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The Avett Brothers sign to American!
We are honored to announce that The Avett Brothers have signed a deal with American / Columbia Records and have recently begun work on their next album, which is being produced by Rick Rubin!
We will continue to proudly represent them as their management company and can't wait to see what the future holds.
...a letter from The Avett Brothers:
"To our dearest fans,
Since we first performed as The Avett Brothers, we have been fortunate enough to find and build a genuine and mutual respect with those who care to listen. It is this kind exchange that champions our music,and allows us the forum to continue on our path, with this work,this art. We believe this to be an appropriate time for a brief update, as we would like for you all to know of the most noteworthy of present developments.
We have recently begun working on a new full length album with Rick Rubin. The recording process has been, and will no doubt continue to be,an experience defined by heightened levels of commitment and conviction. It is our distinct pleasure and honor to be in such fine company as we build and bring this most current chapter of songs to fruition.
With this union has come another, as we have just completed and signed an agreement with American/Columbia Records, the label with whom we will proudly release our next record. It is our sincere hope, in regard to this news,that our ongoing relationship with Ramseur Records is understood. There have not been, and will be no hard feelings or abandon-based resentment from either party involved. The Avett and Ramseur camps remain strongly and truthfully connected, both personally and professionally. There has been no change in these matters through this momentous transition.
For all of you who have gone to such great lengths to show your appreciation, we continue in our most sincere efforts to return the sentiment. The music would go nowhere without you. Our hearts and our minds are on the recording of this next album, and we look forward with great anticipation to sharing it with you all. Until then, thank you as always, and we will see you somewhere on that open road...
Sincerely,
The Avett Brothers
July, 2008 "
Dolph Ramseur Day + More Shows!
We are very proud to announce (albeit a little late) that last Friday, June 27th was "Dolph Ramseur Day" in Concord, NC. Thank you to Mayor Padgett, John Hancock and everyone else that had a hand in setting this up. It was a special day.
As usual, our acts are hitting the road hard this summer, with all sorts of venue and festival dates, in every corner of the country.
Please check out their schedules below and if they're coming to a town near you, go say hi!
www.carolinachocolatedrops.com
And if you're in a place where one of our bands will be playing and would like to help spread the word by putting up posters, please email Stephanie with your address.
Keep supporting live music!
-the friendly staff at Ramseur Records
Samantha Crain - getting a lot of press!
We are very excited to see that Ramseur Records' fledgling artist Samantha Crain is not only tearing up stages across the country, but getting a lot of good press doing it! Here are just a few clips from some recent press:
The Charlotte Observer:
"Led by the Oklahoma Shawnee Indian's haunting and hypnotic voice, the group plays the kind of songs you can easily imagine coming from a dusty record player as you stumble through a creepy, dark cabin. Not that this EP concerns itself with cheap scares - the songs are stark and stirring. Crain sings with an unusual, hard-to-pinpoint accent; her voice rests somewhere between Feist and Martha Wainwright. This five-track taste will leave listeners anxiously awaiting a full-length album."
The Daily Times:
"It's weighty stuff for any singer-songwriter to tackle -- themes of good vs. evil, of damnation and redemption -- but despite her pixie-ish nature, Samantha Crain addresses them admirably on her new album, "The Confiscation."...It has the visceral impact of a musical scar -- tender to the touch, set apart from the rest of the skin by raised contours and hidden crevices, evoking a body memory as well as an emotional one upon first listen. Her voice is plaintive and distinct, possessed with an urgency that's at once girlish and ancient. If anything, "The Confiscation" is a study in dichotomy -- a balanced set of scales, just as she originally intended."
Go Triad:
There is something about her music that calls to mind Joanna Newsom, except hardier and more from the gut, instead of wherever it is that Newsom gets that sound of hers. Actually, finding an accurate and honest description of Crain's sound is something of an interesting topic. On Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers' MySpace page, the band's sound and influences are listed as "distinctly Oklahoman," meaning "music that comes from Oklahoma has a weird cross-section. The Flaming Lips and Woody Guthrie are two figureheads around here," Crain said. "I can always tell when a band is from Oklahoma. Listening to experimental music like (The Flaming Lips) mixed with traditional folk music creates a cross-section. We're labeled as 'folk rock,' which makes pretty apparent our love for the two types of music."
Playback.com:
"With her whisper-soft voice, Samantha Crain has definitely made herself stand out with her EP, The Confiscation. The young singer has a voice that sounds as though Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst were crossed with Cat Power. She's almost so quiet that the music seems to overpower her at moments, but she holds her place against the background of acoustic guitars and Dylan-esque harmonica riffs."
TimeOut New York:
"Oklahoma singer-songwriter Samantha Crain is sure to attract a raft of Cat Power comparisons (like most female singer-songwriters), but she's got talent enough to stand apart. Newcomer Samantha Crain's new EP The Confiscation is presented as a "musical novella"-- and as records go, it's a real page-turner."
Nashville Scene:
"Crain’s singing and thoroughly literary-minded songwriting—not to mention the way she weaves in experimental elements like ambient noise between tracks on Confiscation—are vibrant expansions on folk music."
Yes!Weekly:
"She is the youngest and newest member of Ramseur Records, a Concord, NC-based record label managing stanchion bands such as the Avett Brothers and the everybodyfields. She and her band, the Midnight Shivers, are also recipients of the Oklahoma Gazette's 2008 Woody Award for best folk band. Further lifting the wings of this phoenix of a band is the honor of having a day officially dedicated to Samantha by the mayor of her hometown, Shawnee, OK."
Photo by Julie Roberts
Bonnaroo!
We are gearing up for a big weekend at Bonnaroo! Three of our artists will be playing a total of five times over Saturday and Sunday. We hope you can check them out!
Saturday:
The Avett Brothers: The Other Tent, 4:30-6:00
the everybodyfields: Solar Stage, 5:45-6:30
the everybodyfields: Troo Music Lounge, 8:00-8:50
Sunday:
Bombadil: Troo Music Lounge, 4:00-4:50
Bombadil: Solar Stage, 7:00-7:45
For more information, including schedule and ticket information, please click here. We hope you will come support our artists at this one-of-a-kind festival!
We would also like to thank the folks who came out in Nashville, Knoxville, Johnson City and Charlotte to give Samantha Crain & the Midnight Shivers a proper welcome to the South. She's had a great couple of shows so far and we are all really excited about the rest of this tour.
This week, she will be heading down to Charleston to play at the Village Tavern on Tuesday and then to the Asheville on Wednesday to play at Harvest Records. On Thursday, she'll stick around the Carolinas and head to the Local 506 in Chapel Hill. She'll round out the week with a show at the Garage in Winston-Salem with Caleb Caudle on Friday.
Photo of Samantha and the Shivers at the Evening Muse in Charlotte; by Enid
Mark your calendars - July 22nd!
On July 22, 2008 Ramseur Records is honored to be releasing not one, but THREE albums by three stellar artists from the Ramseur fold. Since the beginning, the one unifying theme that all Ramseur Records releases have held is this: songwriting that transcends genres, cuts through the pretense and truly means something. We pride ourselves in putting out art of substance that affects people -- from punk rockers to classical music enthusiasts; construction workers to college professors. When the meaning behind the music is real, nothing else matters. With that being said we are honored to release the following:The Avett Brothers, The Second Gleam
This EP, the second in a series, is the latest work by Scott and Seth Avett - of Concord's own The Avett Brothers. This album is a collection of six songs, stripped down to the bare essentials. The simplicity of The Gleam series showcases the brothers' true talent for writing songs that speak straight to the heart. With the huge success of last year's Emotionalism, and sold-out crowds of thousands from San Francisco to New York to Atlanta, The Avett Brothers are a force to be reckoned with.
Also, on July 26th, the Avett Brothers will be celebrating the release of The Second Gleam with their first headlining show in NC this year - at Koka Booth Ampitheatre in Cary, NC. A fan-only presale went live yesterday and 500 tickets have already been sold! Tickets to the general public go on sale May 9, 2008.
The Confiscation: A Musical Novella by Samantha Crain
Samantha Crain is the newest addition to Ramseur Records, and we are very proud to have her on board. This Shawnee, OK singer-songwriter has received accolades from press and fans across the nation and is poised to take the country by storm. This album is a collection of short stories in the form of song. The Confiscation structures itself in such a way that every individual composition flows into the next to ensure that each narration is understood as only a part of the whole tale. Everybody has a story and The Confiscation shares a few of those heartbreaking accounts alongside the hopeful ones too. While each narrative is of a different voice, they all relate, as do the people involved, through the atonement that is bestowed, or the Judas kiss that plunders all.
