Colin O’Brien’s music is informed by the past and speaks to the present. A playful performer, Colin tickles his audiences with fiery melodies, groovy rhythms, soulful lyrics, fancy footwork and Colin O’Brien old time hat tricks. His , fiddle and playing, percussive dancing, and lyrics all express “Colin O’Brien is a great entertainer.” an earnest regard for the traditional, natural and true. –Tim O’Brien Audiences might find him ready at any time to leave the stage to dance and sing among them, engaging young and old alike with his youthful enthusiasm “ … Bottles the lightning that was and innocence. All the while, his voice, fiddle and ’s engagingly off-center feet still resounding loud and clear through the stage songwriting.” speakers, as the essence of John Hartford’s spirit –The Nashville Scene resounds magically throughout the room. All this has earned a fitting nickname for Colin O’Brien: “Song & Dance Man.” When not entertaining on the road, O’Brien may be found dancing in his front yard on the banks of the Cumberland River with his fiddle and banjo, as the General Jackson steamboat rounds Hartford’s bend.

Listen, Watch and learn more at... ARTISTS OF NOTE P.O. Box 11, Kaneville, IL 60144-0011 USA | 630-557-2742 | [email protected] www.ArtistsOfNote.com — www.ColinGobrien.com

Colin O’Brien Transplanted to Nashville from his upper midwestern roots, Colin O’Brien is an internationally acclaimed performer, touring on three continents. A multi-instrumentalist who is equally comfortable with banjo, fiddle and guitar, he tours as a one-man-show, “Song and Dance Man” and also draws upon a bevy of accompanists who join him on occasion. The seed of John Hartford’s music is always present, though most performances also include Colin’s sly humor in original songwriting as well.

John Hartford Remembered With his banjo, fiddle, guitar and feet, Colin rekindles the fire of John Hartford’s legendary live shows. Woven into his performance are stories of Mr. Hartford as well as insights into John’s innovative banjo style and foot percussion. Available as a solo performance or with a group featuring Hartford String Band veterans Mike Compton and Matt Combs.

Young Audiences The Nashville Stringy Band is Colin O’Brien, Mike Compton, Colin O’Brien is a natural for family and community Matt Combs and Todd Phillips. An acoustic super-group as concerts and Arts-in-Education assemblies. Dancing feet, entertaining as they are virtuosic. They play a high-energy blend hat tricks, banjo, fiddle and guitar. of Americana folk styles, a mix of Oldtime, , John Hartford songs and those penned by Colin O’Brien. Workshops: 5 String Banjo “John Hartford Style” Bluegrass pickers looking for Todd Phillips, bass something a little different will love this unique workshop Todd is a founding member of the original in the banjo style of the late John Hartford. Topics covered Quintet and has two Grammy Awards. He was a member of will be “playing the words” using rolls, and John’s unique the legendary and has played with take on hammer-ons and pull-offs and chromatic runs. , Tim O’Brien, , Joan Baez, Del McCoury Colin’s teaching books and DVDs have been published and others. by Hal Leonard. Mike Compton, “A certified mandolin icon.” —Mandolin Magazine Foot Percussion Workshop “Featuring Feet” Mike has played with , , Faith Hill, Demystifying the legendary John Hartford’s dance step, , , and John Hartford, Colin has distilled the elements of John’s dance technique with whom he recorded and toured with extensively until and presents them sequentially in three simple steps. Hartford’s death in 2001. His teaching style is concise, relaxed and often humorous. Open to everyone (and all ages), regardless of whether or Matt Combs, fiddle not you even play an instrument! Matt is one of Music City’s most in-demand musicians and is regularly featured on the Grand Ol’ Opry. He’s played with Other workshop topics include dancing waltz and jig John Hartford, , Charlie Daniels, Marty Stuart, rhythms, creating “four on the floor” beats, building and Norman Blake, , etc. In 2011 he was nominated amplifying a footboard, and using EQ and effects. for a Grammy for his contributions to Memories of John a tribute to Mr. Hartford. Matt appears regularly on ABC’s Nashville. A few past performance highlights: 4HE!DELPHIA-USIC(ALL -ARIETTA /(sEVERY *OHN(ARTFORD-EMORIAL&ESTIVAL "EAN"LOSSOM ). 4HE"LUEGRASS5NDERGROUND -C-INNVILLE 4.s4HE&IDDLE(OUSE .ASHVILLE 4.s'REAT2IVER&OLK&ESTIVAL ,A#ROSSE 7) 2OCKYGRASS ,YONS #/s*ULIA"ELLE3WAIN2IVERBOATs4HE-ILLERSVILLE#OMMUNITY4HEATER 4.s3WAMP.'RASS %LKHART,AKE 7) 3UMMER&EST -ILWAUKEE 7)s4HE3TATION)NN .ASHVILLE 4.s.ATIONAL&RONTIER4RAILS-USEUM )NDEPENDENCE -/ "ASTILLE$AYS&ESTIVAL -ILWAUKEE 7)s-ARTYRS #HICAGO ),s3HANK(ALL -ILWAUKEE 7)s"LUEGRASS2/-0 /WENSBORO +9

Represented by: Joann Murdock ARTISTS OF NOTE P.O. Box 11, Kaneville, IL 60144-0011 USA | 630-557-2742 | [email protected] www.ArtistsOfNote.com — www.ColinGobrien.com