Album Notes

An engaging mix of honesty, intimacy and humor. An agile voice accompanied by sparse and deliberate guitarwork. Dirty Linen Magazine says, "Balkey's confident delivery and sparse arrangements frame the songs with uncommon poise."

Erik Balkey is a performing songwriter based out of Philadelphia, PA. He began songwriting as part of the Red Bank, NJ music scene in 1994 before a four-year stint in New York City. Among the songwriters in the city, Balkey listened and learned as an active volunteer and performer at the now-defunct Fast Folk Cafe. He also became a regular performer around town including stops at the legendary Postcrypt Coffeehouse.

Gathering from his experiences and from his work on songwriting craft, Balkey wrote and recorded his debut album, 'Negotiations & Compromise,' in 2001. The album was co-produced with accomplished songwriters Denise O'Brien and Andy Fox. Since it's release in January of 2002, the album has received critical praise. Michael Tearson of SingOut! Magazine wrote, "These songs are literate, exacting portraits in amber... Nicely played and beautifully recorded, this is a very rewarding album."

Songs penned by Balkey have earned him finalist honors at the Unisong Song Contest and Wildflower Festival (TX). Cuts from the album have been played by nearly one hundred radio deejays worldwide including Gene Shay on WXPN (Philadelphia), Marilyn Rea Beyer on WUMB (Boston), Rich Warren on WFMT (Chicago, IL), and John Platt at WFUV (New York City). The album was Top 40 for airplay by "FolkDJ" in February 2002.

Following a successful album debut show at the legendary Tin Angel in Philadelphia, Balkey has spent the majority of 2002 crisscrossing the United States with nearly three hundred appearances in support of 'Negotiations & Compromise.' The tour has stopped at such reputable venues as the Point (Bryn Mawr, PA), Bluebird Cafe (Nashville, TN), Six String Cafe (Cary, NC), Postcrypt Coffeehouse (New York City), Club Passim (Cambridge, MA) and Evening Muse (Charlotte, NC).

Balkey writes the "Songwriter's Tour Guide," a journal of a troubadour.