Americana Daily: July 2009

Thursday, July 23, 2009

MUSIC FOG PRESENTS: ELLIOT RANDALL AND GINA VILLALOBOS

Rising Americana Artists Team Up for September Tour of California
Music Fog, that fine purveyor of roots music spearheaded by Americana expert Jessie Scott, and California recording artists Gina Villalobos and Elliot Randall made a statement of alliance today when they announced that they will join forces to promote an exclusive seven-date tour of the golden state in September, 2009. As Music Fog breaks new ground for emerging artists from all over the world, this affiliation acknowledges that the left coast is rife with talented Americana artists, exemplified by Villalobos and Randall, that can hold their own with the best of Texas, Nashville, and beyond.

The tour kicks off in Sacramento on the 11th before heading back to Randall's home base of San Francisco for a show on September 12th at Bottom Of The Hill. It will then move south with stops in Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, San Diego and Villalobos' home, Los Angeles on September 19th at the Silverlake Lounge, culminating with a show in Ukiah.

California native Gina Villalobos became one of the most acclaimed new artists in alternative country with her breakthrough album, 2005’s Rock N Roll Pony when legendary BBC disc jockey, Bob Harris called it “a contender for album of the year.” Her follow up release, Miles Away increased her profile and cemented the album as “…one of those recordings you’ll be playing in a decade, it’s timeless and combines every element that makes a recording classic…it doesn’t get much better than this. “ Paste Magazine. Her 4th solo album Days On Their Side (Face West Records) finds her taking the Lucinda Williams/Sheryl Crow model to a new level (And it's about time someone did.)"American Songwriter Magazine

San Francisco's Elliot Randall first came on the scene in 2007 with the release of his debut album, Take The Fall. The record was quickly declared a winner by Americana critics, San Francisco's KFOG, ASCAP and NARAS. When Music Fog's Jessie Scott (the then PD at XM Satellite radio's "X Country") heard the record, she put it into full rotation for three months in the company of national acts like Ryan Adams and Steve Earle. Considering Scott's channel was the most listened-to Americana station in the world, it was quite a debut for an independent artist. Randall is currently at work in the studio with producer David Simon Baker (ALO, Jackie Greene, The Mother Hips) planning on a fall '09 release for his sophomore album.

Since its inception at the end of 2008, Music Fog is an Americana dedicated site, shining a light on artists that incorporate roots music in all its varied styles and intensities. Music Fog aggregates the Americana audience via musicfog.com as well as its YouTube channel, Twitter and Facebook pages. Says Jessie Scott, "We are very excited to be teaming up with Gina and Elliot for this California tour. We will be the blog home for the tour, so expect lots of tasty stuff!"

Dates as follows:

9.11.09 Fri., FOX & GOOSE, (w/Kate Gaffney), Sacramento
9.12.09 Sat., BOTTOM OF THE HILL, San Francisco (*Elliot Randall headlines)
9.17.09 Thurs., THE CATALYST, Atrium, Santa Cruz
9.18.09 Fri., HOUSE OF BLUES, Salvation Alley, San Diego
9.19.09 Sat., SILVERLAKE LOUNGE (w/I See Hawks In LA), Los Angeles
9.20.09 Sun., DOWNTOWN BREW, San Luis Obispo
9.25.09 Fri., UKIAH BREWING COMPANY, Ukiah

Elliot Randall
Gina Villalobos