Midnight from Memphis featuring David Long and Scott Simontacchi.

News from Ruth Hazleton at Across the Borders is that David Long is touring Australia post
Redlands Convention.
From Nashville, Tennessee, Midnight from Memphis is a unique and formidable combination
of leading young artists, currently rendering their own version of acoustic American roots
music.
Individually, they are all masters of their instruments and have collectively shared the stage
with such iconic artists as Ralph Stanley, Sam Bush, Hazel Dickens, Ricky Skaggs and Mike
Compton. Midnight from Memphis is stylistically enigmatic. They echo the great attributes of
string band music from blues, old time music, and bluegrass in a style uniquely their own.
The Band:
Mandolinist and vocalist David Long was a 2006 nominee for the International Bluegrass
Music Association Recorded Event of the Year for his album Stomp with Mike Compton,
and is considered to be one of the new masters of traditional, bluegrass mandolin playing. He
has performed around the world, including two previous tours in Japan as well as Australia,
playing at the Port Fairy Folk Festival and National Folk Festival in Canberra (2005). The
online journal Mandozine wrote, Today, a revival of traditional music is in full swing and
gritty, soulful mandolin playing is again at the forefront. At the top of the list of new masters
is David Long.
Guitarist and vocalist Scott Simontacchi has been a member of Nashvilles artistic
community for over ten years. His travel resume is extensive. In his fifteen-year career, he
has played all over the United States, Canada, Europe, Cuba, and Russia. Revered by older
musicians in Nashville, Scott is considered as having the stage charisma of Frank Sinatra, the
song-writing ability of John Hartford, and the lonesome bend of Jimmy Martin.
Twenty-two year old Preston Schmidt is an emerging fiddle player who began playing at the
young age of three in the unlikely state of North Dakota. He cites some of his many
influences as Ron Stewart, Paul Warren, Hunter Berry, Aubrey Haney, Casey Driessen and
Stuart Duncan. Along with playing fiddle in Midnight from Memphis, he also currently tours

with Brand New Strings and Karl Shiflett and His Big Country Show.
Eric Thorins musical ability is trenchant to say the least. He has played double bass in salsa
band such as Kizumba and Conjunto Colores, toured extensively with rock act The Thugs,
made up a third of the Flamenco/Indian ensemble Curandero, and toured with the Tony
Furtado Band for four years. He was a member of steel band Pan Jumbies and continues to
appear in various Jazz and Acoustic settings throughout the year. Eric has served as a

clinician and guest artist at the Yellowstone Jazz Festival, Augusta Heritage Center, Grand
Targhee Bluegrass Academy and Sorrento, BC Bluegrass School.
Midnight from Memphis review
Waltz whisper your name
guitar scott Simontacchi sang storm haunt me on my way
david long mando
fiddle preston schmidt led instumental tune..... Featured each of the players
bass Eric Thorin
tune caleb carter from oregon sick sad and lonesome tonite
scott sings own song
davld long tune for his grandfather called Biggie fasted paced bluegrass
john hartford tune Because of you I close my eyes when I yodel
bill monroe hank williams blue and lonesome great controlled harmonies bluegras style
choreography around a single mike
david long song he said "not pleasant" 'Before I hit the grave'
george jones popularised james taylor song Bartender
finished set with dual fiddles - donal baylor from canberra - playing tennessee blues
Open second set lively Turkey in the straw - followed by David singing You're just like all the others
but I ain't like the rest?
Scott sings waltz 6/8 - nice melody between mando and fiddle 'Barfly'?
Eric sings John hartford song 'Here I am in love again' mando n fiddle solos brought applause. Rare
guitar solo from Scott.
David gospel song When I die let me go - duo David n Scott Steeped in tradition
on my way back to the old home Bill Monroe high lonesome davi singing
scott,s song Carolina chord prog more modern reminicent of Thile and Dab timinsky
milk cow blues from preston
solos from david. Eric and preston
kansas city kitty - western swing
featuring preston, david solo, bass n fiddle duet, solid 4 to bar quite different from the backbeat in
bluegrass.
Scott solo on self-penned tune "In America" A little reminiscent of John Denver? interesting melodies,
good guitar self accomp. and pure vocal sound.
david song written with matt Holmes from ray prices band "the birds are singing on my window"? Or"
to be the song you sing"
final piece "Our last Goodbye" solo from Scott n Preston fun harmony bending
Encore Donal. Roanoke Monroe tune at warp speed
Will you be waitng there for me
walk up The April Maze