Sept, you snuck up on me!

Really, September?

Thursday, August 28, 2014

icon You sneaky monkey.
(this pic is from our Home By Dark concert at Chukkar Farm, I had so much fun singing with Billy Montana and the crew!)

Greetings friends and fellow music lovers! August was a whirlwind of emotion and travel and extremely gratifying experiences, and I’m SO excited for what Sept has in store for me after I catch my breath and do some laundry! 🙂

I wanted to send this out before everyone heads out for a wonderful Labor Day weekend.  Here’s what’s up…

Aug 29 – Interview on KWUF Radio – Pagosa Springs, CO

Aug 31- Four Corners Folk Festival – Pagosa Springs, CO

Sep 2-5  – Sisters Americana Song Academy – Sisters, OR

Sep 6-7 – Sisters Folk Festival – Sisters, OR

Sep 11 – Route 5 NW Wine Bar – Eugene, OR

Sep 13 – Clark County Folk Festival – Yacolt, WA

Sep 17 – Alberta Street Public House – Portland, OR

Sep 24 – Musicians Empowered Song Hour (online!)

Sep 26 – Quantam Arts Presents at the Soularium – Fort Collins, CO

Sep 27 – The Bull Moose – Guffey, CO

Sep 28 – Sundays at the Fork – Lyons, CO

1. GRATITUDE AND THE NEWS…This past month has been jam-packed and simply thrilling! I got to play with old friends and new in GA and CO and sing in celebration of Maggie & Glen’s wedding in KY. And in between all that singing I got to visit with family and friends and do a little fly-fishing and hiking in CO…which makes for one happy girl.

Thanks to Ann & Nan for making all the arrangements and to the Wood/Ochs/Hurt/Howe/Audlin/Van Voorhis clan for another great year! Thanks to Chris & T & G for the wonderful visit and to Jen & Suz and E for sharing in our Colorado adventures! Extra special thanks to all these folks for making August so awesome… to James & Karen Casto and all the crew at Home By Dark, Billy Montana, Carole & Nessa Ford, Matt Blanchard & Jim Hettinger for two roof-raising nights at Chukkar Farm. Thanks to Gabrielle & Chris and friends for a truly magical house concert in the canyon overlooking the twinkling lights of Denver. Thanks to Carol, Mercury Lounge, LoveHopeStrength and all the musicians who sang their hearts out for the benefit concert. And thank you to Chris & Lee, Maggie & Glen, The Delaney family, and all of Maggie & Glen’s family and friends who made me feel so welcome and appreciated!

In addition to getting to sing beautiful songs by Randy Newman and Justin Davis, Georgia Middleman and Sarah Zimmerman, I had the thrill of playing Maggie’s favorite BW songs at hers and Glen’s wedding reception. When I started to play my song “All Yours”, Maggie and Glen spontaneously walked on to the dance floor and shared a sweet slow-dance all by themselves. It was a thrill and I think we were all having an emotional moment! To know that my music meant that much to someone touched me deeply and brought a tear to my eye. All my years of hard work may not be rewarded by lots of radio play or record deals or Grammy awards, but none of that matters that much to me anyway. That moment with Maggie and Glen dancing was a reward that I will cherish always and draw upon when I start to lose faith.

I am thrilled to be a part of two wonderful festivals coming up – The Four Corners Folk Festival in Pagosa Springs, CO on Labor Day weekend and the Sisters Song Academy and Folk Festival the following week and weekend. I. Can. Not. WAIT!!! Folks in the Four Corners FF community have already started welcoming me on facebook, by email, and in person, which can only be foreshadowing of a wonderful time to come. And you all know how I feel about Sisters. It is my musical spiritual home and an absolute honor to be part of that family of creative folks! This year is going to be off the charts amazing! After that I get to return to a sweet wine bar in Eugene and play for a new festival – the Clark County Folk Festival held at ?? winery, followed by a show in Portland and a short run in CO…woohoo!

Well I can hardly believe it, but I ran my first marathon and survived! It was one of the most exhilirating and humbling experiences of my life. I am so grateful to everyone in my circle for cheering me on and supporting me throughout the journey of training and race day! It was a personal goal and an absolute thrill to experience. Lots of folks are asking if I will run another one and I don’t have clarity on that yet. I’m still soaking it in and getting some rest. 🙂 But I’m happy to say my love and respect for running remains intact and I am conitnually inspired by new my hometown, of Eugene and its gorgeous trails!

2. SHOWS — The Details

(Life is so uncertain…please call ahead!)

Aug 29 – Interview on KWUF 106.1 FM – Pagosa Springs, CO.   Tune in to the KWUF website for live streaming! 2 pm Mountain time.

Aug 31- Four Corners Folk Festival – Pagosa Springs, CO. Four Corners Folk Festival is a magical festival and gathering in the san juan mountains with camping, kids programs, workshops, campfire jams and more. The Four Corners Folk Festival’s storied Main Stage has hosted some of the finest musicians in the Americana, Bluegrass, Folk and Newgrass genres. BW will take the stage at 11 am. 877-472-4672 for ticket info. Also playing is Sam Bush Band, Tim O’Brien & Darrell Scott, Elephant Revival, Sarah Jarosz, Sons of Fathers, Paper Bird, Heather Maloney/Darlingside, Baskery, Caravan of Thieves, Marley’s Ghost, Shook Twins, Sunliner, Beth Wood, Gordie MacKeeman & his Rhythm Boys and more!! BW plays the main stage at 11 am. Songwriting workshop at 1 pm.

