News

NEW CD & NEW WEBSITE COMING EARLY IN 2006!

Watch for April's new release, Take Me Back, to be released in Canada on January 17, 2006 and in the United States in February 14, 2006.  Visit www.rounder.com for further information.  April's website is currently be re-designed by Jack Boeger or Boeger Communications and will be launched at the beginning of January 2006!  Check the new website early in January for exciting opportunities and announcements about the new release and more!

April has a new Agent!

April is pleased to welcome Mike Green & Associates to her team for bookings in the United States and Canada!  Watch for the results of their hard work on her tour dates page...and welcome once again! 

April has new Management!

April is pleased to announce that she is now managed by Edward Kenney of McDermott Entertainment.  June 2005 marked the beginning of this exciting relationship and this new chapter in April's career.  Welcome Ed and thanks for joining the April Verch team!

April at the IBMA World of Bluegrass Conference 2005

April and her band will be performed an official showcase and several private showcases at this year's IBMA World of Bluegrass Conference (October 24-27, 2005).  April says "hello" to all of her new friends, fans and colleagues that made the event so much fun.  Thanks so very much to the California Bluegrass Association, Colorado Case Company, European Bluegrass Association and the IBMA for the showcase opportunities.  Can't wait for next year!

Bluegrass North Magazine Features April

Look for a feature article on April in Bluegrass North in the May/June issue.  Bluegrass North is an exciting new Canadian publication based in Vancouver, BC.  Visit www.bluegrassnorthpublishing.com for more information and to subscribe!

April at the 2005 "SXSW Music Conference"

April and her band attended the "SXSW Music Conference 2005", March 15-21, 2005 in Austin, Texas.  It was April's first time to SXSW (and to Austin) and she made the most of it!

A HUGE thank you to:

• FACTOR and SOCAN for their support and contribution to April's travel expenses for this conference.
• "The Canadian BLAST" marketing team of the Government of Canada (Canadian Heritage Trade Routes, International Trade Canada, the Canadian Consulates in Dallas and Los Angeles), CIRPA in partnership with Telefilm and FACTOR, provincial government and MIA, for their support of and hard work on behalf of all Canadian showcasing artists. 
• Bluefish Entertainment, Jeff Anderson, David Cowan & Opal Divine's Freehouse for supporting April's official showcase at SXSW.

April at the 2005 "North American Folk Music & Dance Alliance" Conference

April and her band attended the "North American Folk Music & Dance Alliance" 17th annual conference, February 24-27, 2005 in Montreal, Quebec.  It was another successful conferences full of great music and good folk.  April sends a special hello to all of her friends and colleagues from the conference, and a great big thank you to: Live Tour Artists, Lissa Schneckenburger (Roots Revue Coordinator) and The Folk Alliance Performance Alley Committee, for the showcase opportunities!

New 2006 Release on Rounder Records

Produced by roots music master Dirk Powell, Take Me Back opens a new chapter in April Verch's career. Like its predecessors, the album showcases April's mastery of traditional and modern fiddle styles on original compositions, old favorites and neglected gems alike, while highlighting her growth as a vocalist on songs by contemporary writers such as Buddy & Julie Miller and Claire Lynch. Don't miss it!  Stay tuned to this news page for advance "sneak peeks" (check out the pictures page for those as well) as we get closer to the release date in the first quarter of 2006!

April's Latest "Verch-ual" Newsletter

Attention all fiddle fans and April fans...if you haven't already, you can sign up for April's email list at the bottom of each page of her website.  She sends out a "Verch-ual Newsletter" once and a while.  Here is a sample of April's latest email newsletter - enjoy!

April's New Book of Original Fiddle Tunes for Sale

Originals by April Verch is now for sale!  This is April's first publication of fiddle tunes and contains 27 of her favorite compositions.  To find out more and/or to order, click here!

April at the IBMA "World of Bluegrass" Conference

April and band attended the International Bluegrass Music Association annual World of Bluegrass Convention and Fanfest October 3 to 10, 2004. April had a fabulous time attending seminars and performing in showcases sponsored by various organizations throughout the week.  She wishes to express sincere thanks to the presenters, radio djs, media persons, volunteers, fans, and fellow artists who made her experience in Louisville a great one!  A special thanks to the following organizations for showcase opportunities:

California Bluegrass Association

European Bluegrass Music Association

Folk Alliance International

Northern Bluegrass Committee

Proulx Guitars

Rounder Records

Connie Kaldor @ Wood River Hall on Vision TV...
April was delighted and honoured to spend 2 weeks in August, taping 13 episodes of "Connie Kaldor at Wood River Hall", a new roots music series featuring some of Canada's best artists. April was the featured guest on one episode and performed as part of the "house band" for the other 12 episodes. The series debuted on the Vision Network in January 2004 and was re-broadcast in April 2004.  This wonderful series will be playing again in the future, so if you missed it, or want to see your favourite episodes again, check your local listings.

