Smithfield Music
Previously featured by Smithfield Music
Annual Aiken & Friends Fest 2009

Mike Aiken and Friends
Angelo M, MSG Trio, Charlie Sayles,
Ruth Wyand, Kathryn Caine,
Win Winslow, Clay Griffin, Robert Matter
Brent Woodall and NTB, Ronnie Jones
Narrissa Bond, Identity Crisis
Sonya Lorelle Band with Larry Berwald
Ben Phelps Project, Jackass Flats
Mike Aiken Band
Danny Flowers
Ray Wylie Hubbard
Brad Davis
Aiken & Friends Fest 2010
Austin Cunningham
Tim Buppert
Mike Aiken
Jackie Scott &
The Housewreckers
The Steel Wheels
Nora Jane Struthers
Matt Smith
Phillip Roebuck
Win Winslow
Kate Brown and the Larry B Group

Vocalist Kate Brown has developed an avid following in Hampton Roads and  has returned with Larry Berwald and
friends to demonstrate why musicians and audience appreciate this intimate venue. Every Kate Brown performance is
for people who love watching musicians - and a very talented vocalist - connect with an audience.


Buddy Parker Band

Sitting through a set of Buddy Parker music is the same as being “schooled” in the very essence of what is American
music culture. Influences of blues, jazz, rockabilly, gospel, country, funk and rock-n-roll are all neatly packaged and
delivered with smooth authority.


Robbin Thompson

One of Virginia’s favorite singer/songwriters performed a solo acoustic show.
“Sweet Virginia Breeze” rocked the town.


Fred Eaglesmith

Some of you may have seen this Canadian singer/songwriter when he came through town last Valentines Day and
performed with part of his band. This time we gave Fred the stage at the Smithfield Little Theatre and saw why the
ranks of “Fredheads”continue to grow around the world.


Danny Flowers

Danny Flowers may be best known for having penned the classic, “Tulsa Time” (Don Williams, Eric Clapton),
or as author of such soulful cuts as, “Before Believing” (title cut for Emmylou Harris’s Pieces Of The Sky)
and “Gulf Coast Highway” (Nanci Griffith, Emmylou Harris and Willie Nelson, Evangeline), among others,
but as a solo artist, his bluesy blend of raw emotion combined with a heartfelt yearning will speak to your very soul.
Danny’s instrumentality has also earned him a high level of notoriety in the industry.


Jules Shear

After nearly three decades of creating music, Shears said he is where he wants to be with the release of Dreams Don't
Count, making music that really matters. I care more about the timeless aspect of making records, and less about
making my records sound current or competitive, says Shear. Shear sold MTV on the idea for a show called Unplugged,
showcasing established and lesser-known musicians together in an informal environment
that encouraged jamming, collaboration, and musical experimentation. He served as master of ceremonies for several
years. Many artists recorded Shears compositions and had huge hits. They include Cyndi Lauper, who scored a Top
Five single with All Through the Night, the Bangles who topped the charts with If She Knew What She Wants and Alison
Moyets cover of Whispering Your Name which became a U.K. smash. He has also been covered by The Band, Roger
McGuinn, 10,000 Maniacs, Curtis Steigers, and many others.


Mike Aiken

Originally hailing from the Buffalo, New York area, Aiken cut his teeth playing roadhouses and clubs in the northeast. At
an early age Mike realized he had a strong wanderlust, something he calls being born with a travelin' bone. It didn't take
long for him to discover that sailboats could take him almost anywhere he wanted to go. After combining his two
passions, playing music and sailing, he moved aboard his sailboat and started to travel. Sailing took him and his music to
Maritime Canada, then to Portugal and Spain. After some time playing in Europe, he
sailed to the Caribbean and continued playing throughout the islands. Drawing from many sources and with a style all
his own, Mike likes making his music fun to play and fun to hear.



Whitey Johnson
With special guest Gary Nicholson

Whitey Johnson is a recently discovered blues singer/songwriter/guitarist from Texas, now living in Tennessee and
performing worldwide. There are various stories about Whitey's past, he has made his living making music for well over
thirty years, yet has remained relatively unknown, having only recently recorded his debut album. But one known fact
is that under the pseudonym Gary Nicholson his songs have been recorded by such blues greats as BB
King, Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, Keb Mo, Delbert McClinton, Gatemouth Brown, James Cotton, Junior Wells, Shemeka
Copeland, John Mayall and many others.  He also won a Grammy as producer of the Best Contemporary Blues Record
2001, Delbert McClinton"s "Nothing Personal". Whitey describes his style as " Feel Better Blues".


Monte Montgomery

The guitar wizard and his band from Austin, TX made their first Tidewater appearance
at a near-sell out at the SLT and blew out the doors and roof with a mega-watt performance.
Jim Abicht put it in perspective..."Folks here who don't play guitar want to go out and buy one; folks who do play a
guitar just want to put theirs away..."


