2007 Second Stage Performers

6:45-7:30
5:00-5:30
3:30-4:00
2:00-2:30
12:45-1:15

Erica Wheeler
What Cheer? Brigade
Kate Klim
RISA Artists Mark Cutler & Josie Crosby
RISA Artists Millee Tibbs & Christopher Monti

The 2007 Second Stage is proudly sponsored by the Rhode Island Songwriters Association and made possible in part by a grant from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts through an appropriation by the Rhode Island General Assembly and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts

 
Erica Wheeler
Erica is a Signature Sounds recording artist with four critically acclaimed CDs to her credit. She has been featured on NPR's "All Things Considered" and her music charted for four weeks in the top ten on Billboard's Gavin Americana Chart. She is a favorite at clubs, coffeehouses and colleges across the country and has shared the stage with Shawn Colvin, Indigo Girls, Greg Brown and others. Touted in the press as the next Mary Chapin Carpenter and "the female Greg Brown," Erica writes songs that are full of sharply detailed portraits of the American landscape and the lives lived there. "All Music Guide" noted that her songs combine the "literary sensitivity of New England with the spiritual vision of the American West." Pure Americana, her music ranges in style from contemporary folk to country and bluegrass. Her voice is rich and warm, often conversational in style; her performances are engaging, inspiring and filled with hilarious stage patter and story. Her latest release "Almost Like Tonight" (2004) is a live CD, which showcases her spontaneous stage patter along with acoustic versions of requested favorites and several previously unreleased songs.

What Cheer? Brigade
Providence RI’s WHAT CHEER? BRIGADE is an 18-piece roving brass band that has played in trees, ferris wheels, zoos, grocery stores, bus stops, parties, farms, bars, libraries, soccer fields, cemetaries, and elementary school playgrounds since early 2005. We’ve played with Extra Action Marching Band, Lightning Bolt, Bindlestiff Family Circus, Wolf Parade, DJ Scratch, Tiny Hawks, Stick and Rag Village Orchestra, Mahi Mahi, and Hungry March Band, to name a few. Loud music doesn’t need electricity. In 1636, Roger Williams left Salem, Massachusetts to seek religious independence and landed at what’s now Providence. According to legend, members of the Narragansett Nation greeted him with “What Cheer, Netop?” (Netop was a Narragansett word for friend, and What Cheer was an English greeting brought to New England by English settlers.) It’s like saying” ¿Que tal, man?” The music owes its history to the spread of brass throughout the World through military conflict and colonialism. Brass sounds got mashed up with local rhythms and traditions and there was a world brass explosion; What Cheer? Brigade is part of the fallout, and won’t stop playing until they pry the instruments out of their cold dead hands.

Kate Klim
Kate Klim's folk/pop style is making a name for her in thesinger/songwriter community in the Boston area. She can often be found on the stages of Club Passim, the Tin Angel, Tupelo Music Hall and other notable listening rooms. Recent accomplishments include opening slots for Shawn Colvin, Richard Shindell, Ollabelle and a performance at Philadelphia’s Electric Factory as part of the Philly Music Awards. After winning a coveted spot at the 2004 Mid-Atlantic NACA conference, Kate entered the college market, which included the receipt of a special “emerging artist” award fron the prestigious Cornell University. Summer of 2005 included an honorable mention in the Mountain Stage Newsong Contest. Kate has just finished recording her first fully produced and distributed album with reknowned producer Crit Harmon (Martin Sexton, Susan Werner, Lori McKenna). With her audience continuing to grow, and her music continuing to mature, Kate looks forward to a lifetime of music.
Mark Cutler
The quintessential singer/songwriter, Mark leads a roots-rock band and combines powerful lyrics with catchy melodies and strong rhythm. Former Schemers and Raindogs frontman, Mark teams up with longtime drummer Bob Giusti, guitarist Emerson Torrey, bassist Mike Tanaka and a cool cast of characters to bring New England their own style of jangly guitar rock.


Josie Crosby
Josie Crosby is a Singer/Songwriter from Cincinnati, Ohio. Currently, she resides in southern Rhode Island and has played in various locations throughout New England. Her Music draws from a variety of influences and refuses to be confined to a single category. She has a huge catalogue of original songs played on the guitar and banjo and is often accompanied by Tom Champlin, Marlie Wänseth and others. Gifted with an ability to present intelligently emotional lyrics with a powerful and passionate voice, Josie makes her performances unforgettable. Her songs delve into the emotions of world and personal events and draw the listener in with her unique and dynamic vocals.
 

Millee Tibbs
Millee Tibbs is a singer-songwriter out of Providence, RI. Her original music couples intricate vocal melodies with jazzy guitar rhythms. Wry yet sentiment, her songs reflect her experience in a post-modern world. A member of the Rhode Island Songwriter Association, Millee frequents small venues and music festivals both locally and internationally.


Christopher Monti
Chris Monti sings and plays acoustic guitar and rack harmonica. He is a songwriter with roots in old time music, country blues, bebop, East Indian music, and rock and roll. Find out more about Chris at www.christophermonti.com.