The April Verch Band!
April is extremely honoured to be able to work with some of the finest musicians in the business... 

Click here to see a picture of April with some of her band members...

Marc Bru deserves special mention (especially since he is married to April), for being such an integral part of the April Verch band, especially in terms of being the "hold it together rhythm section". Audiences are delighted by Marc's quick wit, French Canadian spoon playing and miriad of other percussion talents. His claim to fame though is his critically acclaimed skill as a bodhranist. Marc has been touted by the experts as one of the most exceptional bodhranists in North America. Marc's talents have been developed over years of experience in the music, dance and theatre industry.

Tyler Grant is a young guitarist with high aspirations. A versatile
musician, Tyler is an active and experienced performer and teacher of musical styles including classical, bluegrass, rock and roll, country, jazz, reggae, traditional Bulgarian, Macedonian, and American folk.
Tyler became interested in guitar during his freshman year of high school. He quickly became proficient in classic rock and blues styles, and would spend a decade playing and singing professionally around his hometown of San Diego, CA. He started teaching guitar lessons at the age of nineteen.

Tyler began his classical training under master teachers Marc Bacilla and Fred Benedetti. After completing the Performance Studies program at Grossmont College in El Cajon, CA, with high honors, Tyler was awarded a scholorship from California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) in Valencia, CA, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Music, specializing in guitar performance. At CalArts Tyler studied and performed with such luminaries as Miroslav Tadic, Stuart Fox, Larry Koonse, Marc Lowenstien, Wadada Leo Smith and Charlie Haden.
He was chosen to participate in master classes with Christopher Parkening, Dusan Bogdanovoc and Thomas Mueller-Pering. He was also a teacher's assistant at CalArts, coaching the first and second year guitar students.

Tyler won first place in the Colorado State Flatpicking Championship at
Rockygrass in 2003 and the Wayne Henderson Guitar Contest in 2005. He placed first in the mandolin contest at Uncle Dave Macon Days in 2005. He has placed second and third at many other contests including Clarkesville and Dickson on both guitar and mandolin.

Amanda Kowalski is a dynamic young bass player who began studying classical bass at age nine in her hometown of Wheeling, WV. During her high school years she apprenticed with Dr. Andrew Kohn, principal bassist of the Pittsburgh Ballet and assistant principal bassist of the Pittsburgh Symphony. At fifteen Kowalski began taking lessons with jazz bassist, Dwayne Dolphin. In 2000 she received the West Virginia University Jazz Musician of the Year scholarship, and in 2001 she was named the West Virginia Jazz Festival's rhythm section member of the year.

It was also during high school that Kowalski discovered her love of bluegrass and traditional music. She was a founding member of the Wheeling Park High School Bluegrass in the Schools program and was accepted as a student to the International Bluegrass Music Association's Leadership Bluegrass Conference of 2000. Additionally, Kowalski is a reputable bass instructor who has taught at the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival's Kids Academy, the Augusta Heritage Center for the Arts, and the International Bluegrass Association's Bluegrass in the Schools Seminar.

In 2001 Kowalski moved to Nashville, TN where she began a career that has led her to perform and record with various esteemed musicians.  She is currently balancing a career as a touring musician and her academic pursuits. She is a senior at Western Kentucky University where she is studying folklore and photography and maintains a 3.8 GPA.

Jon Weisberger, best known to bluegrass fans as a journalist - he earned the International Bluegrass Music Association's Print Media Person of the Year award in 2000 and its Best Liner Notes honor in 2001.   Jon Weisberger has also spent more than a decade as a bluegrass performer.  Born in Ohio, he earned a music degree in California and lived in New York before returning to the midwest in the early 1980s.  Together with Dwight McCall (J. D. Crowe & The New South), Jon formed Union Springs in 1992, which released three well-received CDs, including Next Train Headed South (Copper Creek).  In 1999, he joined The Wildwood Valley Boys, touring extensively and appearing on their I'm A Believer (Rebel), and as the Cincinnati area's first-call bass player, he recorded and/or performed with a host of area groups, as well as bluegrass legends Jimmy Martin and Hazel Dickens.  Jon has also earned a growing reputation as a songwriter, penning one of bluegrass's most popular songs of 2001, the Chapmans' "Losing Again."  He joined singer/guitarist Chris Jones' band and moved to Nashville at the beginning of 2003.

Chris Jones joins the April Verch band for this tour, but is usually busy touring with his own project: The Chris Jones Coalition

(www.chrisjonescoalition.com).   Chris Jones is one of the best young musicians in bluegrass today.  Chris' rich voice is rooted firmly in the Stanley bluegrass tradition, but with a warm, resonant country flavor, something Bluegrass Now magazine has called the "low lonesome sound".  Chris' strong rhythm and masterful lead guitar work is influenced by George Shuffler, Larry Sparks, Tony Rice and Ron Block. Chris is also considered one of bluegrass' premier songwriters.

