It’s time. It’s time for spring. It’s time for another Railway Cafe show. And it’s about time that we’ve hosted these two artists. Join us THIS Friday, March 12th at 7:30 pm at MCLA Gallery 51.
 
Reed Foehl, formerly of Acoustic Junction and Fool’s Progress, is a Massachusetts-native Coloradoan with strong friend and family ties here in the Berkshires. His brother Stewart will be opening for him, and you’ll be impressed with the talents of this musical family. Both Reed and Stewart were in Acoustic Junction, though both pursued more personal material not meant for the jam-band style of AJ. Within a couple of years after the band split, the Foehls each had solo albums of their own - and a solid, devoted following.
 
Reed has opened for some of my favorite performers including Patty Griffin and Ray LaMontagne, as well as Taj Mahal and Dave Matthews. Reed Foehl’s new record Once an Ocean pulls together a touch of country folk and edgy roots rock with the bold honesty intrinsic to modern songwriting – his landscape of lush tones and solid songs touches the raw truth of love and tragedy carved from the full range of human emotion. The Boston Globe says: "He sings like he feels every note… Each song tells a story, all of which he relates astonishingly well."
 
Stewart Lewis has a powerful stage presence and a soulful mix of folk and pop which have earned him the opportunity to open for Sheryl Crow, Ani Difranco, Shawn Colvin, Paula Cole, Roseanne Cash, and Patty Larkin. Besides expressive and emotional compositions, Stewart has also entered the writing world with a semi-autobiographical novel called "Rock Starlet".
 
You will not want to miss this rare appearance of the brothers Foehl. Admission for this event is $12 in advance, $15 at the door, $10 for students and seniors. MCLA ID holders get an additional discount. Railway Cafe Concerts take place at MCLA’s Gallery 51, 51 Main St., North Adams, at 7:30pm. To reserve in advance, call 413 664-6393, or email .

It’s time again for another Railway Cafe show THIS Friday, Dec. 11th at 7:30pm at MCLA’s Gallery 51.

December’s featured performers are both relatively local guys Seth Glier from Shelburne Falls and Chris O’Brien originally from Amherst, MA. It will be a highly energetic show and one that people will be talking about for a while, so you won’t want to miss it.

Boston based singer/songwriter Chris O’Brien is an artist on the rise. Since the release of his CD, Lighthouse, Chris has caught the attention of many. The smooth production on the CD emphasizes his pleasant voice and the importance of the lyrics. He was chosen from a pool of nearly 1000 contestants to appear on Garrison Keillor’s "Prairie Home Companion" in the "People in Their Twenties" talent contest. The next week Lighthouse was the 5th Best selling Folk Record on iTunes. 

Michael Witthouse of the Eagle Times in Springfield, VT says, "As a music fan, I live for those moments when I hear a performer for the first time and detect unmistakable magic. It happened with Shawn Colvin in 1989 and Patty Griffin in 1996. Last summer, O’Brien caught my ear. He’s an uncommonly talented lyricist, with a voice that feels comfortable and familiar at first listen."

The other half of the night’s lively performance will be up-and-comer Seth Glier. Chances are, you haven’t heard of him yet, but if he continues on his current trajectory, it will be no time before you can say "I saw him at the Railway Cafe before he was a star." Think of him as the next Brandi Carlisle.

Seth Glier will grab you...if not with his powerful falsetto or his melodic prowess, then with what Performer Magazine calls his “intoxicating groove.” The 21-year-old singer, pianist and guitarist – who abandoned studies at The Berklee School of Music because he “decided I should be playing for people and not for grades” – aims straight for the gut on his MPress Records debut, The Trouble With People, which was recorded in his basement over the course of three months.   

Rachael Sage from MPress Records observes, “Seth’s songwriting is classic, and hearkens back to great piano-based songwriters who broke in the ‘70’s like Billy Joel and Elton John...but he has an impressive range that grabs new audiences immediately, and his sense of melody is incredibly strong.”

His most current accolade came just two weeks ago when Seth was named one of the four winners (from thousands of entries) of the Youth Category in Mountain Stage’s NewSong contest. Recently featured in The Boston Globe for his “100% Fan-Funded Tour” and in several regional newspapers for his "G3: Glier Goes Green Tour", Glier is already a seasoned troubadour. Notable supporters of Glier’s music include acclaimed singer-songwriters Ellis Paul and Livingston Taylor. Taylor says, “Listening to Seth’s music gives me hope for what’s to come. The next generation is alive and well.”

Admission for this event is $12 in advance, $15 at the door, $10 for students and seniors. MCLA ID holders get an additional discount. Railway Cafe shows take place at MCLA’s Gallery 51, 51 Main St., North Adams, at 7:30pm. To reserve in advance, call 413 664-6393, or email .

On Friday Nov 6th at 7:30pm, the Railway Cafe will host Oklahoman KC Clifford and Mainer Jud Caswell at MCLA’s Gallery 51. Between the two of these up-and-coming artists, they have won practically every major songwriting competition (and if you think I’m exaggerating, see the entire list at the bottom of the page).

Possessing a notable knack for writing songs that are all-at-once universal and yet deeply personal, K.C. is a meticulous lyricist. In a world looking for substance, her songs answer back with a resounding hope and assurance. With authentic, straightforward artistry, K.C. is endearing herself to audiences one song at a time. Simply said, K.C. Clifford is Oklahoma’s best-kept secret.

Jud Caswell first hit the folk scene in 2006, earning a buzz of attention with a long string of wins at some of the most prestigious songwriting contests in the country. A native Mainer, his songs have a distinctively regional voice that celebrates the often hard beauty of rural life. This voice grew out of more than ten years of writing and performing in Maine - starting a family - putting down roots in his own home town. It’s a grounding that lends an easy, unassuming air to Jud’s performances. Jud has recently been recognized for his teaching of songwriting at Wintersongs in Ashoken, NY and the Americana Song Academy in Sisters, OR.

Admission for this event is $12 in advance, $15 at the door, $10 for students and seniors. MCLA ID holders get an additional discount. Railway Cafe shows take place at MCLA’s Gallery 51, 51 Main St., North Adams, at 7:30pm. To reserve in advance, call 413 664-6393, or email .

KC Clifford’s Recent Career Highlights:
Personal story & music featured on NBC’s ‘The Biggest Loser’ Mar. 2009
Kerrville Folk Festival Mainstage Performer 2009
Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Emerging Artist 2009
Woody Guthrie Folk Festival 2009
SWRFA Official Showcase Artist 2009
Kerrville New Folk Finalist 2006, 2007
Official Showcase Artist, Int’l Folk Alliance Conference 2007, 2009
Winner, Portland Songwriting Association Song Contest 2006
14th Annual Billboard Song Contest 3-song top finalist
Mountain Stage New Song Contest Honorable Mention, 2006
International Songwriting Competition Semi-Finalist, 2 songs 2006
Great American Song Contest, Top Finalist & Honor Award Winner 2006
Woody Guthrie Award Winner, 2002, 2005

Jud’s list of Songwriting Competition Wins:
Winner, 2008 South Florida Folk Festival Songwriter Contest
Winner, 2007 Dave Carter Memorial Song Contest
Winner, 2007 Plowshares Songwriting Contest
Winner, 2006 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Contest
First Place, 2006 Boston Folk Festival Songwriting Contest
Winner, 2006 Wildflower Performing Songwriter Contest
First Place, 2006 Suwannee Springfest Songwriting Contest
First Place, 2004 Great American Song Contest