Connor Garvey
Portland, Maine, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2014 | INDIE
Music
Press
4 Stars for Where Ocean Meets Land…a mighty fine collection…amazingly accomplished and mature (songwriting) for a twenty-something to have created - Maverick Magazine
"Connor Garvey is the Real Deal!" - Amy Speace
"Where Ocean Meets Land"... with Garvey's summery, clear voice is best played loud and not left to softly linger in the background
- Aimsel Ponti - The Portland Press Herald
"Where Ocean Meets Land"... with Garvey's summery, clear voice is best played loud and not left to softly linger in the background
- Aimsel Ponti - The Portland Press Herald
"Where Ocean Meets Land is the name of folk songwriter CONNOR GARVEY's new record, an 11-track platter of Martin Sexton-ish jangle-funk, Mraz-y confessionals, and a very clear voice. Hes from these parts, but takes Americana seriously enough to play for pittances at Midwestern house shows, which hes been doing the last four years."
- The Portland Phoenix (Editor's Pick)
"Where Ocean Meets Land is the name of folk songwriter CONNOR GARVEY's new record, an 11-track platter of Martin Sexton-ish jangle-funk, Mraz-y confessionals, and a very clear voice. Hes from these parts, but takes Americana seriously enough to play for pittances at Midwestern house shows, which hes been doing the last four years."
- The Portland Phoenix (Editor's Pick)
"Garvey's sandy tenor, attention to rhythmic detail and winsome way with a melody bring to mind the music of Paul Simon in his Rhymin' Simon days as well as contemporaries Josh Ritter and Jason Mraz...a crack studio band led by Pete Morse and lovely harmony vocals from Sara Hallie Richardson flesh out Garvey's own impressive guitar picking and solo style honed from countless of club dates and house concerts..."
- Direct Current (know music better)
"Garvey's sandy tenor, attention to rhythmic detail and winsome way with a melody bring to mind the music of Paul Simon in his Rhymin' Simon days as well as contemporaries Josh Ritter and Jason Mraz...a crack studio band led by Pete Morse and lovely harmony vocals from Sara Hallie Richardson flesh out Garvey's own impressive guitar picking and solo style honed from countless of club dates and house concerts..."
- Direct Current (know music better)
"Garvey's sandy tenor, attention to rhythmic detail and winsome way with a melody bring to mind the music of Paul Simon in his Rhymin' Simon days as well as contemporaries Josh Ritter and Jason Mraz...a crack studio band led by Pete Morse and lovely harmony vocals from Sara Hallie Richardson flesh out Garvey's own impressive guitar picking and solo style honed from countless of club dates and house concerts..."
- Direct Current (know music better)
"Garvey's sandy tenor, attention to rhythmic detail and winsome way with a melody bring to mind the music of Paul Simon in his Rhymin' Simon days as well as contemporaries Josh Ritter and Jason Mraz...a crack studio band led by Pete Morse and lovely harmony vocals from Sara Hallie Richardson flesh out Garvey's own impressive guitar picking and solo style honed from countless of club dates and house concerts..."
- Direct Current (know music better)
"...when Connor Garvey stepped up with solid singing and playing, the place was silent and I knew that this acoustic music tradition was in the right hands..." - Vance Glibert (Veteran Singer-Songwriter)
"...when Connor Garvey stepped up with solid singing and playing, the place was silent and I knew that this acoustic music tradition was in the right hands..." - Vance Glibert (Veteran Singer-Songwriter)
Montana/Maine singer-songwriter Connor Garvey will be at the Slainte Wine Bar tonight. He plays acoustic and electric guitars, ukulele and a loop pedal, and proves you can be optimistic and self-aware without being boring. "I put my soul on the line, despite my worries, everything could be fine," he sings in "Soul on the Line." Hear that one and others at www.myspace.com/connorgarveysongs. - The Portland Press Herald
Montana/Maine singer-songwriter Connor Garvey will be at the Slainte Wine Bar tonight. He plays acoustic and electric guitars, ukulele and a loop pedal, and proves you can be optimistic and self-aware without being boring. "I put my soul on the line, despite my worries, everything could be fine," he sings in "Soul on the Line." Hear that one and others at www.myspace.com/connorgarveysongs. - The Portland Press Herald
"The songs of Connor Garvey have that rare and balanced blend of refreshing lyric, inventive guitar work, and mesmerizing grooves, all powered by his clear and agile singing voice. Ranging from funky to sensitive, serious to playful, they convey the kind of inspiration found in a reverent pursuer of life's depths and joys. Wether it's hearing him live on stage or on one of his recordings I'm always uplifted and amazed." - Chris Cunningham (Storyhill and Basecamp Recording)
