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Shawndell Marks, Dan Kennedy & John Christensen

Wisconsin native and 15-time Madison Area Music Association award-winning artist Shawndell Marks grew up surrounded by music. Singing and playing the organ in church, with extended family members at family reunions, and learning how to harmonize with her mother in the backseat of the family Ford Escort shaped her early music education. As a teen, she performed nightly at the Wisconsin Opry Music Theater in Wisconsin Dells singing songs by country icons Patsy Cline and Dolly Parton. While studying music at UW-Madison, Marks fronted the classic rock /country band Thunder Road performing in bars & festivals throughout the state and opening for acts such as George Jones & the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

As both a solo artist and a member of various bands Dan Kennedy has performed at venues from dive bars to Summerfest to the Overture Center and has played and sung on dozens of recordings. His songs have been covered by country, rock, folk, blues, and funk bands. Career highlights include singing with America and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and recording at the legendary Smart Studios.

Award winning bassist, composer and Shifting Paradigm recording artist John Christensen supplies an open-hearted solidity and adventurous spirit to all of his music endeavors. With an appetite for expressing in many musical genres and situations, John has found a unique compositional voice, as demonstrated on his highly acclaimed debut album as a leader, Dear Friend.

While an ardent student and practitioner of improvised Black American Music, Johns music also has deep roots in Rock, Folk, and Americana. Content to have his bass playing compared to Charlie Hadens lyricism, as in reviews for Johannes Wallmanns latest album Precarious Towers, hes also happy to have comparisons difficult to find. His compositions strive toward a hopefulness and appreciation for the beauty and awe of life, and the wonder of small, important things.