| Greetings, friends and fellow music lovers!
April has brought so much awesome to the table I almost need to pinch myself. I am overwhelmed with gratitude that I get to do this work I love to do, and that there are so many people out there willing to help me make it happen!
Here’s what’s happening in May. I hope you’ll scroll down for musings, random pics, show details, etc.
Wed, May 4 – KLCC 89.7 – Eugene, OR
Fri, May 6 – Alberta Street Pub CD RELEASE PARTY – Portland, OR
Sat, May 7 – Tsunami Books CD RELEASE PARTY – Eugene, OR
Fri, May 13 – Two Way Street Coffeehouse – Downers Grove, IL
Sat, May 14 – Folkstage – Chicago, IL
Sun, May 15 – Windy City House Concerts – Chicago, IL
Tue, May 17 – Soldiersongs Benefit at Tower Theater – Bend, OR
Sat, May 21 – Workshop and House Concert – Marquette, MI
Mon, May 23 – Harmony For Mayo – Rochester, MN
Sun, May 29 – White Squirrel Festival – Brevard, NC
Thu, June 2-Mon, June 6 – Wood and Stone Retreat – Crisfield, MD
1. GRATITUDE…What an incredible ride this month has been. HUGE thanks to all these fine folks who made it so wonderful: Matt Miner, Cal Scott, Richard Moore and crew at O’Connor’s Vault, Sandra & Kathy & Mama, Susie & Ellen Cherry & Sean & all at Susie’s house concerts, David Sardinha & Mary Johnson Rockers & all at the Cary Theater, Misti O-P, Chris & Lynn Rosser & Tom PR & David Lamotte, Felty family, Louise Baker & Isis Music Hall, Michael Collins and WSQL, Jim & Alice & RK and all at UUTC, Robby Hecht Perry & Sally and all at Fleur de Lis, Teri and all at the Willow Tree Coffeehouse and Listening Room, Caaaaaat, Bob & Ashleigh and all at Folk at the Cannery, Ann and Bob Wood, Nathan Brown, John Cook and all at Uncle Calvin’s Coffeehouse, Betty and all at Concerts at Betty’s, Matt and all at Open Ears Concerts, Rodney Bursiel, Ashley, Lane & Heather and all at Bugle Boy, Bill and Pam and all at Honey Creek House Concerts!
2.THE NEWS…Well folks, the big news is the release of the new CD! We will be celebrating in Portland and Eugene on May 6 and 7 with the great Anna Tivel and many musical guests. I hope you Oregon friends can join us! Anna’s new CD “Heroes Waking Up” is a gorgeous, quiet, brilliant work of art and I can’t wait for you to hear it. Let’s celebrate! It will be a little while before it is available for online purchase or download. But in the mean time, if you would like your very own copy, you can buy one directly from me here or at shows! This project is so meaningful to me as I love being able to capture and present my songs in their most elemental form. And Tyler Fortier and the Fortier family helped me do just that. In just three days in a house overlooking the Oregon coast, we created this collection of intimate recordings that has become ‘Spring Tide’. Fueled by coffee, beer and homemade mac-n-cheese (thank you Flood!), it was a dream come true and I am so exicted to share it with you!
Here is a sneak peak preview of one of the songs off the new CD. Watch all the way to the end to see the cute studio mascot, Topper’s review of the song!
May will bring many fun shows including CD release parties, a trip to the midwest, and a return to the great White Squirrel Festival in Brevard, NC! I am also very honored to be a part of the Soldier Songs Presents benefit on May 17 at the Tower Theater in Bend, OR along with the Strong Hold Trio. On this night, we will be contributing the proceeds of the event to an organization that provides transitional housing support to wounded combat veterans. I hope you can join us for a really fun evening of music in “Bend’s Living Room”, the very special Tower Theater. Rumor has it there will be some musical mischief and collaboration!
This summer will bring many fun camps and workshops!! There are still a couple of spots left for the wonderful Wood and Stone Songwriting Retreat in Crisfield, MD. Hosted by Jen and Scott Smith of the duo Naked Blue, Wood and Stone is a very special, unique, intimate gathering of songwriters in a gorgeous place – Jane’s Island State Park. Last year was my first year at Wood and Stone and I left inspired, energized, and filled with love and spirit from that special community. Wyatt Easterling is also an instructor this year. I am a huge fan of what he does so this retreat is not to be missed! Dates are June 2-6.
