Songwriters to perform

PALMER — The Songwriters of Alaska website proclaims it’s a musicians natural resource. But unlike natural gas or fresh salmon, songwriters are something Alaska tends to import just as much of as it produces at home.

In a way, Songwriters of Alaska is working to change that. And if you’re in Palmer Saturday between 7 and 9 p.m., you can check the group out at Vagabond Blues.

“We try to do at least two showcases a year or a season at Vagabond,” said Ellen Ruby-Markie, who will perform under her stage name Ruby. She also works as director of the organization she helped found.

As a Big Lake resident, Markie is quite happy to have a chance to play closer to home. All of the Songwriters of Alaska meetings and most of its shows are in Anchorage, which makes sense since most of the songwriters also live there. But the Valley contingent is growing.

“We probably have six or eight Valley songwriters who do that crazy drive,” Markie said.

The three performers who will take the stage with her are Eric Braendel, Kevin Barnett and Hurricane Dave.

Markie said Braendel is a folk artist. A Songwriters of Alaska press release says he is the son of classical musicians and learned classics, spirituals and folk tunes around the family piano. He’s been performing for years and used to compete in the Alaska Pulbic Radio Network Song of the Year contest, which has since been discontinued.

It’s worth mentioning his participation, though, since he won in four different categories — R&B, Alaskana, country and instrumental.

“Obviously, this guy has got some very strong songwriting chops,” Markie said. “He’s a pretty soft-spoken guy, but his music packs a punch.

Barnett has been performing for 40 years as a pianist and keyboard player. He’s played with the local group Chill Factor and his own Kevin Barnett Trio.

“He’s just an amazing jazz pianist/composer,” Markie said of Barnett. “I think he said his first paid gig was when he was 11 years old.”

Barnett played with the Air Force Band for years until he retired. His CD, “Alpenglow,” has landed him a publishing contract.

Those contracts, Markie said, are a big deal in the songwriter world. That’s how this kind of musician makes his money. The publisher will shop the songs around for inclusion in advertisements, television shows and movies.

“We’re all really excited for him,” she said.

Hurricane Dave has been playing for 35 years and has been an Alaskan for three, hence the name of his second CD, “The Cheechako Chronicles — Postcards, E-mails and Tweets from Alaska.”

That Songwriters of Alaska press release describes it as coming from the “cockeyed viewpoint of an awed newcomer.”

“He’s more of kind of the comedic side of things,” is how Markie described Hurricane Dave’s style.

And last but not least is Ruby. Markie said she has trouble describing her own music.

“I say my music melds classical, pop and jazz. I’ve had people compare my voice to Sarah McLaughlin and Joni Mitchell,” she said.

Her influences are broad — she likes everything from New Age music to hard rock.

“You’ll hear those kinds of influences,” though, she added, “I wouldn’t say I’m too far on the rock side.”

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.