Sunshine Symphony

Although we didn't all study music in college, it's clearly our individual and collective passion. Several of us dabbled in college radio, and a couple of us have worked in radio outside of school (except Ricky - I really think he needs his own radio show).

I have spent time on the airwaves of many of the Lehigh Valley's local stations, 100.7 WLEV, Cat Country, WZZO, B-104, and WAEB-AM. For a while, I also volunteered at WDIY, a local public radio station that hosts NPR news but also other local programming, including classical, jazz and adult alternative music. WDIY is extremely supportive of local music and musicians.

It was a pleasant surprise to learn that our bassist, Tim, in addition to being a home-brewer and stand-up bass player, also hosts The Blend from 1-4 p.m. on Thursdays. One thing that we've discovered about Tim is that he likes and listens to a huge variety of music. He can bang out some complicated Metallica bass riffs one minute and throw in some jazz or 70s soft rock the next. If you really want some insight into what makes Tim tick, check out his shift on The Blend on Thursdays.

http://wdiy.org/people/tim-kerrigan - Tim's page on WDIY.
http://wdiy.org - Listen live (top left of the page)

The Blend on WDIY features local music, some excellent new music, Americana, folk, and even classic rock/classic country or even classic alternative artists. It's really a cool way to spend your afternoon. Enjoy!

Peace, Love & Rock n Roll,
Christine Bainbridge, Sunshine Symphony

We'd like to everyone for coming out to our debut show at The Barrister's Club. We were so thrilled with the experience and very happy with the performance and our reception from the crowd! We love doing encores, so thank you for being an enthusiastic audience.

We're continuing to build on the momentum we've started!  We decided last week at rehearsal to record a video for our Facebook fans, because they have been tremendously supportive, sharing our page and our content and helping us grow our likes.  Ricky decided we should record the quirky tune "Best Day of My Life" by American Authors, which features a banjo and a semi-sparse arrangement but a catchy chorus...so Pete said, "I'll bring my mandolin!" and Ricky said, "I have a banjo in my studio," Ian announced, "I'll use my cajon," and Tim said "I'll bring the standing bass"! So, we set up our alternative instruments - just wait, I'll be breaking out my flute eventually - and went to town!

We had a blast, and then Pete suggested, "Why don't we do Walking on Sunshine acoustically as well?" So we did.  And we laughed, and had a great time.


There was a reason that "Sunshine" stuck as part of our name. Ricky and I, as founders of the band, are passionate and creative people, and I think we were drawn to the idea of music's transformative ability. You could be having the worst day ever, and a song can turn that around! We aim to be your musical sunshine, your passport to a happier place...thanks for coming on the ride with us!

By the way, you'll find us on a bunch of new places now:
We're on Google+
We're also on Instagram!
We have a YouTube channel

And if you didn't already know it, 
We're on Twitter,
On Facebook
and on ReverbNation.

Come see us live, or online!

Peace, Love & Rock n Roll,
Christine Bainbridge, Sunshine Symphony
 

Ricky and I put this band together pretty quickly. Things that normally take a couple of weeks, we managed to cram into a day or two. One of the hardest things to do is to name the band, and that task often takes the longest. Presumably, you'll be using this name a long time, so you better like it.

Our previous band name came about by randomly putting words together...many successful bands come up with their name this way. Screaming Trees? Death Cab for Cutie? Imagine Dragons? 

Anyway, I just found the paper in my purse with names we liked enough to write down. Here you go!

• Spaceship Panda - this was a close runner up with Sunshine Symphony
• Fur Taxi - A little too weird
• Operation Famous Burger - too much like a restaurant
• Loofah Rigno - hard to spell correctly
• Naked Quartet - Sets incorrect expectations
• Sweet Waitress - Just no.
• Everywhere Sunshine - Hmmm, you see a theme developing
• Deep Dish Sunshine - Tasty
• Sunshine Kumquat - Does anyone know what a kumquat is?
• Stealing Sunshine - This was a top contender. I still like it.
• Operation: Sunshine - Already taken by a charity
• Operation: All-Nighter - Close but not exactly a good name when you say it out loud
• Sunshine Agency - This was also a top contender. Sounds sort of like an insurance agency, though.
• Tone Agency - Again, is this insurance? 
• Operation: Tone
• Rock Doctors - Theme ideas abound with this one

What do you think? Should we have gone with one of our runners' up?
Christine Bainbridge, Sunshine Symphony

Sunshine Symphony Prepares Blazing Debut Performance
New cover band features award-winning Lehigh Valley performers.


February 17, 2014 – Bethlehem, PA - Former lead singers of award-winning Lehigh Valley cover band She Said Sunday, Christine Bainbridge and Ricky Bell make their debut performance with new group “Sunshine Symphony” this Friday, February 21^st at The Barrister’s Club in Allentown.

