WPKN — And Those Who Love Classic Folk Rock — Will Benefit From Brewer & Shipley Concert

Listener-sponsored radio station WPKN (89.5 FM) will present folk-rock legends Brewer & Shipley in a special WPKN benefit concert on Thursday, March 11, at 7:30 pm, at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street in Newtown. Opening act will be New York City-based indie folk-rocker Andrew Vladeck.

Tickets are $35 (general admission seating), and doors will open at 7. Tickets are available online at BrownPaperTickets.com and at the town hall’s box office; call 203-426-2475 or visit WPKN.org for details.

Recognized as one of the most successful folk-rock duos of the 70s, Brewer & Shipley have remained true to their original form through three decades. Although best known for their Top 10 signature song “One Toke Over The Line,” which permanently etched their names in rock history by becoming an anthem for the 70s counterculture, Michael Brewer and Tom Shipley were by no means a one trick pony. In all, the duo landed three singles on the Billboard charts and had the pleasure of working with such notables as Mike Bloomfield, Leon Russell, Jimmy Messina, and the late Jerry Garcia.

Constantly touring, Brewer & Shipley could be found performing in such venues as Carnegie Hall, The Bottom Line, The Troubadour, The Roxy, Keil Opera House, and Arrowhead Stadium. Because of their broad appeal, they became a favored support act for major tours, sharing the stage with a diverse list of artists including Sir Elton John, The Eagles, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Bonnie Raitt, and many others.

The duo parted ways in 1979 to pursue personal interests, but then reunited in 1986 for a concert to celebrate the anniversary of Kansas City radio station KCFX.

In recent years the duo has witnessed rejuvenated interest in their music, beginning with BMG’s purchase of their catalog and subsequent reissue of the critically acclaimed Tarkio. This was soon followed by the inclusion of “One Toke Over the Line” on the Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Limited Edition 25th Anniversary CD as well as the song being featured on the soundtrack for the motion picture Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Brewer & Shipley continue to tour and record regularly, and have recorded two discs since reuniting, 1993’s Shanghai and 1997’s Heartland.

Opening act Andrew Vladeck is an award-winning singer-songwriter and well-known performer on the alt-folk scene in New York City. The banjo player and guitarist’s latest effort, The Wheel, on End Up Records, includes the “The Songs You Inspire,” which won first place in the 2006 International Songwriting Competition.

WPKN FM, which also broadcasts over WPKM (88.7 FM), is a listener supported, non-commercial radio station that features a cornucopia of genres and styles. From the obscure to the recognizable, WPKN is known for its bold independence and variety.

All styles of music, spoken word and self-produced talk and news oriented shows have distinguished WPKN as one of the more unique radio stations of its kind.