Matt Turk returns to the Coachmen homeless shelter in White Plains for his Story Arts residency. April 2, 2009 at 6pm there will be a public performance at the Coachmen presenting Story Arts, combining acting, music, dance, design and video. "and if one of these kids is Satchmo, how will we ever know?"

Turk continues his Friday night residency at Congregation B'nai Jeshurun, providing music for their renowned worship services. March 15, 2009 at 5pm is the Fourth annual BJ Musicians Concert featuring BJ's resident musicians Pharoah's Daughter's Basya Shechter, Daphna Mor, Uri Sharlin, Jessie Reagan, Gene Carr, Amanda Monaco, Rabbi Roly Matalon and Hazzan Ari Priven. In years past the concert has drawn up to 700 people. For information please visit http://bj.org

Music composed and scored by G&T is on the Wyoming Channel. Visit thatswy.com to listen, watch and plan your next eco-vacation.

JP, Bloody Mary and Rock hosted Joe Duraes and Matt Turk to perform and hang live on WARY, the voice of Westchester Community College. SInging and talking about the Hudson River, mortality, food, love and everything else that came up in our quips and quirks including calls that came in from you, Duraes and Turk jammed for a couple of hours and had an absolute blast.

(FROM LEFT TO RIGHT JP, TURK, ROCK, BLOODY MARY, DURAES)

On May 2, 2009, Anthony DaCosta, KJ Denhert, Fred Gillen Jr., Steve Kirkman, Kathleen Pemble and Matt Turk sold out The Arts Exchange at 31 Mamaroneck Ave. in White Plains, NY for the "Tribes Hill Songbook" Concert in honor of Pete Seeger's 90th Birthday. Mary Shustack inked a fine cover story for the Journal News entitled, "They keep the circle unbroken." WFUV's John Platt was present on the air and in Mary's article, all of which greatly helped fill the Arts Exchange with singing and song. Contributing guest musicians included The Ya Ya's Catherine Miles, Curtis, Eric Puente and Chandra Lee Mann. The Tribes Hill Songbook will soon be appearing on line, followed by a published book for your voice, piano and guitar due out later this year. tribeshill.com

Recently Matt Turk was contacted by Blues Traveler Archivist Dave Mallick regarding early Blues Traveler shows involving The Hour. Initially the recording of the 11.5.88 Cathedral Cafe show was discussed relating to musicians involved in the evening that is apparently one of Blues Traveler's first ever recorded that has surfaced. Thanks to Dave Mallick and the Blues Traveler archive community, The Hour's performances at Cafe Poppolini, Speak Easy and Wetlands have also surfaced including a Speak Easy acoustic show with John Popper. We are very grateful to have these recordings.

Available on Archive.org

Gillen & Turk had an awesome Purple States tour of California which included shows in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Bolinas, Point Reyes, Santa Rosa, San Luis Obispo, Felton, Monterey, KPIG and KWMR radio. The Monterey Herald's Mac McDonald says, "Backs to the Wall is a strong, confident work of folkish-rootsy rock with political and social consciousness."

Highlights included San Francisco's show at Revolution in the Mission where G&T delivered a total acoustic set, with no sound system, just swagger. Folks were singing Leonard Cohen's "Halleluya" together. In Felton, G&T hooked up with the innovative Lindsay Mac for a great show. On the air at KPIG with Sleepy John Sandidge and the Hippie from Olema at KWMR, G&T delivered live sets over the internet. In Monterey, Tracey Chesebrough sat in on cello while in LA, Matter producer and Heart bass player Ric Markman was digging Fred Gillen's harp playing.

iPhone users and other cell phone users can take any song from iTunes by Matt Turk and Gillen & Turk and convert it into a ringtone. "It Really Matters" off the current G&T recording Backs to the Wall is a popular example. The contagious, happy South African style guitar riff is available as a ringtone.

Gillen & Turk Purple States Tour took them throughout the midwest performing in Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Chicago, Milwaukee, Duluth, Sheboygan, Cleveland and more. Highlights included Madison's show at the Brink Lounge with The Stella Nova's Mary Gaines and Chris Wagoner. The classic American Jazz duo performed on cello, violin, ukelele, mandolin with stellar vocals bringing classic American tunes by Gershwin and Ellington. In Milwaukee, Banjo foot stomper Colin O'Brien sat in with G&T at the Art Bar for a rootsy, dancing set.

With great pleasure, Gillen & Turk appeared on John Platt's Sunday morning show "On Your Radar" which airs on WFUV, 90.7FM and calls Fordham University in New York City its home.

The interview and live session are in WFUV's archives.

The live installation of "On Your Radar" was September 9, at 7PM at the Living Room, 154 Ludlow St. New York City, and will be hosted by John Platt. G&T will appear with Sloan Wainright and Fools for April. Buy tickets here.

