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Gillen & Turk Backs to the Wall

The new recording Backs to the Wall by Gillen & Turk was released May 22, 2008.

Acoustic Live's Richard Cuccaro says: "...from acoustic folk to blistering rock...love songs, rants, empathy for soldiers....virtuoso musical commentary."

Backs to the Wall has 12 fresh tracks including a version of Steve Kirkman's "Peace Rant." Kirkman, Abbie Gardner, Rob Morseberger, Andy LaDue, Susan Kane and David Blackshire fill out the music with G&T as the duo presents songs about our veterans, our river, our love, our community, our children and ourselves.

In support of Backs to the Wall, beginning May 22 in Pittsburgh, G&T tour 10 dates in the mid-west, followed by a week in California, finishing June in the Hudson Valley, highlighted with appearances June 21 and 22 at Clearwater's Great Hudson River Revival.

Visit the gigs page for info on the tour.

New Years Eve "Resolution for Peace"
with Congressman Dennis Kucinich

Gillen & Turk were among the artists performing at Dennis and Elizabeth Kucinich's New Years Eve shindig in Manchester, NH. After a brief poetry reading by Fred Gillen Jr., he was joined by Matt Turk in an a capella rendition of the Stephen Still's classic "Find the Cost of Freedom". This video includes the entire night's festivities with Fred and Matt's performance appearing at about the 20 minute mark and a little after midnight singing with Jenny Scheinman, Todd Sickafoose, Chris Brown, Teddy Butter and Anton Fier.

Watch the video here.

Acoustic Live

March 2008, in Acoustic Live, about Gillen & Turk, Richard Cucarro says "Two folk-rock musicians had travelled almost parallel paths to arrive at the same destination. Their rafter-raising shout-outs for peace and social justice combine influences from Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger. How they got there speaks to their foundations, their integrity and their gritty determination as well as their talent." Read more here.

G&T on MSG NYC Soundtracks

Gillen & Turk were singing and playing, wash-boarding and doing what they do when folks from Madison Square Garden asked if it was ok for them to film a G&T Music Under New York performance in NYC's Union Square. MSG then asked, would G&T be a part of the new show, NYC Soundtracks which airs July 13? G&T said yes and on July 10 performed with many others on the MSG stage on 33rd and 8th in celebration of the new show, outside the Garden on a glorious summer day. G&T are happy to be a part of this music show that features so many incredible New York musicians. Viewers will pick one artist to open a show at MSG, Radio City or the Beacon.

In addition, Gillen & Turk have entered into an agreement to score music for The Wyoming Channel. Soon, this fantastic web TV channel promoting eco-tourism will launch.

On the Cusp at KUSP

KUSP's Mike Pierce showing his copy of Backs to the Wall during G&T's June 13, 2008 visit. Everyone's glad Mike is no longer doing the graveyard shift. And we loved seeing KJ Denhert's poster nearby, made us feel at home.
The session is soon to be in the KUSP archives.

Fog of War Video News
Dobro

"The Fog of War" video can now be seen on Neil Young's website Living with War and the the Hudson Valley Music Channel. The video continues to show on YouTube and myspace.

Richard Cuccaro, in the March 2008 issue of Acoustic Live calls the "Fog of War" "...remarkable video."