NEWS FEATURES, July 11, 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 July 11, 2008
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copyright (c) © 2008, Larry Wines. All rights reserved.
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The Acoustic Americana Music Calendar with updated posts and our popular “anniversaries” of things that happened each day in the history of music, entertainment, and the rest of the world, is now at http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/. Myspace has made changes that limit the size of posts, and that makes it far too time-consuming and ponderous to post the calendar there in small pieces.
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Our myspace site, www.myspace.com/laacoustic is still the place to go for news of the syndicated “Tied to the Tracks” radio show, and its new TV counterpart that launches soon.
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FUTURE EVENTS are all moving to our Blogspot page. Archived NEWS FEATURES are still found on our myspace site, where you can also peruse radio playlists and other old things, back to when acoustic music was made by indigenous natives pounding on hollow logs with rocks.
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NEWS FEATURES:
July 11, 2008
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1) FAR WEST FOLK ALLIANCE SHOWCASE APPLICATION DEADLINE IS JULY 31
The FAR-West Showcase Committee, Renee Bodie, Wendy Waldman, Deborah Ching, Dana Charnofsky, & John Jacob, checked-in with some news. The deadline for Official Showcase submissions for the 5th annual FAR-West Conference is July 31. The conference will take place Oct 24-26, 2008 in Phoenix, AZ at the Marriott Phoenix Mesa Hotel and Convention Center. There are two ways to submit for an Official Showcase: through Sonic Bids at www.sonicbids.com/farwest2008 or through hard copy submission (details are on their website, http://www.far-west.org/).
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There are approximately 48 Official Showcase slots available. Performers chosen for Official Showcase slots must be members of Folk Alliance at the time of the conference, be registered for the conference, and pay a $50 Production Fee.
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There is a second type of showcase offered at FAR-West, and those PRIVATE "GUERRILLA" SHOWCASES are one of the best opportunities for most musicians to perform and be seen at the conference. FAR-West DOES sanction Private "Guerrilla" Showcases. If you are interested in hosting one of these, you must book your room through FAR-West (not through the hotel) and register it with the organization. The deadline to register a Private "Guerilla" Showcase is Sep 20, 2008, or until they run out of rooms (40 rooms are available; details on their web site).
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Registration fee for the FAR-West conference INCLUDES admission to all workshops, panel discussions, Friday evening's reception, showcases, Exhibit Hall, Saturday's luncheon and "Best of the West" awards ceremony, seminars, tote bag and the extensive program book.
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A list of people who have already registered for the conference can be found at: www.far-west.org/registrations.html. To join the FAR-West listserve, go to www.folkserv.net/mailman/listinfo/farwest.
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2) “ANN THE RAVEN'S BIRTHDAY BASH” IS THIS SUNDAY
Ann the Raven is a popular L.A. deejay, and she’s made the rounds to whatever public radio station will accommodate her blues show instead of the obnoxious sh-thump-thud pop that’s on the commercial stations, or the NPR talk package that’s on nearly all the local public radio stations. Ann is a hoot, and she regularly tells her listeners, “I play the blues because I’m blue. I need a man.” Well, maybe she’ll meet one at her annual birthday bash, this Sunday, July 13. It’s 4-10 pm at Colombo's Restaurant, on Colorado Bl, in Eagle Rock. Eight different bands are playing, including Max Bangwell. As she does every year, Ann is inviting everyone.
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3) A SAD WEEK IN THE COWBOY WORLD
First came news that the charming JANE RICHARDSON, wife of celebrated cowboy poet PAT RICHARDSON, had reached the end of her time on earth on July 6. Jane and Pat had been married 49 years. Beginning Monday, the “Clear Out West” radio show will air a “stay at home” benefit for the family, for the coming week. More on that, and ways you can help, is at www.cowboypoetry.com/richardsons.htm. Before that loss was fully processed came the next one, and it was a real shocker to many.
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BELINDA GAIL lost her husband, FREDERIC FRIDBORG, to a massive and sudden heart attack the morning of July 8. Belinda is a multiple-award winning western singer-songwriter, both in her own right and as a duo with music partner CURLY MUSGRAVE. Curly and his wife were the first to send the stunning news. Then, LEE DOMANN wrote to tell us how shocked he was, and that he had just enjoyed a happy, laughter-filled conversation the day before with Belinda. She had called Lee to tell him all about recording one of his songs. We can bet that Frederic was right there, smiling and just as excited as Belinda that another great recording had been made. Frederic was Belinda’s manager, and he was always a fine, happy, and supportive presence for Belinda’s music career. Many enjoyed chatting with him at concerts and events.
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Frederic was also the co-writer on some of her songs, including “Horse Corral Meadow,” heard on radio’s “Tied to the Tracks.” Belinda and Curly performed live, twice, on the radio show, and you’ve seen them playing stages at the Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival, Big Bear Cowboy Gathering, and at the Autry Museum. Frederic was always there.
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Curly Musgrave is handling all emails for Belinda for the foreseeable future. If you would like to send her a thoughtful message of sympathy, Curly will get it to her. Send it to him at curlyjproduction@aol.com. You may offer tangible support to Belinda and her family, through friends in the Western Music Association, through LindaleeGreen@earthlink.net, or directly through a “quiet fund” at www.cowboypoetry.com/quietfund.htm.
