in New York, California, Tennessee, Massachusetts, and Wyoming, Sam rejected them all when he felt called to take some time to travel. With his guitar, a rucksack, and a few hundred dollars, Sam was given a one-way ticket to Edinburgh, Scotland by a fan he had briefly met. After he landed, he quickly ran out of money. He befriended the staff at a hostel while he learned the craft of busking (street performing). After he spent months honing his skill, he hitch-hiked and hopped busses for almost a year across Scotland, England, France, Spain, Portugal, and Switzerland, sleeping in hostels, people’s couches, and occasionally in the street.
Sam returned home to Wisconsin shortly before he turned 19. He started building a following in his home, as well as recording his first full album, “Whispered on the Wind” which landed him the Madison Area Music Awards 2018 Alternative Album of the Year shortly after receiving the Madison Area Music Association Breakthrough Artist Third Place Winner 2017. He made a promise to perform for his livelihood, or starve to death, and so far he’s still playing music, and loving every moment of it.
Sam returned home to keep touring the following summer. Come Autumn, Sam got itchy feet again and decided to revisit his friends in the UK. He recorded a few ideas shortly before he left, then finished writing and mixing his sophomore album, “Lullabies & Faerie Tales” from his laptop during his journey. The album was nominated for several Madison Area Music Awards, and he was award the Male Vocalist of the Year 2019.
Knowing he couldn’t be on the road a while, in 2020 Sam took the opportunity to slow down and reflect on the last 1000 shows in the middle of Wisconsin’s Northwoods. He spent the winter isolated in a Cabin recording an album that was released in May 2021 called, The Cabin. Hitting the ground running, Sam left the cabin and played over 150 shows through the Summer of 2021.
https://samness.us/
GLEN PHILLIPS:
Glen Phillips has always been a courageous and inviting songwriter. During his years as lead singer of Toad the Wet Sprocket, the bands elegant folk/pop sound and his honest, introspective lyrics helped them forge a close bond with their fans. Since starting his solo career, Phillips has pared his
music down to its emotional core, concentrating on the simple truths of love and relationships, with a profound spiritual understanding.
The Swallowed by the New album takes on lifes difficult transitions and delivers some of the Phillips' most vulnerable songs. I made this album during the dissolution of a 23 year marriage, Phillips says. A major chapter of my life was coming to a close, and I discovered early on that I had to work hard to get through the transition with compassion and clarity. These songs were a big part of that process.
The album was recorded in May of 2015 with producer/bass player Paul Bryan (Aimee Mann, Lucinda Williams), Jay Bellerose (drums), Chris Bruce (guitar), Jebin Bruni (keys) and Ruby Amanfu (vocals). The sparse arrangements are centered on Phillips vocals and acoustic guitar.
Swallowed by the New is full of the inviting melodies that have always marked Phillips work, while his singing reaches a new degree of intimacy and immediacy. The arrangements hint at country, soul, folk, rock and classic pop, without ever sounding derivative. The emotions may be raw, but they are guided by Phillips steady vocals towards healing and renewal.
I enjoy the spontaneity of acoustic performance, where I can take the show wherever it needs to go and follow the lead of an audience instead of following a set list. Theres more talking, more stories, and more of a loose feel. The subject matter is on the serious side, but I feel like the perspective is ultimately positive. Life is about changes, no matter how we may try and pretend otherwise. This album is all about learning how to face change. - Glen Phillips
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ERIK KJELLAND:
Erik Kjelland has been writing and performing music for over two decades throughout the midwest and has recorded over twenty albums of original music with various acts. Currently, Kjelland fronts the Madison, WI-based folk-rock band The Mascot Theory, winners of over twenty Madison Area Music Association awards. The band has played major festivals throughout Wisconsin including Summerfest, Freak Fest, and Mile of Music Festival, and have shared the stage with BoDeans, Vance Joy, Frank Turner, The Jayhawks, The Verve Pipe, Chase Rice, Kaleo, The Wild Feathers, Guster, Blitzen Trapper, Cory Chisel, Don McLean and America. Kjelland also won the 2017 WAMI (Wisconsin Area Music Industry) award for Best Male Vocalist in the state. His songwriting partnership with fellow Madison singer/songwriter Beth Kille has developed into the duo (and sometimes full band) Kerosene Kites. Alongside mega-producer Butch Vig, Kjelland also created and curated the Wisconsin Vinyl Collective project that released three vinyl (and CD) albums of previously unreleased original songs from artists with Wisconsin roots while raising funds and awareness for the Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund charity. Kjelland also co-founded the Crescendo On Wisconsin Campaign, a statewide effort committed to helping struggling Entertainment Industry workers stay safely in their homes by providing emergency energy & rental assistance during difficult times.