Also visit:
Maine Hysterical Society | Stacy Kane Photography | Bayley's Camping Resort | Simon Apple | Dan Merrill | Rebecca Martin | Brandon Baines
Maine Hysterical Society | Stacy Kane Photography | Bayley's Camping Resort | Simon Apple | Dan Merrill | Rebecca Martin | Brandon Baines
Dan Merrill
A Maine native from North Yarmouth, all Dan has ever known is his music. His velvet voice and mastery of the guitar are second to none on the national scene. Over the past 10+ years, he has added songwriting as well as producing to his artistic abilities. He was co-founder of the highly successful New England touring band Cornerstone in the 80s. With Cornerstone, the band produced the CD "Foundation", played night clubs and colleges, made several TV appearances, and opened concerts for .38 Special, Foghat, Marshall Tucker, and Jeff Healy.
In 1987, Dan received the "Male Vocalist of the Year" award from the Maine Music Awards. In 1992, economics as well as a need to shift artistic focus drew him to the acoustic guitar. Dan played everywhere from coffee houses to colleges. He eventually would come to share stages with the likes of John Hiatt, Warren Zevon, Chris Smither, Patty Griffin and Ellis Paul. His songwriting hit new levels in 1995 when Dan was chosen out of a field of over 800 entries nationwide and received national recognition by winning the "New Folk Award" at the renowned "Kerrville Folk Festival" in Texas with his song "Katherine" - a song about his daughter when she was 3 years old. Past winners of this award include; Lyle Lovett, David Wilcox, and John Gorka. In 1996 Dan released his first solo CD "Revolution", which was recorded in part in Nashville, TN. You can also hear Dan as lead singer with the group, Simon Apple on their latest release, "River to the Sea."
Those who attended the 9-11 tribute concert at Merrill Auditorium in 2001, will never forget Dan's stirring and passionate rendering of "America the Beautiful". WMGX had Dan on air and said it was the most incredible representation of that song they had ever heard.and played it frequently thereafter on the air.
A Maine native from North Yarmouth, all Dan has ever known is his music. His velvet voice and mastery of the guitar are second to none on the national scene. Over the past 10+ years, he has added songwriting as well as producing to his artistic abilities. He was co-founder of the highly successful New England touring band Cornerstone in the 80s. With Cornerstone, the band produced the CD "Foundation", played night clubs and colleges, made several TV appearances, and opened concerts for .38 Special, Foghat, Marshall Tucker, and Jeff Healy.
In 1987, Dan received the "Male Vocalist of the Year" award from the Maine Music Awards. In 1992, economics as well as a need to shift artistic focus drew him to the acoustic guitar. Dan played everywhere from coffee houses to colleges. He eventually would come to share stages with the likes of John Hiatt, Warren Zevon, Chris Smither, Patty Griffin and Ellis Paul. His songwriting hit new levels in 1995 when Dan was chosen out of a field of over 800 entries nationwide and received national recognition by winning the "New Folk Award" at the renowned "Kerrville Folk Festival" in Texas with his song "Katherine" - a song about his daughter when she was 3 years old. Past winners of this award include; Lyle Lovett, David Wilcox, and John Gorka. In 1996 Dan released his first solo CD "Revolution", which was recorded in part in Nashville, TN. You can also hear Dan as lead singer with the group, Simon Apple on their latest release, "River to the Sea."
Those who attended the 9-11 tribute concert at Merrill Auditorium in 2001, will never forget Dan's stirring and passionate rendering of "America the Beautiful". WMGX had Dan on air and said it was the most incredible representation of that song they had ever heard.and played it frequently thereafter on the air.
Barney Martin
UPDATE 9/05 - Article in Maine Today - Interview
A Maine native, Barney Martin, has called a few places home in southern/southwestern Maine. It was playing the guitar that first got Barney interested in the arts as freshman in high school, but here he also found the stage through the encouragement of his English teacher, Burt deFrees. From a bit part in Finian's Rainbow at the beginning of high school, by graduation he performed feature roles in "The King and I", "L'il Abner", and "Kiss Me Kate" by his senior year. He pursued theater in college and as part of his education received a BA in Theater Performance. Most notable in college was having toured the British Isles for (6) months and then touring with another French Acadian tour for (2) months in France. He continued honing his guitar playing and songwriting skills. He performed solo, in duos, trios from Maine to Colorado, to Texas, to Florida, to the Bahamas, back to Boston… He's opened for Livingston Taylor twice in his career and was popped up on stage to sing with David Wilcox once. In the 90s, Barney moved back to the Portland where "on camera" acting became a big focus. He has acted in innumerous local/New England commercials (Megabucks, Hannaford, Handyman Tool Rental, AAA, just to name a few) as well as getting roles in Fox's "Murder in Small town X" and an independent feature "Liberty, Maine" starring Eric Close. In 2001 he joined forces with Randy Judkins and Steve Underwood to form "The Maine Hysterical Society" and in 2004 officially brought Coos Canyon into being.
