Wylie Gustafson and The Wild West kick-off NAN performances

The Northeast Arts Network 2015 - 2016 series in Malta will feature four performances and kicks off on Monday, October 19 when Wylie Gustafson and The Wild West bring their Country-stylings to town. Gustafson is a native Montanan singer/songwriter who lives the songs he writes. With three decades of writing, recording and performing under his belt, Wylie has matured into a dynamic talent, and has become one of the few authentic voices of the West.

For over the last 25 years, Wylie and his band, The Wild West, have performed their refreshing blend of cowboy, swing, folk and yodeling music worldwide. They have performed at such prestigious venues as the National Folk Festival, MerleFest, the Bumbershoot Festival, The Stagecoach Festival, A Prairie Home Companion, The Conan O’Brien Show and the Grand Ole Opry Worldwide, their genre friendly performances have taken them to China, Russia, Australia, Europe, South America, and Japan. That is not the resume of a mediocre performer!

Following Gustafson and The Wild West will be composer, pianist and visual artist Scott Kirby on November 2. Kirby began his study of music at the age of six, and continued formal piano instruction for seventeen years. In New Orleans, he began his professional music career, as a street performer. In the following four years, he recorded the complete rags of Scott Joplin, and made his debut at all of the major ragtime festivals in the United States, as well as festivals in Belgium, France, Norway, New Zealand, and Hungary.

Kirby’s artistic passion grew to include to visual art, and in 2005, while living in France, he completed 75 paintings and 28 piano compositions, including “The Prairie Devotionals,” The paintings “Visions of the Great Plains” and the new musical works set the groundwork for his new multi-media project “Main Street Souvenirs.”

On February 1, 2016, Valinor Quartet will perform in Malta. Valinor Quartet is a unique hybrid of jazz and classical. Red-hot trio meets accordion master. Worldwide musical influences, and global performance credentials. International cross-over ensemble turns their razor-sharp virtuosity loose on a wild array of songs from around the world. The all acoustic Valinor Quartet encompasses the diverse cultural backgrounds of its members, hailing from Russia, USA and England, to influence its stylistic diversity and unique performance aesthetic. The group’s riveting displays utilize a breathtaking range of styles – from classical to Beatles; from Gypsy Jazz to Klezmer, from popular movie soundtracks to Tango and a few surprises in between.

The final Northeast Arts Network show of the season will be held on April 4, 2016 when Jonathan Kingham. Kingham quickly developed into a seasoned performer while sharing the stage with the likes of Shawn Colvin, Joan Osborne, Michael McDonald, Doug Stone, Vanessa Carlton, and Jonathan Brooke. He has toured with such diverse acts as Julio Iglesias Jr. and currently plays keyboard and steel guitar for Toad the Wet Sprocket.

On his fourth independent album “Smooth out the Lines”, lush string arrangements, tasteful electric guitars and understated vocals meld together in a beautiful folk/pop offering that support the mature songwriting that has won Kingham international acclaim.

With a soothing blend of folk, pop, country and jazz, Kingham usually comes armed with a huge tub of Red Vines, a quick freestyle wit, and has rapidly become a favorite on the circuit.

Tickets are available from Kathy Bagley - at the Art Spot, Erik Engebretson or at First Security Bank and First State Bank. Tickets also available at the door.