0 Comments New Venue in Frederick Maryland

Steve Key sent the following about a new venue that he books.

The WestSide Cafe in Frederick, Maryland, is a new venue for original acoustic music, presenting shows four nights a week. Located an hour’s drive north of Washington, DC, or an hour east of Baltimore, Frederick is a growing center for arts and music. The cafe owner is Rod Deacey, a veteran performer and presenter on the British folk circuit. Booking representative is Steve Key, also a performing songwriter, who hosts the Music Showcase on Sunday Nights. Each showcase has one featured act, playing a 45-minute set; up to 8 others play 3 song sets. Upcoming featured acts include Texan poet-songwriter Jeff Talmadge (June 26), Amy Speace from NYC (July 3), 2005 Kerrville New Folk winner Beth Wood (July 31), and Indiana’s Tim Grimm (Aug. 14). Most of the shows at the WestSide have no cover charge, except for monthly special events. The calendar is filled with award-winning touring acts, such as comic songwriter Carla Ulbrich (June 23), Asheville NC’s Brianna Lane (June 30), Austin’s Jenny Reynolds and Kerry Polk (July 1) and Nashville alt.country writer Rod Picott (July 2). Also on the schedule are Kerrville New Folk winners Erik Balkey (July 8), Jonathan Byrd (July 29) and 2005 finalist Greg Klyma (Aug. 7). The first scheduled special event is June 24 featuring the Dreamsicles, Texas-based duo of singer-songwriters Tom Prasada-Rao and Cary Cooper. July 14 brings the NYC trio Dave’s True Story, fronted by jazz volcalist Kelly Flint singing David Cantor’s ironic ballads. Also on the special events calendar is the Palm Wine Boys (Aug. 25), Chuck Brodsky (Oct. 22) and Jamie Anderson (Nov. 5). The cafe serves sandwiches, soups, wraps, salads, desserts, coffee, beer and wine. Capacity on the main floor is 49; more seating is available on a lower level. Listening is encouraged, smoking is not. The cafe is located at 1A W. 2nd St., just off Market Street in Frederick’s Old Town. Call the cafe at 301-418-6886 for info. For bookings, contact Steve Key, steve@stevekey.com. Info on upcoming shows is posted on www.myspace.com/westsidecafe