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Greetings, friends and fellow music lovers – What a beautiful summer this has been! I feel so grateful that Bailey and I got to take and epic road trip across OR, WA, ID, UT, MT, and CO! We got to visit friends and see some beautiful sights, and now my suspicions are confirmed that this girl loves adventures! This was her attitude for 2800 miles. 🙂 Here are my adventures coming up soon…
Fri, Aug 2 – Point Richmond Acoustic – Point Richmond, CA. w/Claudia Russell and Bruce Kaplan. The concert is held at the beautiful, historic and acoustically awesome First Methodist Church of Point Richmond – 201 Martina Street. 7 pm doors/7:30 pm music. $16-$20. Tickets here
Sat, Aug 3 – Private House Concert – Walnut Creek, CA.
Mon, Aug 5 & Tues, Aug 6 – Private Event – San Diego, CA.
Fri, Aug 9 – Poetry Reading at Paulina Springs Books – Sisters, OR. 252 W Hood Ave. 541-549-0866. I will be reading from my poetry books “Ladder to the Light” and “Kazoo Symphonies” and I might even weave in a song or two at Sister’s beloved independent book store! 6:30 pm. Free and open to all!
Sat, Aug 10 – Eurosports Beer Garden – Sisters, OR. 223 E. Hood Ave. (541) 549-2471. I love this sweet little spot! I will play solo in the beautiful Eurosports Beer Garden from 5-7. This event is free and open to all and donations are encouraged.
Tue, Aug 13-Fri, Aug 16 – Harris Bridge Songwriting Camp – Philomath, OR. Co-led by BW and Clara Baker, Harris Bridge Songwriting camp is a retreat exploring songwriting, folk music, community, nature, and how they all intersect. The 3-day camp includes workshops, small-group song swaps, co-writing opportunities, 1-on-1 time with instructors, as well as plenty of opportunities for jamming, writing, and exploring the gorgeous Harris Bridge area’s hiking trails, vineyard, river, and swimming hole! This is a welcoming and non-judgmental community where songwriters at any stage of experience can come and be inspired, connect with their creativity and to the land, and have the time and space to write, reflect, and play. Starts 10 am on Tues.
Fri, Aug 16 – Stand and Sway @ Harris Bridge Folk Festival – Philomath, OR. Stand and Sway plays the opening night of Harris Bridge Folk Festival under the oak trees at the beautiful Harris Bridge Vineyard! 5 pm. $20 single day pass/$40 weekend pass.
Sat, Aug 24 – Home By Dark at Brooke Street Park – Alpharetta, GA HOME BY DARK brings it’s one-of-a-kind music show to beautiful Brook Street Park in downtown Alpharetta, Georgia. The concert is free. Bring food and friends for a night you’ll never forget. A SONG CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE. With the amazing HBD Band and Nathan Angelo! 7:30 pm.
1. GRATITUDE…I am so grateful, let me count the ways! Thank you to these wonderful friends for making our summer adventure so fun…Cheryl & Clint, T & Gia, Renee, and Ocea & Violet & Jett and the Skyhorse family. Thank you Sharon and all at the Hayloft Barn in Salem, to Wendy & Linda and all in Fergus, and to John and friends for hosting wonderful concerts!
2. THE NEWS…I am so excited for this month’s happenings. I get to return to the beatuiful Point Richmond Acoustic series in the bay area to share the evening with wonderful singer-songwriter-musicians Claudia Russell and Bruce Kaplan. And then the next night we have been invited to help some folks celebrate a special anniversary. It is always so humbling and such an honor when folks choose my music to be part of important moments in thier lives. It reminds me of why I do what I do and fills me with joy. Then I am thrilled to be heading to one of my favorite places, Sisters, to do a poetry reading at their lovely independent book store Paulina Springs Books and to play a solo show at the sweet beer garden of Eurosports! Going to Sisters feels a little bit like going home, and I can’t wait to see some dear friends and hopefully make some news ones.
I am delighted to be co-hosting the very first songwriting camp at Harris Bridge Vineyard right outside of Corvallis from August 13-16! This. Place. Is. BEAUTIFUL. And as if that were’t enough, I get to co-host with the amazing Clara Baker, singer-songwriter-fiddler-guitarist-extraordinaire who has been tearing up stages all across the country solo and with her band Five Letter Word. And as if that weren’t enough, the owners of Harris Bridge, Nathan and Amanda and their family, have created a community around their place that is warm, inclusive, intentional, celebratory, friendly, and simply magical. And as if that weren’t enough, I’m thrilled to be playing this year’s Harris Bridge Folk Festival on Aug 16 with Ara Lee James as our duo Stand and Sway!
Every year I look forward to returning one of my favorite concert series, Home By Dark in Alpharetta, GA. James and Karen Casto have grown this series into must-see events with huge and loyal audiences who are delighted every time. Home by Dark always has a house band of the most amazing musicians backing up songwriters from around the country in beautiful outdoor settings, with each performance raising money and awareness for a local non-profit organization. These evenings are simply unforgettable and I can’t believe I get to be a part of it year after year! If you are anywhere near Atlanta I hope you will come check it out!
As you may know, I am stretching into new territory doing these poetry readings, and it feels exhilirating and energizing and so fun to try something new. I find that the more I embrace my love of poetry, the more I find other folks who love it, too. Holler at me at bethwoodmusic@hotmail.com if you have a favorite independent book store I should reach out to? I love learning about these places and hope to visit new places in my travels.
