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Wil Maring Recordings:
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As Wil Maring sat for long summer hours as a teenager at her family's roadside vegetable stand, picking out self-made tunes on her Sears guitar to pass the time, she never dreamed of the path she would one day follow. Wil has become a highly acclaimed songwriter, a previous winner of the prestigious Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at Merlefest, and has appeared on the Grand Ole Opry with her original music, in addition to touring extensively in Europe and Japan. She honed her songwriting skills playing music professionally in Europe with her group Shady Mix, and have been nominated by the German/American Country Music Federation as Newcomer and Bluegrass Band of the Year in 1997 and 1998. The well-crafted songs, her solid rhythm and fingerstyle guitar work, and her clear, airy, expressive vocals give her music a unique, appealing sound. Added to the contributions of the accomplished musicians she tours with, you get a beautiful original acoustic music which straddles the fence between bluegrass, folk, and acoustic country, containing subtle hints of celtic, old time, and even pop music. Her songs paint pictures of the rural southern Illinois landscapes where she grew up, and delve deep into universal human emotions, evoking a nostaglic, introspective melancholy that delivers the listener to a comfortable, hopeful place. Wil's music is a heartfelt music, not easy to categorize. The songs stand strong by themselves, whether performed as a duo or with the entire group. The lyrics and melodies seem to always find that route to the heart - perhaps because that was their origin. This is music from the heart, for the heart. Wil's live performances of original music are spiced with songs from the bluegrass, western, folk and country genres, to form a wide repertoire of acoustic music sure to please almost any audience. Her live show seems to appeal to all age groups, from the toddlers dancing in front of the stage to the seniors requesting the songs their parents used to sing. Increasingly, requests are coming from the originals on the six Wil Maring /Shady Mix releases to date. As Dave Higgs, respected host of Nashville Public Radio's nationally syndicated bluegrass program describes the performance: "Absolutely, hands-down some of the most mesmerizing, exciting, interesting and enjoyable acoustic music I have ever heard. Wil's songs are just in a league of their own, and the picking.... the interplay between (the musicians) is simply astonishing. Not clones -- but an inspired group with a different message. I love it!"
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To date, Wil has released two CDs of her original material, the first entitled "An Ocean From Home", and a 2001 release entitled"The Turning of a Century"in addition to three band CDs with her group Shady Mix. She started recording a new project in 2004 of all new original material, entitled "The Calling" which will be released in April of 2006. for booking inquiries or CD orders please contact: Roan Pony Music, (618) 319-0656 or e-mail to: contact@shadymix.com
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