Riding out of Tucson, Michael Ronstadt (yep, he's Linda's brother), Ted Ramirez and the rest of this excellent band bring with them a mixture of traditional and contemporary music heavily flavored by the southwestern landscape from which they hail.

Dubbed "Southwestern Folk Music", and singing in both English and Spanish, this group will appeal to fans of some of the other performers we've presented, most notably Tom Russell, Dave Stamey and Tish Hinojosa. Check out the song samples on their web site, and then saddle up and head on into town for a night of great music.

This is a dream booking we STRONGLY RECOMMEND.

Slaid Cleaves has been a very highly regarded Americana artist for awhile now, and we've been trying to get him to San Diego for his first ever appearance here. Eliza Gilkyson played a terrific show for us in June 2004, and we've been counting the days until her return. She's a current Grammy nominee, for Best Contemporary Folk Album, for her excellent Land Of Milk And Honey.

Both performers will play generous individual sets, and they'll share the stage to play and sing together, too.

Individually, either of these performers would make this a STRONGLY RECOMMENDED concert; together, it's a NOT TO BE MISSED one.

Each on his own, Beppe Gambetta and Dan Crary were already major players in the international acoustic guitar world, and had been for decades. Then, about ten years ago, they combined forces. Result: one of the most powerful guitar duos in the world. Combining their love of the guitar with the diverse musical traditions of Italy, the United States, and many other countries, Gambetta & Crary take audiences on an entertaining excursion out to the furthest possibilities of the steel-string guitar.

Together, Gambetta & Crary create a virtuoso evening of guitar music and songs that is rich in musical surprises and intense emotional power. Their cross-cultural show is peppered with Italian/American seasonings that are spicy, funny, and entertaining.

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If you're in the mood for one of the most soulful groups in bluegrass and youre a fan of the Carter Family, Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, check out Perfect Strangers. They might just as well have been called Lonesome Strangers, for their music is in the great tradition of the most mournful soul-touching bluegrass.
~ Barry McCloud, Country Music Today ~

Whether your taste runs (to) traditional bluegrass (or) to modern acoustic, you'll find Perfect Strangers to be a listening pleasure. Bob Black is an undisputed banjo wizard.
~ On The Record, Bluegrass Now ~

From start to finish, their self-titled debut is a showcase of how to play fresh, creative bluegrass while maintaining a sense of the genre's tradition.
~ Rebel Records ~

The first album from this bluegrass supergroup (contains)fine traditional songs (and) even better original compositions by Peter McLaughlin and Chris Brashear.
~ Bluegrass Unlimited ~

About as high and lonesome as bluegrass gets, and a lot of that has to do with the eerie combination of Stecher's and Brashear's voices as they take turns singing tenor to each other's leads on several cuts. Perfect Strangers, maybe, but also Perfect Pros.
~ John Lupton, Sing Out! ~

Perfect Strangers are now a bona fide band of considerable energy and magnitude. There is not a superfluous moment. Some of the best contemporary traditional bluegrass music one is likely to hear. The dexterity with which they play and the passion communicated by this quintet is revealed with every note.
~ Donald Teplyske, Bluegrass Now ~

When I heard the first track, I thought it was an old song, but to my surprise, Chris Brashear wrote it. Jody Stecher's undeniable signature tenor voice captivates the bluegrass soul throughout this album.
~ Penny Q Allen, Bluegrass Breakdown ~

Here is a real gem of an album by a group that is new on the scene but whose members are no "strangers" to Bluegrass music. The band features wonderful singing and dynamic (instrumental) work - a superb...program that moves along beautifully. Brashear sings in a lilting, engaging manner, and both he and Stecher demonstrate a highly melodic styling that has plenty of "edge" to it. Great music.
~ County Sales ~

As instrumentalists theyre spectacular. Brashear's fiddle is consistently supple and inventive; McLaughlin's guitar playing is both solid and interesting; Bob Black's banjo playing is a thrilling combination of old-school Scruggs picking and jaw-droppingly inventive melodic constructions; Forrest Rose anchors everything on the bass with profound solidity; Jody Stecher plays the heck out of every instrument that's left over. If their hair-raising rendition of Bluegrass In The Backwoods doesn't have you up and buckdancing within about thirty seconds you need to have your pulse checked.
~ R.A., Bluegrass Unlimited ~

In similar fashion to Old and In The Way, Perfect Strangers offers a neutral identity for a few old pros to hang loose. This potent team assures that Perfect Strangers is more than good music: Its also fun.
~ Ronnie D. Lankford Jr., Dirty Linen ~

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