The music of The Twangtown Paramours has been called “Sophisticated
Americana”, and is a hybrid of the Nashville and Austin music scenes.
In April, 2013, the Twangtown Paramours were excited to find out that they had been chosen as finalists in the Kerrville New Folk Competition – for the second time.
In July, 2012, the new Twangtown Paramours studio album was released to radio
and reached #2 on the Folk DJ Chart. Gene Shay said the following: “Great new songs,
some touching, some just plain fun. These Paramours get better with every new
release. PS. ‘Chains’ is brilliant!” In November, 2012, John Platt of WFUV in
New York City listed the album in his top ten for the year. In December, 2012, Lilli
Kuzma of WDCB in Chicago listed the album in her top five for the year. And the record
came in at #24 for the entire year on the Folk DJ Chart.
Also in 2012, the Twangtown Paramours were honored to open for Joe Ely, Claire Lynch,
Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Kim & Reggie Harris.
In May, 2012, the Twangers (technically, MaryBeth) won the Michael Terry People’s Choice
Award in the Wildflower Arts and Music Festival Songwriter Contest. In the autumn of 2011,
the Twangers were awarded formal showcases at the Midwest and Southwest conferences of Folk
Alliance International, and were picked as alternates for the Northeast conference. They were
also chosen to do a Quad showcase at the same conference. In April, 2011, they were chosen
as finalists in the prestigious Kerrville New Folk contest. In February, 2011,the Twangers
were named Artists on the Verge for 2011 by the Bluegrass Special magazine. In November,
2010, the duo was chosen by Wanda Fischer of WAMC in New York to be one of the emerging
artists to showcase at NERFA,
The Twangtown Paramours’ debut, self-titled album was #11 on the Folk DJ chart in August,
2010. It remained in the top 40 of the Cashbox Country Roots chart for the entire Summer
of 2010, and was in the top 100 folk albums for 2010. Their songs were and can still be
heard on over 70 Americana, Folk, and independent Country radio stations world- wide.
Recent gigs include World Cafe Live in Philadelphia,The Stephen Talkhouse, Caffe Lena,
and the Towne Crier in New York, The Bitter End in NYC, The Hurdy Gurdy and Music at
the Mission in NJ, Moonlight on the Mountain in Birmingham, Charles & Myrtles in
Chattanooga, the Midpoint Festival in Cincinnati, The Blue Plate Special in Knoxville,
their own show at the Bluebird in Nashville, Athfest in Athens, GA, Uncommon Ground and
Two Way Street Coffeehouse in Chicago, the Rev Room in Little Rock, AR, and the Rooster’s
Wife in Aberdeen, NC. Current videos can be found on Youtube.
MaryBeth Zamer has sung professionally since the age of 18. Before moving to Nashville, she
was a fixture of the local music scene in the Washington, D.C. area, where she fronted a
popular bar band for several years.
MaryBeth toured Europe, worked as a guest artist with several other bands, and sang
background vocals for the band Method Actor featuring Eva Cassidy.
After relocating to Nashville, MaryBeth continued her musical career working as a demo singer
for local songwriters, as a background vocalist for several new country artists, and working
on her own projects, including serving as lead vocalist for the band Blue Martini. She now
sings lead vocals for the Twangtown Paramours.
Mike T. Lewis has played guitar for a million and a half years, and bass for about half that
long. He sometimes tours with Jimmie Dale Gilmore, playing upright bass.
In 1997, Mike had a #1 pop hit in South Korea on Yang Pa’s first album called “A Heartbeat
Away”. It sold over 800,000 units. The tune was #1 for five weeks and stayed on the charts
for six months. In addition to the hit in Korea, Mike has had songs recorded by independent
artists in the U.K., Japan, and the U.S.
Since 2000, Mike has owned and operated a studio, producing tunes for up and coming
performers as well as people who should spend their money more wisely.
Mike presently lives in Nashville. His newest endeavors are producing the Twangtown
Paramours and his own solo project.
