David Ramirez kicks off artist-in-residence program at the Cactus Cafe
AUSTIN, Texas—April 6, 2011—Singer-songwriter David Ramirez kicks off the 2011 artist-in-residence at Austin’s legendary listening room, the Cactus Cafe. A young rising talent, Ramirez is a singer-songwriter in the best tradition of the great Texas troubadours of the ’70s. He has been described by Paste Magazine as “the best songwriter you don’t know yet”—a situation that’s likely to change with his Cactus residency.
Tonight Ramirez will begin a four-week, artist-in-residence engagement on the historic Cactus stage, which recently took honors as “Best Acoustic Venue” in the Austin Music Awards. All shows are free and begin at 8:30 p.m. (doors open at 8 p.m.) tonight, April 13 and 20 and 26.
“Part of the mission of the residency program is to provide a platform for promising local talent, offering a variety of opportunities for their music to reach new audiences,” said Matt Munoz, manager of the Cactus Cafe. “In addition to a weekly spotlight at the Cactus itself, artists-in-residence will receive on-air exposure on KUT 90.5, on KUT.org and through KUT’s social media channels.”
Ramirez’s song “Shoeboxes,” captured during a Texas Music Matters interview, was the KUT song of the day yesterday. You can watch an exclusive video of Ramirez performing “Shoeboxes” at KUT.org. KUT will be recording one of Ramirez’ Cactus shows for later broadcast (and podcast).
Ramirez has been writing and performing for more than 10 years. From his teen years swapping songs with friends in Houston to the struggles of making a name for himself in Nashville, his songwriting journey has spanned multiple EP’s and a full-length, American Soil which garnered more than 1,200 downloads in a 48-hour period on Noisetrade. Feeling truly at home on the road, he calls his second home Austin. It’s here where he wrote and recorded his latest release, Strangetown EP.
The Cactus Cafe is an intimate live music performance venue with a national reputation for showcasing top local, regional, national and international acoustic music acts. Billboard magazine listed the Cactus as one of 15 “solidly respected, savvy clubs” nationwide “from which careers can be cut, that work with proven names and new faces.” Lyle Lovett, Robert Earl Keen, Lucinda Williams, Shawn Colvin, Nanci Griffith and Ani DiFranco are among the singer-songwriters who frequently played the Cactus Cafe early in their careers. In May 2010, the Cactus Cafe and KUT 90.5 formed a partnership to continue and enhance the operation of the iconic venue.
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Contact: Erin Geisler (512) 475-8071
