Shane Cooley

Artist Information

Biography

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SHANE COOLEY
Singer/Songwriter

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BOOKING: cooleymusic@gmail.com


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for licensing, contact:

-Triple Scoop Music: http://triplescoopmusic.com/


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"With his harmonica blowing, feet stomping and guitar shredding, Shane Cooley lit the night up and gave the audience all that we could ask for - short of setting his guitar on fire. I was blown away by his epic performance. His standing on a chair with the crowd rocking and his fist held high embodied, for me, the spirit of folk music."

~Michael Cohen, Magazine 33

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"West Land showcases Shane Cooley’s dedication to the art of the song as much as it reflects his life on the road in America."

~Danny McCloskey, Alternate Root Magazine

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"Shane Cooley is a man who has visions. This EP is a crystal ball: “San Diego, you’ve still got something to say.” “California, can’t you be just a little bit kinder.” And check out these lines 21st Century: My heart isn’t broken, it’s frozen/In a century where I don’t belong/Where spirited men are broken in/To a world that looks safe, but it’s not.” Damn. Prepare to gaze deeply into the crystal ball known as West Land."

~Sammy Younan, NewMusic Ten

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BIOGRAPHY

Nothing moves Shane Cooley like writing a song. "I don't know how I'd function if I wasn't a songwriter," said Shane, "It's my way of coping with life." It is because of this that Shane's songs are so easy to connect with; it is why they can give you chills. His songs capture the highs and lows of the world around him. They are songs of innocence and experience. Most of all, there is an honesty to them. "My songs are just as much yours as they are mine," he said.

Shane's second love is clearly performing. Self-proclaimed to be "obsessed with touring," he books his own tours of the United States and Europe. The 25-year-old Virginia native's career has spanned over a decade, and, after graduating from the College of William and Mary, has been full-time. He formed rock bands early on, and finally landed on his feet as a solo performer. He's been compared to icons such as Neil Young and Ryan Adams, but Shane's diverse years have left him with a sound that is undeniably his own.

His emergence into the modern folk scene has proven to be his niche. The prolific artist has recorded 13 albums and EPs, showcased at festivals such as SXSW, received critical acclaim from publications such as The Alternate Root and VEER Magazine and performed onstage with Mercury Records' Parachute. He was also 1st Runner-Up for "Best Male Artist" in the International Acoustic Music Awards. His songs have been spun on countless radio and internet stations, and have been placed on over 300 IHeartRadio websites.

Shane, if anything, is more driven than ever. "I pick up a pen and Blondie (his guitar), and I know that this is right; this is what I'm made for," he said. He is the kind of artist who drives out to meet his fate at all costs, and he is not about to be forgotten.


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WEBSITES:

http://www.youtube.com/shanecooley
http://www.myspace.com/shanecooley
http://www.facebook.com/shanecooleymusic
http://www.twitter.com/shane_cooley
http://www.shanecooleymusic.com
iTunes




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INSTRUMENTS:

* acoustic guitar, harmonica, electric guitar, drums, piano, bass

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STYLE:

* Retro Folk Rock. Media comparisons: Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Ryan Adams, Bob Dylan

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RECENT SINGLES (2010)

*WINDOW SHOPPING FOR A LONG LOST LOVER : Christmas single. iTunes

*LAST LOVE: digital single. iTunes


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STUDIO ALBUMS (2006-present)

(Distribution: iTunes, Napster, Amazon, CD Baby, Plan 9 Music Stores, Birdland Music, and live shows)

**WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS
2012 produced by Adam Smith and Shane Cooley.


**WEST LAND
2011 produced by Stewart Myers (Jason Mraz, Lifehouse) and Shane Cooley.


** THE VAGABOND EP
2010 produced by Shane Cooley. Engineered by Gary Mitchell at Soundside Studio, Ocracoke, NC. Musicians: Molasses Creek.


** THE MIDNIGHT OIL EP
2009 produced by Stewart Myers (Jason Mraz, Lifehouse, Mandy Moore, Rachael Yamagata)


** WHIRLPOOL
2007 produced by Stewart Myers (Jason Mraz, Lifehouse, Mandy Moore)


** SHANE COOLEY AND THE AVIATORS
2007 demo produced by Stewart Myers (Jason Mraz, Lifehouse, Mandy Moore)


** FLYING NAKED
2006 produced by Chris Keup and Stewart Myers (Jason Mraz, Lifehouse)


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SONGS ON COMPILATION CDS:

* "Last Love" on IAMA AAA Radio Compilation, 2nd place as "Best Male Artist"
* "My Asbury Park" on Shatter Records A&R Compilation
* "Window Shopping for a Long Lost Lover" on Alternate Root Magazine's Holiday Compilation for Americana radio
* “Me Myself and You” DJ Jerry Jodice’s “The Best of the Great American Music Hour”
* "My Asbury Park" Millenium Music Conference 13 Compilation CD
* "My Asbury Park" Mike Pinder's The Best of Band Wars CD
* "My Asbury Park"The Wave Gathering Complilation CD
* "Speed of LIfe" Music For Troops Complilation CD (Goes out to US troops worldwide)
* Triple Scoop Music Compilation CD




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DOWNLOADS:

• Apple iTunes
* Amazon Mp3
• MusicIsHere
• Rhapsody
• Napster
• Sony Connect



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RADIO:

WORLDWIDE RADIO:

* Pandora Radio
* XM Radio (XMU Ch. 43 and The Verge Ch. 52) international airplay:
Picked twice as one of the twelve XM Radio “Futures” as artist
“gaining momentum every day”
* Radio Gets Wild UK
* LaLa Radio
* Will's Room Live
* Frank Todd Worldwide Radio
* Alexa Digital Radio
* Play Radio UK
* Phantom 105.2, Dublin, Ireland
* Radio Six International, Scotland
* Mojo Dreams, Belgium
* NOVA 937, Australia
* Folk Alley Artist of the Month
* RADlyoo, Berlin, Germany
* The Lion 90.7 FM, PA
* Outbound Music Online
* Hunter at Sunrise Online
* Pongrid Radio
* Jango Radio
* The Dave White Show
*Wyatt Radio Worldwide



NATIONAL / REGIONAL / LOCAL RADIO:

* IHeartRadio
*Placement on the websites for 300 Clear Channel stations
* Independent Coffee Network: in coffeehouses all over the country
*Dave White Presents Internet In-Depth interview
* Radio Crystal Blue, NYC
*Unregular Radio, Boston, MA
*University of California radio, San Diego, CA.
* Indie 104 iRadio LA CA
* Passport Approved, CA.
* Music Highway, CA.
* Got Radio, CA.
* Mix 96, CA.
* KROQ, LA., CA.
* Lazlo's Den: Asbury Park NJ
* 101.5FM WFCA Cape May Radio NJ
* WESR Radio 103.3 The Shore MD
* DC 101 with Roche, MD & Wash. DC
* WWFG Froggy, Salisbury, MD.
* New Q94 TX
* KNRK, Oregon
* WETSFM, TN.
* WVDX, Knoxville, TN.
* KMTT, Seatle, WA.
* The Lion, 90.7 FM, PA
* WRIR Richmond Indie Radio: “The Great American Music Hour”
with Jerry Jodice; Played weekly on the show, as well as artist spotlight
on the Podcast version of the show.
*96X Local Music Show, Norfolk, VA
* FM 99 Gloucester VA
* 100.9 WRRW Williamsburg Public Radio 1hr interview and performance VA (2007 & 2011)
* 89.5 FM Public Radio “Out of the Box” with Paul Shugrue VA
* 95.9 with Jim Herring, Fredericksburg VA: Interview and airplay
* Windy 105: The Thea Marshall Show; Interview and airplay VA
* Lite 98, Richmond VA: live Christmas Show with original Christmas songs and interview (2005 and 2006)
* Liberty 98.9, Richmond, VA.
* Independent Uncovered/George Mason University, Fairfax, VA.
* Acoustic Highway with Barry Graham, WHRV NPR: VA
* 97.3 WRIR, Richmond VA, Scott Burger Interview/live performance/airplay
* 102.1 the X STUDIO B with Jay Smack; regular airplay/interview, Richmond, VA
* 92.3, the Tide, Williamsburg VA. airplay.
* B 101.5, Fredericksburg VA; Daily Download.
* WGMU George Mason University interview VA
* 93.7 BOBFM, Norfolk: “Sunrise on Sundays” with Hunter Hughes: several
interviews and live performances. VA
* Hunter Hughes on Sunrise for NPR FM 89.5 live interview and performance VA
* 106.1 The Corner, Charlottesville, VA.
* FM 99, Hampton Roads/NewPort News, VA.
* WESN Locals Only, Alexandria, VA.
* WXJM, Harrisonburg, VA.
* WNRN Public Radio, Charlottesville, VA.
* WTJU FM , Charolottesville, VA.
* Q94 Clear Channels New Artist, Richmond, VA.
* WNNT airplay and interview VA
* WTJU University of Virginia Radio, Charlottesville VA
* WCWM William and Mary College Radio VA
* Bay 101.7 WKWI with Bill Goss: Recurring interviews and airplay VA
* 105.5 WRAR regular rotation airplay & multiple interviews (hometown) VA
* KKNT AM: interview / live performance: Phoenix, AZ



