Tollefson back in town to play Wednesday

Former Juneau resident Eric Tollefson, now of Bend, Ore., will play one show at the Alaskan Hotel & Bar next week on Wednesday, Dec. 29.

Tollefson, 26, got his start on stage - as many young Juneauites do - at the Alaska Folk Festival when he was 12. (For those that were there, he was the tall red-head playing Tom Petty's Last Dance for Mary Jane," and Oasis' "Wonderwall.") He continued to play and write his own songs throughout his teen years and into college at the University of Montana, but after graduation put his music on the back burner to pursue a career as a stockbroker.

After a few years of the high-pressure life, he left that path behind to re immerse himself in music. His first record, "The Sum of Parts" was released last year, and led to gigs with stars like G. Love and Special Sauce and Jackie Green. His next release is now in the works and is expected in April 2011.

Tollefson often plays with his band, the World's Greatest Lovers. The group's folk-rock sound has been compared by several reviewers to Ben Harper.

See Tollefson (sans Lovers) Wednesday night at the Alaskan, where he'll be joined by Juneau drummer Clay Good.

To find out more, visit www.erictollefsonmusic.com