Upcoming Shows: Oct 11, 2014 10:00 AM – 6PM $10 - $75 depending Museum of Appalachia Fall Homecoming Clinton, TN 865-494-7680 museumofappalachia.org Oct 12, 2014 2:00 PM – $20- $120 depending Fly Free Free Fest with Amber Fults and the Ambivalent Lovers Cherokee Farms - Lafayette, GA www.flyfreefest.com Oct 13, 2014 8:00 PM – Free Bloomington Songwriters Showcase the Player's Pub 424 South Walnut Street Bloomington, IN 812 334-2080 http://www.theplayerspub.com/ Oct 15, 2014 7:00 PM – Free J.K. O'Donnell's 121 W. Wayne St. Fort Wayne, IN www.jkodonnells.com Oct 18, 2014 12:00 PM - $20 Workshops at the Rock Mill 6:30 PM - $15 Doug Berch and Butch Ross in concert at the Rock Mill 1429 Rock Mill Place NW, Lancaster, OH 23936 October 22, 2014 7pm - $20 Workshop: Subject TBD Robin Run Village, 5354 West 62nd Street, Indianapolis IN Oct 24, 2014 8:00 PM - $15 Ten Pound Fiddle Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing 855 Grove St, East Lansing, MI East Lansing, MI With Doug Berch http://www.tenpoundfiddle.org Oct 24, 2014 2:00 PM -$20 Workshop at Elderly Instruments 1100 N. Washington Lansing, Michigan Teaching a Dulcimer workshop at 2 and a Ukulele Workshop at 3:30 This tour has quite a few more days off than my tours usually do. But I like to stay busy when I’m on the road. So, if you’d like to have me come visit your club to teach or perform, or perhaps put on a house concert, I’d love to hear from you. It doesn’t need to be a big production, as I’m going to be in the area anyway. 4-5 people could make a great workshop and 7 to 10 could be a wonderful intimate house concert. If you live within two to four of hours of the places I’m playing, and would love to have me come visit you, please contact me at butch at butchross.com and put “October Tour” as the subject line. As for the rest of these shows and workshops, they’re gonna be great. I can’t tell you how excited I am to be performing and teaching with Doug Berch again (twice!). Hope you can make it to one. C-ya out there. --Br
Wednesday, October 08, 2014
October Tour: Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
The August Tour starts now (well Friday)
As always, first the dates.
Friday, Aug 1-3, all day and all night (no really)
Falcon Ridge Folk Festival
Dodd's Farm, Hillsdale, NY
Falcon Ridge Folk Festival
Dodd's Farm, Hillsdale, NY
Sunday, Aug 3, 7:00 PM
House concert @ G's Spot
Ridgefield Park, NJ
Suggested Donation $15
House concert @ G's Spot
Ridgefield Park, NJ
Suggested Donation $15
Aug 4, 7:30 PM
Grace United Church of Christ in Lancaster, Pa
Donations suggested - Workshop at 5pm
Grace United Church of Christ in Lancaster, Pa
Donations suggested - Workshop at 5pm
Aug 5, 5:30 PM
Rock n Roll Dulcimer Workshop with Buckeye Strings Dulcimer Club
Mt. Carmel Baptist Church - Kenwood, OH
Two workshops: Rock-n-roll chord progressions and Rhythms of Rock with a mini concert in between. Plus we'll learn a Sam Cooke song!
$20 for one or $35 for both
Contact Vickey Sasser - vjsuc79@fuse.net if you'd like to attend
Rock n Roll Dulcimer Workshop with Buckeye Strings Dulcimer Club
Mt. Carmel Baptist Church - Kenwood, OH
Two workshops: Rock-n-roll chord progressions and Rhythms of Rock with a mini concert in between. Plus we'll learn a Sam Cooke song!
$20 for one or $35 for both
Contact Vickey Sasser - vjsuc79@fuse.net if you'd like to attend
Aug 7, 2014 7pm
Workshop and concert at the Corydon Dulcimer Club
Harrison County Community Foundation Bldg.
1523 Foundation Way
Corydon, Indiana (United States) 47112
$25 for all.
Workshop and concert at the Corydon Dulcimer Club
Harrison County Community Foundation Bldg.
1523 Foundation Way
Corydon, Indiana (United States) 47112
$25 for all.
Aug 8, 2014 6:00 PM
House Concert at Toya and Gary's place
Hagerstown, MD
Suggested donation $10
House Concert at Toya and Gary's place
Hagerstown, MD
Suggested donation $10
Aug 9, 2014 8:00 PM
Taffy's of Eaton
123 main st.
Eaton, OH
Pass the hat, jam session afterwards!
Taffy's of Eaton
123 main st.
Eaton, OH
Pass the hat, jam session afterwards!
Aug 10, 2014 - 5:30
House Concert
Wellington Reservation
535 Jones Road
Wellington, OH
Pass the hat
Light dinner served
House Concert
Wellington Reservation
535 Jones Road
Wellington, OH
Pass the hat
Light dinner served
Well it’s August again and that means it’s time for me to
head north. Chattanooga is amazing 10 months out of the year, but one of the
months it ain’t is this one.
But I’m also getting to get back to some of my favorite
places, as well as a few new one. Hope to see you a one of them.
Falcon Ridge Folk Festival.
This is not a gig per se, but a chance to catch up with old friends, relax a bit and hear a ton of great music (and most of it won’t be on the main stage) It’s been ten years since I last went up there, and I’m really looking forward to it (after the initial 15 hour [!] drive that is)
This is not a gig per se, but a chance to catch up with old friends, relax a bit and hear a ton of great music (and most of it won’t be on the main stage) It’s been ten years since I last went up there, and I’m really looking forward to it (after the initial 15 hour [!] drive that is)
G-Spot House Concert
Gandharva Earl Sauls is a Jazz bassist in Teaneck New Jersey who host’s concerts out of his home. He also has a grand piano in his living room, come watch me discover I’m not as good at something as I think I am!
Gandharva Earl Sauls is a Jazz bassist in Teaneck New Jersey who host’s concerts out of his home. He also has a grand piano in his living room, come watch me discover I’m not as good at something as I think I am!
Concert at Grace United Church of Christ in Lancaster, Pa
I get to Pennsylvania very rarely, and to Amish country even more infrequently. It’s a Monday, but it’s an early show, I promise you won’t be too tried at work on Tuesday.
Also teaching a workshop (form tune to arrangement) beforehand at 5pm
I get to Pennsylvania very rarely, and to Amish country even more infrequently. It’s a Monday, but it’s an early show, I promise you won’t be too tried at work on Tuesday.
Also teaching a workshop (form tune to arrangement) beforehand at 5pm
Rock n Roll Dulcimer Workshop with Buckeye Strings Dulcimer
Club
Teaching the Roots of Rock AND a Sam Cooke song, this’ll be a blast!
Workshop and concert at the Corydon Dulcimer Club
Back to in Indiana, teaching a workshop and then playing afterwards. Contact Russ Emery if you just want to attend the show.
Teaching the Roots of Rock AND a Sam Cooke song, this’ll be a blast!
