Bob Sima

Artist Information

Biography

When Bob Sima opens his mouth to sing what comes out is far beyond the human sounds of a warm and soulful voice, yep, there’s more. A story, a nudge, a reminder, an angle on something very familiar you probably have never considered the way he presents it. What draws you in is his warm yet powerful voice, but once inside, you are often transformed. He is a poet, observer, scribe, sometimes reluctant healer all bundled up into one singing songwriting bundle of energy so tapped in…he kinda needs a glass. His right hand slaps the guitar in a seemingly casual fashion, usually in rhythm with all of the toes in the room. Bob is a different kind of singer-songwriter, there is more than the songs, there is more than the voice, there is more than the stories, yes there is more. Bob truly moves his audiences. He moves their hearts and minds and his concerts are known for evoking full range of emotion. Bob is probably more influenced by the likes of Rumi and Ghandi as he is by Dylan or Guthrie.

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“The two songs you sang on Sunday transfixed the crowd and me. What that means to me is that you have the talent to take people into the Present. When a crowd is transfixed they are not in past/future thoughts. You are living/performing what our group is desiring for -more "Present" in their lives. You are a Present teacher - You heal with music.” R- Dignan (Corporate Retreat Leader, Westminster, MD)

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Bob is a touring singer-songwriter from Annapolis, Maryland. He burst onto the singer-songwriter scene after taking hiatus from his Folk-Pop trio Stereopool, and hopping onto the coffee house, festival circuit engaging audiences and quickly gaining a fan-base. Starting as an opener for acts such as Ellis Paul, David Wilcox, Vance Gilbert and Jesse Harris, Bob quickly built his headlining capability with his regional fan base. From a series of high profile song contest successes (Wildflower Grand Prize Winner, 2009, Falcon Ridge Emerging Artist 2008, Kerrville Finalist 2008 & 2009, NewSong Finalist 2009), Bob quickly gained recognition as a newcomer worth watching. There is no way to encapsulate his 2 studio records “Pour It On” and “Periphery” other than his tagline “Good Music for Good People”. There is truly magic in these records. Produced in Bloomington Indiana at Airtime Studios with owner/producer David Weber (Carrie Newcomer, Krista Detor, Atlantic Records: Straight No Chaser) with some well known session players including Jason Wilbur (John Prine, Iris Dement). The records are very organic, rich studio versions full of life, depth and feel. The records are full of percussive acoustic guitar, rich piano, organs, dobro and highly impressive backing vocals by his musical friend Krista Detor. The records cover the gamut from neo-folk, gospel, country, blues with the voice of Bob out front painting with a familiar brush. Bob is not a topical or thematic songwriter, and has a knack for attracting fans from all ages and all walks of life, because of the deep connection to the human being through the songs. Bob is as comfortable with a raucous storytelling rambler as he is with a soft mellow ballad and will throw in some alt country now and then. All mind you without pretense or shoegazing. Real stuff, meaty and worth repeating…..

AWARDS The releases garnered immediate attention of folk/acoustic music community. Recent awards include: 2009 Finalist Kerrville Grassy Hill New Folk 2008 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Emerging Artist 2008 Finalist Kerrville Grassy Hill New Folk 2008 Winner Wildflower Songwriter 2008 Finalist Solarfest Songwriting Contest 2007 Winner Mid-Atlantic Song Contest 2007 Emerging Artist Showcase Falcon Ridge Folk Festival 2007 Finalist Mountain Stage NewSong Live Round 2007 Honorable Mention Billboard Song Contest 2007 Finalist Susquehanna Music and Arts Festival Songwriting Contest 2007 Finalist Avalon Music and Arts Festival Rising Star Contest Bob has played many of the top acoustic music venues in the US including Rams Head OnStage, RamsHead LIVE!, World Cafe Live, Kennedy Center, MUSIKFEST, Godfrey Daniels, Cellar Stage, Focus Music Concerts, Columbia Lakefront Concert Series, NightCat, Coffee East, Purple Fiddle, Columbia Festival of the Arts, Kerrville Folk Festival, Wildflower Festival, Dewey Beach Americana Festival, Unity Music Festival, Avalon Music Festival, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, National Folk Alliance Festival and Conference, and the Susquehanna Music and Arts Festival. Bob is a highly sought after house concert player and has played house concerts across the United States and Canada.

