Artist description Audiences of all ages are moving with the magic of Billy Jonas: composer, songsmith, recording artist and multi-instrumentalist. Billy performs his original songs, stories, and improvisations with voice, guitar, and "Industrial Re-percussion," a collection of instruments made from found, foraged, and recycled objects. Billy is accompanied in his concerts by a spontaneous orchestra comprised of the audience! Performing Songwriter Magazine reports "...you can't help but sing along!"Billy's dynamic and spontaneous performance style has earned him a reputation for concerts that make the body move, the heart open, and a community spirit fill every corner of the concert hall. Billy is available for general concert audiences or family/children's performances. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Billy Jonas concert for general audiences inspires laughter, reflection, and "touches the most hardened hearts"(Fayetteville Morning News). Billy's family and children's performances inform the audience to be aware of the environment around them, including one another. His hands-on workshops and master classes bring out the musician in everyone, young or old, by teaching and refining concepts and skills in the areas of instrument making from recycled objects, songwriting, and musical performance. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Music Style Industrial Re-Percussion ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Musical Influences Spike Jonze meets Joni Mitchell, Frank Zappa meets Pete Seeger, Parliament Funkadelic meets Igor Stravinsky ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Similar Artists Billy Jonas is Unique. No One sounds like him. Except The Billys. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Artist History Billy has been an international performer and educator for over a decade. He was a member of the highly acclaimed duo "The Billys" for five years. Billy's unique brand of "junkadelic folk music" has delighted thousands at theatres and concert halls, colleges and schools, synagogues and churches, and North America's premier festivals, such as the Philadelphia Folk Festival and Kerrville Folk Festival. Billy's music has received international radio airplay and has been featured on CNN's "Living In the 90's". --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- He has shared the stage with acoustic luminaries such as Pete Seeger, Richard Thompson, Ani Difranco, Greg Brown, Patti Larkin, John Gorka, and Dar Williams. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Group Members Billy Jonas --- guests include: --- David Wilcox / Glen Velez / Black Umfolosi of Zimbabwe / Bill Melansohn / Don Conoscenti / Nance Petit / Chris Rosser / Nathan Petit Wilcox / and a cast of thousands ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Instruments buckets, garbage cans, glass choir, theramin, rubberband bass, prepared piano, lots of voices and yes, a pogo stick! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Albums Life So far ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Press Reviews Billy Jonas' lyrics have been described as "wild winded word magic"(Dirty Linen, international folk music magazine). His carefully crafted songs, adventurous guitar work, clear tenor voice, and original instruments have garnered high praise from major acoustic music journals. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billy's latest CD release, Life So Far, features all original songs (primarily for adults) and includes musicians as diverse as David Wilcox and Black Umfolosi of Zimbabwe. Billy also has a new family and children's video entitled BillyJonas: Bangin' and Sangin' that features an enthusiastic Bucket Brigade of kids and teens. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Location Asheville, North Carolina - USA

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