I am so excited to tell you I am starting a women’s song circle in Portland! I loved my song circle community in Eugene so much, and I miss our gatherings so much. I wanted to start something locally, and I also wanted to create a space where women can come together to support and encourage each other. We will be gathering at the Mount Tabor Music School in southeast Portland to share songs, make new friends, and enjoy some new music. Our first gatherings will be on Sept 19 and Oct 17. These are free and open to all ages. Email me at bethwoodmusic@hotmail.com if you have questions?
Coming up soon is one of my favorite weeks of the year — Sisters Folk Festival and Americana Song Academy (a/k/a song school)! I’m so excited to be playing the festival this year with the Stand and Sway full band! We will be joined by Steven Skolnik on percussion, Milo Fultz on upright bass, and Anna Tivel on fiddle and vocals. Be still my heart! Ara and I are thrilled to be teaching at song school, and there are a few spots left. Get the full scoop here!
In Stand and Sway news, we are looking forward to the “offical” release of our debut album “Deep Blue” in October! We hope you will come celebrate with us on October 25 at the Alberta Rose Theater in Portland. We will be sharing the evening with the great band Five Letter Word. Tickets are on sale now! Also that weekend Ara and I will be offering an Open Song Workshop at Mount Tabor Music School. We will meet for 3 hours in the afternoon on Sat, Oct 26 and for 3 hours in the morning on Sun, Oct 27. Click here to learn more about our workshops!
Speaking of Stand and Sway, check out this rehearsal with Sarah Siskind the morning before Songsmith Gathering! I still have chill bumps…
Here’s some fun random pics from July…
these are the “footlights” at the Hayloft Barn concert series in Salem hahaha!
this guy David Stoddard made me laugh so hard this beer came out my nose. It wasn’t pretty.
we had so much fun at Wendy’s house concert! Love these ladies!
and such a beautiful art-filled space in Ortonville to sing in!
This is Joe Pye, house greeting committee.
How do I love this? Let me count the ways…
Turns out she loves to swim!!!
3. THE FUTURE…Dear friends, my imagination is turning and I can feel my field of vision expanding. Maybe it was all those miles we drove on our adventure across the west?! For the first time since 1997, I am starting to imagine a life for myself that does not involve touring all the time. Writing and performing songs will always be my great love, but I am also loving discovering and celebrating new parts of myself. For the first time, it doesn’t feel like defeat to admit that I am a little burned out from solo touring life. It feels exciting! What if I am more than just a touring solo singer-songwriter? What if I have other gifts to develop and share?
It feels vulnerable to write down and share these things with you, but it is also my truth. I know I will always make music. But now I am reenvisioning a way of doing it that is more sustainable and makes more sense to me. Part of this new vision is creating and performing with Stand and Sway, part is delving more deeply into writing and into the literary world, part of it is teaching, part of it is learning new things, part of it is unknown. I’d like to explore artist residencies, work on my next book, find new avenues for teaching creative writing and leading workshops, take some classes, and see what the world has in store for me besides endless touring. 🙂 And who knows what else?!
Your support has been my bread and water throughout the years and has also been instrumental in helping me open my eyes to new things. It feels unconditional. And it feels beautiful. For that and for YOU, I am ever grateful. As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts so feel free to reach out at bethwoodmusic@hotmail.com!
Hope to see you out there soon! With much love and gratitude from your fan,
Beth Wood
PO Box 10141
Portland, OR 97296
www.bethwoodmusic.com
www.standandsway.com
Holler at me: bethwoodmusic [AT] hotmail.com
Here I am with my face on Facebook.
I barely know how to use it but I’m tryin’ on Twitter
Find me on Instagram! @bethwoodmusic
For the love of Pete, somebody please help me with Youtube
DOWN THE ROAD A PIECE…
Sep 3-6 – Americana Song Academy – Sisters, OR
Sep 8-9 Stand and Sway @ Sisters Folk Festival – Sisters, OR
Sep 9 – Sisters Folk Festival Community Celebration – Sisters, OR
Sep 13 – Private House Concert -Seattle, WA
Sep 19 – Women’s Song Circle @ Mt Tabor Music School – Portland, OR
Sep 26 – Stand and Sway @ Gallery Concert – Paonia, CO
Oct 4 – Wildwood Sounds – Del Norte, CO
Oct 5 – Chuck Pyle Tribute Concert at Swallow Hill – Denver, CO
Oct 6 – Chuck Pyle Tribute Concert at Avo’s – Fort Collins, CO
Oct 9 – Stand and Sway @ The Kraken – Chapen Hill, NC
Oct 10 – Stand and Sway @ The Rooster’s Wife – Aberdeen, NC
Oct 11 – Stand and Sway @ The Cary Theater – Cary, NC
Oct 12 – Stand and Sway @ Big Bad Wolf’s Small Good Concerts – Youngsville, NC
Oct 17 – Women’s Song Circle @ Mt Tabor Music School – Portland, OR
Oct 24 – Stand and Sway @ Vashon Center for the Arts – Vashon, WA
Oct 25 – Stand and Sway @ Alberta Rose Theater – Porland, OR
Oct 26 – Stand and Sway Workshop @ Mt Tabor Music School – Portland, OR
Oct 27 – Stand and Sway Workshop @ Mt Tabor Music School – Portland, OR
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