Catching Up With Bowers And Stramella

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The Duo Will Perform At Hatton Regester Green On May 6

For more than 30 years, Tony Stramella and Larry Bowers have performed as a duo, blending strong harmonies with acoustic guitar, lap steel guitar, ukulele and harmonica.

On May 6, from 4:00pm to 6:00pm, they will kick off the Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails’ 2018 spring concert series at Hatton Regester Green, located at the intersection of Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard, Evergreen Road and Holly Avenue in Severna Park.

Here’s what the musicians said about their upcoming performance.

Q: From blues to country to Christian rock, you both have explored many styles of music. What distinguishes this band, Bowers and Stramella, from your other projects?

Stramella: Playing in a duo makes for a more carefree experience. Playing with larger bands is fun, but with more people, there are more schedules and musical tastes to consider. Our diverse song list allows us to play for a wider audience, rather than just fans of a single genre.

Q: You cover classics, folk, country and soft rock. What songs from your set might people hear during the Hatton Regester Green concert?

Bowers: We’ll be playing everything from Jimmy Buffett to the Beatles to the Rolling Stones to Willie Nelson to CCR. There’s something on our song list for everyone.

Q: Do you ever include original tunes?

Stramella: We’re currently not playing originals yet in this band, but I do play them in my other bands, Holy Smoke, CRB, and Smokestack.

We play a number of restaurants, bars and outdoor events, but we also have a separate song list for senior care facilities. It’s always an uplifting experience.

Bowers: We play the songs they remember from their past — the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s.

Q: What’s your favorite or most bizarre moment as a musician?

Stramella: My favorite musician experience was several years ago, when I was a finalist in Guitar Center’s national Blues Masters competition. I was flown out to Los Angeles to perform with Joe Bonamassa at The Mint, a historic blues club. Larry didn’t perform with me, but he was partially responsible for the opportunity since he videotaped my entry performance!

Q: Is there anything else you want people to know?

Bowers: We’re excited to be part of the summer concert series and hope to see a good crowd there!

Other musicians in the concert series include Jocelyn Faro on May 13, Supreme Temptation on May 20, and Sparks and McCoy on May 27. In the case of rain, concerts will be rescheduled. For more information about the series or about performing, contact friendsofaatrails@gmail.com.

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