I just can’t get enough of this cd, or of Les Sampou for that matter…
For more info visit her official site by clicking here

“Back on the roots scene after a long break, Sampou never wavers from a
steady tone of genuineness as she sings sharply observant songs that she writes
about disarray and failed communication in relationships. She has the ability to
dramatize the sense of hurt at the heart of the characters without floundering in
self-pity or weak sentiment. Guitarists Kevin Barry and Mike Dinallo prove
important to the flow of her honky-tonk music.” Frank John Hadley,
DOWNBEAT

“’Lonesomeville’ evokes a Tom Waits-like world….” Sing Out Magazine

“Powerfully expressive, Les Sampou has been tested in the trenches of life and
survived brilliantly. Her new album, “Lonesomeville,” is a personal Top Ten
favorite of the year. She invests many songs with the emotional honesty of
Lucinda Williams, probing love in all of its complexity while belting the heck
out of the music. She has a passionate, rockabilly-blues edge that lifts your
spirits high, followed by ballads that dig into your soul like few artists can. She
also enlists some of Boston’s true all-stars to back her — including Andy
Plaisted, Kevin Barry, Michael Dinallo and Jimmy Ryan — to make this an
album you’ll want to revisit eagerly and often.”
— STEVE MORSE, longtime Boston Globe Correspondent who has also
contributed to Billboard and Rolling Stone

LES SAMPOU • Lonesomeville
“Sampou’s passionate vocals are simply stunning, now ballsy and rough-edged, then
purry and seductive, while the only problem with her originals songs is trying to decide
which is the least sensational—there are only nine of them, but there’s absolutely no
filler here…the title track is a veritable monster, but Oil & Water, Lonely Nights &
Lonely Days, My My My and As I Sleep are the kind of tracks that flummox DJs when
they have to choose just one. Judging by her close to home CD release ‘tour,’ Sampou
seems to be one of those World Famous In Boston acts we hear so little about, but if
you’ve given up on Lucinda Williams. I strongly suggest you check her out.” John
Conquest, 3rd Coast Music, Austin TX

JOHN CONQUEST/THIRD COAST MUSIC/ALBUM OF THE YEAR REVIEW/
SXSW
“You may have noticed that music writers and DJs commonly mark the New Year by
putting out or programming ‘Best Of’ lists or spotlight shows of the previous year’s
albums, and you may have noticed that the FAR reporters and I are no exceptions…
Looking at 2010’s offerings, I started off with 13 contenders for Album of the Year, so
right there I had a problem. OK, first off, a little tactical voting. Eilen Jewell’s Butcher
Holler; A Tribute To Loretta Lynn (Signature Sounds) and Blaze Foley’s Sittin’ By The

Road (Lost Art) were no-brainers for, respectively, #1 VA/Tribute Album and #1 Reissue/
Historic Album, which took care of them. Then Yvette Landry’s Should Have Known
(Soko) and Zoe Muth & The Lost High Rollers (SonicBoom) were both Debuts, so they
got the top spots in that category. Now things are looking a little better, I’m down to
nine, of which, reluctantly, I had to move New Mystery Girl ‘s Twist City (self) into
Debut as well, a bit of a technicality as Chrissy Flatt does have albums out under her own
name, but at least she got a #1 for Sally’s Rumble as Song of the Year. Now, there are
only two albums that have to go, but which two? Better way of looking at it, who
absolutely has to stay? Much easier: Sarah Borges’ Live Singles (self), Marti Brom’s Not
For Nothin’ (Goofin’ [Finland]/Ripsaw), Caleb Klauder’s Western Country
(Quicksilver), Carrie Rodriguez’s Love And Circumstance (Ninth Street Opus), Les
Sampou’s Lonesomeville (self) and Sally Spring’s Made Of Stars (Sniffinpip). Now
we’re getting somewhere, except for the really hard part, ranking them. I don’t know how
many combinations I tried out to see how they looked, though early on I abandoned
numbering because that was next door to meaningless, but eventually I hit on Sampou,
Borges, Brom, Spring, Rodriguez, Klauder and that seemed about right. So why Les
Sampou, who only made #2 in the FAR charts and #6 in FAR & Away? Actually,
there’s an easy answer. What swung it her way was that while I’d loaded a couple
three favorite songs from each of the other albums onto my iPod, I had
Lonesomeville almost in its entirety, because I couldn’t decide which, apart from
Sam & Alice, were the best tracks, and I was still listening to it when I didn’t have
to (music writers are like sharks, we have to keep moving forward, forever hunting
for fresh meat). This strongly suggested that, while its rivals were all extremely
good, Sampou’s album was, in my opinion at least, if not actually perfect, at least
within spitting distance of it. There are, I imagine, few artists who don’t think that
their latest album is the greatest thing since sliced bread, but I came to find that it’s
actually quite difficult to discuss an album with an artist who already knows that
you think it was the best one to cross your desk in an entire year. However, Sampou
did shed some light on what made Lonesomeville so special. While she says of her
four previous releases, Sweet Perfume (self, 1994), Fall From Grace (Rounder,
1996), Les Sampou (Rounder, 1999) and Borrowed & Blue (self, 2006), “every
album is different,” one unifying theme in reviews of the first three (Borrowed &
Blue was solo blues covers) was admiration for Sampou’s songwriting. In my
original review (#163/252, August, 2010), I noted that while there were only nine
tracks, all originals, “Sampou seems to be a shrewd judge of her own material
(never a given with songwriters),” and, it turns out, she started out with 25 to 30
songs, paring them down to create an album with a theme, “The others were all
over the place. This time, I picked the nine songs that best complemented each
other.” Sampou also lavishes praise on colleagues such as JP Jones, who has co-
credit on the sinuous, mesmerizing title track. “I gave him the credit because he
suggested slowing it down, which was absolutely the right thing to do.” She also
lauds not just producer Chris Rival and the outstanding Boston musicians, notably
Kevin Barry (guitars) and Jimmy Ryan (mandolin), who backed her, but singles out
Ducky Carlisle, who mixed the album and helped her fine tune the vocals, to
stunning effect. “I’m extremely proud of it” is a fairly stock artist comment on a
new album, but when Les Sampou adds, “there’s a shine around it,” she gets no