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TELEVISION / MUSIC VIDEOS:

* song “Dreams and Aspirations” used by Disaboom for their national infomerical
* Indigo Interactive TV, Time Warner Cable, New York City; Interview & two music videos
* IFC Independent Film Channel featured song “Don’t Want to Be in the City
Tonight” for the series “The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman”
* Interview on regional cable show Virginia Artist Showcase With Bill "Bowman Body" Bowman as host and Harry Clary
* interview/live performance on News Channel 6, Richmond and Central Virginia
* Interview/live performance on Fox 43 News Morning Show Hampton Roads VA and Northeastern NC
*Hampton Roads Music TV
* song “Bed of Worries” used Nationally by the Independent Coffee Network/World Wide Arts, Inc. for music placed on flatscreen TVs with videos in independent coffee shops nation-wide
* song"Freedom" used for "Battle of the Hook" film for Gloucester Museum
* song "My Asbury Park" live video aired on Independent Music Television
* live filming for admissions video for William and Mary
* Soundtrack for William and Mary Sexual Assault Edu Video.
* Music Nation video contest by Epic Records (top 20 of 1,000 bands)
* Soundtracks for conference videos, photographer slideshows, etc via Triple Scoop Music.
* Live performance videos available online on youtube.com/shanecooley


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FILM

*song "NeverNeverLand" was featured as the theme song for Monaliza Productions' independent film, "Crave," featured in the Sedona International Film Festival (2012)
*song "Come Back" was featured in a scene of Caitlin Clements' independent film, "Rough Draft," screened in theatres in Virginia and Oklahoma (2010)
*song "Freedom" was used in "A Seawell's Tale" by Katherine Richardson, shown at the Gloucester Museum
*music used as the soundtrack on a short film helping to prevent sexual assault at The College of William and Mary


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PRESS:

MAGAZINES:

*The Alternate Root: first issue of online publication gone print: nationwide
*Aquarian Weekly: New York City, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
*VEER Magazine (cover story): Norfolk, VA
*Alternate Root Magazine
* Washington DC Talent Magazine
*Ninevolt Magazine: Norfolk, Virginia
*Style Weekly, Richmond, Virginia
*The Deli NYC
*Magazine 33, Richmond
* Riverviews Magazine
* The Rivah Magazine
* The William and Mary News,
*INDIE Magazine, New Orleans
*Jersey Beat Fanzine concert review
*Jersey Beat Fanzine album review
*Monsoon Magazine
* The DOG Street Journal
* The Tidewater Review
*Axis Magazine

NEWSPAPERS, ETC:

* The Washington Post
* The Free Lance Star, (several 2-page spreads including a feature in 2010)
* The Flat Hat, The College of William and Mary
* The Virginia Gazette, Williamsburg, Virginia
* The Weekend - The Free Lance Star, Fredericksburg, Virginia
* Orlando Sentinel
* Delaware Sentinel
* NewMusic Ten
* WM Alumni News: Interview and video posting
* Asbury Park Music
* The Weekend - Richmond Times Dispatch, Richmond, Virginia
* Daily Press - full page spread on top 5 local CDs
*regular updates and reviews on The Daily Press' Sam McDonald's blog Mix Position
* The Northern Neck News - Front page article
* The Daily Press, Norfolk, Virginia (Sunday edition, two-page spread)
* The Daily Press review on "Whirlpool"
* The Daily Press review on "The Midnight Oil EP"
* The Daily Press update
* The Daily Press Mix Position
* Daily Press: Norfolk: asked to do a review of the Grammys
*Folk Alley.com artist of the month
* Rappahannock Record
* The Westmoreland News
*Rappahannock Times
* Gloucester News
* Southside Sentinel
* Rappahannock Community College News
*Gofolkyourself.com



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TOURS (extensive tours, not all tours)

HEART ON A SUITCASE TOUR 2
Summer 2012
-specific dates TBA

-with singer/songwriter Rosa Wallace

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THE NIGHT IS YOUNG EUROPEAN TOUR
Spring 2012 (Germany, Netherlands, UK)

-Berlin, Hannover, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Frankfurt, London, Driffield

-with singer/songwriter Curtis Prince

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WEST TOUR
Winter 2012

-Phoenix AZ, Sedona AZ, Los Angeles CA, San Diego CA, Austin TX

-with singer/songwriter Adam Smith

-highlights include the Sedona International Film Festival, the WitzEnd in Venice, and SXSW in Austin

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HEART ON A SUITCASE TOUR
Summer 2011

-New York City NY, Boston MA, Asbury Park NJ, Philadelphia PA, Bethlehem PA, Nantucket MA, Portland ME

-with singer/songwriter Rosa Wallace

-highlights include Musikfest in Bethlehem and the Lowell Folk Festival in Boston

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THE HOME SWEET HOME COAST TO COAST TOUR: Spring 2011

-Richmond VA, Charlottesville VA, Philadelphia PA, Harrisburg PA, Sedona AZ, Las Vegas NV, Los Angeles CA, San Diego CA, Phoenix AZ, Tuscon AZ, Las Cruces NM, Roswell NM, Santa Fe NM, Austin TX, New York NY, Cape May NJ

-Due to the success of July 2010’s HSH Tour, Shane Cooley, Adam Smith, The Melillo Brothers, and Adam Smith have booked a second tour, expanding the route to encompass both coasts and culminate at SXSW in Austin.


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THE VAGABOND TOUR: Fall 2010

-Philadelphia PA, Asbury Park NJ, Dewey Beach DE, New York City

-solo acoustic tour

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THE HOME SWEET HOME TOUR: Summer 2010

-New York City, Freeport NY, Nyack NY, Peekskill NY, Cape May NJ, Philadelphia PA, Ardmore PA, Baltimore MD, Waldorf MD, Nashville TN (The Hard Rock Cafe), Brentwood TN, Chattanooga TN, Atlanta GA, Richmond VA, Norfolk VA

*with Adam Web, Adam Smith and The Melillo Brothers

The Home Sweet Home Tour, the first of which happened in July 2010, is a way for independent artists to pool their resources and grow their fan bases with the simple concept of teamwork. After establishing a tour route that travels through each artist’s home town, those artists then book a few shows in their area. Once those shows are booked, it becomes much easier to book the towns and cities in between. This takes the concept of "gig swapping" to the next level, as the artists tour together along the routes they have booked. Touring through the home towns of local artists ensures a healthy turnout at every show. This means that artists who may not otherwise have a strong draw in a particular town are able to play for more people and to sell more merchandise. The Home Sweet Home Acoustic Tour 2010 toured from New York to The Hard Rock Cafe' in Nashville and back in 17 days...17 shows. This first tour was a great success, and all artists have been asked to be panelists at two national music conferences (Millenium Music Conference and Cape May Singer/Songwriter).

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The Summer Tour (June 2010)

-Phoenix AZ, Sedona AZ, Las Vegas NV, Los Angeles CA, San Diego CA

with Adam Smith


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The California Spring Tour (March 2010)

-San Francisco, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Los Angleles, San Diego

-with Lyric Entertainment


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The Camplified Tour

-New York and Pennsylvania summer camps

with various artists including Val Emmich and Patrick Droney


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MEMORABLE PERFORMANCES
partial list:
(from intimate songwriter showcases to venues attracting 75,000)

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NATIONAL SHOWCASES / OPENER FOR NATIONAL CONCERTS:

* South By Southwest (including USA Songwriting Showcase) 2010-2012, Austin, TX
* The National Theatre (headliner), Richmond VA
* 30A Songwriters Festival: Seaside, FL
*America’s 400th Anniversary : with Bruce Hornsby and Ricky Skaggs, and Chaka Khan, Jamestown, VA
* Hard Rock Cafe, Nashville, TN
* Friday's at Five opening for Parachute: Williamsburg, VA
* Sharmrock Fest opening for national act Carbon Leaf, Newport News, VA
* Urbanna Oyster Festival: Urbanna, VA
* Lake Matoaka Amplitheatre opening for Carbon Leaf Williamsburg VA
* AT&T Acoustic Fest with headliner Lucinda Williams, Norfolk, VA
* The NorVa: Norfolk, VA
*Sedona International Film Festival, Sedona AZ
*MusikFest, Bethlehem, PA
*National Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington DC
*CBGB Music Festival: New York, NY

INTERNATIONAL:
* Intersoup: Berlin, Germany
* Piesgrandes House Concerts: Hannover, Germany
* Orange Peel: Frankfurt, Germany
* Skek: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
* The Silver Bullet, London, UK
* The Abbey: London, UK
* Acoustic Stage at The Corner House: Cambridge, UK
* Darkisland House Concerts: Driffield, UK
* O’Reily’s Pub: St Johns, Newfoundland, Canada
* Radisson Hotel and Resort, Nassau, Bahamas


NEW YORK:
*Rockwood Music Hall, NYC
* The Bitter End: NYC
* M.E.A.N.Y Fest at Crash Mansion, NYC
*CBGB Music Festival at Hill Country, NYC
* Caffe Vivaldi, NYC
* Kenny's Castaways: NYC
* The National Underground, NYC
* The Living Room NYC
* R-Bar NYC
* Googie's Lounge NYC
* Live at Best Buy NYC (both Chelsea and Union Square locations)
* The Camplified Tour: Pomona NY, Blue Bell PA, E. Rockaway NY
* Otto's Sea Grille, Long Island, NY
* Reality Bites, Nyack, NY