Workshop and concert at the Corydon Dulcimer Club
Back to in Indiana, teaching a workshop and then playing afterwards. Contact Russ Emery if you just want to attend the show.
House Concert at Toya and Gary's place
It’s always so kind of Toya and Gary to invite me into their home, and it’s always a good time. And if this is a little far away for you, remember that this is a very early show!
Taffy's of Eaton.
It’s Taffy’s, and until you’ve been it’s hard to describe, but once you have there’s no need to explain. J I always look forward to the amazing venue.
It’s always so kind of Toya and Gary to invite me into their home, and it’s always a good time. And if this is a little far away for you, remember that this is a very early show!
Taffy's of Eaton.
It’s Taffy’s, and until you’ve been it’s hard to describe, but once you have there’s no need to explain. J I always look forward to the amazing venue.
House Concert at the Gwinn’s
Steve and Linda are far better to me than I deserve, and
they love to cook! There’s far more than one good reason to make it to this
show.
Not a whole lot of announce-able news this time, but that
doesn’t mean there’s not lots going on! Watch this space for some cool stuff
coming this fall.
C-ya out there.
--Br
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Friday, September 20, 2013
Kickstarter Campaign to launched to fund the new record.
Yes, it's true. I'm working on a new record. I've been working on one for a
good long while now. So long, that some of you didn't believe it existed.
:-)
But it's actually two records, or more accurately, one record, one EP*, and
a 7" single.
Recording this record has been quite a challenge for me. Time and money
have been constant and pernicious issues. And I've also had serious issues
with my voice over the last few years, and have been working with a vocal
coach to fix that. Finally, this is the first record in a LONG time that is
mostly songs that I've written. And while I feel strongly about these songs
and am proud of them, there is always that nagging sense of "but what if
they don't like it?". But like I say on 'Longway From Settling Down', "I'm
here 'cuz I got a song to sing."
Here's how Kickstarter works:
Kickstarter is a “crowdfunding” site. That’s a hipster way of saying “I’ll
gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.” You pledge money to me that
will go to funding the record, and in turn I will send you downloads, CDs,
t-shirts, vinyl records or whatever, once our goal is reached. You can give
as little as one dollar and there’s no limit to how much you can
contribute. However, there are specific rewards are given for specific
levels of giving. Remember how I pre-sold “A Long Way From Shady Grove”
before it was released? Well, this works like that, except that Kickstarter
handles the payments through Amazon and that makes it safe and secure to
pledge online.
But here’s the catch:
Kickstarter is all-or-nothing. If I don’t make my goal of $4600, NO ONE is
charged. So it becomes a bit of a race, and if I don’t make my goal in 30
days (well, 29 now) I’m going to have to find some way to get this album to
you…and “Gone” will be, well, gone.
I really like Kickstarter’s all-or-nothing policy. It forces me to rely on
you guys to make it happen, and it means that we are literally in this
together. Of course, this is true EVERY DAY, it’s just that a Kickstarter
campaign puts it into high relief.
The good news is that as of this writing, I’m over 25% there!
Here's what I'm hoping to create:
PEOPLE, PLACES, THINGS: This is a CD of 11 songs, most of which I've
written, that tell a story. Sometimes the story is personal, sometimes it's
not (and which is which is not as obvious as you might think) but all tell
the story of people or places or things, hence the title. I've treated this
album very much as a collection of short stories. (here's one of them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=KtdmHs_x8ck). I call
it an album because it is one; a collection of songs that sonically and
thematically relate.
GONE: This was originally my "808 and Heartbreak," meaning an album that
was related to two specific concepts. In this case, loops and loss. These
songs were all contenders for the record when I did the webcast back in
February of 2012 (which, if you missed it, you can still see here:
http://vimeo.com/37430256). The eight or nine songs I played here, got
whittled down to the five or six that will end up on the album. Still,
they're all based around loops, vaguely revolve around the idea of being
"gone," and most importantly, hang together sonically.
“Gone” is only available as part of this Kickstarter campaign. You will not
be able to get it at shows or anywhere else.
THE 7" SINGLE: This is an elegant solution to a very inelegant problem. I
have, for years, REALLY wanted to make a vinyl record. But vinyl is VERY
expensive, and the demand potentially very small. But it felt important to
me to have it. I'm not that old, or that old school, but after all these
years vinyl still feels more real than a CD, or worse, a download. At the
same time I had been grappling with a tune that I really liked (“All I Need
Is You”) that didn't really fit the overall vibe of "People, Places,
Things." So when someone suggested to me that I could release a 7" single
that came with a download of the whole album, an elegant solution was
formed. That's how the single will be sold at shows, but through the
Kickstarter campaign you will also get physical copies of "PPT" and "Gone,"
a t-shirt, and a bunch of other stuff. (check it out here:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/503728969/help-me-fund-my-new-cd-people-places-things
)
Okay, this is getting a little long-winded, so I’ll stop here. Please go
check out the video at the above link. It’s about 5 minutes long and will
explain all the perks of pledging as well as a good look at the album art
and the music that will be on the CD, the EP, and the 7”.
As the campaign progresses I’ll be sending you updates. You’ll be hearing
from me a little more than usual, but I promise to keep it brief,
interesting, and relevant to you.
Thank you for reading this far.
C-ya out there.
--Br
www.butchross.com
*I don't know how this happened, but no one seems to remember what an "EP"
is, it's stands for "extended play" record, and was a reference to ten inch
vinyl records that were sometimes released. An EP is usually 4 to 6 songs,
but sometimes as many as 8. It's way too much music to fit on a 7" single,
but if you tried to sell it as an LP you'd make a bunch of people mad.
good long while now. So long, that some of you didn't believe it existed.
:-)
But it's actually two records, or more accurately, one record, one EP*, and
a 7" single.
Recording this record has been quite a challenge for me. Time and money
have been constant and pernicious issues. And I've also had serious issues
with my voice over the last few years, and have been working with a vocal
coach to fix that. Finally, this is the first record in a LONG time that is
mostly songs that I've written. And while I feel strongly about these songs
and am proud of them, there is always that nagging sense of "but what if
they don't like it?". But like I say on 'Longway From Settling Down', "I'm
here 'cuz I got a song to sing."
Here's how Kickstarter works:
Kickstarter is a “crowdfunding” site. That’s a hipster way of saying “I’ll
gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.” You pledge money to me that
will go to funding the record, and in turn I will send you downloads, CDs,
t-shirts, vinyl records or whatever, once our goal is reached. You can give
as little as one dollar and there’s no limit to how much you can
contribute. However, there are specific rewards are given for specific
levels of giving. Remember how I pre-sold “A Long Way From Shady Grove”
before it was released? Well, this works like that, except that Kickstarter
handles the payments through Amazon and that makes it safe and secure to
pledge online.
But here’s the catch:
Kickstarter is all-or-nothing. If I don’t make my goal of $4600, NO ONE is
charged. So it becomes a bit of a race, and if I don’t make my goal in 30
days (well, 29 now) I’m going to have to find some way to get this album to
you…and “Gone” will be, well, gone.
