Shaun Hopper debuts at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas,VA on Saturday, March 16th, 8:30 pm.  (George Mason University).  With Special Guest - Brother Shamus.    

PRESS RELEASE                             

   Katie Pedretty 727.712.2774

   Public Relations Manager

                                                                                                [email protected]

                                                                                                Stephanie Adamo 727.441.8443

                                                                                                Marketing and PR Coordinator

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ACOUSTIC GUITAR WIZARD

SHAUN HOPPER

IN CONCERT

AT THE

CAPITOL THEATRE

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 2012 AT 8 PM

June 18, 2012, Clearwater, FL – Back by popular demand after joining Grammy® Award winner B.B. King at Ruth Eckerd Hall earlier this year, acoustic guitar wizard Shaun Hopper will headline the Capitol Theatre in Downtown Clearwater’s Cleveland Street District on Friday, September 14 at 8 pm. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, June 23 at noon at the Ruth Eckerd Hall Ticket office.

Known for his “percussive-fingerstyle” guitar playing, Shaun Hopper is at first glance an unassuming presence, a true southern gentleman whose humility stands in stark contrast to the prodigious talents he unveils on stage.  An unparalleled master of the fret-board, Hopper merges complex melodies, harmonies and bass lines along with a one of a kind mix of percussive elements which captivate everyone within earshot.  Whether his listeners are guitar enthusiasts or not matters little... within a few seconds they soon realize that they are listening to a true virtuoso. 

Hopper's original compositions and arrangements of pop tunes are infused with all the cutting edge techniques and flavorings you'd expect in the new breed of You-Tube sensations, including players like Tommy Emmanuel, Adam Rafferty, Andy McKee and Don Ross.  Yet, it is his traditional and schooled "approach" to music which keeps him steeped in, and inspired by, the greats.  Influences include guitar legends; Chet Atkins, Andres Segovia, George Benson, Michael Hedges, Martin Taylor and Leo Kottke, just to name a few.  All of this inspiration  culminates into a "signature style" which crosses over the full range of musical genres;  Alternative, Folk, Classical, Celtic, Pop, Rock, Jazz, Blues, Country, New Age and a one-of-a kind percussive style which defies description.

His repertoire is global in scope, crossing and combining musical genres on the fly.  Hopper takes his audience on a tour from Celtic Imagery and Classical Medley to Soulful Ballads and Jazzy Improvs, all of which he'll counter punch with a Nashville "Hot Licks" session, fret-tapping original or 70's Pop Song. With listeners caught off balance, he is always able to rouse the crowd with a contagious sing-a-long or two.  Expect to hear threads of Bach, Beethoven, Beatles, George Benson, Sting, Segovia, John Mayer, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor and Queen. 

Years of honing his craft led Hopper to the Winfield National Fingerpicking Championship where he won Best Instrumental Song in 2007 for his seminal piece Autumn of Any Year. Later that same year, Shaun won second place in the singer-songwriter competition at Atlanta’s famed Eddie’s Attic Shootout Competition without singing a single note being the first and only instrumentalist ever to achieve such recognition. Also in 2007, reviewers from The Atlanta Journal Constitution awarded Shaun the title of Best Musician on the Rise.

In the fall of 2010, Shaun was signed to Steve Vai’s Favored Nations/Digital Nations label releasing his album Lower Case Letters.  Today, Shaun is pursuing his own compositions as well as learning arrangements and compositions from some of the best guitarists on the planet. Whether the arranger/composer is Martin Taylor, Pete Huttlinger, Tommy Emmanuel or Adam Rafferty, Hopper meets them head on imbuing each tune with his own signature. Shaun Hopper is unquestionably one of the finest acoustic-fingerstyle guitar players in America and a rare jewel in the tapestry of the Tampa Bay music scene.

