Wendy V's Local Blend

Volume 11 Issue 6

July/August  2004 - 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! The address is always at the end of the issue!

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

My summer calendar's filling up...is yours?

That's one reason why this will be a shorter issue! One of the best reasons to live in the Twin Cities this time of year also becomes a bit of a happy problem. So many concerts, festival, events, and so little time.  

If you follow some of the work of the artists that have been mentioned here in Local Blend, or who play in the coffeehouses and small clubs, the annual concert series in Minnehaha Park and Lake Harriet are now in full swing. Click below for links to the listings:

Minnehaha Park and Lake Harriet Bandshell

These are but two multi-gig concert settings for seeing your favorite acoustic artists. Local papers such as the Star Tribune and City Pages have also published concert listings for other parks and outdoor settings. Surf the web and check them out!

But don't spend all your time outside...remember those regular indoor coffeehouse gigs! I have done a revamp of my coffeehouse listing as far up to date as I know it. One of the new adds I have to the list is Bean Factory on Randolph Avenue in St. Paul. A small but cozy spot, Bean Factory will have live music Friday and Saturday nights. Musicians who are interested in playing there should send an e-mail to: beanfactorymusicinfo@comcast.net
 

If you know of a coffeehouse or small venue which has added music and should be on the list, or see one on the list that is no longer offering music, help keep me current and let me know!

Congrats to:

David Stoddard, Winner of the 2004 Minnesota Folk Festival New Folk Songwriting Contest! Check the  MN Folk Festival website for even more events going on throughout the year.

CD Spotlight:

Tim Helmen - Another Season 
I first heard Tim Helmen at an open stage/audition years ago at the late, lamented Gathering Grounds coffeehouse in South Minneapolis. Tim became one of many regular coffeehouse performers over the years I've seen in a number of venues. Tim's CD gives you exactly what you get when you go to hear him live: voice, guitar, original, thoughtful songwriting. Hopefully you are paying attention to the lyrics as you're listening. Tim's lyrics offer insightful looks at the people and world around him, with a touch of inspiration. Tim's CD release concert is July 18th at Bloomington Lutheran Church (see Tim's site for info).

Mark your calendars for...

A heads up on this one: Musicians Expo 2004 happens October 29th and 30th at the Thunderbird Hotel in Bloomington. Yours truly will have a booth there and may be doing some mini-seminars! I'll have more on this next time, but put the dates on your calendars and visit the Musicians Expo website for further info as it becomes available.

Other "housecleaning":

If you haven't visited www.wendyv.com lately, you will see I've made a few changes. I've broken the website into three sections: for fans, for musicians/artists, and spiritual/inspirational. Hopefully this will help you focus on finding the information that most interests you. You will find a few new features added as well. Stop by and take a look!

Off to Nashville...for a quick weekend in July. I'll try to get around a bit and report back on any musical happenings I manage to get into! See ya next time!

LATE NEWS UPDATE: 

Also heading to Nashville around the same time I am is Jim Vilandre--he made it to the semi-finals of the "Exalting Him" talent contest sponsored by Daywind Music Group. Way to go, Jim, and best of luck!

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There are always new and updated features at www.wendyv.com ... 

Please have a look around!

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