Poway Center for the Performing Arts Foundation Announces 'O Berkley, Where Hart Thou' Concert, 9/22

On Saturday, September 22 at 8pm, San Diego country, folk, rock and bluegrass musicians will gather on the Poway Center stage to perform O Berkley, Where Hart Thou?

“September is the time when Poway celebrates her history with parades, the rodeo, street fairs and more. We thought ‘what better way to join in the celebration of The City in the Country than San Diego folk, country and bluegrass musicians recreating the Academy Award-winning soundtrack to O Brother, Where Art Thou?” states Michael Rennie, POW! Foundation Executive Director.

Legendary songs “Man of Constant Sorrow,” “In the Jailhouse Now,” and “Oh Death,” will be among the songs honored by the likes of Berkley Hart and the stellar cast. Performed “Grand Ol’ Opry style” – with vocalists and acoustic instruments circled around a shared microphone – O Berkley captures the pure, organic beauty of these timeless classics with minimal embellishments. In 2005, the duo staged the first O Berkley, Where Hart Thou? The DVD/CD of that first show was nominated for Best Americana or Country Album at the 2007 San Diego Music Awards (SDMA). Berkley Hart have since presented 3 additional shows, featuring different performers. Following sold out performances at a 400-seat Encinitas Church in 2006 and again in 2009, the show was ready to move to a larger venue. Now this grand-daddy of all theme shows has found a new home at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts.

“O Berkley, Where Hart Thou? has been an amazing way for us to showcase the treasure chest of talent that's always on display in San Diego for folks who may or may not be aware of it,” says Jeff Berkley. “Audiences always come away energized for having discovered this gem of a show! That's what's fun for me - getting to help show off my friends and colleagues!”

Calman Hart also shares Jeff’s enthusiasm. “I love doing O Berkley, Where Hart Thou? -- I get to play my favorite music with my favorite musicians in front of my favorite audience! It doesn't get much better than that.”

Many of the performers will be familiar to the Poway Center audience; with others making their Center debut. The cast features The 7th Day Buskers featuring Shawn Rohlf, Dennis Caplinger, Robin Henkel, Gregory Page, Steve Poltz, Lisa Sanders, Jeffrey Joe Morin, Robin Adler, Cathryn Beeks & Matt Silvia, The Lovebirds, Tom Brossseau and the Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church Youth Choir.*

Seventh Day Busker Shawn Rohlf claims, “O Berkley, Where Hart Thou? is like the Olympics of music performances for me-- It only happens every couple of years and is a gathering of the best musicians around. It always leaves me with great, lasting memories, and I really look forward to the next one. It's a hell of a party and I love it!”

The cast is as equally enthusiastic about reprising their performances -- "This annual musical revue is a wonderful community event that strengthens our city’s incredible musical scene. Fun for all the family, it's a chance to see & hear the top performers right here in our own backyard pay homage to the music that has, and continues to inspire us all. It's the soundtrack to our lives and a proud way to celebrate America's contribution to the world scene,” says Gregory Page.

Lisa Sanders states “For me, O Berkley, Where Hart Thou? is an incredible opportunity to showcase how wonderful American music is. It gives me the opportunity to share our humor, our heritage, and our love for a style of music that is completely dependent on the heart in which it’s delivered. It’s as funny, deep, and real as it gets. It’s a blast to be a part of it!”

About the show’s inspiration, O Brother, Where Art Thou?

In the late nineties, Ethan and Joel Coen began conceiving a film project around an unusual idea. They wanted to film a new version of Homer’s Odyssey set in the American south of the 1930s. An unusual melding of two classic eras, ancient Greece and the Depression-era south called for an unusual approach. Typically, music is added to a film at the end of the process. But before the Coen brothers wrote or shot one scene, they hired T Bone Burnett to record the soundtrack. Using field recordings and a core group of musicians to create new material, Burnett created a powerfully moving musical experience. With Burnett’s soundtrack playing in their headphones, the Coen brothers set out to write and shoot the film. The soundtrack became a surprise best seller with the “single,” “A Man of Constant Sorrow,” even garnering extensive radio play on top 40 country stations, including KSON. The success of the soundtrack inspired tens of thousands of people to celebrate this music which is exactly Berkley Hart’s intention with O Berkley, Where Hart Thou?

About Berkley Hart

Berkley Hart have found something that works. For over ten years now, the combination of Kerrville New Folk Songwriter Award winner, Jeff Berkley, and stand-out wordsmith, Calman Hart, creates a pairing that has become one of the premier acoustic duos touring the country. Every Berkley Hart show is packed with entertainment as the duo combines their natural humor with poignant, delicate, masterfully crafted lyrics delivered with stunning harmony and musicianship. Between songs, the obvious camaraderie between these two top songwriters shines as they effortlessly play off each other in what can only be called genuine comedy. Add in virtuoso playing from both Berkley (guitar) and Hart (guitar, harmonica), and it’s easy to see why the two have become live favorites and are fixtures on the folk circuit, making appearances at the Kerrville Folk Festival, as well as playing some of folk’s most prestigious venues including The Birchmere and The Bluebird Café.

Berkley Hart have six studio albums to their credit, and each album has earned nominations or won San Diego Music Awards (SDMA) and garnered critical acclaim. The latest release, “Crow“ (2011), explores the ups and downs of life in song and was nominated for the 2011 SDMA in the Best Americana Album category. The San Diego Troubadour heralded the album as “excellent Americana music from a pair of musicians that have shown the ability to sustain this level for years.”

“Las Vegas” (2009) is “a throwback celebration of the glories of harmonized vocals,” according to the North County Times and was nominated for Best Americana or Country Album for that year’s SDMA.

“Pocket Change” (2006) won the SDMA for Best Americana Album, and the San Diego Troubadour found the duo “at its best, combining poignant lyrics with masterfully crafted melodies and harmonies.”

2004’s “Twelve” received an SDMA for Best Americana Album, and the All Music Guide noted, “’Twelve’…reveals that [Berkley Hart] know how to create appealing, harmony-rich country-rock songs.”

“Something To Fall Back On” (2002) received that year’s SDMA for Best Adult Alternative Album, and Relix Magazine proclaimed, “The band infuses its rich, harmony-laden songs with strains of bluegrass, folk, country and rock.”

Finally, their debut album, “Wreck ‘n’ Sow” (1999) was a critical success out of the box; it won that year’s SDMA for Best Local Recording while the duo earned the Best New Artist award. SLAMM magazine (now known as City Beat) said, “Sometimes an album surfaces that is so emotionally and musically authentic that it crumbles resistance to its genre.”

* Line up subject to change. Check www.powayarts.org for updated line up.
TICKETS: www.powayarts.org
$29/$10 Youth ticket (18 years and under with the purchase of an adult ticket)
Senior and Group discounts available

 

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