I really like Kickstarter’s all-or-nothing policy. It forces me to rely on
you guys to make it happen, and it means that we are literally in this
together. Of course, this is true EVERY DAY, it’s just that a Kickstarter
campaign puts it into high relief.
The good news is that as of this writing, I’m over 25% there!
Here's what I'm hoping to create:
PEOPLE, PLACES, THINGS: This is a CD of 11 songs, most of which I've
written, that tell a story. Sometimes the story is personal, sometimes it's
not (and which is which is not as obvious as you might think) but all tell
the story of people or places or things, hence the title. I've treated this
album very much as a collection of short stories. (here's one of them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=KtdmHs_x8ck). I call
it an album because it is one; a collection of songs that sonically and
thematically relate.
GONE: This was originally my "808 and Heartbreak," meaning an album that
was related to two specific concepts. In this case, loops and loss. These
songs were all contenders for the record when I did the webcast back in
February of 2012 (which, if you missed it, you can still see here:
http://vimeo.com/37430256). The eight or nine songs I played here, got
whittled down to the five or six that will end up on the album. Still,
they're all based around loops, vaguely revolve around the idea of being
"gone," and most importantly, hang together sonically.
“Gone” is only available as part of this Kickstarter campaign. You will not
be able to get it at shows or anywhere else.
THE 7" SINGLE: This is an elegant solution to a very inelegant problem. I
have, for years, REALLY wanted to make a vinyl record. But vinyl is VERY
expensive, and the demand potentially very small. But it felt important to
me to have it. I'm not that old, or that old school, but after all these
years vinyl still feels more real than a CD, or worse, a download. At the
same time I had been grappling with a tune that I really liked (“All I Need
Is You”) that didn't really fit the overall vibe of "People, Places,
Things." So when someone suggested to me that I could release a 7" single
that came with a download of the whole album, an elegant solution was
formed. That's how the single will be sold at shows, but through the
Kickstarter campaign you will also get physical copies of "PPT" and "Gone,"
a t-shirt, and a bunch of other stuff. (check it out here:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/503728969/help-me-fund-my-new-cd-people-places-things
)
Okay, this is getting a little long-winded, so I’ll stop here. Please go
check out the video at the above link. It’s about 5 minutes long and will
explain all the perks of pledging as well as a good look at the album art
and the music that will be on the CD, the EP, and the 7”.
As the campaign progresses I’ll be sending you updates. You’ll be hearing
from me a little more than usual, but I promise to keep it brief,
interesting, and relevant to you.
Thank you for reading this far.
C-ya out there.
--Br
www.butchross.com
*I don't know how this happened, but no one seems to remember what an "EP"
is, it's stands for "extended play" record, and was a reference to ten inch
vinyl records that were sometimes released. An EP is usually 4 to 6 songs,
but sometimes as many as 8. It's way too much music to fit on a 7" single,
but if you tried to sell it as an LP you'd make a bunch of people mad.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
RINGTONES!!!
I took a break from finishing up the Album and putting together the
Kickstarter Campaign to make a few ringtones from some of my earlier albums.
They are in two formats .m4r for iPhone users, and .mp3 for Android phone
users (Droid, Samsung etc.)
You can find them here: http://butchross.com/ringtones.html
They're free and available to everyone, tell your friends!
Kickstarter Campaign to make a few ringtones from some of my earlier albums.
They are in two formats .m4r for iPhone users, and .mp3 for Android phone
users (Droid, Samsung etc.)
You can find them here: http://butchross.com/ringtones.html
They're free and available to everyone, tell your friends!
Thursday, August 01, 2013
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
There might be some stuff happening in central Ohio too. I'll be sure and let you know when that gets finalized.
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
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.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Spring Ohio Tour (and Indiana), plus info on how to get the NEW CD!!!
Upcoming Shows:
Wed. May 1, 2013 – 7pm. Free (eat something)
JK O'Donnell's
121 Wayne St. Fort Wayne, IN
www.jkodonnells.com
They like me, I like them; what else can I say? Oh yeah, GREAT FOOD!
Thurs. May 2, 2013 – 7pm $20 per person
Prussia Valley Dulcimers Acoustic Music Shop
122 Main St. Waverly, OH
Workshop: Beatles tunes for Dulcimer
as I am only teaching one dulcimer workshop at COFF, this'll be another opportunity to learn some stuff.
Thurs. May 2, 2013 – 8:15 or so $8 (free to workshop attendees)
Prussia Valley Dulcimers Acoustic Music Shop
122 Main St. Waverly, OH
Mini-concert
Friday, May, 3rd Potluck and Jam @ Grandview Park – Free
We do this every year; contact Doug Snapp for more information (dmsnapp at wowway.com or phone at 313-6424).
Friday, May 3 - 5 2013 - all day $10 to $30 depending.
Battelle-Darby Creek Metro Park - Central Ohio Folk Festival
I’ve lost count of how many years I’ve been doing this, but it’s a great festival, teaching a Uke workshop this year too!
Saturday, May 4, 2013 – 8pm (tip jar)
Taffy's of Eaton
123 east main street Eaton, OH
My first time at this very cool and completely improbable venue just outside of Dayton, Ohio, you Cinci and Dayton folks TOTALLY need to check this place out.
Sunday, May 5, 2013 – 6pm - $3
Leo's Coffeehouse
@Zion United Church of Christ
2301 Indian Mound Ave.
Norwood, OH 45212
And a workshop at 5:30
Rock Rhythm Primer: Learn the basics of rhythm from the early days of Rock-n-Roll, some rhythms will be harder than others, but you'll be surprised by which is which.
Phew! That’s a busy long weekend. And I haven’t mentioned the school program I’ve managed to squeeze in the middle (thanks Laura!)
I am procrastinator to beat the band, especially when it comes to the day-to-day minutia of my business (like writing this email). But I don’t get to do what I do, if you don’t know about it, so eventually it gets done. I suppose that the procrastination comes from (as Bing Futch has suggested) knowing the time commitment involved. I think he's right, I am a slow writer. This email is long, (not Moby Dick, but still) and took the better part of three hours to finish.
That’s not, however, why it’s taken FOUR YEARS to complete my most recent CD (I had wanted it to be out in 2011). It’s taken so long because, as I’m fond of saying “things take the time that they take”. Add to that, life, vocal issues and the fact that this is a major work that I’ve undertaken and you start to get a vague understanding of why it’s taken so long. But I am far enough along in the process that I can start to talk about the new CD (and take pre-orders).
It’s going to be called “People, Places, Things” and it will showcase my songwriting—something that I’ve not been able to do on the last two CDs. “Moonshiner’s Atlas” was a document of my learning to play my instrument, while “Shady Grove” was an exhibit of my dulcimer explorations. But this one—for better or worse—is my voice. These songs are both new and very old, and the whole project runs a thru line from my first CD (the out-of-print “Selected Works of Friction”) to earlier this afternoon. The songs are sweet, sad and funny (like life) and while my dulcimer chops are still amply showcased, it takes a back seat to the story being told.