Sammy Walker: Misfit Scarecrow
We are truly honored to be releasing Misfit Scarecrow - the first album released by Sammy Walker in over twelve years. Sammy Walker was born in 1952 and grew up in Norcross, Georgia. Sammy began singing and writing original tunes at an early age while being heavily influenced by Woody Guthrie, Hank Williams and Doc Watson. He began performing these songs in coffee houses around the University of Georgia in the early 70’s. In 1974, Sammy Walker sent a homemade tape of some of his songs to Sis and Gordon Friesen at Broadside, where they were well received and subsequently published. As a result of Gordon's giving a copy of the tape to Bob Fass at WBAI radio in New York City, Walker was invited to New York to appear on Fass's show. Phil Ochs heard him for the first time on this show, and the two soon met and exchanged songs and stories. Within two months, Ochs had arranged the recording of Sammy's album for Folkways, and convinced Warner Brothers to sign him for two records. Ochs produced Sammy's first album for Folkways. It was called “Song For Patty” and featured newspaper heiress Patty Hearst on the cover of the album. Sammy recorded two superb albums for Warner Bros. that were produced by legendary producer Nik Venet. Walker was managed by the late Harold Leventhal (manager of Woody Guthrie, The Weavers, Pete Seeger, etc...). Walker currently lives in the western part of North Carolina.
All of these records will be available nationwide on July 22, 2008. Please support your local independent record store!
The Gleam 2, new book and more...
On July 22nd, along with two other albums (Sammy Walker: Misfit Scarecrow and Samantha Crain: The Confiscation), we will be releasing The Avett Brothers' new EP, The Second Gleam. This project will be a first for us, as it will be released on CD, digitally and on vinyl!
The Avett Brothers release The Second Gleam; six new songs offered with the natural lyrical clarity and honest delivery that has become synonymous with their name. With this addition to their growing body of work, Scott and Seth Avett establish a series, while further separating their writing from the modern landscape of music, popular or otherwise. Following in the initial footsteps of the first Gleam recording, this second installment sings to the uncommon senses of the common man. The record walks calmly and powerfully among fragile and hard-learned themes of life and song, passing through loss, change, hope, death, dedication to family, late nights in the hospital, love as always, and much more. At once plain and poetic, simple and complicated as those who will give their time to hear it, we find: The Second Gleam.
In other news, we are very honored to say that The Avett Brothers and Ramseur Records have made their way into a piece of Carolina's music history. Novello Festival Press recently released a new book called Making Notes: Music of the Carolinas, edited by Ann Wicker. The book is a collection of essays about the history and impact of music that was born in the Carolinas. Courtney Devores, a talented and lovely freelance writer who does a lot of work for the Charlotte Observer, was kind enough to write a piece on the Avett Brothers for the book. For more information and to get your copy, click here.
Ramseur Summer Picks
There are a lot of great shows coming up this summer, and we are proud to say that (in our humble opinion) a lot of them will be by our artists! So, here are some shows coming up this summer that we think you can't afford to miss.
JUNE
June 4-13: Bombadil will be touring out West as part of the McMenamin's Hotel Tour series. Don't miss them during their first time on the other coast!
June 5-13: Don't miss Samantha Crain & the Midnight Shivers' first time in the southeast since being welcomed into the Ramseur family. She will be in Knoxville on the 5th, Johnson City on the 6th, Charlotte on the 7th Chapel Hill on the 12th and Winston on the 13th before heading north for some big shows in NYC, Boston and more.
June 6: Indianapolis, IN - the everybodyfields and The Avett Brothers come together for a big show at The Vogue!
June 12-15: BONNAROO! the everybodyfields will play on June 13th, The Avett Brothers will play on June 14th, and Bombadil will truck it back from Oregon to play on the 15th!!
JULY
July 4th: Bombadil will play in their hometown of Durham to celebrate the birth of our nation!
July 9th: The Avett Brothers, NYC : River to River Festival in downtown Manhattan. It's free!
July 22nd: This isn't a show, but we will be releasing THREE albums this day! The Avett Brothers: The Second Gleam, Samantha Crain: The Confiscation & Sammy Walker: Misfit Scarecrow.
July 26th: The Avett Brothers, Koka Booth Amphitheatre Cary, NC! Huge homecoming show... click here for tickets.
AUGUST
August 1st: The Carolina Chocolate Drops will be playing at the NC Museum of Art in Raleigh. Don't miss this rare opportunity to catch the CCDs in their hometown - and at a world-class venue to boot!
August 1-3: Pickathon, Portland OR. Bombadil, the everybodyfields and Samantha Crain will be playing this festival for all three days, alongside our friends Langhorne Slim, Paleface, Chatham County Line, Ian Thomas, Chittlin and so many more!
August 24: The Avett Brothers, Portland OR - Oregon Zoo Amphitheatre. The last time the Avetts played Oregon, it was to a sold out crowd of 1,500. We hope that number will at least double this time around!
As always, all of our artists will be hitting the road hard this summer, and have many more big dates scheduled, other than those highlighted above. For a full schedule, please click the artist name below.
Samantha Crain & the Midnight Shivers
Thank you for supporting live music!
Drawing by young Melody of Portland, OR
Big week for Bombadil...
Bombadil's new record had a fantastic first week! Thanks to everyone who came out to all of the in-store performances and who bought the record. Bombadil and their new record have gotten a lot of great press, including big features in the Independent Weekly, Raleigh News & Observer and a slot as Paste Magazine's Band of the Week this week! Click here to check out the best quotes from all of these reviews and more.
In other news, on July 22, 2008 Ramseur Records is honored to be releasing not one, but THREE albums by three stellar artists from the Ramseur fold. Since the beginning, the one unifying theme that all Ramseur Records releases have held is this: songwriting that transcends genres, cuts through the pretense and truly means something. We pride ourselves in putting out art of substance that affects people -- from punk rockers to classical music enthusiasts; construction workers to college professors. When the meaning behind the music is real, nothing else matters. With that being said we are honored to release the following:
The Avett Brothers, The Second Gleam
This EP, the second in a series, is the latest work by Scott and Seth Avett - of Concord's own The Avett Brothers. This album is a collection of six songs, stripped down to the bare essentials. The simplicity of The Gleam series showcases the brothers' true talent for writing songs that speak straight to the heart. With the huge success of last year's Emotionalism, and sold-out crowds of thousands from San Francisco to New York to Atlanta, The Avett Brothers are a force to be reckoned with.
Also, on July 26th, the Avett Brothers will be celebrating the release of The Second Gleam with their first headlining show in NC this year - at Koka Booth Ampitheatre in Cary, NC. A fan-only presale went live yesterday and 500 tickets have already been sold! Tickets to the general public go on sale May 9, 2008.
The Confiscation: A Musical Novella by Samantha Crain
Samantha Crain is the newest addition to Ramseur Records, and we are very proud to have her on board. This Shawnee, OK singer-songwriter has received accolades from press and fans across the nation and is poised to take the country by storm. This album is a collection of short stories in the form of song. The Confiscation structures itself in such a way that every individual composition flows into the next to ensure that each narration is understood as only a part of the whole tale. Everybody has a story and The Confiscation shares a few of those heartbreaking accounts alongside the hopeful ones too. While each narrative is of a different voice, they all relate, as do the people involved, through the atonement that is bestowed, or the Judas kiss that plunders all.
Sammy Walker: Misfit Scarecrow
We are truly honored to be releasing Misfit Scarecrow - the first album released by Sammy Walker in over twelve years. Sammy Walker was born in 1952 and grew up in Norcross, Georgia. Sammy began singing and writing original tunes at an early age while being heavily influenced by Woody Guthrie, Hank Williams and Doc Watson. He began performing these songs in coffee houses around the University of Georgia in the early 70’s. In 1974, Sammy Walker sent a homemade tape of some of his songs to Sis and Gordon Friesen at Broadside, where they were well received and subsequently published. As a result of Gordon's giving a copy of the tape to Bob Fass at WBAI radio in New York City, Walker was invited to New York to appear on Fass's show. Phil Ochs heard him for the first time on this show, and the two soon met and exchanged songs and stories. Within two months, Ochs had arranged the recording of Sammy's album for Folkways, and convinced Warner Brothers to sign him for two records. Ochs produced Sammy's first album for Folkways. It was called “Song For Patty” and featured newspaper heiress Patty Hearst on the cover of the album. Sammy recorded two superb albums for Warner Bros. that were produced by legendary producer Nik Venet. Walker was managed by the late Harold Leventhal (manager of Woody Guthrie, The Weavers, Pete Seeger, etc...). Walker currently lives in the western part of North Carolina.
All of these records will be available nationwide on July 22, 2008. Please support your local independent record store!
Photo of Bombadil live on Fox News Rising in Charlotte, NC
A BUZZ, A BUZZ IN STORES NOW!
The new Bombadil record, their first full-length on Ramseur Records -- hits stores TODAY, 4/29/08! A Buzz, a Buzz will be available at major and indie stores across the country, as well as all major online retailers. PLUS - if you download the album on iTunes, you get a special bonus track not available anywhere else! The song is called Suzy Marie. Click here to download the album from iTunes or here to buy it on Amazon.
Also, thanks to everyone who came out to Bombadil's CD release party at the Cat's Cradle (pictured above). It was a very successful night!
