Wally Lawder and Brandie Thornburg

Artist Information

Biography

Wally Lawder and Brandie Thornburg live in, and draw inspiration from, southern New Mexico. While seasoned musicians individually, Wally and Brandie began performing as a duo in late 2008 to enthusiastic reviews. Their “folk fusion" style integrates many genres and influences into a unique, vocally driven acoustic sound. Wally has 3 CD's of original music to his credit and is an award-winning songwriter; Brandie brings an eclectlic and well trained vocal background that includes jazz, classical and musical theater.

A musician for many years, Wally was strongly influenced by the singer-songwriters who emerged in the1990's. These included John Gorka, Ellis Paul, Dave Carter, Susan Werner and Shawn Colvin. Earlier influences include The Beatles, Jackson Browne, Thelonius Monk and Beethoven. Brandie’s influences include Ella Fitzgerald, Joan Sutherland (in opera), Tori Amos, Tom Waits, Sarah McLachlin, Tracy Chapman and Blossom Dearie.

Wally’s performing career has included a lot of solo work and several acoustically oriented bands, as well as his current duo with Brandie. He wass a finalist in the 2009 Tucson Folk Festival Songwriting Contest and winner of the 2008 Gila River Songwriting Competition. Pulitzer Prize winning poet Stephen Dunn states that "Wally Lawder is both a romantic and a social critic, and his quiet lyricism heightened by his gifts as a guitarist gives me great pleasure." Brandie was a voice major at NMSU where she studied and performed vocal repertoire in many genres (and languages too): opera, musical theatre, art songs, jazz and choral. She has performed with an eclectic range of ensembles, including world music, jazz, folk, pop and opera, and played the lead role of Evita Peron in the musical production of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Evita. In addition to performing, she also teaches voice.

Wally and Brandie bring a unique and powerful performing synergy, building on Wally’s genre-jumping songwriting with their creative and bodacious vocals and harmonies.

Instrumentation

Wally Lawder - Harmonica, Acoustic Guitar, Vocal
Brandie Thornburg - Acoustic Guitar, Vocal

Discography

LP's:
Leaving Town (2001)
My Place (2004)
Back to the Adobe Cafe (2007)
In Production:
The Opposite of Gravity (2010)
Streaming audio on: www.wallylawder.com
Video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ublSeEK0yrQ

Links

• Facebook
• YouTube:

Audio

• Coffee Bean mp3
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• Banks of the Gila Live Tucson
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• The Opposite of Gravity mp3
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• Dreams Live Tucson
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• Gauguin
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Lyrics

• Revelation
• This Road
• Gauguin
• Adobe Cafe
• Buddha and Jesus
• Wake Up Crying
• Perfume
• Looking at the Moon
• Tom and Sally
• What She's Doing Tonight

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• GlenWoodStock Folk Festival [+ Show ]
  

  Wally Lawder's music entices dreamy young "Hippie Chicks" to swoon while stimulating old codgers' me...Wally Lawder's music entices dreamy young "Hippie Chicks" to swoon while stimulating old codgers' memories of sweet assignations at their own "Adobe Cafe." Both of these Lawder tunes have been favorites at GlenWoodStock for several years. Every festival he adds more originals to his repertoire, rejoicing old fans and creating new converts. Wally's commitment to his music and his audience are balanced onstage by his impeccable performances. He knows how to write a song, capture a crowd, and play them both sweetly.

• Side Door Stage, Silver City, NM [+ Show ]
  

  When I first heard Wally, I said, Wow, where has this voice been hiding? When I got his recent CD I...When I first heard Wally, I said, Wow, where has this voice been hiding? When I got his recent CD I said, Wow, more people need to hear this! When I saw him perform I was taken by his warm delivery of the material and wonderful connection with his audience... Wally consistently delights our audiences and fills our venue with his gift for turning a clever phrase lyrically. Musically and vocally he sparkles!

• Review of "Leaving Town" CD [+ Show ]
  

  Wally Lawder know music--especially his own. In a note attached to his CD, "Leaving Town", he rhe...Wally Lawder know music--especially his own.
  
  In a note attached to his CD, "Leaving Town", he rhetorically asks "What songs should I listen to first? Sundress--a fun jazzy tune about one of the perks of hot weather. The Groundhog's Dream--shows off a sense of humor in a folk-rock style. She's Fading Away--a sad but touching and hopeful song about love and alzheimers.
  
  So they're the first songs we listened to--and then quickly played the rest of the disc.
  
  We think Wally's too modest--the folk-pop collection of 11 songs is all a good listen!
  
  The self-described folk troubador with a contemporary edge excels at thoughtful lyrics arranged against a background that expands the musical boundaries of acoustic folk to include touches of pop, jazz and world music.
  
  You can get the CD from his website, www.wallylawder.com and also through cdbaby.com.

• Pulitzer Prize winning poet [+ Show ]
  

  Wally Lawder is both a romantic and a social critic, and his quiet lyricism heightened by his gifts ...Wally Lawder is both a romantic and a social critic, and his quiet lyricism heightened by his gifts as a guitarist gives me great pleasure.

• Failte Coffeehouse, Hopewell, NJ
  

  An outstanding entertainer. Refreshing, humorous and truly original. One of our all-time favorites!

Setlist

Wally and Brandie's sets are customized to each show, and they leave a lot of room for spontaneity to account for each unique audience. They currently draw from over 60 original songs and a handful of select covers. For specific information on a particular event, contact: wally@wallylawder.com .

Basic Requirements

Calendar