New Releases

• Ruthie & The Wranglers have released their latest album, Live At Chick Hallâs Surf Club. The album is comprised of four studio tracks and 20 live tunes. Ruthie & The Wranglers can be contacted at www.ruthieandthewrangers.com.
• Pat McGee Band released their new CD, Shine (Giant Records), and are currently touring in support of the album.
• Carey Colvin has released her debut CD, The Distance Wall. Recorded at Recording Arts in Merrifield, VA and produced by Marco Delmar, Colvin, and Granger Helvey, the CD consists of 12 original songs. In addition to Carey Colvin & On The Air members Granger Helvey, Doug Rainoff and Kirby Yarbrough, guest artists include David A. Alberding, Dana Connor, Marco Delmar, Keith Dill, Mack Fowler, John Jennings, Tom Prasada-Rao, Lisa Taylor, and Cleve Wehle. For more information, visit the website at www.careycolvin.com or e-mail sngrtr@aol.com.
• Shambhu and the Punya Crewâs new CD debut Do Things Right will be released this Spring. TrumpThight has recently released their debut CD - Trump Thight - Phase 1 -Earn Yoâ Keep on independent label Entertainment Network: Til I Die, Inc. The CDâs are sold in stores and on the web at www.tidi.net. Contact: Carl ãKoodaddä Griffin 402-457-0138, email: kreamakoodadd@hotmail.com
• Travesty, Ltd., the humor collective, re-released Teen Comedy Party on CD. The album contains nearly all the vinyl hilarity of the original Î80s disc, now digitized and expanded to 40 tracks. Included is the Dr. Demento hit, Rock & Roll Doctor, as well as many brand-new old favorites, like the much-bootlegged Dwayne Stomp PSA, the tear-jerking country tune Savinâ My Heart for Parts, and several episodes of the ãLove Talk Radioä series, featuring know-nothing authority Dr. Adonis. For track listing, liner notes, artwork, visit http://www.travesty.org.
• Singer/Songwriter Michelle Swanâs debut CD, Whistling in the Dark was released in April. Visit her website at http://www.michelleswan.com.
• Southern Jazzâs new Dixieland album Thereâs No Place Like Home includes Dr. Ted Borodofsky on clarinet, Jerry Ford on trumpet and vocals, Ray Cissell on bass trombone, Homer Pruitt on piano, Jim Fern on bass, and Dean Hughes on drums. This CD was given a Five Star review by Jazz Review. Gadget White Band is releasing their new CD Serious Butterflies. The band has a national distribution deal with Redeye.
• Kym Fields has a solo release out called Everything Happens for a Reason. Lisa Moscatiello, Luke Michel, Casey OâNeal, Jeanette Phillips, and Cris Chillura helped in the recording project. The CD was recorded at Recording Arts in Fairfax with Marco Delmar.
• Grantham Dispatch Records released the debut solo recording from Chris Keup, lead singer/songwriter of River. The new album, entitled The Subject of Some Regret contains nine new songs featuring: Agents of Good Roots, John Dâearth (Dave Matthews, The Kronos Quartet, Bruce Hornsby), Butch Taylor (Dave Matthews), Doug Derryberry (Bruce Hornsby), Kristin Asbury (September 67, Joan Osbourne, Shannon Worrell, Lilith Fair), River, Robert Lighthouse and many others. The album was produced by John Alagia (Dave Matthews, Ben Folds Five, Vertical Horizon) and engineered primarily by Jeff Juliano (Dave Mattthews, Ben Folds). The CD may be ordered online at the store at www.awaremusic.com.
• Maggieâs Music has released Scottish Rant Music of the Highland Bagpipes. The world champion City of Washington Pipe Band and Scottish fiddle champion Bonnie Rideout join together for a rousing good time on pipes, drums and fiddle. Includes 9/8 marches, Irish reels, competition medleyâs and Amazing Grace. It was recorded at Bias and mastered at Airshow. On board was Jim Robeson as engineer, Bonnie Rideout as Producer, Mike Green as Musical Director and Charlie Pilzer did the digital mastering at Airshow.
• Michael Fathâs new all solo/acoustic CD Songs For Marie has arrived. There are 11 pieces with a cross section of roots styles: hot country, rockabilly, nuevo flamenco, classical, bluegrass, blues and pop. For information contact Michael Fath at 12016 Golf Ridge Ct. #302 Fairfax, VA 22033.
• Lisa Moscatiello has released her latest CD, Second Avenue (Wind River Records). The CD was recorded at Recording Arts in Merrifield, VA and engineered by Marco Delmar.
• Dan Leonard recently celebrated the release of his CD, Time Alone, with a show at the State Theater in Falls Church, VA.
• Robin & Linda Williams have a new CD, In The Company of Strangers (Sugar Hill Records). The CD is composed of 11 original songs and one classic Hank Williams song.
• Tom Washington and the Love Community Singers released Giving It All Weâve Got (Mylestone Records). Reggie Codringtonâs new release, Expressions (Mylestone Records) is breaking into the Christian jazz market.
• John Butler released his new CD, Simply John (Mylestone Records), in April 2000.
• Steve Gellman celebrated the release of his latest recording, Return to Summer Lake, with a show at the State Theater. The album was recorded at Recording Arts in Merrifield, VA.
• Mudcat Jones has released its new EP, Whatâs So Funny? (Screaming Goddess Records). Produced by Jeff Juliano (Dave Matthews Band, SEV, Agents of Good Roots) and mixed by Paul David Hager (Shawn Mullins, Tracey Bonham), the CD is being distributed nationally through Redeye Distribution and Valley Media. The band is currently on tour in support of the album. For more information, call 703-644-1926 or e-mail sgmanagmnt@aol.com.
• Medicine Wind has released its debut CD, Bathed in the Light (Sweet Pea Records). Based in Northern Virginia, band members are Kevin Ball, Lucille Ball, Bill Conkey, Mark Hendley and Kevin Kirkman.

