Gwyneth & Monko Announce January and February Dates in Support of Self-Titled Release

Gwyneth and Monko announce January and February tour dates in support of their self-titled release due out February 15, 2011. With a voice that invokes Jenny Lewis’ solo work crossed with the intimate folk of Gillian Welch; Gwyneth Moreland strums her guitar in subtle chords while Michael Monko accompanies her lyrical stories with trickling mandolin, steady acoustic guitar and folk accents.

The new record, which was recorded at Old School Studio in Caspar, CA, will more accurately reflect what the duo sounds like live. And it’s no wonder their new work sounds this way, as they’ve been on the road for most of 2010, taking weekends here and there to record. Guest artists Scott Southard on bass, Jimmy Gallagher on drums and Matt Cooper Borkenhagen on pedal steel and dobro, join Gwyneth and Monko on their self-titled album.

This record exists in part because of a month of creative exploration. In July, Gwyneth Moreland and Michael Monko spent time honing new songs in a home recording studio. Those sketches came to life in Old School Studio and are filled with new elements: Moreland on banjo, Monko on fiddle and guest artists adding drums and bass. These additions allow Gwyneth and Monko to explore a different dynamic while still keeping the old-timey and Americana influences, songwriting style, Moreland’s vocal style and Monko’s intricate instrumentation.

Gwyneth and Monko tour across the country in an RV that serves as a temporary home on the road. The phrase “less is more,” couldn’t be more apt for Gwyneth & Monko. “We travel in a camper van that has a sink, cook top, and refrigerator,” says Gwyneth. “We both love to travel and so we view touring as away to do all our favorite things: playing music and traveling.”

Gwyneth and Monko Tour Dates

1/15/11 In-Store Performance - Dig! Music, Ukiah, CA
1/22/11 CD Pre-Release Show - The Arcata Playhouse Theater, Arcata, CA
1/23/11 CD Pre-Release Show – The Caspar Inn, Caspar, CA
1/29/11 Rominger West Winery, Davis, CA
2/2/11 Six Rivers Brewery, McKinleyville, CA
2/3/11 Sam Bonds Garage, Eugene, OR
2/5/11 The Mandolin Café, Tacoma, WA
2/6/11 Laurel Thirst Public House, Portland, OR
2/10/11 Smiley's Schooner Saloon and Hotel, Bolinas, CA
2/26/11 Evangeline's, Colfax, CA

Click Here to Read More..

Gwyneth & Monko Announce Southeast Tour with Laura Meyer in November

From opposite sides of the continent, New York’s soulful folk rock poet Laura Meyer and the San Francisco Bay Area’s emerging indie-folk duo Gwyneth & Monko will be meeting up in the Southeast this November for a group of shows together.

At 26 years old, Laura Meyer has performed nearly 400 independent shows throughout the United States and Europe, including performances at the Telluride Bluegrass and Rocky Mountain Folks Festivals. While based in the Northeast, she is permanently on the road, connecting with audiences the old-fashioned way… live. This is where Meyer’s emotionally-driven performance thrives, igniting rooms and leaving listeners inspired, if not transformed.

With a voice that invokes Jenny Lewis’ solo work crossed with the intimate folk of Gillian Welch; Gwyneth & Monko evoke a feeling of nostalgia rooted deep in classic country fundamentals. Lyrics lace together fictional female characters, while the down-home style mirrors the musicians’ earnest lives stemming from their childhood into young adults and touring musicians. Featuring soulful vocals by Gwyneth with intricate instrumentation by Monko on both electric and acoustic guitars as well as mandolin, this energetic duo blends old timey folk sentiments with modern indie-folk sounds.

So far in 2010, road warriors Laura Meyer and Gwyneth & Monko have individually played over 90 shows, each with full upcoming fall tours spanning the entire United States.

Traveling the interstates, mountain passes and back roads of this vast country to share their music with the masses, it is no wonder that last spring they finally crossed paths and co-billed a show in the historically spiritual epicenter of Ojai, CA. The intimate show at The Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts in Ojai spawned a friendship between the artists based on a common love of travel and music and a mutual respect for each other’s lives on the road. Seven months after that fateful meeting in the dry hills of California, Laura Meyer and Gwyneth & Monko will meet up again, only this time in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee.

Gwyneth & Monko/Laura Meyer Tour Dates
11/6/10 Acoustic Coffeehouse, Johnson City, TN
11/7/10 Karma, Greenville, SC
11/8/10 Mo Daddy's , Asheville, NC
11/9/10 WonderRoot in Atlanta, GA
11/10/10 Terrapin Brew in Athens, GA
11/11/10 Firestorm in Asheville, NC
11/12/10 Bottega, Wilmington, NC
11/13/10 Smokey Joe's, Charlotte, NC

Click Here to Read More..

Gwyneth & Monko Kick Off Late Summer Tour Out West

Northern California duo, Gwyneth & Monko, will bring their earnest, stripped-down blend of folk, Americana and blues when they begin the late summer leg of their 17 city Western tour through California, Oregon and Washington to celebrate the release of their first EP, Good Old Horse, due out July 20th.

Gwyneth Moreland has a voice that invokes Jenny Lewis’ solo work crossed with the intimate folk of Gillian Welch. Michael Monko accompanies her lyrical stories with trickling mandolin, steady acoustic guitar and folk accents. Together they play pure, earnest folk that would be at home in the South, even though they both call Northern California home.



Audiences can expect the same sparse instrumentation and vocals found on Good Old Horse in Gwyneth and Monko’s live show. The duo tours in an RV that serves as a temporary home on the road. The phrase “less is more,” couldn’t be more apt for Gwyneth & Monko. “We travel in a camper van that has a sink, cook top, and refrigerator,” says Gwyneth. “We both love to travel and so we view touring as away to do all our favorite things: playing music and traveling.”

