High energy and passion are the two things that best describe True Story. Over the last year they have won the Battle of the Bands at Atlanta Fest, the Battle of the Bands on J93.3, and the Featured Artist on Rockthecross.net. They have played the main stage at Atlanta Fest (opened for Leeland, David Crowder, and Jeremy Camp), Atlanta Christmas Conference, Show Me How To Live Conference, Georgia Christian Youth Convention, Christian Music Weekend (opened for Thousand Foot Krutch, The Afters, Natalie Grant, and Pocket Full of Rocks), and performed live on J93.3 Atlanta Christian radio…..all while creating their new self-titled album, True Story.

Their influences range from David Crowder and Leeland to The Beatles and Bach.

The guys get just as excited to hang out afterwards with those attending the event as they do playing their music. Ministry is the driving force behind everything they do.

At the core of Tin Cup Gypsy you’ll find a fusion of acoustic Folk, Rock, Jazz, and Bluegrass with earthy lyrics and rich melodies that captures the essence of their Roots-rock genre. By featuring a variety of instruments such as Mandolin, Violin, Concertina, Acoustic Guitar, Percussion, Bass, and three-part Harmonies, the group’s unique blend attracts a diverse group of listeners.

This grass-roots trio weaves a fresh sound with the classic groundbreaking styles of the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, James Taylor, Nickel Creek, and rocker-diva Bonnie Raitt. Although in their early twenties, the members of Tin Cup Gypsy have collected a wealth of experiences that has far exceeded their time.

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Tiffany hails from Seattle, WA where she has performed regionally for over 10 years. With a classical and contemporary background in piano and voice, she brings a high level of talent to an ever-growing and innovative industry. She values the importance of being great in the studio, on the stage, and behind the scenes.

Rick Burrell, producer and engineer, had this to say about Tiffany: “Her lyrics run deep and her voice is completely captivating. This is music meant to move you and speak to your soul; not a shot-in-the-arm of commercialism that wears off after a few hours. I’m a fan for life!”

Songwriter-singer/guitarist Nathan Bell has toured the US and Canada, playing at clubs, concert halls, and (as a member of the duo, Bell and Shore during the 80s) most of the premier North American acoustic music festivals, including the Walnut Valley Festival, the Winnipeg Folk Festival, and the Mariposa Folk Festival. His work on acoustic, National steel-bodied, and electric guitars is as strong as his songwriting, which is an amalgamation of ideas inspired by writers ranging from Jack London, William Faulkner, and the poet Marvin Bell to Townes Van Zandt and southern short-story master Larry Brown.

Bell has shared the stage with Emmylou Harris, Eddie and Martha Adcock, Stompin’ Tom Connors, Townes Van Zandt, Kathy Mattea, Mary-Chapin Carpenter, Ricky Skaggs, and a whole cast of scofflaws and gypsies from the folk and bluegrass archipelago. He was a staff writer for Ten Ten Music in Nashville and has been regularly featured at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe, often as part of the “Writers in the Round” series with many notable songwriters, including Grammy-Award winner Don Henry, Craig Bickhardt, and CMA award nominee Angela Kaset.

In 1991, he recorded an album of songs with producer/guitarist Richard Bennett (Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Marty Stuart).

With the arrival of his first child in 1995, Nathan took a hiatus to concentrate on raising a growing family. In 2007, Nathan began writing and recording new material.

Nathan has just released his most recent CD, Traitorland.

 

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They say when he was young he was touched in the head, but the wisdom hidden discreetly within the lyrics written by Randall Wilkerson prove otherwise. Born July 16th 1958, he was raised in the hills of East Tennessee only to grow up living experiences most people only read about. Through his travels and trials of life come music and lyrics that grip the heart of young and old. “Everything is Nothing and Nothing is Everything” could not be a simpler melody, yet it has the most compelling lyrics.
Every song is a little story of life as seen through Randall’s heart. (His eyes aren’t that good anymore) “The Old Man Song” is about a homeless man he met that people said was crazy, but Randall wrote only of the love he saw in him. His music has all of the hope, love, pride, forgiveness and guilt you can imagine, but also offers humor in the every day world. “It said on a city limit sign if you’ve lost your mind then welcome home”. As a self taught musician, he has developed his own style that crosses the borders into all styles of music. Many of his songs are still sung in local area churches. People will walk up and just want to hug his neck and tell him what songs they like best. His fan base seems to be just about all types of people. The biggest compliment/complaint has been that you get these tunes stuck in your head and can’t get them out. “Hell’s a good place when Heaven is burning”. Often the lyrics challenge the listener to consider their own mortality and existence in this crazy world and then will turn around and make light of it. Simply put, Randall Wilkerson has put life to music and the message is simple. ….Love

Matthew Shelton has consistently stood out in his performances and songwriting as a musician who has absorbed and assimilated a myriad of styles to create his own unique voice. Folk music was his first musical love. As a young boy, his heroes were Simon & Garfunkel, Gordon Lightfoot, Jim Croce and others. Simultaneously, he was enamored with Prince and early hip-hop as well. These disparate musical appetites have continued for years as Shelton has worked at his own music.

Like so many others, Shelton began writing songs after a prolonged fascination with Bob Dylan. Combining this influence with his love of punk, hip hop, rock and avant-garde music, Shelton recorded hundreds of songs at home, as he finished college. The songs saw limited release, as they were mostly intended simply as an outlet for self-expression.

