| Greetings, friends and fellow music lovers! I am so excited about what’s coming up. I’ve been in Texas for a week now and I’m already saying “fixin’ to” all the time. 🙂 Had some really fun times and there are many more to come!
Here’s what’s happening…
1. Gratitude
2. The News
3. May Shows in Dallas, Ft Worth, Richardson, Eugene
4. The Future
1. GRATITUDE… I have so much to be thankful for! There are so many folks behind the scenes and in the scenes who help me do what I do and make it more enjoyable. Special thanks to these kind folks for making April awesome: Rebecca and Misti O-P and family, everyone at RadioLive in Pensacola, the Calmes house concert friends, Matt & Cal & Richard and everyone at O’Connor’s, Anne Weiss and everyone at Tsunami Books, Eric & Michael and KLCC, Aunt Nancy & Uncle Dave, Mom & Dad, Michael & Liza & Kenedy & Keane, Kim & Matt Hammer, Roark and KPFT, Sharman P, and the crew at McGonigel’s Mucky Duck.
2. THE NEWS…Well, well, well…I can’t believe it, but my NEW CD will be here in a matter of days!!! What a journey this has been creating it, a journey which has humbled and inspired me. Tyler Fortier and Peter Perdichizzi are responsible for getting me out of my shell and into the studio where we made some of the finest recordings I’ve ever been a part of. This was truly a labor of love and patience over time and I am so thankful to all the musicians who worked on it and all the song club members and song sponsors who helped make it happen! I’ve been working withJess Terry on the graphic design and I couldn’t be happier with how gorgeous it looks! As soon as I have it, I will let you know how you can get your copy!
As it happens, May is my favorite time to be in Texas. I’ve already had wonderful shows in Corpus Christi, and I am REALLY excited to return to Uncle Calvin’s Coffeehouse in Dallas and the Wildflower! Festival in Richardson, woop!! These two venues have been so important to my musical journey. I can remember my first gig at Unlcle Calvin’s…I think it was back in 1997…opening for Don Conescenti…and how freaked out I was at how quiet the audience was!! I was so used to playing in bars and noisy places. And now I absolutely LOVE playing in listening rooms. The folks at Calvin’s have been so encouraging and supportive ever since and I love them every single one!
If you haven’t been to the Richardson Wildflower! Festival, I encourage you to go because it is truly a special festival. Never in my 17 years of touring have I run across a city festival that is so supportive of singer-songwriters. Al Johnson and his crew have built one of the most enjoyable festivals I’ve ever been a part of. The cool thing is that it has everything a big city festival usually has…the giant outdoor stages with bands, the funnel cakes, turkey legs, art vendors, and activities for kids; but it also has a beautiful, modern performing arts center with air conditioning where the singer-songwriters get to play! It’s truly the best of both worlds. Also my friend and mentor Chris Rosser will be playing at the festival this year and he is not to be missed!
I’m thrilled to be sharing the stage this week with one of my favorite musicians and humans ever… cellist Dirje Childs!! Dirje will be joining me at Uncle Calvin’s and also at Wildflower! Festival on my Saturday set. Dirje is intuitive, expressive, naturally in tune with what every song needs. Here’s what my friend Billy Crockett says about Dirje, and I couldn’t agree more! “Dirje’s cello sings of a deep river. Her smile does too. It’s something about intuition and courage. She finds an immediate path to the heart of the song.”
Back to Oregon, I’ve been invited to be a part of a fundraiser on May 24 called SHELTER FROM THE STORM: Opportunity Village & Food For Lane County Benefit. I am a huge believer in Food For Lane County as I have seen the great work they do at their Dining Room and beyond. I’ve been asked to play a Bob Dylan song and a couple of my tunes. Anybody have a favorite Dylan song suggestion for me to learn? There are so many to choose from I’m like a deer in the headlights trying to zoom in on which one! 🙂
And finally, JUNE is going to be a BIG month for me. Eugene folks, I hope you’ll save the date…Tyler Fortier and I are going to do a double CD release celebration on Sat, June 14 at Cozmic!! We will share a rockin band and will be celebrating our new CDs — I really hope you’ll join us!! I have heard Tyler’s new CD and it is killer…reminds me of a modern-day Tom Petty with tons of harmonies…sweet!