I’m thrilled to be co-leading a day-long workshop/retreat at Stillpoint Farm in Veneta, OR with my friend the great RJ Cowdery! The event is called Nature, Women and Song at Stillpoint and we will be gathering in a Yurt surrounded by beautiful trees and lots of nature and wildlife. A teepee will be set up too and a delicous lunch will be served. There will also be a house concert in the evening! Check it out…
There are also a few spots left at the Hidden River Songwriting Camp in Long Beach, WA in July. I will co-hosting this camp alongside the great Matt Meighan – gentle teacher, sage, and leader in songcraft. It will be a wonderful community gathering in a gorgeous setting with the opportunity to focus on creativity, sharing songs, and unplugging for a few days. This year’s camps will be held on the shores of Willlapa Bay near the town of Long Beach, Washington. The 13-acre site is rustic and beautiful, providing camp sites, kitchen, fire circle, wood-fired sauna and showers, a great view of Willapa Bay, canoes and paddle boats for use in the bay, and the Pacific Ocean a mile away. The dates are July 28-31. I can’t wait!!
3. MAY HAPPENINGS…Life is so uncertain, please call ahead!
Wed, May 4 – KLCC 89.7 – Eugene, OR. Anna Tivel and I will get to visit with the great Eric Alan about our new CDs, and we’ll also play a few tunes live. You can listen online here. We will be on the air at approximately 2:30 pm. FREE…it’s radio!
Fri, May 6 – CD RELEASE @ Alberta Street Pub – Portland, OR. 1036 NE Alberta St. 503-284-7655. Re-established in 2013, the Alberta Street Pub is a complete remodel of the old neighborhood Public House. The kitchen serves up an inspired and locally sourced menu to compliment our craft cocktails and the 21 rotating draft beers. Offering one of the best listening environments in Portland with an intimate setting and a high quality sound system. Double CD release party with BW and Anna Tivel!! With many special musical guests! We will play separate sets with much collaboration. $10 at the door. 8:30. Seating is limited so get there early!
Sat, May 7 – CD RELEASE @ Tsunami Books – Eugene, OR. 2585 Willamette Street. 541-345-8986. Tsunami Books is Eugene’s beloved neighborhood book store and community hub. We will celebrate a double CD release party with BW and Anna Tivel! Tickets are $10 at the door or in advance by dropping by the store or calling 541-345-8986. 7:30 pm. With many special musical guests! We will play separate sets with much collaboration. $10 at the door. 7:30. Seating is limited so get there early!
Fri, May 13 – Two Way Street Coffeehouse – Downers Grove, IL. 1047 Curtiss St, inside the First Congregational Church building in downtown Downers Grove, just across the street from the Downers Grove Public Library. 630-969-9720. For 45 years, Two Way Street Coffeehouse has featured live folk and acoustic musical entertainment every Friday night. We offer a very informal environment, and serve specialty coffees, teas, soda, cider, hot chocolate and snacks. No alcohol is served, and no meals. We are a non-smoking coffee house, and we welcome all ages. We have a requested donation of $7.00 on Fridays. 8:15 pm.
Sat, May 14 – Folkstage – Chicago, IL. Private in-studio concert for members of the WFMT Fine Arts Circle hosted by Rich Warren.
Sun, May 15 – Windy City House Concerts – Chicago, IL. A lovely Sunday afternoon house concert hosted by Lee & Cindy. For more information, go to www.windycityhouseconcerts.org. Must RSVP to attend. $20 suggested donation.
Tue, May 17 – Soldiersongs Benefit at Tower Theater – Bend, OR. 835 NW Wall Street. An evening of community and song at the beautiful Tower Theater, sponsored by SoldierSongs to benefit a Marine Corps project in Bend that supports wounded Marines/Sailors in transitioning to civilian life. With The Stronghold Trio and local openers Loose Gravel and Mark Quon. Reserved Seating $25-$30. A benefit concert for veteran support programs. 7 pm.
Sat, May 21 – Workshop and House Concert – Marquette, MI.
