Reinvented: Acoustic Americana Music Guide

rEinVenTeD? ReINvEtEd, you say? Yes, indeedy, and it’s alllll explained in our last story in this edition.

Welcome to the
Reinvented

Tied to the Tracks

||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||

ACOUSTIC
AMERICANA
MUSIC GUIDE
NEWS FEATURES

February 18 edition

||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||


THIS WEEK’S NEWS FEATURES

1) SATURDAY’S FINGERSTYLE GUITAR FESTIVAL WILL MOVE INDOORS
2) “FOLKTACULAR” RETURNS SUNDAY IN SANTA MONICA
3) POET LAUREATE MAYA ANGELOU DOES SPOKEN WORD AT UCLA THIS SATURDAY
4) SOLAS BRINGS IRISH MUSIC TO OJAI FOR AN EARLY ST. PATRICK’S CONCERT
5) NOTABLE DOCUMENTARY TO SCREEN WEDNESDAY NIGHT
6) COUNTRY JOE McDONALD TO PLAY “WOODY GUTHRIE TRIBUTE”
7) REMINDER: SARAH LEE GUTHRIE & JOHNNY IRION IN TOWN FOR SHOWS AND TV
8) “QUICK TAKES” FROM THE COMING WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT EVENTS PAGE…
9) A NOTE ON “WINTERGRASS” IN WASHINGTON STATE LATER THIS MONTH
10) NOTABLE SEA CHANTEY SINGER LOSES BATTLE WITH CANCER
11) REINVENTION OF THE GUIDE IS AT HAND

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here are these feature stories…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our # 1 Story:

SATURDAY’S FINGERSTYLE GUITAR FESTIVAL WILL MOVE INDOORS

It has a high-power lineup of top professional guitarists from all over the US, with headliners JEFF LINSKY and BOB SAXTON (PATSY CLINE’s guitarist), DAVID OAKES & BRUCE BUCKINGHAM, and GUITAR ROMANTICA. They’re sharing the stage with ten other guitar maestros. And part of it is free.

“With rain predicted, it’s all moving indoors, from the Yorba Linda Community Center’s Park Amphitheater to the center itself, so everyone will stay warm and dry.” That’s the word from GREG ATKIN, president of the Association of Fingerstyle Guitarists, the organization that sponsors the day and evening festival in northeast Orange County. He adds, “It’s a day of nonstop guitar playing fun.”

The evening concert at the “ASSOCIATION OF FINGERSTYLE GUITARISTS ANNUAL FESTIVAL” was always planned to be indoors. The FREE daytime performances would have been outside, but for the weather. The festival’s stellar lineup isn’t affected by a roof. They’re probably all happier because strings stay in tune with indoor temperatures, and the weekend will be cold outside.

During the afternoon, see and hear PETE STEINBERG (multiple-year West Coast Fingerstyle Champion), JEFF FINDL, REYNALD CHAPUT & FREDDIE HOUSE, EUGENE HOWELL, EB JENSEN, GREG M. ATKIN, TERRY EAKIN, 10 string classical guitarist PERFECTO DE CASTRO, TERRY BAILEY, and special short performances by the evening concert stars. There is a change: BROOKS ROBERTSON had to cancel.

The daytime FREE events start at noon and go until 4:30 pm. Then there’s a break for some vegetarian chili, a raffle, and the evening concert – which requires a $20 ticket, starting at 5 pm.

The all-star evening concert features performers JEFF LINSKY, DAVID OAKES & BRUCE BUCKINGHAM, BOB SAXTON (PATSY CLINE) and GUITAR ROMANTICA.