With a slight swagger, Gillen & Turk sat in with morning show host Greg Gattine on WDST 100.1FM RadioWoodstock. G&T's set, swagger and interview was inspired in part by Congressman Dennis Kucinich's speech: "Wake Up America!" Visit MySpace to watch "Wake Up America" embedded on the page. Gattine and 'DST were great in supporting G&T's Ashokan Farm performance and folks that came said they heard it from Greg. G&T performed live in the studio and Greg offered up some high praise for the new Gillen & Turk release, Backs to the Wall.

Gillen & Turk will perform at the College Music Journal's Music Marathon October 21-25, 2008 in New York City. CMJ will announce it's full roster and line up soon. "Fall Down" off G&T's latest release Backs to the Wall will appear on the CMJ CD compilation.

Many of you are wondering what happened with Gillen & Turk and MSG's show NYC Soundtracks. We are as well. We were on the show, in the competition and in the round of 16 and, like you, looking forward to this past Sunday's episode. If you saw Sunday's episode you heard that Gillen (who's name was misspelled as Gill) & Turk "got a touring gig" and could no longer be on the show. This was news to us. We toured back in May and June and will now be pretty local until November when we hit the midwest again. We were pretty shocked to hear on television that we were currently on tour. You'd think that someone from MSG and NYC Soundtracks would have informed us we were off the show because of our touring schedule before they broadcast it to their viewers. Considering that two days after that 8/10 show was aired we were in NYC again playing in the subway at 125th and 8th, the story they told of us "being on tour" seems a bit ridiculous. You'd think they would have at least checked our website which shows our gig schedule before they broadcast this. We would have appreciated a courtesy phone call before the show was broadcast. We would have appreciated and welcome a public apology from MSG and NYC Soundtracks. As it is we have received a private apology from production and have been offered a short list of possible opportunities (gigs, radio appearances, MSG website coverage, etc...) for MSG to make this up to us. Did someone just screw up or was there some other reason we were pulled from the show? We are trying to get to the bottom of this question and will keep you informed. To be honest we weren't too excited about the contest aspect of the show, but felt honored and flattered to be in a show with Gibran Soul, Matt Nichols, Dorian Spencer, Trevor Exter, and all of the other artists, some of whom we know from the subways or from their music careers outside the subways...

Many of you know how much we enjoy playing in places like 125th and Lex, in the subway. You know how grateful we are to be a part of Music Under New York and to work with the M.T.A., New Yorkers, and music community. We will continue to play in the subway, our freedom of speech intact, protected by the First Amendment.

When we were kids, one of the first things we saw on MTV was "Video Killed a Radio Star." For anyone who thought reality TV is real, consider our current experience and we challenge songwriters to write the new song, "Gillen & Turk killed Reality TV"

If you'd like to communicate with MSG directly, please email msgnetpr@thegarden.com

KUSP's Mike Pierce showing his copy of Backs to the Wall during G&T's June 13, 2008 visit. Everyone's glad Mike is no longer doing the graveyard shift. And we loved seeing KJ Denhert's poster nearby, made us feel at home.
The session is soon to be in the KUSP archives.

"The Fog of War" video can now be seen on Neil Young's website Living with War and the the Hudson Valley Music Channel. The video continues to show on YouTube and myspace.

Richard Cuccaro, in the March 2008 issue of Acoustic Live calls the "Fog of War" "...remarkable video."

Fred and Matt are hard at work in Woody's House producing tracks for the upcoming Gillen & Turk debut.

The title has not yet been inked, but our reliable sources assure us it will not be called "The Black Album". Many tracks have been cut. Some hit the heart, others the hips and still others the spirit.

How are they getting it done? We hear there have been a lot of shipments arriving at the studio of Newman's Dark Espresso Chocolate. As well there are constant sightings in Croton-on-Hudson's Black Cow. Fuel for the Revolution indeed! Fred was spotted wheeling a shopping cart to the studio for a noisy session involving clanking and banging. The washboard happily now has a playmate. Stay tuned, Gillen & Turk will be announcing a release date soon. G&T's debut CD is coming.

In the final episode of NYC Soundtracks host Gillian Pensavale, East Pleasant Pictures and MSG corrected their error and misstatement made previously that "Gillen & Turk were on tour and unavailable to participate in the show and competition." In the final episode she said "after hearing their passionate songs about peace and justice we picked Gillen & Turk as one of our 8 finalists. Regrettably due to an administrative error we weren't able to have them in the contest this time. We can't wait to hear them next season in NYC Soundtracks." Segments of Gillen & Turk performing in Union Square singing "Peace Rant" and "It Really Matters" were shown.

On the last Sunday of August, musicians Gillen & Turk, Hope Machine, Ken Lovelett, Kelleigh Mckenzie and Steve Kirkman came together with artists Rita Schwab, Salvatore Scalisi and New Genesis Productions for the Little Globe Theatre at the Ashokan Farm and Theatre in upstate New York. NGP provides children with workshops and performances in the work of William Shakespeare, during the summer at the Little Globe Theatre and in schools throughout the year. NGP is a not-for-profit organization and money is being raised for a building to house wardrobe and sets. The crowd of 120 or folks showed up to sing-a-long, enjoy great music and art within Catskill Mountain scenery in support of the the Little Globe Theatre. Hope Machine closed the show by bringing kids from the audience on stage to sing "This Land is your Land." Woodstock, New York's nine year old Noah Schneidman performed two original songs that were a hit for all in attendance.