April Verch on Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour
On Sept. 15, 2003 April recorded an episode of the Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour, taped live from the Kentucky Theatre in Lexington, KY. The show was broadcast on over 400 radio stations in 32 countries!   If you missed it, don't fear, you can view the live webcast of this episode, which also featured Danny Barnes, by clicking on the link below and then finding April's name in the archives.

Order April's New Release "From Where I Stand"
The official release dates for April's second release on Rounder Records, "From Where I Stand" were April 15, 2003 (United States) and April 22, 2003 (Canada). You can order copies now at www.rounder.com, www.amazon.com or www.amazon.ca.  Visit the discography and review pages for more information on this exciting new recording.

April's New Press Page from Rounder Records
With the release of April's new recording "From Where I Stand" (April 2003), Rounder Records has developed a new press page for April. At www.rounder.com/publicity (click on April Verch) you can download photos, her most recent bio, as well as reviews about the new album. 

Verchuosity Nominated for "Best Instrumental Album"April is honoured to announce that "Verchuosity" was nominated for Best Instrumental Album by the 2002 Prairie Music Awards. The awards will be announced in Winnipeg on September 29, 2002. April congratulates her fellow nominees and thanks the Prairie Music Awards for this acknowledgement and support.

Verchuosity Nominated for Juno Award
April is honoured and pleased to announce that her latest release, "Verchuosity", was nominated in the "Best Roots/Traditional Solo Album" category for the 2002 Juno Awards. The 31st Annual Juno Awards were held in St. John's, Newfoundland on Sunday, April 14, 2002. April congratulates David Francey who took home the honours in her category, as well as her very talented fellow nominees. For more information about the awards, nominees and winners, visit the Juno Awards website at www.juno-awards.ca and CTV's site at junos.sympatico.ca  April also wishes to express her most sincere thanks and congratulations to Paul Mills (producer/engineer of Verchuosity), all of the musicians who participated in making the album, and Rounder Records.

April's Dad's Debut Recording
April is proud to announce that her father's debut recording "No Other Would Do" is now available. Ralph Verch was April's first and most important musical influence and this album captures him at his best, singing 17 old-time country favourites. The album also features Ralph on guitar, April on fiddle and harmony vocals, April's sister Tawnya on piano and harmony vocals, and April's mother Muriel on "The Family Bible", along with Canadian music legends Calvin Vollrath (rhythm guitar and bass) and Freddie Pelletier (lead guitar). The recording is available for ordering on the discography page, on CD and cassette.

Verchuosity Nominated for Indie Award
The 2002 AFIM (Association for Independent Music) Indie Award Nominations were announced in March, and April was proud to have her latest recording, Verchuosity, listed among the prestigious group. Verchuosity was nominated in the "Traditional Folk" category. The awards were announced on Monday, March 11, 2002. April was ecstatic when her hero, the late John Hartford, won the award for "Hamilton Ironworks". No one deserved it more. For more information about the awards, please visit the AFIM website: http://www.afim.org/indies/index.cfm?action=2002nominees

A Prairie Home Companion
If you forgot to tune in on Saturday, December 22, 2001, to Garisson Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion" to hear April perform live on the Christmas edition of this popular radio show, you haven't missed all of your chances. The show was broadcast live from Shea's Performing Arts Center in Buffalo, NY and also featured Stephanie Davis. You can hear the show by visiting the web archives at www.phc.mpr.org.

April is represented by "Live Tour Artists" in Canada!
We are excited and honoured to announce that April has been added to the Artist Roster of "Live Tour Artists". Darcy Gregoire will be handling April's bookings in Canada. "Live Tour Artists" is based in Ontario, and you can find out more information by visiting them at www.livetourartists.com.

April Verch Documentary
"April Verch, Roots Revisited", a documentary courtesy of The New RO and Affinity Productions premiered on August 30, 2001. The half-hour program will be aired again in the future, and can be viewed on the following channels: The New RO (Cable 6) in Ontario, Star Choice(channel 342) and Express VU (channel 207).  Stay tuned for details on re-broadcasts.

Verchuosity Nominated for "Best Roots Album"
April is honoured to announce that "Verchuosity" was nominated for Best Roots Album by the 2001 Prairie Music Awards. The awards were announced in Edmonton on September 30, 2001 and April congratulates Steve Pineo who took home the award.

Special Thanks

April wishes to express her most sincere thanks to:

D'Addario Strings for their continuing support. April loves and endorses D'Addario Helicore strings.

www.daddario.com

AKG, for their continuing support. April uses the wireless "guitar bug" from AKG in all of her live performances.

www.akg.com

The following organizations for their financial support on different occasions since 2000:

FACTOR and Heritage Canada, The Canada Council for the Arts, The Department of Foreign Affairs

www.factor.ca

www.canadacouncil.ca

Interspin Web Design and Brian Waring for his continuous support and creativity.

www.interspin.com