Wendy V's Local Blend

Volume 11 Issue 2

November/December 2003 - Writer/Editor: Wendy Vickers

Related Links:
 
 Gig Calendar

Coffeehouses/venues

Just Plain Folks

 Radio Regulars page

What this newsletter's about.

Matter of FAQ: So what's it (normally) take to have your CD mentioned in Wendy V's Local Blend? Click here for the guidelines!

Singer/songwriters, venues: Have a web page full of gig dates? Send me your link for the gig calendar! 

Never Been More Proud...

Just Plain Folks Twin Cities chapter coordinator Wayne Hamilton performs at the JPF showcase at MusicTech College in September. National JPF founder Brian Austin Whitney looks on at left.

Wow. What a heartwarming and musically superb occasion indeed was the last stop of Just Plain Folks founder Brian Austin Whitney's road tour of cities hosting local chapters of the independent musician support organization.  A large part of the Twin Cities chapter membership and a host of talented singer-songwriter-musicians--some familiar, some new--turned out for a showcase September 12 at MusicTech College in St. Paul. Each of the performers had one song to give it their best shot...and each and every one delivered admirably before a full house. I was so incredibly proud of all the performers and, saying this once again, blessed and grateful to be part of this supportive fellowship of musicians and those who work for and care about them.

If you are a regular reader of Brian Austin Whitney's Just Plain Folks e-mails and columns, I am here to tell you he is the real thing...a great guy whose enthusiasm and warmth is as genuine in person as the words he writes.

One newsworthy note about an act I became acquainted with for the first time at the showcase: Congratulations goes out to Jim Vilandre, whose song "Live For the Line" which he performed that evening made him both the Best Original Song and overall winner of the recent national USA World Showcase talent competition! Jim is well on his way to a promising career in Christian music.

Catching up with...Kellie Lin Knott

About four years ago, I helped out a young Twin Cities singer/songwriter who wanted to raise some money to go to the Folk Alliance conference. Kellie Lin Knott and I teamed up at Coffee Grounds to share music and information for musicians at a benefit to help pay Kellie Lin's way to the conference. Back then, I wrote here that Kellie Lin, a student at Berklee College of Music at that time, was "a star in the making". Indeed, over the last few years, this gal has worked hard, diligently did what needed to be done to pursue a career as a full time musician. She's built up a following in the Boston area, is about to release a new album, and is out on the road this fall touring the country with other singer/songwriters. Her communications are as vibrant as her personality which impressed me so much back in 1999. Her travels do include Twin Cities dates --her CD release show here takes place at Ginkgo Coffeehouse on November 28.

CD Spotlights:

Sara Thomsen - By Breath. You may remember Sara as the recent winner of the New Folk Songwriting Contest at the Minnesota Folk Festival. It's a rare song which captures the listener so powerfully with a memorable hook that you can't get out of your head and heart after the first listen ("by breath, by blood, by body, by spirit, we all are one"). The title track of Sara's CD, "By Breath" does just that. Her beautiful, exquisite voice is the perfect setting for Sara's original gentle acoustic songs of peace in the world and among ourselves.

Blue Road - These Dreams (contact: jdaly1@mn.rr.com) - Two excellent string players, Jack Daly and Arkadiy Yushin, and Deb Harley, one of the great voices of the St. Joan of Arc Church musician collective, team up to deliver an impressive debut set. All of the songs are written by John Daly ("Spring Mississippi" co-written with Arkadiy Yushin). They are beautifully framed by Deb Harley's soothing yet powerful vocals and shimmering  guitar, dobro and percussion by Daly and Yushin. If you appreciate fine acoustic string work and vocals, check out Blue Road.

Holiday Time...

...is almost upon us! Do you believe it? A lot of you may be busy attending gigs or playing at them. One to keep in mind: the Brothers Frantzich, Paul and Tim, are releasing a holiday CD. For their CD release show, The Brothers return to one of the best places to see them live, the Fine Line on Saturday, November 29 at 7 pm, (doors 6 pm), tickets $15 at the door. 

While you're waiting, check out Paul and Tim's latest CD "Live Record", a 13 track anthology of popular Brothers Frantzich tunes from the last ten years, recorded live at various 2002 concerts (including one I attended, at the Women's Club in Minneapolis in May of last year). This CD proves why these guys are one of the most charismatic live acts out there.

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