Chris Chandler and Paul Benoit- Folktastic Show at Asheville's Firestorm Cafe

Friday, February 20, 2009, 8:00pm - 9:30pm at the Firestorm Cafe - 48 Commerce Street Asheville, NC Phone: 828-255-8115 - Email: baldchandler@yahoo.com

A multi media collage - ripped from the pages of yesterday's history books and tomorrow's newspaperCelebrating his twentieth year on the road, poet and storyteller Chris Chandler is as hilarious and entertaining as he is provocative and rabble-rousing, Delivering vignettes about politics and modern culture with the fire of a Baptist preacher and accompanied by a wide variety of musical styles, he has performed on thousands of stages across North America, working with such legendary figures as Allen Ginsberg, Pete Seeger, Mojo Nixon and Ani DiFranco. The late great Utah Phillips called Chris "the best performance poet I have ever seen. "He has joined forces with Seattle roots and Americana guru Paul Benoit. Together their styles merge like lanes on an outbound interstate. Delivering vignettes about politics and modern culture with the fire of a Baptist Preacher, the music is rooted in roots, colored with blues, and based in American. They have now traveled four extended tours on both coasts.Part preacher, poet, huckster, wandering minstrel and medicine show sideman, Chandler casts a spell over an audience performing on two Lollapalooza tours. He has recorded collaborations with Peter Yarrow of Peter Paul and Mary, The Austin Lounge Lizards, Dar Williams and many others. He has worked live with Alan Ginsberg and Ani Difranco, Pete Seeger and Mojo Nixon.He was been on the road for twenty years, living exclusively out of his automobile.

Starting as a street musician, he is now a tireless activist performing at demonstrations across the US and Canada . From the G8 summit to the FTAA, to anti-war demonstrations to countless labor picket lines and union halls.His new album Fifty From Twenty is a box set celebrating his twenty years on the road. Fifty songs from twenty years on the road, it is a four CD, one DVD set featuring songs and videos from his previous thirteen CDs.

"Great Work, Ever Thought Of Trying It In Calypso?" - Allen Ginsberg"I thought I was the last American weirdo then I met Chris Chandler." - Mojo Nixon"He is the best performance poet I have ever seen." - Utah Phillips"Chris Chandler reminds me of my own self way back when -listen to him Now!" - Tom Paxton"The spirit of Woody Guthrie lives in the heart of Chris Chandler." - Peter Yarrow (of Peter Paul and Mary)"We are going to hear a whole lot more from this Watergate Generation guy. I wish I would happen upon him singing in the subway." - Pete Seeger