Calaveras

Artist Information

Biography

Calaveras is an SF Bay Area folk-edged band whose original, award-winning songs evoke a blend of their urban surroundings and their rural roots.

Singer songwriters Greg Beattie and Victoria Blythe, with Dave Decker on lead acoustic guitar and backup vocals, Mark Holzinger on electric guitar and Sam Bevan on bass, combine folk, jazz and blues into a completely original roots mix that is both fresh and timeless. "Greg Beattie and Victoria Blythe are a fine match – Beattie gentle and even (think James Taylor) while Blythe is ethereal and cooing (think Evanescence, Carly Simon). [Calaveras] is a modern flourish of groups like Peter, Paul and Mary – cool, calm melodious playing that warms the heart and soothes the soul. " Bootleg Magazine

Their songs have captured the prestigious Kerrville New Folk prize, grand prize in the West Coast Songwriters International Song Contest, West Coast Songwriter’s Song of the Year honors, and have appeared in TV shows, movies and compilations. On SonicBids, they were selected out of 500 entries as Emerging Artists at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, one of 10 acts out of 800 entries for the Florence Winter Folk Festival, and perform regularly at the Bay Area's most prestigious acoustic music venue, the Freight & Salvage Coffee House in Berkeley.

Their live show is a mix of Victoria’s soaring, ethereal vocals and hauntingly beautiful fiddle on pure folk ballads and sultry jazz-fusion torch songs, Greg’s mellow, honest voice and energetic and insightful musical treatment of birth, death and everything in between, and Dave and Mark's constantly creative guitar commentary and voicings, over Sam's distinctly non-traditional bass.


For more information, go to www.calaverassongs.com

Instrumentation

Sam Bevan - Bass
Mark Holzinger - Electric Guitar

Discography

Calaveras--Ready to Fly

Calaveras--Live at Strings

Calaveras--Green Girl

CDs available at CDBaby.com/calaveras
Tracks available at iTunes, bitmunk, Great Indie Music, Amazon, etc.

Official Website

http://www.calaverassongs.com

Audio

• Ready to Fly
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• - I've Been Looking For You
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• My Town
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• Club Paradise
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• Bad Dog
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• Dancing with You
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Lyrics

• Club Paradise
• Ready To Fly
• Green Girl
• In the Peace of My Love
• Bad Dog
• Driving Him Away
• I've Been Looking for You

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Peter Yarrow
  

  “Wonderful music, wonderfully performed”

• “An awesome mix of traditional folk and modern folk sounds” [+ Show ]
  

  "a combination of voices, original songs and acoustic intruments travelling one road to many places-..."a combination of voices, original songs and acoustic intruments travelling one road to many places--folk, pop, blues and country. The common thread is songs with intelligent lyrics and heartfelt melodies.
  
  The three principal members of Calaveras sound as if they were put on this earth to make music together. . . . Music this good deserves your attention.
  
  HotPick, CDReviews.com

• A modern flourish of groups like Peter, Paul and Mary – cool, calm melodious playing that warms the heart and soothes the soul. [+ Show ]
  

  Calaveras is adult cotemporary music with doses of philosophy and utopian ideas melded between a var...Calaveras is adult cotemporary music with doses of philosophy and utopian ideas melded between a variety of musical styles. The layers are varied – subtle folk playing to acoustic boogie. Green Girl collects material recorded as far back as 1997, songs rich in mature and concise craftsmanship. Greg Beattie and Victoria Blythe are a fine match – Beattie gentle and even (think James Taylor) while Blythe is ethereal and cooing (think Evanescence, Carly Simon). The trio is a modern flourish of groups like Peter, Paul and Mary – cool, calm melodious playing that warms the heart and soothes the soul.

• "lush, soaring original tunes" [+ Show ]
  

  "This acoustic trio from California offers lush, soaring original tunes that are supercharged and . ..."This acoustic trio from California offers lush, soaring original tunes that are supercharged and . . . finely crafted. . ."

• Calaveras Rocks the Winter Folk Festival [+ Show ]
  

  Calaveras was a featured act at the Florence Winter Folk Festival this year, and put on a great show...Calaveras was a featured act at the Florence Winter Folk Festival this year, and put on a great show. This acoustic trio from the SF Bay Area has a wide variety of original songs performed with tight harmonies and six or seven acoustic instruments, and had the crowd laughing, weeping and cheering throughout their set. Although we cater to a traditional folk crowd, Calaveras was the one act we allowed to use all original songs because a lot of their tunes are fresh interpretations of traditional folk forms, and it's clear they pay attention to their songwriting craft. It's also clear they love performing and pleasing the crowd. They definitely earned the standing O they received and we'd love to have them back. I'd recommend them to any acoustic or folk music festival or venue.

• "Green Girl a captivating album" [+ Show ]
  

  Green Girl's sweet mix of traditional and modern elements is a real breath of fresh air. Its tight, ...Green Girl's sweet mix of traditional and modern elements is a real breath of fresh air. Its tight, melodic songs, tasty instrumentation and sure, clear vocals make for a captivating album.

• Bread & Roses loves Calaveras [+ Show ]
  

  The music of Calaveras weaves a fine tapestry of melody and lyrics that makes you want to listen aga...The music of Calaveras weaves a fine tapestry of melody and lyrics that makes you want to listen again and again. The vocal parts are sweet and smooth, and the songs portray situations which are tender, funny, and real.
  
  It's great to have a new release to wear out by playing it and singing
  along.

Setlist

A City and A Life and A Girl
I’ve Been Looking For You
Can’t Get Enough of You
Sins of our Fathers
Firefly Nights
Bad Dog
Driving Him Away
Dancing with You
In The Peace of My Love
Ready to Fly

Club Paradise
Heaven Bound
Ruby June
Just Get Over It
The Ballad of Dancing Bride
Santa Fe Nights
My Town
Summer Roses

Yodelling Blues

We usually perform two hour shows with a 15 minute break.

Basic Requirements

Calendar