argument from me, in fact I couldn’t have put it better myself. There was a time
when I was leery about inviting people I’d never seen to perform at 3CM Presents,
but this year I’ve thrown caution to the winds, because if Les Sampou (and Yvette
Landy and Zoe Muth) are half as good as they sound on their records, they’ll knock
our socks off. JC

This came in to my email today…I liked it so much, I had to share it. If anyone would like a file of the new song, just email me (tracey@trespassmusic.org) and I will send it over to you.

Subject: Cult of 8- We all get poorer, but hey, I’m doing okay…and a new song, inspired by a dog…

I received an email the other day asking me why I didn’t list the band
members on Black Crow Blue and wanting to know who played the slide
guitars. And then another inquiring about the identity of the bass
player. And then yet another, asking who was the fine drummer (this
one made me laugh out loud!).

I discussed this with the guy who works at the Amoco near exit 333,
Dalton, Georgia, who suggested that I pick the most famous musician I
could think of for each instrument and credit them. Brilliant. He also
told me that Jesus blessed him in a vision and told him that it would
be okay to ride his motorcycle without a helmet. That Jesus, what a
kidder! I asked him if Jesus said anything about organ donation…

So, for those of you who don’t know who really played all of the
instruments on Black Crow Blue (me), here is a list of the “musicians”
who helped put the record together.

*disclaimer- the following list is a lie, hell, it’s a pack of lies.

Acoustic Guitars- Clarence White, Don “King of Pop” Henry
Electric Guitars- Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, John Bowie
Acoustic Bass- Freebo
Electric Bass- Larry Graham
Drums- Tommy “shirtsleeves” Geddes
Cello- Pablo Casals
Mandolin- The guy from that Philly band “The Hooters”
Background vocals- Placido Domingo, Kiri Te Kanawa, Craig “The Grumpy
Old bastard” Bickhardt
National and Dobro guitars- Jerry Douglas, Lowell George
Pianos- Warren Zevon, Sun Ra
Tambourine- Nancy Sinatra
Percussion- The kid with dreadlocks who parks his Subaru, that his
daddy bought him, a couple of streets away from where he plays Congas
and Rain sticks in Port Townsend, Washington.
Producer- Jack Nietzsche

Know somebody who really wants to hear my stuff on their local hipster
or acoustic radio station? Hell yeah, who wouldn’t want to hear me
backed by the sultry cello of Pabo Casals? You can send them to the
link below where the incomparable Tracey Delfino will make sure they
can spin a platter that matters.

http://www.trespassmusic.org/

I’ve attached a song about a boxer. But it started as a song about a
terrier. It will find it’s way to my next project, “The Big Old
American Dream. It’s a rough, no mastering, so you have to turn it way
up. But you should. cause it’s a pretty damn good song.

I owe the whole thing to Smitty’s Terrier, Champ Because the Champ’s
the Champ, and a bum’s a bum!

I have NO shows booked anywhere in a town near you. But I’m working to
change that.

There are faint stirrings on the breeze that some bastards are
actually going to jail soon…

That is mighty fine news…

In the meantime, love somebody.

Nathan

PS- and this whole damn day is for Nick Ashford, R.I.P, because the
best and coolest show Leslie and I have ever seen was Ashford and
Simpson in approximately 2001…

Scene- The stage is softly lit, Valerie Simpson, over 60 and stuffed
into a very shiny silver thigh high dress, is stage center, swaying
slowly as the band plays the intro to “Solid as a Rock”. Nick Ashford,
well over 60 and SHIRTLESS, with the same crazy ass beard he always
had is standing right behind Valerie Simpson and whispering into the
microphone “now I know what all you men are thinking, you are
thinking, “man, he is one lucky man to get to go home with HER every
night”, and I know that’s not all you are thinking, you are thinking,
“How did he get such a FINE women, such a SEXY women?”" And then, Nick
Ashford makes some kind of crazy low moaning sound, gets up on Valerie
Simpson and the two of them start grinding like high school kids in
their parent’s basement on summer break. And then the band hits the
first chords of the song and about 50 church hats and 2,000 hands go
up in the air. And it was all so damn cool.

