Archives: Artists

Meren King

Bandcamp:
https://merenking.bandcamp.com/
Soundcloud
https://soundcloud.com/merenwentari
Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1fU3819eeXlSpzos4sXuug
YouTube Videos
https://www.youtube.com/user/MerenEdnaMarieKing
YouTube Music
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTZe4x0cBUAo4LNWxnCZ

Meren King is a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist out of Ocala, Florida. Her originals and covers share what is most dear to her heart – her family, her faith and her passions. From folk to blues to rock and roll, the songs she sings and the stories she tells will take you on a journey of the mind and heart.

Ben Deschamps

Ben – yes, that’s AdminBen for those of you who hang out in the chat at OCT events – has been a composer and performer since his early teens. He combines a Renaissance approach to life (in addition to performing music, he coded OnlineConcertThing.com as well as several other artists’ websites, and co-runs Amphis Music, a Canadian independent record label) with a dry wit.

His compositions with Heather Dale have become internet-famous and most people who know of him do so because of his association with the Mordred’s Lullaby singer, but he has performed in scores of ensembles, from space rock to bluegrass to orchestras and string quartets.

His current musical interests revolve around ambient, Celtic and folk music, attempting to synthesise something new out of old materials.

Kat Heatherington

Artist homepage:
sunflowerriver.org (farm)
https://patreon.com/yarrowkat (poetry)
Instagram:
@yarrowkat (photography)
@sometimesaparticle (poetry)
@sunflowerriverfarm (farm)

Kat lives at the intersection of art, poetry, organic gardening, queer dance parties, and strong-willed Taurus practicality. She is a queer, polyamorous, ecofeminist poet, artist, and pagan, who co-founded and lives in Sunflower River intentional community south of Albuquerque, in a river valley in the high desert. She has a passion for authenticity and emotional intelligence, which is reflected in her poetry. She has two books, The Bones of This Land and The Heart is a Muscle, both published by Swimming with Elephants Publications and available from the author, as well as on amazon.com, and at your local independent bookseller.

Tuatha Dea

A progressive Americana band with a rock edge and fearless attitude for pushing the boundaries of modern roots music.

Combining primal rhythms, melodic and ethereal ballads, screaming guitar riffs with an Appalachian/Celtic vibe this FAMILY born of a family drum circle delivers an authentic tribal and clannish feel that not only draws the audience into the music but into the moment and clan as well.

In 2017 Tuatha Dea became part of The New Bristol Sessions, a collaboration celebrating the historic 1927 Sessions along with folks like Dolly Parton, Virginia Ground, 49 Winchester and more!
More…

Myke Hutchings

Myke Hutchings is a professional musician and Lay Minister for the Rowan Tree Church, a practitioner of the Lothloriën tradition of Wicca. As an Earth-based religion, we celebrate the seasons and the cycles of life. We recognize that Truth is found in many cultures around the world and draw our archetypes from many paths. What makes Lothloriën unique is our acceptance of all people regardless of their culture, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, religion or sexual orientation.

Myke’s work with the church includes curating and maintaining historic recordings of the Rowan Tree Church and its founder Rev. Paul Beyerl as well as bringing the church’s musical and bardic traditions into the future.

Laurie Alsobrook

Artist homepage:
https://melrosedulcimers.org/lauriealsobrook/

After a full career in elementary education, Laurie Alsobrook has turned her attention to sharing the joy of playing the dulcimer at festivals, workshops, and retreats from Vermont to Florida. What a perfect blending of her two passions – working with learners and playing the dulcimer!

In the world of online instruction, Laurie taught at the Dutchland Virtual Dulcimer Gathering in July, has led workshops with dulcimer clubs in other parts of the country, and also has private students via zoom. She also hosts a Friday afternoon online jam and participates as a song leader in another virtual jam session every Saturday.
More…

Judy and Kirk House

Judy’s homepage:
www.judyhousemusic.com
Kirk’s Facebook page for Bass Dulcimer Players:
https://www.facebook.com/Bass-Dulcimer-Players-364979907369414

Judy and Kirk House live in Winston-Salem, NC. They love playing the mountain dulcimer together, and both enjoy teaching others how to play. Judy plays the standard dulcimer mostly, and Kirk plays the bass dulcimer much of the time. They have loads of fun playing together with Judy usually playing the lead and Kirk providing backup on his bass. They are always excited to share their music with others, whether in concert or the classroom.

Karen Mueller

Karen Mueller

Artist homepage:
karenmueller.com

Karen Mueller is one of the top autoharp and mountain dulcimer players performing and teaching today. Her exciting and innovative performing style has been applauded by critics and audiences from LA to Boston. Bluegrass Unlimited magazine has said “Karen Mueller’s touch, timing and taste make her a true virtuoso. Her talent and clarity deserve a wide audience.”
More…

Primal Rhythm

Artist homepage:
www.reverbnation.com/primalrhythm
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/susan.balaschak

Ride the Wave of Energy
Greetings everyone,
Sue, the drummer here
I first started Primal Rhythm in 2005 as a brand for my solo records, drumming workshops and facilitating drum circles. I recorded 2 solo drum workshop discs to enable the opportunity for people to simulate a drum circle in their living room. The first record Primal Rhythm 1 was featured in the Cleveland documentary “Return of the Cuyahoga” which aired on PBS. I decided to create drum band in 2011 to bring the Primal Rhythm discs to the stage. I thought how cool it would be to have all chicks on stage pounding tribal rhythms and thunderous vibes. The Primal Rhythm Ensemble toured 2011-2013.
More…

Catherynne M. Valente and S. J. Tucker

S.J. Tucker & Cat Valente

Once upon a time in 2006, at a science fiction convention in New York, author Catherynne M. Valente (the Fairyland series, Space Opera, Deathless) introduced herself to unsuspecting songwriter S. J. Tucker.

Soon after, they hit the road as fast friends to share combined book launch-concert performances across North America. These shared shows often combined art auctions and guest dancers or circus arts acts with live music from Sooj & readings from Cat, and they ran from October 2006 to October 2013, across road maps, train tracks, and many a narrative arc.