Sep 2-5 Sisters Americana Song Academy – Sisters, OR. The Americana Song Academy is an exciting, comprehensive workshop with an emphasis on songwriting, lyric development, guitar technique and accompaniment. Designed for musicians, writers and songwriters of all ages and abilities who are interested in lifelong learning and acoustic American music in its finest traditions. As always, the Academy will be held at Camp Caldera, high in the Cascade Mountains just a few miles northwest of Sisters, Oregon. Located on Blue Lake, Caldera is a beautiful site surrounded by pine trees and snow-capped mountains. The setting alone is inspirational. Come join the community of folks that call “Song Camp” home each year for a pilgrimage back to your creative self! BW is honored to be on staff a the ASA!

Sep 6 – Sisters Folk Festival – Sisters, OR. he Sisters Folk Festival is a three-day celebration of roots music from blues to bluegrass. The Festival is held every year in September, the weekend after Labor Day, in beautiful Sisters, Oregon. The Festival is home to ten stages, including an 900-seat venue at the Village Green Park in downtown Sisters, and 1,100 seats at Sisters Art Works. BW plays a festival set with her kick-ass band from Eugene on Saturday! Artworks Stage, 6 pm.

Sep 7 – Sisters Folk Festival – Sisters, OR. BW hosts the Sisters Folk Festival Community Celebration. Free and open to all! 10 am.

Sep 11 – Route 5 NW Wine Bar – Eugene, OR. 218 E. 5th Ave, In the 5th Street Public Market. Route 5 NW Wine Bar offers northwest wines by the glass and bottle as well as local microbrews and gourmet snacks. Join us on the patio for some music! 6-8 pm.

Sep 13 – Clark County Folk Festival – Yacolt, WA. At Mounton Falls Winery, 31101 NE Railroad Avenue. At Moulton Falls Winery in Yacolt, WA. Music starting at 1-7 pm. Festival seating – please bring lawn chairs & blankets. $10 Admission. Children 12 and under, free! 10% of the ticket price goes to The American Cancer Society North Clark Relay for Life No outside beverages or alcohol, please. BW plays at 5 pm.

Sep 17 – Alberta Street Public House – Portland, OR. 1036 NE Alberta St. “Local Roots” Radio Show Live at the Alberta Street Public House. $5. BW plays around 8 pm.

Sep 24 – Musicians Empowered Song Hour – The Interwebs.  MESH is an acoustic online show that highlights up and coming and seasoned musicians in an intimate acoustic setting on the blog Musicians Empowered. The show’s format recreates a campfire style setting where musicians swap songs and stories. Hosts of the show will help create an atmosphere that keeps the show entertaining and moving.  6 pm Pacific Time.

Sep 26 – Quantam Arts Presents at the Soularium – Fort Collins, CO. 706 East Stuart St. All Quantum Arts shows are non-smoking and are for all ages (with some parental discretion). Seating is by general admission. Doors open approximately 1 1/2 hours prior to showtime. For questions or to buy tix by please call 970-412-6731 or email steve@quantamarts.net. $17. 7:30pm.

Sep 27 – The Bull Moose – Guffey, CO. 1245 Canon St. The Bull Moose is located in Guffey, Colorado, an old mining town nestled in a picturesque valley of the Rocky Mountains. Come in for a warm welcome, delicious meal, & enjoy the wonderful scenery and mountain air. This will be a seated show and BW’s 2nd time in Guffey! Please call 719-689-4199 for reservations. 7:30 pm.

Sep 28 – Sundays at the Fork – Lyons, CO. 450 Main Street. 303-823-5014. Join us on the patio for music, great food, insanely good margaritas and good friends in beautiful Lyons!

Hey y’all, it’s the finish line!!!!! Is that the face of triumph or relief?? 🙂

This crazy sky greeted me as I drove away from our Picnic In The Park show in Prineville, OR. Such a beautiful place and I loved singing with Dale & Mai — the BW trio!

One of my favorite views from  the stage. At Chukkar Farm in Alpharetta, GA

Chukkar Farm is a polo farm. For real. I don’t know what this word means but I love saying it… 

This crew blew the roof off at Chukkar Farm!!

Check out this loverly house concert setting…thanks to Gabrielle Louise & friends for making it look like a vintage postcard!

speaking of the lovely Gabs… thanks Reggie for the photo…

And finally, I didn’t take any pictures of the fish I caught in the beautiful streams of southwestern Colorado. They were too slippery. 

3. THE FUTURE...I’m looking forward to a southeast trip in Oct where I’ll visit some old favorite places and discover some new ones! Then it’s off to Oakland for the Far West Folk Alliance conference and back home to open for the great Peter Mulvey in Corvallis.  Life is good!!

In the mean time I’m trying to eat all the tomatoes, cucumbers, kale, eggplant, and jalapeno peppers that my garden is making! I think some salsa is in order…

Thank you for reading and for cheering me on! Hope to see  you out there on the road. 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!

 

p.s. check out this awesome pic of me and Dave Stoddard taken by Holly D — she’s amazing!!!