CALIFORNIA:
* Room 5: Los Angeles, CA
* WitzEnd Live: Los Angeles, CA
* Dakota Lounge, Santa Monica, CA
* Genghis Cohen: Los Angeles, CA
*Gypsy Lounge, Los Angeles, CA
* Lestat's: San Diego, CA
* Laurel House Concerts: San Diego, CA
* TRiP, Santa Monica, CA
* Java Jones, San Diego, CA
* City Front Terrace, San Diego, CA
* Kimo's: San Francisco, CA
* Senor Sanchos: Paso Robles, CA
*Sculpterra Winery: Paso Robles, CA
* The Steynberg Gallery: San Luis Obispo, CA
* Linnaea's Cafe: San Luis Obispo, CA

TENNESSE:
* The Hard Rock Café Nashville TN
* Edgehill Studios: Nashville, TN
* Bluebird Café: Nashville, TN
* Hotel Indigo Writers Night, Nashville, TN
* Ugly Mugs, Nashville, TN
* Belcourt Taps and Tapas, Nashville, TN
* Ri'chard's Cafe' , Nashville, TN
* The Limit Nashville, Nashville, TN
* Café Coco: Nashville, TN
*French Quarter Cafe': Nashville, TN
* Gena’s Songwriter’s Showcase, Nashville, TN
* Borders Books and Music, Brentwood, TN
* The Ice Cream Show, Chattanooga, TN

PENNSYLVANIA:
* Millennium Music Conference 2009-2011 (Panelist in 2011), Harrisbug, PA.
* Philadelphia Film and Music Festival, Philadelphia, PA
* Musikfest, Bethlehem, PA
* Milkboy, Ardmore, PA
*Triumph Brewing Company, Philadelphia, PA
*Murph's Bar, Philadelphia, PA
*Appalachian Brewing Co. Harrisburg, PA
*Coakley's: Harrisburg, PA

NEW JERSEY:
* The Saint, Asbury Park, NJ
* The Wave Gathering ‘08 Asbury Park, NJ
* The Wave Gathering ’09 Asbury Park, NJ
* Cape May Singer/Songwriter Conference 2011 (Panelist), Cape May, NJ
* The Pilot House: Cape May, NJ
* The Mad Batter: Cape May, NJ

MARYLAND:
* Ram's Head Tavern: Annapolis, MD
* Pratt St Ale House, Baltimore, MD
* Gena’s Songwriter’s Showcase, Annapolis, MD
* Stan and Joe's: Annapolis, MD
* House Concert, Gaithersburg, MD
* Anthem International Music Festival: College Park, MD
* Carribean Bar and Grille, Ocean City, MD
* My Brother's Place, Waldorf, MD
* NASA Goddard, Greenbelt, MD

NORTH / SOUTH CAROLINA:
* Howards Pub, Ocracoke Island, NC
* The Jolly Roger, Ocracoke Island, NC
* Ocrafolk Opry, Ocracoke Island, NC
* The Pelican, Ocracoke Island, NC
* Kelly’s, Nag’s Head, NC
* Outer Banks Brewing Station, Kill Devil Hills, NC
* Mulligans, Nags Head, NC
* Quagmire’s, Nags Head, NC
* Jack in the Wood, Asheville, NC
* Shakedown St, Raleigh, NC
* Fray House Concerts, Concord, NC
* The Mellow Mushroom, Charleston, SC

WASHINGTON DC:
*National Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington DC
* The Rookery, Washington DC
* Ebenezer’s, Washington DC

DELAWARE:
* Dewey Beach Music Conference, Dewey Beach, DE
* Dewey Beach Popfest: Dewey Beach, DE
* Dewey Beach Americana Fest, Dewey Beach, DE

FLORIDA:
* 30A Songwriters Festival, Seaside, FL
* Pandora, Grayton Beach, FL
* Pizza Bar, Seaside, FL
* Hibiscus, Grayton Beach, FL
* Florida Music Fest with Headliner Blue Man Group: Orlando, FL
* The Treasure Ship, Panama City Beach, FL
* Ponce De Leon State Park, FL

ARIZONA:
* Sedona International Film Festival: Sedona, AZ
* Studio Live Sedona: Sedona, AZ
* First Fridays: Phoenix, AZ
* Tempe Marketplace: Tempe, AZ
* Desert Ridge Marketplace: Phoenix, AZ
* theSPACE: Phoenix, AZ
* The Jester Room: Phoenix, AZ
* The Farm, Phoenix, AZ
* Fatso's Pizza, Phoenix, AZ
* Rogue Bar, Phoenix, AZ



TEXAS:
* USA Songwriting Showcase for SXSW, Austin, TX
* Bat Bar: Austin, TX (SXSW)
* KickButt Coffee: Austin, TX (SXSW)
* Headhunters: Austin, TX (SXSW)
* 1st St Food Truck Park: Austin, TX (SXSW)

MASSACHUSETTS:
* Lowell Folk Festival: Lowell, MA
* McGann's: Boston, MA
* Furey's: Lowell, MA
* Jetties: Nantucket, MA
* Green Land Cafe' : Salem, MA

NEW MEXICO:
* Little Wing: Santa Fe, NM

LOUISIANA:
* Cutting Edge Music Showcase and Conference: New Orleans, LA

GEORGIA:
*Borders Books and Music, Atlanta, GA

CONNECTICUT:
*Two Boots: Bridgeport, CT

NEW HAMPSHIRE:
*Stone Church, Newmarket, NH

MAINE:
*Slainte's: Portland, ME
*Dogfish Bar: Portland, ME



VIRGINIA:
*The National (headliner), Richmond VA
* Many performances at The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA
* VA Beach Clearchannel Beachevents: Virginia Beach, VA
* Jammin Java, Vienna, VA
*The Norva, Norfolk, VA
* Tidewater Friends of Folk Music Headliner for Season Opener, Virginia Beach, VA
* Capital Ale House Music Hall headliner, Richmond VA
* Bena Country Store Songwriters Series (2011, 2012), Hayes, VA
* The Tobacco Company, Richmond, VA
* Rock N Roll Half Marathon with headliner INXS, Virginia Beach, VA
* House Concert for Tidewater Arts Outreach, Norfolk, VA
* Benefit for Hands Accross Middlesex VA
* Harborfest ‘06 with headliner Sugar Ray: attracts 30,000, Norfolk, VA
* Harborfest ‘07with headliner Los Lonely Boys, Norfolk, VA
* Ashland Coffee and Tea, Ashland ,VA
* New Town After Hours in Williamsburg, VA
* William and Mary Basketball: sang the national anthem and performed the half time show at two games
* Sweet Briar College, Lynchburg, VA
* University of Mary Washington: Fredericksburg, VA
* Fridays at the Fountain, Norfolk, VA
* Williamsburg First Night New Year’s Bash ’06 and ’07, Williamsburg, VA
* William and Mary Family Weekend ’06 and ’07, Williasmburg, VA
* Celebrate Fairfax headliners OK Go and Joan Jett : Fairfax, VA
* Sunrise to Sunset Music Fest, Norfolk, VA
* CBS 6 TV, VA. This Morning show 2009, Richmond, VA
* Chrysler Camp Jeep 2007 with headliners Tim McGraw and the B-52's, Charlottesville, VA
* The Listening Room at MadArts: Charlottesville, VA
* Glass House Winery, Charlottesville, VA
* Urbanna Oyster Festival, Urbanna, VA
* Birdland Music in-Store Concert and promo, Virginia Beach, VA
* Northumberland High School, Heathsville, VA
* Kelly’s Backstage NorVa Tavern, Norfolk, VA
* KC’s Music Alley: Fredericksburg, VA
* Java Jack's: Tappahannock, VA
* Good Luck Cellars: Kilmarnock, VA
* W&M Media Benefit organized by Shane and the WM Musician's Union, Williamsburg, VA
* Residency as the featured artist/host/booking agent for JM Randall's Acoustic Cafe' night in Williasmburg, VA
* Organized/performed at the first Treestock Music Fest for Earth Day: Warsaw, VA
* Aroma’s, Williamsburg, VA
* The Loft: Fredericksburg, VA
* Newport News Folk Festival, VA ’08 and ‘09
* SDS Free Speech Rally, Williamsburg, VA
* Fox 43 News at 7am, Hampton Roads, VA
* William and Mary Barnes and Noble Bookstore, Williamsburg, VA
* Black History Celebration at Rappahannock High School, Warsaw, VA
* Chalk Fest: Gloucester, VA
* Virginia Beach Hilton, Virginia Beach, VA
* Lilian Lumber 100th Anniversary, Burgess, VA
* Toliver House Restaurant, Charlottesville, VA
* Picker’s Supply Songwriter’s Showcase, Fredericksburg, VA
* Black History Celebration, Newport News, VA
* The Canal Club with 102.1FM the X, Richmond, VA
* Rappahannock Community College, Glenns, VA
* West Point Crab Festival, West Point, VA
* Y Rocks the Neck Music Festival, VA; Opened for Fighting Gravity, Lively, VA
* Marker 20 for the Blackbeard Festival, Hampton Roads, VA
* Hell’s Kitchen: Norfolk, VA
* Opus 9, Williamsburg, VA (residency)
* Tap House, Norfolk, VA
* Northern Neck Music Fest , Lancaster, VA
* Abbey Road Pub and Restaurant, Virginia Beach, VA
* Northumberland High School, Heathsville, VA
* Aroma's Oyster Point, Newport News, VA
*Granby North, Norfolk, VA
* Black History Celebration, VA Beach Public Library, Virginia Beach, VA
* Café Mojo, Urbanna, VA
* Yankee Candle, Williamsburg, VA
* Ferebee’s, Tappahannock, VA
* Boathouse Café, Deltaville and Urbanna, VA
* An Occasion for the Arts, Williamsburg, VA
* Rappahannock Community College, Warsaw, VA
* Anna’s Lounge, Warsaw, VA
* The City of Fredericksburg Paddlewheeler Cruise, Fredericksburg , VA
* Relay for Life Walkathon, Tappahannock, VA
* 2004-06 State Beta Club Convention, Richmond, VA
* Locusville Music Festival, Lancaster, VA
* Lively Fireman’s Festival, Lively, VA
* Coles Point Music Fest, VA, Opened for Rick Derringer & Georgia Satellites, Coles Point, VA
* Rivah Fest, Tappahannock, VA
* Conrad’s Upper Deck Restaurant, Lancaster, VA
* Pilot’s Wharf Restaurant, Coles Point, VA
* Windy 105 Christmas Concert, Kilmarnock, VA
* WRAR Christmas Wishes Program, Tappahannock, VA
* Cooter’s, Sperryville, VA






