FOLLOW THE ACCORDION MAN!

The Northwest's favorite accordion wielding troubadour, Jason Webley, is making a mad dash across the Pacific Northwest mid-April.

Teaming up with friends Vermillion Lies, the world-traveling song-spinner is appearing in Washington and Oregon between gigs in Mexico City (where he is collaborating with Mexican pop-star Ximena Sarinana) and Norilsk (the only city in the world with a population of over 100,000 above the arctic circle, located in Northern Siberia.)

Webley is described by the Seattle Times as "one of Seattle's most talented musicians, a singer-songwriter with a rare gift for crafting timeless songs that approach Waits and Leonard Cohen territory."

Best known for bellowing out apocalyptic dirges in a sandpaper baritone to the accompaniment of his trademark accordion and the stomping of his feet, Webley's concerts are a smorgasbord of entertainment. With songs ranging from heart-wrenchingly beautiful to perhaps childishly simple, his music has been described by some as "bi-polar." One minute bombastic and raucous, Webley will suddenly set down his squeezebox to play an introspective ballad on guitar or piano, or to bang out a beat with a plastic vodka bottle full of coins he has collected around the world. Sometimes he will stop the music entirely to simply tell a spiraling labyrinth of story from his many travels.

But what makes Webley's shows truly unique, and keeps people from Moscow to Sydney inviting him back, is the amount of involvement he inspires in his audience. Fans have come to expect an evening of eclectic, poetic music interwoven with occasional games and theatrics, all filled with plenty of opportunities to join in on the fun.

"Almost every show ends with the entire audience throwing their arms around each other, swaying back and forth and singing at the top of their lungs," Webley explains.

Originally a street performer, Webley has gone on to build a cult following around the world. In addition to a relentless touring schedule at home, he has played numerous times in Europe, Australia and Russia (where he is something of a minor celebrity, his most recent Moscow appearances attracting over a thousand concert-goers).

Webley has just released his fifth full-length album, "The Cost of Living" on his own independent Eleven Records label. He has recently shared the stage with Regina Spektor, Devotchka, the Avett Brothers, Architecture in Helsinki and his good friends and collaborators, The Dresden Dolls. In Seattle, he made headlines several years ago when he was arrested at Bumbershoot for leading a mob of fans into the International Fountain

On all dates, Webley is joined by Vermillion Lies - a song writing duo comprised of real-life sisters Zoe and Kim Boekbinder from Oakland, CA. Featuring such diverse instrumentation as a typewriter and a barbecue grill, the sisters are touring to support their new CD "What's In the Box?"

"They put on a really fun show," says Webley. "They play twisted, tangles songs about lobsters and taking off your clothes. And they have nice underwear."

Dates are as follows:
4.18.08 Friday- Seattle WA, Fremont Abbey Arts Center
4.19.08 Saturday-Portland OR, Doug Fir Lounge
4.20.08 Sunday- Eugene OR, Wow Hall

For more information visit www.jasonwebley.com.

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Press photos, audio samples and more information available at: http://www.jasonwebley.com/press

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