Andrew Hardin was singer-songwriter Tom Russell's right hand man for more than 20 years, touring & recording in the 1980's and early 90's as The Tom Russell Band's fire-breathing, country-rock electric- guitar slinger, producing or co-producing several of Russell's albums on Rounder and Hightone, and, through 2005, touring with Russell as an acoustic duo. Wielding a un-processed, direct- to-the-board Takamine dreadnaught onstage, Hardin balances transparent song support with impassioned soloing that significantly raises the emotional ante of Russell's story-songs.

David Hamburger, Acoustic Guitar Magazine March 2006

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Paula Held with Andrew Hardin Tour,
West Coast Tour Dates: June 8-18, 2011

Paula Held's debut album DRIVE is a "beautifully produced, folk-pop gem," arranged and produced by Stephen Doster in Austin TX. "DRIVE is a personal cartography, a songline of the heart. If, as the Aborigine of Australia believed, it is necessary to sing one's way through all the landmarks leading home, then DRIVE is this woman's audible map. The route marks not just a heart's exterior migratory routes, but the off-season pathways to the soul's interior." writes NEA winning author Alison Moore. 

"Drive is no freshman effort; these are songs written by someone who's been wise enough to wait until her time is ripe. Paula Held's real strength lies in avoiding the singer-songwriter trap, which she does neatly by employing jazzy, poppy arrangements, bolstered by producer Stephen Doster's touch." writes Margaret Moser of the Austin Chronicle. 

DRIVE features one of two songs that recently won in two categories as finalists in the 2010 John Lennon Songwriting Contest (You're My Falling Star - track 4). Paula's music is described as heady, melodic, poetry-soaked folk-pop and americana ... with a twinge of jazz.

Wed, June 8: ROOM 5 LOUNGE
143 N. LaBrea, Los Angeles, CA 90036: 323-938-2504
8-8:45 pm, $10
 
Thurs, June 9: THE PORCH CAFE
22322 El Camino Real, Santa Margarita, CA 93453
805-438-3376; 6:30-9:30 pm

Friday, June 10: EAST VILLAGE COFFEE LOUNGE
498 Washington Street, Monterey, CA 93904
831-373-5601; 8-11 pm; $5

Sat, June 11: BAZAAR CAFE
5927 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94121
415-831-5620; 7-9:30 pm

Sun, June 12: HOPMONK TAVERN
691 Broadway, Sonoma, CA 95476
707-935-9100: 2-4 pm

Thurs, June 16: MISSISSIPPI PIZZA & ATLANTIS LOUNGE
3552 N. Mississippi Avenue, Portland, OR 97227
503-288-3231; 6-8 pm

Friday, June 17: ARTICHOKE MUSIC
3130 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, OR 97214
503-232-8845; 7:30-9:30 pm; $5

Sat, June 18: EGAN'S BALLARD JAM HOUSE
1707 N.W. Market Street, Seattle, WA 98107
206-789-1621; 7-8:30 pm; $12