Rising out of a state perhaps better known for its mobsters than its music, Railroad Earth just may surprise you with a trademark fusion of bluegrass, rock, and folk.  But this truly unique six-man assembly of talent, heart and dedication won't have it any other way.   From the foothills of the Kittatinny Mountains in the melting pot that is New Jersey, Railroad Earth is coming to a town near you.

Railroad Earth's Spring 2005 tour has already seen record crowds, and the band's impressive and steady growth shows no signs of stopping.   For the band, this visible sign of their success is well deserved.  For the fans, there is more than ever to love about one of the most widely discussed bands to grace stages around the country.

A true incarnation of an American roots music band, Railroad Earth seamlessly combines musical styles with original lyrics that never fail to find their way straight to your soul.  Lead vocalist Todd Sheaffer and Co. will move you from the first perfectly plucked note, and it is this effortless spirituality that puts Railroad Earth rightly in its own league. Since 2001 their musical growth and increasing notoriety in a musical scene so often sagging with mass-marketed talent, has been undeniable, but not surprising for a band whose success has come in leaps and bounds from day one.

It could be said that Railroad Earth hit the scene poised to become one of today's most widely respected bands.  Just three weeks after its six members jammed together for the very first time, they went into a local studio and produced a five-song demo, recorded live with no overdubs except for backup vocals.  Based on it's strength and remarkable sound, Railroad Earth landed a slot at the legendary Telluride Bluegrass Festival. It would be their tenth gig.  2001's "The Black Bear Sessions" was born straight from this remarkable demo, and the album's clean and honest sound helped to make it one of Relix Magazine's top 20 albums of that year.  It also got the band a record deal with Sugar Hill records, home to such prestigious names as Nickel Creek and Dolly Parton.

Railroad Earth's sophomore effort "Bird in a House," sealed its reputation as one of the music scene's most talented and hard working bands.  The June 2002 release came after a year of steady touring, and its critical acclaim further bolstered the group, already on its way to becoming a staple on the national touring and festival scene.  Praise for the album, which showcases the band's impressive musical chops on what were already classic songs, was widespread. All Music Guide sums up the record's stylistic and creative accomplishments when referring to the album as, "a work of not only rare charm, but ageless beauty."  

Most recently, Railroad Earth has been breaking new ground with studio recordings and live appearances that continue to define them as an integral part of the Americana music scene.  2004's triumphant "The Good Life," the band's second release with Sugar Hill Records, is rich with the musical mélange that only Railroad Earth can create.  Co-produced by the band and Stewart Lerman (Loudon Wainwright III, Dar Williams), the 11-track album "mixes string-band instrumentation, freewheeling improvisation and folk-rock songwriting with contagious enthusiasm," according to the Washington Post.   Not to be outdone by their studio work, putting the band squarely into the public eye was a series of appearances with nationally recognized acts, such as Phil Lesh and Friends.  

Blessed with an inherent musical connection that cannot be learned, but only nurtured and nourished, Railroad Earth does just that at its over 100 live shows every year.  The band's growing legions of fans complete the live experience, and are so dedicated to crisscrossing the country that they have earned themselves an aptly-termed moniker: hobos.

Purveyors of music that must be heard to be truly felt, Railroad Earth creates music that speaks to the poet in all of us.  This is music to live your life to.  This is the music inside all of us. This is Railroad Earth.

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Related Article(s):

Phil Lesh Joins Railroad Earth in San Francisco

Hookahville, the Ohio festival institution celebrating its 11th year as a production, has confirmed the lineup for the Spring event Friday and Saturday, May 28-29 at Frontier Ranch Music Center in Kirkersville, Ohio.  Hosted by the Columbus, Ohio group, ekoostik hookah and their two nights of headlining shows, the two-day music and camping event features the talents of veterans of the improvisational music world, as well as some of the top younger talent the scene has to offer.