Mon, May 23 – Harmony For Mayo – Rochester, MN. 10 3rd Ave. NW. The Rosemary and Meredith Willson Harmony for Mayo Program is a program of the Mayo Clinic Dolores Jean Lavins Center for Humanities in Medicine, and is administered by Choral Arts Ensemble. Free weekly concerts are performed on Mondays from 12:10 to 1:00 p.m. on the Mayo Clinic campus, featuring a variety of artists ranging from classical to jazz, country to pop music. Concerts are open to patients, visitors, staff, and the general public. 12:10 pm.
Sun, May 29 – White Squirrel Festival – Brevard, NC. Featuring two-and-a-half days of great live music, the White Squirrel Festival in Downtown Brevard, NC is the perfect way to experience everything this charming mountain community has to offer. Best of all it’s FREE! Created to enhance and develop the business district of downtown, the event has evolved into one of the premier music festivals in the southeast. BW will kick of Sunday’s lineup of music at noon, followed by Zoe & Cloyd and Sarah Siskind & Sunliner with Travis Book of Infamous Stringdusters!
Thu, June 2-Mon, June 6 – Wood and Stone Retreat – Crisfield, MD. An inspiring four day retreat celebrating song, creativity, friendship and community hosted by the great Jen & Scott Smith of Naked Blue!
Had so much fun with Ellen Cherry and everyone at Susie’s House Concerts! She rocks.
Kinda fun to drive up and see my name in big letters!! It was an amazing night of Six String Presents at the Cary Theater. i LOVED getting to hear Mary and her kick-ass band. And yes, that really is her last name. And yes, she rocks!
Cool shot from the Cary Theater. It was a dream show!
The view from the porch at Farm Felty in Brevard, NC. I spent hundreds of mornings soaking in this view when I lived here. If you have read my poetry book, you might recognize the elbow-shaped tree. 🙂
The great Chris Rosser sound checking for our Isis show. Truly one of the most beautiful venues filled with the nicest people. We played to a sold-out house and we were on cloud 9 for days!
Tough audience at Fleur de Lis House Concerts!
I had so much fun sharing some shows with the great Nathan Brown!! Thanks Alan for the pics from Uncle Calvin’s!
the amazing crew at The Bugle Boy in La Grange. Loved every minute of it!!
loving the stage at Honey Creek House Concerts!
this is my new boyfriend…he sat outside my window and protected me from coyotes all night.
check out this cool shot by Rodney Bursiel! We had a super fun photo shoot at Blue Rock and this is my favorite one. Can’t wait to share some more of these with you!
4. THE FUTURE... Ohmygosh, I am breathless as I write this! What a great tour this has been and there is to much to look forward to ahead! In June I’m excited to take a little personal time for trips to Switzerland and Ireland with dear friends. Life is sweet!
The rest of the year is shaping up beautifully for touring and we are working on 2017. It blows my mind that next year will be my 20th year of being a full-time touring artist. I’m starting to dream on some kind of big way to celebrate! Let me know if you have ideas?!
I could not have survived a single one of those 20 years without you! THANK YOU for following my musical wanderings, for coming out to shows, hosting gatherings, and cheering me on every step of the way. I am forever your fan,
Beth Wood
World Headquarters: PO Box 10141, Portland, OR 97296
www.bethwoodmusic.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
Does anyone go to Myspace anymore? Seriously. I haven’t been there in years. I think I just saw a tumbleweed.
For the love of Pete, somebody please help me with Youtube!
Down the road a piece…
6/2-6/5 Crisfield, MD – The Wood and Stone Retreat
6/16 Volcano, CA – House Concert w/David Stoddard
6/17 Mendocine, CA – House Concert w/David Stoddard
6/18 Redding, CA – House Concert w/David Stoddard
6/19 Bend, OR – Songwriter Series House Concerts w/David Stoddard
7/15 Sisters, OR – Sisters Folk Festival Presents Concerts in the Park
7/16 Veneta, OR – Nature, Women and Song at Stillpoint workshop and concert
7/21-24 Long Beach, WA – Hidden River Songwriting Camp
7/28-31 Long Beach, WA – Hidden River Songwriting Camp
8/5 Alpharetta, GA – Home By Dark at Chukkar Farm
8/6 Alpharetta, GA – Home By Dark at Chukkar Farm
8/11 Salida, CO – F Street Gallery
8/12 Telluride, CO – Mountain Village Songwriter Series
8/13 Gunnison, CO – House Concert
8/27 Loveland, CO – Home By Dark at the Rialto Theater
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