Will West & Groovy Wallpaper
Carolina-born songwriter Will West performs
with a rotation of acoustic musicians called The Friendly Strangers, featuring
an array of fantastic Portland players on banjo, cello, mandolin, horns, percussion
and other surprises. Together they create a signature acoustic sound blending
Old Time Roots and Folk Influences with Modern Inspirations & Positive
Vibes. They tend to improvise and experiment, and they have a great time doing
it.
For tonight's performance, The Friendly Strangers will feature
Skip vonKuske (Portland Cello Project, Vagabond Opera) on cello/mandolin and
Don Henson (Sneakin' Out) on percussion. Combining Skip & Don's
improvisational skills with the signature acoustic sounds of Will West, they
create a unique blend of Folk, Roots, Bluegrass and Psychedelic music.
Skip vonKuske & Don Henson are "Groovy Wallpaper".
It's sure to be a fun night on this roller coaster ride of
acoustic sounds and unique instrumentation.....
Will West &
The Friendly Strangers are cruising along after the release of their 2nd album
called "Sunshine" in July 2012. Performing in various
Northwest Festivals & Outdoor Concert Series during the Summer of
2012. Songs have been featured on KNRK 94.7, KINK fm 101.9 and KZME 107.1
in the Portland area.
They released their debut album
called "Take this Moment" in January of 2011. The song
"Understand" was featured on the KINK FM Local's Only CD
Volume 4 in the summer of 2011. The album was nominated for "Album
of the Year" by the 2012 Portland Music Awards and it has recently
launched as a new station on Pandora Radio.
The son of a fiddle player, West cites
Old-Time Bluegrass, Blues and Heavy Metal music as some of his early
influences. West moved to Portland in the summertime of 2002 and
began cutting his teeth as a performer at Open-Mics and busking in Northwest
Portland. He picked up his first formal gigs in 2004 and has been on a steady
rise in the vibrant Northwest Music scene.
Will West has
released 2 solo albums. A collection of live studio recordings called
"Reconstruction" in 2004. As well as a full length studio album
called "Shine" in 2007.
His live performances continue to evolve and change. As a
solo performer or with variations of a band, West pulls
off fantastic acoustic guitar playing with smoothly delivered vocals and
harmonica. Each show is an experience and it's all about the vibe...
- Facebook:
- http://www.facebook.com/thefriendlystrangers
- Website:
- http://www.willwestmusic.com/