Patchouli, Bill Mize, Joe Jencks, Aaron Burdett at the ACMA listening room

The Americana Community Music Association is Fort Myers home for original Americana music, and the group has another full month of concerts planned. The ACMA provides a venue for local and touring artists, many are award winning performers in the Americana/folk community. All shows are in a quiet, intimate setting, and every show is a meet and greet with the artists.
The ACMA is pleased to have Patchouli return to Fort Myers on Nov. 2. Master guitarist Bruce Hecksel and singer-songwriter Julie Patchouli blend music from their two musical projects Patchouli and Terra Guitarra. Terra Guitarra is reviewed as “one of the top nuevo-flamenco groups in the world” – Zone Music Reporter. They have three top 5 internationally charting albums including Of Sea & Stars just won ZMR Award “Best Instrumental Album of the Year 2017.”
In 2018, Patchouli & Terra Guitarra went global bringing their music all over the world touring the UK and Europe, China and the U.S. In 2019, their album Spirit Wheel was nominated ZMR “Best World Album.” The duo continues to tour across the U.S. and returns for a 2nd bigger tour in China in July of 2019.
Patchouli & Terra Guitarra have performed over 4,500 shows, toured a million miles on the road supporting 21 CD releases, performed on TV, film and are played on radio programs around the World. Their soulful fusion of blazing Spanish and world guitar instrumentals, heartstring tugging lyrics, lush vocal harmonies, and epic folk rock anthems infused with a visible onstage chemistry guarantees to make the night an uplifting one of music that will leave you uniquely inspired and excited to pick that old guitar back up.
Founding ACMA member and musician Andy Getch will open for Patchouli. Andy has been an important part of the ACMA since its inception, and he continues to volunteer for the group, write new songs, paint cool stuff, host house concerts and perform on stage.
Grammy-winning guitarist Bill Mize will perform Nov. 9 at the ACMA listening room. He a son of Tennessee and a fitting representative of his state’s rich musical heritage. His critically lauded fingerstyle compositions are fluid and intricate, and their delivery masterful. One suspects an influential teacher, and one would be right. “I received most of my musical education from a cheap Zenith radio,” says Mize, who as a child drifted off to sleep to the decidedly non-sleepy lullabies emanating from Nashville’s WLAC and WSM and Knoxville’s WNOX.
Bill is a past winner of the National Fingerstyle Guitar Competition at The Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. Guitar Player Magazine has labeled this event the “U.S. Open of guitar competitions.” Bill received a Grammy Award for his collaboration with musician and storyteller David Holt on the recording Stellaluna, and has been featured on the popular guitar compilations “Windham Hill Guitar Sampler” by Windham Hill Records and “Masters of the Acoustic Guitar” by Narada Records. In 2009, Bill’s music appeared in the Ken Burns documentary “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.”
ACMA member Danny Anderson opens for Bill Mize. Danny hails from Ontario, Canada, and began strumming at age 12. It was mostly kitchens and campfires until, a few years ago, he found more time to write and play. Influenced by styles from the Beatles to Motown to 60’s rock, Danny writes songs that will make you laugh: like his plea to Elon Musk to “Take me to Mars” … and songs that will make you think: like his muse on midlife crisis.
The ACMA welcomes Joe Jencks back to the stage on Nov. 16. The ACMA first got acquainted with Joe as part of the powerhouse trio Brother Sun. Joe Jencks is an international touring musician, award-winning songwriter, and celebrated vocalist known for his performances of musical beauty, social consciousness and spiritual exploration. A 20-year veteran of the international folk circuit, Jencks has released 15 CDs in that time. Merging conservatory training with his Irish roots and working-class upbringing, Joe delivers engaged musical narratives filled with heart, soul, groove and grit. Blending well-crafted instrumentals and vivid songwriting, Jencks serves it all up with a lyric baritone voice that has the edgy richness of a good sea-salt caramel. Opening for Joe is Dan Philgreen.
Aaron Burdett is on the ACMA calendar for Nov. 23. Creating music isn’t a means to an end, it is an end with a meaning for Aaron Burdett. Writing and creating songs is rooted somewhere deep in his psyche; it’s something that can’t be denied and must be shared. His lyrics are soul-touching, intelligent, witty, and poetic all at once, while his music style is a seamless blend of Americana, country, blues, bluegrass, and folk-rock that cohesively creates a story.
Aaron is listed as one of the top 10 most important musicians of western North Carolina by WNC Magazine, alongside such greats as Doc Watson, Steep Canyon Rangers, and The Avett Brothers. He has also received critical acclaim as a songwriter, winning Our State Magazine’s Carolina Songs competition in 2012 with “Going Home to Carolina.” Aaron’s song “Magpie” won third place bluegrass song in the prestigious Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at Merlefest in 2013. Over the years Aaron has been a finalist in numerous other songwriting competitions, including The Mountain Stage Songwriting Contest, The NC Songwriter’s Cooperative Songwriting Contest, and the Hank Williams Songwriting Contest.
Aaron’s writing is as prolific and genuine as the man. He grew up the oldest of three boys in the fairly isolated small town in Saluda, NC, where the Blue Ridge meets the Smoky Mountains. Aaron has seven albums, Refuge (2017 on Organic Records), Tinderbox (2015 on Organic records), Fruits of My Labor (2014 on Organic Records), Breathing Underwater (2012), Stand Up Eight (2010), Resolve (2008) , and The Weight of Words (2005).
Thomas Earl will open for Aaron Burdett. Thomas has been writing and performing music for over 50 years. He started his career playing in Coffee Houses in Ann Arbor, Mich., in the late 1960s. He is proficient in both guitar and bluegrass banjo, with a focus on creative finger style techniques. He has written dozens of original songs, including original music for theater productions, and has released two CDs of original music. Thomas spent a year living in Maui while working on his most recent single releases and has just moved to Venice, Fl., from the Woodstock, New York area. Thomas will also be conducting a master class – “Using Open Tuning to Open up Your Songwriting Potential” for the ACMA in January.
Singer songwriters circles are held every Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at All Faiths Unitarian Congregation. The circle is for acoustic songwriters of all levels.
The ACMA is a non-sectarian not for profit organization. Most concerts are held at All Faiths Congregation located at 2756 McGregor Blvd. in Fort Myers. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and all shows start at 7 p.m. $15 donations are accepted at the door the night of the concert. For more information visit www.americanacma.org