Headliner JEFF LINSKY, with a strong classical guitar technique and a remarkable gift for improvisation, has developed his own warmly passionate and personal style of playing, blending elements of jazz, classical, and Latin music. An award winning composer, Jeff has several critically acclaimed recordings to his credit. His original composition “Up Late,” title track of his Concord Records release, has become a standard in the Smooth Jazz radio format. His composition, “Monterey,” served for years as the broadcast theme of the ‘Monterey Jazz Festival.” His Latin Jazz project, “Simpatico,” featuring WEATHER REPORT veterans ALPHONSO JOHNSON and ALEX ACUNA, was nominated Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year by the National Association of Independent Record Distributors. His completely improvised solo guitar release, “Jeff Linsky / Solo,” was named in Downbeat Magazine's Top Ten List. More at www.jefflinsky.com

The AFG FESTIVAL, like the organization’s other events, is open to all, and it’s group’s biggest annual event. More important, it’s an opportunity to enjoy some of the world’s best guitarists and to support a fine music organization with your attendance. Those who wish may become AFG members at the event.

AFG is educationally oriented and dedicated to the goals of teaching, nurturing, and promoting the art of fingerstyle guitar. In pursuit of its goals, the AFG publishes a semi-annual newsletter, aptly named “The Sound Hole.” AFG hosts tri-annual Fingerstyle Guitar Seminars, holds an annual Convention (each January), and sponsors special performance events featuring AFG members.

AFG does some innovative thinking for their events, and that can save you money. Membership (AFG welcomes musicians and music fans) is open to the public for $20 per year. And an AFG member’s spouse gets free admission to all AFG events. So, rather than buy two concert tickets, a couple can buy a membership and one ticket and both will get admission to the festival plus the ongoing annual individual membership and free admission for the member’s spouse at additional AFG events.

The festival is THIS SATURDAY, February 19, and it’s a Guide “SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK” pick. It runs from noon to 9:30 pm, at the Yorba Linda Community Center, 4501 Casa Loma Av, Yorba Linda 92886. Free parking. Free daytime performances, $20 for the all-star evening concert. Info, 714-663-0071 or www.afg.org


~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~

Our # 2 Story:

“FOLKTACULAR” RETURNS SUNDAY IN SANTA MONICA

He books waaay too many people to perform, and it runs an unreasonable number of hours, smackdab in the middle of a three-day weekend. But it works, so who can argue with success?

“He” is singer-songwriter and 2010 New Century Writer Award winner ROBERT MORGAN FISHER. The first of his twice-annual events for 2011 arrives this Sunday, February 20. It is, of course, “FOLKTACULAR,” with its massive lineup, that runs 3 pm-midnight – or after. And it’s a Guide “SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK” pick.

That designation from us isn’t only because it’s an excellent lineup of L.A.-based artists. This is always a synergistic gathering, a “happening scene” for the artists who are playing it and others who have shared stages with one or more of them at other times. There’s food and beer and wine (potluck contributions are encouraged). There are Tito’s Tacos and burritos (while they last, and everyone always gets some). There’s a separate area to chat, apart from the listening room environment of the stage and its parade of artists. And it’s become a test track for a few artists’ new songs – before they take them on the spring and summer music festival rounds – so there’s always a “heard-here-first” dimension to the February Folktacular.

Here’s the lineup (in reverse order, because that’s how Robert does things):

Special Headliner guest JOHN YORK (from The BYRDS) at 10 pm
ROBERT MORGAN FISHER (New Century Writer Award winner) at 9 pm
JOYCE WOODSON (top award-winning western singer-songwriter) at 8 pm
CHAD WATSON & PAM LOE (top award-winning California country artists ) at 7:30 pm
LISA TURNER at 7 pm
PAUL ZOLLO (musician & best-selling author of books on Bob Dylan and Tom Petty); 6:30 pm
ALFRED JOHNSON at 6 pm
BAYARD JOHNSON at 5:30 pm
JEFF GOLD at 5 pm
LORIN HART at 4:30 pm
DALE LaDUKE at 4 pm
TIM TEDROW & TERRY VREELAND & their acoustic / vocal band, at 3:30 pm

ROBERT MORGAN FISHER kicks-off the show at 3 pm with a set of cover songs from his forthcoming CD, “Couplings, Mash-Ups & Forced Marriages.”

