EPK

MUSIC

Will West
(& The Friendly Strangers)

Location: Oregon & North Carolina
Genre: Modern Folk and Groove Fusion

Official Websites: www.willwestmusic.com

SHORT BIO

Hailing from rural eastern North Carolina, Will West moved to Portland, Oregon in the Summer of 2002. The son of a fiddle player, Will was surrounded by music at a young age. Inspired by old-time bluegrass and blues (and a touch of heavy metal) he started playing guitar when he was 11 yrs old.
In 2010 he began to form a band of stellar musicians called The Friendly Strangers. Together they create a signature blend of Americana, Roots, Jazz, Pop and Bluegrass with a Psychedelic edge. Live shows are engaging and fun for all ages. They often perform live in various Trios and Quartet line-ups, but they'll bring out the 6-piece party band for special events and festivals.

Will West has just started to get into the NW Festival Circuit with recent performances at Wildwood Musicfest, Juniper Jam, Pinefest, Brewcamp & Manzanita Music Festival. They've shared the stage with Ryan Montbleau, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, Vintage Trouble, The Lumineers, Fruition, Dirty Revival, Scott Pemberton, Cascade Crescendo, Poor Man's Whiskey, The Druthers, Lewi Longmire and many more over the past 8 yrs.

Line-ups include:
Tanner Cundy (guitar)
Don Henson (drums, percussion, synths & more)
Skip vonKuske (cello & mandolin)
Julio Appling (upright bass)
Jeff Simpson (trumpet & keys)
Recent guests:
Chad Kimbler on mandolin)
Benjamin Kohen on bass
with special guests....

RECENT FESTIVALS & EVENTS
Brewcamp, Alberta St Fair (Mainstage)
Pinefest, Manzanita Musicfest
The Bite of Salem
Brew Lights at Oregon Zoo
Portland Apple Festival
Wildwood Musicfest
Juniper Jam
Oregon Garden Brewfest
Mississippi Street Fair (Mainstage)
Choochokam Music Fest
1st City Celebration of Oregon City

Press:

"The Friendly Strangers are a formidable ensemble, boasting fiddles, banjos and mandolins, all guided by West's casual ringleading."
- Up & Coming! - Portland Mercury

"Singer-Songwriter Will West is Oregon-based, but Carolina born, and you can hear it in the warm, charming lilt of his easy going acoustic songs. West's tunes are probably best described as Folk, but can definitely hear some Southern Blues & Bluegrass influence in there, too."
- Ben Salmon - Bend Bulletin

"West's music is an eclectic mix of folk, Americana, country, and the occasional pop number. The title track of his album, "Take this Moment," is an upbeat, country style song that virtually begs the listener to get up and dance."
- Suzanne Krause - Astoria Live Music Examiner

"Portland might be known for being rainy, but the sunny folk sound coming from Will West and the Friendly Strangers belies the City of Roses' famous precipitation. West's honey-smooth vocals overlay a crunchy, rollicking set up of mandolin, banjo, fiddle, bass and harmonica."
-Zack Hagadone - Boise Weekly

"He incorporates rootsy, acoustic folk with a bluesy, almost hip-hop-like sense of rhythm. West is a funky, acoustic pop songsmith with a flare for lyricism and rich melodies."
- Matthew Godbey - Post & Courier (Charleston, SC)

"West's clean guitar and polished voice feel like warm sunshine through a car window."
- Andrew Richkey - Independent Weekly (Raleigh, NC)

"He brings smoothness to the singer/songwriter genre that creates something a bit more transitory than simple emotive storytelling. West uses a blend of acoustic folk, alternative country, bluegrass, and even a bit of blues to create a very original sound I can honestly say I've never encountered before. From start to finish, the way West brings these sounds together with his comforting vocals is nothing short of magic."
- Thomas Szewc - Indie-Music.com

"Comfort & Soul. The versatility is only part of what makes his music intriguing. West makes his music accessible to the listener on multiple levels. His voice is familiar, like he is singing only to the ears who hear him. Yet his music, the folk and bluegrass roots, have listeners tapping their feet and nodding their heads."
- Angela Cruz - Encore Magazine (Wilmington, NC)

"A Rhythmic adventure... a light rail through beat town... you just may get distracted and miss your stop."
- Henry Hallet - host of Simple Folk KXCI fm91.3
(Tucson, AZ)

“Uplifting. A warm, comfortable sound. ”
- Beth Clyman - KINK fm101.9 Local Spotlight (Portland, OR)