Acoustic musicians Paffrath, Johnson and WardRacine singer/songwriters Zachary Scot Johnson, Mark Paffrath and Jeff Ward will present “An Acoustic Singer/Songwriter Yuletide,” at the Racine Theatre Guild on Friday, Dec. 21, at 8 p.m.
The event will reprise some of the songs they presented in an April concert, as well as new material and seasonal selections.
The Racine Theatre Guild is at 2519 Northwestern Ave. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Call the RTG at 262.633.4218.
The evening will take on the tradition of a “singer/songwriter round robin” or “song swap,” with all three singers on stage, taking turns, possibly with others joining in. The result is an evening with interesting juxtapositions of artists, material and styles with improvisation and spontaneity.
More on the performers after the break.
Zach Johnson is a recent graduate of Lawrence University in Appleton, with a triple major in music performance, acting and psychology and is pursuing work in theater and music. His debut CD, Moment of Clarity, was released in 2004. He has performed with The Be Good Tanyas, Jane Siberry and Grammy winner Shawn Colvin, whom Zach credits (along with Joni Mitchell) as the artists who inspired him to become a singer/ songwriter.
His second CD, To Whom It May Concern, due in January, was influenced by Neil Young, Bob Dylan and Lucinda Williams. A multi-instrumentalist, he plays piano, guitar, violin, banjo and more.
Zach is teaching music at the Prairie School. For more info, visit his website and MySpace page.
Mark Paffrath, a pop/folk singer and songwriter has been performing for 25 years. He's a longtime Racine musical fixture in groups like Paffrath & Dykhuis, Marvin & the Dogs, Moulin Rouge, Paffrath & Holly, Big Nick & The Cydecos and over the last decade as a solo act. He plays mandolin, violin, guitar, drums and percussion.
In the mid 1980s Paffrath & Dykhuis won a WI Area Music Industry award for “Best Folk Artists.” In 1999 Paffrath & Holly released the CD Rainbeat which won “Best CD” in a Journal Times reader’s poll. Mark has also been “Best String Player” for several years in the Journal Times poll. In 2002 Mark won in five categories, and in 2003 he was named "Best Musician."
Mark is a founding member of the Racine Emergency Shelter Task Force, and served for 15 years as a founding member of the "Thoughts for Food" event which benefits the Racine County Food Bank. He has his own music booking, management and publishing operation, New Leaf Music Enterprise.
He and his wife, Amanda, who owns Funky Hannah’s and Hot Shop Glass, have two children. His CDs are available at Funky Hannah’s or at his website.
Jeff Ward has been performing on the local and regional scene since the early 1980s.
His interest in music began early, as part of a musical family. In his early teens he learned to play the guitar and sing the songs of Ireland and Scotland, as his Irish heritage (from counties Cork and Donegal and the surrounding English/Scottish countryside) became an integral part of his influences.
Jeff founded the Carlisle Folk Club, in the North West of England, hosting the top Celtic and contemporary performers. He worked as MC and support artist and built a reputation as a performer.
Since settling in Racine, Jeff has performed on Irish TV and at major Irish music festivals.
His music represents traditional and contemporary songs from Ireland, Scotland and America. Jeff has opened or performed with some of the premier Irish performers, including Lunasa, Sharon Shannon, Robbie O'Connell, Maura O'Connell, Danu, Luka Bloom, Gaelic Storm, and Peggy Seeger and Ewan McColl.
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