Carrying on new traditions

Three talented young musicians will bring their music to Island Music Guild Hall this weekend in two shows. Five Mile Chase performs a concert of Irish music-based tunes July 1, and guitarist Michael Young gives a solo concert July 2. Five Mile Chase consists of Minnesota musicians Django Amerson on fiddle and Brian Miller on guitar, flute, whistle and piano accordion.

Three talented young musicians will bring their music to Island Music Guild Hall this weekend in two shows.

Five Mile Chase performs a concert of Irish music-based tunes July 1, and guitarist Michael Young gives a solo concert July 2.

Five Mile Chase consists of Minnesota musicians Django Amerson on fiddle and Brian Miller on guitar, flute, whistle and piano accordion.

Amerson is an Olympic Peninsula native who cut his musical teeth at Port Townsend’s annual Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, with lessons from fiddling greats such as Liz Carroll, Dale Russ and Brendan Mulvihill. His years of attending the fiddle festival have influenced his music, which contains elements of swing, old timey and Eastern European along with the traditional Irish.

His concert on Bainbridge Island coincides with his return to the fiddle festival, this time as an instructor.

Amerson and Miller teamed up in college in Minnesota in the late ‘90s, and started performing as Five Mile Chase in 2001. They have performed extensively from coast to coast and in Ireland. They have performed at the Milwaukee Irish Fest, Boston Celtic Music Fest and on Minnesota Public Radio. In Seattle they have performed with local Irish music talents, flutist Hanz Araki and guitarist Dave Cory.

They have released two CDs, the self-titled “Five Mile Chase” and the 2005 release, “Your Town.”

The title song, written by Miller, has an American old-time music feel, while his “The Bemidji Song” is a humorous a cappella ode to his hometown.

Their music combines tradition with originality and original takes on traditional songs. Amerson’s tunes “Blame the Dog” and “Nine to Eleven” blend Irish instrumentation with Eastern European rhythms. Your toes won’t know whether to tap a jig or a mazurka, but they will be tapping.

Young, also from Minnesota, plays fingerstyle six- and 12-string guitar with a bouncy energy that moves from soulful ballads to powerful compositions. He also incorporates alternate tunings and slide guitar into his performance.

Young peppers his dynamic performances with witty anecdotes, ala Leo Kottke. It’s always illuminating to know what’s going on in the heads of brilliant musicians as they play.

He is said to bring the “ambience of an intimate and private performance for old friends with his laid-back attitude and easy-going outlook.” He doesn’t stick to a rigid set list, but “follows his nose” while performing.

He has a CD out called “I Listen to My Feet,” of which one reviewer said, “The Minneapolis-based fingerstyle guitarist claims to approach the guitar as if the instrument were playing him; he just waits for it to tell him to play, and that’s where the songs come from. It’s an offbeat premise, but the songs are offbeat too — as well as engaging, and not hung up on technical prowess.”

Five Mile Chase performs 7:30 p.m. July 1 at Island Music Guild Hall. Admission is $10 at the door.

Michael Young performs 7:30 p.m. July 2. Admission is also $10 at the door.

The Island Music Guild Hall is located at 10598 Valley Rd., Bainbridge Island.

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