In other news, on July 22, 2008 Ramseur Records is honored to be releasing not one, but THREE albums by three stellar artists from the Ramseur fold. Since the beginning, the one unifying theme that all Ramseur Records releases have held is this: songwriting that transcends genres, cuts through the pretense and truly means something. We pride ourselves in putting out art of substance that affects people -- from punk rockers to classical music enthusiasts; construction workers to college professors. When the meaning behind the music is real, nothing else matters. With that being said we are honored to release the following:
The Avett Brothers, The Second Gleam
This EP, the second in a series, is the latest work by Scott and Seth Avett - of Concord's own The Avett Brothers. This album is a collection of six songs, stripped down to the bare essentials. The simplicity of The Gleam series showcases the brothers' true talent for writing songs that speak straight to the heart. With the huge success of last year's Emotionalism, and sold-out crowds of thousands from San Francisco to New York to Atlanta, The Avett Brothers are a force to be reckoned with.
Also, on July 26th, the Avett Brothers will be celebrating the release of The Second Gleam with their first headlining show in NC this year - at Koka Booth Ampitheatre in Cary, NC. A fan-only presale went live yesterday and 500 tickets have already been sold! Tickets to the general public go on sale May 9, 2008.
The Confiscation: A Musical Novella by Samantha Crain
Samantha Crain is the newest addition to Ramseur Records, and we are very proud to have her on board. This Shawnee, OK singer-songwriter has received accolades from press and fans across the nation and is poised to take the country by storm. This album is a collection of short stories in the form of song. The Confiscation structures itself in such a way that every individual composition flows into the next to ensure that each narration is understood as only a part of the whole tale. Everybody has a story and The Confiscation shares a few of those heartbreaking accounts alongside the hopeful ones too. While each narrative is of a different voice, they all relate, as do the people involved, through the atonement that is bestowed, or the Judas kiss that plunders all.
Sammy Walker: Misfit Scarecrow
We are truly honored to be releasing Misfit Scarecrow - the first album released by Sammy Walker in over twelve years. Sammy Walker was born in 1952 and grew up in Norcross, Georgia. Sammy began singing and writing original tunes at an early age while being heavily influenced by Woody Guthrie, Hank Williams and Doc Watson. He began performing these songs in coffee houses around the University of Georgia in the early 70’s. In 1974, Sammy Walker sent a homemade tape of some of his songs to Sis and Gordon Friesen at Broadside, where they were well received and subsequently published. As a result of Gordon's giving a copy of the tape to Bob Fass at WBAI radio in New York City, Walker was invited to New York to appear on Fass's show. Phil Ochs heard him for the first time on this show, and the two soon met and exchanged songs and stories. Within two months, Ochs had arranged the recording of Sammy's album for Folkways, and convinced Warner Brothers to sign him for two records. Ochs produced Sammy's first album for Folkways. It was called “Song For Patty” and featured newspaper heiress Patty Hearst on the cover of the album. Sammy recorded two superb albums for Warner Bros. that were produced by legendary producer Nik Venet. Walker was managed by the late Harold Leventhal (manager of Woody Guthrie, The Weavers, Pete Seeger, etc...). Walker currently lives in the western part of North Carolina.
All of these records will be available nationwide on July 22, 2008. Please support your local independent record store!
Photo by Dave Cheater Slick Herron
Bombadil CD Release, Merlefest and more!
After a nice long winter, things are about to spring into action at Ramseur Records.
This week, Bombadil will be gearing up for the release of their first full-length record, A Buzz, a Buzz (in stores April 29th)! They will be playing in Nashville on Wednesday at the Exit / Inn - then it's up to Johnson City to play at the Acoustic Coffeehouse on Thursday. Finally, on Friday they will be at the Cat's Cradle for the official CD release party! Make sure to get your tickets in advance, by clicking here. Check out their full schedule to see all of their upcoming shows, including a couple of free in-store performances!
The Avett Brothers just ended a really big tour with a few huge shows in Nashville, Huntsville and Atlanta -- they will embark on another big tour this week, starting with a set at Merlefest! They will play the Watson Stage on Friday at 10:15PM. They'll be signing autographs directly after their set and will also be making two big announcements from the stage. Please check out their full schedule to see if they're coming to a town near you anytime soon.
The everybodyfields will be heading north on a tour too, with shows in VA, MD, NY, ME and more. Please check out their full schedule here. Their record, Nothing is Okay, was recently released in the UK - so please spread the word!
Samantha Crain & the Midnight Shivers are hitting the road hard with shows all over the midwest - and coming up this summer, shows all over the nation. Click here for a full schedule. We are officially releasing her debut album on Ramseur Records, The Confiscation, on July 22nd. And on May 17th, her hometown of Shawnee, OK will be celbrating "Samantha Crain Day!" We hope that if you live nearby, you will join in the celebration.
Finally, the Carolina Chocolate Drops are doing better than ever and they will also be at Merlefest this week, with a few sets over Friday and Saturday. Make sure that you stop by and check them out if you're going to be at there - they were the talk of the festival last year!
More big news to come in the next few weeks... stay tuned!
Lots of press!
Ramseur Records and our acts have been getting some good press lately... here are just a few snippets!
Metro Magazine – April 2008
Dolph Ramseur and The Avett Brothers
By Philip van Vleck
North Carolina’s Avett Brothers are a known quantity for music fans from Charlotte to San Francisco. Their distinctive sound — an anarchic amalgam of bluegrass, Americana and rock; their outstanding songwriting; and their highly combustible live performances have made the trio an unlikely sensation.
The silent partner in the continuing success of The Avett Brothers is Dolph Ramseur, founder of Ramseur Records. He’s the indefatigable indie label owner, as much the architect of The Avett Brothers rise to prominence as the Avetts themselves.
Ramseur is a native of North Carolina, born and raised in Concord. He was a young tennis whiz, which eventually led him to enroll at Ferris State University in Michigan.
To read more please visit the following link: http://www.metronc.com/article/?id=1589
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The everybodyfields hail from the high and lonesome terrain of Johnson City, Tennessee, which sits 100 miles east of Knoxville in the heart of the Smoky Mountains. With some of Lambchop's electric spaciousness and even more of early Whiskeytown's country-rock storytelling, Jill Andrews and Sam Quinn turn the wreckage of their own romance into the languid confessions of Nothing Is Okay. Their 2007 Ramseur debut (Ramseur's home to old-time punks The Avett Brothers), Okay is an album of shining pedal steel, angry electric guitars, stately piano and ex-lovers' harmonies. They're relentless in their pitch-perfect country pleas, building metaphors out of cancer and dreams to get at what hurts and why and then singing that pain straight into the clear blue mountain skies.
(click here to read that article on the web)
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2008 Oklahoma Gazette: Woody Awards - Best Folk Band
Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers
2008 Woody Awards celebrate best in metro music
Music created in Oklahoma has circled the globe — setting records, reaping awards and climbing the charts — continuing to prove that Sooner State bands and musicians are a presence to which attention is worth paying. The world knows that Okies rock, so it’s once again time for Oklahoma Gazette to roll out the annual picks for the best of reader-nominated music minds from the metro — newly minted Woody Award winners one and all. —Joe Wertz
Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers put on a live show that frenzy the emotions of all who are listening. The unique blend of alt-country and folk music can give you a foot-stomping good time and minutes later bring you to heartbreaking tears.
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Bombadil
One
"A long-lost Elephant 6 band who spent the last 10 years listening to mid-60s Dylan?"
"This is not the best album of the year, but it's certainly one of the
most entertaining and possibly one of the most inventive."
Two
"it's adventurous, sometimes cute, and often melodic and/or random. While at its core a pop record, it's hardly formulaic."
Ramseur Records @ Bonnaroo!
Ramseur Records is honored to announce that three of our artists have been invited to perform at this year's Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. The Avett Brothers, the everybodyfields and Bombadil will be joining Pearl Jam, Metallica, Jack Johnson, Kanye West, My Morning Jacket,Robert Plant, The Raconteurs, The Allman Brothers Band, Rilo Kiley, Iron & Wine, MIA and so many more outstanding acts at this critically lauded and fan-frenzied festival. The event will take place in Manchester, TN, June 12-15, 2008. Tickets can be purchased here. Press, Shows, New Albums and more!
Things are moving right along at the Ramseur Records HQ...
We are very proud to announce that our newest Ramseur Records artist, Samantha Crain recently won a Woody Award for Best Folk Band. The Woody Awards are state-wide music awards named after Woody Guthrie, intended to honor the importance of music born in Oklahoma. Samantha also appeared on the cover of Shawnee Outlook magazine. She is a force to be reckoned with in the Oklahoma music scene and we are very excited to be working with her and releasing her new EP (The Confiscation) for the rest of the country to hear this summer!
The Avett Brothers are gearing up for their biggest tour yet this year - they'll be in Arizona and California this week - in Phoenix, Tucson, Solana Beach and Los Angeles (in that order). For more details, please visit their website. Also, last week they were featured on perezhilton.com! Click here to read the post.
