26/02/2012
Happy Oscars Sunday!
At Brewer’s Alley Songwriters’ Showcase this Monday, Feb 27, we are delighted to welcome back one of this area’s songwriting treasures, the incomparable DULCIE TAYLOR – this time to bring us her latest CD, “Free of This Sorrow.” Dulcie recorded this 11-song collection on the West Coast, with a group of musicians with extensive pedigrees, so I’m really looking forward to getting a copy… I’m pretty sure Dulcie will have brought a few with her for sale! Don’t miss this show – it will be one to remember!
For the piano prelude this week we have TWO pianists – Peter Roebuck AND Anna Keller! They have been a little mysterious about this, so I don’t know quite what they are planning, but I’m looking forward to being surprised! As usual, come early to find good seats for the evening and to catch the entire 30 minutes of the prelude. You can come upstairs from 7:15 pm on (sometimes earlier if Sarah is ready; performers can come up when they arrive).
We also have another great program of three-song cameo performers, beginning with anti-folk artist Paddy Kilrain, plus the flying fingers and excellent songs of Jack Bond, who is also accompanying Dulcie on guitar, as he often does. Todd’s Pick is Todd Coyle, venturing across the river to entertain us for the first time in 2012… We will also be hearing from regulars; poet John Holly reciting his poems in between other performers, and Tomy Wright, playing stringed things as well as percussive items, plus Todd C. Walker who also takes photos, helps emcee and helps run sound. We plan on Tomy AND Todd playing this week, as they have been squeezed out for the last three weeks! (Plus me, at the end!)
Tomy One M Wright will be joined by self-described bangy-bangy guy (he wrote a song, "I'm just a bangy-bangy guy, ask me and I'll tell you why...") Ron Goad in the percussion section, who is also accompanying Dulcie, so we know he will be present and correct! Well, maybe not correct all the time; we are still waiting for some of the juicier stories from the Cayamo music cruise… I did hear a rumour that Ron won his FIFTH WAMMIE award in a row last week for being Most Supportive of music in the DC area! He has become a musical institution in his own right – a drum-roll model! (Sorry -- couldn't stop myself...) Congratulations, Mister Goad!
If you feel like getting out this afternoon for a little music, today is the alternating Sunday that Todd C. Walker puts on his Songwriters Songfest at Frederick Coffee Company, beginning at 4 pm. Participants this week are Americana fave Mark McKay, national touring artist Andrew McKnight, Ony Maybe and Chris Heurich, so it’s an interesting line-up, well worth a listen! Why not drop by?
One of our local songwriters and Brewer’s feature performer, Jonah Knight, he of steam-punk, pirates and ghosts fame, has been asked to host an internet radio show featuring local DC musicians. Scout Sounds DC (http://www.scoutsoundsdc.com/) currently features other musical genres by local artists, but plans to launch a daily acoustic music show in March. The station pays licensing fees, so members of ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and SoundScan will have their songs reported if they are played.
Acoustic musicians of any style from DC and the surrounding suburbs (Frederick is considered a suburb :) but Baltimore is not) are encouraged to submit songs.
To submit music please e-mail the following to Jonah Knight via [email protected] -- your name/band name; something interesting about you; website; and high-quality MP3's (no CD's). You are encouraged to submit singles or full albums. Deep cuts may be useful in theme shows. If you would like to submit more than two songs, please send them in a .zip file before sending. Sounds like an interesting opportunity – I will be waylaying Jonah in the Wee Folks pre-school, where I see him a couple of times a week on the same mission that I’m on – dropping off and/or collecting small people for educational purposes…
Finally, another update from bypass bassman Barry Bryan, who is recovering apace (well, not too fast, to avoid overdoing things). He is discovering that 12-string guitars are not as immediately co-operative as six-strings, but is staying out of trouble otherwise… He will be back playing in public in due course, much to everyone’s relief! We send him our good wishes for his continuing recovery!
Join us at Brewer’s Alley this Monday to hear Dulcie play and sing all the songs on her wonderful new CD, accompanied by Jack and Ron, plus another wonderful line-up in Frederick ’s best listening room! On Monday’s there is always a great collection of talent on the second floor at Brewer’s Alley – if you don’t believe me, come and check for yourself!
Rod Deacey
Monday Night Songwriters' Showcase (now in its eighth year!) is held every Monday evening upstairs at Brewer's Alley, 124 N. Market St. , in beautiful downtown Frederick, MD. The program starts at 7:30 pm with a piano prelude, followed by three or four songwriters doing three songs each (so you can't get bored). The featured songwriter for the evening goes on around 9 pm for 45 minutes, followed by three more three-song performers. Somewhere in the mix we throw in some poetry from our resident poet, John Holly. Our MCs are Ron Goad, Todd C. Walker and Tomy Wright, frequently interrupted by Rod Deacey on sound. Most of you know all this, but this mailing is going out to some people who may be unfamiliar with our format, so please bear with me.... Our shows are FREE -- we collect tips for the featured songwriter, but there is no door charge, so come and support LIVE MUSIC!
Our featured songwriters are a mix of national and regional touring performers, with many award winners from all genres. If you would like a calendar for the next few months, please e-mail me back and I'll send you one.
For information about playing a three-song spot, contact Mister Ron Goad: [email protected] or Todd C.Walker: [email protected] (Todd has his Todd’s Pick for a three-song cameo every week). For info on featuring (the 45-minute money spot!), contact me, Rod Deacey: [email protected]
Brewer's Alley Songwriters' Showcases, along with Songwriters Songfests and Open Mikes at Frederick Coffee Company and Beans in The Belfry, plus monthly concerts and occasional workshops at Dublin Roasters all come under the umbrella of a new non-profit organization -- Frederick Acoustic Music Enterprise (F.A.M.E.). Information and membership forms are available at these events and at www.frederickacoustic.org
Check out http://scoutsoundsdc.com! Let's Listen
