Story Towne
The Official Web Site of Solo Performer
Joe Bainbridge
and Joe's Band
The Michael Ray Johnson Experiment
The Music:
As a solo performer Joe relies on solid acoustic guitar playing to present instrumental music in a myriad of styles. His vocal tunes rely on interesting twists and turns coupled with intelligent original lyrics as well as covers tunes done "A La Joe". As always there is a touch of silliness thrown in for good measure. Joe's solo instrumental music is reminiscent of artists such as Michael Hedges, Billy McLaughlin and Steve Morse. His vocal tunes ebb and flow between folk and pop motifs underlined with a "Rock & Roll" sensibility. Audio coming soon!!!
As a band the Michael Ray Johnson Experiment pays homage to Joe's Rock and blues influences running the gamut from artist such as Eric Johnson and Stevie Ray Vaughn to the acoustic driven Rock/Pop of Matchbox 20 and Sister Hazel. The band is currently not performing due to Joe's reduced playing schedule.
The News:
June 2008 - The "2 If By Water" tour 2008 commences. Joe's off doing solo acoustic shows by boat. Joe will be making stops with his boat "Vivace" in Wisconsin and Michigan. I'll be back on the home front in July.
May 2008 - Challenge 2008. Here's the challenge. We all know the Madison Area Music Awards uses revenue collected to put instruments in kids hands and support music programs in schools that have had funding cut so... First - Every musician who submitted a tune in 2008 should submit another tune in 2009 and encourage another musician to do the same. Second - Everyone who submits a tune, attend the 2009 awards show and bring a guest. We can at least double the number of submittals and quadruple the attendance at the wards show. So what do you say!
May 2008 - I WON!!! What an honor. I still can't believe it... "Joe Bainbridge winner of the 2008 Madison Area Music Awards Wish You Were Hear Award"...it's going to be a while before that sounds real to me.
April 2008 - I won a nomination for a Madison Area Music Award!!! I can't believe it, there were tons of entries in my category and I won one of 5 nominations into the finals. The songs were each presented anonymously in round one so no one even knew it was my tune. It was selected purely on people listening and voting for my song. Ok, so how cool is that!
January 2008 - I'm working on recording #4, a solo acoustic instrumental that I think I'll submit to The Madison Area Music Awards since there's a category I can submit to this year. The category is the "Wish You Where Here" Award and is open to anyone from outside Dane County of any musical genera. It's kind of a best song of any type of music from anywhere. Competition should be pretty tough but at the very least I'll be making a donation to a good cause to promote music in schools.
Dec 2007 - Just heard from a friend that 105.5 MMM in Madison played my Christmas song "Peace On Earth" during regular programing... cool, cool cool! I'm three for three as far as getting my songs on the radio since WORT played my first two recorded pieces and now MMM played recording #3.
Upcoming Schedule:
Please Note: Joe is currently booking shows on a very reduced schedule to allow for the continued healing of a hand injury and recording his music.
January 2008 Till it's done - Fire Hazard Studios recording the upcoming acoustic CD "Story Towne" and putting the finishing touches on the Holiday CD "Peace On Earth"
May 9, 2008 Crossroads Coffee House, 7:00-9:00, 2020 Main St. (HWY 14) Crossplains, WI 608-798-2080
May 30, 2008 Coffee Grounds Cafe, 6:30-8:30, 801 N. Main St. (HWY 113) Lodi, WI 608-592-7300
May 31, 2008 Cafe Tlazo, Algoma WI, 7 till 9 PM, 607 4th St./Highway 42 Algoma, WI
p 920-487-7240, WEB Site http://www.caffetlazo.com
June 12, 13 & 14 Steel Bridge Festival, Sturgeon Bay, WI. Joe will be playing various showcases throughout the festival. 15 venues, 200 acts, Saturday Main stage performance by Jackson Brown , pAt mAcdonald (Tinbuk 3), Feedy Johnson, Jane Weedlin (The Go Go's) and a host of others. Tickets $50 for the full festival including trolley pass to all venues.
June 21 - Fasolo's Coffee & Deli, Leland, MI (Just off HWY 22 at Leland Harbor across from Historic Fish Town) 7 - 9 PM 231-929-1832
August 8, 2008 Crossroads Coffee House, 7:00-9:00, 2020 Main St. (HWY 14) Crossplains, WI 608-798-2080
August 9, 2008 - Harmony Grove Brat and Beer Festival, Show Time TBA, HWY "V" Harmony Grove , WI. Take HWY 113 north of Lodi then HWY "J" east till it joins HWY "V", follow "V" to Harmony Grove.
August 30, 2008 - Joe will be playing the town of Mazomanie's Gallery Night, Mazomanie, WI. The show is at The Whistle Stop Cafe', WI 6 till 8 PM, 18 Brodhead St (Down Town Mazomanie).
Sept 20, 2008 - Private event
Contact Information
- E-mail & Booking Information:
- Bookings: 1-866-480-0777
- General Information:
joe@storytowne.com
Webmaster: webmaster@storytowne.com