There is an old photograph of Jared Bartman, age two, standing in short, a blazer and a bow-tie, wildly strumming a child-sized plastic guitar. In the years that followed, Jared’s musical repertoire grew to include piano, accordion, and mandolin. Primarily influenced by gypsy-tinged bands like Beirut and Devotchka, Jared merges genres to create a sound that is all his own, combining Eastern European folk with classical arrangements and occasionally returning to his more blues-based roots. His versatility is best noted by his ability to create songs that vary from darkly dramatic to fast-paced fusions of accordion and middle-eastern melody. Today, his live shows span from solo performances to large ensembles, with percussionist Aaron Kavelman using everything from bundt cake pans filled with water to hollowed out World War II bombshells to recreate the vivid sonic pictures captured in their studio recordings. Sharing the stage with artists like John Vanderslice, Richard Buckner and Southeast Engine has allowed Jared to perform for audiences that value a richer, raw sound accompanied by poetic lyricism. Jared is currently supporting his latest release, Jersey Shore, with shows throughout the Midwest and East Coast. A series of 7-inch records will see a limited vinyl release early next year.