Melody Walker and Jacob Groopman Announce Fall Tour Dates

Hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area and the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, respectively, singer-songwriter Melody Walker and picker extraordinaire Jacob Groopman have fused their influences into a style they like to call “Americali.” They define it as Americana with a California twist, but of course, it’s much more. Drawing from genres including bluegrass, rock, jazz, classical, Afrobeat, samba and Balkan folk, yet staying close to their American folk roots, the duo create literate music that honors tradition, yet sounds completely of the moment.

Their first album 'Gold Rush Goddess' was on my Best Of 2012 list, they have a new album dropping on October 1st 2013. In support of their upcoming new album 'We Made It Home' Melody Walker and Jacob Groopman Announce Fall Tour Dates. The album is available for Pre-Order on Bandcamp

MELODY & JACOB 2013 FALL CD RELEASE TOUR

10/19 - Ashkenaz - Berkeley, CA
10/22 - Groovacious - Cedar City, UT
10/23 - Steve’s Guitars - Carbondale, CO
10/24 - Larry’s Guitars - Longmont, CO
10/25 - Harmony House - Boulder, CO
10/27 - Oskar Blues - Lyons, CO
10/29 - The Mill - Iowa City, IA
10/30 - Acoustic Underground - Chicago, IL
10/31 - The Blind Pig - Ann Arbor, MI
11/1 - Foundry Hall - South Haven, MI
11/2 - Founders Brewing - Grand Rapids, MI
11/6 - The Falcon - Marlboro, NY
11/7,8 - NERFA Conference - Kerhonkson, NY
11/9 - The Rock Shop - Brooklyn, NY
11/12 - The Cantab - Cambridge, MA
11/13 - Book and Bar - Portsmouth, NH
11/14 - The Parlor Room - Northhampton, MA
11/15 - South Orange PAC - South Orange, NJ
11/16 - Landmark on Main St. - Port Washington, NY
11/17 - Club Passim - Cambridge, MA
11/19 - Outer Space - Hamden, CT
11/20 - Jalopy Theater - Brooklyn, NY
11/22 - Corner Store Arts - Washington, DC
11/23 - Imagine Gallery - Bedford, PA
11/24 - Jam INC. - Richmond, VA
11/25 - Collegiate School - Richmond, VA
12/4 - WDVX Blue Plate Special - Knoxville, TN
12/5 - Clifton Center - Louisville, KY
12/7 - The Down Home - Johnson City, TN
12/8 - The Casbah - Durham, NC
12/10 - The 5 Spot - Nashville, TN
12/14 - Rear Window - Ganado, TX

Melody Walker - Gold Rush Goddess

Melody Walker released her new album "Gold Rush Goddess" in March this year and it's FREE to download at bandcamp, but hey, hit the tip jar ifin you got.

Melody is joined by Jacob Groopman to create a dynamic acoustic roots duo. "Melody's soulful songwriting and Jacob's picking prowess join together in a duo that is creating it's own genre: "Americali". Hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area and the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, respectively, Melody and Jacob represent a real fusion of ideas and sounds, with the literacy and musicianship to pull it off. Their voices harmonize earnestly over intricate textures of banjo, guitar and mandolin, as they sing of ancient truths and futuristic myths, bringing their eclectic influences to life in traditional forms."

Melody Walker is a multi-talented multi-instrumentalist and virtuosic vocalist from Northern California. Starting with piano at age 6 and then guitar at 13, Melody’s classical ear grew alongside the myriad musical tastes of her parents, which ranged from the Beatles to Bill Monroe to Bossa Nova and back again. Soon, she was writing original songs and forming bands with her friends in middle and high school. Melody went on to study piano, voice and world percussion at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California and holds a B.A. in Music.

A musical thrill-seeker of sorts, Melody’s curious ear has led her around the world to study music, most notably in India and Brazil. This travel revealed a greater appreciation for the American traditional music she was raised around and gave her a singular perspective on it’s idiosyncratic beauty.

Melody’s songwriting is strongly rooted in Western folk and pop forms, while her content and delivery draws on more global sounds and themes. Combined with a holistic understanding of music theory and competence on several instruments, she is bringing a new unique voice to the American song. Her songs cut to the crux of the matter and make you remember you came. Melody wont lie and tell you she’s not trying to change the world through music, but she’s taking her time getting there, coating each word with honey so you want to sing along.