Music has been like a personal diary to me for most of the last 50+ years. I am using here as a temporary home to get some of my music out there - and that includes music made with a few people who I've had the pleasure of playing with over the years.

I know I can't go on producing material any longer, and the state of stasis at the moment looks to be pretty permanent.  At least we got that one final huge George Harrison project finished. Whether there is any more we shall see. 

If you have any comments, requests, or just want to say hi, you can message me here - or better still, email me at:
tokengestures@yahoo.co.uk

Enjoy what's on here while you can - I don't intend to keep everything on here for too long.

Steve, Jan 2015

Vellamo is the performing and songwriting team of Pia Leinonen and Joni Tiala. Their music is characterized by haunting melodies, Pia's ethereal lead vocals and Joni's virtuosic guitar stylings. They write instantly memorable songs in English as well as their native Finnish, and also perform traditional ballads from the Finnish and Scandinavian folk traditions. They are known for establishing a rapport with any audience: The duo has been touring around Europe, in New Zealand and five times in the US. Self-titled first album came out in early 2013, which was recorded in Vermont, US. Vellamo released their second album "Trad" in June 2014 and it was recorded with a full band. This folk-rock gem contains beautiful arrangements of traditional songs from the Finnish and Scandinavian traditions. You can hear how surf rock guitars and hillbilly country style is blended with the Finnish tradition as well as the echoes of Joni Mitchell’s music paint a David Lynch–like scenery. Third album “Koskenkylä” (Whitewater Village) was released in November 2015. This modern Nordic folk album features all original material written both in English and Finnish.


"There’s so much to like about Vellamo’s music, which has a strong, and intensely appealing, retro feel – kinda Trader Horne/first-album Fairport, maybe more than a hint of the Fariñas, with a touch of early-electric-Dylan/McGuinn jangle, get the picture? ”

- David Kidman/ FATEA Magazine (UK).


"Even foreign texts can shine like a star on a clear sky."

- Keys & Chords (Belgium).


“Nothing appears artificial, excessive or posed.”

- Country Jukebox (Germany).

www.piedmontbrothersband.com
http://music.piedmontbrothersband.com


Laurie  Biagini is a songwriter/singer from Vancouver, British Columbia Canada, whose music would appeal to fans of 1960’s California sunshine pop. Her sound and compositions have been compared to The Beach Boys, The Mamas and the Papas, and Jackie DeShannon. Her main influences include these artists along with The Beatles, The Byrds, The Monkees, The Turtles,  and Jan & Dean. 

 Laurie has played piano by ear since age five, alongside ten years of classical piano training. She only started writing music in August 2006, after writing her first song which came to her with music and lyrics simultaneously one afternoon as she was commuting home from work. Since then, she has completed and released three albums: “Ridin’ the Wave” (released November 2008), “A Far-Out Place” (released March 2010), and “A Go-Go Girl in a Modern World” (released November 2011).  She is currently in production of her 4th album, "Sanctuary of Sound" which has an estimated release of early 2013. 

All of Laurie’s songs have been written, composed, performed and recorded by herself, with the exception of a handful of songs from“A Go-Go Girl in a Modern World. This most recent album featured some guitar tracks from Fabrizio Serrecchia (Italy) and Peter Hackett (UK), lyrics on one track from Elaine McAfee Bender (USA), and one track with lyrics cowritten with Maxi Dunn (UK) and performed together as a duet.

ACCOLADES

The albums have received positive reviews from numerous publications in the Powerpop Community.  Some other highlights:

All three CD’s placed in the top 50 of David Bash’s (of International Pop Overthrow fame) year-end best album lists.
“A Far-Out Place” and “A Go-Go Girl in a Modern World” chosen in the 10 Best CD’s of the year (2010, 2011) in The Province News by rock journalist Tom Harrison.
“A Go-Go Girl in a Modern World” chosen as one of the top 25 albums of 2011 on CBC Radio One (Earlier show).
"Ridin' the Wave", “A Far-Out Place” and “A Go-Go Girl in a Modern World” included in the most-played albums on Maui’s Time Machine Radio Show.
“A Far-Out Place” was one of the top albums of 2010, and “A Go-Go Girl in a Modern World” received the Ear Candy award for 2011 on Sacramento’s Twirl Radio show.   
Artist of the month for June and July 2009 on the Twirl Radio Show
“Ridin’ the Wave” listed in the top 100 albums of 2009 on the Powerpop Station in Brazil.

PERFORMANCES

Laurie has performed at the International Pop Overthrow Festival in San Francisco (2008), CA, Vancouver, B.C (2008-2012), and Liverpool, UK (2010).  She has also performed at the North Vancouver Festival of Lights, along with 2 charity Christmas Concerts arranged through Rave-On Studio. She has performed twice in Italy – Reggio Emilia (March 2011), and Rome (June 2010).

GUEST APPEARANCES ON COMPILATION ALBUMS

Laurie has appeared on the International Pop Overthrow compilation CD Volumes 11, 12, 13, and 14, as well as guest vocals on “Encomium in Memorium Vol. 1 – Jan Berry of Jan & Dean”. She was signed by SideB Music for their holiday compilation “Rockin’ the Mistletoe” with her song “Christmas in the Air”, and additionally submitted a different mix of the song on "A Very Vancouver Christmas 5", a locally produced compilation by Rave On Studio, to benefit the SPCA. 


FUTURE PLANS

As to her future plans, Laurie wants to continue writing and recording music, and explore opportunities to collaborate with other musicians. She also hopes to expand her audience by taking advantage of any opportunities to appear on future compilation albums, as well as performing in more locations both domestic, and abroad. The art of creating music has been an educational experience (not to mention a total rush!), and she hopes be ridin’ that wave for some time to come.

Uwe Rayer is following