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AWARDS, TITLES and NOMINATIONS:

* selected as a showcasing artist for the USA Songwriting Contest showcase at South by Southwest, Austin, TX

* Finalist for "Best Male Artist" for the 2013 International Acoustic Music Awards (IAMA)

* 1st Runner Up for "Best Male Artist" for the 2010 International Acoustic Music Awards (IAMA).

* Finalist for the Moutain Stage NewSong Contest 2009

* Winner for "Best Male Unsigned Artist" for Will's Room Live Awards

* Chosen for September's top ten artists on NewMusic Ten (2012)

* song "Speed of Life" selected for the Music for Troops Compilation CD

* song "Window Shopping for a Long Lost Lover" sent to Americana radio across the US by Alternate Root Magazine

*selected to headline the National in Richmond, VA

*song "California Nights" 2011 semi-finalist for UK Songwriting Contest

* song "My Asbury Park" 2008 semi-finalist for UK Songwriting Contest with judges Simon Cowell and Sir Paul McCartney

* song “Too Much, Too Soon, Too Bad” semi-finalist in the 2009 UK Songwriting Contest

* song "Too Much, Too Soon, Too Bad," Honorable Mention for the 17th Annual Billboard Songwriting Contest

* songs "My Asbury Park" and "Speed of Life" Honorable Mentions for the 16th Annual Billboard Songwriting Contest

* Semi-finalist in Lanshark Lager's Battle of the Bands

* Runner up for Mike Pinder's Bandwars Comp CD recognition for Outstanding Songwriting Acheivement

* Semi-Finalist for the International Songwriting Contest 2009 for which with judges including Rob Thomas

* Chosen twice as one of twelve “Futures” for XM Radio as an artist “gaining momentum every day,”

* Honorable mention for the Mailibu Music Awards 2008

* Recipient of the ASCAPlus Award in 2006 and 2007

* Semifinalist for the Independent Music World Series 2006-2008

* Nominee for the Virginia Music Awards by Ninevolt Magazine for Folk/Acoustic Artist of the Year 2004

* December 2009 Folk Alley Artist of the Month

* Chosen to sing the National Anthem at William and Mary Basketball Games

* Semi-Finalist in the 102.1 the X Local X-Posure Series,

* William and Mary Leadership Award


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MUSIC IN SCHOOLS / LECTURE GIVING

* College of William and Mary: guest teacher for Music Composition I
* Grafton Middle School, Yorktown, VA
* Lancaster Middle School, Kilmarnock, VA
* Northumberland High School, Northumberland, VA
* Bruton High School, Williamsburg,VA
* Rappahannock High School, Warsaw, VA



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BOOKS:

* song, “Day-Lily” used in conjunction with the children’s book, Tree-riffic! by Jean Hornsby and editor Ron Payne.



______________________________________________________



ACTOR / HOST / SPEAKER:

* Panelist at The Millenium Music Conference in Harrisburg, PA with the Home Sweet Home Tour
* Panelist at Cape May Singer/Songwriter Music Conference in Cape May, NJ with the Home Sweet Home Tour
* Guest speaker at Rappahannock High School talking about teen suicide prevention, Warsaw, VA
* Guest Speaker Lancaster Middle School, Lancaster, VA
* Speaker, Northumberland High School
* Taught a class on composition as a guest teacher at the College of William and Mary
* Runner-up for Paramount’s School of Rock musical King’s Dominon Theatre
* Host - Treestock Music Fest
* Host and founder – Acoustic Café’ Night in Williamsburg, VA
* Lead roles in several school plays including:
- "Juliet’s Ghost"
- "Sure Thing"


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ARTWORK / DESIGN

-designed a series of Western shirts inspired by vintage Nudie Western shirts for OCB Clothing
-designed artwork for The Midnight Oil EP




CHARITY:

*performed a benefit for The River Counties Red Cross to help out with Hurricane Irene damage in his hometown
*performed a benefit for Zoar Baptist Church in Deltaville, VA, after the church was destroyed by a tornado
*performed at the National in Richmond, arranging for the Central VA Food Bank to have a collection barrel and informing the audience about their "text to give" program
*Valentine's Day performance at Rappahanock High School in hometown Warsaw, VA, benefitting Teen Suicide
* Created 105.5 WRAR Shane Cooley Christmas Wishes CD Drive 2004-2008
* Organized the first Treestock Music Festival for Earth Day
* Performed for "Read Accross America" teaching children about literacy and songwriting in 2007 and 2008
* Performed a benefit for PIPE (an organization providing indoor plumbing for impoverished familes in the Williamsburg area)
* F.A.C.C
* Organized a benefit fundraiser concert for William and Mary's Media Center
* Volunteered to help Tidewater Arts Outreach support in fundraising for WHRO/WHRV


SHANE COOLEY SUPPORTS:

Central Virginia Food Bank
Teen Suicide awareness
Missing
Red Cross
WRAR 105.5 Christmas Wishes
Nature Conservatory



______________________________________________________




EDUCATION:

B.A. in English at the College of William and Mary



______________________________________________________



OTHER ACTIVITIES:

* booking agent for various venues and events
* producer
* artist (designed artwork for several CD covers)
* lead guitarist for other artists
* guitar teacher
* substitute teacher at Richmond County Public Schools



______________________________________________________




REVIEW QUOTES (see more in media):

“Genuine sounding. I felt like I was listening to a movie soundtrack for something from the late 60's….Cat Stevens, Bob Dylan, sweet Baby James…Shane is in his own world in 2010 and writing music that is unique and refreshing to listen to.…this is cult following folky listening."

~Angela Hutchinson, ANRGirl: review of The Vagabond EP


"Shane is not a one-trick pony. He may not have much on stage with him besides an acoustic guitar and a harmonica, but he manages to keep all his songs quite different from one another. I think it's an achievement, as a performer, that he can get up there and have good enough control over his guitar work and over his voice that the audience can feel like they're in a smoke-filled beatnik barroom in one song and a gunfight in Mexico in the next."
~Will Murphy, Magazine 33: Richmond, VA: live concert review


"Cooley isn’t some college kid that woke up last week and decided to sell his bong and buy a guitar so that he could impress his hipster buddies. He’s been writing songs since he was 13 years old and has applied much study as to what works and what is real in his life and ultimately, his music."
~John Pfeifer, Aquarian Weekly: New York/New Jersey



"..both sweet and melancholy, a poignant slice of Americana pop that shows continued artistic growth for an already talented young musician."
~Sam McDonald, The Daily Press: Hampton Roads, Virginia: review of "Window Shopping for a Long Lost Lover"


"Cooley combines melodic indie rock with lazy country undertones, melded together with patchy production quality that gives [The Midnight Oil] EP a sweet, homegrown sound..... If I was in a bar and Cooley was playing, I’d sit back and listen and probably enjoy myself. If he was playing on the radio, I’d probably leave the station on. And if he releases a full length album, hopefully, it captures the simplicity of this short EP."
~Jennifer Bradshaw, Metromix Jersey Shore: review of the Midnight Oil EP


"Shane successfully walks two grounds: his catalog, sung with full band as it is mostly here, consists of good rockers; when in just a boy-and-guitar mode….Shane’s voice is strong with an occasional warble at the end of the lyric line. Certainly, I can see him catching on, especially as a start with college radio."
~Robert Barry Francos, Jersey Beat Fanzine: review of Whirlpool


"Later on Shane Cooley showed I was right for making sure I didn't miss his set. He was one of my pre-Wave favorites and he definitely delivered. Cooley, from Virginia, gave a set highlighted by the song which apparently caught the attention of the Wave Festival folks enough to bring him here. The song was called "My Asbury Park" and it was simply wonderful. "
~Gary Wien, Asbury Music, June 23, 2008: live concert review


