Men’s Singer/Songwriter Showcase

The Red Bicycle welcomes some of our amazing Island male musicians for a night of acoustic music. Performing musicians are: Jeff Kanzler, Chuck vanNorman, Ron Hook, Jacob Bain, Gregg Curry, Will van Spronsen, Mark Wells and Joe Panzetta.
 
The emcee for this wonderful evening of music will be the lovely Allison Shirk.
 
Joe Panzetta is a Vashon based multi-instrumentalist, composer, and singer. He performs original songs on guitar, banjo and harmonium, singing melodic ballads with a signature percussive guitar style. Panzetta will be joined by Kim Thal on violin and vocals and Steve Meyer on bass. Panzetta has been recording and performing music since 1989 when he started the band Big Sky with Peter Mulvey, and has released 7 Cds. Panzetta has composed numerous pieces of music for Dominique Gabella shows in the past, and with the latest project the duo explores spoken word poems set to sound scapes/music over animated short videos.
 
Vashon Island resident and solo artist Chuck vanNorman has been playing guitar, singing, and songwriting for over 20 years. Playing mostly original works, he incorporates a variety of picking, fingering and rhythmic styles on acoustic guitar while using a broad range of vocal tapestries. On songwriting, he is influenced by "the arrangements of the Beatles, the story-telling lyrics of Garth Brooks, the guitar riffs of Metallica, and the power of Live." Chuck’s most recent collaborations on Vashon include Jump Track and "vanNorman".
 
The man, the myth. Ron Hook. Mysterious, captivating…..ever so talented, this man will lay down his funky grooves and make you forget about your troubles. Front man for the legendary Island band, Subconscious Population, Ron has earned the respect of many people – not only with his amazing ability to play many different instruments so well…but for his love of life, his artistic world and the wisdom that he instills upon us all. His spiritual guidance has been the light for many, both young and old….and his music, well….ask anyone and they will tell you how inspiring it is. Drop in and see this rare solo performance by Ron Hook, you’ll be glad you did!
 
Greg Curry’s songs dig deep into the roots of American music to create his original sound. He has traveled America, absorbing influences from rock, soul, and blues to country, bluegrass, and gospel. Drawing from hundreds of original songs and numerous recordings, he seamlessly knits those American traditions into his unique musical tapestry of lyrical, catchy tunes. Those songs, plus over 20 years of performing, make him a compelling presence on stage.
 
Islanders know Jacob Bain as the front man for Trolls Cottage as well as Publish the Quest. He still stands center stage, playing a rhythmic acoustic guitar before throngs of swaying fans. He’s grown a lot since the early days of Trolls Cottage; the music he now plays with Publish the Quest is more fully instrumented and textured, complex and innovative. Indeed, it seems, he’s pushed the boundaries of his music, both figuratively and geographically, traveling with Publish the Quest to countries in Europe and Africa and finding in his musical journey a remarkable sense of purpose. Working with a nonprofit called Learn Africa, Publish the Quest has made several recent trips to Cape Verde, Zimbabwe, Mali, Poland, Portugal and Spain, where band members have played in festivals and music halls, recorded with local artists, and conducted music workshops and jam sessions with underprivileged children.
 
Mark Wells is a singer-songwriter and guitarist from Vashon. His vocal style has been described as dynamic and light, with hints of James Taylor and Paul Simon. Wells’ songs feature lyrics with themes ranging from the deeply personal to social commentary. In addition to his solo work, Wells has been known to perform with various other Island musicians.
 
The Seattle-born singer-songwriter Jeff Kanzler now makes his home on Vashon and many of you know him from The Roasterie….but if you haven’t heard him perform before, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. Jeff has a fine, expressive voice with a touch of gravel and his melodies are often sublime, reminiscent at times of early Dylan. In his outstanding debut CD "Black Top Road" you can hear not only the loneliness of the Alaskan landscape, but also the fun and beauty that Kanzler’s music radiates. His voice, full of expression singing beautiful melodies against a melancholic tone keeps you fixated. . The important thing is that he comes off authentic from start to finish.
 
In a style once called "jazzamericana," Will van Spronsen tells stories of love in all its manifestations- love; love lost; and manifold redemptions… The lyrics hint at Will’s spiritual anarchist beliefs. His aching and original vocals are beautiful.
 
This intimate affair is likely to sell out early, so get your tickets now at Brown Paper Tickets. The Vashon Men’s Singer Songwriter’s Showcase is produced by Vashon Events.
 
Friday, July 26 at 9:30pm. This is an all-ages show ‘til 11pm, then 21+ after that. $10 Cover
At the Red Bicycle
17618 Vashon Hwy SW
206-463-5590
www.redbicyclebistro.com