UPDATE 9/05 - Article in Maine Today - Interview
A Maine native, Barney Martin, has called a few places home in southern/southwestern Maine. It was playing the guitar that first got Barney interested in the arts as freshman in high school, but here he also found the stage through the encouragement of his English teacher, Burt deFrees. From a bit part in Finian's Rainbow at the beginning of high school, by graduation he performed feature roles in "The King and I", "L'il Abner", and "Kiss Me Kate" by his senior year. He pursued theater in college and as part of his education received a BA in Theater Performance. Most notable in college was having toured the British Isles for (6) months and then touring with another French Acadian tour for (2) months in France. He continued honing his guitar playing and songwriting skills. He performed solo, in duos, trios from Maine to Colorado, to Texas, to Florida, to the Bahamas, back to Boston… He's opened for Livingston Taylor twice in his career and was popped up on stage to sing with David Wilcox once. In the 90s, Barney moved back to the Portland where "on camera" acting became a big focus. He has acted in innumerous local/New England commercials (Megabucks, Hannaford, Handyman Tool Rental, AAA, just to name a few) as well as getting roles in Fox's "Murder in Small town X" and an independent feature "Liberty, Maine" starring Eric Close. In 2001 he joined forces with Randy Judkins and Steve Underwood to form "The Maine Hysterical Society" and in 2004 officially brought Coos Canyon into being.
Brian Johnson
Another Maine native, Brian hails from Cumberland. Much of Brian's musical past was shared with Dan as they grew up together attending the same schools starting in grade school. Brian was apart of those initial bands with Dan as Dan changed gears in the 90's to a more acoustic sound. Brian and he found they were more than able to connect as a duo to play the acoustic sounds, but in addition still deliver rock with the growing technology in sequencing (the ability to create the rest of the band on a computer). Brian has now become a master at creating sequences. Brian is a fine guitarist and one of the few true tenors of the likes of Graham Nash.
Another Maine native, Brian hails from Cumberland. Much of Brian's musical past was shared with Dan as they grew up together attending the same schools starting in grade school. Brian was apart of those initial bands with Dan as Dan changed gears in the 90's to a more acoustic sound. Brian and he found they were more than able to connect as a duo to play the acoustic sounds, but in addition still deliver rock with the growing technology in sequencing (the ability to create the rest of the band on a computer). Brian has now become a master at creating sequences. Brian is a fine guitarist and one of the few true tenors of the likes of Graham Nash.
Coos Canyon is ...yes, a wonderful, natural, beautiful place to visit, swim, camp and pan for gold. The physical Coos Canyon is the inspiration for the name of this singing trio. They are fresh, natural, fun, free flowing like the river, like thunder from the mountains.
Here is a band from Maine, but hearing them you'd think they were from "the city". It's simply 3 guys, 3 guitars, and a little help from "today's technology". They can do anything... from an acoustic James Taylor ballad to a 70's Grand Funk rock tune. Sure we do CSN, but can we do "Steely Dan"? - oh ya!
With an amazing song list that represents the best music from the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's into today, Coos Canyon surfaced in 2004 to bring back these songs "just like the record". Whether it's old time rock n roll, country, pop, disco, to folk,…it's all here.
Songs like > "Play that Funky Music, Brick House, Oh What A Night"… "Jump, Jive and Wail, Drift Away, Bye Bye Miss American Pie, Friends in Low Places"…and more!
Bands like > Eagles, Van Halen, Aerosmith, Loggins and Messina, Matchbox 20, Tom Petty, Tears for Fears, Dave Matthews, Garth Brooks, Beatles, Monkey's, Orleans, John Mayer, Steely Dan, Jackson Browne, Christopher Cross, Rolling Stones, Steve Miller, Brian Adams, Doobie Brothers, Van Morrison…and more!
It's a concert you will not soon forget, fun for the whole family (certainly the baby boomers!), and people will want to see again and again and again… "How do they make it sound so much like the record?" Come see for yourself…
Here is a band from Maine, but hearing them you'd think they were from "the city". It's simply 3 guys, 3 guitars, and a little help from "today's technology". They can do anything... from an acoustic James Taylor ballad to a 70's Grand Funk rock tune. Sure we do CSN, but can we do "Steely Dan"? - oh ya!
With an amazing song list that represents the best music from the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's into today, Coos Canyon surfaced in 2004 to bring back these songs "just like the record". Whether it's old time rock n roll, country, pop, disco, to folk,…it's all here.
Songs like > "Play that Funky Music, Brick House, Oh What A Night"… "Jump, Jive and Wail, Drift Away, Bye Bye Miss American Pie, Friends in Low Places"…and more!
Bands like > Eagles, Van Halen, Aerosmith, Loggins and Messina, Matchbox 20, Tom Petty, Tears for Fears, Dave Matthews, Garth Brooks, Beatles, Monkey's, Orleans, John Mayer, Steely Dan, Jackson Browne, Christopher Cross, Rolling Stones, Steve Miller, Brian Adams, Doobie Brothers, Van Morrison…and more!
It's a concert you will not soon forget, fun for the whole family (certainly the baby boomers!), and people will want to see again and again and again… "How do they make it sound so much like the record?" Come see for yourself…
Main Film BLOG
http://www.mainefilm.blogspot.com/
Barney's Passion - Film Incentives in Maine
Barney with author Richard Russo supporting film incentives for Maine
http://www.mainefilm.blogspot.com/
Barney's Passion - Film Incentives in Maine
Barney with author Richard Russo supporting film incentives for Maine