Beyond the Region
News from our members around the country

• David Lynn Grimes released his new CD Raven River.
• Broken Line Records announced the release of Long Distance Lovers, the debut CD from the Kansas City based Americana band, J-45. The CD includes 12 original songs penned by BMI songwriter James English. J-45 covers a broad musical territory, ranging from the bluegrass tinged Open Road to the Celtic flavored Sunflower. The 12 tracks were recorded by engineer Rick Kloog at Chapmanâs in Kansas City, Missouri. The CD was mastered by Hank Williams of Mastermix in Nashville, Tennessee. For additional information, please visit the J-45 website at www.j-45.com.
• Candace Asherâs That Old Car from her self-titled debut CD, Candace Asher included on debut Association For Independent Music (AFIM) Americana Sampler. Candace joins nineteen other artists, including Last Train Home, Trout Fishing in America, David Holt, and Doc Watson. Visit Candace Asherâs home page at http://www.songs.com/candaceasher.
• Whatever Became Of Me, a new recording by Joyce Brookshire. Released on EMWorld Records, the album is produced by Elise Witt & DeDe Vogt and features Atlanta musicians Johnny Mosier (guitar), Jeff Mosier (banjo), Edward Hunter (fiddle), Mark Van Allen (pedal steel & dobro), Johnny Hibbert (tenor sax), Linda Bolley (drums), David Marcus (piano), and harmony vocals by DeDe Vogt, Elise Witt, Kathleen Hatfield, LA Tuten, and Jeff & Johnny Mosier. On the Internet you can visit the website-in-progress (and will soon be able to purchase over the web) at: http://www.joycebrookshire.com.
• Galifea has released the new CD, Straight Out Da South.
• Ron Gay of Pontiac, MI, has released his first CD, Where The Water Is Most Blue.
• Either/Orchestra from Boston released their new CD, More Beautiful Than Death (Accurate Records).
• Pasadena, Californiaâs Ché Zuro has released her new album, Welcome Home (Youghiogheny River Records). Zuro is a member of Charlie Sextonâs solo band. The album was recorded at Spinout Recording studio in Burbank, CA.

Workshops, Conferences,
Showcases, Grants, Awards

State Song Project

The State Song Project (SSP) is gathering together modern renditions of the official songs of the fifty states. They are embarking on a three-part process beginning with the 24 titles currently in the public domain. The end result will be a Volume 1 compilation album. To achieve this result SSP is sponsoring a competition closing on October 31, 2000.

The competition is open to everyone, regardless of state or country of residence. SSP is offering cash prizes which have a total dollar amount of $25,000 and a continuing royalty to our winners.

For more information and rules for participating in the State Song Project Musical Competition go to their website at http://www.statesongproject.com. The State Song Project is a direct extension of the SSP book, entitled, State Songs: Anthems And Their Origins (Scarecrow Press). For more information, call at 716-688-8181 or fax at 716-689-9295.

