Genre

Acoustic / Folk, Experimental, Rock / Alternative

Thomas Paul

Composer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Thomas Paul is adept in a diverse range of genres including swing, funk, country, bluegrass, lounge jazz, blues, psychedelic rock and bedroom indie-folk. Thomas joined his first band at age fourteen and since then has lent his talents to over three-dozen bands and music projects, including Bill Coffey Big Band, Mystery Date, HillFolk Noir and Clock. Cellar Notes recently dubbed him “one of the premier performers in the Northwest.” Paul has often shared the stage with notables Curtis Stigers, Ned Evett, Nick Jaina, Jonah Shue, JD Kindle and several other Northwest luminaries as well as a number of music giants such as John Hammond and Teddy Thompson. Though he enjoys the role of sideman, he is moreover an independent artist. Numerous full band and solo sets pack his schedule at music hot spots throughout the Boise region and nationwide. He mixes and matches instruments between vocals, guitar, bass, keyboard, mandolin and ac cordion both in live performances and his albums Goodbye Waterloo… and House on Fire. Thomas has played everything from garage rock to lounge blues to folk and, according to Michael Deeds has “been in more Boise bands than any sane musician should, and he plays essentially any instrument with strings or keys plopped in front of him.”

www.thomaspaulmusic.com

Boise, ID

Genre

central city music company

Genre

Rock / Alternative

Finn Riggins

Finn Riggins is an indie rock trio based in Boise, ID that travels the US representing Idaho and it’s growing music scene with their genre bending compositions and high energy live shows. Cameron Bouiss, Eric Gilbert and Lisa Simpson met while going to music school in Moscow, ID. After several years of collaboration with many different projects, they formed this trio and moved to Hailey, ID in August of 2006 and began writing and touring heavily. In the fall of 2007, Finn Riggins released their debut EP called A Whale, A Fish and soon after their debut full length A Soldier, A Saint, An Ocean Explorer on Tender Loving Empire an independent record label, art gallery, fine art and literature publisher, fashion collective, and handmade boutique. From that time through the beginning of 2009, Finn Riggins toured the US very heavily, playing over 300 shows in 35 different states. In 2009, Finn Riggins released ‘vs. Wilderness’ on Tender Loving Empire, right before embarking on one of their longest tour stretches across the country. Now back in Boise for a while, they are currently working on a new record with a tentative release date for 2012. In the meantime, they’re playing locally and regionally.

Record label:
Tender Loving Empire

Booking contact:
Eric Gilbert
208.721.2887

Genre

Acoustic / Folk, Experimental, Rock / Alternative

• Visit Official Website

a.k.a. Belle

Nicknamed ’Americana Sweethearts’ by weekly local arts & culture rag, The Boise Weekly, a.k.a. Belle are also commonly referred to as Boise’s ”Indie – Alt – Country Darlings” — certainly there is an edge to their Americana – roots rock n roll, as listening to their debut album, ”Disappearing Night” reveals.

The album came out in late December 2011, spent several weeks in the Top 20 Best Sellers list at The Record Exchange and, in fact, ”Disappearing NIght” made it into the Ten Top Selling Local Albums of 2012!

The track ”Austin Calling” continues to get airplay on the Treasure Valley’s largest commercial radio station, The River 94.9fm. a.k.a. Belle are highly championed by their morning host, Tim Johnstone, as well as being favorites of Carl Scheider, DJ at (NPR affiliated) KBSU. ”Living Room Radio,” a Friday afternoon show on 89.9fm Radio Boise, listed ’Disappearing Night’ as one of their top albums of the year.

a.k.a. Belle formed in 2008, after Catherine Crooks Merrick (vocals, guitars, banjo) returned home to Boise after several years of living and performing under the moniker Belle
of Les Bois in Manchester, England. She recruited long time accomplice Sam Merrick to play guitar (ex-Hillfolk Noir, The Nymphs, The Leaving Trains). (Yes, they are married.)

No strangers to the music business, each has worked with or supported some famous names (Curtis Stigers; Bill Kirchen; Doug Martsch from Built to Spill; John Doe & Exene Cervenka from LA band X; Iggy Pop; Elizabeth Cook; Holly Golightly, Lydia Loveless…just to name a few)

Current live shows feature Louis McFarland on percussion and Chris Galli on stand up bass; and Kayleigh Jack on violin, vocals and guitar.

Sam and Catherine recently appeared on Boise Song Talk, a local television series showcasing local songwriters who discuss their craft/ songwriting with host James Coberly Smith. http://boisesongtalk.com/

Christmas 2010’s Moxie Java local artist/band compilation includes a.k.a. Belle’s holiday hit, “I’m Giving Mice Elf to You” which has been on permanent rotation on The River’s Morning Show every Christmas since its release.

”For a Fool,” was the inspiration for a stop motion painting/animation video by Boise artist, Shasta Nash. Shasta used the acoustic version of the song (written & recorded in England), which was shown at the 2011 ”208 Music Video Show” and took 1st prize.

The band also took part in a pilot series hosted by John Doe called ”American Music.” a.k.a. Belle served as his backing band (with Catherine duetting) on several songs. http://www.wideeye.tv/original_programming.html

Work on their 2nd album (working title ’The Devil Loves You’), has begun at AudioLab Recording Studios, and the band anticipate its release sometime this spring. The direction is slightly darker, including themes of time travel and urban myths about a serial killer who lives in Boise’s foothills.