Bombadil will be sticking around the Carolinas this week, with a show in Greensboro at the Carolina Theater and then in Greenville at the Spazzatorium Galleria. We are getting all of our ducks in a row in preparation for their album release on April 29th. We've got some in-store performances and big shows planned - so please keep an eye on their schedule. We hope you'll pick up the new album and come out to some shows!
the everybodyfields will also be staying close to home this week, with one show in Cookeville, TN. On Thursday, the 27th, they will be at the Backdoor Playhouse @ Tennessee Tech University. The show starts at 7:30PM, tickets are free and it's open to the public. After that, they've got a few dates coming up with Tift Merritt and a packed schedule of their own - please click here for more info.
Last, but not least - the Carolina Chocolate Drops have just returned from a very successful European tour, with lots of sell-out shows and fresh new fans. They are excited to be back in the Southeast this week, with a show in Myrtle Beach and Savannah. For more details, please visit www.carolinachocolatedrops.com.
Catch you out there!
Shows in the carolinas this week!
We are very excited to see two of our acts return to the Carolina's this week!
On Wednesday, the everybodyfields will be playing at the McGlohon Theater in Charlotte with the Greencards - get your tickets here! The show starts at 8PM. After that, they will head down to Atlanta to play at the Earl.
On Saturday, the Avett Brothers will be playing their first show in the Carolinas since 2007 - in Columbia, SC at the St. Patrick's Day In Five Points festival! They will play at 4:30, so get there early. Tickets are available here.
In non-Carolina news, the members of Bombadil have been hitting the road hard - with shows over the past few weeks in OH, PA, NYC, VA, MD, WV, TN and more. This week, they will be in Dallas, Knoxville, Spartanburg and Greensboro.
Our newest act, Samantha Crain is also doing her fair share of touring and we are in the process of setting up an east coast tour for her this summer. Please check out her tour dates and see if she'll be coming to a city near you soon. We would love for you to meet her.
Finally, the Carolina Chocolate Drops are having an amazing tour in Europe. You can check out weekly updates of their journey and all of their upcoming tour dates over at www.carolinachocolatedrops.com.
We hope you will be able to come out and see some of our shows this week!We're proud to welcome Samantha Crain!
We are very proud to welcome Samantha Crain & The Midnight Shivers into the Ramseur Records fold. This young and talented artist from Shawnee, OK will release her debut record - The Confiscation EP - on Ramseur in the Summer of 2008, staking her place in the recording family alongside Martin Stephenson, Sammy Walker, The Avett Brothers, Bombadil and the everybodyfields.
"Sounds like Judy Garland singing Neutral Milk Hotel songs.."
--Shipwreck
"Only 21 years of age, young Crain has conjured up a batch of rural orchestrations that somehow manages, in five songs, to bridge the gap between Radiohead and The Carter Family."
--American Songwriter
The Confiscation EP - Ramseur Records - Summer 2008
myspace.com/samanthacrain
Sometimes music is a collision of opposites. Realities clash and coexist, and the tension that results is scary and strange, but undeniably beautiful. Maybe that's why Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers embody so many conflicting unities and clashing identities. With a blow-your-hair-back vocal presence that occasionally yields to whisper-soft vulnerability, Samantha Crain unites the sounds of confidence and desperation. Traditional folk arrangements tremble beneath the tasteful drumming of Jacob Edwards, the heart-beating bass lines from Andrew Tanz. Lyrics about disaster and despair peacefully coexist with anthems of community and reconciliation. Here are darkness and light; here are life and death.
These colliding realities stem most notably from Crain's unlikely artistic heritage, which she wears on her sleeve but just as readily transcends. Hailing from the state that birthed both The Flaming Lips and Woody Guthrie, Samantha Crain writes with both the brazen conviction of the latter and the unflinching creative ambition of the former. Hers is a folk tradition indebted to Radiohead as much as Bob Dylan. Her shadowy arrangements and razor-sharp lyrics blur whatever superficial lines of genre or aesthetic may seem to separate these influences. It seems whatever the ingredients, she has a place for them in her inexplicable artistic recipe. Her sound is deeply rural and southern, but also itinerant and urban. Like Jack Kerouac before her, Crain is lost on the subway, sleeping in boxcars, leaving lovers behind, and dining in small town obscurity all within a few short days.
Nearly more remarkable than her creative vision is her practical ambition. At the young age of twenty-one, Samantha Crain already has a booking agency, several national tours, and dozens of self-produced recordings to her credit. Her and her band's tireless work ethic promise years of fruitful touring and recording, and their dynamic live performances are gathering a widespread community with every subsequent tour. They are uniting opposites, living deeply, and working fruitfully, with no signs of slowing down any time soon.
Currently they are playing shows and promoting the Confiscation EP which will be released on Ramseur Records in the Summer of 2008. It was produced by Joey Lemon of the Chicago-based band, Berry.
Big Tours Coming Up!
In keeping with the Ramseur Records tradition, our acts will be hitting the road hard over the next few months to promote their recent or upcoming releases. Please keep an eye out for The Avett Brothers, the everybodyfields and Bombadil who will be performing in every corner of the USA this Spring and Summer.
Click below to see each band's tour dates:
If you're interested in helping promote any of the scheduled shows for any of our artists, please contact Stephanie!
We hope you willl be able to make it out to see some of the greatest live acts in the nation soon.
Photo of Bombadil; credit: www.julierobertsphoto.com
New Bombadil Album!!
Ramseur Records is proud to announce that on April 29, 2008, Bombadil's first full-length record, A Buzz, a Buzz will hit stores nationwide! You can also pick up a copy a few days in advance at the record release party, scheduled for April 25th at Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC.
Please check out Bombadil's myspace page or click here to listen to two tracks from the record. We are very excited about this release and hope that you are too!
A bit about Bombadil:
With a sound all their own and a stage show to match, Bombadil is, if nothing else, one of the freshest bands to emerge in a long time. Formed by Daniel Michalak, Bryan Rahija and Stuart Robinson, this band draws on a unique mélange of influences to create a sound that is unclassifiable. The group Magnet Magazine deemed “a drunker, circus-reared version of The Band,” was born in Bolivia, where Michalak and Rahija first met. The folk music indigenous to the region lit a creative spark and inspired the two to begin writing songs that incorporated international instruments and styles. That influence, paired with their collective backgrounds in Piedmont blues, psychedelic rock and Robinson’s background as a classical pianist, stands as the driving force behind the band’s unique sound.
Their songs range from straightforward rock to Bolivian waltzes; from heartbreaking, piano-driven laments on loss of life to swashbuckling, raucus marches; and the appeal of their live show is undeniable. With a core of electric / acoustic guitars, bass, piano and drums and appearances by harmonica, xylophone, organ, synth, saxophone, trumpet, viola, charango, glockenspiel, accordion, recorder and even zampona, the show is unlike anything else. When even half of the instruments on stage are sounding at once, it creates a wall of sound that seems to transport the room to another place.
All of the instrumentation, however, does not detract at all from the core of Bombadil—anthemic, concrete songwriting. Much like Ramseur Records labelmates The Avett Brothers and the everybodyfields, the complicated, endearing character of their songs keeps Bombadil grounded and guides the show seamlessly along. It is what allows them to carry a room, whether there are one hundred instruments on stage or just a single guitar and voice. It is what people connect to—and why they keep coming back.
Happy New Year!
We'd like to take a moment to thank each and every one of you who made 2007 the biggest year in Ramseur Records history. We achieved more last year than we ever thought possible. The Avett Brothers have sold close to 30,000 copies of Emotionalism in just seven months, cracked three Billboard charts, made their national TV debut and received countless accolades from fans and press across the country. They sold out in Charlotte, Asheville, Raleigh, New York City, Greensboro, Wilmington, San Francisco, Seattle and found new fans everywhere in between.
The everybodyfields had a great year too, with their first Ramseur release flying off the shelves, top spots in a number of “best of 2007” lists, and sell out crowds all over the southeast.
On December 30th, Bombadil had their first ever sell-out show with Langhorne Slim and Paleface in Greensboro! And while 2008 is shaping up to be the biggest year yet for Bombadil, ’07 wasn’t too shabby at all. They’re picking up a lot of steam and bringing out more and more people everywhere they go.
We’ve got a lot of big things coming up this year, including a new release from Bombadil – A Buzz, a Buzz – due out in the spring and countless shows and appearances by all of our artists throughout the year. Please check out all of their schedules (linked below) and do your part to support live music (and us!).
Click here for The Avett Brothers’ show schedule.
Click here for the everybodyfields’ show schedule.
Click here for Bombadil’s show schedule.
Click here for the Carolina Chocolate Drops’ show schedule.
Click here for Mad Tea Party’s show schedule.
PS- Start the year right by coming out to the Evening Muse in Charlotte to see Paleface and Bombadil this Saturday, January 5th!
Photo of the Avett Brothers on New Year's Eve; by Crackerfarm
Spend the rest of '07 with us!
Here at Ramseur Records headquarters, we are gearing up for our biggest year yet. 2008 is shaping up to be a big one, with a new release from Bombadil in the early part of the year; big, big touring plans from all of our acts, and of course, many more surprises to come!