JOHN YORK is happily back on stage, performing BYRDS classics “Turn, Turn, Turn” (actually written by Pete Seeger) and “Mr. Tambourine Man” (written by Bob Dylan) as well as other songs written by that band, and his own more recent originals. John has been called “the last pure voice of the Silver Sixties to make it through… intact to the first decade of the 21st Century.” John was a member of the Byrds, post-Chris Hillman and Gram Parsons, from 1968 throughout the “Easy Rider” era, until right before "Chestnut Mare." In addition to his current solo shows, he is BARRY McGUIRE’s musical partner in the must-see show, “Trippin’ the Sixties,” in which each explores his own role in dozens of the most memorable songs of that turbulent but oh-so-musical decade. There’s lots more at www.johnyorkmusic.com

Trough Records artists PAUL ZOLLO and TIM TEDROW & TERRY VREELAND will be among the L.A.-based singer-songwriter elite who are performing. Tedrow & Vreeland, in their new expanded lineup, were briefly and glowingly profiled last week in the Guide by Geo. McCalip, as part of his review of the big show at the Sierra Madre Playhouse.

After JOHN YORK (The BYRDS) completes his set, there’s MORE than the schedule shows, with “Encore Sets” ’til midnight & beyond.

Robert plans this event each year for Sunday of Presidents’ Day Weekend, “So you can sleep late Monday,” and he always touts that the venue is “a luxurious auditorium with couches and everything.”

“FOLKTACULAR,” is this Sunday, February 20, from 3 pm-midnight, at Writer’s Boot Camp, Bergamont Station Arts Complex, 2525 Michigan Ave, Bldg “i”, Santa Monica. Price includes admission, beverages and Tito’s Tacos while they last. POTLUCK contributions strongly encouraged and appreciated. Info, www.robertmorganfisher.com/news.html. Tix, $25 advance (see website) or $25 at the door.


~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~

Our # 3 Story:

POET LAUREATE MAYA ANGELOU DOES SPOKEN WORD AT UCLA THIS SATURDAY

Inspiring poet, feminist, author, actress, director and activist MAYA ANGELOU, a Poet Laureate of the United States, is one of the most recognizable and beloved names in contemporary American literature and one of the most powerful voices in American culture. Her work is vigorous, elegant and wields the power to blur racial and socioeconomic lines. Angelou’s influential “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” is a classic that transcends generations. Her prolific career includes a litany of best-selling works of poetry and prose, and this appearance is a rare chance to celebrate this extraordinary woman in her own notable presence.

Angelou recited her original poetry at PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON’s Inauguration in 1993. Not since JOHN F. KENNEDY took office in 1961 had a poet been invited to take part. (Kennedy chose CARL SANDBERG.) President Barack Obama revived the tradition again at his Inauguration in 2009 (the poet was ELIZABETH ALEXANDER, though most people remember that ARETHA FRANKLIN sang, and JOHN WILLIAMS conducted ITZHAK PERLMAN, YO-YO MA, GABRIELA MONTERO, & ANTHONY McGILL). The enduring influence of art…

Saturday, February 19, 8 pm, in a Guide “SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK” pick, MAYA ANGELOU speaks at UCLA Live series in Royce Hall, 340 Royce Dr, on the UCLA campus at Royce Dr between Westwood Bl and Hilgard Av, West L.A. Info, www.uclalive.org; 310-825-4401. UCLA ticket office, 310-825-2101. Tickets are $33-63 ($15 for UCLA students).


~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~

Our # 4 Story:

SOLAS BRINGS IRISH MUSIC TO OJAI FOR AN EARLY ST. PATRICK’S CONCERT

This coming Tuesday, February 22 at 7 pm, SOLAS brings their “mind-blowing Irish folk music” to the Ojai Music Series. It’s easily a four-shamrock “SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK” pick for the Guide.

