Wendy V's Local Blend

Wendy V's blog of news and thoughts about some local music and musicians you don't hear enough about

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7/3/2005

At the Minnesota Folk Festival

Last week, I headed to the Hastings area for the Minnesota Folk Festival. I had the pleasure of emceeing the first day of the New Folk Songwriting Contest. I almost missed out on this because of my well known freeway fear (or any route that may resemble one in spots). But, I did survive the 17 mile stretch on 55 (65 miles per hour, with traffic lights in between? What were these people thinking?), didn't get lost and quite enjoyed the drive past lots of farmland.

The contestants came from far and wide (NY, VT, MS and VA for example) and every one was very solid. The last time I emceed the New Folk Songwriting Contest a couple of years ago, I remembered a very engaging contestant named Patrick McGuigan who really got the crowd going. Sadly, not long after that we got word that he was seriously injured in an accident in Ireland. But bless his heart, yet still recovering from his accident, he was back this year as a contestant and once again effectively worked the crowd.  I agreed with his description that he was a "very special performer." (I picked up a copy of his CD "Land of 1000 Words", which shows him as a wide-ranging songwriting talent). 

The winner of the contest was Nigel Eccelstein, runner-up: Rebecca Hall. Best performer winner was Joel Underwood. Congrats!

While at the JPF/MAS showcase on Saturday following the contest, I also got a preview of Char Engen's CD, a very fine acoustic collection of her original material, and caught up with my prolific friend Ed Anderson, out with a new CD with his band Seasoned Soul, called "Kept".

I really enjoyed hearing all the great talent, and meeting up with folks like the ever-energetic Vicki Logan and Kellie Lin Knott, who always have many exciting things happening with their music (a testament to not only talent, but also willingness to invest and go the extra mile to jump-start their careers). It was also great to see others I hadn't talked to in quite a while, like Scott Marrs.

Next year, maybe I'll rent a car with a little more "soup" to it and perhaps have the opportunity to stay longer and attend both days.

6/10/2005

Catchin' up with Michael..

Singer, songwriter, pianist, jinglemaster and so many other things, and my dear friend, Michael Loonan has been out and about in lots of musical gigs and projects. Heard the "Fun Is Good" jingle for the St. Paul Saints on the radio lately? That's him. He's also keeping a fairly regular schedule as a "dueling pianist" in local Axel's Bonfire locations in Savage, Woodbury Eagan and occasionally in St. Paul, and playing with 2ndGeneration. You can keep up with all of those on his website. We trade e-mails regularly, but I managed to catch up with him at a couple of gigs.

It had been years since I'd been to Grand Old Day and hadn't had much occasion to venture down Grand Avenue for quite some time. I think the last time I was there, the building housing the soon to be gone Bound To Be Read was still the Grand and Victoria parking lot. Axel's Bonfire was Ciatti's last time I was in that location. But this was my main stop at Grand Old Day, to hear Michael do the dueling pianos thing with a singer I'd lost track of for a few years, Adam Michael Browne. If you get a chance to get to one of these gigs at Axel's, it's a lot of spontaneous fun and great music, where you get to make requests and put the piano players up to the challenge.

We lucked out with the weather one evening as Michael played in the parking lot of Starbucks in Highland Park, as part of the Highland Business Association Thursday summer concert series. His repertoire delighted baby boomers and young teenage girls alike. My favorites were as always, the songs from his "Share The Disguise" album. Those songs for me remain fresh and timeless and bring back a host of memories from when I first discovered Michael about a dozen years ago...the Michael Loonan Band at Music City Cafe, the places he's lived in where, as he kindly pointed out that evening, I got to hear a lot of songs in their formative stages.

Speaking of outside gigs, time for my yearly reminder that the summer concerts are getting underway just about now. Once again, here are links for a couple of concert series:

Minnehaha Park and Lake Harriet Bandshell

See ya somewhere out there..

6/1/2005

OK,OK,  I'm back....

Finally. I stopped talking about it, got in to baby Geo and hit the road.

 First stop: the monthly WIMMN meeting and after meeting all women's jam, a very easy get-to at the Blue Fox Bar and Grill in Arden Hills. Rebekka Fisher and company were very kind to have me speak at the meeting about encouragement. I stayed afterward for the first hour of the all-women jam. There are some great top-notch professional and talented women musicians out there. Check this one out on the last Sunday of the month at 7:30. Oh, and Rebekka asked me to mention that her WIMMN Internet radio program can be found on the WIMMN website.

I was reminded at the meeting of the Women's Acoustic Singer Songwriting Showcase at SiSu Cafe on Snelling Avenue in St. Paul. This happens usually on the Wednesday following the monthly WIMMN meeting at 7:00 p.m. (indeed, a good benchmark to help one remember this gig). I dropped by this week and remembered why it was I wanted to do what I've been doing local music support-wise for the past 13 years. In a small and intimate place, we were entertained by Renaye, a most engaging singer/songwriter with a velvet voice, backed by Kimmie on bass guitar. 

So, if you're playing a gig at a coffeehouse or other small venue, watch for a smiling person who actually is listening to you. You never know when and where you might see me... 

Till next time ... Wendy

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