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4) SQUARE DANCE SERIES SEEKS NEW VENUE
That fun old-time band TRIPLE CHICKEN FOOT has performed live, twice, on radio’s “Tied to the Tracks,” and hosted the Annual “LOS ANGELES OLD-TIME SOCIAL’ through all of its three years. They’ve also been the hosts and house band for a monthly square dance held in conjunction with the weekly “GRAND OLE ECHO” series. But now, BEN GUZMAN of TRIPLE CHICKEN FOOT tells us, “After a great 6 month run of square dances in Los Angeles - we need a new home. The Grand Ole Echo was gracious enough to give us a try - but it just wasn't working out. Man we were having fun though. We would love to play some dances - maybe the next one can be at YOUR HOUSE - REALLY! Please keep an eye out for spaces that might be suitable for dances - the Foot is really hoping we can find a new place to have them. Or at least to play some parties and to put on some dances at those!” If you have offers or ideas for a new venue for the series, contact Ben at ben@triplechickenfoot.com. Learn about the band and their doins’ at http://www.triplechickenfoot.com/ and www.myspace.com/triplechickenfoot.
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5) COFFEE GALLERY BACKSTAGE LAUNCHES WEBCAST CAPABILITY
It’s been in the works for years, and Backstage’s new multi-camera internet web video simulcast came to fruition on Tuesday, July 8, with a “WEBCAST LAUNCH PARTY.” Grammy-winner IAN WHITCOMB, accompanied by FRED SOKOLOW and a hefty lineup of musical and interview guests, delighted the full-house at the Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena (http://www.coffeegallery.com/). It was also the launch of the new Coffee Gallery “front stage” website, http://www.funkylittlecoffeehouse.com/. Dinner and the show were free, and your editor took a cyber-ribbing from CGB impresario BOB STANE about that: “If they serve hot dogs, Larry calls it dinner,” he wrote. Well, it was much better cuisine than that, Bob!
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IAN WHITCOMB plans to continue as a weekly webcast show called “Altadena Live,” with himself as host. Other productions are in the works.
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Meanwhile, IAN WHITCOMB and FRED SOKOLOW return to the same stage, without the cameras, for a Saturday night show July 12. EVANS & ROGERS, a charming vaudeville act who were among the web-TV guests, also play their own night there soon.
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6) L.A. WOMEN IN MUSIC SHOW PRESENTS 2008 COMET AWARD WINNER
On Wednesday night, July 9, the monthly Los Angeles WoMen in Music Soiree at the M Bar in Hollywood became the annual “Best of Soiree” night. Those who had received nominations during a previous performance were invited back to do two songs each.
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Musical host HARRIET SCHOCK opened with her hilarious “The Sound Check Song.” The packed house enjoyed a buffet dinner and vocal performances from ten of the nominated artists, primarily with accompaniment on piano or guitar. Emmy-winner TRACY NEWMAN was accompanied by her REINFORCEMENTS, and she performed two of her award-winning songs that had debuted on radio’s “Tied to the Tracks,” where she has performed live. EVONNE RIVERA has also performed live on the radio show, as has SIMON LYNGE, who was nominated but not present. Other nominees who performed were JOY GRAYSEN, DAVID KIDD, the very funny and charming ARLENE KOLE, MARGARET MacDONALD, RONEE MARTIN, ANNA MONTGOMERY, ALISSA MORENA, and the folky LISA NEMZO. Across all genres, it was of superb quality.
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The night concluded with presentation of the organization’s prestigious Comet Award, and it went to singer-songwriter-pianist ANNA MONTGOMERY. More, http://www.lawim.com/.
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7) “FEMALES ON FIRE 3” ALBUM LAUNCH A STELLAR SUCCESS
While LAWIM was hosting the Comet Awards show, across town, it was the launch of a new compilation CD at the Mint, on Pico Blvd in Los Angeles. Wednesday night’s CD release show continued a recent trend of supporting a charitable cause at the same time. Nine of the female musicians and three whose spoken word pieces are on the album, plus all the accompanist musicians performed – a total of 27 artists.
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Those included on the CD traveled from far and wide for the launch. Lori and Steve of HIDE FROM CLEO came from Michigan and “dueled with acoustic guitars.” CLAIRE WYNDHAM came all the way from Australia to perform. Local favorites who are on the new record also took the stage, including MICHELLE MANGIONE, GILLI MOON, and LAURA BRADLEY.
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GILLI MOON, who produced the album on the Warrior Girl Music label, says, “It was truly a stellar night. We sold-out dinner seats in advance and only an hour into the show, the room was at capacity. A full house! 130 people, standing room only. All the artists stayed ‘til the very end, and that's a feat in itself, as we started at 7 pm and went ‘til midnight. People didn't want to leave. We passed the midnight hour and the crowd begged for more.”
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A portion of the night’s proceeds went to CARE.org. Gilli explains, “CARE believes that the status of women in the developing world is the key to fighting and ending global poverty. With education, skills and basic resources, they can become catalysts for change. Women can help build a better world for all. Check out their website at http://www.care.org/. Warrior Girl Music is donating $1 of every CD sale to CARE.org and part of the proceeds from the night's door are also going to their charity.”
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More on the new compilation and the two that preceded it, at http://www.femalesonfire.com/.
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8) THIS WEEK’S YOU TUBE PICK
ALI MARCUS is playing a pair of music festivals in Washington State this weekend. She scored a “Listener Favorite” on radio’s “Tied to the Tracks” with her “Most Biographical Song,” and she is an acoustic renaissance artist who writes from many perspectives. Her new song, “Minnesota” is an anti-war song, and it’s our YouTube Pick this week, at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ8sPG97GkA
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NEXT WEEK, we’ll bring lots more news.
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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.
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+ news of the “TIED TO THE TRACKS” radio & TV shows coming soon in syndication.
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+ the latest NEWS FEATURES from the acoustic music universe!
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WANT TO CONTACT US?
tiedtothetracks@hotmail.com
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