The Irish Echo calls them, “most exciting band anywhere in the world.” The Philadelphia Inquirer adds, “mind-blowing Irish folk music, maybe the world’s best,” while the Washington Post acclaims them for the “world’s finest Celtic-folk ensembles.”

Solas has been loudly proclaimed as the most popular, influential, and one of the most exciting Celtic bands in the world. They can play undiluted traditional Irish music and they go far beyond it. “They are always varying the mix of fire-tested tradition and contemporary sensibility with an ease and naturalness that is as astonishing as their overwhelming musicianship,” as series producers Shane and Kelly tell us.

An internationally acclaimed supergroup, they’ve captured the hearts and ears of Irish music fans and made fans around the globe with their blend of Celtic traditional, folk and country melodies.

The Solas sound today is anchored by founders SEAMUS EGAN, who plays flute, banjo, mandolin, whistle, guitar and bodhran, and fiddler WINIFRED HORAN. They’re joined by MICK McAULEY from Kilkenny on accordion and concertina, EAMON McELHOLM from Tyrone on guitar and keyboards, and MÁIRÉAD PHELAN on vocals.

Check out their live performance at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UO8dSRL_m2w and www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD_3CnaeCoM&feature=related

For out-of-town concert goers who want to stay the night in Ojai, Casa Ojai (www.ojaiinn.com) is offering a 15% discount off their winter rates. In addition, concert producers will give hotel guests 20% off on tickets for the show.

Tuesday, February 22 at 7 pm, SOLAS plays the Ojai Music Series at the Ojai Woman’s Club, 441 Ojai Av, Ojai; info (& tix through PayPal) at www.ojaiconcertseries.com or call 805-665-8852. Tix, $25 advance, $28 at the door (if any remain).


~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~

Our # 5 Story:

NOTABLE DOCUMENTARY TO SCREEN WEDNESDAY NIGHT

As we all watch and debate the events unfolding in Wisconsin, we can’t help but recall that the most iconic of all folk singers, like PETE SEEGER and the late WOODY GUTHRIE and their contemporaries were often writing songs about the struggles of the little guy, the worker, and the efforts to gain the strength of representation by unions in an era when corporate big shots sought to control everything. Much has changed, including the multinational nature of megabig business, who simply exports jobs to places where they are not held accountable for workplace conditions or providing a retirement system or benefits.

Sometimes, we forget that some jobs, by their nature, cannot be exported. That includes mining, which must happen where the desired mineral is located, rather than where the worker can be exploited to the most abusive extent.

That may cause you to think of coal mining, but this about another mineral.

The largest deposit of borate minerals in North America – nearly pure borax – is located under the town of Boron in California’s Mojave Desert. When multinational mining giant Rio Tinto bought the storied American company US Borax, of “Twenty Mule Team” fame, they took over the giant open pit mine and mill complex in Boron and sought to change all the contracts with the work force there.

What followed got ugly. And that’s the story told in the documentary film, “LOCKED OUT.” Filmmaker JOAN SEKLER's riveting documentary chronicles a true-life "David and Goliath" struggle by 560 unionized miners in Boron. The film will be presented in a special free screening sponsored by ILWU Local 13 and the Harry Bridges Institute.

All who sing those old songs, “Plane Wreck at Los Gatos,” “(If You Ain’t Got the Do-Re-Me,” “Union Made,” and so many other classic folk songs from the American songbook as enshrined and preserved in the Smithsonian, should consider seeing this film about a modern-day manifestation of issues that are far from resolved. The news from Wisconsin certainly shows that.

Wednesday, February 23, “LOCKED OUT” screens FREE at 7:30 pm at the historic Warner Grand Theater, 434 W 6th St, San Pedro 90731; 310-833-4813; www.grandvision.org.


