Thursday, May 8, 2014

J-Cherry & The Strawberries CD Release Party!

The Buttonwood Tree on Saturday, July 12 @ 8pm 
J-Cherry & The Strawberries
“In the Belly Of The Beast” by J-Cherry and the Strawberries, is the group’s first album, recorded before a live audience with Michael Arafeh of The Coffeehouse. “In The Belly Of The Beast”, is part poetry, blues, and roots rock. A critical look at life, politics, and the world we live in. From “Lies”, to “Dirty Water”, the “Dog’s On Prozac”, and “The Illuminati”, just a few titles on this 13 track record. Here’s what critics have to say about J-Cherry and the Strawberries, “J-Cherry and the Strawberries took to the stage and played to a house that overflowed the music room and spilled out into the library. A local artist with a passion for music, lead singer J-Cherry, a.k.a. Jennifer Shafer Wood, plays her own soulful style of blues, poetry, and funk surrounded by an ethereal musical background.” David Gellar, Middletown Patch.
J-Cherry
I wasn't always J-Cherry. I blossomed as a poet and singer later in life. When I found my voice and the passion to be on stage, there was nothing to stop me! Poetry has always been a source of refuge for me. It has carried me through hard times, helped me to grow, and has changed my life in ways I could not have imagined! Through poetry I began to sing and write songs. I met my husband and band mate Tim Sparks while producing ‘Anything Goes Open Mic Mondays’ at the Buttonwood Tree now in its fifth consecutive year. From there we started to play music regularly and started a band. The Strawberries are a band of multi-talented musicians and poets that formed four years ago. Inspired by a night of music under the full moon during a summertime festival, J-Cherry and the Strawberries came to be. What's unique about the Strawberries is that they are a traveling variety show. They come together as a band with J-Cherry and play original songs written by Cherry and Sparks. The Strawberries also bring their own songs and poetry to the group, making an eclectic arrangement of music and poetry. J-Cherry is the producer and host of the popular radio show, VOICE of the CITY airing on WESU 88.1FM, Tuesday nights from 8-9PM, and Cygnus Radio on Wednesdays from 7-8PM. J-Cherry also produces the Annual Middletown Music Festival now in its third year.
The Strawberries
Tim Sparks, Bandmaster/singer/songwriter/guitar/mouth harp. Mr. Sparks brought his first guitar with money he saved as a young teen. He's been writing and playing music ever since. A multi-talented artist, Sparks writes music from the heart that touches social issues, and the cycles of life. His latest CD, 'Color Outside The Lines', was recorded at Coffeehouse Recording Studio. "Sparks began his set by testing out a yet-to-be-recorded tune, then moved into the songs from "Color Outside The Lines," an album he describes as a reflection on the journey of life. With soul-searching music that paid homage to his daughter ("Avery") and the roots of our country, Sparks' interesting and heartfelt folksy stories and strong and steady guitar work captivated the house." David Gellar, Middletown Patch
Steve Far, singer/songwriter/bass. Ordained with a semi-hollow body Guild guitar twice as old as himself, Steve mixes everything from jazz to garage rock, but uses changes in time and rhythm to separate himself from any one specific genre. Under this guise, Steve explores his own journey through time with a conversational lyrical style.
Phill Bullaro the elusive cyberman... 
Phill Bullaro, drummer/synth/eclectic instruments. Phill is a multi-talented visual artist and musician. He likes to explore the far out regions of sculpture, visual arts, and music, a skilled drummer, music maker, and poet. Phill will take you on wild space jams to the other side the moon.
Sympetalous, the bard... 
"A mild mannered reporter for The Subterranean Homesick News hears the Call o' Fate and suddenly awakes some velvet morning when he's straight then starts to sway and write this way for no apparent planetary reason save the subtle motion of a Deep Blue Moon and the Red Dwarf Stars Illusory Time comes and goes all the while our Whirling Earth performs One full ellipsis around our Sacred Sun and soon bright pulsing words from the Pipes of Pan arise and soar as they hang a bit about a pointed space filled with heat 
and light and pairs of eager ears open wide to vivid minds 
some even willin to shoot the rapids and then float 
the calms of this Stream o' Con Ki-O-tay" 
~Sympetalous~