Thursday, July 24, 2008

THE REDDHEAD IS BACK! REDD VOLKAERT RELEASES NEW CD SEPTEMBER 16 ON TELEHOG RECORDS

AUSTIN, TX – Guitarist extraordinaire Redd Volkaert announces a September 16 release date for Reddhead, the latest CD from the Telecaster master on his own Telehog Records label, distributed nationally by Burnside Distribution.

A local Austin legend and revered by guitarists all over the world, Redd Volkaert is one of the hardest working axe men on the planet. Not only has he released several solo albums over the years, but Volkaert has also been a current member of two other Austin-based based groups, Heybale! and The Lucky Tomblin Band, as well as a valued hired-gun for sessions and touring work with such artists as Brad Paisley, whose work with the country star garnered Redd a GRAMMY© nomination for Best Country Instrumental Performance in 2004. Redd’s guitar will soon be heard again on an upcoming Brad Paisley album.

“When Leo Fender dreamed up the Telecaster electric guitar back in ’49 or so, it’s doubtful he knew what uses it would be put to, especially in the hands of someone like Redd Volkaert. The local Telecaster master is all over the guitar like grease on a pork chop, quoting jazz, country, blues and western swing as effortlessly as turning on the lights in the living room,” said Jerry Renshaw in the Austin Chronicle.

In a recent review of the new Heybale! CD, The Last Country Album, No Depression magazine said: “Redd Volkaert is one of the Telecaster visionaries of his generation.”

The Canadian native honed his chops up in the north country for many years before relocating to the US and playing with a number of artists, including the legendary Merle Haggard. During the ‘90s, Volkaert was “Hag’s” lead guitarist, a supreme place of honor formerly occupied by the great Roy Nichols. Since moving to Austin in 2000, Volkaert has also won two Best Guitarist awards from the Austin Chronicle in its annual poll.

On Reddhead, Volkaert is joined by Chris Gilson on drums, Nate Rowe on bass, Rich Harney on keyboards and Buzz Evans on steel guitar. Heybale! band mate Gary Claxton is a special guest on harmony vocals. The new album was recorded at Top Hat Recording Studios in Austin and was produced by Alan Durham and Redd Volkaert, with John Harvey handling the engineering and mixing.

Reddhead is a showcase for Volkaert’s guitar virtuosity in country, blues, jazz and western swing, as he glides effortlessly between genres without missing a lick. The 14 songs on the album include a number of originals, plus Redd’s unique take on The Box Tops classic, “The Letter,” as well as such other chestnuts as “End of the Line,” “Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line,” and the sizzling Buddy Emmons instrumental, “Raisin’ the Dickens.”

For more information, visit
www.reddvolkaert.com.

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