Artist description Folk rock, acoustic sound, when full band in place, a "rootsy mix of instrumentation" somewhere between "America," the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and New Age sounds.

Music Style Folk, Rock, Blues

Musical Influences Bruce Cockburn, Jackson Browne, Artis the Spoon Man, Dean Prescott, The Substitutes.

Similar Artists Some have said James Taylor or Gordon Lightfoot. What compliments.

Artist History Formed out of connections, meetings, and jams at Cafe Paradiso and COSA over the past four years. Have played regularly in Central Oregon: Redmond's Concerts on the Green, Harris Wine Cellars, Wall Street Cafe, Cafe Paradiso, Collage of Culture in Madras, Redmond and Sisters Saturday Markets, Eagle Crest Resort, Deschutes County Fair, Crook County Fair, Royal Blend Concerts Series in Bend, and at Eugene's Cafe Paradiso and the Eugene Saturday Market. Radio air-play on Bend's KLRR 101.7 FM and Eugene's KLCC 89.7 FM on "Blues Power", Saturday Cafe, and Friends and Neighbors folk shows.

Group Members Allan Byer and Dean Prescott on most cuts of Sometimes It Works CD. Current Band members: Matt Engle on lead guitar and vocals, Steve Prazak on sax and flute Chris Brown on accordion, and Jim "Dream Eagle" Carlson on drums/percussion. Larry Christensen has replaced Prazak on sax for gigs in Willamtte Valley. Byer sometimes plays in Duo format with either Matt Engle or Chris Brown. Byer sits in on Blues Harp occassionally with his favorite local band, The Substitutes.

Instruments Vocals, Guitars, Harmonica, Percussion, accordion, sax, flute, keyboards, bass.

Albums "Sometimes It Works" (2000)

Press Reviews Bend's Source calls Byer's music, " an eclectic mix of rootsy instrumentation and harmonies that breaths fresh air with wide-reaching inspirations providing a night full of originality and character." Bend Bulletin's Andy Whipple says, "Byer delivers a pleasant surprise. His CD is a declaration of faith and self-confidence, proving up on the optimistic claim staked out in the title (Sometimes It Works)."

Additional Info Byer calls himself, "the second best musical spoon player in the world" behind only his first musical garu Artis the SpoonMan. Halla Byer, Byer's daughter, did the album cover drawing when she was 7 years old. Bruce Adams did the photos for this webpage and most promotional packages for Byer.

Location Redmond, Oregon - USA

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