"Shane Cooley writes strong songs with nice hooks and is very dedicated to his career."
~Chris Keup, producer/songwriter (Jason Mraz)


“[Shane]’s one of those guys who matches his growing skills with equal doses of hard work.”
~Rob Hedelt, The Free Lance-Star


"In a world full of dog eat dog ladder climbing, Shane Cooley is a bright and positive influence."
~John Pfeifer, Aquarian Weekly: New York/New Jersey


"Shane is an artist committed to his craft and his positive outlook and drive will take him where he wants to go. When you see him perform, you'll see what I mean."
~Steve Bassett, producer/songwriter

Instrumentation

Shane Cooley: vocals, guitars, harmonica, songwriter
(www.myspace.com/shanecooley)
(www.shanecooleymusic.com)

Discography

Recordings available on iTunes, Napster, Amazon, CD Baby, Plan 9 Music Stores, Birdland Music, and live shows

2012:

-WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS: Produced by Adam Smith and Shane Cooley. Mastered by Jamison Weddle at Studiocat Mastering (Nils Lofgren). Indie Folk

2011:

-WEST LAND: Produced by Stewart Myers (Lifehouse, Jason Mraz) and Shane Cooley. Most of the instruments performed by Shane Cooley. Mastered by Kevorkian Mastering (The White Stripes, Ryan Adams) at Avatar Studios NYC. Folk rock with a generous nod to the 1970s.


2010:

-DEMOS 2010: ten new and unreleased songs recorded by Shane Cooley. Available free with other purchase at live shows.

-The Vagabond EP: produced by Shane Cooley. Engineered by Gary Mitchell at Soundside Studios on Ocracoke Island, NC. recorded with Molasses Creek mandolin and dobro as a roots-folk effort.

2009:

-The Midnight Oil EP: produced by Stewart Myers (Jason Mraz, Lifehouse, Mandy Moore, Rachael Yamagata). Solo acoustic.

2007:

-Whirlpool: produced by Stewart Myers (Jason Mraz, Lifehouse, Mandy Moore). Mastered by Fred Kevorkian (The White Stripes, Ryan Adams, Beyonce) at Avatar Studios NYC. fully-produced album.

-Shane Cooley and the Aviators. (demo): produced and engineered by Stewart Myers (Jason Mraz, Lifehouse, Mandy Moore) at Mousetrap studio. four-song rock demo.

2006:

-Christmas EP: four original Christmas songs recorded at WRRW Williamsburg Public Radio

-Flying Naked: produced by Stewart Myers and Chris Keup (Jason Mraz, Lifehouse) at the Mouse Trap. Mastered by Fred Kevorkian (Willie Nelson, Iggy Pop) at Avatar Studios NYC. A pop album.

2005:

-Me, Myself and You: Produced by Steve Bassett at his studio. solo acoustic

2004:

-Climb: Recorded at Winter Sound Studio by Bob Gurske. with band.

2003:

-Positive Reinforcement: Recorded at Wintersound Studio by Bob Gurske.

-Dance as if No One Were Watching: Self-recorded by Shane Cooley.

2002:

-Just Call Me: Self-recorded by Shane Cooley.

2001:

-Live On USA (single): Recorded by Press-a-demo. Proceeds went to the Red Cross for 9/11.

-Introducing Shane Cooley: Recorded by Wayne Robinson at his studio. Received local radio airplay.

Official Website

http://www.shanecooleymusic.com

Links

• Facebook
• MySpace
• Twitter
• Shane Cooley Youtube

Audio

• Too Much Risk Involved (Censored)
  Listen   Download
• San Diego
  Listen   Download
• Irene
  Listen   Download
• California Nights
  Listen   Download
• Loyalty
  Listen   Download
• Really
  Listen   Download
• College Town
  Listen   Download
• My Asbury Park
  Listen   Download

Lyrics

• Too Much Risk Involved
• San Diego
• Irene
• California Nights
• Loyalty
• Really
• College Town
• My Asbury Park
• Bad Luck You Lose

Video

Shane Cooley: "Irene" at Hard Rock Cafe' Phoenix

Shane Cooley "Too Much Risk Involved" @ unofficial SXSW showcase

Photo Gallery

Press

• Shane Cooley: West Land Rising [+ Show ]
  

  Shane Cooley is a product of the times. For his sound, the music that acts as influence goes back to...Shane Cooley is a product of the times. For his sound, the music that acts as influence goes back to when the times they were a changin’. Back to a world where the singer/songwriter was offering wisdom and experience on a mainstream level. From rural Virginia,twenty-three year old Shane has built a career in song and on stage for close to a decade. Touring takes him across the country that he, in turn, name checks on his recent release, ‘West Land’.
  
  The songs each have a backdrop that looms large in the story line. The “College Town” referenced is a universal place. The geography is flexible, it takes in a lot of territory but the feelings inside never move beyond one goal, heading out and finding something better. When Shane crawls into the skin of Jim Bowie to tell a personal tale of “The Alamo”, he breaks down a history of America, one that birthed a state, to the inner thoughts of a man who is less myth and very human. A character who ‘tonight doesn’t want any trouble” and is seeking some quiet time where he can “cut this Jim Bowie act for a while”.
  
  It is good story telling that can let the scenery be already in place before the song begins. We can use our own knowledge of the end as a character in a tale that is just beginning. Continuing the wider picture approach, Shane uses “San Diego” and “California Nights” as images and characters. While “Window Shopping” he falls back in time, letting an act lead to a memory, the reflection clears from a blur and the long lost lover search is on.
  
  ‘West Land’ showcases Shane Cooley’s dedication to the art of the song as much as it reflects his life on the road in America, bringing music to one city at a time. The album that he envisioned when he partnered with producer Stewart Myers gives a generous nod to the folk and rock and roll of the 1960’s and 1970s. Shane plays most of the instruments himself, crafting an album that he feels is “the first record that truly sounds like me.”
  
  Singer/songwriters tend to look inside as much as they point their pens on the world. What could pass for an autobiography on Shane Cooley is lodged on ‘West Land’ in the track “21st Century”. In the story, the narrator reveals himself early, “my heart isn’t broken, it’s frozen, in a century where I don’t belong”’ showing us “battle scars on my skin, but not as many as I may deserve, I attempt to defend the spirit within but I don’t have the guts to really get hurt”. Like Shane, the advice he could have gotten away with this in ’68 but he is forty-years too late. He sees the towns that go by, the laws we live under, with same vision of fire that came from the songs of writers who had the benefit of people listening when they sang. His patron saints are the poets who spat in society’s face only to know that he “cannot afford that fate in the 21st century”.
  
  It is the age old question of who took to the road first, the singer or the song. The yin and yang of the traveling troubadour is the tales they carry.

• Shane Cooley: The One-Man Band Makes Waves The Old-Fashioned Way [+ Show ]
  

  D.C. - Shane Cooley, the man with a smooth name and a sound to match, brought something special to t...D.C. - Shane Cooley, the man with a smooth name and a sound to match, brought something special to the stage at Ebenezers Coffeehouse in Washington D.C. With his harmonica blowing, feet stomping, and guitar shredding, Shane Cooley lit the night up and gave the audience all that they could ever ask for - short of setting his guitar on fire. Singer, songwriter, and veritable one-man band, Cooley wears many hats. Literally speaking, he was wearing a very smooth hat during our interview, which distracted me a bit with thoughts of how I would look in the same headgear. With that being said, Shane is many things, though the title of "workhorse" surges to the forefront of my mind. I was floored when he humbly conveyed to me how he just finished touring and performing 49 shows in 45 days … I repeat - 49 shows in 45 days. Coast to coast, I might add. Seeing as how he will be touring all the way through 2012, it is undeniable that Shane Cooley is a man on a mission. With his dynamic performances and burgeoning cult-like following, Cooley will soon have his mission accomplished.
  
  33: What genre of music do you consider your sound to be?
  
  Shane Cooley: I get that question a lot. My answer is retro-folk rock. I sort of, as a person and a musician, feel misplaced in the twenty-first century.
  
  33: How late do you think you are?
  
  SC: Forty, fifty years late. I resonate from the sixties and seventies a lot, that’s sort of the music I grew up on. I listen to some modern stuff, but I really try to bring back the classic singer/songwriter vibe.
  
  33: Who did you listen to growing up?
  
  SC: Dylan was definitely a huge influence. I listened to a lot of Hendrix and Zeppelin, and then as I got older I started listening to jazz and some hip-hop. Stuff you wouldn’t really hear in my music, but it’s still very influential. I can tell it’s there, even if other people can’t.
  
  33: Is that where you draw your inspiration?
  SC: Yeah, I listen to a lot of music, but I’m a very lyrical person. I read a lot of poetry, I read a lot of novels.
  
  33: Do you write all of your songs?
  
  SC: I do.
  
  33: Your album West Land came out in February. How’s that working for you?
  
  SC: It’s going well, getting some radio airplay. It's actually been picked up by Clear Channel now. I’m hoping the airplay will get more extensive in the near future. It’s on XM radio, too. The cool thing about it is one of the songs from Westland, "Last Love," got me second place for best male artist at the international acoustic music awards. That’s really gotten me a lot of exposure.
  
  33: How’d you feel when you found out you won?
  
