The Songwriter Showcase events continue at Smokey Jo’s Wednesday, December 3rd at 6:00 pm. We have another great line-up of featured songwriters for this one!
Richie Brandt – Mike and Shelly Gajdik – Don Hollingshead
Dominic D’Andrea
Come hear these talented songwriters and performers play live. This event features original music all evening performed by some of the best songwriters in the area.
There is no cover charge for this event. All ages are welcome at this music-friendly venue. Smokey Jo’s boasts a nice stage, full menu of food, full bar, great service and a comfortable listening atmosphere.
I’ll start out at 6:00 with a set of my songs. Then we will hear from our featured songwriters:
Richie Brandt
Richie Brandt has spent a significant amount of his time as a musician learning and performing genres such as American and Irish Folk, Traditional Country, Rockabilly and most recently Early Electric Blues. He has learned and performed a large amount of cover tunes and standards which he has performed with the many professional cover bands he has played in over the years.
Only recently has Richie decided to get some of the original songs that he had accumulated “out there”. And what better situation than a songwriter showcase? Richie would like to think that his experiences in the language of musical style and the song book of Musical Americana come out in his writing.
Mike and Shelly Gajdik
Mike writes in the folk/blues tradition and harmonizes wonderfully with the beautiful voice of his daughter Shelly. Mike tells stories of life and love in inventive metaphors and humorous anecdotes.
He has been performing in the NW Indiana and Chicagoland area for over four decades
This father/daughter team has been active for the last couple decades in the form of live performances by Hoi Polloi and Chips A’ Hoi. The culminating record album is under the name Cohorts in Cahoots.
Their most recent album – Mike and Shelly “Don’t K*ll The Messenger” is now available in CD format at live shows and by request. The album of 10 new original songs is now available on all streaming platforms as well.
Don Hollingshead
Don has been playing music on and off for about 50 years.
He began playing with his friend Greg Short as an acoustic duo at a few small places in the Hobart, Indiana area.
It was then our pleasure to be joined by Mike Gajdik, and we became an acoustic trio known as The Three Rivers band.
We then evolved into an electric band and formed The Hoi Polloi band. Hoi Polloi played all around the Northwest Indiana for about 10 years in the 90's.
Recently, Don and Mike have done a few open mic shows a year while concentrating on our original music.
Dominic D’Andrea
Dominic writes poignant songs of life on the road, love and lost love and well as clever songs about everyday life. Like all good writers, his writing and performance style have developed and expanded since I have known him for the past several years.
Dominic plays the guitar in his unique finger-strum style and delivers his songs with conviction and good humor.
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