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Post by sabrafan on Apr 2, 2017 15:16:09 GMT
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Post by sabrafan on Apr 2, 2017 15:18:09 GMT
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Post by sabrafan on Apr 2, 2017 15:20:12 GMT
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Post by sabrafan on Apr 2, 2017 16:20:20 GMT
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Post by sabrafan on Apr 2, 2017 16:21:26 GMT
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Post by sabrafan on Apr 2, 2017 18:39:20 GMT
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Post by sabrafan on Apr 2, 2017 18:45:06 GMT
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Post by sabrafan on Apr 2, 2017 21:50:48 GMT
ALBANY — A cupcake and a rendition of “Happy Birthday to You” by the audience at The Egg on Saturday night marked the birthday of Sawyer Fredericks, who turned 18 the day before.
The singer-songwriter, who grew up on his family’s 88-acre farm in Montgomery County, made his name at age 16 as the youngest winner ever of NBC reality television singing contest “The Voice.”
One of the highest-profile musicians to hail from upstate New York, he was an apt choice to headline this year’s 518 Songfest, an annual local music showcase that raises funds for Capital Region radio station Exit 97.7 WEXT-FM and Columbia Arts Team, an area nonprofit that supports local performing artists.
The night was part music showcase, part round-table, with Fredericks and the opening artists answering questions about their songwriting craft from the hosts, WEXT DJs Dave Michaels and Andy Gregory — both staunch supporters of local music.
“I wouldn’t really worry about being heard, I would just enjoy the music,” the quiet-seeming Fredericks said when asked to provide advice for upcoming songwriters. He also revealed that his biggest accomplishment to date has been being able to tour, and he’s working on a new album with his band for independent release.
“The farm gives you freedom,” he said of the agrarian roots that keep him grounded. “I love playing outside and seeing if I can have my voice echo off the hills.”
That powerful voice was on display during Fredericks’ 12-song set, which was heavy on newer unreleased tunes with a bluesy-folk sound and a dark edge, including “Hide Your Ghost,” “How Beautiful,” “Gasoline” and “Stone.”
Wearing his trademark black bowler hat, his hair down to his ribs, Fredericks also played the single “4 Pockets” from his last album “A Good Storm” as well as “Early in the Morning,” a song written when he was on “The Voice,” and a downbeat cover of Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds,” the first song he ever learned on guitar.
Fredericks has a very subtle charisma and the ability to imbue his songs with a lot of feeling, although a bit more emotional range would be nice – something more uplifting could leaven the bleaker aspects of his music. But then again, this is the kid who kicked off his TV audition with the trad-folk song “I’m a Man of Constant Sorrow.”
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Post by sabrafan on Apr 3, 2017 0:45:50 GMT
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Post by istersay on Apr 3, 2017 5:05:13 GMT
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Post by sabrafan on Apr 3, 2017 14:03:30 GMT
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Post by sabrafan on Apr 5, 2017 4:54:21 GMT
"Gasoline" by Robert Simmons
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Post by sabrafan on Apr 5, 2017 4:56:09 GMT
"Three little birds" by Robert Simmons
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Post by sippie on Apr 6, 2017 0:48:42 GMT
Thank you Sabra. those pics and new videos. He's all man now
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Post by istersay on Apr 6, 2017 2:24:03 GMT
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