  SC: Pretty good, man. I never win contests. I’m one of those guys who seem like they have the bad luck of the draw. I don’t know, I lucked out on that one.
  
  33: Where do you see yourself in five years?
  
  SC: I wanna go absolutely as far as I can go. I want to have some diehard fans. I’m not really interested in the whole American Idol, Top 40-type thing. I wanna have the comfort of knowing that whether or not I’m getting a lot of radio airplay, there are still people following my music.
  
  33: Are you under a label?
  
  SC: No, I’m completely on my own, but the way I did the tour was pretty interesting. The tour was called the Home Sweet Home Tour. I got together with some acts from different parts of the country - the Melillo Brothers, Adam Smith from Nashville, and Adam Webb from Philly. We just went to everybody’s hometown, so we all had a free place to crash, and we had everyone’s home crowd. So if my draw in Philly was weaker than it was in Virginia, Adam Webb could hook me up with his people. It was a cool concept, having collaborations instead of competition. We were able to make it worth it.
  
  33: Do you have groupies?
  
  SC: No comment [laughs]. There are definitely followers - I don’t know if they would appreciate being called groupies or not - but they're there.
  
  33: Tell me about your song “California Nights.”
  
  SC: It was about the first time I had been on the West Coast. I just wanted to write a rock 'n' roll song, man. I really wanted to represent the excitement of being out there for the first time. It had been a while since I had written a real rock 'n' roll song, and I’m very proud of it. It’s got that sort of classic rock 'n' roll vibe.
  
  33: Do you come from a musically inclined family?
  
  SC: Actually, my dad’s playing drums tonight, so that’s cool. Basically, how I got started was my dad was playing guitar - I was, like, ten - my dad said, "Shane, get on the drums," and halfway through he stopped and was like, "Shane you got it." So I just kept going from there.
  
  33: What other instruments do you play?
  
  SC: I play guitar, harmonica, bass, a little bit of piano, and drums.
  
  33: You mentioned earlier you have a lead guitarist coming on tonight.
  
  SC: Yeah, his name is Curtis Prince. He’s a solo artist from Charlottesville. I played a few shows with him, and it sort of happened we just started jamming together. He’s got some really cool sounds coming up.
  
  33: Dead or alive, who would you most want to collaborate with?
  
  SC: I would have to say Jerry Garcia. I’ve really been listening to the Dead a lot lately. My music isn’t very jammy, but its definitely got a lot of Grateful Dead songwriting technique in it. I would really love to hear his flicks on my song.
  
  33: What part of the music scene don’t you like today?
  
  SC: I don’t like the misconception of the music scene. I think that a lot of non-musicians have sort of been led on by American Idol and other TV shows. I wish I had a dollar for every time someone says I should be on that show. I have to correct them. To me, American Idol has this get-rich-quick scheme to it, and that’s not how it works. I really think it’s important to educate people on how it really is in the music scene. Let me tell ya, there are guys out there who are ten times worse than Simon.
  
  33: Is there anything you want the fans to know about your music, your style?
  
  SC: The main thing is that my songs are very real. I’m a shy person, my music is very autobiographical, and my performances are very emotional. They’re a lot of fun, too. Hopefully, fans will come away relating to it, because one of the best parts of being a musician is when someone comes up to you and says, "Hey, your song helped me get through a tough time." To me, one of the things that get you through life is a good song. So whenever anyone says that about my music, I’m absolutely flattered.
  
  Shane Cooley may be flattered, but I was blown away by his epic performance at Ebenezers. His standing a top a chair with the crowd rocking and his fist held high, embodied for me, the spirit of folk music.
  

• Concert Raises Money for the Red Cross [+ Show ]
  

  Concert helps Red Cross By Abby Walter Northern Neck News Student Intern Although the stu...Concert helps Red Cross
  By Abby Walter
  Northern Neck News Student Intern
  Although the students change, the teachers come and go, and the school programs differ, fall and the beginning of school are a constant.
  Last week, Rappahannock High School began a new school year with Jesse Boyd as the new principal and Jason Strong as the new vice principal. The annual Student Council Association held their meeting with all grade levels and introduced all the clubs and new teachers to the student body.
  Among the myriad activities going on at the beginning of the school year, there is one that stands out. Inspiration Elevation, an open mic and poetry reading program that was begun last year and continued through the summer, had its first regularly sched uled event of the school year at Java Jacks Coffee House. Shane Cooley was the featured performer. The event was developed by RHS English teacher, Grover Cleveland Winfield III and Mimi McComb, owner of Java Jacks, and has really grown a following in the past few months. The program was launched for visual artists, musicians, poets, novelists, comedians, and rappers.
  The free show held Sept. 10 took up a collection of donations for the River Counties Red Cross. The River Counties Red Cross helped people affected by Hurricane Irene when the Northern Neck was hit two weeks ago.
  Winfield said that raising money for the Red Cross was purely Cooley’s idea. He described Shane as a very caring person.
  “I think we are truly blessed to have someone so passionate about his craft and talented in what he does come to support our venue. Shane Cooley is an extraordinary talent and one of my favorite artists,” he said.
  Shane Cooley, a graduate of RHS and son of former principal, Jack Cooley, is a professional musician. He just recently returned from “The Heart on a Suitcase Tour” that spanned the Northeast with singer and songwriter, Rosa Wallace. Before that, he was on a 45-day tour which consisted of 49 shows. While in the area, Cooley spoke with local radio station, 105.5 WRAR FM, to promote his performance at Java Jacks. Cooley also just came out with a new album, West Land.
  In the past, Cooley has performed locally at RHS to raise money for children with muscular dystrophy and to raise awareness about teen suicide. He also performed to help with donations for Zoar Baptist Church after they were devastated by the tornado in Deltaville.
  “I became adamant about making music my career when I realized that I could do things like this,” he said.
  As Winfield introduced Cooley to the stage he explains what an inspiration Shane has been in his life. When Cooley takes to the stage he bellows a loud “Hello Tappahannock!” and soon afterwards jokingly says, “Not many people get to say that.” Watching this local musician, it seems he is completely in his element as he cracks jokes between songs.
  “There is nothing else for me. Over the past couple years I’ve undergone a bit of a metamorphosis, where I’ve realized just what I need to do in order to actually make this music thing happen. I’ve made a lot of sacrifices for the sake of my art,” he explains.
  Cooley brought a high level of energy to the night. The success of the open mic night sparked another program, Deft Poetry Society. Deft Poetry Society is a club founded by Grover Cleveland Winfield III, Alessa Leming, a local poet, and John W. Ashley, pastor of Tappahannock Memorial United Methodist Church. For those who are passionate about poetry in their everyday lives, the first meeting of the society will be Wednesday, September 14th at 6:00 p.m. at Tappahannock Memorial United Methodist Church.
  Since Cooley has spent a lot of time on the road, returning to his hometown is a big deal.
  “Over the past two years, I’ve received a fair amount of messages about when I’m performing in the area again. Well, here I am!”

• Concert Raises Money for Tornado Relief [+ Show ]
  

  A pair of benefit concerts over the May 21-22 weekend netted more than $8,000 for recovery efforts h...A pair of benefit concerts over the May 21-22 weekend netted more than $8,000 for recovery efforts happening in the wake of month's destructive tornadoes.
  
  A May 21 concert by songwriter Shane Cooley raised nearly $6,200 to help rebuild the tornado-wrecked Zoar Baptist Church in Deltaville.
  
  "It went great, a nice big crowd. I'd say half the town showed up," said Cooley, speaking from Nashville where he's spending a few days writing songs. "It was a lovely evening, the show was held at a ballpark with the stage right on the pitchers mound. A very all-American kind of venue."
  
  Cooley grew up on the Northern Neck. He said one of his high school teachers is the wife of the pastor at Zoar. When the tornado hit, the couple ran into the church to take shelter and somehow survived although much of the church was crushed.
  
  In the wake of the disaster, Cooley called and offered to play a free show to help raise money to rebuild the church.
  
  "It was good to be helping out a cause," Cooley said. "I just wanted to help. I'm glad people were game about it."
  

• Shane Cooley & Rosa Wallace: New Jersey Stage [+ Show ]
  

  (ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- Nationally-touring singer/songwriters Shane Cooley and Rosa Wallace have been o...(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- Nationally-touring singer/songwriters Shane Cooley and Rosa Wallace have been on the scene as solo artists for quite some time. Now, they have decided to join forces. The Heart on a Suitcase Tour is their first tour as a duo, making stops throughout the Northeast and New England. The artists will be performing their solo material, as well as their newly co-written work. Rosa's performance has been described as "physically and emotionally unable to stop listening to," (Jellyfinders Podcast), as Shane has been described as "giving the audience all that we could ask for - short of setting his guitar on fire," (Magazine 33).
  The Heart on a Suitcase Tour will be performing on Tuesday, August 2 at The Saint, located on 601 Main St. Also on the bill will be Los Angeles singer/songwriter Sharif.
  
  Shane Cooley, who is no stranger to Asbury Park, is particularly excited to return. "I've fallen in love with it, and I've made it a tour stop ever since I performed at the Wave Gathering in '08," he said. "I think it's important that touring artists continue to pass through and help in spread the word about Asbury's vibrant music scene." Cooley recently won 2nd place for "Best Male Artist" in the International Acoustic Music Awards.
  
