"Billy Blake & the Vagabonds" are songwriters Kennedy Greenrod (The Thin Man/Honey and Buffalo) and Reid Coker (The Judy Green/Califone/Fruit Bats) with guitarist Saleem Dhamee (Grimble Grumble), bassist Jason LaBrosse (The Thin Man) & drummer Seth Vanek (Roommate/Tiny Cover Band). Greenrod and Coker have written 15 songs using the words of 18th century Romantic mystic William Blake from his famous collection of poems "Songs of Innocence and Experience". These are contemporary interpretations of Blake's classic works, drawing from Stones-y rock, mellow pop and countrified folk, to gospel music and hopping Bo Diddley blues. The song forms employed by the Vagabonds breathe new fire and meaning into William Blake's iconic words and help to re-illuminate his incendiary visions for the modern listener.

The project was initially commissioned by the Poetry Foundation where the group performed last March to a sold-out crowd, comprised primarily of literary enthusiasts, and received the Foundation's first-ever standing ovation. Now the group will measure its mettle in the more standard rock-club setting of the Hideout to celebrate the release of its eponymous debut CD. The recording is currently being produced by Califone/Iron & Wine multi-instrumentalist Jim Becker.

Jim Becker and Joe Adamik (also of Califone and Iron & Wine) will share the bill at the Hideout as well, opening with a set of highly innovative instrumentals utilizing pre-programmed beats and loops, dueling keyboards, intricate guitar harmonies, plus bass clarinet, fiddle and more. In addition, there will be a screening of British animator Sheila Graber's 1977 "William Blake", a short film that transforms Blake's original paintings and engravings into spectacular moving images.

To see a short film of "Billy Blake & the Vagabonds" in rehearsal mode go to:
http://www.facebook.com/billyblakeandthevagabonds