Also in June I’m thrilled that my good friend Nathan Brown will be back in the northwest doing workshops and concerts. Nathan came to the Sisters Folk Festival and Song Academy last year and knocked it out of the park! Nathan is such an inspiration to me. He was a traveling musician for 15 years, then went and got his doctorate in creative writing, and now he is on a mission to bring poetry back to the people. Nathan is currently poet laureate of Oklahoma, and he teaches creative writing at U of O (Oklahoma, not ours!) and beyond. My friend Margie has generously offered to host a house concert for Nathan in Eugene on Fri, June 6. I will play a few tunes and read a few poems, too,but the focus is on Nathan and I couldn’t be happier about sharing him with my community! Then the next day we’re heading to Sisters where he’ll do a reading at Paulina Spring Book Store, and then on June 8, our friend Suzan L has generously offered to host a workshop and concert at her place in Portland. WOOHOO!
3. MAY SHOWS
Life is so uncertain…please call ahead!
Fri, May 2 – Uncle Calvin’s Coffeehouse – Dallas, TX. Uncle Calvin’s Coffeehouse is a not-for-profit, volunteer-run live music venue, presenting concerts nearly every Friday night in the fellowship hall of Northpark Presbyterian Church in Dallas, TX. Our goal is to bring you the best possible environment for listening to music, with clear, pristine sound, free of smoke, alcohol, and conversation. General admission – no table reservations – advance tickets available. I am delighted to return to this home town favorite venue!! Daniel Makins opens, and Dirje Childs will accompany me on cello! Doors open at 7:30 pm, shows begin at 8:00 pm and usually go to 11pm.
Sat, May 3 – Rock Porch Sessions – Hot Springs Village, AR. Private concert for residents of Hot Springs Village.
Sun, May 4 – Private House Concert – Sasche, TX.
Fri, May 9 – House Concert – Ft Worth, TX.
Sat, May 10 – Private House Concert – Dallas, TX.
Sat, May 17 – Wildflower! Festival – Richardson, TX. Wildflower! is an award-winning, multi-day eclectic arts and music festival featuring six performance stages, the Wild! Marketplace, the Taste of Texas Food Garden, the family friendly Kidz Korner, and a whole lot more! Located at the Galatyn Park Urban Center in Richardson- just north of Dallas at US 75 and Galatyn Parkway. BW will be playing the beautiful indoor singer-songwriter stage at the Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts. $30 adult three-day pass. $20 adult single day pass. $3 kids 5-12. Kids under 4 free! 4:45 pm. With Dirje Childs on cello.
Sun, May 18 – Wildflower! Festival – Richardson, TX. BW will be playing in the round with Betty Soo, Robby Hecht, and Butch Morgan. 3:45 pm.
Sat, May 24 – SHELTER FROM THE STORM: Opportunity Village & Food For Lane County Benefit – Eugene, OR. Cozmic hosts a benefit for Opportunity Village and the Food For Lane County Dining Room. There will be raffles and a silent auction. Performers include BW, Steel Wool, Walker T Ryan, Phoebe Blume, Cross Current, Two Doors Down, and Jeremy & Mina Wegner. $12 in advance, $15 DOS or $12 with 3 cans of food. 7 pm.
here’s the awesome cover of my new CD!!
well this was the setting for the Hammer’s house concert in Corpus…took my breath away! hey, is that a dolphin behind me? 🙂
a cool shot from the O’Connor’s concert with Cal Scott and Richard Moore. Man, did we have some fun!!
got to go birdwatching with my folks down in corpus. we were marveling a this handsome Ruddy Duck and how close he let us get…
and then THIS guy swam up!!?!?!?
May is our birthday month. Marty and I have the same birthday. Cheers, baby!!
4. THE FUTURE…
Looks like it’s going to be a sweet summer!! In July I’ll get to do another midwest with my friend Dave Stoddard, woohooo! And then in August it’s a return to Chukkar Farm Concerts in GA along with some time in the mountains in CO. Life is good!
As always, I am so grateful for your support of my musical journey. I thank you for reading and spreading the word and listening and coming to shows and clapping and cheering me on! Hope to see you out there on the road. With much gratitude from your fan,
Beth Wood
World Headquarters: BethWoodMusic, PO Box 864, Eugene, OR, 97440
Holler at me: bethwoodmusic [AT] hotmail.com
Here I am on Facebook.
I barely know how to use it but I’m tryin’ on Twitter
Does anyone go to Myspace anymore?
For the love of Pete, somebody please help me with Youtube!
My favorite quote of the moment… “Be joyful/ though you have considered all the facts.” –Wendell Berry |
