Charm City Junction 831 W. 33rd Street Baltimore, MD 21211 Phone: 443-564-7713 E-Mail: [email protected] www.charmcityjunction.com About Charm City Junction Charm City Junction creates a fresh soundscape that keeps listeners on the edge of their seats wondering where they'll go next. The band is comprised of four of the most talented and promising acoustic roots musicians in the country. Patrick McAvinue, one of the most in-demand and highly respected bluegrass fiddlers in the country, takes charge with his virtuosic, powerful and musical approach to the fiddle. Clawhammer banjo wizard Brad Kolodner adds his playful, driving, melodic and groovy Old-Time touch. Sean McComiskey, an incredibly talented Irish button accordion player, soars through the tunes and fills the gaps with his soulful playing. The versatile bassist Alex Lacquement drives the train, locking everything together with his commanding and tasteful choices. Drawing from separate musical backgrounds, the four members have found a common ground on which to develop their unique approach. Charm City Junction embodies the essence of what acoustic roots music is all about, a shared and burning passion for blazing new trails while respecting the tradition. They are torchbearers with a clear message that the future of acoustic music is in good hands. "Baltimore-based roots group Charm City Junction puts a new spin on old-timey music, carrying the torch of fast-picking bluegrass and toe-tapping Celtic music. Featuring fiddle, clawhammer banjo, the button accordion and upright bass, this quartet isn’t afraid to take roots music to new places — but always with an eye on tradition." - The Washington Post "Musicianship and expertise with all four players, great stage presence, and Youth! The Mainstay in Rock Hall recently hosted Charm City Junction for a concert which produced a standing ovation." - Tom McHugh, Director, The Mainstay in Rock Hall "The Home of Musical Magic" "Carrying on the torch of interesting, rootsy music." – Sirius XM Satellite Radio Band Members Patrick McAvinue - Fiddle, Mandolin and Vocals Patrick McAvinue, 2015 International Bluegrass Music Association Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year, is regarded as one of the most innovative fiddlers in the industry, able to translate the traditions of Bluegrass into a fresh, eclectic, forward-thinking language of his own. Patrick’s CD release, Rutland’s Reel, is described as, “a roller coaster of pure uncut fiddle nirvana” (Joseph Scott, Country Music Pride). A highly in-demand sideman, he has performed and recorded with Bluegrass music icons Bobby Osborne, Del McCoury, Marty Stuart, Carl Jackson, Paul Williams and J.D. Crowe, to name a few. He and his fiddle have appeared at Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, The Birchmere, The Norsk Country Treff in Briem-Gloppen, Norway, The Country Ren-dez vous Festival in Crappone, FR, The U.S. Embassy in Quito, EC, and The Harrietville Bluegrass & Country Festival in Harrietville, AUS. Currently, Patrick tours with the acclaimed Bluegrass super-group Audie Blaylock & Redline and is a featured recording artist for the Patuxent Music Recording Label. When home from the road, he enjoys sharing his passion and love for music with his private students. www.patrickmcavinue.com Brad Kolodner - Clawhammer Banjo and Vocals Rooted in the traditions of Appalachian folk music, Brad Kolodner represents the next generation of old-time musicians pushing the boundaries of the tradition into uncharted territory. Son of Ken Kolodner, a world-renowned hammered dulcimer player and old-time fiddler, Brad is regarded for his delicate touch, expressive style, and original compositions, Kolodner has rapidly gained national attention for his unique approach to the banjo. Clawhammer banjo is experiencing a rebirth in American folk music and Kolodner is helping to lead the charge as a performer, teacher, Strathmore Artist in Resident, radio DJ for WAMU’s Bluegrass Country, jam leader, community builder and ambassador for Appalachian folk music. www.bradkolodner.com Alex Lacquement - Upright Bass and Vocals Alex Lacquement swears that it was beautiful sirens who lead him to the upright bass at the impressionable age of seventeen. His first music love which lead him to the upright bass was jazz music, something he studied vigorously at Eastman (MM) and James Madison University (BA). Years later he found himself chasing every opportunity to play some happy thumping lines with bluegrass and old-time string bands. Alex also plays