Welcome to the Folk Unlimited Orchestra Electronic Press Kit

Thanks for stopping by our EPK. We wish we could perform for you right now live, but since we can't, we wanted to invite you to see us "live" through the magic of web video. These professionally-shot clips are from a recent show at the Freight and Salvage and feature Claudia Russell, guitar vocals, Bruce Kaplan, mandoloin/guitar/vocals, Mark Petrella, bass, and Carl Byron on piano and accordion. This is our preferred line-up, but we can also perform (quite nicely) as a trio or duo. Besides the videos, please note that the following can be found at the links at the top of the page:

  1. Full list listing of all Claudia Russell YouTube videos (about 8 altogether) including a couple clips with us backing up Dan Navarro at the Freight show.
  2. A list of venues and radio stations we have performed at in the past.
  3. Our SonicBids EPL with all live recorded music
  4. A link to Rich Warren’s review of our "Live Band Tonight CD" in Sing Out Magazine
  5. A feature story from Sunday Boston Herald published in conjunction with our appearance at Johnny D’s and Summerfest last summer

Thanks for listening! Bruce Kaplan and Claudia Russell

For booking, contact folkunlimted@comcast.net or call bruce kaplan at 310-628-9589

Folk Unlimited Orchestra photo

Elevator Speech

Claudia Russell has a voice you won't forget. An ecelctic singer/songwriter, she blends, folk, blues, bluegrass, western swing and traditional music into a compelling sound all her own. Claudia has shared stages with everyone from Dave Carter to Kris Kristofferson and Mickey Dolenz. She was honored as WUMB New Artist of the Year in 2001, is a 2x Kerrville finalist, and a 2007 FAR-West Main Stage Showcase Artist. She has performed at Club Passim, the Point, Common Fence Point, Johnny D's, Freight and Salvage, McCabes, and dozens of clubs, festivals, coffeehouse and house concerts all across the country. Claudia has appeared in a half dozen American Folklore Theater productions including "Old Friends, "Fish and Whistle," "Goodnight Irene," and "Home for the Holidays." Available as a solo, duo, trio, quartet.

And she is backed by the small-but-mighty Folk Unlimited Orchestra. Says Rich Warren of her Live Band Tonight CD in SIng Out:

“Claudia Russell is a great live performer and this showcase proves that. Her band – let’s just say they’re hot. Connect them to the power grid and they’d light up a medium-sized town. Live Band Tonight is as musically solid as they come and in the world of obligatory live CDs, it shines.”

Thanks, Rich!

You can email Bruce Kaplan at brucekaplan440@comcast.net or call 310-628-9589 (PST).