NEWS FEATURES, June 13 edition, Acoustic Americana Music Calendar & News 2008

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"Tied to the Tracks"
ACOUSTIC AMERICANA
MUSIC CALENDAR & NEWS
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NEWS FEATURES for June 13, 2008
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copyright (c) © 2008, Larry Wines. All rights reserved.
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June calendar, as a continuous read, is now at http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com, along with each day’s updated post of events, and our newest popular feature, the anniversaries of things that happened on that date.
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Each day’s updated events and anniversaries is still at www.myspace.com/laacoustic – for the time being. Because Myspace is suddenly accepting only short posts, we must go through the ponderous process of listing events there in small blocks, usually one day at a time – so, the calendar will move to another site, and that will happen soon.
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FUTURE EVENTS and archived NEWS FEATURES are posted into 2009 on our myspace site, where reading them curiously requires that you use the “Older Entries” button that appears when you click “View All” – going “back” to the future… just one of the many myspace aberrations.
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NEWS FEATURES:
June 13, 2008
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x) AIRPLAY DIRECT’s “ALL THINGS DIGITAL FOLK / AMERICANA" CONTEST
Throughout the month of June, AirPlay Direct (www.airplaydirect.com) is running a FREE-to-enter "All Things Digital Folk / Americana" artist contest.
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The Grand Prize package is formidable, valued at over $30,000, and it includes: A 16 week national radio promotion package ($3,500 value); a 12 week digital radio promotion package ($4,500 value); a 12 week national publicity / marketing package ($9,000 value); an official Folk Alliance National Conference 2009 live performance showcase; a recording studio package for a master quality 5 song EP ($5,000 value); a song on The Sin City Social Club Sampler Vol. # 10 / distributed during AMA Conf. and SXSW ($750 value); placement to digital downloads on VirtualMusicMarket.com for one year; placement on the True Talent Management film & TV placement compilation ($150 value); on-air "feature artist" interviews on: (a) Big Kev's syndicated radio show "It's Motel Time Again;" (b) Rick Star’s Texas Rebel Radio; (c) Thee Billy Block Show; a feature artist interview with Big Kev in the Artist Development Co-op's Media Guide magazine; live performance slots at: (a) Billy Block's showcase in Nashville; (b) Famous Dave's BBQ in Chicago; (c) The Berkeley Cafe in Raleigh, NC; a "Featured Artist" advertising / promotion package from AirPlay Direct (a $1,500 value)
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This contest is FREE TO ENTER. It has 3 requirements: (1) you must be an AirPlay Direct artist / label member (free to join); (2) your music must fall into the Folk / Americana genre; and (3) you must submit your AirPlay Direct DPK to office@airplaydirect.com prior to the official entry deadline of June 25th. They tell us, “Whether you are an indie artist or a well-established record label with a roster, pick your best songs, you can submit from 1 to 3 tracks per artist. Please make sure to note that you are submitting for the Folk / Americana artist contest. Deadline for submissions is June 25th. The winner will be announced and "Featured" in the July Radio Programmers Newsletter, as well as in a company press release to all media outlets.
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You can learn about all the sponsors at AirPlay Direct’s web site. We have written before about AirPlay Direct and their previous artist contests, but if you missed that, here’s a little about them. AirPlay Direct (www.AirPlayDirect.com) is, according to their own promo, “a new revolutionary, efficient and very cost effective way (FREE) to securely deliver your ‘broadcast-quality’ music and electronic press kits to radio programmers and music industry professionals around the world. [It provides] an easy to use digital file transfer system that was developed to streamline radio / artist promotion activities for today's music industry. AirPlay Direct's FREE digital services replace the unnecessary time and expense of putting together and sending out costly traditional artist packages and press kits via snail mail.”
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(Editor’s note: Of course, some of us in radio still prefer, and actually need, physical CDs and one-sheets.)
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x) AIRPLAY DIRECT NAMES WINNER IN “COUNTRY / ALT COUNTRY” CONTEST
Throughout the month of May, AirPlay Direct (www.airplaydirect.com) ran a free-to-enter "All Things Digital Country / Alt. Country" artist contest. The winner is THOMPSON SQUARE, announced June 11, and they will receive the contest’s Grand Prize package, worth over $19,000. A country duo in a traditional sense, Thompson Square is husband & wife KEIFER & SHAWNA THOMPSON. You can hear and download their tracks (broadcast-quality) at www.airplaydirect.com/1617virtual.
