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Reviews and Accolades from Venues and Radio
"February Sky is a Chicago-based
duo who travels the country bringing their unique style of music to coffee houses and Unitarian Churches. This will not be your typical coffee house music. You will hear incredible music that you will not hear
anywhere else, guaranteed. I have known these folks for many years and have enjoyed
every performance. Susan Urban is a Chicago
songwriter, and Phil plays the guitar in an outstanding open tuning style. Don’t
miss this concert." --Lloyd Michalsen, The Door Jam, Sister Bay, WI
"February Sky, a duo comprised of Phil Cooper and Susan Urban, combines the musical talent
and chemistry (this pair has been a long-time “item”!) of Phil’s traditional influences and beautiful
guitar work with Susan’s stellar songwriting, delivering songs that tell stories of lives and feelings, resonate with
messages of social justice, and entertain with quirky humor that adroitly exposes human nature.
In concert,
February Sky presents a delightful pairing of two talented, genuine and personable souls, and an eclectic repertoire of traditional
music, original ballads, silly
songs, and much more. The harmony blend is lovely! The jokes--mainly groaners! You will leave the show smiling
and feeling just fine.
The duo’s new self-titled debut CD is a keeper--18 tracks of all that is February
Sky--an
interesting mix that makes listening anything but dull, with well-executed music, moving songs, and lyrics that make you listen
closely again and again, to be sure you got it all.
Stand-outs: “Blue As The Iowa Sky,” a timely ballad about a grandfather dealing
with the loss of his soldier daughter and now caring for his granddaughter , whose eyes, ike her mother‘s, are “blue
as the Iowa sky”; “Relaxed Fit,” detailing the solution to middle-aged spread; great arrangements
of traditional material, with “Spencer the Rover,” “Billy Boy,” and even a Scottish strathspey, “Auld
Wife Ayond the Fire.” Adding their instrumental talent on the CD: Bob Holdsworth, Micky Holdsworth, Joe Wadz,
and Kathy Folkerts." --Lilli Kuzma, host of Folk Festival on WDCB Public
Radio (Glen Ellyn/ Chicago)
"February Sky combines articulate guitar, exhuberant voice, tender emotion, high spiritedness,
and wicked good songwriting into a scintillating pentacle of life experience, philosophical understanding,
and the uncanny." --Maggie Ferguson, Live! From the Living Room Acoustic Showcase, Pontiac, MI
"We wanted you to know that everyone enjoyed your music and are looking forward to your return!
We will look forward to your next visit." --Jim & Cathy LeBlanc, Dancing Crane Coffee House, Brimley, MI
“You
guys are great – amazing harmonies, sweet instrumental playing. Thanks
for providing us with such a wonderful afternoon of entertainment!” --Chris,
Durty Nellie’s Pub, Palatine, IL
"Your voices blend beautifully, and your instrumental playing is great as well. Great show! We want
you back!"
–Al
Chaplin, Downtown Grounds Coffeehouse, Marinette, WI
“You guys do a show that makes people think and laugh. And your jokes are really terrible.”–Steve Aultz, Edgar’s
Place, Park Forest, IL
“Susan’s
originals and Phil’s traditional music unexpectedly complement each other very well, not to mention that the vocal and
instrumental blend is stunning."
–Kathryn Morski, Deltafolks, Escanaba, MI
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