~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~

Our # 6 Story:

COUNTRY JOE McDONALD TO PLAY “WOODY GUTHRIE TRIBUTE”

He became immortal as a social icon the moment he led the “Fish Cheer” from the stage at Woodstock. He played the most legendary of all music festivals with his band, COUNTRY JOE & THE FISH, doing such then-topical songs as the antiwar “Fixin’ to Die Rag.” But the cheer was like no other before it. Of course, the four-letter word spelled and shouted one letter at a time by 300,000 people, starting with Joe’s infamous, “Gimme an F,” was not “fish.”

It’s been both boon and distraction ever since, to a guy who wants to be known as a musician – and storyteller. Next week, you’ll get two opportunities to evaluate the man and his music.

On February 25th at McCabe’s, and the 26th at the Caltech Folk Music Society series, the emphasis will be on Country Joe, the musician – and, yes, the storyteller. Both are among the Guide’s “SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK” picks.

Friday, February 25, 8 pm, COUNTRY JOE McDONALD performs at McCabe’s, 3101 Pico Bl (at 31st), Santa Monica 90405; www.mccabes.com; 310-828-4403; tix, 310-828-4497. Tix, $22.50.

Saturday, February 26, 8 pm, he performs his “WOODY GUTHRIE TRIBUTE” show at the Caltech Folk Music Society series in Beckman Institute Auditorium (“Little Beckman”) on the campus, 322 S Michigan Av, Pasadena; 626-395-4652, or toll-free 888-2CALTECH (1-888-222-5832). (More on the Caltech Folk Music Series at www.folkmusic.caltech.edu - and check-out other music on campus at Caltech Presents / Caltech Public Events series at www.events.caltech.edu). Tickets are $20.

We’ll focus on the later.

COUNTRY JOE McDONALD has been touring his “TRIBUTE TO WOODY GUTHRIE” for the past few years to strong audience acclaim. In his highly-entertaining tribute, Country Joe deftly conveys the charm, talent, and social and political consciousness of the legendary folksinger from Oklahoma. It helps to know that McDonald’s father, Worden, shared Oklahoma’s Dust Bowl roots with Guthrie in the ‘20s & ‘30s. Country Joe opens the tribute with a moving performance of Woody’s best-known tune, “This Land is Your Land,” and takes the audience through a journey of 13 Woody Guthrie songs, all in a strong clear voice that doesn’t mimic Guthrie’s style, but conveys the emotion and energy that defines Guthrie. More at www.countryjoe.com.

The Caltech campus ticket office handles the Folk Music Society’s advance tickets, accepts credit cards, and is open Noon-5 pm, Monday-Friday; their number is 626-395-4652. As the date gets close, this will likely sell-out. Tickets are $20, $5 for children and Caltech students.


~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~

Our # 7 Story:

REMINDER: SARAH LEE GUTHRIE & JOHNNY IRION IN TOWN FOR SHOWS AND TV

They’ve got one of the hottest folk albums in the country, they’re on their way here, and you’ve got two chances to see them perform:

Tue, Feb 22, a “SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK” pick:
SARAH LEE GUTHRIE & JOHNNY IRION play Hotel Café in Hollywood, for a “Last Call with Carson Daly” taping at the venue.

Thu, Feb 24, a “SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK” pick:
SARAH LEE GUTHRIE & JOHNNY IRION with THE FAMILY TREES at SOHO in Santa Barbara.

The Guide ran a News Feature (#4) on the duo and their upcoming Hotel Café show / TV taping in our February 4 edition It’s available in the archive at

http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/02/acoustic-americana-music-guide-february.html


~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~

Our # 8 Story:

“QUICK TAKES” FROM THE COMING WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT EVENTS PAGE…

As always, there is just soooo much to see and hear and some tough choices for your music dollar. Here are just a few.

Sat, Feb 19; a “SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK” pick:
8 & 10 pm DAVID LINDLEY at McCabe’s, 3101 Pico Bl (at 31st), Santa Monica 90405; www.mccabes.com; 310-828-4403; tix, 310-828-4497. Lindley is one of the world’s most respected rock guitarists who can play anything with strings, acoustic or electric or anywhere in between. He’s here 2/19 at 8 & 10 pm and 2/20 at 7 pm. Tix, $20.