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x) REPORT FROM A CD RELEASE SHOW, & AVOIDING MISTAKES WITH YOURS
File this under “Keep on the Sunny Side of Life” while you deal with that ache in the pit of your stomach. We received a message this week from an award-winning artist (serious awards, including a lifetime achievement award). The artist sent us this post-mortem on the event for their latest CD release (actual quote):
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“We enjoyed what music promoters might call an ‘intimate’ CD release party at the [venue name & location] last month. Seven copies of our new CD were sold, and we can conclude that it is on a definite track to ‘go lead’ sometime before 2020.”
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That’s “lead” as in the heavy metal, not as in “led” the hit parade.
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Yikes. Give ‘em credit for accentuating the positive. But, yikes. Did they provide TMI? Probably. Note that we are not telling you who it is. We will, later, after they sell a bunch of copies of their new CD, but not before.
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Larry Wines, our editor and an artist consultant (tiedtothetracks@hotmail.com), says, “We don’t know what went ‘wrong’ with that CD release show. But we do know what makes things go right. There is a way to do what escaped the alchemists of old, and turn lead into gold.”
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“First, make the best record you can. There’s no substitute for great music with production that’s perfect for the genre and mood of the music – though a great CD is no guarantee that anyone will hear it, and never expect the world is going to beat a path to your door. So, simply put, you need do everything right. Put as much careful effort into your marketing as you put into the studio.”
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Before you book the gig, restrain yourself with ‘the CD release show’ until you KNOW you will have the product in hand to sell at the event. We’ve been to CD release shows where there was no CD. Ouch.”
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“Select the right venue for the release show. That should be the biggest one you know you can fill (note, fill. Get everybody in the room, but avoid looking like a BB in a boxcar. Reverb and room echo are not the same thing.) Remember, ‘location, location, location.’ Don’t hold your party too far off the beaten track from your fan base (that deck above the crashing waves at Big Sur might be a dream place to play, but at $4.50+ a gallon, who’s driving up there to see you?)
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“Spend time and effort creating a buzz. ‘Buzz’ requires many dimensions. Work your fan list and any web group in your genre that allows promotion, and put flyers and mini-posters in all the likely places - and a few unlikely ones. Depending on your music, the local café organica could be a good place to hang a poster and leave flyers.”
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“Creating buzz also means working the music media and any events calendars and blogs you can access. Just remember that music web groups are populated with other musicians, rarely with fans who search for things to do, so get on all the calendars and events listings. And never send your beautiful PDF mini-poster to the media, unless it’s just a throw-away attachment. Put the poster on the right walls. The media needs text files that can be copied-and-pasted and edited-to-fit before they’ll include some mention. Media peeps have dozens of things vying for attention, so make your need easy to handle.”
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“ALWAYS send media peeps a dynamite one-sheet with text that can be lifted, so they can be impressed and have something useable (no PDFs). Also, call your media contacts and tell ‘em about your CD release show, and tell them you are sending (or have just sent) all the info by email. That means the date, time, venue name and address, everyone performing with you and in the night’s lineup, the name of your new CD, and anything quick and easy about it that’s impressive. ASK each media contact if they want a copy of the CD for review (or radio airplay). Get their request for the CD before you add to their pile of unopened envelopes. Mail the CD with a one-sheet (even if you already emailed one). Because they ‘requested’ your CD, you can (and must) follow-up in about 10 days to ask if they like it.”
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“Finally, if you have ‘very special guests,’ playing your release show, and/or on the CD, you’d better tell the media who, with just enough for them to be impressed, like, (‘he played fiddle with DOWN IN TH’ HOLLAR on their Grammy-winning album, ‘The Still Done Blowed-Up Agin,’ and, ‘...she played standup bass on the platinum-selling RUTLES album with Bozo OhNo.’) If you got some famous tunesmith or rock star to lay-down a track for your record, get ‘em there for the release show, and let everyone know they will be there. There are many more things you can do to assure success, and many fine points, but those are important basics. If you carry those full boxes of your new album back out the door at the end of your CD release show, they will indeed feel as heavy as lead.”