We hope you will spend the last few weeks of 2007 with our artists. Here are a list of shows coming up in the next two weeks:
12/22/07
MAD TEA PARTY
Grey Eagle Music Hall
Asheville, NC
12/28/07
THE EVERYBODYFIELDS
The Down Home
Johnson City, TN
12/28/07
MAD TEA PARTY
The Pour House Music Hall
Raleigh, NC
12/28/07
THE AVETT BROTHERS
The Orange Peel
Asheville, NC
12/29/07
THE EVERYBODYFIELDS
Eddies Attic
Atlanta, GA
12/29/07
THE AVETT BROTHERS
The Orange Peel
Asheville, NC
12/30/07
BOMBADIL
Blind Tiger - with Paleface and Langhorne Slim!
Greensboro, NC
12/31/07
THE AVETT BROTHERS
NC Blumenthal Performing Arts Center - Belk Theater
Charlotte, NC
12/31/07
BOMBADIL
Westville Pub
Asheville, NC
12/31/07
MAD TEA PARTY
Sycamore Rouge
Petersburg, VA
We hope to see you out there! And if you haven't picked up the December issue of Paste Magazine - make sure to... three of our acts were featured in the "Top 50 of 2007!"
Paste Magazine Top 50!
We are very excited to announce that Paste Magazine has chosen THREE Ramseur Records acts (two label and one management) for their Top 50 Albums of the Year!
#12
The Avett Brothers
Emotionalism
"With a kick-drum thump and a wild-man scream, these 14 stunning songs carve into your chest and settle in, stitching up the gaping flesh with shredded banjo strings-only to rip free again while the wound is still fresh, leaving you bloody, gasping and desperate for more. A true breakthrough from this hard-working band."
#43
the everybodyfields
Nothing is Okay
"Like a good cry-and like the best country music-Jill Andrews and Sam Quinn's songs are all shuddering sighs, aching confessions and upturned hearts spilling out over layers of pedal steel, fiddle and acoustic guitar, delivered by two of the most disparately beautiful voices to ever meld."
#49
Carolina Chocolate Drops
Dona Got A Ramblin' Mind
(Music Maker)
"Bravely and expertly reclaiming the string-band tradition for modern African-American culture, the Chocolate Drops are the real Deal, reaching back to pre-WWII styles and breathing life into them with the energetic performances captured on this down-home debut."
SOME UPCOMING RAMSEUR SHOWS
12/5/07: Bombadil :: Roanoke, VA :: 202 Market
12/6/07: The Avett Brothers :: Lake Worth, FL :: Bamboo Room
12/6/07: the everybodyfields :: Nashville, TN :: 3rd and Lindsley
12/6/07: Bombadil :: Charlottesville, VA :: Outback Lodge
12/7/07: The Avett Brothers :: Orlando, FL :: The Social
12/7/07: the everybodyfields :: Chattanooga, TN :: Barking Legs Theater
12/7/07: Bombadil :: Fredericksburg, VA :: The Wounded Bookshop
12/8/07: The Avett Brothers :: Tampa, FL :: Skippers Smokehouse
12/8/07: Bombadil :: Durham, NC :: Broad Street Cafe
12/9/07: The Avett Brothers :: Jacksonville, FL :: Free Bird Live
12/12/07: Bombadil :: Raleigh, NC :: Hideaway BBQ
12/14/07: Bombadil :: Greensboro, NC :: Blind Tiger
12/15/07: Bombadil :: Richmond, VA :: The Camel
12/28/07: The Avett Brothers :: Asheville, NC ::
The Orange Peel - SOLD OUT!
12/28/07: the everybodyfields :: Johnson City, TN :: The Down Home
12/29/07: The Avett Brothers :: Asheville, NC ::
The Orange Peel - SOLD OUT!
12/29/07: the everybodyfields :: Atlanta, GA :: Eddie's Attic
12/30/07: Bombadil :: Greensboro, NC :: Blind Tiger :: with Paleface and Langhorne Slim!
12/31/07: The Avett Brothers :: Charlotte, NC ::
NC Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Belk - SOLD OUT!!
12/31/07: Bombadil :: Asheville, NC :: Westville Pub
Ramseur Records... where music is always treated like a lady.
THANK YOU!
We at Ramseur Records would like to take a moment to send a big THANK YOU to all of those who have helped make 2007 our biggest year ever. We've accomplished more than we thought possible this year...from the Avett Brothers' national TV debut, countless national press, and show after show of loving fans; to the everybodyfields' and Bombadil's rapidly-growing careers... we are very aware that it's all of you who made those things happen.
So, again, thank you from the most sincere place; for buying records, for spreading the word, for going to shows and for listening.
Happy Thanksgiving from Ramseur Records... where music is always treated like a lady.
New Year's Eve SOLD OUT!
After spending almost the entire year on the road, with stops at Coachella, Telluride, Bumbershoot and more - Concord, North Carolina natives The Avett Brothers are scheduled to play their first hometown show since the release of their acclaimed 2007 album, Emotionalism. Without the unyielding support of their loyal North Carolina fans, however, none of this success would have been possible; and they are proud to be ringing in the new year with those who have championed them from day one.
New Year’s Eve
North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center – Belk Theater
Charlotte, NC
SOLD OUT!!
The buzz is growing. The word is out.
The Avett Brothers are the best live act in the nation.
And now the fans have spoken.
After just two and half weeks, all 2,100 tickets for
New Year's Eve have SOLD OUT!
Photo by Cheater Slick
Avetts walk away with TWO AMAs!
The Avett Brothers steal the show at the Americana Honors & Awards in Nashville - 11/1/07
North Carolina's favorite sons walked away with two of the three awards they were nominated for: Group/Duo of the Year and New and Emerging Artist!
During the awards show they performed the song "Shame" from their acclaimed album, Emotionalism to an ecstatic full-house at the legendary Ryman Auditorium - and then went on to rock another full-house at their after party held at the Station Inn!
Photo by Dave Herron
SPIN, Paste, No Depression and more!
The photo to the left, by Crackerfarm, appears in the current issue of SPIN magazine.
November 2007 – Soundcheck Section – Pages 26 - 27
Slim’s, San Francisco :: THE AVETT BROTHERS :: Thursday, August 9, 2007
"On this humid evening, the North Carolina-based screwgrass trio put themselves through an intense onstage workout, and they had the sweat-destroyed shirts to prove it. 'That’s what we do every night,' explains singer/banjo player/kick drummer Scott Avett. 'We have a rule: You can’t walk away dry, which is why there’s a lot of mildew in our bags.'"
In other news, Emotionalism is one step away from a Grammy Award nomination! The final nominees for the Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album will be chosen from a pool of 30 records; one of which is The Avett Brothers' acclaimed 2007 release!
-----------------------------------------------------
the everybodyfields
Paste Magazine - November 2007 - Reviews Section
“Rummaging through the dark closet of the South, Sam Quinn and Jill Andrews trade gorgeous, aching vocals that sear through a tapestry of plaintive fiddle and pedal steel. Sometimes love don’t feel like it should, but who’s to say what’s right or wrong with sadness this divine?”
HARP Magazine - November 2007 - Reviews Section
"The Everybodyfields exist where fall and winter meet. Jill Andrews and Sam Quinn's dulcet vocal melodies are crisp and bracing as the autumn air, wafting through a small clutch of leafless oaks... The Johnson City, Tenn., quartet's folk-pop fragility recalls Elliott Smith draped in dark Southern gothic... Sadness can be so beautiful."
-----------------------------------------------------
Martin Stephenson
No Depression Magazine - November 2007 - Reviews Section
"Stephenson's heart seems to be in the Appalachia nowadays, especially in the North Carolina mountain country that produced Doc Watson, Charlie Poole and other 20th-century American roots masters... Hell's Half Acre: The SoundField Sessions is billed as a field recording and the atmosphere is appealingly casual... putting the listener right into the middle of a porch pickin' session with some great players. The occasional ambient bug, bird and passing car don't detract at all... Lovely and unexpected."
-----------------------------------------------------
Ramseur Records
CelebrityAccess.com :: Industry Profile :: Dolph Ramseur
"Dolphus Ramseur, a one-time top North Carolina junior tennis player and instructor and self-confessed music fanatic-turned-venture-capitalist, followed his heart and formed Ramseur Records in July 2000. An artist management division followed..."
To read the full article click here!
Lots of tour dates....
The southeast will welcome some of the Ramseur Records' acts home with open arms this week. The Avett Brothers and Bombadil will both be playing shows in the Carolinas and the everybodyfields will be returning to their homestate of Tennessee, after a month out West.
On Thursday, the everybodyfields will be playing at the Bijou Theatre in Knoxville, TN as part of WDVX's tenth anniversary celebration. For tickets, click here. Please check out their full tour schedule... they've got a lot of shows coming up before the year's end.
