Room To BreatheRoom to Breathe began early in the spring of 1999 as a quiet little side project, an alternative to the metal band lead singer Ryan Norton was currently involved with. He had the idea to write some interesting piano-based synth material, call some friends to help flesh it out, and do just a few shows.
That plan changed when a major record label caught a show and offered a contract. Unfortunately, artistic differences interfered. Accepting the fact that their music transcended many genres, the band also accepted the fate of holding to their ideals and losing their opportunity.
Lucky for them. Just a few months later First Street Live Records President Mark Smith stumbled upon them and presented a production and promotions contract that offered full artistic freedom. The result has been phenomenal, as the band has grown and developed so has their creativity. With new songs springing from weekly rehearsals, their debut album, currently in post-production, is anticipated to have a few additional tracks.
Spade McQuade & The AllstarsIn 1979, Spade Mcquade started playing bass in small punk bands. Six years later, he moved to London with some band mates, and formed Energy Orchard.
In 1989, Steve Earle discovered Energy Orchard and helped the band secure a major record contract with MCA Records. By 1991, Energy Orchard had released two well received albums, the self titled "Energy Orchard", which had a single that charted well into the top 50 on the British charts and "Stop the Machine", which won critical accolades for its trend setting style.
Touring Europe and America with Steve Earle, Van Morrison, and Joe Cocker, the band earned the right to claim star status. By 1992 Energy Orchard had signed a new contract with Transatlantic Records with whom they made three additional albums, "Shinola", "Painkiller", and "Orchardville".
In 1997, Energy Orchard disbanded and Spade McQuade moved to Florida, where he began a solo act on the Irish pub/club circuit. He then joined some friends in Celtic Soul and toured the East Coast of America.
In 2001 Spade left Celtic Soul and formed Spade McQuade & The Allstars producing "Life in the Shade" and most recently the self titled "Spade Mcquade and The Allstars".
Jana LightJana Light is a brilliant and soulful singer/songwriter. She has recorded four albums with Celtic Soul, a Celtic band that has toured the US and played with the likes of The Chieftains, Seven Nations and Vassar Clements just to name a few.
She has now teamed up with singer/songwriter Spade McQuade and is in the process of writing a new album. Soulful, Jazzy music with wonderful, emotional lyrics make you stop in your tracks and listen. She can sing as soft as Nora Jones and as strong as Bjork or Janis Joplin.
Bap KennedyBap Kennedy is a songwriter with an ear for strong melody and thoughtful lyricism. The mixed fortunes of the last few years have included getting lost on a major label with his previous band, the hotly tipped Energy Orchard... to finding critical acclaim and a new artistic focus thanks to the Steve Earle produced album "Domestic Blues".
Fortunately, Kennedy has the ability to convert the downs into positives by being able to channel them through his music. Endorsed by the likes of Van Morrison and Beth Orton, Bap continues to come up with the goods, getting ever closer to the elusive big hit.
Bap released his solo recordings on his own label, Lonely Street Discs and now has a catalogue of four. Namely the aforementioned "Domestic Blues", "Hillbilly Shakespeare", "Lonely Street" and the compilation "Long Time a Comin".
All albums contain tracks that have been featured in movies and television shows in the U.K. and the U.S.A.
Recently he has been touring as opening act for Van Morrison and is gearing up for his own tour on the back of a new record. The latest album ("The Big Picture") is finished and should be available by autumn 2004. It features a co-write with Van Morrison ("Milky Way"), and anyone who has heard the recordings believe it to be Bap's best yet.
In the meantime, look out for the DVD of the Miramax movie, "Serendipity" starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale. It features Bap's "Moonlight Kiss" also included on the "Lonely Street" (4-star review Q Magazine) album.
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Fusebox FunkFusebox Funk is a band unlike any other. Every show is a high-energy mix of funk rhythms overlaid with a jazz feel. They write all of their own music, but still throw in a couple of cover tunes for shows. Having just completed their debut CD, they are currently unsigned and booking shows throughout the Southeast.
Most of the band members are from Thunder and Lightening, a popular blues band that performed locally and nationally in the late 90's. Back then, they were just a group of kids, with the youngest at mere 13! Years of touring and many awards later, they have grown into extremely accomplished musicians in their own rights.
Thunder and Lightening members Seth Kottler, Chris Poland and Grant Nielsen joined up with drummer Peter Booras and trombone player Jim Starr to form FuseBOX Funk in 2001. Their goal is to create an original funk/jazz sound not yet heard in this region.
Seth Kottler - A four and six string bassist who knows how to declare funk. He formed Thunder and Lightening at the age of 13. He has performed at many venues, including The Hard Rock Café Memphis, Atlanta Blues Festival 2000, Springing The Blues Festival (98, 99, 00, and 01), Freedom Festival Cumberland Maryland, Peckerhead Brewery, Cadillac Ranch, and many more.
Chris Poland - A UNF Jazz saxophonist with a flair for the funk who has been blowing people away since the age of 10! He performed with Grover Washington Jr. at the 1999 Jacksonville Jazz Festival.
Peter Booras - A funk, jazz and studio drummer of many years from the underground acid jazz band Orb. He comes through with a unique sound that stems from a number of influences such as: Stanton Moore, Carter Beauford, as well as Clyde Stubblefield, one of the top old school drummers that used to back up James Brown.
Grant Nielsen - An award winning, self taught, multi-instrumentalist who has performed on a variety of instruments. FuseBOX features Grant playing guitar and harmonica, as well as vocals. He was ranked 8th in the world at the 2000 International Blues Competition in Memphis, Tennessee. His influences range from John Coltrane, Page McConnell, DJ Logic, and Ozomatli.
Jim Starr - A UNF Jazz trombonist who has performed for many years and has played with a variety of world-renowned musicians. Jim adds that smoky jazz element to their unique sound.
Flory BrothersA short but crazy history…Henry and Seamus Flory started playing violins together at the ages of 5 and 4. As you might expect, they come from a very musical family with all six brothers and sisters each playing an instrument. One brother, Xavier Flory, 11 years old, is currently living in Vienna and is a soloist with the Vienna Boy's Choir.
Both Henry and Seamus have studied music in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Their various teachers include the well known Nadine Moehlenkamp, Leland Chen, Jody Gatwood, and Victor Danchenko. Both have performed with the American Youth Philharmonic, The Lancashire Youth Symphony Orchestra, and The National Children's Orchestra among others.
Their travels throughout Europe have had another not so typical educational angle. While in Paris, London, Frankfurt, and many points between, they witnessed and heard the ancient sounds of… street musicians… buskers! They, in turn, have taken this street performance idea right back to their own hometown of Washington, D.C. Now, one of their regular performance stages is on the street in front of Union Station. Maybe this street playing experience is what has given their sound its "edge". They often play to large crowds of inner-city rush hour commuters as a quartet which consists of Henry, Seamus, and their younger sisters Fiona on violin and Isabelle on cello. In addition, by way of these street performances, The Florys have been hired time and again to perform in some of Washington's most posh private parties.
Their debut CD was recorded at a concert in Ponte Vedra Beach Florida, which was a part of the series entitled "Musicians Of The Future." The audience consisted of a demanding group of music lovers, headed by the nationally known music authority, patron of the arts, and performing pianist, Mrs. Ruth Conely. The Flory Brothers were accompanied by veteran pianist and performer Marylou Krosnick and the result is amazing!
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