Along the way I’ve rounded up some friends to help me out: vocalists, guitarists, piano, cello, drums, violin and viola all make an appearance; great friends and greater musicians who generously donated their time and talent to make this thing a reality. It’s been a huge undertaking and is by far the most ambitious work I’ve done thus far.
And it’s not just a CD, there’s a whole other EP to go with it. I’ve decided to separate out some of the loop-based tunes I do into a collection I’m calling “Gone.” If you got to see the web cast I did in February 2012, you saw a lot of that material. This EP is NOT FOR SALE, but you can get it by either pre-ordering the CD (there will be sign up sheets available at the gigs) or by contributing to my Kickstarter campaign.
What is Kickstarter you ask? Well not to be too dramatic, but it’s how we make music for a living now. Kickstarter refers to itself, as “Kickstarter is a funding platform for creative projects. Everything from films, games, and music to art, design, and technology. Kickstarter is full of ambitious, innovative, and imaginative projects that are brought to life through the direct support of others.” But I call it a bet. A bet that you people, who—though your gracious support have allowed me to have a career for the last four years—will show as much faith in me as I have in myself. Does that seem a little dramatic? Well it is. But I have gotten as far as I have because of…and solely because of…your support. Kickstarter is a bet on that premise; if I don’t make my goal (probably in the neighborhood of $4,500.00) you don’t pay a penny. It’s all or nothing, and frankly, I’m fine with that.
There are different levels of giving, with different perks at each level. These include: exclusive T-shirts, a pdf of lyrics and track notes, Vinyl (that’s right I’m making a RECORD), online access to works in progress, and THE CASSETTE: a usb jump drive housed in an old cassette case with which you will receive every record I’ve put out (including “Friction” and the two {and eventually three} Christmas CDs) as well as EVERY CD I WILL EVER RECORD FOR AS LONG AS I CHOOSE TO DO THIS (which in all probability will be until I die). Plus house concerts and whatever else I can dream up. Also, even at the lowest levels of support you will be able to download the CD on the day it’s finished; no waiting on me to mail it to you.
I do all of this because it’s how records get made these days. If we’re being honest, it’s how records have always been made, at least at this level. This just cuts out the middleman.
The Kickstarter campaign will kick off next week, and the details will be available on my Facebook page(s) as well as this here mailing list.
Wed. May 1, 2013 – 7pm. Free (eat something)
JK O'Donnell's
121 Wayne St. Fort Wayne, IN
www.jkodonnells.com
They like me, I like them; what else can I say? Oh yeah, GREAT FOOD!
Thurs. May 2, 2013 – 7pm $20 per person
Prussia Valley Dulcimers Acoustic Music Shop
122 Main St. Waverly, OH
Workshop: Beatles tunes for Dulcimer
as I am only teaching one dulcimer workshop at COFF, this'll be another opportunity to learn some stuff.
Thurs. May 2, 2013 – 8:15 or so $8 (free to workshop attendees)
Prussia Valley Dulcimers Acoustic Music Shop
122 Main St. Waverly, OH
Mini-concert
Friday, May, 3rd Potluck and Jam @ Grandview Park – Free
We do this every year; contact Doug Snapp for more information (dmsnapp at wowway.com or phone at 313-6424).
Friday, May 3 - 5 2013 - all day $10 to $30 depending.
Battelle-Darby Creek Metro Park - Central Ohio Folk Festival
I’ve lost count of how many years I’ve been doing this, but it’s a great festival, teaching a Uke workshop this year too!
Saturday, May 4, 2013 – 8pm (tip jar)
Taffy's of Eaton
123 east main street Eaton, OH
My first time at this very cool and completely improbable venue just outside of Dayton, Ohio, you Cinci and Dayton folks TOTALLY need to check this place out.
Sunday, May 5, 2013 – 6pm - $3
Leo's Coffeehouse
@Zion United Church of Christ
2301 Indian Mound Ave.
Norwood, OH 45212
And a workshop at 5:30
Rock Rhythm Primer: Learn the basics of rhythm from the early days of Rock-n-Roll, some rhythms will be harder than others, but you'll be surprised by which is which.
Phew! That’s a busy long weekend. And I haven’t mentioned the school program I’ve managed to squeeze in the middle (thanks Laura!)
I am procrastinator to beat the band, especially when it comes to the day-to-day minutia of my business (like writing this email). But I don’t get to do what I do, if you don’t know about it, so eventually it gets done. I suppose that the procrastination comes from (as Bing Futch has suggested) knowing the time commitment involved. I think he's right, I am a slow writer. This email is long, (not Moby Dick, but still) and took the better part of three hours to finish.
That’s not, however, why it’s taken FOUR YEARS to complete my most recent CD (I had wanted it to be out in 2011). It’s taken so long because, as I’m fond of saying “things take the time that they take”. Add to that, life, vocal issues and the fact that this is a major work that I’ve undertaken and you start to get a vague understanding of why it’s taken so long. But I am far enough along in the process that I can start to talk about the new CD (and take pre-orders).
It’s going to be called “People, Places, Things” and it will showcase my songwriting—something that I’ve not been able to do on the last two CDs. “Moonshiner’s Atlas” was a document of my learning to play my instrument, while “Shady Grove” was an exhibit of my dulcimer explorations. But this one—for better or worse—is my voice. These songs are both new and very old, and the whole project runs a thru line from my first CD (the out-of-print “Selected Works of Friction”) to earlier this afternoon. The songs are sweet, sad and funny (like life) and while my dulcimer chops are still amply showcased, it takes a back seat to the story being told.
Along the way I’ve rounded up some friends to help me out: vocalists, guitarists, piano, cello, drums, violin and viola all make an appearance; great friends and greater musicians who generously donated their time and talent to make this thing a reality. It’s been a huge undertaking and is by far the most ambitious work I’ve done thus far.
And it’s not just a CD, there’s a whole other EP to go with it. I’ve decided to separate out some of the loop-based tunes I do into a collection I’m calling “Gone.” If you got to see the web cast I did in February 2012, you saw a lot of that material. This EP is NOT FOR SALE, but you can get it by either pre-ordering the CD (there will be sign up sheets available at the gigs) or by contributing to my Kickstarter campaign.
What is Kickstarter you ask? Well not to be too dramatic, but it’s how we make music for a living now. Kickstarter refers to itself, as “Kickstarter is a funding platform for creative projects. Everything from films, games, and music to art, design, and technology. Kickstarter is full of ambitious, innovative, and imaginative projects that are brought to life through the direct support of others.” But I call it a bet. A bet that you people, who—though your gracious support have allowed me to have a career for the last four years—will show as much faith in me as I have in myself. Does that seem a little dramatic? Well it is. But I have gotten as far as I have because of…and solely because of…your support. Kickstarter is a bet on that premise; if I don’t make my goal (probably in the neighborhood of $4,500.00) you don’t pay a penny. It’s all or nothing, and frankly, I’m fine with that.
