“Musically sophisticated, weaving elements of jazz and bluegrass into her compositions. Don't pass up the opportunity to see them perform.” ~ San Francisco Bay Guardian
"Lovely vocals and even lovelier songs. Mare Wakefield and Nomad are a little bit old country, a lot contemporary folk a la Dar Williams or Patty Griffin." ~ New York Times
"Cozy brilliance ... The merger of Maria McKee, Natalie Merchant, Shawn Colvin and Dolly Parton" ~ Louisville Eccentric Observer
"Oregon cafes, small Texas towns and twangy Nashville rolled into one" ~ Cranky Crow
"Simply Amazing" ~ Skope Magazine
“You'll be astounded!” ~ Maverick Magazine, UK
MARE & NOMAD BIOGRAPHY
“Daddy was a seeker,” says Mare Wakefield. “Eventually he became a Salvationist minister. Mama was some kind of gypsy, loving nothing more than a long, clear stretch of open highway.”
Mare was born with wanderlust embedded in her DNA, and lived in 8 different places by the time she was 10 years old. “It was a roller-coaster way to grow up, but my brother and I learned to fit in fast,” she says. “We had our rural Wisconsin accents down in two weeks flat. And eighteen months later we were drawling like native Texans.”
For Turkish-born, German-raised Nomad, the journey was equally varied. His musical education began at the exclusive Istanbul State Conservatory and continued when he was awarded a scholarship to Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music. Nomad has a gift for musical arrangements and carries a full arsenal of classical, pop and jazz chops at his piano-playing fingertips. In addition to working with Mare, the versatile pianist and composer has designed sound for film and TV, and has had pieces performed by symphony orchestras and in Boston’s legendary Fenway Park.
Versatility and love for travel is evident in Mare and Nomad’s music. Listeners roam through Arizona deserts, Oklahoma oil fields and South Dakota plains, with side-trips to ancient Babylon and the streets of Amsterdam. The journeys go inward too, exploring hope and heartbreak, and the occasional whiskey-soaked barroom brawl. Story and song are woven seamlessly together by Mare’s intimate delivery and Nomad’s exquisite melodic arrangement. Currently based in Nashville the pair have been honored by the Kerrville Folk Festival's elite NewFolk songwriting competition, the International Songwriting Competition and the Great American Song Contest. They continue their journey by touring fearlessly, leaving strains of folk tunes and sweet piano melodies echoing down the highway. Check marewakefield.com for tour info.
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