Bill Passalacqua, Saturday October 8th

Austinite Bill Passalacqua is a top notch songwriter, a dynamic performer and a compelling story-teller. He has toured extensively, played clubs and listening rooms of all kinds, including the Cactus Café (Austin), Schuba*s (Chicago), Off Broadway (St. Louis), The Crypt (NYC) and The Bunker (Auckland, NZ). His three C.D.s have received air play across the U.S. and in over a dozen other countries and have been favorably reviewed in 6 languages. He has toured with and/or opened for some of the luminaries in the folk music world: Fred Eaglesmith, Tom Russell, Slaid Cleaves, Peter Keane, Cliff Eberhart, Carrie Newcomer, Will Kimbrough, Michael Fracasso, etc... Passalacqua has also written with some of today*s finest writers including Slaid Cleaves, Jeff Talmadge, Elizabeth McQueen, Greg Klyma and Tiffani Ginn.

Passalacqua covers much of the ground that is described as "Americana", from bluegrass to blues. He writes with a freshness and vigor that is uncommon in those styles. Topically, the lyrics range over the landscape of love, politics, food, drink, dogs, and beyond.

Known for his incisive wit and word play, Passalacqua has become a favorite in political circles. His most recent release, "Peace of My Mind," is a collection of politically charged songs that has served as a tool and as inspiration for forces on the left end of the political spectrum. Twice he opened for Ralph Nader in the 2000 election, singing his "Inside Trade" to 5000 people at the Berger Center in Austin.

In Austin, he fronts "The Racket", in Illinois, he often fronts the "Poss Family Band", an 8 piece family bluegrass/americana outfit, but on the road he is mostly a solo act. While he is comfortable playing in bars, coffeehouses, resorts and ski-lodges, the natural habitat of Bill Passalacqua is the "listening room".