There are different levels of giving, with different perks at each level. These include: exclusive T-shirts, a pdf of lyrics and track notes, Vinyl (that’s right I’m making a RECORD), online access to works in progress, and THE CASSETTE: a usb jump drive housed in an old cassette case with which you will receive every record I’ve put out (including “Friction” and the two {and eventually three} Christmas CDs) as well as EVERY CD I WILL EVER RECORD FOR AS LONG AS I CHOOSE TO DO THIS (which in all probability will be until I die). Plus house concerts and whatever else I can dream up. Also, even at the lowest levels of support you will be able to download the CD on the day it’s finished; no waiting on me to mail it to you.
I do all of this because it’s how records get made these days. If we’re being honest, it’s how records have always been made, at least at this level. This just cuts out the middleman.
The Kickstarter campaign will kick off next week, and the details will be available on my Facebook page(s) as well as this here mailing list.
Thank you for reading this far.
Those shows again.
Wed. May 1, 2013 – 7pm Free (eat something)
JK O'Donnell's
121 Wayne St. Fort Wayne, IN
www.jkodonnells.com
Thurs. May 2, 2013 – 7pm $20 per person
Prussia Valley Dulcimers Acoustic Music Shop
122 Main St. Waverly, OH
Workshop: Beatles tunes for Dulcimer
Thurs. May 2, 2013 – 8:15 or so $8 (free to workshop attendees)
Prussia Valley Dulcimers Acoustic Music Shop
122 Main St. Waverly, OH
Mini-concert
Friday, May, 3rd Potluck and Jam @ Grandview Park – Free
Contact Doug Snapp for more information (dmsnapp at wowway.com or phone at 313-6424).
Friday, May 3 - 5 2013 - all day $10 to $30 depending.
Central Ohio Folk Festival
Battelle-Darby Creek Metro Park
Galloway, OH
Saturday, May 4, 2013 – 8pm (tip jar)
Taffy's of Eaton
123 east main street Eaton, OH
Sunday, May 5, 2013 – 6pm - $3
Leo's Coffeehouse
@Zion United Church of Christ
2301 Indian Mound Ave.
Norwood, OH 45212
And a workshop at 5:30: Rock Rhythm Primer
C-ya out there.
-Br
www.butchross.com
Those shows again.
Wed. May 1, 2013 – 7pm Free (eat something)
JK O'Donnell's
121 Wayne St. Fort Wayne, IN
www.jkodonnells.com
Thurs. May 2, 2013 – 7pm $20 per person
Prussia Valley Dulcimers Acoustic Music Shop
122 Main St. Waverly, OH
Workshop: Beatles tunes for Dulcimer
Thurs. May 2, 2013 – 8:15 or so $8 (free to workshop attendees)
Prussia Valley Dulcimers Acoustic Music Shop
122 Main St. Waverly, OH
Mini-concert
Friday, May, 3rd Potluck and Jam @ Grandview Park – Free
Contact Doug Snapp for more information (dmsnapp at wowway.com or phone at 313-6424).
Friday, May 3 - 5 2013 - all day $10 to $30 depending.
Central Ohio Folk Festival
Battelle-Darby Creek Metro Park
Galloway, OH
Saturday, May 4, 2013 – 8pm (tip jar)
Taffy's of Eaton
123 east main street Eaton, OH
Sunday, May 5, 2013 – 6pm - $3
Leo's Coffeehouse
@Zion United Church of Christ
2301 Indian Mound Ave.
Norwood, OH 45212
And a workshop at 5:30: Rock Rhythm Primer
C-ya out there.
-Br
www.butchross.com
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
A Little Christmas Tune for Y'all
So a student of mine wanted to learn this song, and I decided to make a recording of it, so that they'd have something to follow along to while they were practicing at home. But of course, I can just bang out a simple run through, I have to do a whole full-blown arrangement. So, add this one to your Xmas IPod Playlist if you want. The music is below if you want that (it borrows heavily from Bing Futch's version) and there's a "Karaoke version" (backing tracks but no dulcimer) if you want to play along as well.
Merry Christmas!!!
Download the tune here (right click or ctrl click and "save link as")
Download the Karaoke version here (right click or ctrl click and "save link as")
Download the music (as a .pdf)
Download the music (as a .tef file)
And while it's too late for the USPS to reliably get you any of my Christmas CDs in time for the holiday, you can still download them. More importantly, you can listen to both CDs online for free!
To listen to the Dulcimer Christmas Card Click here.
To listen to the Dulcimer Christmas Card 2 Click here.
Merry Christmas!!!
Download the tune here (right click or ctrl click and "save link as")
Download the Karaoke version here (right click or ctrl click and "save link as")
Download the music (as a .pdf)
Download the music (as a .tef file)
And while it's too late for the USPS to reliably get you any of my Christmas CDs in time for the holiday, you can still download them. More importantly, you can listen to both CDs online for free!
To listen to the Dulcimer Christmas Card Click here.
To listen to the Dulcimer Christmas Card 2 Click here.
Friday, September 07, 2012
House Concerts in NJ and MD this weekend.
Saturday, September 8 - 7pm
Juke Joint House Concert Series
Denville, NJ
Cocktails at 5, show at 7
RSVP Mike @973 328-3723, or missycat10@verizon.net
Sunday, Sept. 9 - 4pm
House Concert at the home of Gary and Toya Koch
RSVP Toya at dulcimerjoy@gmail.com
Fall has fell but I'm no less busy than I was this summer. Got fun new stuff to tell you about, but it'll have to wait until next week. Meanwhile, If yr anywhere near these two places, I'd love to see you.
C-ya out there.
Juke Joint House Concert Series
Denville, NJ
Cocktails at 5, show at 7
RSVP Mike @973 328-3723, or missycat10@verizon.net
Sunday, Sept. 9 - 4pm
House Concert at the home of Gary and Toya Koch
RSVP Toya at dulcimerjoy@gmail.com
Fall has fell but I'm no less busy than I was this summer. Got fun new stuff to tell you about, but it'll have to wait until next week. Meanwhile, If yr anywhere near these two places, I'd love to see you.
C-ya out there.
--Br
www.butchross.comThursday, May 03, 2012
Spring Tour! OH, IN, PA, KY --A new Book!-- New Album Update
It’s taken me literally all day to get this thing written but there’s a lot to tell. I’ve been out of sight, but doing anything but relaxing. Here’s what’s inside.
1. Spring Tour
2. New Beginner Book
3. Album Update
4. Help me get on Prairie Home Companion
1. SPRING TOUR
The spring tour still has some free dates in it and I’ll be
in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana for most of it. If you’re in these states and
would like to me to come to your club, for a workshop or a house concert, drop
me a line at butch@butchross.com
This need not be a big event; a few folks and a place to
stay can very often make the whole thing worth my while. Especially, if I’m
only a couple of hours away (maybe too far for you to come to me, but nothing
for me to come to you)
Friday, May 4th - 5ish Free but RSVP preferred.
Festival kickoff potluck at the shelter house in McKinley
Field Park,
1661 Goodale Blvd., Columbus, OH 43212 (Grandview Heights).
1661 Goodale Blvd., Columbus, OH 43212 (Grandview Heights).
Not really a gig or workshop, just a potluck/jam
session/hangout with dulcimer folk. It’s a lot of fun. Contact Doug Snapp for
more information. dougsnapp@gmail.com or 614 313-6424
May 4-6, 2012
Central Ohio Folk Festival
Battelle-Darby Creek Park - Columbus, OH
My sixth year at this great festival!