-----------------------------------------------

Sat & Sun, Feb 19 20; a SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK” pick (THREE shows):
2 pm both days, & 7 pm on Sat: JOE CRAVEN - “JAWBONES, CANJOES, AND CAKEPANS; THE WORLD OF JOE CRAVEN” at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena 91001; reservations 626-794-2424; venue phone 626-398-7917; info www.coffeegallery.com. (“The venue named in FolkWorks as L.A.’s best intimate acoustic listening room venue”). This guy is amazing, a true musical genius. Joe is here for 3 shows at the venue, playing 2 pm matinees Sat & Sun and a 7 pm Sat show. Tix, $20, any of these shows.

-----------------------------------------------

Sun, Feb 20:
3:30 pm BORODIN QUARTET plays the “SUNDAYS WITH COLEMAN” 107th season (2010-2011), presented by the Coleman Chamber Music Association in Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium, 322 S Michigan Av, Pasadena; series info 626-793-4191; www.colemanchambermusic.org. Season subscription (6 concerts) $108-$234; single-event tix $24-45.

--------------------------------------

Mon, Feb 28; a “SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK” pick:
8:15 pm “AN EVENING WITH MAC DAVIS” presented by the Society of Singers at Cafe Cordiale, 14015 Ventura Bl, Sherman Oaks 91423 (3 blocks W of Woodman, N side of st);
www.cafecordiale.com; 818-789-1985. Doors open at 6:15 pm for dinner (the only way to get a seat and be sure you’ll be in the room). Show at 8:15 pm. For reservations, call 818-995-7100 ext 102 or buy tickets online at www.singers.org or email sos@singers.org. Check the venue’s full music schedule at www.cafecordiale.com/music.html

--------------------------------

See the Guide’s NEW section, “SPOTLIGHT EVENTS” for a lot more, at

http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/02/spotlight-events-acoustic-americana.html


~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~

Our # 9 Story:

A NOTE ON “WINTERGRASS” IN WASHINGTON STATE LATER THIS MONTH

The annual “WINTERGRASS” festival Thursday-Sunday, February 24-27 in Bellevue, Washington, is loaded with bluegrass star performances and workshops. It’s a Festival we wish could attend, and a Guide “out-of-town SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK” pick. Our brief note is, If you go, one of Thursday’s workshops is the “Harmony Singing Intensive” with NorCal Americana / bluegrassers LAURIE LEWIS and TOM ROZUM. Of course, we presume you already know that they do get around, including leading river rafting trips for musicians and music fans…


~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~

Our # 10 Story:

STEVE LEWIS, NOTABLE SEA CHANTEY SINGER LOSES BATTLE WITH CANCER

Most of our readers did not know STEVE LEWIS. But many of our readers would most surely have liked him. He passed away on February 11 after a long battle with cancer.

Steve made his career on the sea as an oceanographer, working in the remote Arctic near the North Pole. This nautical background grounded him in singing authentic sea chanteys about whaling, the high seas, and maritime life.

Steve was a frequent song leader at “Northwest Seaport Chantey Sings” in Seattle, the last occasion being the August 2010 Chantey Sing, which he co-led with PERCY HILO aboard the tugboat “Arthur Foss.” The tug is a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and special to everyone who has trod her deck or shared a song on board.

Steve had been an active participant in recent chantey sings, and on January 29 he led a workshop at Rainy Camp (listed in the Guide) on “the vocabulary of sea shanties.”

Steve compiled a song book containing the lyrics to dozens of traditional sea songs, which is used at the “Northwest Seaport Chantey Sings,” and at the Chantey Sings during the “Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival,” which he hosted for many years. Both events are listed in the Guide.