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x) THIS WEEK’S YOU TUBE PICK: AMY KUNEY, SEEING & SINGING DOUBLE
She’s performed live on radio’s “Tied to the Tracks,” and AMY KUNEY (www.myspace.com/amykuney) has been embraced by fans from both the folk-Americana world and the more youthful acoustic renaissance. She’s crafted a video wherein she sings both lead and backing harmony vocals, and puts both images in a music video, using a split screen. It works very well here, with her vocal and piano rendition of Coldplay’s "Viva La Vida." She did something similar with her "Juno" video, and she says, “I sang the song twice. The first time I sang the melody and the second time I sang harmony. Then [I] split the screen so there would be 2 Amy's. No...I don't have a twin :) They are both me. I've been playing classical piano since I was 4 years old, and I am just now starting to incorporate it more in my shows and videos. Please comment and let me know what you think!” When you go to the You Tube page, you’ll find a nice repertoire of Amy’s performances, in addition to this one, at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN9eT8Ln9r8&feature=email.
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x) A TALE OF “COUNTRY” IN TWO COUNTRIES
We get the artist’s self-promo e-newsletter from Aussie transplant AUDREY AULD (www. recklessrecords.com) aka AUDREY AULD MEZERA (she’s dropping the “Mezera” from her name, “but keeping the husband”). Audrey has performed live on radio’s “Tied to the Tracks,” and the radio show has spun many of her originals.
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Audrey’s latest newsletter includes a piece titled, “DOWNUNDER TAKEOVER!” In it, Audrey writes, “Loads of Aussies hit Nashville during the Country Music Festival weekend recently, [including] the gorgeous TRACY KILLEEN, looking fab in an Audrey T-shirt. Tracy is a hoot, a natural entertainer. Listening to the TOMPKINS' AUSSIE SHOWCASE reminded me that I hear more traditional country from Australians than Americans. [Underline added.] I was proud to hear the excellent country guitar of BOB HOWE, shuffling the beejesus out of classic country songs, along with ALAN TOMPKINS and PETER FIGURES. SANDRA HUMPHRIES' pure country voice is a knock-out. South Aussie boy JEDD HUGHES played a great set on Saturday, during troppo heat in downtown Nashville. Backed by bass and drums, Jedd rocked the sweaty throngs and dazzled us with his hotter-than-the-Nashville-pavement guitar licks.”
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We’re not surprised that someplace else in the world has picked up the torch of traditional country music. It certainly isn’t present in Nashville, otherwise, where red-state-trailer-park rock holds sway, beneath feather-boa-bedecked cowboy hats. We’re happy to keep an eye on the Land Down Under for the songs and melodies and instrumentation that Mew-sick Row refuses to acknowledge. As for Aussie Audrey Auld’s own credentials as a country artist? She also wrote this:
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“DREAMS COMING TRUE... Any fan of traditional country music is familiar with the CARTER FAMILY. They lived in Hiltons, Virginia and the CARTER FAMILY FOLD continues there as a venue, museum and place of worship for pilgrims on The Crooked Road that winds through the musical history of Virginia. I had the great fortune of playing at the Carter Family Fold late last month. It was the most meaningful show I've ever played. This is where JUNE CARTER and JOHNNY CASH came and played for family and friends, as have countless other artists integral to the traditions of acoustic country / folk music.”
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Audrey continues, reporting that she played “with 3/4 of the ORIGINAL RED CLAY RAMBLERS at the Carter Family Fold. These guys harmonize like an angel band. People of all ages dress in their tap shoes and clog dance to the band! It sounds like a million tambourines and looks like a zen hillbilly dance. Some folks even put little lights on the shoe-top which illuminate when the heel is pressed. It's a high-tech down-home sight to see, and much fun.”
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Audrey adds, “My thrills continued the following weekend when DALE JETT, A.P. CARTER's grandson, came to FRED EAGLESMITH's show at the Down Home in Johnson City, Tennessee. I was delighted to give him a copy of [my CD] "Clinch Mountain Prayer", and in turn received his CD. It's called "Dale Jett with friends at the Fold". It's a sublime experience to drive through the beautiful green country of Virginia and listen to this CD. It's low budget, it's live and it's real. It's music with the dirt left on and bears much repeating. I love this album!”