Check website for workshop times dates and costs.
http://cfms-inc.org/
Thursday, May 10, 2012 – 7pm Free (pass the hat)
Webster’s Bookstore Cafe
133 E Beaver Ave, State College PA 16801
814-272-1410
My first time here, if you got peeps in the area, send ‘em
my way.
Friday, May 11, 2012 – 8pm $16.50 (Reservations Recommended)
Godfrey Daniels - Possibilities of the Mountain Dulcimer.
Alf Bashore opens
7 E. 4th St. Bethlehem, PA 18015-1601
610-867-2390
Another first, one for the bucket list, tell your friends
and carpool!
May 12, 2012 – EARLY SHOW! 3pm
Lili's Coffee Shop
3138 Dobson Street
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (United States) 15219
412.682.3600
Co-bill w/Panther Hollow String Band
(pantherhollowstringband.wordpress.com)
May 13, 2012 – 5:30pm
Dulcimer Workshop
Zion United Church of Christ
2332 Sherwood Lane, Norwood, Ohio (United States) 45212
May 13, 2012 – 7pm Leo Coffeehouse
Zion United Church of Christ
2332 Sherwood Lane, Norwood, Ohio (United States) 45212
May 16, 2012 – 7pm Free
J.K. O'Donnell's
121 W. Wayne Street
Fort Wayne, Indiana (United States) 46802
I’d say come for the food anyway, that I’ll be there is just
a bonus.
May 19, 2012 – A day of FREE Dulcimer Workshops at the
Intergenerational Center
214 W. Jefferson St. Berea, KY, 40403
9:30 – 11am Workshop I – Rhythms Beyond 4/4 (explore
waltzes, hornpipes, jigs and more) All levels encouraged.
11-1 lunch on your own.
1 – 2pm Post lunch Q&A; ask me your dulcimer questions!
2 – 3:30pm Workshop II – Different levels playing together.
Arrangements so folks of all levels can play the same songs together. All
levels encouraged.
Contact Adrian at Madison.dulcimers@gmail.com
or Nancy 859 624-2721
May 19, 2012 - 6:30pm $20 suggested donation
Richmond, KY
House Concert at the home of Tommy and Nancy Adams
Contact Nancy Adams to RSVP: 859 624-2721
THIS SHOW WILL LIKELY SELL OUT!
And still to come…
May 26, 2012 workshops and concert at The Pickin’ Porch
Wood-n-Strings Dulcimer Shop - Townsend, TN
May 27, 2012 - The Acoustic Coffeehouse in Johnson City, TN
Jun 17-24, 2012 - Kentucky Music Week in Bardstown, KY
(New location and a new hotel, PLUS Jerry Rockwell
and Joellen Lapidus will be there)
2. New beginner’s book:
All The Strings, All The Time
Inspired by Danny Shepherd’s excellent “Mountain Dulcimer
for Children (and the young at heart),” this is a book of 21 well-known
traditional tunes, arranged in order of difficulty from super easy to
not-terribly-hard-at-all. It’s a simple, but thorough way to get a solid start
playing the mountain dulcimer.
3. Album update:
So, it seems that I’ve been in the beginning stages of
recording this record for over a year now, but finally there is some light at
the end of the tunnel. Demos are beginning to get to the various musicians who
will be playing on the record, and I’m working out arrangements with new
instruments (bass drum, cello, Edison Wax Cylinders) as well as new techniques
(like drone and noter!) that I’m really excited about. I’m sure I’ve said this
before, but musically it will be closer to Moonshiner’s Atlas, with more original
tunes and lots of singing (tho’ I just wrote a tune today that would be a great
fit).
To fund this thing I’m planning on selling pre-release CDs
like I did with Shady Grove, but I’m also kicking around the idea of a
Kickstarter campaign. Kickstarter is a web site where they collect donations
for various projects. Each project has a fiscal goal, and you’re not charged
until the end of the donation period (usually 30 days) AND when I’ve made the
stated goal. I’d love to know what y’all think about that idea.
In any case, stay tuned here. Or—if you do these
things—“Like” me on Facebook, as I’ll be posting new demos there as well.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Butch-Ross/55431615966
4. Help me get on Prairie Home Companion
A fan of mine started this Facebook page, kind of an online
petition; to have me on Garrison Keilor’s long running and much loved show. I
think it’s a great idea, and would be a real hoot if I got to do it. Right now
there are 416 “likes” which is impressive, but not nearly enough to make the
folks at PHC take notice. So, if you Facebook, go here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-want-Butch-Ross-on-Prairie-Home-Companion/132568563454384
and “like” it. And Hurry! Rumor has it that Garrison may retire soon, and I
don’t think I’ll be able to keep a straight face if the “News from Lake
Woebegone” is read by Ryan Seacrest.
Okay that’s all the news I got. Thanks for reading this far.
C-ya Out there
-Br
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Spring Thaw Fling this weekend, with DOUG BERCH!!!! and web cast is now up online
Happy Leap Day to you!
Spring Thaw Fling - with Butch Ross and Doug Berch!
Charles F. Alley Memorial Park (Geneva Hills)
2805 Old Logan Road
Lancaster, OH 43130
United States
740-243-4210
http://www.genevahills.com/directions/
Teaching two workshops
Beyond Beginner and up - I Don't Improvise, I Just Make Stuff Up: Using a series of games and exercises we'll learn how to free up inhibitions and start improvising. Make your favorite tunes better, keep yourself interested in lengthy jams and maybe eventually create your own arrangements or tunes!
Intermediate/Advanced - Contemporary Rhythm Workshop.
Ready to graduate from Bum Ditty? Learn rhythmic forms from genres such as jazz, rock and world music. learn to swing and shuffle, syncopate and and play poly-rhythms that breath new life in to old war horses.
The flyer's up on my facebook page if you need more info (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150636879369712&set=a.10150116331884712.296967.768934711&type=1&theater)
Well this has got to be fun. An chance to jam and hang out with Doug Berch is time well spent. Oh and he's pretty good on them dulcimers of his.
Also, the web cast is now available for viewing online at http://vimeo.com/37430256 in shockingly vivid HD (well, shocking to me anyway) there's a little tech glitch with the sound at 4:11 that you need to be prepared for (it's a bad cable) but overall I think Phillip Luckey did a really great job of it.
The tunes on it are ones I've been kicking around for a while, like "Brothers on a Hotel Bed" but also some old folk songs and some really old original tunes, including one i wrote for a band I was in in College. It's kind of amazing to me that with a loop pedal and a mountain dulcimer I can recreate an arrangement that two guitar and a drummer did all those years ago.
Of course, we weren't as good them. :-)
Anyway, if you want to watch it (or watch it again) it's here: http://vimeo.com/37430256
No word on when (or if) the EP will be done, but I got plenty of ideas to kick around.
So again this weekend...
Spring Thaw Fling - with Butch Ross and Doug Berch!
