Suzie Vinnick Newsletter |
Thursday, March 04, 2010 |
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Little bits 'o newsHello and Happy March! I've been on some fun adventures lately - ventured down south to Memphis, Tennessee for the Folk Alliance International Conference where I performed an official Performance Alley Showcase with my friend Mike Meadows, a great drummer from Austin, Texas.
Mike and I performing at my official showcase. Mike and I post showcase. Photo by James Dean
I performed 5 other private showcases and got to hear a bunch of great music, see a bunch of friends and made a few new ones, too. Took in some of the sights and sounds of Memphis - we visited the National Civil Rights Museum (very powerful experience), Sun Studio (the birthplace of Rock 'n Roll), caught the Folk Alliance sponsored Sacred Steel Concert (very groovy and soulful!), rode the trolley (costs a $1!) and had some snacks at Gus's Fried Chicken (KFC doesn't compare...). Also took a quick peek at the bright lights and sounds of Beale Street.
After the conference was over we drove an hour and a half down to Clarksdale, Mississippi, the home of the infamous "Crossroads" where Robert Johnson was rumored to have sold his soul to the devil...
Photo by James Dean The Crossroads at the junction of Highways 61 and 49
Photo by James Dean We stayed in the Cadillac Shack, one of many old share cropper's shacks at the Hopson Plantation . There is also an old cotton gin that's been transformed into motel rooms. Each shack is unique, is heated and has running water - very rustic but very cosy. The tree outside our shack is called a 'bottle tree' and is there to catch any 'haints' wandering around the shacks.
We visited the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale and one of our last stops was the Riverside Hotel, where Bessie Smith passed away in 1937 when it was the G.T. Thomas Hospital. The owner is Frank "Rat" Ratcliffe, who greeted us with a smile and took us on a tour of the hotel that as someone said "oozes blues history" - guests that have stayed at the hotel include Robert Nighthawk, Sonny Boy Williamson II, John Lee Hooker, Howlin' Wolf, Sam Cooke, and John F. Kennedy Jr. - yes, THAT John F. Kennedy, Jr. All in all it was a great trip, just too short!!
Singing at my showcase. Photo by Jake Jacobsen
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Blues singing workshopsI'm going to be doing some blues singing workshops over the next 6 months - here are the details! - Sunday April 18, 2010 - All Together Now Music Workshops, Guelph, ON - I'll be teaching a 3 hour blues singing workshop, cost is $45. Details are here - May 10-14, 2010 - Hornby Island Blues Workshop, Hornby Island, BC - teaching private lessons in vocals, guitar, bass, songwriting - drop me a line if you're attending the Workshop and might like a lesson - August 2-6, 2010 - Kincardine Summer Music Festival, Kincardine, ON - teaching blues vocals with a bit of songwriting thrown in. Class size is limited. Details are here
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Upcoming March gigsFriday, March 5, 2010 - LONDON, ON - Aeolian Hall - Fundraiser for Home County Folk Festival - I'll be singing Leonard Cohen tunes along with Catherine McInnes, DK Ibomeka and Matthew Barber. Tickets are $25adv, $27@door. Buy 4 tickets or more for $20 each. Saturday, March 6, 2010 - ALMONTE, ON - Almonte Old Town Hall - double bill with the Marigolds and the Wild Turkeys. More info here
Thursday, March 11, 2010 - PICKERING, ON - Music By the Bay - just a short drive out to a lovely venue near Lake Ontario in Pickering. I'll be doing a solo concert featuring music from my Juno nominated CD Happy Here and a bunch of blues. Oreo Cookies may be involved... I haven't done a solo concert in the Toronto area for a while and am very excited about this show! Tickets and more info here Friday March 12, 2010 - HOWE ISLAND, ON - House Concert with Rick Fines - Rick and I will be ferrying across to Howe Island (near Kingston) to do a house concert at Dave's. More info and tickets available by emailing Dave Saturday March 13, 2010 - PERTH, ON - The Blues "Live" in Perth - Rick Fines and Suzie doing a bluesy concert at the Studio Theatre. Tix at ShadowFax in Perth and Dawns Closet in Smiths Falls or call to charge at 1-800-518-2729 Sunday, March 14, 2010 - OTTAWA, ON - House Concert - Rick and Suzie in concert. Contact Suzie if you're interested in attending. Friday, March 19, 2010 - TORONTO, ON - Lula Lounge - 8:00pm show with Dominic Mancuso and Tim Posgate March 26-28, 2010 - VANCOUVER, BC - Pacific Contact - official showcase at Pacific Contact Please check my website for upcoming shows beyond March - I'm going to be performing at a bunch of festivals this summer!
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Thanks!Thanks so much for reading - hope to see you soon! Cheers, Suzie
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1576 Queen St. W., #81
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