Madison Square Park

VANCE GILBERT

With ten critically acclaimed albums, Vance Gilbert continues to refine his unlikely union of humor, virtuosity, and the unexpected. Vance Gilbert burst onto the singer/songwriter scene in the early 90’s when the buzz spread through the folk clubs of Boston about an ex-multicultural arts teacher who was knocking them dead at open mics. “With the voice of an angel, the wit of a devil, and the guitar playing of a god, it was enough to earn him rarity: an encore for an opener” wrote the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in its review of a show from that tour. Gilbert’s three albums for the Rounder/Philo label – Edgewise (1994), Fugitives (1995), and Shaking Off Gravity (1998) – are all essential additions to the American singer-songwriter collection. With guests as vaired as Tuck and Patti, Jonatha Brooke, Patty Larkin, Vinx, and Jane Siberry, all three albums found significant niches on NAC (New Adult Contemporary) and Non-Commercial A3 radio.

CALEB HAWLEY

From his ability to write intricate lyrics with cutting-edge chords to his lightening fast licks and ear for taste and style, there is absolutely nothing average about this shaggy-haired, blue-eyed, multi-faceted musician. Receiving top honors in the prestigious New York Songwriters Circle Contest (2008 and 2009), the John Lennon Songwriting Contest (2009), the Telluride Festival (2010), the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival (2010), and Rocky Mountain Folks Fest (2011) for his songwriting, Caleb Hawley also has a voice to place him in the final fifty on the 2011 American Idol Season. While lyrically influenced by observational writers such as Randy Newman and Tom Waits, Hawley is also well known for his outstanding vocal capacity and range. The humble performer captivates audiences with soothing folk tunes in the same manner as James Taylor, and with the next breath blows them away with his powerhouse of soul, likened to that of Stevie Wonder.