Entertainment : Nathan Bell, Sam Thompson to perform at Farmers Mercantile Hall, March 12

Sam Thompson

Nathan Bell

Join us for an evening of exceptional musical entertainment at Farmers Mercantile Hall Saturday, March 12, featuring master songwriter/guitarist Nathan Bell with Sam Thompson opening the show.

Sam Thompson is a singer, songwriter, guitarist well known as a founding member and lead singer of Big Wooden Radio, a roots-based acoustic band from Iowa City. He has done several performances in the Vinton area, including a recent performance at Farmers Mercantile Hall, where he was very well received. He was instrumental in bringing Nathan Bell to perform.

According to background and promotional information, Nathan Bell’s literary roots run deep, Raised in Iowa City, the son of a nationally known poet, he has long been recognized by reviewers, listeners, and his peers as one of songwriting’s most unique and articulate lyricists.

Bell’s career developed in the mid-80s as part of the acoustic duo Bell and Shore, working out of Iowa City as a key member of a songwriting driven roots music scene that included Greg Brown, Bo Ramsey, Dave Moore, world-famous fiddler Al Murphy, and banjo legend Bob Black.

Known for his straightforward yet poetic lyrics, and expert musicianship, his stories are of everyman, sung with honesty and empathy. Though his subjects are often dark and troubled, Bell never leaves the listener without, as Cohen wrote, ‘the crack, where the light comes through.’

His records, Black Crow Blue and Blood Like a River, topped Folk/Roots charts in the U.S. and in Europe and his new album, 13 songs about working in America, I Don’t Do This For Love, I Do This For Love (working and hanging on in America) debuted at Number One on the Euro-Americana Chart and was selected as the Number Two album of the year for 2015.

Bell recently won the award for best music at the Dublin International Short Film and Music Festival for his work on the Best of Cannes 2015 Short Film winner “The Day After Stonewall Died.” He can be found on the web at www.nathanbellmusic.com.i

Music will be from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm. Admisson $8. Farmers Mercantile Hall is located at 100 West Main St Garrison IA. Refreshments will be provided by the Garrison Library. Hope to see you there!