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'Wandering Roots' With a thumping thumb, dancing fingers, deep gritty soul stirring vocals & poetic blue collar lyrics; Taylor's
songs ooze American roots. His voice has been compared to Tom Waites, Bruce Springstien, Chris Smither, Bob Dylan &
Eddie Vedder. His original songs draw from country blues, rockabilly, folk, rock, Reggae & country, & his lyrics
are colored by the experiences of his own working class wandering roots. He's been an oysterman, carpenter, hitchhiker,
homeowner, father & 'Thru-hiker' (Appalachian Trail '96, Long Trail '97, & John Muir Trail '06 - visit his blog "Short Stories From A Long Walk").
Shawn released his second original C.D. "FREE" on April 23rd, 2010 and is currently in the
beginning stages of a third. He's been performing for twenty years as a solo artist and leads the ever 'Wandering
Roots' acoustical 'tribe'. He's performed full time full time since his debut '08 release "Wandering Roots";
taking him from New England to Nashville. Taylor's cover repertoire is rich in obscure, but recognizable songs, that he has a nack
for making his own. Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Mississippi John Hurt, the Grateful Dead, the Beatles, Bob Marley, Tom Waites,
Steve Earl, Keb' Mo', Lyle lovett, Chris Smither & more...


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| NERFA 2011 - Photo Jake Jacobson |
Local C.D.'s: The Sawtells, Shawn
Taylor New Haven Advocate —James Velvet (New Haven Advocate) "Shawn Taylor, Free (self-released,
shawntaylortunes.com). Shawn Taylor plays his acoustic guitar Delta style, reminiscent of Mississippi John Hurt... and you
can hear his smooth command of the difficult finger-picking style... Anchoring the whole thing is Taylor’s voice. Described
as “wonderfully damaged” by the Advocate’s own Dan Barry, it is worn but not frayed, a smoky tenor that
exudes confidence and authority. This kind of command comes from live performances — not just in clubs and coffee bars,
but in living rooms and on front porches as well. "
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"Shawn dives directly into folk/blues with heart and soul, telling stories of real people with real
hardships, all backed by a finger-picking style that can be crass, gentle, fast or simple, what ever the moment calls for,
and led all the time confidently with his gruff and raspy blues voice. He’s found originality within his genre.
A tough thing to do." (Tom Bianchi - Boston Backstage Beat)
| Wandering Roots Quartet |

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| Jim McKeeman, Nick Longo, Billy Bileca, Shawn Taylor |
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