August Tour begins! (and there's a lot of Ukulele in it!!!)

Upcoming Shows:

This Saturday and Sunday! Aug 3 - 4, 2013
Midwest Uke FestFolkcraft Instruments Store and Factory
Woodburn, IN

Tuesday, Aug 6, 2013 - $20 per workshop
A day of workshops in Marine City, MIMarine City, MI
Contact Tom Hoy if you'd like to attend.
(586) 747-4197  thoy999@yahoo.com
Thursday, Aug 8, 2013 - $25
A day of workshops in Findlay, OHCollege First Church of God
Findlay, OH
Contact Phyllis Schaffer if you'd like to attend. (419) 424‐0213
Friday, Aug 9, 2013 - 8pm
Taffy's of EatonEaton, OH

http://www.taffysofeaton.com/
LOVE this place!!!
Saturday, Aug 10, 2013 -
Second Saturday ClinicFolkcraft Instruments
22133 Main St.
Woodburn, IN

More Uke wondrousness! (is that a word?)

Friday, Aug 16, 2013 - 7:30 - $10.00
333 Coffeehouse351 DuBois Rd
Annapolis, MD

Saturday, Aug 17. 2013 - 7:30pm - Free
Taylors Books226 Capitol Street,
Charleston, WV
(304) 342-1461

There might be some stuff happening in central Ohio too. I'll be sure and let you know when that gets finalized.

So, I'm going to let you in on a little secret; August is the one month of the year where it's no fun to be in Chattanooga. As a result, I try and book myself out of town for as much of it as I can. Of course, I heard just yesterday that it's been reasonably mild this summer and that we can expect those mild, wonderful conditions to continue throughout the month of August. Well my loss is your gain (or something like that 'cuz I'm headed your way).

Although I have no intention of giving up the dulcimer anytime soon, and am, in fact, looking forward to playing some new clubs and festivals in the coming year. I have to say that attending last year's Midwest Uke Fest was a revelation. Richard Ash and company know how to put on a festival that is fun and informative, and even the threat of a tornado didn't stop us from having a blast whatever we were doing. I'm very excited to get back up there with Bing, Ehukai, Gerald Ross (no relation), and YOU!!!

After a week that will find me teaching some nice all-day workshops in Michigan and Northern Ohio, I'll be back at Folkcraft for the Second Saturday Clinic. I'll be teaching Uke and Maureen Sellers will be handling the Dulcimer stuff. The Second Saturday Clinic manages to cram workshops, jamming, and concerts all into a jam-packed afternoon that you can still get to and back in a single day, and all for just $20 dollars.

Finally, I'll be performing at a new (to me) coffeehouse. The 333 Coffeehouse in Annapolis, Maryland is a fun series that has, in the past, hosted some of my favorite performers. I don't know how they found me, but I'm happy to be a part of this lively concert series.

News on the new CD

Nothing too much to report here. Progress IS being made, but you gotta be in town to record so it's been catch as catch can. But, the hard work is getting done, The guest musicians are coming and going, and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I've been saying this for a while, but I'm pretty sure that when this tour ends we'll be kicking off the Kickstarter campaign.

Kickstarter, for those of you who don't know, is a "crowdfunding" site where "backers" (that's you) pledge to give some amount toward the completion of my financial goal, in exchange for some level of reward. This can be everything from a download of the album, to a physical CD, to Vinyl, T-shirts and even House Concerts. It's very Public Radio except that the pleas will come mostly via email and I won't be holding your programming hostage until I make a certain amount. Also, Kickstarter is an all or nothing thing: If I don't make my goal, nobody gets charged. This last bit is actually my favorite part—it means we're literally in this together.

This record has taken a long time to get off the ground, but that's because it is an ambitious and emotional undertaking. I'm excited for you guys to hear the results, and one of the levels on the Kickstarter campaign will be just that: the ability to hear mixes of things and the work in progress.

That's all the news I got for you, come see a show, take a workshop or just say hi.

C-ya out there.

--Br
www.butchross.com

"Now I know what a dulcimer is supposed to sound like" —Jake Shimabukuro