April 23, 2009

7:30 pm

LISSA SCHNECKENBURGER

TRADITIONAL FIDDLER  AND FOLK  SINGER

Hooker Dunham Theater
139 Main St, Brattleboro, VT
http://www.hookerdunham.org

“…exhilarating young traditional performer…” – Dirty Linen

“Schneckenburger’s playing is… quietly virtuosic… (her) voice is pure and clear, full of simple emotion…” – All Music Guide

Vermont based fiddler and folk singer Lissa Schneckenburger announces spring tour dates with her acoustic trio.  As an active member of the folk music community, Lissa continues to explore musical traditions, embracing a diverse palette of influences while staying true to her New England roots.

Schneckenburger’s most recent release, Song is the first in a pair of CDs dedicated to reintroducing some wonderful but largely forgotten repertoire from New England’s rich musical heritage.  Her fiddling is uplifting and lively and her singing gentle and evocative.  Both in concert and in the studio she is regularly accompanied by some of the countries best musicians.  Recently she has been closely studying the roots of the Downeast traditional music that she first heard as a young girl.

Song contains ten timeless ballads that trace as far back as the eighteenth century that Schneckenburger carefully set to modern arrangements.  “There is currently a lot of focus on traditional American music from the South” she explains “and many bands are exploring that repertoire, but no one is getting to hear the amazing wealth of traditional music from the North.  This is my first attempt at getting some of that music out there for people to enjoy.  It is really important that we represent these two essential aspects of New England’s traditional music heritage equally.  The songs and dance tunes combine to create an overview of the culture and the sound of traditional music from the Northeast.  The CDs Song and Dance are two halves of a whole that describes a musical heritage I am very proud of.”  The second recording, Dance, is scheduled for release in 2010.

Schneckenburger will be touring throughout the north east in April, along with guitar player Bethany Waickman and accordionist Chris Stevens.  Their vibrant acoustic renditions of traditional ballads and fiddle tunes are not to be missed!

For more information, please visit Lissa’s website at www.lissafiddle.com