Gwyneth & Monko Tour Dates
7/24/10 CD Release Show, The Cozmic Cafe & Pub, Placerville, CA
8/1/10 CD Release Show, The Rock-It Room, San Francisco, CA
8/11/10 The Rock N' Soul Café, Boulder, CO
8/13/10 The Downtown Bar, Pueblo, CO
8/14/10 Eske's Brew Pub, Taos, NM
8/15/10 Cowgirl BBQ, Santa Fe, NM
8/20/10 Dakota Lounge, Santa Monica, CA
8/21/10 Wynola Pizza Express, Julian, CA
8/23/10 The Coffee Gallery Backstage, Altadena, CA
8/24/10 Linnaea’s Café, San Luis Obispo, CA
8/24/10 San Luis Obispo, CA
8/25/10 The Pour House, Paso Robles, CA
8/26/10 The Pour House, Paso Robles, CA
8/28/10 Mendo Folk House, Mendocino, CA
8/30/10 Amnesia, San Francisco, CA
9/2/10 The Axe & Fiddle, Cottage Grove, OR
9/5/10 Sirens Pub, Port Townsend, WA
9/8/10 The Green Frog Acoustic Tavern, Bellingham, WA
9/9/10 The Mandolin Café, Tacoma, WA Click Here to Read More..

Favorite Friday with Gwyneth & Monko: Tom Waits

Good ole humble American music, gotta love it. Gwyneth & Monko are pure as sweet tea on their upcoming EP Good Old Horse. The band is also starting work on their full-length album, hoping for an early 2011 release. The couple has been working on new songs at their home studio and are clearly breathing in the airs of Gillian Welch and The Carpenters. Personally, I couldn’t think of two more perfect things in this weather. Gwyneth & Monko are the busiest of bees as they tour throughout the summer and into the fall. Don’t forget: Good Old Horse comes out Tuesday, July 20.

Gwyneth & Monko’s Top 10 Albums of the Week

1. Gillian Welch, Hell Among The Yearlings
2. Gillian Welch, (Time) The Revelator



3. Neil Young, Zuma
4. Crooked Jades, Shining Darkness
5. The Carpenters, The Singles: 1969-1973
6. Hank Williams, 20 of Hank Williams’ Greatest Hits
7. Buddy & Julie Miller, Written In Chalk
8. The Raconteurs, Consolers of the Lonely
9. Eilen Jewell, Boundary County
10. Tom Waits, Orphans

“As a side note, we are loving Gwyneth's new Martin acoustic guitar - pictured here in Gwyneth's lap - doesn't hurt that Tom Waits (yes, THAT Tom Waits) was peering over her shoulder during the purchase last weekend."

Gwyneth & Monko Summer Tour Dates
Saturday, July 10 - Noe Valley Farmer's Market, San Francisco, CA
Sunday, August 1 - Official CD Release Show, The Rock-It Room, San Francisco, CA
Wednesday, Aug 11 - The Rock N' Soul Cafe, Boulder, CO
Friday August 13 - The Downtown Bar, Pueblo, CO
Saturday, August 14 - Eske's Brew Pub, Taos, NM
Sunday, August 15 - Cowgirl BBQ, Santa Fe, NM
Saturday, August 21 - Wynola Pizza Express (Red Barn), Julian, CA
Monday, August 23 - The Coffee Gallery Backstage, Lake Altadena, CA
Tuesday, August 24 - "Songwriters at Play" Weekly Songwriter Showcase
Steynberg Gallery, San Luis Obispo, CA
Wednesday, August 25 - The Pour House, Paso Robles, CA
Thursday, August 26 - The Pour House, Paso Robles, CA
Saturday, August 28 - Mendo Folk House, Mendocino, CA

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Each Friday, hence the name Favorite Friday - one GLG band/artist will send us a list and comments about their "favorites" of the week. It could be a list of albums they are listening to in the van, books they are reading, guilty pleasure TV, and so on. We hope these various "favorites" will give you unique glimpse into the lives of our bands. Click Here to Read More..

GLG Fresh MP3 Friday

You need free mp3s, we have free mp3s. Feel free to post any of the approved songs below on your blog or tweet to your friends. Not on our email list to receive these directly and want to be? Send an email over to info(at)greenlightgopublicity.com

New This Week!

Sara Radle, From Four Release Date: September 14, 2010
“Song for Adam” 
Genre: Powerpop
For fans of: Jenny Lewis, Regina Spektor, Dum Dum Girls

And for those you may have missed...


Neil Nathan, From The Distance Calls Release Date: August 24, 2010
“California Run”
“Highways”
Genre: Powerpop
For fans of: Matthew Sweet, Cat Stevens, The Go, Marc Bolan

Neutral Uke Hotel
“King of Carrot Flowers Pt. 1” (Neutral Milk Hotel Cover)
Genre: Indie rock, Cover song
For fans of: Neutral Milk Hotel

The White Ravens, From Gargoyles and Weather Vanes due out July 6, 2010
“Sparks”
“Tick Tock”
Genre: Garage rock
For fans of: The White Stripes, Fiery Furnaces

Gwyneth & Monko, From Good Old Horse due out July 20, 2010“Good Old Horse”
“Lexington Ballad” Genre: Americana/Folk
For fans of: Jenny Lewis, Gillian Welch

Alan Cohen Experience, From Space & Time due out August 31, 2010
“Einstein”
Genre: Anti-folk/power pop
For fans of: Adam Green, Jeffrey Lewis, The Moldy Peaches

Leopold and His Fiction, From the upcoming album TBA
“Golden Friends”
Genre: Garage folk
For fans of: The Black Keys, Kings of Leon, Heartless Bastards Click Here to Read More..