DayJams Rock Music Summer Camp

DayJams is a summer camp that teaches 10-15 year olds to play rock music. Two campuses will be in operation from June 26 through July 7, 2000. One is at St. Stephenâs and St. Agnes School in Alexandria and the other is at North Bethesda United Methodist Church in Bethesda.

The camp accepts kids even if they have no experience at all with music, and by the weekâs end they will be jamming in front of their friends and family. The week includes instruction in Guitar, Bass, Drums, Keys and Vocals appropriate to the camperâs skill level. The kids are then grouped into bands where they write a song, rehearse, and perform it on Friday evening. The performances will be recorded and compiled into a CD. In addition, each band must pick a name and design a logo, which is then used to create t-shirts, CD covers and posters. Outdoor activities happen as well.

DayJams is the creation of the same people who run the National Guitar Workshop, the nationâs largest summer music program. Since 1984, National Guitar Workshop has been educating musicians of all levels in residential programs throughout North America and Europe. DayJams provides this outstanding program to younger students in their own communities. For more information about this group, go to http://www.guitarworkshop.com.

Visit the website at http://www.dayjams.com. As of publication of this newsletter, counselors and an art teacher were needed for the Alexandria Campus. People interested in participating should call Maria ãPeteä Durgan, Site Director, at 703-317-3903. There are still a few spaces available for campers.

The Swannanoa Gathering

The Swannanoa Gathering announces Sing Swing & String Week, July16-22, 2000. With an emphasis on Singing, the week will also focus on Community and Ensemble Music Making. There will be many opportunities to sing in large and small groups as well as with instrumental ensembles. There will also be dance classes and evening dances, instruction on a variety of instruments, an exciting program for children, special showings of dance videos from the Smithsonian collection, and a Latin Fiesta. The coordinator for this new program is WAMA member Elise Witt, singer, vocal teacher, and recording artist from Georgia. For more information or to receive a catalogue, contact: Jim Magill, Director, The Swannanoa Gathering, Warren Wilson College, Asheville NC 28815-9000, (828) 298-3434.

NXNW

Showcase applications are now being accepted from musicians interested in participating in the sixth annual North by Northwest (NXNW) Music Festival, scheduled September 20-23, 2000 in Portland, Oregon. Applications can be filled out online, downloaded from the NXNW website http://www.nxnw.com or can be obtained by calling 512-467-7979. Applicants will need to read the instructions, complete, and return this application (along with a press kit, tape or cd, and a $10 application fee) in order to be considered for a showcase slot. Postmark deadline for submitting the NXNW showcase application is June 16, 2000.

A three-night extravaganza which features more than 300 of the best up-and-coming bands and solo acts from all musical genres from across the United States and around the world, the NXNW Music Festival is the evening component of the NXNW Music and New Media Conference.

The NXNW Music and New Media Conference also features three days of panel sessions on how new media technology is impacting the music industry, as well as discussions of more traditional aspects of this business (such as A&R, touring and publicity). Another component of NXNW is the three-day Trade Show, where the regionâs top music and new media companies will be displaying their wares. All NXNW daytime events take place at the Embassy Suites, located at 329 SW Pine in downtown Portland.

NXNW is co-presented by Willamette Week and by South by Southwest. For more information on NXNW, see http://www.nxnw.com or e-mail nxnw@nxnw.com.

2000 USA Songwriting Competition

The USA Songwriting Competition has announced the launch of the Year 2000 songwriting event. The competition is sponsored by Tannoy, MARS Music Superstore, Berklee Press, Mackie, Guild Guitars, DâAddario Strings, Digitech, Line 6, Kurzweil, E-mu Ensoniq, Electronic Musician, Music Connection, Audio Technica, Peavey, Gavin, Superdups, Rane, Tascam, ASN, Vibe, Blaze, and Spin Magazine. With a grand prize of over $50,000 in cash and merchandise, the competition offers 15 different categories including Pop, Rock, Country, R&B, World, Hip-Hop/Rap, Folk, Jazz, and Latin. For more information, contact 1-877-USA-SONG or visit the website at www.songwriting.net.

Events

The 7th Annual Potomac Celtic Festival will be held on June 10-11, 2000 at the Morven Park Equestrian Center in Leesburg, VA. For more information, contact Barbara Ryan at prez@pobox.com or by calling 703-451-4492.

The Michael J. Quill Irish Cultural and Sports Centre will present its 6th Annual Catskills Irish Arts Week July 16-22. Held in the village of East Durham, NY, the event offers daily workshops in folk music, dance, song, language and history to students of all skill levels. For more information, call 518-634-2286 or e-mail irish@francomm.com.

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