Forest Sun has won the hearts and ears of audiences ranging from the Strawberry Music Festival and Oregon Country Fair to many a smaller venue both locally and nationally. He has opened for such luminaries as Bonnie Raitt, Lyle Lovett, Jackson Browne, Keb Mo and Steve Earle, but regardless of venue, a live performance has an indisputable back porch feeling. A musical vagabond, Sun runs the gamut from speakeasy blues and southern soul to reggae and folk, always infusing the unexpected. A live show is an interactive event, the music as likely to inspire singing and laughing as it is dancing. Like those musical mavericks he is frequently compared to (Van Morisson, Paul Simon), Sun is a storyteller. His timeless music and lyrics transcend genre and are at once classic and at the frontier of contemporary songwriting. Forest's release For The Story as well as his previous records (Plenty and Not Afraid) have earned resounding acclaim from music critics, and while it is tempting to try to classify Sun's music, one is hard pressed to do so. Classification misses the point. As one journalist put it: '(Sun) is a songwriter and composer first, and brings his command of so many genres and manifold chops to bear only in service of the songs. (Anthony Klapp, Midwest Music Journal).' In this tradition, For the Story shines with the musical versatility that fans have come to expect from this prolific composer and performer. In addition to critical acclaim, Sun's music has received regular airplay on an array of radio stations including the groundbreaking and discriminating KFOG (San Francisco's favorite), and the always edgy and progressive KPFA in Berkeley. Says KFOG's Acoustic Sunrise host Rosalie Howarth, ' I wish the major label releases I'm constantly bombarded with would sound this good. 'For the Story' is easily one of my favorite releases - Indy OR Major-label - of 2003.' 'Music for me is about raising consciousness.' Forest says. This is clearly evident in his music. As fellow songwriter Mark Eitzel puts it: 'Forest Sun is the real thing. His songs are life affirming and joyful and you can only do that as a songwriter when it's a genuine expression of your heart.' Like similar artists Ben Harper and Jack Johnson, Sun's distinctively mellow vibe has earned him a following in the surfing community. Tracks from his first two albums can be heard in the award winning surf documentary, The 5th Symphony Document, as well as two surf films out later this year. For the Story includes songs that fans have come to know and love from Sun's captivating live performances, including a duet with founding member of The Be Good Tanyas, Jolie Holland and a song with the Hot Buttered Rum String Band. Acclaimed vocal producer Raz Kennedy (The Counting Crows, Bobby McFerrin) contributes his considerable talent to perfecting Sun's honest, inviting vocal style. With so much talent in support of this musician who can, unquestionably, stand alone, For The Story is sure to reach many a grateful new ear, as well as feeding an already contagious buzz generated by previous releases. Sun has hit the road in support of For the Story. Opportunities to catch a ray of Sun are plentiful through a variety of radio appearances, festivals, house concerts and listening room performances. Take heed the advice of one critic: 'If you can't catch Forest Sun live then at the very least buy (For the Story) right now. Then immediately drop to your knees and thank the good lord that musicians like Sun still exist (Aaron Bragg, The Local Planet Weekly, Spokane, WA).'