The 10,000 Lakes Festival is proud to announce Widespread Panic and Trey Anastasiohave confirmed a weekend of headlining performances for the 2005 event. Widespread Panic returns to the 10,000 Lakes Festival for the second time with two special headlining performances on the Main Stage Friday, Saturday, July 22, 23. Closing this year's festival Sunday, July 24 is Trey Anastasio, the guitarist and founder of the seminal band Phish.

The third annual 10,000 Lakes Festival is scheduled for July 22-24 at the scenic Soo Pass Ranch in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.

Portland, OR - The Everyone Orchestra offers a new paradigm for live music by combining various musicians from popular touring bands for two nights of improvisational music when the group performs the 2nd Annual Pangaea Project Benefit at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland Thursday and Friday April 14, 15 and at WOW Hall in Eugene Saturday, April 16.

The roster of performers includes Jon Fishman of Phish, Billy Nershi and Michael Travis of String Cheese Incident, Kai Eckhardt of Garaj Mahal, Everyone Orchestra founder Matt Butler, and a number of other musicians.

The Everyone Orchestra catalyzes revolving casts of musicians who combine energy and talent to raise funds and awareness for local non-profits through performance of songs and improvisational music. Each Everyone Orchestra performance culminates in unique and unpredictable segments featuring a conductor directing both musicians and audience alike in interactive, lively, and highly danceable jams. 

The 2004 inaugural events raised raised funds and awareness for The Pangaea Project which engages teenagers from underserved neighborhoods in local and international service-learning projects by promoting the development of leadership skills, increasing global awareness, and fostering a commitment to work towards social change.  Proceeds from Everyone Orchestra show ticket sales, fundraising raffles, and other generous donations will be contributed to The Pangaea Project.

Last year's Pangaea Project benefit at the Aladdin Theatre was enlivened by guest speakers: at-the-time presidential candidate/Congressman Dennis Kucinich, environmental activist Julia Butterfly Hill, and Pangaea Project founders Deb Delman and Stephanie Tolk. Ms. Butterfly Hill reflects on the Everyone Orchestra, "I was blown away by the talent, humor, love, and brilliantly orchestrated improvisation coming together in what truly can be described as magic."

The magic continues April 14 and 15 in Portland and April 16 in Eugene with music interpreted by an all-star talent lineup within the Everyone Orchestra.  Butler explains "We simply pass the 'musical talking stick' around the collective group of players and take turns leading the stage, much like sharing music around a campfire.  Then we culminate in moments when everyone is on stage at once, playing conducted improvisations together."   The concerts are designed to create space for each performer's musical personality to shine and facilitate a massive celebratory coming together with the conducted segments.

In true collaborative fashion, the percussive members of the Everyone Orchestra, Jon Fishman, Michael Travis, Matt Butler and Jamie Janover, will be holding a community drum and percussion session at the Crystal Ballroom the afternoon of Friday, April 15. Simultaneously, a singer/songwriter workshop featuring Billy Nershi, Scott Law and Libby Kirkpatrick will also take place at the Crystal Ballroom.  For an additional $15 contribution to the Pangaea Project, percussionists, drummers, singers, songwriters and all music fans are invited to join these professional musicians in a unity-focused connection to rhythm and songs at 4 PM at the Crystal Ballroom.

A limited number of VIP Tickets are available for the Portland Everyone Orchestra shows.  VIP Tickets include preferred seating, signed event poster and an after-show meet and greet with the musicians.

www.everyoneorchestra.com http://www.everyoneorchestra.com/  &
www.pangaeaproject.com http://www.pangaeaproject.com/ 

Thursday and Friday, April 14 and 15: Crystal Ballroom -
www.mcmenamins.com/crystal  
1332 W. Burnside - 503- 225-0047 |
Tickets for a single show general admission: $20 advance, $25 door
Two day general admission pass: $35
Single show VIP: $40
(VIP entitles the ticket holder to a signed poster and admittance to
that evenings' post-show meet and greet with the performers; which is to
take place in the balcony of the main ballroom)
Two day VIP: $70
(Two day VIP entitles the holder to all of the VIP benefits plus
admittance to the workshop on Friday afternoon)
Friday Rhythm Workshop: $15

Tickets on sale at all TicketMaster locations and
http://www.ticketmaster.com/venue/123402/
Doors open at 8 PM Shows start at 9 PM.

