Sunday Street Acoustic Series
 

The Sunday Acoustic Concert Series, produced by Charlie Backfish,
 is co-sponsored by WUSB-FM (90.1fm)

For Podcasts of past shows at The University Cafe, please click here:

University Cafe Podcasts

Eilen Jewel – opening: Phil Minissale
Sunday, October 5th at 2 P.M.

With a sultry voice recalling Billie Holiday, Maria Muldaur, and Gillian Welch, 27 year old Boston-based singer Eilen Jewel will bring her band to The University Cafe for an afternoon of provocative, melodic originals and timeless folk, country, jazz and blues classics.

Eilen (rhymes with “feelin”) Jewel's lyrics are knowing and the melodies — expertly performed by a first-rate band featuring electric and steel guitar, upright bass, and drums — carry an easy, memorable groove. She is also at home with songs by Bob Dylan, Eric Andersen, Bessie Smith and Memphis Minnie and she can move into the jazz territory of Billie Holiday.

With two CDs under her belt, and performances at major festivals around the US and tours in England and Canada, the critical and popular acclaim for Eilen Jewel continues to grow rapidly. (www.eilenjewel.com)

Opening is Phil Minissale, the young blues artist who has made a major impression on the area music scene in the last two years. His new CD, Home To Me, has just been released. (www.myspace.com/philminissalemusic)

Advance sale tickets are $15.00, without any service charge (available through October 2nd). Any remaining tickets at the door for $20.00
 

Special Stony Brook University Homecoming weekend concert with Marshall Crenshaw
Sunday, October 19th at 2 P.M.

Since his Top 40 single, Someday, Someway, burst upon the music scene in 1982, Crenshaw's songs have been a vital part of the American musical landscape and have earned him the reputation as one of the finest songwriters of his(or any) generation, with roots in classic soul music, British invasion songcraft, Burt Bacharach, and Buddy Holly --to whom Crenshaw was often compared in the early days of his career, and whom he portrayed in the 1987 film La Bamba.

Marshall Crenshaw's most recent career highlight involves his title song contribution to the new film Walk Hard which was nominated for a 2007 Golden Globe award for Best Original Song. And Crenshaw has also won new audiences with his acclaimed performance at last year's Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. (www.marshallcrenshaw.com)

Advance sale tickets are $25.00, without any service charge (available through Thursday, October 16th). Any remaining tickets at the door on the day of the show for $30.00
 

Terence Martin and Catherine MacLellan (co-bill)
Sunday, November 2nd at 2 P.M.

Terence Martin returns for his fourth visit to the University Café with brilliant new songs from his 5th CD Even Trade, as well as classic Martin songs that have made him a favorite of Café audiences. Terence’s powerful songs flow with hauntingly poetic images and elements of folk, blues, and country, the work of an extraordinarily skillful writer whose craftsmanship is first-rate. Performances at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival and the Boston Folk Festival, among others, have won him a passionate following. Multi-instrumentalist Dan Bonis will accompany Martin for his Café performance. (www.martinsongs.com)

Catherine MacLellan continues our tradition of presenting outstanding Canadian performers at the Café. This Nova Scotia-based songwriter cites Joni Mitchell, Nanci Griffith and Townes Van Zandt as among her inspirations. The daughter of Canadian music legend Gene MacLellan (writer of “Snowbird” and “Put Your Hand in The Hand”) Catherine grew up in a musical household, starting playing folk clubs, and eventually recorded two award-winning CDS, with Church Bell Blues her most recent. Her music attracted widespread attention and she recently completed a tour opening for Bruce Cockburn. (www.catherinemaclellan.com)

Advance sale tickets are $20.00, without any service charge (available through Thursday, October 30th). Any remaining tickets at the door on the day of the show for $25.00
 

Mary McCaslin and Mustard’s Retreat (co-bill)
Sunday, November 9th at 2 P.M.

Mary McCaslin represents an unbroken link between traditional folksingers and today's "new folk" singer-songwriters. Her music ranges from ballads of the old west to her own songs of the new west and modern times. Regarded as a pioneer of open guitar tunings, and known for her distinctive vocal style, Mary's influences can be heard in many younger folk performers. Her classic recordings in the 1970’s and 1980’s included brilliant original songs like “Prairie in The Sky,” “Young Westley” and “Down The Road” that have been covered by others including Tom Russell, David Bromberg and Stan Rogers.

She is also known for her haunting renditions of pop standards and rock classics, such as "Ghost Riders In The Sky", "The Wayward Wind", the Beatles' "Things We Said Today", and the Supremes' "My World Is Empty". Mary's musical influences are as varied as her repertoire: The western ballads of Marty Robbins, the guitar playing of Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell, the singing and banjo playing of Hedy West, and the vocal inflections of the Beatles and the BeeGees. (www.marymccaslin.com)

Mustard’s Retreat - The duo of David Tamulevich and Michael Hough are now celebrating their 30th anniversary as performers. From their first appearance together at an open mike at The Ark coffeehouse in Ann Arbor Michegan, where they discovered their shared love of folk music, they embarked on a performing career that has seen countless shows, thousands of miles of travel, and eight CDs.

Both performers share lead vocals and play a variety of instruments (guitars, electric guitar, dulcimer, mandolin, harmonica, and penny whistle) on original songs and well-chosen covers. A Mustard’s Retreat performance always draws in the audience from the very first song. According to Garnet Rogers, "Their music is community music. It comes from our common roots and traditions, pays tribute to those roots and expands on them. It is music that speaks to people's hearts and lives and binds them together as an audience.” (www.mustardsretreat.com)

Advance sale tickets are $20.00, without any service charge (available through Thursday, November 6th). Any remaining tickets at the door on the day of the show for $25.00
 

Sloan Wainwright with special guest, Lucy Wainwright Roche, with a holiday twist
Sunday, December 7th, at 2 P.M.

Sloan Wainwright’s family tree (brother Loudon, nephew Rufus, nieces Martha and Lucy) reads like a who’s who of contemporary popular music. An outstanding and highly original singer and songwriter, Sloan is a compelling performer best known for her rich contralto voice, intense personal lyrics, and an innovative approach to song. Working with guitarist Stephen Murphy and singer Cadence Carroll, Sloan Wainwright delivers a powerful and memorable afternoon of music. Songs from her new CD (Rediscovery) of great interpretations of works by Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Nick Drake and others, will be joined by originals as well as songs of celebration of the holiday season. (www.sloanwainwright.com)

Lucy Wainwright Roche grew up in Greenwich Village, New York City. The daughter of two performing musicians, (Loudon Wainwright and Suzzy Roche), Lucy has moved from a teaching career to a performing one, backing up brother Rufus Wainwright, opening shows for Dar Williams, and Amos Lee, as well as performing at this summer’s Falcon Ridge and Philadelphia Folk Festivals. She has recently released the second of two highly-acclaimed EPS. (www.myspace.com/lwrlwr)

Advance sale tickets are $20.00, without any service charge (available through Thursday, December 4th). Any remaining tickets at the door on the day of the show for $25.00
 

Reservations/information by e mail to: SundayStreetWUSB@aol.com
Telephone inquiries: leave message at 631-632-1093

Directions: www.stonybrook.edu/sb/directions

The University café is located in the Stony Brook Union Building at Stony Brook University. From the main University entrance, turn right on Circle Drive, left on Stadium Road, and park in the LaValle Stadium lot near the Student Union Building.
Look for the red awning with the words “University Café.”