"The songs of Connor Garvey have that rare and balanced blend of refreshing lyric, inventive guitar work, and mesmerizing grooves, all powered by his clear and agile singing voice. Ranging from funky to sensitive, serious to playful, they convey the kind of inspiration found in a reverent pursuer of life's depths and joys. Wether it's hearing him live on stage or on one of his recordings I'm always uplifted and amazed." - Chris Cunningham (Storyhill and Basecamp Recording)
"A universal message that people can grab hold to...just the kind of thing that I needed." - Dennis Bigelow- Music Director KRFC Fort Collins, CO
Discography
Meteors and Beating Hearts
(Mishara Music 2014)
Before The Meteors-Live In Bozeman, Montana
(Mishara Music 2013)
Where Ocean Meets Land
(Mishara Music 2011)
The February Collection-RPM
(self-released 2010)
Constancy of Stars
(self-released 2009)
Peak EP
(self-released 2008)
Songs Sung in Small Rooms
(self-released 2006)
Hello Life
(self-released 2002)
Photos
Bio
Recent Musical Achievements:
*2014 Kerrville Folk Festival Grassy Hill New Folk Competition WINNER
*2014 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival "MOST WANTED" Artist
*2014 New England Music Awards Nominee for Male Performer of the Year
*2013 Selected to Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Emerging Artist Showcase
*2012 Winner in Wildflower Festival Performing Songwriter Competition (Richardson, TX)
*2012 Selected for Formal Showcase Artist at North East Regional Folk Alliance Conference
*2011 North East Regional Folk Alliance "Quad-Centric" & Folk DJ Showcase performer
*2011 Winner of Maine Songwriters Associations Annual Songwriting Competition (Portland, ME)
*2012, 2011, & 2010 Rocky Mountain Folk's Festival Singer Songwriter Honorable Mention
*2011 & 2013 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Troubadour Competition Honorable Mention
*2009, 2010, 2011, & 2013 Main Stage Performer at Storyhill Festivals (MT & MN)
*Top 6 Sirius XM's The Coffeehouse's New Singer Songwriter of 2010
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Connor Garvey is an award-winning singer-songwriter from Portland, Maine, with the amiable presence of an entertainer, the lyrical depth of a poet, and the enchantment of a storyteller.
Garvey leaves audiences uplifted and inspired through a positive message delivered in a way The Portland Press Herald says proves you can be optimistic and self-aware without being boring. His unique sandy tenor and masterful blend of rhythm and melody draw comparison to Paul Simon and contemporaries Josh Ritter and Jason Mraz. He wins song competitions. He fills rooms. But most of all he moves people.
First time listeners often are drawn to Garveys engaging performance style, accomplished musicianship, and memorable melodies. But his lyrics project a depth and sincerity that allow the observant listener to find meaning beyond the catchy hook. Meanwhile, the intricate production of his albums adds emotional depth and keeps the songs fresh play after play.
This combination of songwriting and performance strength has earned Garvey numerous awards including being named winner of the Wildflower Art and Music Festival and Maine Songwriters Association songwriting competitions, voted as Most Wanted artist at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, nominated for Best Male Performer in the New England Music Awards, and a top new singer songwriter by Sirius XM's The Coffeehouse.
On his latest release, Meteors and Beating Hearts, Garvey shows further maturity as a songwriter, addressing personal and universal themes through a series of lyrical stories. Many of the songs were written as assignments for a weekly songwriting group. The challenge of writing a new song each week and presenting it to a group of artists he admires challenged and pushed Garvey to try a new approach to his songwriting.
Garveys interest in music and writing began at a very young age. Both his parents are educators and his father was a songwriter. Growing up in such a musical environment in the artistically rich Northeast, Garvey developed the firm belief that songwriting is a method for bringing community together and a way for people to explore a greater depth within their own lives.
Originally a drummer, he picked up the guitar in his teens, in part because his best friend was better with the sticks and together they could start a rock band. But this rhythmic background remains at the core of his musical style. He merges syncopated bass lines with melodic leads to create a full sound from his acoustic guitar.
The themes of community and living with intention run deep for Garvey, from the musical memories of his youth to his ease in developing relationships with audiences and fellow artists. He builds upon on the energy of live performance to deliver a memorable experience in a way that has led folk stalwarts Vance Gilbert and David Wilcox to proclaim the tradition of acoustic music is in good hands with Connor Garvey.
Band Members
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