Don't be terrorized. Don't let fear rule your life. Even if you are scared.”
Eric News
Just announced! CD Release Celebration and Concert at City Vineyard, NY, NY April 9, 2018
Sony/Legacy Recordings will be issuing THE ESSENTIAL ERIC ANDERSEN – A 42-track retrospective release covering fifty years of his recorded history, March 30, 2018. The Double CD Set will include the important classics which span across all his albums, including his early classics “Thirsty Boots” “Violets of Dawn” and “Close the Door Lightly”.
Song poet, Eric Andersen entertains and captivates audiences globally. On stage, he moves gracefully from harmonica and guitar (acoustic and electric) to piano/keyboards while weaving tales of the past, anecdotes of the road, and sometimes hints of explanation of his song poems. Currently performing with his all star east coast band comprised of Steve Addabbo, guitar (2017 Grammy Award Winner), Cheryl Prashker on percussion, and Eric Lee rounding the sound on harmony vocals, fiddle and mandolin as the song requires.
Recent highlights include prominent placement in the scheduling at Philly Folk Festival, and the high honor of closing Falcon Ridge Folk Festival; both to seemingly unceasing standing ovations. Fans received the classic Eric Andersen songs insatiably, and the new songs in awe. Time appears to have missed Eric!
At this time an east coast and west coast tour will follow the CD release event from early April to late 2018. More dates to be announced soon.
Visit the tour page for more information.
Exciting New Autumn Happenings!
SUCCESSFUL VIP CHARITY CONCERT FOR LORD BYRON’S ESTATE
On September 3, 2015, the long-awaited VIP charity concert was held in the Grand Hall at Newstead Abbey Park, the ancestral home of the poet Lord Byron in Ravenshead, Nottingham, UK (in the throbbing green heart of Sherwood Forest, the night before the 3-day Robin Hood Festival.)
Eric’s one-time-only concert featured music he put to Bryon’s verse and entirely new compositions in Byron's poetical rhyme style. This is a project he has researched, written, and worked on for two years! Eric is an authority on Lord Byron, who he calls "Rock 'n' Roll's first rebel-legend-icon -- the anti-authority, Bad Boy, Numero Uno, with James Dean tousled hair to boot." Eric tells many tales of this poet's poems and scandalous adventures! The money raised will be used to repair the roof where it was leaking in the exact place it leaked when Byron was living, writing, and partying there in 1811, and also to repair the Japanese wall screen in his ancestral home of Newstead Abbey. The concert was both televised and recorded, so be sure to sign up (“Like”) the Eric Andersen Fan Page on Facebook, and we will notify you when they are available. Here’s a great review of the event: http://americana-uk.com/feature-articles/live-reviews/item/1171-eric-andersen-the-green-note-london-2nd-september-2015
Eric will return to England after the Christmas holidays to record his fourteen Byron works.
DOCUMENTARY FILM NEWS
The massive project of assembling Eric’s archives has been undertaken by London-based writer Ian MacFedyen, who has visited Eric 8 times for archiving. In mid-October, filmmakers Paul Lamont and Scott Sackett will be back in The Netherlands with Eric as they complete the final phase of acquiring images and locating journal and diary entries for their film, "The Songpoet." They'll be back in Europe in early 2016 to gather some of the final interviews and footage. Post-production is expected to begin later that year.
A short clip from the film will be shown to folk industry professionals attending the annual Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference held November 12-15, 2015 in Kerhonkson, New York. More information about the film, including the trailer and selected clips can be found at: www.towardcastlefilms.com/filmography/the-songpoet
CONCERT TOURS & SPECIAL EVENTS
Eric will perform in Vienna October 23 and 24. He then travels to North America for a series of shows from November 6 -22, 2015. Please check the Tour page for all the details. Here are a few Special Highlights:
NEW YORK AND THE FOLK MUSIC REVIVAL CONCERT & EXHIBIT
On November 6, 2015, Eric will perform in the newly-renovated auditorium at the Museum of the City of New York in conjunction with the Folk City exhibition. The successful exhibition of FOLK CITY: NEW YORK AND THE FOLK MUSIC REVIVAL, which opened to rave reviews, has been extended until January 10, 2016. Included in the memorabilia is Eric’s Gibson guitar, upon which he wrote “Thirsty Boots” and “Violets of Dawn,” as well as the napkin containing original lyrics for “Thirsty Boots.” The November 6th concert features special guests, The Chapin Sisters. Eric will be accompanied by Inge Andersen (harmonies), Michele Gazich (violin) and Steve Addabbo (guitar). More details on the Tour Page. www.mcny.org/event/eric-andersen-concert-chapin-sisters
COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME IN NASHVILLE!!
In conjunction with the DYLAN, CASH, AND THE NASHVILLE CATS: A NEW MUSIC CITY exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum in Nashville, Eric will be featured in an afternoon interview/performance in the Ford Theater on November 8th at 2pm Central Time, hosted by Pete Finney. Famed music producer Norbert Putnam and members from his band will be Eric’s special guests. Accompanying Eric will be Inge Andersen on harmonies and Michele Gazich on violin. Additional details on the Tour Page. Direct link to event information and live streaming: countrymusichalloffame.org/calendar/event/interview-and-performance-eric-andersen#.VhoPqMtGxuE
CONCERT TOUR CONTINUES THROUGH NOVEMBER 22, 2015
Check the Tour Page for concert details. Scheduled shows will be in Saratoga Springs, NY, New Paltz, NY, Toronto, ON, Westfield, NJ, and Piermont, NY. Keep checking for any new additions.
NORTHEAST REGIONAL FOLK ALLIANCE CONFERENCE – NOV 12-15, 2015
On November 14th, Eric will participate in the “Wisdom of the Elders” series of the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance conference, hosted by Sonny Ochs. The event is for attendees only, but it will be filmed and available soon afterwards on YouTube. (We will add the link on this page when it’s ready!) The conference, taking place November 12-15, 2015 in the Hudson Valley region of New York State, is open to all members of Folk Alliance International, a professional organization for the folk music community. For registration and other information: www.nerfa.org/conference-info/conference-information
FUTURE CREATIVE PROJECTS
The family and foundation for the great anti-fascist German Nobel Prize-winning writer Heinrich Böll, asked Eric to create new works around his books, and to record an EP to be included in a book for his centenary in 2017. This is similar to the recent project Eric did for Camus. “The Shadow and Light of Albert Camus” is now available on Amazon.