Charles F. Alley Memorial Park (Geneva Hills)
2805 Old Logan Road
Lancaster, OH 43130
United States
740-243-4210
http://www.genevahills.com/directions/
Oh, I just saw as I was typing this that Davy Jones died. Too bad, I liked him.
C-ya out there.
--Br
www.butchross.com
Spring Thaw Fling - with Butch Ross and Doug Berch!
Charles F. Alley Memorial Park (Geneva Hills)
2805 Old Logan Road
Lancaster, OH 43130
United States
740-243-4210
http://www.genevahills.com/directions/
Teaching two workshops
Beyond Beginner and up - I Don't Improvise, I Just Make Stuff Up: Using a series of games and exercises we'll learn how to free up inhibitions and start improvising. Make your favorite tunes better, keep yourself interested in lengthy jams and maybe eventually create your own arrangements or tunes!
Intermediate/Advanced - Contemporary Rhythm Workshop.
Ready to graduate from Bum Ditty? Learn rhythmic forms from genres such as jazz, rock and world music. learn to swing and shuffle, syncopate and and play poly-rhythms that breath new life in to old war horses.
The flyer's up on my facebook page if you need more info (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150636879369712&set=a.10150116331884712.296967.768934711&type=1&theater)
Well this has got to be fun. An chance to jam and hang out with Doug Berch is time well spent. Oh and he's pretty good on them dulcimers of his.
Also, the web cast is now available for viewing online at http://vimeo.com/37430256 in shockingly vivid HD (well, shocking to me anyway) there's a little tech glitch with the sound at 4:11 that you need to be prepared for (it's a bad cable) but overall I think Phillip Luckey did a really great job of it.
The tunes on it are ones I've been kicking around for a while, like "Brothers on a Hotel Bed" but also some old folk songs and some really old original tunes, including one i wrote for a band I was in in College. It's kind of amazing to me that with a loop pedal and a mountain dulcimer I can recreate an arrangement that two guitar and a drummer did all those years ago.
Of course, we weren't as good them. :-)
Anyway, if you want to watch it (or watch it again) it's here: http://vimeo.com/37430256
No word on when (or if) the EP will be done, but I got plenty of ideas to kick around.
So again this weekend...
Spring Thaw Fling - with Butch Ross and Doug Berch!
Charles F. Alley Memorial Park (Geneva Hills)
2805 Old Logan Road
Lancaster, OH 43130
United States
740-243-4210
http://www.genevahills.com/directions/
Oh, I just saw as I was typing this that Davy Jones died. Too bad, I liked him.
C-ya out there.
--Br
www.butchross.com
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Chattanooga show this weekend with a WEBCAST, New EP preview... Plus New Video online.
Friday, Feb 24th - 8:30pm
Market Street Tavern
850 Market St.
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 634-0260
http://www.marketstreettavern.com/ (site is under construction)
I'm much later getting this out than I would have liked, but a lot of
things have come together at the last minute, and I wanted to get them
all nailed down before I announced them.
This Friday (that's tomorrow for most of you) I'll be doing something
that I haven't done in Chattanooga for quite some time...Play a show.
No bells no whistles, no scratch my back, no Christmas spectacular, no
tributes to Springsteen, or Dylan or Emmit Rhodes. Just me doing what
i do when I'm not in my hometown. I'll be previewing a bunch (if not
all) of the songs in contention for my new EP "Gone"
Oh and it's gonna be webcast. So maybe there is a bell or whistle after all.
Details to follow probably tomorrow, but the long and the short of it,
you will be able to watch on my facebook page (the band page, not the
personal page) and even if you can't make it live there will be video
posted after the fact.
But me playing to an empty room and having that broadcast across the
many tubes of the interwebs is not my idea of a good time. So, if you
can make it, I'd love to see ya there. If you're too far away, there's
always facebook.
In other news, I've posted a real simple video for the song Pole
Position from my 2009 album "A Long Way From Shady Grove" it features
the old video game Pole Position (natch), played by someone who was
way better at that game than I was. It's not a great video, but
especially useful as an office time-waster. You can watch it here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEVQn1TST7M
Okay, that's all, I'll C-ya tomorrow (one way or another).
--Br
Market Street Tavern
850 Market St.
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 634-0260
http://www.marketstreettavern.com/ (site is under construction)
I'm much later getting this out than I would have liked, but a lot of
things have come together at the last minute, and I wanted to get them
all nailed down before I announced them.
This Friday (that's tomorrow for most of you) I'll be doing something
that I haven't done in Chattanooga for quite some time...Play a show.
No bells no whistles, no scratch my back, no Christmas spectacular, no
tributes to Springsteen, or Dylan or Emmit Rhodes. Just me doing what
i do when I'm not in my hometown. I'll be previewing a bunch (if not
all) of the songs in contention for my new EP "Gone"
Oh and it's gonna be webcast. So maybe there is a bell or whistle after all.
Details to follow probably tomorrow, but the long and the short of it,
you will be able to watch on my facebook page (the band page, not the
personal page) and even if you can't make it live there will be video
posted after the fact.
But me playing to an empty room and having that broadcast across the
many tubes of the interwebs is not my idea of a good time. So, if you
can make it, I'd love to see ya there. If you're too far away, there's
always facebook.
In other news, I've posted a real simple video for the song Pole
Position from my 2009 album "A Long Way From Shady Grove" it features
the old video game Pole Position (natch), played by someone who was
way better at that game than I was. It's not a great video, but
especially useful as an office time-waster. You can watch it here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEVQn1TST7M
Okay, that's all, I'll C-ya tomorrow (one way or another).
--Br
Friday, December 16, 2011
Christmas tour starts tomorrow and free stuff for you
*Workshops Tomorrow*
Saturday, December 17th: Three workshops with Butch Ross at the Snapp's
residence (lunch provided) call: 614-313-6424 to RSVP
-10:30 am till 11:45: "Here Comes Jingle Bells" - Novice on up. This
combines a very nice version of "Jingle Bells" that moves right into "Here
Comes Santa Claus."
-1:15 to 2:30: Explore D-F#-A Tuning (1-3-5 Tuning) with Merv Rowley's
Version of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" in the D-F#-A Tuning. We'll also
work on a 1-3-5 version of Vince Guaraldi's "Christmastime is Here"--you
all know it from the Peanuts Christmas Special - Intermediate on up.
-3:00 to 4:15: Fiddle Tunes--work on two popular old time tunes -
Intermediate on up.
Workshops are $20 per workshop--$50 total if you do all three.
*Shows*
Sat. Dec 17, 2011—7pm
Columbus, OH @ Guitar House Workshop
1423 Chambers Road (Grandview Heights)
$10 Suggested donation.
CALL (614) 488-2477 TO RESERVE THIS SHOW WILL LIKELY SELL OUT!
Wed. Dec 21, 2011
J.K. O'Donnell's
121 West Wayne Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802-2503
(260) 420-5563
Thurs. Dec. 22, 2011 -- 7pm
House Concert at the home of Steve and Linda Gwinn
call Linda at: 440-328-7458 to RSVP
THIS ONE TOO MAY SELL OUT!
I just wanted to drop you a quick line to remind you about the Christmas
tour, the three workshops tomorrow and to give something away.
