By John Harper | Correspondent
Saturday, Sept. 5
Barefoot Wade
The singer-songwriter, who bills himself as a “one-man-Caribbean-jam-band,” earned his nickname by performing shoeless.
“I want people at my shows to feel relaxed,” says Wade, 39, explaining his philosophy.
The Beaufort, N.C.-based musician may be a laid-back dude, but his style is plenty lively.
Wade’s arsenal includes electric and acoustic guitars, bass, kazoo, ukulele and steel drums.
Using a “looping device,” which allows him to layer vocals and instrumental tracks, Wade sounds like a full band.
The singer-songwriter mixes originals and remakes.
In the former category are the strummy, David Allen Coe-ish “Don’t Call Me,” the almost-eerie, mid-tempo “Feels Good” and the breezy “3 Months in the Sand.”
Wade covers tunes by artists ranging from Foo Fighters to Roy Orbison and “Weird Al” Yankovic (“Yoda”).
“I try to cover all the bases,” he says.
Time: 8 to 11 p.m.
Cost: $5
Where: The Breeze Nightclub and Bar, 1050 Irvin Garrish Hwy., Ocracoke
Info: Barefoot Wade page on Facebook
Manteo on Sept. 18. NATALIE WOLFE/COURTESY
Saturday, Sept. 18
Natalie Wolfe
Don’t try to play “stump the band” with the local singer-songwriter, who performs a no-cover-charge show at Poor Richard’s Sandwich Shop in downtown Manteo.
She seems to have every pop, rock, country, alternative and rhythm-and-blues song worth knowing at her fingertips.
A gifted guitarist and expressive singer, Wolfe puts her distinctive touch on tunes that include AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long,” Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space,” X-Ambassadors’ “Renegades,” Gladys Knight and the Pips’ “Midnight Train to Georgia,” Carole King’s “It’s Too Late” and Bastille’s “Pompeii.”
But there’s more.
She also reimagines material from, among others, Lady Gaga, Tears for Fears, The Beatles, Rick Astley, John Prine, Portugal the Man, Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, U2 and the Dream Academy (“Life in a Northern Town”).
Wolfe also has a batch of fine originals.
The singer-songwriter has other gigs in September, so check her Facebook page.
Time: 7-10 p.m.
Cost: Free
Where: Poor Richard’s Sandwich Shop, 305 Queen Elizabeth Ave., Manteo waterfront
Info: poorrichardsmanteo.com