On Friday, The Avett Brothers will be playing at NC State's Reynolds Coliseum as part of their homecoming celebration. Then, on Sunday they will head down to the Music Farm in Charleston, SC. Tickets for their New Year's Eve show in Charlotte will be on sale soon!
Finally, on Saturday, Bombadil will be playing at one of their favorite venues - the Black Cat in Boone, NC. They just added this show a few weeks ago, so please spread the word!
In Ramseur Records Management News:
While this week will see some of our acts' return to the southeast, the Carolina Chocolate Drops will be doing some traveling, with four dates in California. Please click here to check out their full schedule.
Mad Tea Party is taking some much-needed time off this week, but will return to the road next week for a big "Northeast in November" tour. Please click here for their full schedule.
Thanks!
Photo of the marquee at the Hanford Fox Theater in Hanford, CA
Avetts NYE Show Announced + more!
We are very excited to announce that the Avett Brothers' will be playing in Charlotte for their annual New Year's Eve show. The venue has changed, but the energy and spirit will remain the same. The show will be held at NC Blumenthal Performing Arts Center – Belk Theater in Charlotte, NC. They will be joined by Langhorne Slim & the War Eagles as well a possible third act. Details on how and when to buy tickets will be released soon. Please keep checking www.theavettbrothers.com for more information.
New Ramseur releases in the works!
Some very exciting things are cooking in the Ramseur Records kitchen...
Sammy Walker, a Georgia-born songwriter, influenced by Woody Guthrie, Hank Williams and Doc Watson has been making music since the early 70s. After being discovered by Phil Ochs, who produced his first album on Smithsonian Folkways, he went on to release three more outstanding records; two of which were released on Warner Bros. and the third on Folkways.
This new collection of songs entitled Misfit Scarecrow, is Sammy's first release on Ramseur Records. The album features Tony Williamson, who is one of the best mandolinplayers in the world.
One standout track on the record, titled And The Mississippi Delta Cried, tells the story of Emmett Til, a young African-American boy from Chicago who was brutally murdered in Mississippi in 1941. His murder has been cited as one of the main sparks that lit a fire under the American Civil Rights Movement. To learn more about his story, click here. And to hear the song, click here.
We hope to release the album in the very near future.
In the other, more whimsical side of the kitchen, Bombadil is hard at work on their new album. They are coming down the home stretch and are gearing up for an early 2008 release. We will have a lot more info on that album in the coming months.
Please check out the tour dates for all of our bands, who are all hitting the road as hard as always this week: The Avett Brothers, the everybodyfields, Bombadil, Mad Tea Party & the Carolina Chocolate Drops.
Thanks for listening!
Avetts in AL, everybodyfields in NC / VA and more!
This week, The Avett Brothers will keep pounding the pavement, with stops in Auburn, Tuscaloosa and Huntsville, AL on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Then, they'll head up to Knoxville to play at the Bijou Theatre on Saturday, before heading back home. Tickets for their shows in Asheville on 12/28 and 12/29 are on sale now. For more info, please check out their tour schedule!
The everybodyfields are gearing up for their last weekend in the southeast for a while... this week, they'll be in North Carolina and Virginia before heading out West for a month. On Thursday, they'll be in Wilmington at The Soapbox. Then on Friday, they'll be on The State of Things at 12PM, hold an in-store performance at School Kids Records in Chapel Hill at 6 and then end the night at the Local 506. Finally, on Friday, they'll be doing another in-store performance at Crossroads CDs in Blacksburg, VA, before they head to Roanoke for a show at the 202 Market. Check out their full schedule here.
Bombadil is still hard at work in the studio, finishing up their first full-length album, due out on Ramseur Records in early 2008. To check out some photos from the recording session by our friend Adam Hajnos, click here. They will return to touring in October, starting with a show at the Acoustic Coffeehouse on October 5th and a big show at the Evening Muse on the 6th, with Paleface and Ian Thomas. They've got a lot of shows lined up for the winter - find out where they're headed by clicking here.
In Ramseur Management News:
Mad Tea Party will also be in the studio this week, but will also return triumphantly to the touring world in the beginning of October with two shows in Virginia on the 5th and 6th and a big hometown show at the Grey Eagle in Asheville on October 7th. Read more about them here.
And finally, the Carolina Chocolate Drops are still out there, playing festivals and venues all over the country. Luckily, this week they'll be staying close to home with shows in Abbeville and Columbia, SC on Monday and Thursday and on Saturday, they'll be at the Flatrock Music Festival in Hendersonville, NC.
Thanks for listening!
Photo of the everybodyfields by Adam Hajnos
Martin Stephenson Shows THIS week!
This week, Ramseur Records is honored to welcome Martin Stephenson to our side of the pond. Martin, a highly-respected and critically lauded UK singer-songwriter, is in the U.S. this week, celebrating his new release out on Ramseur Records this week. This record is titled Hell's Half Acre: The SoundField Sessions and was recorded on the front porch of Ramseur Records' own Dolph Ramseur. The songs on this disc were inspired by the town of Midland, North Carolina, known by the locals as "Hell's Half Acre." This beautifully recorded, stripped-down album truly displays Stephenson's songwriting virtuousity.
Martin will be selling copies of the record at his shows in Atlanta and Charlotte this week! On Thursday, he will be in Atlanta at Eddie's Attic and on Friday, he will be at the Evening Muse in Charlotte with Paleface!
Don't miss your chance to see this living legend perform live!
Ramseur Records invades Bristol
First of all, we'd like to thank everyone who came out to the Riverfront Harvest Festival on Saturday to see The Avett Brothers. There were over 3,000 people in attendance and it couldn't have gone smoother. Thanks again. This weekend, the Avetts have a big show at the War Memorial Auditorium in Greensboro on Saturday. Less than 200 tickets are left of the over 2,300 available... so please get yours now! Click here to order.
Another big event happening this week is the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion. The Avett Brothers, the everybodyfields, Bombadil, Mad Tea Party AND the Carolina Chocolate Drops will all be performing! With over 100 bands and 16 stages, you won't want to miss this. To find out when each of our bands are playing, click on each of their names (listed above) for the schedule.
We hope to see you out there!
Photo of the crowd in Wilmington - 9/8/07
by Dave 'Cheater Slick' Herron.
The greatest live band in America
...and here's why:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSFAnKAlElk
Don't miss your chance to see them in action this Saturday at the Riverfront Harvest Festival in Wilmington. Click here for tickets.
AND - Ramseur Records also happens to have two more fantastic live bands on the roster who will be making North Carolina appearances this week. On Friday, Bombadil will be playing a big homecoming show at the Broad Street Cafe in Durham while the everybodyfields will be returning to the Visulite Theater in Charlotte on the same night.
We hope to see you out there!
Photo by Crackerfarm
A Great Week in Ramseur History
Ramseur Records had another great week, with the release of the new everybodyfields' record, a sold-out show in Denver for the Avett Brothers and a couple of stellar shows by Bombadil.
The everybodyfields' new record, Nothing is Okay, got to #9 on the StreetPulse Chart on the day of its release. That includes ALL records sold in 260 retailers nationwide, including indie stores, Barnes & Noble and Virgin Megastore! The band was also featured on Paste.com as the Band of the Week and have a story in the current issue of No Depression magazine, which is on stands now. This week, they'll be in Blowing Rock, NC on Thursday, Knoxville, TN on Friday, and Greensboro and Winston-Salem, NC on Saturday. Please check out their website for more details!
The Avett Brothers are hitting the road hard with stops all over the country. They recently sold-out their show in Denver and aren't slowing down. They have 7 shows in the next seven days. Stops include CO, UT, ID, OR, WA and Canada. Click here for more info! Also, tickets for the shows in Wilmington on September 8th (with Langhorne Slim and more) and Greensboro on the 15th are going fast. Click on the cities for tickets to those shows.
Due to a family emergency, Bombadil were down one man this week. But, they pulled through and had a great show at the Garage and in Johnson City. This week, they're taking some time to record, but will be back in the saddle on Friday, September 7th for a big homecoming show at the Broad Street Cafe in Durham. We hope you can make it out.
In Ramseur Management News:
Mad Tea Party really rocked NC this past week, including an awesome set alongside Bombadil at the Garage. This week, they'll be in Virginia on Friday and in Charlotte at the Visulite Theater on Saturday! They've also got a new 7" record available. You can get it at one of their shows, or online here.
The Carolina Chocolate Drops had a great week, too, with three shows in Virginia for the Bluemont Concert Series. They will be taking some much-needed time off this week, but will hit the road again next week with shows in Durham, Missouri and Illinois. Please check out their website for more details.
Thanks for listening!
Photo by Crackerfarm
Nothing is Okay, in stores Tuesday!
We are priveledged to officially welcome the everybodyfields into the Ramseur Records fold. This Tuesday marks the release of their new album, Nothing is Okay. We could go on for days about how great this record is, but instead we'd like to defer to the critics:
"Nothing is Okay shimmers with achingly beautiful songs that recall Neil Young in his Harvest/Comes a Time mode. Gorgeous, moving and rootsy by nature, not design."
