Midnight from Memphis featuring David Long and Scott Simontacchi.
News from Ruth Hazleton at Across the Borders is that David Long is touring Australia post Redland’s Convention.
From Nashville, Tennessee, Midnight from Memphis is a unique and formidable combination of leading young artists, currently rendering their own version of acoustic American roots music.
Individually, they are all masters of their instruments and have collectively shared the stage with such iconic artists as Ralph Stanley, Sam Bush, Hazel Dickens, Ricky Skaggs and Mike Compton. Midnight from Memphis is stylistically enigmatic. They echo the great attributes of string band music from blues, old time music, and bluegrass in a style uniquely their own.
The Band:
Mandolinist and vocalist David Long was a 2006 nominee for the International Bluegrass Music Association Recorded Event of the Year for his album Stomp with Mike Compton, and is considered to be one of the new masters of traditional, bluegrass mandolin playing. He has performed around the world, including two previous tours in Japan as well as Australia, playing at the Port Fairy Folk Festival and National Folk Festival in Canberra (2005). The online journal Mandozine wrote, Today, a revival of traditional music is in full swing and gritty, soulful mandolin playing is again at the forefront. At the top of the list of new masters is David Long.
Guitarist and vocalist Scott Simontacchi has been a member of Nashville’s artistic community for over ten years. His travel resume is extensive. In his fifteen-year career, he has played all over the United States, Canada, Europe, Cuba, and Russia. Revered by older musicians in Nashville, Scott is considered as having the stage charisma of Frank Sinatra, the song-writing ability of John Hartford, and the lonesome bend of Jimmy Martin.
Twenty-two year old Preston Schmidt is an emerging fiddle player who began playing at the young age of three in the unlikely state of North Dakota. He cites some of his many influences as Ron Stewart, Paul Warren, Hunter Berry, Aubrey Haney, Casey Driessen and Stuart Duncan. Along with playing fiddle in Midnight from Memphis, he also currently tours with Brand New Strings and Karl Shiflett and His Big Country Show.
Eric Thorin’s musical ability is trenchant to say the least. He has played double bass in salsa band such as Kizumba and Conjunto Colores, toured extensively with rock act The Thugs, made up a third of the Flamenco/Indian ensemble Curandero, and toured with the Tony Furtado Band for four years. He was a member of steel band Pan Jumbies and continues to appear in various Jazz and Acoustic settings throughout the year. Eric has served as a clinician and guest artist at the Yellowstone Jazz Festival, Augusta Heritage Center, Grand Targhee Bluegrass Academy and Sorrento, BC Bluegrass School.
Tour Dates
JULY 2010
09 – 11 Redlands Bluegrass Convention, QLD
14 – Clarendon Guesthouse, Katoomba NSW
15 – Gallipoli Club, Newcastle NSW
16 – The Harp, Tempe NSW
17 – Merry Muse FC, Canberra ACT
21 – Nerrigundah Hall, NSW
22 – Briagolong Hotel, VIC
23 – Harvester Moon, Bellarine VIC
24 – Spencer’s Live, Melbourne VIC
25 – Guildford VIC, TBA
28 – Yinnar Pub, VIC
Contact Ruth Hazleton for further details.
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