Vandaveer is the town-folk, city-pop, solo song and dance routine stated for the record and committed to tape by one Mark Charles Heidinger. In recent seasons this Mark Charles character traversed the mighty American highways spreading golden pop rock cheer and debauchery as principle singer, songwriter, hand-clapper and chorus-yelper for The Apparitions. Where The Apparitions cast five hearty votes for bombast, electricity and drums, Vandaveer steers left, detouring through the quieter side of song doing his very best to learn what makes an acoustic guitar the world’s finest storytelling machine.

Weaned on the cadence and vibrations of a mighty pipe organ-driven church choir, Vandaveer picked up his pop’s old Gibson J-50 at the age of 15, butchered a Nirvana tune, and went on his merry way to learn his new craft. Born in cloudy Ohio, raised in the great state of Kentucky, and currently camped out in our nation’s fair capital, Vandaveer found in his heart a volume of tunes about love, death, redemption and flight and a stirring itch to sing his way through the dark.

Vandaveer has enjoyed the good fortune of performing with a host of worthy and humbling artists including The Ditty Bops, Smog, Tim Easton, Steve Forbert, Paleo, Phonograph, The Scourge of The Sea, and his dear friends in DC’s ramshackle collective, The Federal Reserve.

Hooked on the sugary, melodic charm of McCartney’s early solo records, the theatrical grit of every Tom Waits song ever recorded, and the humbling wit of Dylan’s finest hours, Vandaveer lingers comfortably at the corner of folk and pop.

Vandaveer’s debut record, Grace & Speed, will be released on March 20th, 2007 on Washington, DC’s new imprint, Gypsy Eyes Records. Extensive national touring to follow…

Vandaveer 2007 Tour Dates (more dates to be announced soon):

03.29 Arlington, VA IOTA Club and Cafe (CD Release Party)
03.30 Philadelphia, PA Tin Angel (with Alejandro Escovedo)
04.01 New York, NY Arlene’s Grocery
04.04 Ashland, VA Ashland Coffee & Tea
04.05 Washington, DC Crooked Beat Records In-Store Performance
04.11 Roanoke, VA 202 Market
04.12 Charlottesville, VA Gravity Lounge
04.18 Washington, DC Rock & Roll Hotel
04.24 Washington, DC The Black Cat
04.26 Louisville, KY Ear X-Tacy Records In-Store Performance
04.26 Louisville, KY 930 Listening Room
04.27 Lexington, KY The Dame
04.28 Lexington, KY CD Central In-Store Performance
04.29 Cookeville, TN TBA
05.04 Milwaukee, WI Shank Hall (with Steve Forbert)

Here’s what people are already saying about Vandaveer:

“You may not yet know the name Mark Charles Heidinger, but you should. When he’s not tearing it up with The Apparitions, he’s creating well-crafted modern folk music under the moniker Vandaveer. Grace and Speed is superb from start to finish, showing Heidinger’s gift for storytelling and sense of of economy.” - Performing Songwriter

“The music is just beautiful, from the harmony to the instrumentation. Folk definitely, and very stripped down at times. Comparisons to Dylan get old fast, but you can’t help but feel some Bob channeling in the wonderfully simple opening track “How Many Takes it Takes” and “Out Past the Moat.” – On Tap / Washington DC

“Indie folk with Bob Dylan influences in the lyrical department gets a raw stripped down treatment here… host to a thick melodic undercurrent, pleasantly used beats, and elegant acoustic guitars.” - Smother Magazine

“Vandaveer sang songs that were at times humorous, poignant and thoughtful. On the folk scale, he falls somewhere between traditional and alternative Americana, with nods to Nashville and his smoky-yet-syrupy voice is reminiscent of M. Ward… the crowd seemed smitten.” – NBC-TV / The DC Scene

“The DC-based artist creates music that is much different from his previous band, exploring acoustic, pop-tinged, Americana styled songs this time around.” - IndiePulse

“Warm and uncomplicated… an authentic and honest sounding album from a talented singer/songwriter with his heart in the right place.” - Rootstime

“…troubadour folk of Bob Dylan as well as a bit of his way with words, but there’s also a Crosby, Stills and Nash California vocal harmonies sound peeking through. You can hear the “indie” influences in the processed vocals, beats and somber themes of “Marianne You’ve Done It Now”. This is a pretty auspicious start of the year.” – songs: Illinois

“…ever-fashionable honey-sweet folk ballads with an occasional dark edge.” – Read Express

“While musically related to the traditional folk of Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and even Josh Ritter, Vandaveer’s lovely rootsy approach is decidedly more contemporary. Ritter’s music, for example, is better suited for coffee houses, Vandaveer’s the bars. And with Dutch blood running through his veins there are enough bars in his ancestors’ native country to showcase his stage talent here for a long time.” – Hanx / The Netherlands

” … a great voice.” – DC Music Scene

“…a fresh and convincing manner that at times is reminiscent of not only a young Dylan, but Tim Hardin, Nick Drake and Donovan as well. A jewel of a record.” – AltCountry

“When the talented Mr. Mark Charles Heidinger isn’t playing in bands like The Apparitions or These United States, he’s working on a solo project he calls Vandaveer. Listen to his Grace & Speed debut and you’ll easily hear how deeply he’s been influenced by greats like Nick Drake and Tom Waits.” – 5 Acts

For more info go to:

http://www.vandaveer.net
http://www.myspace.com/vandaveer

For media requests contact:
Tony Bonyata
p: 262.203.5353
e: tony@machine-inc.com
http://www.machinerecords.com