Complete List of Players for the Second Annual Pangaea Project Benefit
Featuring The Everyone Orchestra
Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom - April 14, 15

Matt Butler - Drums
Jon Fishman - Drums
Kai Eckhardt - Bass
Billy Nershi - Guitar, Lap Steel
Michael Travis    - Drums
Tye North - Conductor, Bass
Jamie Janover    - Hammered dulcimer/percussion/conductor
Aaron Holstein - Guitar/bass
Scott Law - Guitar, Mandolin
Steve Vidaic - Keyboards/samples
Libby Kirkpatrick - Vocals
Enion Pelta - Violin
David Tiller-Mandolin

Saturday, April 16: WOW Hall - www.wowhall.org
291 W 8th Ave - 541-687-2746 | Doors open at 8 PM show starts at 8:30
PM.
$15 in advance $18 door
Tickets available at the WOW Hall Box Office: 541-687-2746, TicketsWest
outlets (www.ticketswest.com): 800-992-8499; and Jambase Ticketing:
www.jambasetickets.com

Complete List of Players for the Second Annual Pangaea Project Benefit
Eugene, OR -WOW Hall - Saturday, April 16

Matt Butler - Drums
Jon Fishman - Drums
Kai Eckhardt - Bass
Tye North - Conductor, Bass
Scott Law - Guitar, Mandolin
Asher Fulero - Keyboards/samples
Libby Kirkpatrick-Vocals
Jarrod Kaplan -Percussion
Tim McGloughlin - Trumpet

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Now that the calendar has changed to 2005 and DSO has gotten a little bit of rest, the time has come to 'keep on truckin'! Midwest, Southwest, and West Coast: get ready for some DSO.

The band takes the U.S. by storm in January and February offering performances in every one of the time zones. A handful of multiple night stands take place in Austin at La Zona Rosa for two nights, three nights in San Francisco at the Great American Music Hall, and another two night stand at Portland's Crystal Ballroom.

The Winter Tour, kicking off in St. Louis (home to DSO drummers Rob and Dino), winds through ten states and brings the band to such hallowed rooms at the Great Amercian Music Hall, where a band called the Grateful Dead offered a quality performance in August of 1975

On Thursday, February 17, a non-DSO show day in the Bay Area, the members of Dark Star Orchestra will be joining David Gans for The Invitational at the  Sweetwater Saloon in Mill Valley, CA. It is an intimate venue and sure to be an interesting time with other special guests including Henry Kaiser and Eric Thompson. This show begins at 8:30 PM.

DSO has also announced numerous dates for theS pring Tour which begins in Colorado at the end of March then brings them back to the East Coast including an early festival season performance at the Wanee Festival in Florida with the Allman Brothers, Gov't Mule and many other acts.

More Spring Tour dates will be added in the forthcoming weeks. Check out the website for the complete, up to date information.

All Winter Tour shows are on sale now through:
www.darkstarorchestra.net

Photo: Robbie Williams

As you may be aware, DSO is drawing national attention with their true-to-life performances. Rolling Stone praises "Dark Star Orchestra's fanatical attention to detail. "USA Today says DSO is "channeling the Dead" and the Washington Post declares them "the hottest Grateful Dead tribute act going Dallas Morning Newsaffirms DSO is "the next best thing to being there", the Denver Post describes Dark Star Orchestra as "a perfection-oriented practitioner of homage" and the Associated Pressnotes that DSO "takes its act to a level of detail that befits a rock band famous for its fanatical following."

