Eni (nee Four Corners) & Sid Whelan

Eni is the collaborative effort of New York based world musicians that incorporates elements of folk, rock and jazz into a unique and eclectic musical experience.

The explosiveness of their performances makes them a ‘must see’ live event for the avid concert goer who is searching for a fresh mix of world ethnic music.

Ethnic jazz, world folklore with pronounced oriental vibes, Four Corners’ live music should not be missed.

Musicians on stage:
Dan Purcea [guitar]
Ramon Radosav [electric violin]
Daniel Villeneuve [congas]
Stephen Goldbaum [percussion]
Trevor ‘Bridges’ Bridgewater [bass]

“Sid Whelan’s guitars and his vocals evoke a different place and time… man, this is one assured songwriter and singer… Sid Whelan is the real deal and he has assembled an amazing band… Whelan reminds me a little of the Stax Sound with the use of the horns, but with his style of guitar and especially the lyrics, he’s crafted his own identity.” – Prof. Johnny P’s Juke Joint Blog (USA)

Sid Whelan is an enthusiastically and unapologetically old-school and eclectic songwriter, singer, bandleader and guitarist who has earned praise for his well-crafted lyrics and his harmonically rich guitar voicings. He has studied songwriting with Grammy-winning artists Steve Earle and Chely Wright.  His live band is a power trio format with Trevor ‘Bridges” Bridgewater on bass and Robert Weiss on drums.

Says the Lonesome Highway Blog (Ireland): “Sid Whelan has an impressive guitar prowess, holding his own against a coterie of accomplished players.” Whelan has studied guitar with Woody Mann, Stephen Tarshis, Jack Baker, Ronny Lee and Howard Morgen. In his youth he cut his teeth on rock & roll, playing at colleges and in dive bars such as CBGS. Subsequently he was lead guitarist with various world music acts including the Lijadu Sisters and later Afroblue.  These groups appeared nationally at festivals and arts centers and regionally in concert halls and significant nightclubs.

In July of 2019 Whelan released his 3^rd album, Waitin’ for Payday in the USA. This collection of eight original songs plays with the idea of Sol y Sombra from Spanish bullfighting rings, and thus features a 50-50 split between dark inward-looking songs vs. bright outward-looking songs. It features the return of co-producer Lora-Faye (Arthur Moon) and relies mostly on the musicians from the current live band, with a handful of impressive instrumental and vocal guests such as Valerie Naranjo (SNL Band, The Lion King Musical percussion book originator); Darryl Tookes (Aretha Franklin, Paul Simon, Dave Matthews); Michael Lee Breaux (Fiona Apple, Aimee Mann); Ron Horton (Jazz Composers Collective, Andrew Hill); Art Baron (Duke Ellington, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen) and keyboard prodigy Matthew Whitaker.

In 2015 he released his New Orleans-inspired 2^nd album The Story of Ike Dupree, which features a horn section arranged and led by the great funk pioneer Fred Wesley (James Brown, Parliament, De La Soul).  Musiekwereld (Netherlands) says of that disc: “The great original songs; the relaxed laidback voice of Sid; the quirky, funky horn section; the sensual backing vocals and guitar make this horn-infused Whelan disc one that simply must compete with the releases of many contemporary blues artists.”

In 2013 He released first solo album Flood Waters Rising, a blues-and-Hurricane-Sandy-inspired collection of nine songs, which Blues Matters (UK) called “…a definitive return of a great musician.”

Based in the United States, Whelan has performed in Ireland and Canada as well.  He is currently beginning work on a fourth solo album.

Waitin’ for Payday; The Story of Ike Dupree and Flood Waters Rising are available now at Bandcamp, Amazon, Spotify, CD Baby and i-Tunes.