Bruce Holmes

Genre: Singer/Songwriter
Secondary Genre: Americana Chicago, Illinois USA Contact

Songs capturing the complexities of life with honesty, kindness and humor. All three members have strong Celtic influences. A cross between Warren Zevon and Jethro Tull. First CD on over 200 stations, second charted at #34. To view calendar or learn more go to www.BruceHolmes.com

Print Version

Artist Information

Biography

The Bruce Holmes trio believes in sing-alongs, funny stories, and creating community. We sings about the thrill of lust, the depth of love and how silly life can get.
Bruce’s influences are many. He loves Celtic music, so in addition to guitar, he plays the concertina and bouzouki. He sings Sacred Harp, and you’ll hear some unusual harmonies in his music. He’s studied flat-picking with the bluegrass folks. And he grew up on rock & roll so you’ll hear a touch of the Byrds or Jethro Tull in his music. But he’s also got stories to tell, so he wants the vocals high in the mix. At heart he’s a folk singer who loves a good story. And a lifetime of stories is shared in his songs.
Holmes has spent most of his life teaching. He’s taught everything from Aikido to folk dancing to juggling to chess (he was the coach for Oakton Chess, Illinois State Champions in 1993 and 1994). He’s the author of Anvil of the Heart, a science fiction novel that made the Locus recommended reading list for 1984. He also created a 24 cassette series on the Feldenkrais Method that is used all around the globe.
His first CD, Life’s An Intelligence Test, resonates with a lifetime of musical influences. It has been adopted for airplay by over 200 radio stations. (Radio Teutoburger Wald in Germany called it “a masterpiece of acoustic music.”) Half the songs from the CD have been honored in some way including a 2nd Place and 3rd Place in the 2006 Great Lakes Songwriting Competition. In 2007 he was selected as one of five Finalists in the Texas Songwriters’ Serenade. In 2008 he won the annual Talent Show at the Coffee House in Milwaukee. His second CD, The Old King's Reel, is on the folk charts at #34. You can hear the music at www.BruceHolmes.com

Instrumentation

Bruce Holmes: vocals, guitar, bouzouki, concertina
Eithne McBride: vocals, flute, sax
Timothy Ian Merkel: vocals, guitar, mandolin, bass

Discography

The Old King's Reel (2008), 14 songs. Charting at #34 on the Folk DJ Chart
Life's An Intelligence Test (2006), 14 songs, one by Bob Dylan, the rest by Holmes. Picked up by over 200 radio stations.

Official Website

http://www.BruceHolmes.com

Audio

Lyrics

Video

Photo Gallery

  • Bruce Holmes

  • Waiting with a friend

  • Bruce Pillars

  • CD Release Night Solo

  • At the Masthouse

  • CD Release Night

  • Head shot doodling

  • Head shot singing

Press

  • Quotes from Folk DJs [+ Show ]

    A masterpiece of acoustic music! Radio Teutoburger Wald, Germany Bruce has delivered a beautiful...

Setlist

I've got about 3 hours of material that's solid, after that I either start repeating myself or I'm into the less well rehearsed material. 95% of what I do is original.
El Viento Del Diablo
Angels
Life’s An Intelligence Test
When The Winds Return
Marathon
Plague Ship
Home
So Beautiful
I Do
Wishes
Fields Of Wheat
God's Rules
One Love To Last
We Were A Family
Stand
You Just Might Lose
Long Vegas Night
I Believe In You
Shine
Life Is Hard And Then You Die
Not The Nightgown
I Would Be With You
When The Ship Comes In (Dylan)
The Water Is Wide (Trad)
Shenendoah (Trad)
Soalin (Trad)
I Do Like You
The Old King's Reel
The Orgy Song

Basic Requirements


Calendar

There are no upcoming dates at this time.