Buskers Showcase: The Abbott Family Band, Still Searchin’, Tumbleweed Wanderers - Saturday, February 04 7:00 PM
Saturday, February 4, 7:00 pm
Buskers Showcase: The Abbott Family Band, Still Searchin’, Tumbleweed Wanderers
Doors: 6:00 pm
Tickets: $12 at the door
More info: 707-254-5052
The first ever “Saalisi Presents Buskers Showcase” boasts three bands that have established solid reputations with music that shares an Appalachian influence. Innovative rhythms, furious finger picking behind keenly harmonic singing are hallmarks of this world famous style.
In Santa Cruz for thirty years and working as a professional group for eight, The Abbott Family Band is as down home as it gets. It’s the whole family; brothers Luke on banjo and Kyle on mandolin, began as youngsters and are steadily gaining recognition as some of the hottest bluegrass players in the state. Following the boys lead, mom Leslie, on upright bass and dad Carl on guitar and lead vocals, learned how to play by ear and now round out the sound that is heard regularly on Pacific Ave. (They walk from their house). Their genetic vocal harmonies and locked–in ensemble playing drive classic, even obscure songs to new heights. So come down early and kick off your shoes- you know they will!
Now if you’ve been lookin’ for a band that can bring the blue mountain roots into our modern surf city setting without missing a beat then let us introduce you to Still Searchin’. Featuring Bruce Drake with a double attack of claw hammer and bluegrass style banjo, undiluted Alabama mandolin from Stewart Evans, experienced and tasteful bass from Gary “Sweetpea” Cunningham, high-energy fiddle playing from Liz Smith and masterful flat-picking from Rick Ednie. This 5 piece can really shred. Five part harmonies abound as each player takes a turn on lead vocal and Still Searchin’ finds the heart of every tune. Since ’02 they’ve been playing at fairs, festivals and fetes. This is a special chance to get up close with some local pros.
The evening’s third band, Tumbleweed Wanderers, rocks like they’ve been together for a decade but only one year ago, guitar players, Zak Mandel-Romann and Jeremy Lyon discovered a shared passion for the pursuit of that place where the blues, bluegrass, and soul come together. I’m talkin’ Passion… They dropped out of college, recruited Zaks childhood buddy Patrick Glynn on keys, found drummer Daniel Blum and triple-treat banjo player-singer-guitarist Rob Fidel on the local scene and with great promise formed Tumbleweed Wanderers. Currently gigging hard with material from a strong EP, they are an up and coming force. They will bring their 3 part harmonies, top-shelf chops, songs that sound like hits and seasoned stage presence to the Kuumbwa..