Bonnie Bishop

Bonnie Bishop grew up in suburban Houston, Texas, the daughter of native Texans who raised her to love any music
with soul including artists such as Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin, Bob Seger and James Taylor. In the three short
years that Bonnie has been on the Texas music scene, she has built a solid reputation with her band by sharing bills with
such artists as Jack Ingram, Randy Rogers, and Ray Wylie Hubbard.


Will Kimbrough

An astounding, in-demand guitarist (Americana Music Association Instrumentalist of the Year),
a producer, and creator of timeless songs in both pop motifs and dusty Americana,
Will Kimbrough is slowly, but surely, becoming a household word. His guitar playing has made him a sought-after
sideman, playing for Jimmy Buffett (who recorded Will’s “Piece of Work” on his License to Chill CD), Rodney Crowell,
Todd Snider, Kim Richey, Josh Rouse and many, many others both in the studio and onstage.


David Olney, with Sergio Webb

David Olney, as described by MTV's Urge.com:
"...part Baptist PREACHER, part caustic COMEDIAN, and part existential BLUESMAN..."


Maria Muldaur

Maria Muldaur spices her music with passion and a voice that's scintillating, brazen, and lightly burnished. Whether
dipping into the songbook of Peggy Lee or wading into the Louisiana bayou, she completely envelops herself in her
chosen style.
- Tom Clarke, Blues Review


Bobby "BlackHat" Walters

The stage was shared by the Bobby BlackHat Blues Band and Larry Berwald and Friends
to introduce the release of Bobby's latest CD, Wall Street Blues,
to an audience that appreciated the message on many levels.


Charles Darden

A golden voice backed by of jazz musician friends delivered
a great evening to an appreciative audience.


Ronny Cox

Best known as an actor with an impressive list of movie and television
credits that include, Deliverance, Robo Cop, Beverly Hills Cop, Taps,
Bound for Glory, St. Elsewhere, Law and Order SVU, LA Law,
and others, but music is his passion and a great show demonstrated why.


Walter Strauss

An exceptional guitarist from California on a southeast US tour
performed in an intimate house concert.


Jonathan Byrd

The traditional roots are evident in his compositions, but the Chapel Hill, NC, native
shared a natural talent and very much his own style of story telling and mastery of the guitar.


Ernie Hawkins

Acoustic blues based primarily on early 20th century Piedmont with a touch of Texas steel-string finger picking.  
"Ernie Hawkins is an important link in the unbroken chain of blues and gospel artists. His guitaristry and love of the style is
incomparable. From the Rev. Gary Davis into the future with his own style Ernie is one of the special ones!" - Jorma Kaukonen


Ron Fetner with Tom Dikon

Fetner & Dikon is a dynamic blues duo quickly taking the roots music road by storm. Combining over sixty years of
professional musical experience, their throwback style seamlessly merges traditional folk and blues, early Memphis
soul, and down-home Chicago blues into a unique and distinctive genre. They won the Tidewater area International
Blues Challenge in the solo/duo category and will be competing in the national finals Feburary 1-5, 2011 in
Memphis, TN.


Caleb Hawley

An outstanding singer-songwriter who calls New York City home but who travels roads all over the nation to spread
his music. With a degree in Jazz Composition from the Berklee College of Music in Boston and a love for creating
and performing, Caleb offers songs with a noticeable pop influence. Sharp, clever and insightful are all words that
describe his songs.



Austin Cunningham

Austin joined Mike Aiken and Tim Buppert for the Songwriters in the Round at the 2010 Aiken & Friends Fest.

Austin's songs have been recorded by Hank Williams, Jr., Martina McBride, Dolly Parton, Wynonna and many
others. He's a favorite on the Texas Music scene and we welcomed him back for a show at the SLT.




Dan Navarro

Singer, songwriter, recording and touring artist, voice actor... and part of the folk rock duo Lowen & Navarro.
Dan delivered a great performance in an early spring evening's house concert.




Tim Buppert

Tim's Nashville-based, but he made a lot of local fans in the 2010 Aiken & Friends Fest,
so we invited him back for a house concert which, sorry fans, sold out
before being officially announced. And Tim did not disappoint with a great evening.


Anthony Snape

Anthony comes to the US from Australia and stopped by Smithfield while touring this country
in support of his single, Say So. Making Nashville his current home base,
Anthony spent most of 2010 performing the college circuit attracting and making loyal fans
as his music gets the attention of three continents - Australia, Europe and North America.


Ana Egge

“Ana Egge's songs are low and lonesome, big square-stare noir ballads
which she plays on a guitar she built with her own two hands
and sings like she's telling us her deepest, darkest secrets.” - Steve Earl
Aiken & Friends Fest 2011
The 2011 Artists

Ray Wylie Hubbard
Mike Aiken Band
Patty Reese Band
Caleb Hawley Trio
The Muckrakes
Win Winslow
Americana Lovebirds
Steve Williams
Sherrie Austin