Instrumentation

Performs as a solo act or full band with full electric guitar and lap steel, fiddle, piano, Acoustic Duo, Singer/Songwriter with drums/percussion or solo acoustic

Discography

Pour It On (2006)
www.myspace.com/bobsima
Periphery (2008)
Going Home LIVE; The Tour 2010

Official Website

http://www.bobsima.com

Links

• Facebook

Audio

• Be The Change
  Listen  
• Shine
  Listen  
• Periphery
  Listen  
• How You Made Them Feel
  Listen  
• Map In My Lap
  Listen  
• In Between
  Listen  
• The Looser The Grip
  Listen  
• Don't Die With Your Music
  Listen  
• Wild Pony
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Be The Change

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• GOOSEBUMPS! [+ Show ]
  

  GOOSEBUMPS....Bob Sima's "Pour It On" has some really deep tracks. Jumping all over the genre map bu...GOOSEBUMPS....Bob Sima's "Pour It On" has some really deep tracks. Jumping all over the genre map but with class and elegance. It is nothing short of spectacular."
  

• CD OF THE YEAR [+ Show ]
  

  "...The interesting thing is, I see artists doing really big things in the industry with songs and a..."...The interesting thing is, I see artists doing really big things in the industry with songs and a cd that are not even close to what Bob has...definitely a contender for cd of the year.."
  Rod Deacy (Owner-Westside Cafe-Frederick, MD)
  www.westside-cafe.com

• Stave Magazine Raves! [+ Show ]
  

  It’s really rare that I receive a CD that I can honestly say doesn’t have a weak track. With Bob Si...It’s really rare that I receive a CD that I can honestly say doesn’t have a weak track. With Bob Sima’s “Pour it On,” I can say that. This is one first class, “feel good” recording, and it is extremely infectious. This is one that I’ll play over and over and over. It’s upbeat, groovy, warm, comfortable and ultra listenable. And the star of this production is Sima’s voice. He’s just got one of those perfectly accessible sets of pipes that will please everyone.
  
  I actually found out about Sima via one of those annoying listserv thingies for house concert hosts. That’s my other musical endeavor. I host a house concert. I wouldn’t have paid any attention to the post if it hadn’t coupled him with Nadine Goellner, and I had just written a glowing review of her latest release. Therefore, knowing what a smokin’ talent Goellner is, I figured this Sima guy must be damn good to share a show with her. Then I forgot about it until Bob contacted me. I pretty much let him know he was a “shoe in” at Stave because of Goellner, and I am not disappointed with the disc he sent. Not at all.
  
  “Pour it On” is a wonderful mixture of folk, rock, and pop with a tiny dash of gospel and blues. In a sense, it’s the very best of what it means to be all-American. Sima calls his music, “good music for good people,” so he lets you know right up front you deserve it. Without realizing I was doing it, I became aware that I was dancing in my chair while listening to “Pour it On.” You know? That happy dance we sometimes distractedly move into because our psyche feels so damn good? So yes. This is good music. Don’t deny yourself the joy of “Pour it On.”
  
  …O.K. Now I’m off to turn on the vacuum cleaner or blender to cleanse my head of singing along to the final cut on this CD (“Don’t Die With Your Music”). Otherwise, no one else will get reviewed today…
  
  

• Acoustic Guitar Magazine Freelancer... [+ Show ]
  

  "For anyone who wishes Van Morrison were still making rustic acoustic soul records like Tupelo Hone..."For anyone who wishes Van Morrison were still making
  rustic acoustic soul records like Tupelo Honey, Bob
  Sima's new release Pour It On is going to be the find
  of the year. Brimming with memorable melodies and
  beautiful mandolin, fiddle and dobro lines, these are
  timeless songs that sound like they
  could have been bursting out of back porch radios for
  the past 40 years. But they don't make you nostalgic
  so much as they make you look forward to what Sima
  will do next. Go right now to his myspace page and listen to the song “Any Better.” I can’t think of a better sound to accompany a slow-moving Sunday afternoon like this one."
  Drew Pearce- Freelance writer- Acoustic Guitar Magazine (Bay Area House Concerts)
  
  

Setlist

Can play a 4 hour set of original material. Also has a mixed bag of great covers including an amazing rendition of "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley".

Basic Requirements

Calendar