OSWEGO – The Oswego Music Hall is proud to present Livingston Taylor with Ash & Eric opening on Saturday, April 27 at 7:30pm; doors open at 7pm.
Livingston Taylor picked up his first guitar at the age of 13, which began a more than 50-year career that has encompassed performance, songwriting, and teaching. Born in Boston and raised in North Carolina, Livingston is the fourth child in a very musical family that includes Alex, James, Kate, and Hugh. Livingston Taylor’s career has encompassed performance, songwriting, and teaching. Described as “equal parts Mark Twain, college professor, and musical icon, Livingston maintains a performance schedule of more than a hundred shows a year, delighting audiences with his charm and vast repertoire of his 22 albums and popular classics. Livingston has written top 40 hits recorded by his brother James Taylor and has appeared with Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, Fleetwood Mac, and Jimmy Buffet. He is equally at home with a range of musical genres – folk, pop, gospel, jazz – and from upbeat storytelling and touching ballads to full orchestra performances. In addition to his performance schedule, Livingston has been a full professor at Berklee College of Music for 30 years, passing on the extensive knowledge gained from his long career on the road to the next generation of musicians. Livingston is an airplane-flying, motorcycle-riding, singing storyteller, delighting audiences with his charm for over 50 years.
From top 40 hits “Carolina Day,” “Get out of Bed,” “I Will Be in Love with You” and “I’ll Come Running,” to “I Can Dream of You” and “Boatman,” (the last two recorded by his brother James), Livingston’s creative output has continued unabated. His musical knowledge has inspired a varied repertoire, and he is equally at home with a range of musical genres—folk, pop, gospel, jazz. You can also find Livingston performing with a full symphony orchestra.
For over three decades, Livingston taught at the Berklee College of Music where he created a course on Stage Performance. Former students include Charlie Puth, Liz Longely, John Mayer, Molly Tuttle,Gavin McGraw, Susan Tedesci, Matt Cusson, Grace Kelly, Clay Cook, and Betty Who. Livingston now takes his course “on the road” and teaches at a variety of colleges and institutions, including the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, NASA’s Goddard Space Center, and Tulane Law School among others. His book, Stage Performance, based on his course and 50+ years (5,000+ hours) of real and practical on stage time has become the go to book for those interested in elevating their presentation and performance standards from good to downright to professional.
“Livingston Taylor: Life is Good,” a documentary feature film directed by Tracy Anarella was released in 2018 at national and international film festivals, garnering awards, nominations, and accolades, including The Van Gogh Award for Feature Documentary at the Amsterdam International Film Festival. The film is currently available to the public on Amazon. Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE0j7PMP8uk to watch the trailer.
Also in 2019, American Public television filmed and released “Livingston Taylor Live from Sellersville Theater: Songs and Stories” which broadcast across PBS stations nationally and featured Matt Cusson and Chelsea Berry, both former students and touring musicians. Click https://www.pbs.org/video/livingston-taylor-songs-stories-3byjpc/ here to watch the trailer.
Opening for Livingston is Ash & Eric. Ash & Eric have never shied away from life’s hard edges. The married couple’s latest album “Sure”is “a tale of love… [with] some heartaches and a pinch of disputation along the way” (Americana UK). Hailing from the gritty heart of New England (Worcester, MA), the two are experts in discovering beauty in the challenges of life. Their musings reflect the hope and pain we all experience, sung in voices as vulnerable and honest as their lyrics. Their songs feel like a warm welcome, a shoulder to lean on and a hand to hold at the end of a long day. No Depression says their writing will leave listeners “…coming away from many of these [songs] cleansed,”.
Their warm harmonies, swirling acoustic guitars, and easy stage presence have earned them a dedicated following in the emerging US folk scene, performing with folk legends like Livingston Taylor, Vance Gilbert, Heather Maloney, and Mark Erelli. Their independent 9-song release, “Sure”, was recorded, mixed and produced by Eric at a boarding school in Western Massachusetts, and will be accompanied by a feature-length film, releasing June 2024. Visit https://www.ashandericmusic.com/ for further information.
Tickets are on sale online now at https://www.oswegomusichall.org/ ($33-$36), or at the rivers end Bookstore in Oswego, although you may be able to get tickets at the door if it is not sold out. The community is encouraged to buy tickets early to ensure a seat.
Guest Host, Larry Kyle, will lead off Open Mic Friday on April 26 and will be followed by performers who sign up that night. Doors open at 6:30 with sign-ups taking place then and throughout the evening, as space allows. Musicians typically play three songs each.
Being a veteran and friend of the music scene, Larry Kyle has performed over the course of six decades starting in 1977! He has released five original albums in his brothers-based blues group, DAMDOG. That is over seventy-five self-penned songs and has written hundreds more. Not only performing live with his band, he does justice to an acoustic solo and duo act in which he incorporates guitar, harmonica, vocals, foot percussion, slide guitar, kazoo and more to create a unique live show! With over 150 dates a year under his belt, his passion still burns hot. For further information visit https://www.facebook.com/larry.kyle.37.
All ages and experience levels are welcome. Budding performers, singer-songwriters and musicians of all genres are given an opportunity to perform in a supportive environment using cutting edge professional sound and lighting equipment.
The wheelchair accessible venue is located in the McCrobie Civic Center, on 41 Lake Street in Oswego. It is adjacent to Breitbeck Park and overlooks Lake Ontario and the Oswego Harbor. The atmosphere is intimate with candle-lit tables surrounding the stage with light refreshments available. Cash or check only at the door.
Oswego Music Hall is a family-friendly, non-profit organization that has been run entirely by volunteers since its inception in 1977. Volunteers can earn admission to shows through various tasks — from event support to making popcorn. Students can also earn credit for community service. To volunteer, email Volunteer Coordinator Michael Moss at [email protected].
Find more information online at https://www.oswegomusichall.org/ or email [email protected].
Concerts are made possible in part with funding by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the governor and New York Legislature. Other major supporters are the City of Oswego and Shineman Foundation.
Oswego Music Hall Events Calendar
Apr 19 Music, Movement & Mindfulness w/Annie Sumi, Travis Knapp, James Bird, & Ann Buchau Guest Curator Series
Apr 20 Count Blastula w/Special Guest Mike Dubaniewicz Jazz by the Lake
Apr 26 Open Mic w/Host Larry Kyle
Apr 27 Livingston Taylor w/Ash & Eric opening
May 11 Season Finale – Sam Robbins & Emerging Artists Showcase
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