News From Hemifran February 2016

Hemifrån is an independent A&R, promotion and marketing company, based in the heart of Sweden, specializing in, what they call, “gut music” – The kind of music that you can feel in your gut, no matter what. Hemifran is promoting a lot of singer-songwriter, westcoast-pop, country, AOR and more. Here are featured some of their latest news – it is not all west coast, but dig into it!

West of Eden – Look At The West

West Of Eden is the Swedish folk-rock band that has thrilled audiences in Sweden and abroad for over a decade with their unique sound and brilliant songwriting. Masterful musicianship combined with the extraordinary voice of singer Jenny Schaub and a deep love for the traditional Celtic folk music has earned them a solid reputation amongst critics and fans around the globe.

With 8 highly praised albums under their belt, the band has now got used to being called “simply phenomenal” (R2 Magazine), “masters of their genre” (UNT) and “the best of contemporary folk” (Irish Music Magazine). Throughout the years, West Of Eden has collaborated with members from groups like the Chieftains, Mark Knopfler’s band, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Wolfstone and Anúna, among others.

With their 9th album ”Look To The West”, West Of Eden ambitiously attempts to tackle a piece of contemporary Swedish history as they present 13 new songs about the great wave of emigrants that left Sweden for America at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Almost a 3rd of the Swedish population travelled westwards from West Of Eden’s home town of Gothenburg to search for greener shores, and the town flourished in the footsteps of the emigrants. More information at Hemifran.

Kenn Dunn & Gypsy Starfish – The Great Unknown

‘Highly evocative and intriguing’ (fRoots, UK), the music of Ken Dunn offers ‘refreshing insight into human complexities’ (Festival Of Friends, Canada) with a style grounded in ‘the folk tradition, with integrity and sincerity’ (Chart, Canada). Whether mining the depths of human emotion, or pleading the case for social and environmental justice, Ken’s songs are ‘filled with the human spirit’ (CFMU Radio, Canada).

Combining an adept finger style acoustic guitar technique with ‘strong, distinctive vocals’ (R2, UK), and songwriting which is at once powerful and infused with delicate beauty, ‘Ken delivers his message directly to the soul of the listener with a style compared to that of Neil Young’ (fRoots, UK). Known for his powerful stage presence, engaging sense of humour, and delightful storytelling, Ken performs either solo, with partner Anna Green, or with his band Gypsy Starfish. More information at Hemifran.

Jeb Barry – Milltown

Last year’s EP, ”Bury Me In A Lonely Place”, featuring the song “Body In The River”, made many top lists for the year, including No Depression’s Readers’ Poll. It also got Jeb Barry his first Nashville publishing contract. Jeb is currently focusing on his solo releases, and also leads the group Pawn Shop Saints. A prolific songwriter, Jeb Barry has written over 4000 songs that roam through all styles of music. The Pawn Shop Saints, feature edgy, bluegrass types of songs, but slower and darker than contemporary bluegrass. They have performed to thumbs up reviews at such venues as Club Passim in Cambridge, MA, and Club Helsinki in New York City. Jeb has also been performed his songs at such Nashville venues as the Bluebird Cafe and Commodore Grill for the past few years during solo tours. He has also appeared at several festivals, including the Freshgrass Bluegrass and Roots Festival for the past two years. More information at Hemifran.

Jason Rosenblatt – Wiseman´s Rag

Composer, producer, pianist and harmonica player Jason Rosenblatt is one of the world’s foremost innovators in diatonic harmonica technique. His performance on the unassuming instrument has helped to open new musical ground for the instrument long associated with “the blues”, into art forms as diverse as jazz, bluegrass, Klezmer and Turkish Music. Since 2002 he and his group Shtreiml, a high-octane purveyor of original Turkish and Eastern European Music, have released 4 albums and performed internationally. On his latest solo effort “Wiseman’s Rag”, Rosenblatt eschews Shtreiml’s Eastern-European inflections and instead turns to the sounds of the Mighty Mississippi for inspiration. With hues of Jelly Roll Morton, Professor Longhair and Sonny Boy Williamson, Rosenblatt performs an all-original repertoire of slightly twisted blues, ragtime and jazz.

Rosenblatt’s music has been heard on radio and in films including the 2010 Bravo production, “Last Of The Wild Jews”. His skills as a composer and musician have been recognized through awards granted by the Canada Council for the Arts, Conseil des Arts du Quebec, Socan Foundation the Lasko Foundation and PennPAT. Shtreiml was recently nominated for a Canada Folk Music Award. In addition to being a performer Jason is a sought after instructor. He has given workshops and lectures on harmonica and klezmer music to students of all-ages and has taught at such venerable institutions such as KlezKanada, SPAH and The Garden State Harmonica Festival. In 2010 Jason spearheaded the first Montreal Jewish Music Festival and as artistic director continues to promote concerts and workshops to a multi-generational, multi-cultural and multi-lingual audience. More information at Hemifran.