In 1999, Shelton discovered the mbira (aka kalimba, thumb piano) music of Zimbabwe. He began writing songs on the instrument, and performed for 3 years with his band Me or the Moon. The band was very well-received, and opened for many national acts including Antibalas, Daniel Johnston, and Animal Collective. In recent years, Shelton has applied his mbira talents with The Image Afro-beat Band, a 10-15 piece ensemble led by Baoku Moses.
Currently, Shelton is performing and recording as a solo artist. With his songwriting fully matured, he holds captive audiences with songs about love and sadness, frustration and transcendence. His songs these days are known for their combination of humor and melancholy, and an overriding hopeful and romantic nature, even when the songs seem full of despair.

His hard-driving finger-picking style has garnered praise and comparisons to Nick Drake, John Fahey, and Delta blues masters like Charley Patton and Mississippi John Hurt. His current work fits nicely into the recent popularity of newer indie-folk acts such as Devendra Banhart and Iron & Wine.

 

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Seared Lamb Steak with Orzo Pasta Salad and Heirloom Tomatoes
by Chef James Wade, Porter’s Steakhouse

Seared Lamb Steak

1 lamb leg steak (approximately 6 ounces)
Salt, Pepper
Extra Virgin olive oil

Season lamb with salt and pepper.
Heat oil in cast iron skillet until very hot - until the oil just begins to smoke.
Carefully place the lamb into the skillet and cook to the desired doneness; for medium rare, about 2 minutes on each side.
Remove the lamb from the skillet and let it cool about 4 or 5 minutes.
After the lamb has cooled, slice into strips.

Orzo Pasta Salad

1/2 pound cooked orzo (prepare according to package directions)
3 bell peppers of varying colors ( red, purple and yellow work well)
One cucumber peeled, seeded and diced into 1/4 inch cubes
10 to 12 leaves of purple basil rough chopped
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt, Pepper
Toss all ingredients together in large bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Tomatoes

1 red Heirloom tomato, sliced thin
1 yellow Heirloom tomato, sliced thin
Salt and pepper to taste

Presentation:

Spread the tomato slices on a plate in a circular pattern. Alternating colors look nice but red on one side and yellow on the other looks good, too.
Place about 1/4 cup of the orzo salad onto the tomato slices.
Arrange 4 or 5 of the lamb slices in a star pattern on top of the orzo salad.
Garnish with a purple basil leaf.

Join EPB this Sunday, August 10, at the Chattanooga Market from noon to 5 p.m. for “CFL Sunday,” a fun way to learn about energy savings and electric safety.  At the Market, EPB employees will be on hand to give away 3,000 free Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs) and collect used CFLs for recycling.

CFLs use up to 75 percent less electricity than traditional light bulbs and last up to ten times longer, which results in both energy and cost savings. Because the light bulbs contain small amounts of mercury and should be disposed of properly, EPB will take CFLs that customers bring to the Market this week for delivery to appropriate recycling centers.

At “CFL Sunday”, there will also be demonstrations by an EPB energy expert on energy efficiency tips that any customer can implement in their home to reduce their electricity use.  There will also be demonstrations to teach children how to be safe around electricity.

EPB, a sponsor of the Chattanooga Market, hosts a booth at the Market every first and third Sunday of the month to provide energy saving tips and answer customer questions about electricity use.

For more information about electric savings, call EPB at 423-648-1EPB or visit www.epb.net.

While other little girls dreamt of being princess brides, mermaids, or fairies, Jen Woodhouse performed in her parents’ living room in front of a captivated audience made up of her two younger sisters, various stuffed animals, and Barbie dolls. Whether she was performing in ballet and piano recitals, or just hula dancing for the neighbors, it was apparent at a very early age that Jen was a born entertainer. Since her sold out living room concerts, Jen continues to mesmerize audiences across the globe.

These days, Woodhouse has been keeping busy. She is currently on a 7-month tour in Asia, playing shows 6 nights a week. Fans can experience Asia with her as she documents her travels and performances on YouTube.com.

A recent Nashville transplant, Woodhouse has been ceaselessly touring and promoting her highly anticipated double-disc album, “The Shaping & Shifting of Objects & Sound.” Quickly garnering tremendous word-of-mouth support, Woodhouse’s sophomore album follows on the heels of her critically acclaimed 2005 debut, “This Honest Age.”

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Winner of the 2008 Orange County Music Awards Best Live Female performance. Robin has been playing music since she was a toddler. Starting out as drummer, she worked her way to the front of the band, exactly where she belongs, playing guitar and singing her brains out. Her voice is unique, almost haunting at times and her lyrics are awesome.

She grew up in NY, moved to MA. in 1992 where she got into a few bands as a drummer. She started playing guitar and writing music about 7 years ago and has been very well received throughout NY, New England, TN., AZ. and California. Nominated for the Best Folk Artist in 2004, she continued to grab a nomination each year from the Orange County, Southern California and Inland Empire Music Awards. From Best Folk to Best Female Artist to Best Live Performance, she’s been nominated for them all and this year took home the award for Best Live Performance. In 2006 she was September’s Indie Artist of the month in Los Angeles. Her song, “Dear Diary,” had an honorable mention twice for VH 1’s Song of the year award and her CD of the same name was nominated by All Access Magazine as Best CD of the Year.

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