Check out Glide Magazine's show review of the December 12 show at the New Higher Ground in Burlington, VT.  Here's a snippet:

"Seeing these guys made me shake my head quite a few times and rub my eyes to be sure that I really wasn't seeing the Dead back in the day. I was immediately pulled in from the first notes and really enjoyed the night thoroughly always feeling at home with what they were playing. To call these guys a cover band would be just plain wrong, they are more like mystical channelers plugged into the source and not letting go!"

DSO WINTER TOUR
Jan 26
The Pageant
St. Louis, MO

Jan 27
The Vogue
Indianapolis, IN

Jan 28
Newport Music Hall
Columbus, OH

Jan 29
Bogart's
Cincinnati, OH

Jan 31
Mercy Lounge
Nashville, TN

Feb 2 
Meridian
Houston, TX

Feb 3
Lakewood Theater
Dallas, TX

Feb 4, 5
La Zona Rosa
Austin, TX

Feb 7
<>

Feb 8
Paramount
Santa Fe, NM
w/David Gans &; Daniella

Feb 10
Orpheum Theater
Flagstaff, AZ
w/David Gans opening

Feb 11
Marquee Theater
Tempe, AZ

Feb 12
Belly Up
Solana Beach, CA

Feb 13
El Rey Theatre
Los Angeles, CA

Feb 15
The Catalyst
Santa Cruz, CA

Feb 18, 19, 20 
Great American Music Hall
San Francisco, CA

Feb 22
Van Duzer Theatre
Arcata, CA

Feb 24, 25
Crystal Ballroom
Portland, OR

Feb 26
McDonald Theater
Eugene, OR

Feb 27
The Showbox
Seattle, WA
DSO to rest &; resume touring in March

SPRING TOUR:
[MORE DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED]
Mar 24
8150 Club
Vail, CO

Mar 25, 26 
Fox Theatre
Boulder, CO

Mar 27
Cervantes
Denver, CO

Mar 31
Cabooze
Minneapolis, MN

Apr 1
Barrymore Theatre
Madison, WI

Apr 2
The Rave
Milwaukee, WI

Apr 8, 9
The Orange Peel
Asheville, NC

Apr 10
Lincoln Theatre
Raleigh, NC

Apr 13
Georgia Theatre
Athens, GA

Apr 15, 16
Wanee Festival
Suwanee Springs, FL

Apr 20
NorVa Theater
Norfolk, VA

Apr 21
Starr Hill Music Hall
Charlottesville, VA

Apr 22, 23
State Theatre
Falls Church, VA

Apr 26
The Crowbar
State College, PA

DSO's 1000th Performance

Available now on 3 CDs

Check out some of the deals on hotels for this upcoming tour.

DSO's Hotelmaster has arranged some great discounts on hotels near the venues the band is playing at.

DSO ON DVD!

Live at the Fillmore, videotaped at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco May 8, 2004. The DVD includes appearances by special guest,Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, on vocals.

Produced by Bob Matthews, the DVD packaging features artwork by Stanley Mouse.

Live at the Fillmorecontains over two hours of live video footage of two entire sets of DSO recreating the historic May 5, 1977 show from Veterans Memorial Coliseum in New Haven, CT.

This first DVD release from DSO includes two bonus audio CDs of the same show in addition to the DVD disc.

Dark Star Orchestra DVD:
Live at the Fillmore

Available Feb. 4 from
DSOLIVE.COM

DVD Recorded Live May 8, 2004
of DSO recreating May 5, 1977

In Related News:

The Mix - New CD
"American Spring"

Check out some sound samples online and hear what The Mix is all about.

AMERICAN SPRING, the first CD from THE MIX has just been released available onlineat Rainman Records) and features DSO's John Kadlecik on guitar and Kevin Rosen on bass along with Garcia bandmate Melvin Seals on keyboards and veteran drummer Greg Anton.

The CD features ten tracks including songs penned by all band members as well as two songs co-written by Grateful Dead songsmith Robert Hunter.