Mark Cool (and the Folk Stars)

About Me

Mark Cool (yes that's his real name) is a folk/alt-country/americana singer-songwriter and guitarist based in Durham, North Carolina. Cool has been compared to Townes Van Zandt, Nebraska era Springsteen, Lucinda williams, and Old Crow Medicine Show. His recent album with his band, the Folk Stars was picked by Americana UK magazine as one of the top 20 of 2007, along with Wilco, Okkervil River, Crowded House, Paul Case, and others. Cool is currently touring solo with guitar and harmonica, doing both traditional venues and an ongoing "100 house concerts tour". On the horizon are an August, '08 UK tour, and a new record due out in Fall/Winter 'o8. website: markcool.org

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 8/28/2005
Band Website: markcool.org
Band Members: BUY THE NEW CD, CLICK HERE!: Introducing Mark Cool And The Folk Stars -- also available on itunes, rhapsody, and napster, and other web purveyors of fine music :)
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100 HOUSE CONCERTS TOUR- not stoppin' 'til i've played 100! you can host a private show with mark cool, it's ez and fun! details on markcool.org
Influences: johnny cash, lucinda williams, tom waits, springsteen, gillian welch, libba cotten, carter family, the beatles, buddy holly, elvis, and many more.

Sounds Like: townes van zant, bruce springsteen/ circa nebraska, gram parsons, wilco, old crow, johnny cash, carter family, gillian welch, lucinda williams, uncle tupelo, steve earle.
Record Label: Folk Star Recordings
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

uk tour notes- i love scotland

the people are great, the countryside's beautiful, and the weather's cool!aug 1rdu airport departure- i was early for my plane, so i set up in the corner of the airport and picked my guitar. people wh...
Posted by Mark Cool (and the Folk Stars) on Thu, 07 Aug 2008 07:16:00 PST

txakoli fest fun, ny tour, more...

txakoli fest in durham was a great event, a good crowd attended and enjoyed the ambience of 6 plates, with great music all day from jon batson, joe woodson, the snocones, the radials, the hot damns, j...
Posted by Mark Cool (and the Folk Stars) on Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:35:00 PST

uk tour august 2-14; some dates still available for house shows (or trad. venues)

hi, i'm returning to the uk in august, with shows booked in scotland, the north of england, and as far south as leicester. i still have some availability (listed below),please let me know if you want ...
Posted by Mark Cool (and the Folk Stars) on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:48:00 PST

ny tour july 20-30, still have a few dates available for house shows (or trad. venues.)

i'm fresh off a sugar grove festival appearance, and anticipating a great txakoli fest here in durham on 7/19, sat! i'll be departing for ny on 7/20, sun. i've got some dates booked, and i still have ...
Posted by Mark Cool (and the Folk Stars) on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:29:00 PST

txakoli fest- first annual in durham- great music!

what the heck is txakoli, and how do i pronounce it, you might ask? Txakoli (Spanish: chacolí) or Txakolina, is a slightly sparkling white wine produced in the Basque Country autonomous community of S...
Posted by Mark Cool (and the Folk Stars) on Mon, 14 Jul 2008 07:39:00 PST

sugar grove fest, boone, n.c.

played the sugar grove songwriters showcase today, 'black gold' went over well, and i played a new song i've been polishing up, 'dream time', which was inspired by a something ray davies said &nb...
Posted by Mark Cool (and the Folk Stars) on Sun, 13 Jul 2008 07:13:00 PST

durham, nc area shows this week

hi, i'm playing three shows in the durham/chapel hill area this week: cafe driade in chapel hill with the watercallers tonight, 6/25, free, pass the hat. gulf rim cafe in hillsborough, saturday, 6/28 ...
Posted by Mark Cool (and the Folk Stars) on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:36:00 PST

belladrum tartan heart fringe fest in scotland

i'll be playing a show or two as a part of tartan heart belladrum fringe festival; sounds like great fun, lots of good music, beautiful highlands setting. i won't miss the durham august heat! che...
Posted by Mark Cool (and the Folk Stars) on Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:04:00 PST

summer tour help- house concert hosts, thank you

hey, we're in the process of booking a northeast u.s. tour in july, and a scotland/uk tour in august. i'm writing to ask for help with house concerts along the way. this doesn't have to be a big, form...
Posted by Mark Cool (and the Folk Stars) on Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:06:00 PST

mark cool (and the folk stars) june newsletter is out!

hi, check out the new mcfs newsletter here: http://markcool.org/id50.html upcoming events, links, tee-shirts, and more! mc...
Posted by Mark Cool (and the Folk Stars) on Mon, 16 Jun 2008 01:26:00 PST