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Audrey is touring a lot these days with longtime TOM RUSSELL sideman ANDREW HARDIN, a wonderful musician. The two are part of the FRED EAGLESMITH “Polar Bear Train,” a musical train ride to the Canadian arctic, Nov 2-9. It’s listed in our calendar, and you can learn more at www.flyingunderradar.com/rails/polartrain08.htm.
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x) THE VIRTUAL FESTIVARIAN?
Yes, we know. You really want to go to all those music festivals, or at least one of ‘em, SOMEWHERE, ANYWHERE, but extortion at the gas pumps just won’t let you go anywhere. Fortunately, a few festivals are covered by live radio broadcasts with web simulcasts. So, get the lawn chair out of the garage, pop some popcorn, fill your ice chest, and position yourself in front of your computer speakers.
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On Sat & Sun, Jun 21 & 22, beginning at 7 am (Pacific) you can catch the LIVE WEBCAST from the 2008 “CLEARWATER FESTIVAL” in New York State, with PETE SEEGER, THE KENNEDYS, CHERYL WHEELER, KEVIN SO, THE BLUERUNNERS, MAGPIE, GANDALF MURPHY, THE FELICE BROTHERS, THE SLEEPY HOLLOW STRING BAND, THE STRANGELINGS, and many others, on five stages, at Croton Point Park, on the shores of the Hudson River, Village of Croton-on-Hudson, Westchester County, New York; www.clearwater.org/revival/index.html.
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A joint project of the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc, and Westchester County, NY, the Clearwater music and environmental festival offers music, dance, storytelling, and more, in “a natural park on a river peninsula with sandy beaches and sweeping views of the Hudson, on the Summer Solstice.” There’s lots more in our calendar listings, if you want to know enough to visualize more aspects of being there.
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The LIVE WEBCAST from the CLEARWATER FESTIVAL is provided by WBAI 99.5 FM, at www.wbai.org. They are “Listener-sponsored community radio for peace and justice” (yep, Pacifica) and they’re broadcasting live from the festival. They tell us that you can listen to the music and sounds from the festival all weekend. (Remember the time zones; a 10 am start, Eastern, is 7 am Pacific, and the festival ends both days at local dusk, which is about 5 pm Pacific time.)
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x) “BACKSTAGE LOS ANGELES” HOSTS PERFORMANCE-INTERVIEWS
We told you about this cable TV show when it first launched. Now, “BackStage: Los Angeles,” (http://www.myspace.com/backstagelosangeles) is in its second season, as a TV show ”done by musicians, about musicians, for musicians and fans, in an easy-backstage conversation style, with some music technique and previews from new CDs shared by the guest artist,” as their promo says. The show has had some fine guests, with more sessions due to be recorded. Who appears on the show, on what date, is determined by the cable provider where you live.
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Episodes are due with a number of artists who are also past guests from radio’s “Tied to the Tracks,” including JOHN McEUEN (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), JAMES LEE STANLEY, BATDORF & RODNEY, SCOTT GATES, CHELSEA WILLIAMS, JAMES LEE STANLEY with JOHN BATDORF, and RUSS & JULIE (Russ & Julie’s House Concerts). In addition, Backstage L.A. books rockers, including PETER TORK (The Monkees).
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And speaking of The Monkees, the show’s creator and producer SANDY JACOBSEN has been in the forefront of an effort to get the band inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As for her show, Sandy is working to expand things, to include an internet radio broadcast of music by artists who want to participate, a concert series, and expansion of the show’s viewing audience (currently 500,000+ households in the L.A. area) to include cable TV systems in Orange County and the Thousand Oaks / Agoura / Simi Valley areas.
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There is great disparity between neighboring cable systems and when each system airs any given episode. So, the best we can tell you is to look at the list of areas and airtimes, and if you see the show listed in your area, go the show’s website and check the specific date, time, and guest.