There will be a memorial for Steve in Port Townsend on February 27 at 3 pm, with a potluck to follow, at Quimper Unitarian Church, 2333 San Juan Ave, Port Townsend, WA 98368

Another memorial event, to be located somewhere near Seattle, is in the planning stages. More information will be announced later.

Our thanks to Alice Winship for this info. Smooth sailing, Steve.


~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~

Our # 11 Story:

REINVENTION OF THE GUIDE IS AT HAND

It was inevitable and necessary. With the constant proliferation of acoustic and folk-Americana performances, THE ACOUSTIC AMERICANA MUSIC GUIDE must cover too much, and it requires an ever-increasing amount of time to do it. The way we’ve been doing things is not sustainable, unless we hit the lottery to afford a 40-hour-a-week staff.

Even then, it keeps growing. There’s just too damn much to include, and that has made things too voluminous for our readers to get through all of it in time to find what they’d like to attend.

The question was what to do about it.

The epiphany came with a reader comment. She had recently arrived in L.A. from Austin, and she wrote to tell us that, while she appreciated the Guide, “I haven’t yet been able to figure out the scene here. There are things happening all over the place and I guess I’ll need to just spend the time to make some sense of it.”

Wow. “The Scene.” THAT’s what most people want to find, isn’t it? Whether their scene is indie singer-songwriter, or blues or bluegrass or Cajun or cowboy or Celtic, much of it comes down to what KIND of things happen WHERE, and what the chances are of finding something on any given night or weekend.

That provided the impetus for a plan to reinvent the Guide, and to give our readers something with REALLY fast access, a new approach, new content, a new format, and more.

So, … drum roll, maestro…


||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||

Here’s a quick guide to the NEW Guide, and its new separate sections ~

SPOTLIGHT EVENTS ~ THE SCENE ~ NEWS FEATURES ~ VENUE DIRECTORY

comprising THE ACOUSTIC AMERICANA MUSIC GUIDE
February 18, 2011 edition

||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||


Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Guide’s new sections, each with its own web address.

“THE SCENE” – Now, you can use a link to check any specific day of “THE SCENE” in each town or neighborhood in Southern California – yep, there are separate links for each day! It’s complete with “the odds” of finding an event that night (or day) at each of the most popular acoustic venues that are usually active on that day.

“SPOTLIGHT EVENTS” – A separate address brings you our new “SPOTLIGHT EVENTS” section, listing the hottest shows in Southern California, plus festivals and music conferences everywhere, covering things happening right now and for months come.

The Guide’s new sections, “SPOTLIGHT EVENTS” and its companion, “THE SCENE,” make it EASIER AND FASTER than ever to get a complete overview of where to find live acoustic music performances and related events whenever you want!

WHAT YOU’LL FIND IN THE GUIDE’S NEW SECTIONS –

First, “THE SCENE” gives you the picture of what’s happening right in YOUR MUSICAL NEIGHBORHOOD. “The Scene” is organized by town and micro-region in Southern California, so it’s easy to find music close by – and in a hurry! It includes “the odds” of a show on any given day, so you won’t waste a lot of time searching the web.

Plus, there’s a link in each day’s listings for broadcast and internet RADIO SHOWS and TV with acoustic music.

“THE SCENE” – the complete edition for today (and a preview of what’s coming for EACH and
every day– is at

http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/02/scene-from-guide-feb-18-2011.html


PLUS, THERE’S A NEW COMPANION SECTION –

“SPOTLIGHT EVENTS” is where you’ll find the Guide’s “Show-of-the-Week” picks and “Events-of-the-Week for Artists” – plus, it brings you a select preview of things that are coming up all across the musical landscape, including festivals.

It does NOT list everything – just the events the Guide is spotlighting, so you can get through it quickly.

SPOTLIGHT EVENTS, listed MONTH-BY-MONTH, include the best of what’s still coming up in FEBRUARY – and WAAAY beyond – to help you make plans, and to get tickets before they sell-out. (This is the February 15 edition – check back often for more.)