Do you have a donation for the the Little Globe Theatre? Please send it to:

New Genesis Productions
23 Vision Path
West Shokan, NY 12494

The new recording Backs to the Wall by Gillen & Turk was released May 22, 2008.

Acoustic Live's Richard Cuccaro says: "...from acoustic folk to blistering rock...love songs, rants, empathy for soldiers....virtuoso musical commentary."

Backs to the Wall has 12 fresh tracks including a version of Steve Kirkman's "Peace Rant." Kirkman, Abbie Gardner, Rob Morseberger, Andy LaDue, Susan Kane and David Blackshire fill out the music with G&T as the duo presents songs about our veterans, our river, our love, our community, our children and ourselves.

In support of Backs to the Wall, beginning May 22 in Pittsburgh, G&T tour 10 dates in the mid-west, followed by a week in California, finishing June in the Hudson Valley, highlighted with appearances June 21 and 22 at Clearwater's Great Hudson River Revival.

Visit the gigs page for info on the tour.

Acoustic Live

March 2008, in Acoustic Live, about Gillen & Turk, Richard Cucarro says "Two folk-rock musicians had travelled almost parallel paths to arrive at the same destination. Their rafter-raising shout-outs for peace and social justice combine influences from Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger. How they got there speaks to their foundations, their integrity and their gritty determination as well as their talent." Read more here.

New Years Eve "Resolution for Peace"
with Congressman Dennis Kucinich

Gillen & Turk were among the artists performing at Dennis and Elizabeth Kucinich's New Years Eve shindig in Manchester, NH. After a brief poetry reading by Fred Gillen Jr., he was joined by Matt Turk in an a capella rendition of the Stephen Still's classic "Find the Cost of Freedom". This video includes the entire night's festivities with Fred and Matt's performance appearing at about the 20 minute mark and a little after midnight singing with Jenny Scheinman, Todd Sickafoose, Chris Brown, Teddy Butter and Anton Fier.

Watch the video here.

Gillen & Turk Play Grand Central Station

Fred Gillen Jr. and Matt Turk won a coveted spot in the Metropolitan Transit Authority's Music Under New York program this May, 2007. The auditions were covered in the national and major New York media. News of the washboard and harmonies went out over the Associated Press newswire reaching Hong Kong, Singapore and who knows where else. Fred and Matt will be performing for straphangers in the subways this summer. Check the gigs page for details.

Matt, Dave Blackshire and Fred Gillen Jr. performed 3 sets on April 7 at The Bayou in Mt. Vernon, NY--Westchester's premier roadhouse and one of the best Cajun eateries north of Lafayette, Loo-siana. Highlights included killer renditions of "Gimme Shelter," "Are You Experienced," and Turk originals "Stranger," "History's Gripping," and "Silver Ring." Thanks to James O'Rourke and The Journal News for a great write up.

Congratulations to Matt Fried on releasing his new CD Days of Hope, produced by Kevin Hupp in the Groove Room. Matt Turk plays guitar, mandolin and sings on this fine recording. Matt Fried is a fantastic songwriter and musician who began his career years ago with Al Cooper. Please visit his website for more information and to pick up Days of Hope.

Deck out your cell this season with exclusive Matt Turk Ringtones and Wallpaper from Swagger Wireless. Ringtones of "Fine Line" and "You Are the One" plus wallpaper of Matt Turk "In the Vortex" are now available. Get your Ringtones here and Wallpaper here.

Congratulations to NY Congressman John Hall for winning one of the most stunning upsets in the recent U.S. mid-term election!

Sam Roberts is simply one of the best damn rockers north or south of any border. Based in Montreal, we decamped from our vehicles next to each other at the Pleasantville Music Festival, hung for a bit and exchanged new CDs. (His is titled Chemical City.) All the other acts on the main stage paled next to Sam and his four bandmates. A shout out to The Peak for putting this band, unknown here but hugely popular in Canada, on the bill. Visit Sam's website.

Matt Turk's version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" with Matter and Gaby Moreno can be heard in David Dobkin's movie, "Fred Claus," and appears on the film's soundtrack as well. "Fred Claus" opened November 9, 2007, and the soundtrack is available on Warner Brothers. Matt recorded the track at Matter Music in Los Angeles in August, 2007. In addition to singing the lead vocal, Matt plays a Depression-era Martin nylon-string guitar, lap steel, banjo and mandolin.

Though Washington Arms was recently released, Matt returned to the studio in early October 06 to record an anti-war song, "The Fog of War." Cut at the Farm House in Croton-on-Hudson, NY with producer/multi-instrumentalist Rob Morsberger, the track features Pete Seeger, the musical conscience of America, sitting in on banjo. "The Fog of War" is available now for free download.