Bainbridge was the recipient of the Lehigh Valley Music Awards Tonya Brown Award for Best Female Vocalist in 2009 and 2010, and nine other awards with former band She Said Sunday.  Bell’s original song, Shallow, won him a WZZO Songwriting Contest in 2002, which Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull performed on stage with Bell at the State Theater in Easton. Bell then won the Lehigh Valley Acoustic Performers Contest in 2005, and went on to host the contest from 2007-2012.

“Together, we plan on bringing a vocally strong, harmonic yet musically diverse performance,“  Bainbridge explained. The two find common musical ground in their love of melody-driven pop, country and rock music like Bruno Mars, Bon Jovi, and Keith Urban – all featured on Sunshine Symphony’s set lists. “Anything goes musically with Sunshine Symphony. If it’s got good harmonies, it’s recognizable and danceable, it’s something we’ll play,” Bainbridge adds. “We’ve got an amazing rhythm section and our set lists include songs that really groove.”

Sunshine Symphony consists of Bainbridge and Bell, plus drummer Ian Frey, bassist Tim Kerrigan and guitarist Peter Johann.  Frey, a graduate of Lehigh University with a B.S. in Music Composition, has been performing with Bell for almost a decade as part of an acoustic duo. Kerrigan is an accomplished bassist who has played in funk, bluegrass, rock, jam and blues bands in California and in Pennsylvania. Johann fronts his own cover/originals band, The Peter Johann Band, and has a background in jazz theory and bluegrass as well, and has been nominated for several Lehigh Valley Music Awards as well.

“With such a diverse blend of musicians, we’re really excited to see what type of musical ground Sunshine Symphony will cover,” Bell says. “When we came up with the name, it means ‘happy music’ to us. That’s really what we want to play.”

Sunshine Symphony’s debut performance takes place Friday, February 21^st, 2014 at The Barrister’s Club, 1114 West Walnut Street in Allentown. The show is from 7-9 p.m. Tickets are $10 and are available for advance purchase by phone at 610-433-6204 x19  or at the door.

We got word today from The Barrister's Club that we've more or less sold out of VIP tickets to our debut show on 2/21/14. Wow! We're excited to perform and all those lucky VIP ticketholders get food, drink and an acoustic performance by Ricky and I.

There are still general admission tickets left. Those tickets get you in the door, but there will be food and drink available if you choose. If you're looking for an excuse to dress up and come out and dance, this is it! We'll be playing a lot of the songs you know and love with some new surprises.  The club recommends that you advance purchase your tickets because they DO have a capacity and tickets are first-come first served at the door (for the same price, $10/each).

We will have our esteemed photographer Kenn Miller (he took the shot to the left) there to take some shots, and we'll be doing a video shoot as well. Come be in our photos and videos that we'll be using on our website!

To Buy Tickets online, click here: http://sunshinesymphony.com/shows and then click BUY TICKETS. You may pay by PayPal or Credit Card.
Alternatively, call here for tickets: 610-433-6204 x 19

Peace, Love & Rock n Roll,
Christine Bainbridge, Sunshine Symphony

 

Ok, we admit we're biased here. One thing I hear a lot when randomly quizzing people about "band or DJ": "We're thinking about having a band at our reception, but we think a DJ may fit better into our budget.."  There are a lot of articles out there that talk about the benefits of having a DJ at your wedding, and the number one issue that comes up is cost. "DJs are cheaper."  We're here to tell you: "Not necessarily!" - with the caveat "You get what you pay for!"

You need to decide, "What Kind of Entertainment Do I Want, Really?"

Do you want to turn your reception into a dance club?
If you want the DJ with great beat-mixing skills, a top-notch sound system and lights, the personality and the ability to connect with your wedding guests, you are going to pay more - in the Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton area, probably $1500 - $2000.

Do you want an energetic live performance?
If you want a wedding band experienced enough to know how to act around your guests, to have the best equipment that is well-maintained, and to put together a diverse enough playlist to entertain all ages at your wedding, you're going to pay $1500 - $2500 and up here in the Lehigh Valley, and even more in the New York Metro or Philadelphia area.

What about the DJ/band offering to do my wedding for $800 or less?
Sure, that lower price is attractive, but keep these things in mind: a wedding is a special event, and you don't want just anybody performing at it. You want someone who is going to take your event and your instruction seriously. Any band can perform at a wedding for $800. You want someone who will update and maintain their equipment (blowing a speaker at a wedding will shut their performance down...you don't want that!). Make sure your provider has specific wedding experience and references to prove it. 

What else do I need to know?
Finally, go see your choices perform live. Sometimes, a band that sounds or looks only ok on video can be great live, and vice versa. If you can't go see them live, get references, and make sure their references are actual clients and not just their best friends they've put on their reference list. Ask them specifically about their wedding and how the DJ or band performed per their expectations.

There is something special about a live musical performance that engages your wedding guests.  A good band will think about the flow of the music at your reception, and think about the combination of songs to get people of all ages on the dance floor. A good wedding band probably costs about the same, or maybe a little more than a top-notch DJ. Budgeting a little extra moves your wedding entertainment from "background music", to something your guests will always remember.

