Critically Acclaimed Singer/Songwriter, Thad Beckman, Releases New CD and will perform at the Ugly Mug on November 11th

 

One of America’s most accomplished and respected singer/songwriters, Thad Beckman (www.thadbeckman.com), returns to his musical roots with the recent release of his 8th CD, "Streets of Disaster." A special CD release show is scheduled for Wednesday, November 11th at 7:30 p.m. at the The Ugly Mug, 4060 Soquel Drive, Soquel, CA (831) 477-1341. $15 cover charge.

He’s been everywhere and his music shows it. His adept guitar playing, gritty vocals and ability to tell a tale bring a fresh perspective to familiar themes and emotions.

From the Late Night Show with David Letterman, Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble and festivals, theatres and clubs all over the United States, Canada and Europe over the past three decades, Thad Beckman has been entertaining audiences with what John T. Davis of The Austin American Statesman describes as, “a voice that rasps like shoe leather on roadside gravel, and a finger-picked guitar on which notes fly by like railroad ties under a fast moving freight.”

Blair Jackson, a writer for Acoustic Guitar Magazine and author of Garcia: An American Life, comments in his CD review of ‘Streets of Disaster’, “Beckman has released a knockout of an album with lots of stylistic variety. This is powerful stuff, beautifully performed and exquisitely produced.  Quite a find!” 

Jim Beal, San Antonio Express-News explains, “Beckman plays an engaging blend of folk, singer-songwriter and blues music. Not everyone can pull off such a combination, but Beckman has chops, writing talent, a big personality and a bag full of true stories which all dovetails for a cool show.”

Beckman is featured on several albums of singer-songwriter, Tom Russell. Russell describes Beckman as “One of America’s best guitar players and a damn good songwriter.”

“If you have never heard Mr. Beckman play, you have really been missing out.   Anyone in the audience could instantly recognize Mr. Beckman as a master of his craft.” 

- No Depression

Thad made a decades-long Portland to New Jersey to Europe to Canada to Florida to California road trip that included a long stop in Austin, Texas, where he rose to the top of its acoustic live music scene. Now in Denver, Thad’s new CD is filled with songs that combine common tales of the human spirit with vocals reminiscent of America’s back roads.

Along the way, Thad’s mastery of finger-style, electric and steel guitar earned him attention from fellow musicians. He’s worked with Tom Russell, Bo Diddley and Earl Thomas, to name a few. He has shared the stage with artists such as B.B. King, Albert Collins, The Band, Dan Hicks, Emmylou Harris, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, James Cotton, Levon Helm, Dave Alvin, Jesse Winchester and many more. Several times over the past decade, he has been a featured artist on the main stage at the renowned Kerrville Folk Festival. He also has had guitar tracks on numerous film projects including the award-winning documentary, Eloquent Nude, The Love and Legacy of Edward Weston and Charis Wilson.

Beckman grew up playing in high school bands in Portland in the late 60’s but began his wandering ways early. After studying classical guitar in Washington, he moved on to find a soul mate in the blues of the Deep South. In 1993, he traveled to the competitive acoustic singer/songwriter music scene of Austin where in 1998 he recorded his first critically acclaimed CD, Carry Me Back.  After moving back to the Northwest in 2000, Thad has divided his time touring in Europe, The USA and Canada, writing and recording. Beckman has released 5 outstanding CDs that have earned rave reviews from magazines such as Acoustic Guitar, Blues Review and No Depression. He also teaches guitar workshops at festivals and conferences throughout The USA, Canada and Europe.

For more information and to purchase “Streets of Disaster”, go to www.thadbeckman.com or CDBaby.com.  To schedule an interview with Thad Beckman, call Wendy Brickman at (831) 594-1500 or email [email protected] Thad Bekcman can be reached at (503) 341-3426 or [email protected].

Thad Beckman - Bio

The dust-filled wind sweeps steadily down and across the flat, arid plains of Woody Guthrie's America. Beginning many hundreds of miles from Portland, Oregon it carries with it the hopes and dreams of those who have gone before…the dreamers and seekers.   It whispers a birthright to the singular voice of a modern compatriot-in-arms…singer/songwriter Thad Beckman.

A professional musician for more than 35 years, Thad Beckman has paid his dues on these same dusty roads which run from California to New Jersey and points in between. His finely-crafted original songs are the story of life, the voice of modern America...from the growling delta blues of the Deep South to evocative contemporary folk...bound by the common thread of experience gleaned from the road . You can hear it in his voice....he's been there.

Moving from Portland to Northern California in the late 1980's, Thad was quickly recognized by music promoters as an exceptional talent. As a guitarist, Thad Beckman has been hired by Tom Russell, Bo Diddley, The Shirelles and Earl Thomas As a bandleader, he soon found himself sharing the stage with such renowned artists as B.B. King, Albert Collins, James Cotton, The Band, Emmylou Harris, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks.

Realizing his natural talents lay in painting tapestries of lyrical narrative, Thad moved to Austin, Texas in 1993. Quickly rising to the top of the burgeoning local acoustic live music scene, Thad began performing with Dave Heath, (Robert Earl Keen) and Merel Bregante, (Loggins and Messina) and recording his fine all-original CD, “Carry Me Back” (1998)  with Dave and Merel acting as co-producers. His writing blurs the lines in “...dusty increments between Steve Earle and John Hiatt” (John T. Davis, Austin-American Statesman) and he has received critical local acclaim as a songwriter in a songwriter's town.  The real thing is hard to find, but as Jim Beal Jr. of the San Antonio Express-News says, when it comes to Beckman, “...Woody Guthrie would be proud”.

Relocating to the Northwest in 2000, Thad spends much of his time touring in Europe, The USA and Canada, writing and recording 5 CDs that have received excellent reviews from magazines such as Acoustic Guitar, Blues Review and No Depression, and teaching guitar workshops at festivals and conferences throughout The USA, Canada and Europe.

As Paul Jonker of ROOTSTOWN Ezine says:  “Thad belongs to the unique species of guitarists that can sing.   He is a passionate performer who combines his tremendous guitar technique with very soulful singing;”