That’s why Nick Ashford is my hero. And why I never, ever wear a
shirt. Cause I’m only 51, damn it!

Hey Trespassers!!
As you all know, Michelle Fortier has recently joined the Trespass Team as director of Marketing and PR. The woman is a machine and I am having a blast working with her.
Michelle also has her own booking agency, Wingshell Entertainment.
She has a brand new blogspot- so cool!
You can check it out here
I hope that the summer is winding down nicely for you-
Get ready, here comes fall!!
In Kindness,
Tracey

July marked a milestone for Trespass Music- We have 3 titles on the Folk DJ Charts- I am honored and fortunate to have been able to work with such amazing songwriters on their respective CD’s. If you haven’t heard them yet, I recommend a listen, I know you will love them as much as I do.
Chuck Brodsky- Subtotal Eclipse – #5 Folk DJ
Craig Bickhardt – Brother To The Wind -#11 Folk DJ
Nathan Bell – Black Crow Blue -#27 Folk DJ #17 FAR Chart

You can see the entire Folk Chart here

You can see the entire FAR Chart here

Congratulations Amy Black! It is very exciting to see Amy’s CD One Time amongst the list of nominees for the Best American Roots Debut album. Every vote counts and we welcome all Trespassers to visit the Alternate Root site and cast yours :)
You can vote here. This is the first annual reader’s choice award, so let’s get our girl a prize!
About Alternate Root Magazine:
The Alternate Root – The Alternate Root Magazine has been committed to the redistribution of opportunity for success for independent American Roots musicians since 2007. We are an interactive music magazine featuring all genres of traditional American roots music including, Americana, Alt-country, Blues, Rockabilly, Folk, Bluegrass, Roots Rock and traditional country. We also produce the weekly internationally syndicated American Roots music show “Alternate Root TV” and publish the Top 66 International Airplay Chart. Our goal is to create the tools needed to advance the American Roots music format.

Trespass Music is pleased to announce the addition of Michelle Fortier to its team. Fortier will head the Marketing and Media Promotions branch, reporting to President and owner Tracey Delfino. In addition to Radio Promotion, Career Strategy Consultations, Artistic Development, Media services, Booking and Management, Trespass Music is home to artists Danielle Miraglia, Amy Black, Les Sampou, Michael Troy and Matt Borrello. Delfino also hosts The Art Barn Songwriter Series, and The Third Fret Coffeehouse on beautiful Cape Cod.

Fortier, owner of Wingschell Entertainment, brings her years of experience in Artist Management and Development, Booking and Promotions to the company, as well as her experience working as board member at Music At The Mission and volunteering at Listen Live Music and Borderline Folk Music Club. She has also organized outdoor festivals, hosting and emceeing events, media and social interactions, and publicity.

Michelle began her career, and currently works with, award winning folk singer songwriter Loretta Hagen, known for her rich vocals, and insightful songwriting. In working together, they have many notable achievements, such as Loretta’s 2011 New Jersey Folk Festival Songwriting Contest win. They have received airplay across the country for her highly praised CD “Sundown Till Dawn”. Hagen’s title track, written about her Mom who suffers Alzheimer’s disease, has gained National recognition. Invited by the National Alzheimer’s Association to sing the ballad on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC for the Alzheimer’s Public Policy Forum Candlelight Vigil, the song is also included on the soundtrack of the movie “10 Mountains 10 Years”, a documentary film which chronicles mountain climbers who raise awareness about Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Hagen will release her highly anticipated, upcoming CD “Mud and Stone” with Trespass Music at an official concert release party held at the Borderline Folk Music Club slated for Feb. 19, 2012 in NY.

Michelle also books North American tours for Juno Nominee, platinum and gold, traditional roots recording artist Linda McRae (Spirit of the West). McRae has toured the UK, USA, and Canada extensively, gaining attention for her official performances at Folk Alliance International, OCFF, as well as performing and or working with many great musicians including the legendary Pete Seeger, and producer Gurf Morlix. Linda currently has 3 critically acclaimed CDs, “Flying Jenny” produced by Colin Linden, “Cryin’ Out Loud” produced by Gurf Morlix, and current release “Carve It To The Heart” produced by Linda and Marc L’Esperance. Linda will embark on a US/CAN tour in September, and release her brand new CD “Four and Twenty Blackbirds” fall 2011.

“I am extremely honored and excited to be working with Tracey at Trespass Music, having developed a great respect for the work of her company, the artists on the roster, and the time and dedication she lends to all aspects of her services,” says Fortier.

For more information, to reach Michelle, and to learn more about the services of Trespass Music please visit http://www.trespassmusic.org/

Danielle Miraglia’s new release “Box of Troubles” takes a journey through the blend of darkness and light that life has to offer. It’s a barebones folk-blues recording highlighting Danielle’s strong finger-pickin, sweet whiskey vocals and stomping left boot, with a little help from her friends.