Sacred Heart Music Center will present Michael Monroe and Sterling Waters in their first collaborative performance Saturday, Dec. 6.
Monroe's unique creation of music leaves his audiences mesmerized as he blends his rich vocals, guitar, bamboo and glass flutes, combining musical styles of acoustic folk, and jazz-reggae. Monroe's original music and compelling energy bring a style that is as much fun as it is innovative.
In June, he released his eighth recording, "Chased By The Light," featuring the music he composed and performed for the PBS documentary, "Chased By The Light: A Photographic Journey With Jim Brandenburg," which received six national Awards of Excellence, two for original music. The film has also received a nomination for a regional Emmy. Monroe's recent "In Concert with Nature" Guthrie Theater collaboration with Jim Brandenburg was a highly acclaimed visual and musical experience.
Monroe's 2002 "If" recording was recorded at his solar powered log cabin MisTree Studio on the North Shore of Lake Superior featuring Marc Anderson, Ed Willet (of the duo Chance) and Erik Naslund, as well as portraits of Michael by Jim Brandenburg.
"Abandin My Own Mind," in 2000, was recorded at Minnesota Public Radio's "Live in Grand Marais" broadcast. His 1997 solar powered recording, "As Far as I Can See," was a top 10 in Minnesota recording, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, which called it "a work of art straight from the heart." It was nominated "Best Indie" recording by the Minnesota Music Academy. "Twice In One Day" blends expressive lyrics with an "island sound", as his two month U.S. Virgin Island gig led to a two year stay and connection to the reggae music. "Summer Rain," his second LP/Vinyl, was originally recorded in 1980 and reviewed this May in Music Magazine a Japanese music publication.
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From vinyl to digital, Monroe is now in his fourth decade of performing nationally in concert, festival, and educational settings. His first paid performance was in New Jersey for 4,000 people, and he recorded his first demo at Paul Stookey's (of Peter Paul and Mary) "chicken coop" studio in South Blue Hill, Maine. Schools feature his musical and environmental programs. He brings his portable solar powered setup from Minnesota to the California Capitol Steps for "Clean Power Day," serving to educate audiences about renewable resources. Monroe has received several McKnight and ARAC grants for his music.
Sterling Waters' music steers toward alt-country and blues. Waters writes about where and how he lives, exploring reaction and response to choices and circumstance we all fall into from time to time. It sounds serious, but it comes across with an easy and humorous flair.
Waters is the stage name of James Moors, taken as an homage to his late brother, Jeremy, who went missing in the Rocky Mountains in 1995. By 1998, Moors had recorded his first solo CD, "Passages," with his hometown Minneapolis heroes Dave Russ, Marc Anderson and Keith Boyles. A CD and a minor name change in hand, Waters began touring throughout the United States and Europe, giving more than 100 concerts per year.
In 2000, Waters made his home base in Duluth and, in the same year, released a live recording, "This Moment." Now, with the release of his third CD, "Let It Go," Waters asserts himself as a strong lyricist known for creating rich and sweet melodies atop a 6-string stack of flapjack guitar licks. The title track from "Let It Go" has been included in various compilation CDs and has been well received by many folk DJs and critics alike.
Waters has shared the stage with Chris Smither, Richard Schindell, Ellis Paul, Willy Porter, Chris Cunningham, Maggie Simpson, Peter Mayer and many others.
The concert is set for 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance, $17 at the door. For information or tickets, call Sacred Heart Music Center at 723-1895.