Shaun has made his mark opening for B.B. King, The John Jorgenson Quintet (Elton John), Bobby Yang, The Gipsy Kings, Pierre Bensusan, The California Guitar Trio, Muriel Anderson & Tierra Negra, Kaki King, G. Love and Switchfoot.   He has shared the stage and toured with Tim Reynolds & TR3 from the Dave Matthews Band and has co-written songs with Tommy Emmanuel and Buster B. Jones.

“The kids got fingers of doom, no two ways about it.  A true world class talent on fingerstyle flat-top acoustic guitar.  Hopper effortlessly channels Chet Atkins, Tommy Emmanuel and Andre Segovia, blowing minds and dropping jaws everywhere.”  - Creative Loafing Magazine, Best of the Bay – 2009

"It takes a lot to blow people away around this music industry, especially around this radio station.  We've seen it all.  Shaun Hopper is here and he just totally blew me away.  I've never, ever seen someone do what this guy just did with a guitar."  - Bulldog - (The Rude Awakening Show - www.irieradio.com
 

-more-

Reserved tickets priced at $25.00 and $20.00 will be available at the Ruth Eckerd Hall Ticket Office located at 1111 McMullen Booth Road in Clearwater, by calling 727.791.7400 or by logging onto www.atthecap.com. A limited number of VIP tickets priced at $125.00, which includes a premium seat and a meet and greet will also be available. The Ruth Eckerd Hall Ticket Office is open Monday through Saturday, from noon to 6 pm. The Capitol Theatre Ticket Office opens one hour prior to showtime. 

Valet Parking is available at most performances. 

The City of Clearwater and Ruth Eckerd Hall have joined forces to renovate and revitalize the intimate Capitol Theatre located on downtown Clearwater’s beautiful Cleveland Street. Constructed and established in 1921,  this classic structure, complete with a large mezzanine and furnishings reminiscent of a classic Hollywood theater, is one of the oldest operating theatres in the state of Florida. In 2009, the Clearwater City Council designated the Capitol Theatre a historical landmark.  The is the first such designation by the city.   Ruth Eckerd Hall and the Capitol Theatre are 501(c)(3)not-for-profit organizations. 

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The Shaun Hopper website has been nominated for an award. If you are interested in voting, or know of others who would like to vote, please send them to http://www.bluedropawards.org/. You will need to create a free account to vote. Then to vote for the Shaun Hopper website go to: http://www.bluedropawards.org/best-media-website-built-with-drupal/nominees/shaun-hopper-fingerstyle-guitarist

Shaun Hopper Live

Jason Weston & Marci Graham

1878 Amy Avenue

Santa Rosa, CA  95401

Doors Open @ 7:00PM, Show:  7:30PM

For Tickets ($25) - Contact - Lin Chase  (650) 438-1691

Email: [email protected]

Fox & Goose Pub & Restaurant

1001 R Street

Sacremento, CA  95814

(916) 443-8825

http://maps.google.com/maps?oi=map&q=1001+R+St,+Sacramento,+CA+95814

High Street Station Cafe

1303 High Street

Alameda, CA 94501

Showtime: 7:00 PM

(510) 995-8049

Reservations strongly recommended.

THE COFFEE GALLERY BACKSTAGE

Presents:

FINGERSTYLE VIRTUOSO - Shaun Hopper LIVE

2029 N. Lake
Altadena, Ca. 91001

Remember the Front (The Coffee Gallery) CLICK HERE!
For information about conference room, open mics, activities, food, beverages, etc.
concerning the front coffee shop phone (626) 398-7917.

Backstage Reservations/Information: (626) 798-6236.. between 10 A. M. and 10 P.M.

Do not make reservations by email.

No payment necessary when you make telephone reservations.
Pay cash or check at the door at the time of the show." No Credit cards please.

To: Contact Bob Stane by e mail: [email protected]

Lestat's Coffee House

3343 Adams Ave
San Diego, CA 92116

Call: (619) 282-0437, for reservations and directions.

http://www.lestats.com/main.htm