Hello Friends,

I know we're coming up on midterms and spring break, but the Cat is a great place to relax!

Here the events for the next week:

TONIGHT (Friday) 8:00 PM: Annie Humphrey- a singer/songwriter coming as part of the Indigenous Women's Series

Saturday, March 17 at 8:00 PM: Jason Goss- an OC alum and touring singer/songwriter. Not to be missed!

Sunday, March 18 at 8:00 PM: The Soul Proprioters- A local band featuring DAVE of DAVE'S ARMY/NAVY! Come support local musicians.

Monday, March 19 at 10:00PM: The final episode of Persona Non Grata! A semi-improvised show featuring unique puppetry.

Tuesday, March 20: Jucas Relander: "I love apple jacks."

Wednesday, March 21 at 8:00 PM: The Sweetback Sisters! A travelling country band!

Thursday, March 22 at 8:00 PM: Senior Exhibition of Talented Musicians- OC Senior musicians show their stuff.

HAVE A GREAT BREAK AND HOPEFULLY I'LL SEE YOU AT THE SHOWS THIS WEEK!

Love,
The Cat

Date: Thursday, Feb. 23
Time: 8:00 pm



While reading the stage plot for Chris Smither, I noticed he requires two microphones for his feet. If serious foot stompin' isn't enough to get you to the Cat for this concert, here are some press reviews:

NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO: [Smither] taps his foot to keep the rhythm, much like the late blues legend John Lee Hooker. His finger-picked guitar lines are sleek, unhurried and insistent. And then there's the voice -- equal parts gravel and molasses, Smither's singing sounds like a distillation of the folk and blues heroes he grew up listening to in New Orleans.

ASSOCIATED PRESS: Smither is an American original, a product of the musical melting pot, and one of the absolute best singer-songwriters in the world. TRAIN HOME is well worth taking.

NO DEPRESSION: Meant to be heard rather than read, his lyrics are linked inextricably to his vocals, and to how the words track through the melody, how they are shored up or subverted by the polyrhythmic ministrations of his percussive feet and guitar. All of it, right down to the grace and good humor with which Smither suffuses his performances, testifies to an approach to making music - indeed, to being in the world - born of his desire to lighten and elevate the human spirit.

ACOUSTIC GUITAR: Chris Smither's songs seem so casual - everyday language drawled over fine blues fingerpicking and the happy tip-tap of his shoes - that it's easy to overlook how artful and deep they are. Smither is now at the peak of his creative powers.

SING OUT!: Few artists are as classy as Chris Smither. His recorded work is never less than wonderful. Like this latest album, Chris Smither is a haunting presence that once experienced never leaves you.

Official Website

Date: Friday, Feb. 17
Time: 8:30 pm

Old School Freight Train, a nationally touring bluegrass band, is one the biggest acts to grace to Cat stage this year! You can check them out at their website www.osft.net before you hear 'em live!



Some info from the OSFT website:

Blending jazz, Latin, Celtic, bluegrass and pop, Old School Freight Train (OSFT) creates electrifying acoustic music. This young Charlottesville, VA based group instantly carved their own unique sound, attracting a diverse audience since their inception in 2000. After gaining a loyal local following, the band gained national recognition touring the country and winning awards at the prestigious Telluride Bluegrass and Rockygrass Bluegrass contests.

Old School Freight Train's sound is synergistic and ultimately compelling. Banjoist Ben Krakauer, originally from Williamsburg, VA met mandolinist Pete Frostic who was at the time in college in Williamsburg. The two instantly had a musical connection, pushing the envelope of bluegrass. Lead vocalist and guitarist Jesse Harper soon joined the band and recruited bassist Darrell Muller from North Carolina. The band relocated to the Charlottesville area and began to further develop their sound with the addition of fiddler Nate Leath. A North Carolina native who is currently finishing up his degree at the Berklee School of Music, Nate's poetic fiddling adds just the sound the band needed to round out their style.

OSFT released their first self-titled record in 2002. The Independent Music Awards picked up on their compelling sound and chose them as finalists for best bluegrass album of the year. With an increase in touring after the release of this record, the band began to establish their identity within the acoustic music world.

Mandolin master David Grisman heard their music in the fall of 2004 and viewed the band as "an emerging force to reckon with in today's world of acoustic music." Grisman invited the band to record at his Dawg Studios in Northern California and manned the production and recording along with Dave Dennison. From these sessions came Run, OSFT's dynamic second CD and their first for Acoustic Disc, Grisman's acclaimed independent label.

Run features ten originals and two covers-an outrageous acoustic version of Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" and a beautiful interpretation of Randy Newman's "Louisiana 1927." Grisman and percussionist Joe Craven join the band on "Euridice," a sultry bossa nova. Run spans a broad spectrum of contemporary styles and highlights their instrumental virtuosity, smooth soulful vocals, captivating melodies and musical passion. Old School Freight Train offers a unique musical experience that's both tangible and of superior quality, raising the bar in acoustic music. They are the new band to watch.

A new way to check out what's going on at the Cat!