Photography by Neusse Photography

Christine Bainbridge, Sunshine Symphony




 

We are pleased to announce we've completed Sunshine Symphony's lineup with the addition of  bassist Tim Kerrigan and guitarist Pete Johann. 
 

	Tim has been playing bass for 20+ years, with a variety of different bands. Recently, he moved back to PA after spending 15 of those years performing in California. With a background in jazz, funk and hard rock, he brings huge skills to Sunshine Symphony (because you're only as good as your bassist!). With Tim on the bottom end, we are sure to be amazing.
	Pete Johann is a longtime Lehigh Valley musician who performs his own original music as well as cover songs with his own band appropriately named The Peter Johann Band. Pete's background in jazz and funk should bring a cool, grooving sound to Sunshine Symphony.

Since ALL of us also sing, could five-part harmonies be in store for you? You never know. We are so thrilled to have this caliber of musicians join our band. We CANNOT WAIT for you to hear us play.

Peace, Love & Rock n' Roll,
Christine Bainbridge, Sunshine Symphony

Sunshine Symphony, the Lehigh Valley's brightest new cover band, will make their concert debut at The Barrister's Club on Saturday, February 21st at 7 p.m.  

We invite you to join us for a fun night in this beautiful facility, complete with stage, dance floor and VIP balcony.  Tickets cost $10 and are available for purchase bu clicking here.
 
Or, copy and paste this link into your browser window:
http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e8rs91hee56388da&llr=lsmiv6bab

Tickets will be available at the door, but we cannot guarantee their availability.  We suggest you buy them in advance, and get them before they sell out.

The Barrister's Club is an historic banquet and event facility  in Allentown, complete with free, secure off-street parking. Food and drink specials available. 

Christine Bainbridge, Sunshine Symphony

So you searched online and found a wedding band that sounds great. You've read their reviews and their bio. Now what? How do you know they're going to be the right band for your wedding? Here are some things to think about when selecting your band.

A lot of bands have videos posted on their website. A video is a great start, but, ideally, it should be current. Why? Bands can switch personnel frequently, or sometimes have special guests that are not a part of the normal line up. A good, working band will always keep their content up-to-date. If they're not working hard to impress you BEFORE your wedding, what makes you think they'd work hard after you book them? 

The best way to get a feel for the band you're interested in is to see the band performing live. Sure, you'll hear how well they play together, but you'll also be able to see their personalities in action. First of all, do they play frequently? A band that performs together regularly is going to naturally be more rehearsed than a band that only performs occasionally. Are they entertaining and poised on stage, or are they boring with no stage presence or, worse yet, sloppy or even intoxicated?  If they are professional on stage, it's pretty likely they'll be professional around your guests. These are all important considerations.

If you go to see them live or watch a video, confirm that the band you like will have the same personnel the day of your wedding.  Just ask about it. It's not something that's typical, but it can happen, so you may want to make sure that a clause about what you would consider an adequate substitution is in your contract.  One of our clients had this very problem - they went to book the band because they really liked the lead singers, and then they found out via social media that the lead singers had been fired (and were not informed by the band until they confronted them about it). To add insult to injury, the band refused to return their deposit when they wanted to cancel. Talk about a huge headache only a couple of months prior to their wedding. The key point here is to put everything in the contract, especially to specify that the lead singer that you liked will indeed be doing their killer version of your first dance song.

In our experience, there are a lot of great bands out there, but only a few great wedding bands. The main difference? The ability to lead an event. It's relatively easy to show up, set up, and play at a bar or festival, especially if sound is being provided. It's not nearly as easy to plan and set up for a wedding. It requires attention to detail, because a wedding has a lot of details to remember! It requires a knowledge of sound equipment and proper set up for the event, with potentially disastrous results if the band is inexperienced. It requires finesse and the ability to deal with a venue and other vendors. It also requires a knowledge of event planning, but lastly, the ability to put aside your own ego in order to make the client happy.

Finally, use your best personal judgment. Never be afraid to ask questions and be ready to move on if you don't get the answers you want.





 

Thanks for stopping by Sunshine Symphony's web page. We're happy to be here. Here's the who/what/when/where/why of our new band.

Sunshine Symphony grows from the roots of popular local cover band She Said Sunday.  Christine Bainbridge is founding member and the creative marketing force behind that band, having provided the public relations, publicity, web site and social media management for seven years, in addition to winning awards as their lead vocalist and keyboardist.  Ricky Bell was a more recent addition in the past two years, and provided musical inspiration and tremendous versatility to the band, not only providing vocals and guitars, but also drums and keyboards. When She Said Sunday decided to make some changes, Ricky and Christine saw it as an opportunity to move beyond their former band with their creative vision.

Pair intense musical precision with a passion for performing, and a chemistry which is unmatched, and you have Sunshine Symphony.  

We're working from the ground up, and we need your help! Please like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter, and tell all your friends about us.