Focus Board Showcase w Annette Wasilik, Gabrielle Zwi & rob Hinkal 
Saturday, June 11, 2022 | Island Pride Oasis |  617 S Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20879

FocusMusic's board members include a number of highly-acclaimed musicians and we thought it was long-since-time that we show them off. On June 11th and July 9th we're going to do just that!

Annette Wasilik

"A dead solid perfect singer/songwriter putting out material straight from the heart, the words, the music and voice all come together so perfectly...Killer stuff." ~ Chris Spector, Midwest Record

Annette sings award-winning stories about humans and the internal and external landscapes we all inhabit. From the first notes, her warm alto and presence draws you in. Annette's debut album, Songs from the Talking House was named Contemporary Folk Recording of the Year by the Washington Area Music Association. In January 2020, she released Love & Fire  which landed at #6 on the Folk Alliance DJ chart and #1 on NACC chart and landed the #40 spot for 2020. In 2019, Annette started a songwriters' series called Local Cream which showcases the best local and regional songwriters in a round-robin format. The pandemic has forced her to put her first tour on hold but is presently booking her 2023 East Coast tour.

Gabrielle Zwi 

Gabrielle Zwi’s songs about friendship, breaking barriers, and identity bring the listener through their life's journey.  

With their signature ukulele and their band alongside her, Gabrielle compliments their thoughtful lyrics with energetic and captivating music. 

rob Hinkal

“Percussive, rhythmically driven guitar that freely composites fingerpicking, classical melodies, running bass lines, harmonics, & hard-charging chords. [rob’s] vocals are needled & gaunt, with the jittery energy of a dockyard stray on speed …”

Between rob and his partner Heather Aubrey Lloyd, their band ilyAIMY has received accolades from Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Kerrville Folk Festival as well as the Washington Area Music Awards and more. Most recently rob won a Gold in the category of “Freedom Songs” from 2020’s Mid-Atlantic Song Contest. Additionally, rob’s visual work has appeared on numerous CD covers and posters in the DC metropolitan area. 

Currently rob is working with artists literally from all across the world to present streaming shows and showcases in a broad variety of formats as ilyAIMY writes new music in preparation for recording their 11th album.

Tickets are $20 in advance ($20 at the door to members, $25 at the door to non-members. All audience and staff must show proof of vaccination and wear masks while inside the venue and not eating or drinking.

Registration details will be EMAILED along with a receipt (two separate emails). For in-person events, please just check in at the front desk! For online shows a link will accompany your registration email. If you do not receive that email - please check your spam folder. If you still cannot find details contacting tickets@focusmusic.org.

“As good a modern folkie as we have these days. A perfect voice for the genre. An understanding beyond the norm.” 
                                                       -No Depression

Tickets and info coming soon!

Cook is one of the hardest-working DIY troubadours on the road today, averaging around 150 shows including a dozen festivals every year since 2007.  All the hard miles notwithstanding, he still believes that songs can change your life, and your life can change the world.