Bob McKillop's Press Kit
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Performances and Radio / Television Airplay
Photo at left by Klaus Steinort: Bob McKillop on stage at the North Star Music Cafe, Portland, Maine.
Bob grafts the humor and good nature of Roger Miller onto the sincerity and spirituality of John Denver; he nurtures the resulting musical seedlings with a little Maybelle Carter, Johnny Cash, and Carole King, and then lets them grow into the catalog of acoustic folk and traditional country songs that he’s been working on over the past fifteen years.
In April of 2008, Bob McKillop released his debut CD, "Portland Afternoon", an EP disc that brings six of Bob's original songs into sharp focus. "I'm so proud of how this album sounds - it's great to work so hard on something and have it turn out so much better than I ever would have expected. Of course, that's due in a large part to the help I got recording it!"
The tracks on the album benefit from contributions from some of the best-known and talented musicians in the thriving Maine music scene, including Alan Dickson, Vanessa Torres, Heather Caston, Jeff Trippe, Eric Bettencourt, Lindsey Montana, and Jason Ingalls. It was recorded by Marc Bartholomew, and masterd by Scott Elson, both of Acadia Recording Company in Portland.
Bob writes songs with well-structured lyrics and memorable hooks, layered on melodies that get under your skin; songs about the places we live in, the people we love, and the secrets we struggle with in becoming who we really are. Some songs are funny; others are poignant, a few are dark – but they usually have some type of redemptive or humorous twist that surprises his audience.
He began playing his tunes at open mics in Massachusetts in the late 1990’s. After moving to Portland, Maine in late 2003, his development as a songwriter and a performer accelerated significantly, thanks to the supportive musical community in southern Maine. Bob especially credits the Maine Songwriters Association with helping him move his songwriting work into focus in his life.
Bob has served on the Board of Directors of the Maine Songwriters Association twice, for a total of three years, and he finished up as President in 2009. He has also been active in the Portland Music Foundation, and has earned a solid reputation as an open mic host in the Portland area. MaineFolkMusic.com is a website full of music reviews written by Bob and a couple of his friends and associates.
"I've had a great time working with the MSA, and helping out in other ways, promoting the Maine music scene. Now, I'm looking forward to getting back to focusing on my own songwriting, performing, and publishing," says Bob; "I've really missed that, and I can't wait to get back out there!"
Look for Bob at a local venue, and enjoy the down-to-earth, good-natured, and sincere songwriting that his fans have come to love.
Venues and Radio / Television Airplay
Venues:
The Yarmouth Clam Festival, Yarmouth, Maine
The North Star Music Cafe, Portland, Maine
Blue, Portland, Maine
The Dogfish Bar and Grille, Portland, Maine
Slainte, Portland, Maine
Songwriters by the Sea Concert Series, Peaks Island, Maine
The Maine Songwriters Association Summer Music Festival, East Dixfield, Maine
The Great Lost Bear, Portland, Maine
Acoustic Coffee, Portland, Maine
City of Portland 2005 Halloween Party, Portland, Maine
The North East Regional Folk Alliance, Kerhonkson, New York
The North Dam Mill, Biddeford, Maine
Radio airplay:
"Music from 207", with Lara Seaver, WCLZ, Portland, Maine
"Us Folk", with Chris Darling, WMPG, Portland, Maine
"Localmotives", with Jan Wilkinson, WMPG, Portland, Maine
"The Locals", with Isaac Shainblum, WMPG, Portland, Maine
"Greetings from Area Code 207", with Charlie Gaylord, WBLM, Portland, Maine
"Writers in the Round", with Deidre Randall, WSCA radio, Portsmouth, New Hampshire
"Stay Tuned", with Shawn Henderson, WSCA radio, Portsmouth, New Hampshire
"Watch City Coffeehouse", with Bob Weiser and Rebecca Katz, WBRS radio, Waltham, Massachusetts
Television airplay:
Local Songwriter Series, Community Television Network (Channel 4), Portland Maine
Mainely Musicians, local cable airplay around the state of Maine
At Home with the Maine Songwriters Association, local cable airplay around the state of Maine
All three of the photographs below are by David Knight Photography
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