Ukiah Brewing Company & Restaurant

	The Sing-a-long Singers will perform at the Ukiah Brewery on Sunday, April 13, 7-9pm.
	4/6/08 For Immediate Release See attached photo Contact Person: Laurel Near 489-6859 The Sing-a-long Singers will perform at the Ukiah Brewery on Sunday, April 13, 7-9pm. The audience is invited to eat Sunday dinner while enjoying the family oriented song list and audience participation for the young and old. The Sing-a-long Singers are a group of singers and musicians who sing sing-able songs and invite audiences to join them on the choruses. Coordinator and vocalist, Laurel Near, described that when she was growing up in Potter Valley, her family sang together almost every night. “Everyone knew how to find a harmony and everyone played an instrument,“ at least three chords! At our last extended family reunion, everyone picked up an instrument anything from a guitar, to a spoon, and we sang and played together. Then last year, my sister and I began to hold sing-along sessions in my living room in an effort to replicate that feeling we had in the “olden days” in Potter Valley. From those sessions, a small group of committed sing-a-longers was born.” “Our purpose is to inspire multi-generational groups, to sing and play music together, explained Lisa Mammina, who is featured on Hank Williams’ “Take These Chains.” “The Sing-a-long set list comes from many European American immigrant traditions including old-time country music. The songs are about people who have survived hardship, troubles, prison, discrimination, grieving, betrayal and heartbreak. The songs are also about loyalty, undying love, unity, play and transformation.” Kate Magruder, another vocalist added, “People don’t have to be professional singers to sing sing-a-long songs. Sometimes people join in by clapping or playing spoons, pots or pans or rhythms on the floor. Although there is a book of sing-a-long songs, “Rise Up Singing,” songs are generally passed down from person to person on porches, in living rooms and around campfires.” Laura Smith, fiddler for the group and winner of the 2007 Western Open Fiddle Contest, states, "It's really fun to play with singers since I'm used to playing only with other musicians, plus I love exploring all these songs - it's a wonderfully rich tradition." Her brother Darin, cellist for the group, has offered up a unique and playful cello song, "The Clover Show," which is sung at breakneck speed. Steve Rand is on bass, takes vocal solos on “Tennessee Waltz” and “Long Black Veil,” and also runs sound. Vincent Dille rounds out the band on drums. Much of this impulse descends from Pete Seeger, who has championed the cause of group singing for more than 60 years. “No one can prove a damn thing,” Mr. Seeger said in a recent interview, “but I think that singing together gives people some kind of a holy feeling. And it can happen whether they’re atheists, or whoever. You feel like, ‘Gee, we’re all together.’ “ Amateur group singing has been around forever, of course, schools, camps, churches, stadiums and bars. As Joe Hill wrote, "a pamphlet, no matter how good, is never read more than once, but a song is learned by heart and repeated over and over...." For information about booking SAS contact Laurel Near, nearlaurel at mac.com