“SPOTLIGHT EVENTS” – the complete current edition – is at

http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/02/spotlight-events-acoustic-americana.html


NEVER FEAR, THE GUIDE’S THIRD SECTION IS SAFE –

The Guide’s “NEWS FEATURES” are still with us, fresh every week. This section will continue to be distributed through fifteen different websites / web groups. In it each week are links to the Guide’s NEW sections. Our most popular feature for the past few years, the Guide’s News Features continue as the key source of industry and artist news (including hard-to-find news of hot Canadian artists and the European “performed-in-English” acoustic scene); what’s coming up with indie and boutique labels; studios and labels specializing in acoustic and folk-Americana recordings; artists who are innovators, and those who are preserving musical legacies; radio and TV specials that feature acoustic music; CD release celebrations; festivals and conferences; bookings (and how to get ’em); and folk-Americana and acoustic renaissance perspectives, about, by, and for the acoustic music and folk-Americana artist community!

“NEWS FEATURES” – the complete current edition – are where you’re reading this.


||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||

Our little commercial…
BUY AN AD, HELP KEEP THE GUIDE GOING!

Sending us $25 gets you an ad in the Guide (prepared, run in the Guide, and sent to you for other uses) for your event or CD release or gig, AND you become a Guide Annual Subscriber (making you eligible for ticket giveaways and more!)

Please become an annual supporter by sending us $25. That helps sooooo very much! Bringing you all this information is a time-devouring production, on par with gathering and reporting the news for any full-size 40-page WEEKLY newspaper!

Seriously: Throughout 2010, the Guide often ran 100 pages – or more – of 8 ½ x 11 size pages, EVERY WEEK… Yes, there IS that much acoustic music happening out there! And it’s why we’re changing to the new format.

WRITE US at tied to the tracks (at) Hotmail dot com … and THANK YOU for your support!

||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||


MORE STUFF >>>>>>> Resources, etc…

Our newly updated VENUE DIRECTORY is available at

http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/02/venue-directory-from-guide-updated.html


||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||


Updated editions will bring more (there’s always more -- as we have time to organize all of it).

We do all we can to bring you news and notices of many, many, MANY acoustic music events in and around Los Angeles and Southern California and acoustic festivals everywhere.

Plus, we tell you about RADIO SHOWS and TV with acoustic music, focusing on those with live acoustic performances. (They’re available mostly on the web, of course, since we are in acoustic-music-radio-deprived Los Angeles.) Each edition of “THE SCENE” has a link to that day’s listings.

And, we bring news and reviews of the many acoustic music FESTIVALS near and far, hither and yon, here, there and everywhere! With your help, we’ll keep doing it!

||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||


Questions? Comments? Contact us at

tied to the tracks (at) Hotmail dot com

(We’re trying to cut-down spam; so, remove all the spaces when you type it.)

||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||

HELP KEEP THE GUIDE GOING! Send us $25, and you’ll get an ad in the Guide – for your event or CD release or gig – and you’ll become a Guide Annual Subscriber (you’ll be eligible for ticket giveaways and more!) Write us at tied to the tracks (at) Hotmail dot com

||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||>♦<||

The LATEST EDITION of THE GUIDE, with the NEWS FEATURES, THE SCENE, SPOTLIGHTED EVENTS, & THE VENUE DIRECTORY – what it takes to bring you the world of current acoustic music happenings, including “heads up” notices to buy advance tickets for shows likely to sell-out…

Plus VENUES TO HEAR MUSIC OR CONTACT TO GET GIGS, and lots more

– is available 24/7 (& frequently updated!) at ~

www.acousticmusic.net or at
www.acousticamericana.blogspot.com
or use links from the News-only edition at
www.nodepression.com/profile/TiedtotheTracks

- or follow any of the links in the fifteen web sites and web groups that carry the Guide’s weekly News Features.

<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>
Entire contents copyright © 2011, Lawrence Wines & Tied to the Tracks. All rights reserved.
<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>

.