NICK CASTRO

Prog Folk • United States

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Nick Castro biography
NICK CASTRO is an American psychedelic folk multi-instrumentalist formerly based in Los Angeles, California. Active in the mid-2000s at the peak of the so-called freak folk movement, Castro's style is an amalgamation of British and American folk influences like BERT JANSCH, THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND, NICK DRAKE, SYD BARRETT, TOM RAPP and DONOVAN, mixed with an abiding love for traditional Turkish music. A guitar virtuoso, Castro also sings and plays keyboards and wind instruments. Castro has toured and performed with fellow travelers IN GOWAN RING, ESPERS, FEATHERS, JOSEPHINE FOSTER and SIMON FINN.

Castro's 2004 debut, "A Spy in the House of God", was self-released on his label Records of Gauhd and a mostly solo affair with occasional vocal accompaniment by his friend Wendy Watson, who also designed the artwork for Castro's albums. In 2005, following a limited CDR release of live recordings, Castro issued his sophomore LP, Further From Grace, recorded with a backing band dubbed the Poison Tree, consisting of Josephine Foster, Adam Hershberger as well as Helena Espvall, Meg Baird, Otto Hauser and Chris Smith of ESPERS. Castro's musical palette expanded further on 2006's "Come Into Our House", where the guitarist wove sax, oud and bouzouki into his acid folk sound with the help of an expansive cast of guest musicians featuring Watson's group THE YOUNG ELDERS, CURRENT 93 Joolie Wood and John Contreras, Chris Guttmacher (of CUL DE SAC and DAMO SUZUKI's NETWORK) and Bobin Eirth of IN GOWAN RING. Once more recording with the Young Elders, Castro's last release was the 2007 EP "A Day Without Disaster".

Nick Castro's work will appeal to followers of ESPERS, VOICE OF THE SEVEN WOODS, RYLEY WALKER, MELLOW CANDLE, CIRCULUS, TREES, PEARLS BEFORE SWINE/TOM RAPP, CURRITUCK CO, and SIX ORGANS OF AD...read more