Weekend Warrior

Fun gigs last week (and weekend) in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. First was DKDC in Memphis on Thursday, then The Undercroft in Little Rock on Friday, then Abendigos in Hocahtown (near Broken Bow) on Saturday. Here are some pics from the quick trip.

Me and Carl Caspersen and Alice Hasen at Bar DKDC, Memphis 7/11/19.

Me and Carl Caspersen and Alice Hasen at Bar DKDC, Memphis 7/11/19.

Crossing the Mississippi River from TN to AR.

Crossing the Mississippi River from TN to AR.

The Undercroft in Little Rock, AR 7/12/19.

The Undercroft in Little Rock, AR 7/12/19.

Pit stop in AR on the way to OK.

Pit stop in AR on the way to OK.

Abendigos in Hochatown, OK 7/13/19.

Abendigos in Hochatown, OK 7/13/19.

Good morning Arkansas.

Good morning Arkansas.

Home sweet home in Memphis, TN.

Home sweet home in Memphis, TN.

TONIGHT in TN! (Then AR and OK.)

Acoustic trio gig TONIGHT in Memphis, TN at BAR DKDC! Excited to play with this new band featuring Alice Hasen on violin and Carl Caspersen on upright bass. Then I’ll be going solo to Little Rock, AR on Saturday; and Broken Bow, OK on Sunday. Please visit the SHOWS page for more info.

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Malin & Me

This photo was taken on the last date of my June tour through the United Kingdom and Ireland, opening for Jesse Malin. The trip was a success and I have a lot of people to thank for that, but most of all thanks to Jesse for asking me to join him. I’ve been a fan of Jesse’s since the early 2000s and had the pleasure of meeting him in NYC (when I played drums in his band during US and UK tours for The Heat from 2004-2005). We’ve kept in touch since then, and I’m honored that we’re friends. He’s a deeply genuine person and a true artist, not to mention a great songwriter and dynamic performer. Jesse is New York to the bone and has been a major part of the music scene for decades. He paves the way for upstarts (i.e. me) the same way that others paved the way for him. I can’t say enough, so I’ll stop here; but not before I tell you to get his new album ‘Sunset Kids’ on August 30th and go see him in concert.

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Ambassador reflections

I’ve been home for a week since my June tour through the United Kingdom and Ireland, opening for Jesse Malin. The trip was amazing for many reasons, and one of them being that I was able to travel as a Music Export Memphis Ambassador. I felt most successful in this role when I introduced myself to the audience every night, and told them that I live and work in Memphis; and that my two most recent recordings were made there. I think it gave a contemporary perspective for people in another country, that the Memphis music scene is more than what’s in the history books. The current artist community is thriving and serves a vital function to the identity of the city; and I’m proud to be a part of it.

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Tour Update #2

Back home after an amazing tour through the United Kingdom and Ireland, opening for Jesse Malin! Fun shows, great rooms, and solid crowds. Big thanks to Jesse, his band and crew for the hospitality; and to Jesse’s fans for showing up early and actually LISTENING during my set. It was a pleasure to play for you and meet you at the merch table. I appreciate your kindness and patronage. Thanks to all the venues, promoters, and management for making everything run smoothly. Thank you also Music Export Memphis for the generous support. This was a fantastic maiden voyage overseas as a solo artist, and I look forward to taking the trip again soon!! Here are some of my pics from the road (and a few fan photos)…

London taxi.

London taxi.

Ice Bat was my guitar tech at The Haunt. (Brighton)

Ice Bat was my guitar tech at The Haunt. (Brighton)

Making friends in Brighton.

Making friends in Brighton.

Hotel room still life. (Brighton)

Hotel room still life. (Brighton)

Jesse’s solo acoustic encore at The Deaf Institute. (Manchester)

Jesse’s solo acoustic encore at The Deaf Institute. (Manchester)

Evening stroll with the Jesse Malin crew. (Manchester)

Evening stroll with the Jesse Malin crew. (Manchester)

Driving from Manchester to Norwich.

Driving from Manchester to Norwich.

Representing Memphis. (Norwich)

Representing Memphis. (Norwich)

Norwich Arts Center noir.

Norwich Arts Center noir.

Selling my wares. (Norwich)

Selling my wares. (Norwich)

Norwich after hours.

Norwich after hours.

Good morning Norwich.

Good morning Norwich.

Singing in the crowd at The Bullingdon. (Oxford)

Singing in the crowd at The Bullingdon. (Oxford)

Sunset at The University of Oxford.

Sunset at The University of Oxford.

Driving from Oxford to Glasgow.

Driving from Oxford to Glasgow.

