Community News

     The Oswego Music Hall is very pleased to present the accomplished, charismatic singer-songwriter David Wilcox at 8 p.m., May 4.

     With 17 CDs under his belt since his first album won the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk award in 1988, some 25 years of songwriting and extensive touring, and Rolling Stone calling his music "compelling and richly deserving of a listen," Wilcox's live performance should be one of the best of the season.With his articulate guitar, deft lyrics, and "an honestly beautiful baritone," the Boston Globe said Wilcox "combines the best of both pop and modern folk aesthetics."

     But wait, there is even more.

     Opening the show will be Loren Barrigar and Mark Mazengarb. Barrigar is well known in Central New York as one of the popular Barrigar Brothers. Lately he has teamed up with another world-class guitarist from New Zealand. For the past few years, Barrigar and Mazengarb have toured widely in the United States and their fan base is growing rapidly.
     Their first album together, recorded in the summer of 2011, recently won a SAMMY (Syracuse Area Music Awards) for Best Album at the Northeast Music Industry Conference. Barrigar and Mazengarb's varied repertoire of original and arranged music features stunning guitar duets as well as songs, all of it influenced by bluegrass, jazz, and western music, giving the duo wide appeal.

     David Wilcox is considered a songwriter's songwriter; his songs have been covered by artists such as k.d. lang and many others. In addition to his writing prowess, though, his skills as a performer and storyteller are unmatched. He holds audiences rapt with nothing more than a single guitar, thoughtfully written songs, a fearless ability to mine the depths of the full range of human emotions and the whole performance connected by a quick and wry wit.

     Spin Magazine's Kevin Nealon described Wilcox's concert as " an incredibly cleansing experience. Songs with passionate, beautiful lyrics sung in a soulful voice, backed by crisp acoustic guitar arrangements that took me on an emotional roller-coaster ride (I know, kind of sounds like a wine steward describing a fine Burgundy, right?)"
     The LA Weekly praised Wilcox for his "specific inner light – he can carry any issue of significance to him straight into a listeners heart... And when he does it, to borrow one of his song titles, he makes it look easy."

     Barrigar and Mazengarb create a unique musical chemistry seldom found among musicians, and have won high praise as well. Their live performances feature not only their spectacular technical grasp of the guitar, but also their outstanding musicality and spontaneously creativity. The interaction between Loren and Mark is as much a feature of their shows as is the world-class guitar playing that they both display.
     Grammy award-winning producer Lloyd Maines was wowed with the "brilliant stereo sound (created by) these two fine guitarists.  I listened to their CD from front to end... pretty amazing."

     Barrigar and Mazengarb first met in 2005 when they spent a few days working with the great Tommy Emmanuel at Jorma Kaukonen's guitar camp. Mazengarb was a college kid, just completing his degree in classical guitar at the University of North Carolina;Barrigar was already a seasoned performer, but it was his first serious look at acoustic guitar. They began playing together and picking each other's brains.

     In 2009, they met again in Nashville at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society (CAAS) convention, an international gathering of hundreds of guitarists. At the next year's CAAS convention they were scheduled as performers. Though they were not originally listed to play at the big Saturday night finale, Barrigar and Mazengarb were added to the show due to popular demand from those who heard them throughout the week.

     For more background and samples of the artists' music, check out these websites http://www.davidwilcox.com/ and http://www.lorenandmark.com/. Then come and fall under David Wilcox's spell and marvel at the Barrigar and Mazengarb duo's sound & technique at the all-volunteer, family-friendly Music Hall – also known as the Ontario Center for Performing Arts.

     The atmosphere is intimate with candle-lit tables surrounding a small stage with omemade desserts, popcorn and beverages available for purchase.
     Tickets can be purchased on-line at http://oswegomusichall.org/ or at the river's end bookstore, 19 W. Bridge St.in Oswego. Holders of tickets purchased before 1 p.m. on the day of the concert will have preferred seating. After 1 p.m., seating will be general admission. Ticket prices are $14 if purchased in advance and $16 at the door. Children 12 and younger are half-price; younger than 5 is free.
     For the best deal – lowest ticket prices and prime seating – Season Passes and All-Season Passes are available and may be purchased at any show.
     For information contact, membership secretary, Carol Forrest, at 343-2988.