Ky Burt, Jamestown

.  Jamestown Mercantile and Sandalwood Cooperative presents an evening with Ky Burt and Justin Evan Thompson. The concert will consist of two sets by Ky, Justin, and their band, beginning at 8:00 p.m. and running roughly until 10:00 p.m. Justin and Ky's sets will both be accompanied by one another, and a backing band that is comprised of Melanie Williams and Gabrielle Sadler.

Ky Burt is a singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist born and raised in the oak forests of the Midwest. Prone to travel and majestic landscapes, Ky has been picking up a variety of musical influences since his early teens through time living in Indiana, Virginia, Colorado, Vermont, and Arizona.

Having spent nearly a decade working on environmental issues as both an educator and natural scientist, Ky has cultivated a unique perspective on the connection between people, place, and the land. Music has been the well-traveled suitcase that Ky carries through his journeys. With sweeping vocals, and playing the five-string banjo, acoustic guitar, and harmonica, Ky brings fresh original music to both the old and the new, a crafter of observations from the American porch step.

Ky was recently selected as the 2014 Emerging Musician of the Year in the Arizona Daily Sun. Ky's recently released EP, When We Might Float Away, is available for download on Bandcamp.

Justin Thompson is a songwriter and performer from Albuquerque, New Mexico, with an affinity for traditional folk music and the acoustic guitar. His persona and lyrics are as poetic as they are rough around the edges, and both lend themselves to honest and energetic performances. With an instinctive knack for melody and prose, Justin's songs are as singable as they are poignant.

For this special concert, Justin will be celebrating the launch of his Kickstarter campaign to fund the release of his debut solo record, Hymns for a Manchild, which has been carefully crafted over the last year at Empty House Studios in Albuquerque, NM.

Melanie Williams plays bass and percussion for Justin and Ky's show. Her radiant soprano harmonies and supportive bass lines surround their melodies. We have come to call this phenomenon the "Mel Train". She is one of the more well-rounded musicians Justin and Ky have had the liberty of sharing the stage with.

Gabrielle Louise will support them playing guitar, mandolin, keyboard and percussion. Gabrielle has an alluring stage presence, stylized harmonies, and inventive instrumentation that have become an integral part of Justin and Ky's live act. She brings an undeniable consonance when it comes to duets. Though she is a powerhouse act on her own, Gabrielle blends with Justin's and Ky's style to create a distinctive sound.

For more information on Ky Burt, please visit his website (www.kyburt.com), listen to his debut record on his band camp page (kyburt.bandcamp.com) or watch live videos on his Youtube channel (www.youtube.com/kyburt).

For more information on Justin Thompson, please visit his website (www.justinthompsonmusic.com), check out his kickstarter campaign (www.kickstarter.com/projects/justinnm/hymns-for-a-manchild-fulllength-album), or watch his live videos on his Youtube channel (www.youtube.com/justinthompsonnm).


Merc: www.jamestownmercantile.com; Jamestown Merc in Jamestown, Colorado, "Home of the somewhat Feral."