Tucson Folk Fest Presents: Songwriter Roundtable
($10-$15 tickets | 6pm doors / 7pm show) Tucson Folk Fest presents a monthly Songwriter Roundtable hosted by Eric Schaffer. This month Eric’s guests are Eric Ramsey and Russell Bartlett
**Eric Ramsey**
Eric is the Winner of the International Blues Challenge as well as the Memphis Cigar Box Guitar Award for the outstanding guitarist in the Solo/Duo Category. He’s a three time Champion of the Phoenix Blues Society’s Blues Showdown, a two time Finalist at the Telluride Blues Challenge. He has been tapped for the prestigious Songwriter’s Showcase produced by Tempe Center for the Arts, filmed for PBS distribution and has been a 4x featured performer at the Dripping Springs (TX) Songwriter’s Festival.
A perennial favorite on the Folk and Blues Festival circuits, Eric writes from experience about the human condition – stark, at times sensitive, at times humorous, always thought-provoking. His arrangements and delivery encompass a spectrum of styles, from delicate fingerpicking to raucous, bluesy bottleneck slide.
**Russell Bartlett**
Based in Austin, Texas Russell Bartlett was originally influenced by Tom T. Hall, Guy Clark, Kris Kristofferson and Joe South. “But” says Bartlett, “Once I discovered Townes Van Zandt, it was all over”. Bartlett and Van Zandt became friends and in 1996, Van Zandt wrote liner notes for Bartlett’s 1997 release “One Hand on the Plow.” Jeanene Van Zandt, Townes’ wife, published Bartlett’s early songs in Nashville.
Russell has recorded several critically acclaimed albums of original material over a span of nearly twenty years, backed by some of Austin’s finest musicians. Over the years he has opened for the likes of Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett, Guy Clark, Mickey Newbury, Billy Joe Shaver, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Johnny Rodriguez and, of course, Van Zandt.
**Eric Schaffer**
Raised in the swamps of New Jersey, Eric Schaffer has been recognized as one of Southern Arizona’s favorite singer/songwriters. He has been a finalist in the Great American Song Contest, the Passport To Nashville songwriting contest, a four-time Tucson Folk Festival songwriting competition finalist, and the winner of the 2022 Tumbleweed Music Festival songwriting contest.
His songs are sometimes sweet, sometimes melancholy, sometimes funny, but always well crafted. Eric has performed throughout the US and has opened shows for Clint Black, Blackberry Smoke, Marc Cohn and Lonestar.
He performs regularly in Southern Arizona with his band The Other Troublemakers.