Blue mood at King Tut’s. (Glasgow)

Blue mood at King Tut’s. (Glasgow)

Ferry ride from Scotland to Ireland.

Ferry ride from Scotland to Ireland.

Ferry selfie.

Ferry selfie.

Showtime at Whelan’s. (Dublin)

Showtime at Whelan’s. (Dublin)

Driving from Dublin to Belfast.

Driving from Dublin to Belfast.

Isaac Hayes, The Lemon Twigs, Johnny Cash, James Dean and me at Voodoo Soup Records. (Belfast)

Isaac Hayes, The Lemon Twigs, Johnny Cash, James Dean and me at Voodoo Soup Records. (Belfast)

Jesse Malin band soundcheck at Limelight. (Belfast)

Jesse Malin band soundcheck at Limelight. (Belfast)

Vinyl shopping in Belfast.

Vinyl shopping in Belfast.

Got a leg up at Limelight. (Belfast)

Got a leg up at Limelight. (Belfast)

UK to USA

UK to USA

Touchdown home sweet home. (Memphis)

Touchdown home sweet home. (Memphis)

Tour Update #1

My tour through the United Kingdom and Ireland, opening for Jesse Malin got off to a great start last week in Brighton and Manchester! See pics below. This week I’ll be in Norwich, Oxford, Glasgow, Dublin, and Belfast. Details on the SHOWS page.

London life.

London life.

Within these hallowed halls…

Within these hallowed halls…

Camden Market

Camden Market

First show of the tour. (Brighton)

First show of the tour. (Brighton)

The glamorous life.

The glamorous life.

Jesse Malin band at The Haunt. (Brighton)

Jesse Malin band at The Haunt. (Brighton)

Good morning Brighton.

Good morning Brighton.

Brighton vegan breakfast at Paskins.

Brighton vegan breakfast at Paskins.

Working on my tan at the beach in Brighton.

Working on my tan at the beach in Brighton.

U.K. / Ireland tour press release

Stephen Chopek - June 2019 Tour
United Kingdom and Ireland
Opening for Jesse Malin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 2019 - Stephen Chopek touring through the United Kingdom and Ireland from June 15th - June 22nd, opening shows for Jesse Malin, New York City-based singer songwriter.

Stephen will play solo acoustic arrangements from his critically acclaimed 2018 release, Begin the Glimmer. The Memphis Flyer chose the album as one of The Year’s Best and said, “Begin the Glimmer sports one perfectly crafted tune after another; the end result is a shimmering folk-pop gem that leaps from the speakers”. The opening track, “Made of Puzzles”, is accompanied by a video Stephen made with a car’s reverse camera - youtu.be/ApsdoVxrOdU

This tour promotes his new EP, Songs of Shane, Vol. 1 - a tribute to Shane MacGowan’s music with The Pogues and The Popes. Stephen once again shows his video making skills for the song “Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah” - youtu.be/JaeGrqu0W4g

A pillar of his set is “Radio Caroline”. The song tells the tale of a British pirate radio station of the same name founded in 1964. The station broadcasted from a ship on the open waters to avoid the BBC’s control of the airwaves. Their early support of rock-and-roll and DIY ethos struck a chord with Stephen. This song serves as a salute to their efforts.
soundcloud.com/stephenchopek/radio-caroline-1

TOUR DATES

June 15, 2019 - The Haunt - Brighton, United Kingdom
June 16, 2019 - Deaf Institute - Manchester, United Kingdom
June 18, 2019 - Arts Centre - Norwich, United Kingdom
June 19, 2019 - Bullingdon - Oxford, United Kingdom
June 20, 2019 - King Tut's - Glasgow, Scotland
June 21, 2019 - Whelans - Dublin, Ireland
June 22, 2019 - Limelight 2 - Belfast, Ireland

Stephen’s tour is supported by a generous grant from Music Export Memphis and he currently serves as a Music Export Memphis Ambassador.

For more information and tour schedule, please visit:

http://www.stephenchopek.com
https://www.facebook.com/stephenchopekmusic/
@stephenchopekmusic

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Since releasing his debut album, See Through back in 2012, Stephen has followed with 3 EPs and a full length album, Things Moving On Their Own Together, which garnered its fair share of critical praise, Skin Back Alley calling it “A skillfully crafted tapestry of punk, pop, folk and roots.”

Having cut tracks and toured with the likes of Charlie Hunter, John Mayer, and Jesse Malin, amongst others, Stephen has made a solid career as a busy session drummer, but addressing his solo repertoire, he has not only been quintessentially prolific, the indie singer/songwriter has taken the idea of being largely self-propelled quite seriously and has graced his own canon-to-date playing every instrument himself.