Americana artist Ted Kamp performs at the Cinema Bar this week, so he told the News about what he has in store for Culver City…
When did you start playing and performing? When did the band form?
I started playing trumpet in the school concert band and orchestra in the 4th grade.
I got my first electric bass and started playing and performing rock music with my friends in the 9th grade. Then when I finished college, I moved to Seattle with my girlfriend and started being a professional musician playing every bar, coffee shop, private party and street corner I could find.
Describe your sound…
I describe my music as Americana singer / songwriter music. I enjoy a big influence from Jackson Browne, Dylan and the Band. I also love funkier sounds from New Orleans and Muscle Shoals so some bluesiness and country are definitely a part of what I do. I’ve also been playing for over 20 years with Shooter Jennings, so Southern Rock and the Waylon inspired Outlaw country sounds are in the mix too.
What are your career highlights so far?
I am honored to have played the Troubadour, CBGBs, the Ryman, the Grand Ole Opry, Radio City Music Hall and many other historic venues around the US and Europe. I also got a Grammy a few years ago for playing bass on a Tanya Tucker record that got the Grammy for best Country Album of the year.
What recorded music is available?
I have over a dozen records I’ve made as a singer songwriter. My most recent was released last year and it’s called California Son.
Have you performed at Cinema Bar before?
Yes, I have played the Cinema Bar more times than I can count and I love it there. I’ve been playing there for almost 20 years and have enjoyed countless gigs there with my band and also as the bass player for many friends in the Americana and country scenes of L.A. I have also played bass with the Hot Club of L.A. which has a Monday night residency there.
What can we expect from the set this time?
This will be a great night of rocking country and Americana music with Grant Langston and David Serby playing with great bands and playing their original music.
What else do you have coming up?
I’ll be playing my music on KXLU’s Wildwood Flower Radio Hour on Sept 30 Tuesday. So please tune in or listen online. Then from Oct 6-20, I’ll be doing a solo tour of Scandinavia. I have one great full band festival gig in Gothenberg, Sweden and the rest of the shows I’ll play solo for a bunch f shows in Denmark, Sweden and Norway. I’ll fly over, rent a car, and drive from town to town doing 10 shows in 12 days. In November I have a great short tour in Colorado with a good friend, Adam Lopez, doing a J J Cale tribute show. I also have a short tour of Texas planned where I will do a few of my own shows in Austin and New Braunfels as well as a few nights of playing bass with my good friend, Dallas Moore. Then I plan to release a new record in 2026. So I’ll be doing some more touring on my own as well as playing bass and producing records throughout the year.
Ted Kamp & Granville Automatic perform at 9 p.m. on Thursday, October 23 at the Cinema Bar. Go to thecinemabar.com for more information about the venue.
Elsewhere this week
The Culver Hotel will be hosting the likes of Sylvia & the Rhythm Boys, and Scotty Bramer. Go to culverhotel.com for more info.
The next concert at Boulevard Music is on October 25, with Bernie Pearl. Go to boulevardmusic.com for more info.