The Awkward Silents

Doors open at 3pm, show 4-6pm. Tickets are $10.

SHHH... HEAR THAT?

IT'S THE AWKWARD SILENTS.

This self-described super group uses an assortment of mildly eclectic instruments to play an equally mild, somewhat eclectic song list. The duo of Jim Ellis and Doug McFarland musically jump from 2024 to 1941 to several other years in between - all while literally jumping nowhere. While they perform as solo singer/songwriters and in other groups, this project is a chance to go in some new directions and explore the auditory atmosphere in creative ways... play around with whatever instrumentation suits the song. In any given selection you might hear a cajon, shuitar, keyboard, guitar, bass, banjo, shaker, looper, kazoo, vocals and who knows what else. You might hear all that at once or you might not hear anything at all. That would be The Awkward Silents.

Arguably one of the three most influential kazoo players in the history of Western music, Doug McFarland inarguably is a singer songwriter and guitarist as well. He is known far and wide for acoustic awesomeness and sincere (occasionally clever) songwriting. He plays locally upwards of 110 dates per year and has released multiple CD’s in the last 15 years.

Jim has been on the Wilmington area music scene since 1996. He and his piano have been featured on many local recordings and in live performances of artists like Catesby Jones, Jeff Reid, John Fonvielle and others. His own discography includes the album release Long Goners, which features legendary slide guitarist, Sonny Landreth and his band. This rhythm section has backed up John Hiatt as “The Goners” since the late 1980’s, and Sonny’s slide guitar can be heard on recordings from Jimmy Buffett to Dolly Parton. Jim performs solo and with other local projects like The Awkward Silents.