  Rosa Wallace, a North Carolina native, has been writing and performing music since age twelve in various bands. With a background in musical theatre, she is now pursuing a full-time career as a singer/songwriter. Both artists have toured the U.S several times.
  
  After a week of writing and performing in Cooley's home state of Virginia, both artists were excited to hit the road as a collaborative act. "The first thing that struck me about Rosa is that she is just as determined as I am," said Cooley. "We are both very driven artists, and we challenge each other. We also have a musical chemistry, which is something that cannot be faked." Their personal chemistry is also evident in their stage banter.
  
  Although Wallace and Cooley's solo material is mostly in the folk rock vein, Motown is also an influence for their duo work. The Heart on a Suitcase Tour is named after one of the first songs they wrote together, which symbolizes their lifestyles as travelling musicians.

• William and Mary Alumni Spotlight: Shane Cooley [+ Show ]
  

  Shane Cooley ’10: Home Sweet Home Never Sounded So Sweet BY HAYLEY SOOHOO ’12 October 6, 2010 ...Shane Cooley ’10: Home Sweet Home Never Sounded So Sweet
  
  BY HAYLEY SOOHOO ’12
  
  October 6, 2010
  
  
  WMAA HEADLINES
  Grand Marshal Carol Achenbach Hardy '49 to Lead Homecoming Parade
  William & Mary celebrates 83 years of welcoming alumni home
  Fall 2010 issue of the W&M Alumni Magazine online
  Flip through the W&M Alumni Journey 2011 catalog
  William & Mary dedicates memorial garden
  In high school, Shane Cooley ’10 was “that guy” — the quiet kid who kept to himself and was somewhat of an outcast. In Cooley’s case, while everyone else was playing sports, he was playing music.
  
  Cooley got his first musical experience when his father, a guitar player, let him play along on the drum set in the garage. His dad noticed his musicality and set his son up with a guitar. Soon, 10-year-old Cooley was writing songs, playing guitar, and learning how to play bass and piano.
  
  In just a few years, Cooley released his first recording, Introducing Shane Cooley, and from 2001 to 2010 he released many more recordings and six studio albums. He stayed involved in a few bands as well. Though his musical career was going very well, Cooley knew he wanted to attend college and get a degree. After winning his high school’s William and Mary Leadership Award, he was able to visit the College of William and Mary for a weekend and was “pretty much sold.” He loved the campus, explaining that it was “so beautiful” and that he “figured there would be a lot of places for [him] to sort of hide away and write some music.”
  
  Cooley was accepted to the College, and excited to attend. He was a little concerned though — most college freshmen don’t start school with an established career to worry about. Though he knew it would be difficult, he reminded himself that it was a smart thing to get an education as well as continue his musical endeavors. Cooley chose to pursue an English major, knowing it would help him with lyric writing.
  
  While at William and Mary, Cooley formed the William and Mary Musicians Union, which was an organization that made it easier for student musicians to find practice space and set up shows. He also coordinated an effort to raise money for the media center in the library.
  
  During his sophomore year, Cooley released what he calls his first breakthrough album: Whirlpool. This CD got him on the map, and since then he’s been doing follow-up EPs, waiting for the right time to make a full-length album. He notes that doing so is difficult now because people are “so obsessed with digital downloading,” which makes singles much more attractive than entire records.
  
  The busy student-musician also found time to perform at the 2010 South By Southwest Music and Film Interactive (SXSW), a well-known music festival held annually in Austin, Texas. He earned his spot there through the USA Songwriting Contest. Cooley explained that performing at SXSW was “a blast,” and that he met a lot of musicians and got to spend time with some of his favorite bands.
  
  Cooley went on a West Coast tour with singer-songwriter Adam Smith. Not long after, Cooley hit the road again, this time on the Home Sweet Home tour, which he calls the “highlight of his career” thus far. He traveled and sometimes performed with three other artists: The Melillo Brothers, Adam Web and Adam Smith. The idea of the tour was to play in each of the groups’ home states, taking advantage of the support and hometown enthusiasm. After 17 shows in 18 days, Cooley emerged with new friendships, experience, and the realization that every time he is on tour he feels like he is in “the exact right place” he needs to be in — as he put it, “I thrive on it.”
  
  The Home Sweet Home Tour’s great success provided some great opportunities to Cooley and his tour mates, such as being asked to serve as panelists at the Millennium Music Conference and the Singer-Songwriter Cape May conference. Cooley recently performed at the Virginia Beach Public Library on behalf of the Tidewater Friends of Folk Music, and is excited to come home and share what he has been working on. He will be performing at the National in Richmond on Oct. 16.
  
  He is also reconnecting with the members of the Home Sweet Home Tour and preparing for another one. Cooley likes working with the group because he says they are “working as a team … a small label almost. We are pooling connections and fighting for this on our own.”
  
  Though Cooley’s career has been successful for quite a few years, his identity as a musician is really starting to solidify. In terms of songwriting, Cooley notes that the process isn’t the same as it was when he was younger; he explains, “When I was younger I would write songs left and right. Now I’m starting to sort of take my time and make myself stop writing a song and come back to it later.”
  
  His sound has changed too — his music is often generally classified as folk, but Cooley remarks that elements of rock and country have come into and out of his songs in the last few years as well.
  
  William and Mary also played a part in Cooley’s musical upbringing. It was more than just a venue at which he could write — the campus atmosphere just “got a lot of songs out of [him],” and he explains that the people he met over the years and the experiences he had are things he will never forget.
  
  He may have a crazy, hectic lifestyle, but Cooley asserts he is living his dream and “going for it with all [his] heart.” He says he “doesn’t see any end to it,” but it must be nice to know he has home sweet home to come back to.
  
  
  
  

• Various Reviews [+ Show ]
  

  "Shane Cooley writes strong songs with nice hooks and is very dedicated to his career." -Chris Ke..."Shane Cooley writes strong songs with nice hooks and is very dedicated to his career."
  
  -Chris Keup, producer/songwriter (Jason Mraz)
  
  
  “[Shane]’s beginning to take his self-taught talents to the next level, largely because he’s one of those guys who matches his growing skills with equal doses of hard work.”
  
  -Rob Hedelt, The Free Lance-Star
  
  "Shane Cooley showed I was right for making sure I didn’t miss his set. He was one of my pre-Wave favorites and he definitely delivered. Cooley, from Virginia, gave a set highlighted by the song which apparently
  caught the attention of the Wave Festival folks enough to bring him here. The song was called “My Asbury Park” and it was simply wonderful. Ironically, he wrote it without ever being in Asbury Park before, so he was excited to be able to perform it here."
  
  ~Gary Wien
  
  
  
  "We inadvertently caught Shane Cooley's set at the Twisted Tree Café, but both Lazlo and I were glad we did. Shane is a young singer/songwriter from Virginia who came up to Asbury for the weekend. He’s a sharp dresser with a pleasing, mellow style that reminded me a bit of the young James Taylor. Coincidentally, the first track on his new CD is called “My Asbury Park,” which isn’t about Asbury at all but rather about his own hometown, written and sung as a homage to Springsteen. It was definitely the highlight of his well-received set."
  
  ~Jim Testa, Jersey Beat Fanzine
  
  
  
  "Shane is an artist committed to his craft and his positive
  outlook and drive will take him where he wants to go.
  When you see him perform, you'll see what I mean."
  
  -Steve Bassett, producer/songwriter
  
  
  
  “Oh, It’s time I went on a limb again and predicted the next big thing…..This guy is 18? Such emotion and I dare say….wisdom? I’m going to need a copy of his birth certificate as proof!”
  
  -Ken, RadioisDead.net
  
  
  "Hailing from Virginia, SHANE COOLEY opens
  up “Whirlpool” (shanecooleymusic.com) with describing his home town as “My
  Asbury Park,” which of course is going to get the attention of a magazine named
  Jersey Beat (even though this reviewer is currently
  in/from Brooklyn). It also helps that the song is so, well, for a simple
  superlative, great. In the Kevin Devine style, Shane successfully walks two
  grounds: his catalog, sung with full band as it is mostly here, consists of
  good rockers; when in just a boy-and-guitar mode, such as with “Breath Sped,”
  are strong singer-songwriter material. I am on my third time through the CD,
  and find much to keep my interest, like “Whirlpool,” “Kamikaze,” and
  “Double-Edged Sword.” Shane’s voice is strong with an occasional warble at the
  end of the lyric line. Certainly, I can see him catching on, especially as a
  start with college radio."
  
  ~Rober Barry Francos, Jersey Beat Fanzine
  
  "Here's a guy to watch for in the future. Cooley has a rich voice and writes nice acoustic ballads. He's a diamond in the rough, but not for long."
  
  -Bill Bass: Ninevolt Magazine
  
  

• Sam McDonald review of Whirlpool: 2008 [+ Show ]
  

  SHANE COOLEY "WHIRLPOOL" Overview: A William and Mary student takes a creative step forward on this...SHANE COOLEY "WHIRLPOOL"
  Overview: A William and Mary student takes a creative step forward on this new collection of rock originals.
  
  Backstory: Cooley, who grew up on Virginia's Northern Neck, has been writing and recording his own songs since age 13. For almost as long, he's been doggedly chasing a career in rock music. Now, at age 20, he's in college and still pushing for an artistic and commercial breakthrough. On "Whirlpool," his creative partnership with bassist and producer Stewart Myers continues to bear fruit.
  