—Hal Horowitz, Creative Loafing Atlanta
"Nothing Is Okay ranges from the shambling “Aeroplane,” whose homey melody recalls The Band, to the swelling, reverb-drenched guitar of “Don’t Turn Around,” reminiscent of a backwoods My Morning Jacket. "
—Chris Parker, Nashville Scene
"Loss and loneliness are indeed subjects that the everybodyfields lyricize most effectively. Good thing the music itself is gorgeous enough to induce a kind of bittersweet warmth."
—Rebecca Bowen, Paste
"If you are a fan of [Gillian] Welch's brilliantly slow-paced Time (The Revelator), then you will find much to like in the everybodyfields, who offer a similar slow burning melancholy hill-country vibe... Quinn and Andrews deliver songs that are brilliantly written snapshots of the underbelly of rural life, filled with visions of loneliness, alcoholism, and loss. There is plenty of originality in this fantastic group including Sam Quinn's quivering vocals that often capture the emotion of Michael Stipe and the old-soul blues of M Ward."
—ListenNashville.com
Paste Magazine has also chosen the everybodyfields for their "Band of the Week" feature! Click here to read the article.
The album will be available through most online retailers, through the everybodyfields website and in indie stores across the country. This week, they will be on Woodsongs Radio Hour with the Avett Brothers (Monday); on WNCW this Thursday and have in-store performances in Knoxville & Nashville, TN and Greenville, SC. They've also got a big show this Saturday in their hometown of Johnson City, TN at the Down Home. Please check out their full schedule here.
We hope you can pick up the copy of the new record and maybe even catch a show or two!
Bombadil signs with New Frontier Touring!
Ramseur Records is proud and honored to announce that Bombadil has signed with New Frontier Touring for live performance representation. Bombadil will join a talented roster that includes The Avett Brothers, Riders In The Sky, Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks, Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame member Chris Hillman, Darrell Scott and more! The band will retain Ramseur Records as their label and management while joining forces with veteran booking agents Paul Lohr, Steve Fugett and Mike Meade at New Frontier Touring. They will hit the road this week with shows in Charleston, Asheville and Atlanta, GA on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Don’t miss your chance to see this band!
The Avett Brothers had a great week as well, with a sold out show in Chico, CA, over 600 attendees in San Francisco and a couple of other big shows all over California. They have two shows this week in Arizona – one in Tucson on Monday and Phoenix on Wednesday. The venue in Tucson believes in the Brothers so much that they are even offering a money back guarantee for this show! So, if you’re in the area you'll have to come out. You have no excuse not to!
After a weekend off, the everybodyfields will be heading to Chattanooga this Wednesday. Then they will be in Atlanta on Thursday and Greenville, SC on Friday. Their new record is coming out next Tuesday – the 21st. We hope you will check it out. If you’d be willing to help spread the word about this show, please email us!
In Ramseur Management news:
Mad Tea Party has had a great Northeast run. They met a lot of great people and played in some very interesting places. This week, they will head up to Bristol, TN to play at the Border Bash with Langhorne Slim, then it’s off to Atlanta to play at Eddie’s Attic on Sunday with Bombadil!
The Carolina Chocolate Drops have been hitting the road hard with shows in Canada, Michigan, New York and more. This week, they won’t be slowing down, with five sets at the Ottawa Folk Festival, August 14-18th and then a stop at the Philadelphia Folk Festival on Sunday, the 19th.
We hope you’ll make it out to see one or all of these bands sometime soon. We truly believe in all of them and want the world to see how great these artists are.
Shows, shows, shows + Upcoming Ramseur Releases!
This week, The Avett Brothers continue on their national tour. They'll be in California all week long, with stops in Chico, San Fran, Santa Cruz, LA and Solana Beach. We've also just found out that the Rialto Theatre (where they play on the 13th) in Tucson, AZ is offering a money back guarantee for their show! They beleive in the Brothers so much that they are offering to return the full price of a ticket to anyone who isn't completely satisfied with the show. Please check out their tour dates and if you know anyone in the area, send them to the show!
The everybodyfields are taking some time off this week, but will return to the road on August 15th to play at Rhythm & Brews in Chattanooga.
Bombadil had a great time in Virginia this weekend. Thanks to everyone who came out to their shows in Charlottesville and Ashland. This week, they're off to Beaufort, NC and Macon, GA on the 10th and 11th. We hope you will be able to catch their one-of-a-kind show.
SOME UPCOMING RAMSEUR RECORDS RELEASES
August 21, 2007 - Nothing is Okay - the everybodyfields:
“Sometimes, nothing is a pretty cool hand.” -Cool Hand Luke
The quality of communication between two people during the time of a sizable rift is fair-weather at best. The few words that do get through are not the ones that you hold dearly when resting your head to pillow; rather these are the ones that keep jaws locked tightly until hopefully, finally, fatigue sets in. After your mind has been poisoned by hatred, after you’ve lost your voice from screaming, after the words have stopped coming together, you have once again managed to tare yourself back to center. Right back to where you started—at nothing.
These songs are one years’ worth of conversations between people who decided equally to stop talking to each other. They are perhaps more honest and useful than any which might have transpired. This is not a biography of happiness, nor is it a field guide to discontent. These songs are a mutual offering to the characters involved herein. Everything is completely screwed. Everything is totally fine. Which is it? Why not both?
To listen to three tracks from this record, go to: theeverybodyfields.com and launch the jukebox
September 18, 2007 - Hell's Half Acre - Martin Stephenson:
The locals in and around the one-stoplight town of Midland, North Carolina know it better as "Hell's Half Acre." It earned its colorful name during the 1930's, when an unusually large concentration of moonshine stills attracted a rough bunch of hellions to the town. The old hellions begot little hellions, and Midland stayed true to its nickname for decades after prohibition ended. It was against that storied backdrop that the legendary English singer-songwriter and guitarist Martin Stephenson decided to record an album on the porch and in the kitchen of Ramseur Records owner and engineer Dolph Ramseur's Midland home. The album is called "Hell's Half Acre."
Stephenson is perhaps best known for his post-punk band, the Daintees, which were contemporaries of U2, Echo & the Bunnymen, and The Smiths, but he is most loved for his quieter, more intimate work that continues to this day. In recent years, Stephenson became enchanted with the endemic music of North Carolina and wrote a beautiful album's worth of songs inspired by the region.
To read more about the album and to listen to two songs, please go to myspace.com/ramseurrecords
Spring 2008 - As of Yet Untitled - Bombadil
A theatrical experience that rumbles while the sun abstains. A train, a pyramid, a kazoo, and you are involved. So are lamps. Smiling is encouraged...as well as crying and dancing...
Durham NC's Bombadil uses whimsical lyrics and upbeat melodies to create a helter-skelter fusion of honky-tonk, folk and pop. Their sound - a melange of instrumentation that revolves around piano-laden folk-rock with nods to classic rock and the British Invasion - is a mix of a poor man's Shins mixed with a less-countrified version of The Gourds. But one thing is certain: Bombadil's music emanates optimism.
To listen to two new Bombadil tracks, please go to myspace.com/bombadil
THANKS FOR LISTENING!
Photo of Daniel Michalak from Bombadil, by Jennifer Vroom
UK Legend Martin Stephenson coming to NC!
Ramseur Records is very excited to be brining over the legendary Martin Stephenson to play a few shows here in the States in support of his new record, Hell's Half Acre, due out on Ramseur September 18th. On September 20th, he will be at Eddie's Attic in Decatur, GA and on the 21st, he will be at the Evening Muse (Paleface will open the show!). We hope you will be able to make it out. It's a rare opportunity to see such a world-class performer in these two very intimate settings.
Bombadil, The Avett Brothers and the everybodyfields are all hitting the road hard this month. Please check out their tour schedules by clicking their names. Go out and support live music!
In Ramseur Management News:
Mad Tea Party is also hitting the road running, with a lengthy NorthEastern tour currently underway. Click here for the full schedule.
Last, but not least, the Carolina Chocolate Drops were featured on Newsweek.com last week! Click here for the article and two videos of them performing "Hit 'Em Up Style" and "Viper Mad." Go here to view their full tour schedule.
Thanks!
Photo: Jill Andrews of the everybodyfields
by Sandlin Gaither
Without music, life would be a mistake. -Nietzsche
This week, Ramseur Records would like to take a break from the news to offer up a few tasty treats for your ears.
Here's a list of some recordings that Mr. D.E. Ramseur himself thinks you might like:
1. DeVotchKa - How It Ends and Una Volta
2. Orange Juice - The Glasgow School
3. Leonard Cohen - reissues of: Songs of Love & Hate; Songs of Leonard Cohen and Songs From a Room
4. John Martyn - Bless the Weather
5. Bob Neuwirth - 99 Monkeys and Back to the Front
We're also really looking forward to the new Richard Hawley album, Lady's Bridge which is out on August 20th of this year. During The Avett Brothers' tour of England, Richard and his manager, Graham, were kind enough to come out and see the Brothers perform. After the show, Dolph Ramseur and Dane Honeycutt -- tour manager for the Avett Brothers -- went to hang out with Richard and Graham at their favorite pub in Sheffield, England. They got a sneak preview of one of the tracks from the new record and it was breathtaking.