with Bumper Jacksons, Brad and Ken Kolodner, Tom Cunningham Orchestra, pick-up groups, and Leah Shaw. www.alexlacquement.com Sean McComiskey - Button Accordion Sean McComiskey is among the most innovative young performers on the button accordion, with a unique harmonic style that has earned him a spot in the pantheon of Irish accordionists far beyond his native Baltimore. As the son of legendary button accordion player Billy McComiskey, Sean has been surrounded by Irish Traditional music his entire life and has developed a deep appreciation for the rich tradition of which he is a part. This has helped Sean establish a reputation as a highly regarded teacher and promulgator of Irish music and earned him teaching positions with the Catskills Irish Arts Week, the Augusta Heritage Center’s Irish Arts Week, the Chris Langan Weekend in Toronto, the CCE Musical Arts and Dance Week in Washington, DC, the Baltimore Irish Arts Center, and the Spanish Peaks Celtic Festival. www.charmcityjunction.com 2 Performances Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival, Woodstown, NJ – Sept 4, 2016 The Institute of Musical Traditions, Tacoma Park, MD – Sept 1, 2016 Strathmore Summer Concert Series, North Bethesda, MD – July 13, 2016 Old Songs Folk Festival, Altamont, NY – June 25 & 26, 2016 Helicon’s 30th Annual Winter Solstice Concert, Goucher College, Towson, MD - Dec 19, 2015 The Kennedy Center Millenium Stage, Washington, D.C. - Nov 25, 2015 International Bluegrass Music Association 2015 “Bluegrass Ramble” Showcase Artist, Raleigh, NC - Sept 29 – Oct 1, 2015 Washington College Family Fall Weekend, Chestertown, MD – Sept 25, 2015 Watermelon Park Bluegrass Festival, Berryville, VA – Sept 24, 2015 Dickinson College Farm Festival, Carlisle, PA – Sept 5, 2015 The 3rd Annual Charm City Folk and Bluegrass Festival, Baltimore, MD – April 25, 2015 The Creative Alliance, Baltimore, MD – April 4, 2015 Strathmore Mansion, North Bethesda, MD – March 13, 2014 Recording Charm City Junction released their debut album on Patuxent Music in October of 2015 Track Listing: 1. Frog on a Lily Pad (2:51) 2. Last Chance (3:54) 3. Train on The Island (3:15) 4. Joe Bane’s Barndance (4:37) 5. Greasy Coat (4:10) 6. Margaret's Waltz (3:41) 7. I've Got a Woman (4:39) 8. Two O'Clock in the Morning (2:49) 9. Bogs of Shanaheaver (3:36) www.charmcityjunction.com 3 10. I'm Troubled (3:12) 11. Torn Jacket / Come West Along the Road (3:52) 12. Cousin Sally Brown (3:17) 13. Return from Helsinki (4:10) 14. New River Train (3:23) Liner Notes by David McLaughlin "It's very rare when a new band comes along that gets me excited, REAL excited. I'm talking falling-off-the- edge-of-my-seat excited. Sure, quite often I discover and enjoy good music by new groups that have great timing, rhythm and groove, clever arrangements, tight harmony, tasty notes. But for me to experience music euphoria, it takes something that transcends all of the above. I'm not always sure of what it is, but I recognize "it" very quickly when it happens. When I go to a show and from the first note from the band everyone in the audience is smiling, can't sit still, is swaying to the music, dancing in their seats, or even standing up to dance because they can't help it, then I know the band has "it." I had seen and heard Brad, Patrick, Sean, and Alex individually in other music entities over the years and in each situation, they captured my attention as amazing musicians to keep watching for. Each one of them is a head-turning musician on his own. So when I heard they had formed a new group, Charm City Junction, I just knew that this could very well be one of those rare aligning-of-the-stars moments. I didn't hesitate and went to see them in concert. Sure enough, BAM! From the first note to the last, the audience was captured with powerful, driving, pulsing, can't-keep-still rhythm. Alex, Sean, Patrick, and Brad couldn't help but let it show that they were having as much fun as the audience. They were smiling and moving as well. Everything about that night was spectacular, the energy, the pacing of the set, the variety of material. On the way home, I told my friend who had joined me, "This is the band I'd like to be in!" There is now a major buzz about these guys. And this CD will show you why. It has the magic. It has "IT"! My preliminary rough-mix copy is in constant rotation. I've even played along with every cut over and over. I just can't get enough of Charm City Junction! And I can hardly wait to see them in concert again!"- David McLaughlin www.charmcityjunction.com 4 .