Singer/songwriter Erica Wheeler is known for her engaging stage presence, hilarious stage banter, and the pure richness of her songwriting, weaving through small towns, open roads, and love lost and found again with poignant clarity. Her writing has been called “cinemagraphic” due to its visual scope and evocative details. With a voice resonating with a little bit folk, a little bit new country and a little bit bluegrass, Erica’s music is a ride through the beauty of the American landscape and the lives lived there.

Pittsburgh-based Brad Yoder returns to the Acoustic Brew to open the show.

Steve Gillette & Cindy Mangsen

2006 Showcase of Local Talent

A songwriting legend, Steve Gillette has had his songs recorded by artists from Ian & Sylvia and Garth Brooks to John Denver. With a voice that can warm a New England winter, Cindy Mangsen is a master interpreter of traditional ballads, playing guitar, concertina, and banjo. The duo has been featured on NPR’s All Things Considered and Mountain Stage, and have delighted audiences across North America and Europe.

Winners of the 2006 Showcase of Local Talent will open the show and help us kick off the celebration of our 14th season.

The Creaking Tree String Quartet 

Rebecca Hall & Ken Anderson

Violinist John Showman, guitarist Brad Keller, mandolinist Andrew Collins and bassist Brian Kobayakawa comprise The Creaking Tree String Quartet. Together, the members employ their serious musical chops to deliver a distinct sound that flourishes in the cracks between idioms. In their creatively conceived original compositions, the band concentrates elements of bluegrass, jazz, chamber music and avante-garde into a compelling instrumental voice.

Retro-folkers Rebecca Hall and Ken Anderson will open the show.

Pipeline 

Fieldstone

Continue your St. Patrick’s Day celebration with Pipeline, the high-energy Celtic duo of Dermot Hyde on uilleann pipes, whistles, vocals, small pipes, and Tom Hake on bouzouki, guitar and harp. Offering a repertoire comprising traditional and original from Ireland, Scotland, Galicia, and Brittany, with a nod to the “emigration-lands” of America, Canada and Australia, Pipeline’s music has been described as “frighteningly beautiful”, with an unrivalled and original sense of entertainment.

Pennsylvania's own Fieldstone, based in Jefferson and Elk County, will open the show.

No foolin’... Chris Smither brings his unique brand of the blues to this very special show at the state-of-the-art WPSU studios, sponsored by WPSU-FM. Chris Smither emigrated north from his native New Orleans as a teenager at the tail-end of the 1960’s folk revival, sitting at the feet of the masters and learning their techniques before taking the blues one step further and becoming a well-respected master in his own right as both performer and songwriter, with songs covered by Bonnie Raitt, Diana Krall, Emmylou Harris, John Mayall and more.

Feminist singer-songwriter Deidre McCalla will open the show.

We call it Special Brew. When we hear about an exceptional performer or group who will be traveling near State College, somebody we'd love to bring to the Brew but couldn't find a date for or who we couldn't otherwise afford, we'll squeeze them into our schedule, on a weekend if possible, or even on a weeknight. Most of the time a Special Brew will happen on short notice, so email and the web are going to be important ways for us to get the info out to you, and we hope you'll help spread the word.

Guitarist Ged Foley and fiddler Kevin Burke are well known from playing together in Patrick Street and the House Band. These two celtic musicians are firmly positioned at the top of this genre. The Village Voice calls Burke "probably the greatest Irish fiddler living," and The Washington Post says Foley, an acknowledged master of the guitar, is a "impressive singer." Note that this concert is on a Sunday at 6:30 pm, and will not feature the usual mix of home-baked goodies and coffee, just the best acoustic music you'll hear anywhere.

Mike Cross 

Pat Wictor

Lap-slide guitarist and songwriter Pat Wictor will open the show.

Bruce Molsky 

Noah Zacharin

Dubbed “the Rembrandt of Applachian fiddling,” Bruce Molksy also weaves guitar, banjo and voice into a compelling tapestry of American and world music. Grammy -nominated for his Fiddlers 4 project, Bruce’s work melds the archaic mountain sounds of Appalachia with the power of blues and rhythmic intricacies of traditional African music. Bruce has performed and taught around the world, from Prairie Home Companion and All Things Considered to Merlefest and Lincoln Center.

Guitarist and songwriter Noah Zacharin will open the show.