See you soon.
Grassroots Festival, NYC and more!
Another stellar week has passed for the Ramseur Records family.
The Avett Brothers took to the road once more and had great turnouts in Indiana, Illinois and Minnesota. This week, they head up to Baltimore on Friday and then it's on to the FingerLakes GrassRoots Festival in Trumansburg, NY on Saturday. Tickets are on sale now for their two North Carolina shows in September. For tickets to Wilmington (9/8), click here and for Greensboro (9/15), click here. Also- the Summer 2007 issue of Magnet Magazine has a big feature on the Avetts. The magazine is available in bookstores and newstands nationwide.
The everybodyfields had a fantastic weekend in their homestate of Tennessee and our homestate of North Carolina. This week, they'll be heading out for a tour with Robinella. Stops will include Charlottesville and Vienna, VA this Wednesday and Thursday, New York City on Friday and Saratoga Springs, NY on Saturday. They've also recently added a couple of in-store performances on the day that their new record, Nothing is Okay comes out (August 21st). Please check out their full shedule for more details.
Bombadil is taking some time off right now and recently were mentioned, along with the Avett Brothers, in two blogs regarding the Great Blue Heron festival! Click here and here to check them out. They will hit the road again in a couple of weeks, starting with a trip to Floyd, VA to play FloydFest on July 27th. Please check out all of their tour dates to see when they might be coming to a city near you!
Martin Stephenson will be coming over to the US for a short tour, in support of his new album, Hell's Half Acre, which is due out on Ramseur Records on September 18th. So far, he will be playing shows at Eddie's Attic on September 20th and at the Evening Muse on September 21st. We hope you will be able to see this living legend perform!
In Ramseur Management News:
Fresh off a trip to Canada and Seattle, the Carolina Chocolate Drops are gearing up to hit the road again this weekend. On Saturday and Sunday, they will be in Marquette, MI for the Hiawatha Music Festival. If you're near Marquette, please stop by and see them and if not, send a friend!
Mad Tea Party will be in Spartanburg this Friday and in Aberdeen, NC on Saturday. They've also got a big northeastern tour coming up, including FIVE shows in New York City, shows in Rochester, New Haven, CT, Albany, VT and three in Maine! Please check out their tour dates for all the details.
Thanks!
Keeping a steady pace...
This weekend saw Bombadil and The Avett Brothers' paths crossing for the first time in a while at the Great Blue Heron Festival in upstate New York. They both had a great time- Bombadil played two times for very enthusiastic crowds and sold all of the CDs they brought! The Avett Brothers will head off to Indiana this Tuesday, then to Illinois on Wednesday and will end up in Minnesota on Friday. Please check out their website for more details and if you know anyone in these towns, please tell them that the Avetts are coming through!
Bombadil will be playing shows in Pennsylvania on Monday and Tuesday before taking some time off. The next show they have will be at FloydFest in Virginia on July 27th. Please click here for all the bombi-details.
The everybodyfields will be on WDVX's Blue Plate Special this Thursday at 12PM. Please tune in if you're in the area - or listen online at wdvx.com! After that, they've got shows in Athens and Gatlinburg, TN on Thursday and Friday as well as Boone on Saturday. They've also got a couple of big shows coming up with Robinella, including the Gravity Lounge and Jammin' Java in VA and the Knitting Factory in NYC on July 20th. We hope you will get to see them soon.
In Ramseur Management News,
Mad Tea Party had a couple of great shows this weekend and will be heading off to Knoxville and Chattanooga this weekend. They also recently announced that they will be releasing a limited edition 45 rpm (7") record! Side A is "Found a Reason" and Side B is the much requested "I Never Was a Cool One." The songs were recorded at Echo Mountain Recording Studio and will eventually be on their next CD, due out early next year. For now, though, they will only be available on vinyl at shows and at record stores in Asheville. They hope to have some ready at their shows this weekend. We hope you can make it out to see this world-class band!
Last, but not least, the Carolina Chocolate Drops had a great time this weekend during their first ever performance in Canada at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. They will be playing this Tuesday, July 10th in Seattle and then they'll head back to Canada to play the Vancouver Folk Festival. Please check out their website for more information.
Thanks!
Photo of Bombadil, by Dave Herron
A lot of big shows coming up...
The everybodyfields had a great time in Asheville and Jonesborough this past weekend. More and more people are starting to take notice of this group and we couldn't be more pleased. This weekend, they'll be taking some time off, but starting July 12th with an appearance on WDVX's Blue Plate Special and a show in Athens, TN they will be hitting the road hard. They will be in Gatlinburg, TN and in Boone on July 13th and 14th and then they'll make their way up north for a few shows with Robinella. Please check out their full schedule for more details.
Bombadil also had a good weekend, with shows in Knoxville, Nashville and Atlanta. This week, they will also head north to New York City to play at Joe's Pub on Thursday and then it's off to Philly and the Great Blue Heron Festival. Please check their full schedule, too.
The Avett Brothers are ALSO heading north this week to play the Great Blue Heron Festival. After that they will make their way to Cleveland, Indianapolis, Springfield IL and Minneapolis. Their new record, Emotionalism, is still doing really well and we are very proud of their success.
In Ramseur Management News:
Mad Tea Party has a fun week planned. This Tuesday, July 3, they are going to be a part of the Americana Extravaganza at the Evening Muse in Charlotte, NC with Packway Handle and Fedor & Guthrie. On Thursday, July 5 they'll be in Huntsville, Alabama at the Lowe Mill (the show is a Flying Monkey Arts Production). Finally, on Friday, July 6 they will be in Atlanta at the Atlanta Brewing Company. Click here for more info.
The Carolina Chocolate Drops are heading West and North this week. Right now, they're in Port Townsend, WA for the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes. Then, they'll head off to Canada for the Winnipeg Folk Festival and then back down to Seattle to play at the Triple Door on July 10th. This past week was also a big one for them, as it saw the re-release of their record Dona Got a Ramblin' Mind (with new artwork and two bonus tracks) and the launch of their new website. Click here to check it out!
As always, thanks for listening.
Photo by Adam Hajnos
New Record by Martin Stephenson, plus much more!
The third week of June was another big one for Ramseur Records. We are very excited to announce that The Avett Brothers have been nominated for three 2007 Americana Music Associataion awards! The categories are Album of the Year, Duo/Group of the Year and New and Emerging Artist.
We are extremely proud to announce that Hell's Half Acre, the new record by English songwriter Martin Stephenson will be released on Ramseur Records on September 18, 2007. Martin is something of a living legend and we're honored to be putting out this capativating and brilliant new record. For more info on Martin and the new record, please click here. Also, two tracks from the record are posted now on myspace - please check them out and let us know what you think!
The Avett Brothers had a great time this weekend in Kansas and at Telluride. We hope they will return next year. For the next two weeks, they'll be taking some much-needed time off, but will be returning full-force in July. They have shows coming up in MN, TN, AL, VA, NY, CA, OR, WA and Canada, just to mention a few. Please check out their full schedule to see when they'll be coming through your town
Bombadil had a great weekend in Spartanburg and Winston-Salem and have two big shows coming up in Knoxville and Nashville this week. They'll also be live on the WDVX Blue Plate Special at 12:00 PM on Thursday, the 28th. You can tune in online here. Please check out their full schedule too, it's filling up fast!
With a successful first trip to Wilmington and an even more successful return to Chapel Hill, the everybodyfields had a great weekend. They'll be in Asheville on Friday and Jonesborough, TN on Saturday. We hope you can make it out to one (or both?) of these shows. While you're checking out schedules - take a gander at theirs, too (click here). They've got a bunch of shows coming up in support of their new record Nothing is Okay - in stores August 21st.
In Ramseur Management news:
Mad Tea Party had a fantastic weekend- their first ever Wonderland Ball went off without a hitch. They were joined by the Wiyos, Phil Cheney, LaZoom Tour Company, Sean Foley, Jill Fromewick and Robert Seven. It was a great, great night. This week, they'll be in Greenville, SC on Saturday and on Tuesday, July 3, they'll be a part of the Americana Extravaganza at the Evening Muse in Charlotte, NC with Packway Handle and Fedor & Guthrie. Then, they'll head off to Huntsville, AL on July 5 and in Atlanta on July 6. For more info, please click here.
Rounding out this week's success, the Carolina Chocolate Drops were a part of A Prairie Home Companion this Saturday! The show went really well and we're very proud of them. If you missed the show, or you just want to hear it again, click here. The episode isn't posted yet, but should be up within a day or so. Coming up, they'll be in Port Townsend, WA for the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes on July 4th and then they head up to Canada for the Winnipeg Folk Festival on July 7th and 8th!
Thank You! We hope to see you all soon.
Photo: Cover of Hell's Half Acre, by Martin Stephenson