  Highlights: "Ides of March," which recalls Americana favorite Ryan Adams; the sarcastic "Indie Rocker;" "Speed of Life," a grooving rock song built around honest emotion.
  
  For fans of: Wallflowers, Ryan Adams, Matchbox Twenty
  
  Sam's take: Cooley's enthusiasm has always been infectious, but his artistic reach has sometimes exceeded his grasp. Several songs on "Whirlpool" suggest a bright future, though. "Speed of Life," for example, is a winner and his strongest track yet.
  
  More info: www.shanecooleymusic.com, www.myspace.com/shanecooley

• Free Lance-Star Interviews 2006 and 2010 [+ Show ]
  

  "I first wrote about Shane several years ago when he was a freshman in high school. At that point, ..."I first wrote about Shane several years ago when he was a freshman in high school. At that point, he'd already produced five of his own CDs and was starting to perform at small venues throughout the Northern Neck. I caught up with him last week in Williamsburg because he's beginning to take his self-taught talents to the next level, largely because he's one of those guys who matches his growing skills with equal doses of hard work."
  
  -Rob Hedelt, The Free-Lance Star
  
  
  
  
  
  2006:
  ______________
  
  WILLIAMSBURG--Perched atop a stool in a corner of a bookstore, Shane Cooley smiled as he heard his name mentioned on Barnes & Noble's loudspeaker.
  
  "Now appearing in the cafe: singer, songwriter, musician Shane Cooley," said the voice, inviting patrons to settle in for a listen, and informing them that two of his CDs were on sale in the store.
  
  "Well, that sounds pretty good," said Cooley, an 18-year-old who just graduated from Rappahannock High School in Warsaw and is heading to the College of William & Mary this fall. "I guess now I have to deliver."
  
  And deliver he did, running through an hour's worth of his original songs, accompanying himself on guitar and harmonica.
  
  Chatting with a small crowd that listened intently from rows of tables or while browsing the latest titles, Cooley sang of love and heartache, hope and loss, doubt and delight.
  
  In other words, the emotions blowing through the brain of a young songwriter with much of his life still out in front.
  
  "My plan, if you want to call it that, is to come down here and take Williamsburg by storm," said Cooley, who was accompanied to the show by his girlfriend and two biggest fans, parents Pat and Jack Cooley. "I think this is a very musician-friendly sort of place."
  
  I first wrote about Shane several years ago when he was a freshman in high school.
  
  At that point, he'd already produced five of his own CDs and was starting to perform at small venues throughout the Northern Neck.
  
  I caught up with him last week in Williamsburg because he's beginning to take his self-taught talents to the next level, largely because he's one of those guys who matches his growing skills with equal doses of hard work.
  
  On that one-day visit to the colonial city, Cooley played an hourlong set at the college bookstore, another hour at a Yankee Candle store and then opened for another act before thousands of listeners at New Town After Hours.
  
  That follows up a summer when he's performed at night spots and other venues in Virginia Beach, Annapolis, South Carolina and more.
  
  Said his father, Jack, the principal at Rappahannock High, "He can sing his own songs for four or five hours straight. It's what he loves to do."
  
  While a growing list of gigs is a testament to the way Cooley and his supportive parents have been promoting him and his talents, there are other indications that the young songwriter and performer is moving his music career forward.
  
  Among them:
  
  The arrival earlier this year of his latest professionally produced CD, "Flying Naked."
  
  To make it, the soft-spoken young artist worked last summer with producers/musicians Stewart Myers and Chris Keup at their studio near Charlottesville. The producers have worked with the rock group Lifehouse, Jason Mraz and other successful artists.
  
  Cooley called the weeklong recording session, in which he, Myers and Keup were joined by veteran musician Steve Bassett and others, "one of the highlights of my life so far. To hear my music backed up by these top musicians was almost surreal."
  
  Doing double-duty on a trip to New York last fall to master his CD with Fred Kevorkian, who's worked with The Dave Matthews Band and more.
  
  While there, the young singer from Lancaster County community of Mollusk also filmed two videos for Indigo TV, a new television presence in the Big Apple that features new musical acts and gives viewers the interactive opportunity to say what they think.
  
  "They had me all over the city, in alleys, stomping in puddles, on the sidewalks in front of vendors," said Cooley, who noted that the videos aired on the New York show in the spring. "It was pretty exciting."
  
  Selling his most recent CD at selected stores in Richmond, Virginia Beach and Williamsburg, as well as online through CD Baby and Plan 9 Records. He's also pushed to get it included on play lists for XM radio.
  
  Making connections as he goes.
  
  First, it was Richmond-area musician Bassett, who took a liking to the young artist and has served as a mentor.
  
  More recently, a connection he made with Deltaville-based author Jean Hornsby put the young artist in touch with her nephew, none other than music star Bruce Hornsby.
  
  "He called Shane and said he really liked his music," said Pat Cooley, who helps with things such as orders, sales and scheduling for the son she's so proud of.
  
  In fact, it was a discussion Pat had with Jean Hornsby at a signing of her book, "Tree-Riffic," at a Northern Neck restaurant months ago that led to the call.
  
  Jean Hornsby, who joined Cooley at the appearance at Yankee Candle, said she loves his music so much that she has his song "Day Lily" on her Web site. Just as he has her book referenced on his.
  
  Music is important, he said, but so are new partnerships and marketing.
  
  "Right now, it's all about getting my name out there," he said, "that and getting ready for my freshman year."
  
  
  
  ______________________________________________________________________
  
  2010
  ______________
  
  
  By Rob Hedelt
  
  IFIRST met Shane Cooley in 2003, when he was just 15 and a freshman at Rappahannock High School in Warsaw.
  
  By then, he had just recorded his fifth CD in the studio in his family's basement in the little Lancaster County community of Mollusk.
  
  I caught up recently with Cooley, just days before he graduated from the College of William & Mary with a Bachelor's degree in English.
  
  My first question to the singer-songwriter with both folk and rock inclinations was what he plans to do with his life now that he has that sheepskin.
  
  It didn't surprise me a bit to hear that as many of his friends are setting off for grad school, he's going to hop on a plane in a week or two to start a musical tour out West.
  
  He'll be playing dates in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Diego in June.
  
  And in July, he'll join other acoustic musicians for the "Home Sweet Home Tour," going to each artist's home state, including performances in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Nashville, Memphis and Atlanta.
  
  Virginia stops include shows July 24 and 25 at Richmond's Capital Ale House Music Hall and Norfolk's Tap House.
  
  The versatile and energetic young performer says he's excited to have the opportunity to pour all his energy into his dream of being a professional musician.
  
  "It's the time in my life when I can take a big chance, and pursue the music that I love with all my time and effort," said Cooley, whose father, Jack, is the principal at Rappahannock High and his son's occasional drummer.
  
  Having written about the younger Cooley through the years--recording various CDs, touring the East Coast during college summers, performing with folks ranging from Bruce Hornsby to Lucinda Williams to Richmond's Robbin Thompson--I find myself pulling for the young performer.
  
  His voice and skills on instruments ranging from the guitar to the piano have matured and improved through the years.
  
  He's also learning to work the business side of the music industry, boasting websites and social-networking venues that tout literally hundreds of gigs, articles, musical connections and even guest lecturing stints on music at high schools and colleges.
  
  He's most proud of being asked to perform earlier this year at a songwriting competition showcase at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin.
  
  He's also proud of his latest recording, an EP called "Vagabond," accompanied by members of a North Carolina group called "Molasses Creek," whom he met on visits to Ocracoke.
  
  "I've been exploring more of a rootsy, folk feel in my music recently, and the songs on this recording just followed that," said Cooley, noting that his new musical collaborators sang and played the dobro, mandolin and more on the new disc recorded at a studio near Ocracoke.
  
  Setting off into a somewhat uncertain future might overwhelm some young musicians.
  
  But Cooley, who's glad to know his degree provides the fallback of teaching school, is more excited than nervous.
  
  It helps that he spent some time during breaks from school earlier this year at the Austin festival and playing a few spots on the West Coast, to get the feel of it all.
  
  "It would be easy and comfortable to play in the places I've already connected with here on the East Coast, but that doesn't really get me beyond where I am now," said Cooley.
  
  Though he's managed to find time to perform solo and in bands in Williamsburg through his years at William & Mary, and even time to write between his studies, he's looking forward to the time between shows and travel to pen new material.
  
  The young performer who's had mentors that range from Hornsby to Virginia's Steve Bassett is eager to see the world with a guitar under one arm and a suitcase under the other.
  
  At the risk of repeating myself from other junctures in the young Cooley's career, I wouldn't bet against him.
  
  myspace.com/shanecooley sonicbids.com/shanecooleymusic
  
  
  

Setlist

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mostly original songs

Contact cooleymusic@gmail.com for details

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PERFORMANCE OPTIONS:

-solo acoustic

-duo: acoustic guitar and percussion (bass drum and snare drum with brushes)

-band (Shane Cooley & The Hired Guns): acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, drums.

Shane Cooley's band members are professional touring musicians with successful careers of their own. Band shows are only possible when properly compensated.


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Basic Requirements

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