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Where to catch the show:
Bel Air, cable ch 98
Beverly Hills, cable ch 43
Brentwood, cable ch 98
Chatsworth, cable ch 34
Culver City, cable ch 24
Eagle Rock, cable ch 98
Encino, cable ch 98
Hollywood, cable ch 24
Los Feliz, cable ch 98
Marina Del Rey, cable ch 24
North Hollywood, cable ch 98
Pacific Palisades, cable ch 98
Santa Monica, cable ch 77
Sherman Oaks, cable ch 98
Westchester, cable ch 24
Woodland Hills, cable ch 98
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x) BERNIE PEARL’s NEW CD GETTING AIRPLAY, STRONG REVIEWS
"Old School Blues, Acoustic/Electric" is just beginning to get reviews and airplay. You’ve heard Bernie perform live on radio’s “Tied to the Tracks,” and at the wonderful “50th Anniversary of the Ash Grove” weekend at UCLA this winter. There's a review of Bernie’s new CD posted on the Missouri Blues Society's website; in part, it says, "A worthy disc for every blues lovers library." www.moblues.org/cd_rev3.htm.
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x) CATCH MARINA V WHILE YOU CAN
The charming and talented singer-songwriter-composer-keyboard & guitar player, Russian émigré, and master of effective self-promotion has performed live on radio’s “Tied to the Tracks,” and more recently, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. She frequently performs internationally, with more tours this summer. Marina just checked-in to tell us, “I'm back from France. Wonderful country, beautiful people, delicious food, crazy pigeons. Watch me bike in Versailles, walk in Paris and sing in French in my new video blog on www.youtube.com/marinavdotcom. I'll be playing a show with my friends, ‘80s pop stars Animotion and a few shows with Howard Jones! And a show in Moscow and New York.” She also has a special sale running, 5 of her CDs for $40 (”Something of My Own,” “Simple Magic,” “Live at SoundMoves,” “Russian Bootleg” & “Modern Fairytale.” We told you she’s a master at self-promotion. We included that news, didn’t we?) The delightful artist’s L.A. shows are more rare, these days.
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Catch Marina on Tue, Jun 17, 9 pm at the Hotel Café, 1623 N Cahuenga Bl, Hollywood; 323-461-2040; www.hotelcafe.com. Expect songs from her newest album, “Modern Fairytales.” Check with the venue for cover charge (usually cheaper if you go earlier).
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x) GO TO THE MOVIES, HEAR HARRIET SCHOCK, GET A DISCOUNT COUPON
During the entire month of June, between every showing at all the Laemmle Theatres in L.A., HARRIET SCHOCK’s (www.harrietschock.com) song, “Ok, You Win, I Give Up, You’re Right, I’m Gone,” from her CD, “American Romance” is being played and the CD projected on the screen. This song and three of her other songs are featured in the upcoming Henry Jaglom film, “Irene In Time,” in which Harriet has an on-screen role as “Sandi Fuse,” singing with her band. Harriet tells us, “That particular film will not be released for a while, but the song will be played and you will be able to purchase the CD at Amoeba Records with a $2 off coupon available in the movie theatres.”
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Here’s where this happens: Laemmle Theatres in Beverly Hills, Claremont, Old Town Pasadena, Pasadena, Santa Monica, West Hills, West Hollywood and West Los Angeles; for info, what’s playing, and show times, look at www.laemmle.com.
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If you’re reding this in another part of the country, it also applies to the Angelika Theaters and City Cinemas in NY, Dallas, and Sacramento; that info at
www.citycinemas.moviefone.com and www.angelikafilmcenter.com. Want to see the entire movie playlist? Go to www.orsinopublicity.com.
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x) EASY TRIBUTES THAT HELP CANCER RESEARCH
Everyone will know about it this fall, when all three TV networks simulcast a big show. But you can support research to cure cancer now. Go to www.standup2cancer.org. Making a donation of as little as $1 (or more) enables you to register a “personalized star,” and name a distant light in the night sky in honor of someone who has been diagnosed with cancer.
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NEXT WEEK, we’ll bring lots more news.
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Meantime, be sure you read our #1 news feature in the June 6 edition, and CONTACT CONGRESS to protect your rights to your created works from the piracy that will result if the “Orphan Arts Act” is passed.
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copyright (c) © 2008, Larry Wines. All rights reserved.
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Be sure to check EVERY WEEK for
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+ the extensive and always huge Acoustic Americana Music Calendar’s event listings
at http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com, or at www.myspace.com/laacoustic.
+ news of the “TIED TO THE TRACKS” radio & TV shows coming soon in syndication
+ the latest NEWS FEATURES from the acoustic music universe!
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