The CDs
I've fized the webpage you can now order multiple quantities. And while it
may be unrealistic to think that you can get the card before Christmas
(ESPECIALLY in Chattanooga where the USPS has been a major let down) I will
have plenty with me at the shows.
The Free Stuff
Also remember that you can listen to the whole CD over and over again, for
free, from the website. www.butchross.com
The first one is also still up and available www.butchross.com/xmas.html
More Free Stuff
Last year I recorded an opening set I did at a local venue, I opened for a
the spoof Bluegrass band "the Cleverlys" and altho' I was sick as a dog
that evening, the audience really enjoyed it. I also had the chance to get
two good recordings both from the soundboard and out in the audience. I've
made it available on the members page (butchross.com/members.html) simply
right-click and "save as" (it's a 34MB zip file). While it doesn't contain
any rarities (like the Year in Review did) it does contain strong
performances of some of my biggest hits (and bits). I'm calking it
"Attaboy" (you'll see why).
The Track List
1. Wild Mountain Thyme/Cold Frosty Morning
2. folksongs intro
3. Folksongs
4. Sweet Spotted Pony
5. clever/stupid
6. Stairway to Pokerface
7. Pop Culture -vs- Folk Culture
8. Eleanor Rigby
9. 1952 vincent Black Lightening
10. Two good reasons to get on my mailing list
11. Cluck Ol’ Hen (or 25 or 6 to 4)
There will not be a physical copy made available, and I will not take any
money for this. I get to do what I do because of all of you out there
making it possible. This a tiny, tiny way to say thank you.
That's it for me, I hope the holidays are treating you well, and that 2012
is everything you hoped it would be (won't be for me, I'm still waiting on
that hovercar).
Merry Christmas and have a safe and happy New Year!
--Br
www.butchross.com
*Workshops Tomorrow*
Saturday, December 17th: Three workshops with Butch Ross at the Snapp's
residence (lunch provided) call: 614-313-6424 to RSVP
-10:30 am till 11:45: "Here Comes Jingle Bells" - Novice on up. This
combines a very nice version of "Jingle Bells" that moves right into "Here
Comes Santa Claus."
-1:15 to 2:30: Explore D-F#-A Tuning (1-3-5 Tuning) with Merv Rowley's
Version of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" in the D-F#-A Tuning. We'll also
work on a 1-3-5 version of Vince Guaraldi's "Christmastime is Here"--you
all know it from the Peanuts Christmas Special - Intermediate on up.
-3:00 to 4:15: Fiddle Tunes--work on two popular old time tunes -
Intermediate on up.
Workshops are $20 per workshop--$50 total if you do all three.
*Shows*
Sat. Dec 17, 2011—7pm
Columbus, OH @ Guitar House Workshop
1423 Chambers Road (Grandview Heights)
$10 Suggested donation.
CALL (614) 488-2477 TO RESERVE THIS SHOW WILL LIKELY SELL OUT!
Wed. Dec 21, 2011
J.K. O'Donnell's
121 West Wayne Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802-2503
(260) 420-5563
Thurs. Dec. 22, 2011 -- 7pm
House Concert at the home of Steve and Linda Gwinn
call Linda at: 440-328-7458 to RSVP
THIS ONE TOO MAY SELL OUT!
Saturday, December 17th: Three workshops with Butch Ross at the Snapp's
residence (lunch provided) call: 614-313-6424 to RSVP
-10:30 am till 11:45: "Here Comes Jingle Bells" - Novice on up. This
combines a very nice version of "Jingle Bells" that moves right into "Here
Comes Santa Claus."
-1:15 to 2:30: Explore D-F#-A Tuning (1-3-5 Tuning) with Merv Rowley's
Version of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" in the D-F#-A Tuning. We'll also
work on a 1-3-5 version of Vince Guaraldi's "Christmastime is Here"--you
all know it from the Peanuts Christmas Special - Intermediate on up.
-3:00 to 4:15: Fiddle Tunes--work on two popular old time tunes -
Intermediate on up.
Workshops are $20 per workshop--$50 total if you do all three.
*Shows*
Sat. Dec 17, 2011—7pm
Columbus, OH @ Guitar House Workshop
1423 Chambers Road (Grandview Heights)
$10 Suggested donation.
CALL (614) 488-2477 TO RESERVE THIS SHOW WILL LIKELY SELL OUT!
Wed. Dec 21, 2011
J.K. O'Donnell's
121 West Wayne Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802-2503
(260) 420-5563
Thurs. Dec. 22, 2011 -- 7pm
House Concert at the home of Steve and Linda Gwinn
call Linda at: 440-328-7458 to RSVP
THIS ONE TOO MAY SELL OUT!
I just wanted to drop you a quick line to remind you about the Christmas
tour, the three workshops tomorrow and to give something away.
The CDs
I've fized the webpage you can now order multiple quantities. And while it
may be unrealistic to think that you can get the card before Christmas
(ESPECIALLY in Chattanooga where the USPS has been a major let down) I will
have plenty with me at the shows.
The Free Stuff
Also remember that you can listen to the whole CD over and over again, for
free, from the website. www.butchross.com
The first one is also still up and available www.butchross.com/xmas.html
More Free Stuff
Last year I recorded an opening set I did at a local venue, I opened for a
the spoof Bluegrass band "the Cleverlys" and altho' I was sick as a dog
that evening, the audience really enjoyed it. I also had the chance to get
two good recordings both from the soundboard and out in the audience. I've
made it available on the members page (butchross.com/members.html) simply
right-click and "save as" (it's a 34MB zip file). While it doesn't contain
any rarities (like the Year in Review did) it does contain strong
performances of some of my biggest hits (and bits). I'm calking it
"Attaboy" (you'll see why).
The Track List
1. Wild Mountain Thyme/Cold Frosty Morning
2. folksongs intro
3. Folksongs
4. Sweet Spotted Pony
5. clever/stupid
6. Stairway to Pokerface
7. Pop Culture -vs- Folk Culture
8. Eleanor Rigby
9. 1952 vincent Black Lightening
10. Two good reasons to get on my mailing list
11. Cluck Ol’ Hen (or 25 or 6 to 4)
There will not be a physical copy made available, and I will not take any
money for this. I get to do what I do because of all of you out there
making it possible. This a tiny, tiny way to say thank you.
That's it for me, I hope the holidays are treating you well, and that 2012
is everything you hoped it would be (won't be for me, I'm still waiting on
that hovercar).
Merry Christmas and have a safe and happy New Year!
--Br
www.butchross.com
*Workshops Tomorrow*
Saturday, December 17th: Three workshops with Butch Ross at the Snapp's
residence (lunch provided) call: 614-313-6424 to RSVP
-10:30 am till 11:45: "Here Comes Jingle Bells" - Novice on up. This
combines a very nice version of "Jingle Bells" that moves right into "Here
Comes Santa Claus."
-1:15 to 2:30: Explore D-F#-A Tuning (1-3-5 Tuning) with Merv Rowley's
Version of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" in the D-F#-A Tuning. We'll also
work on a 1-3-5 version of Vince Guaraldi's "Christmastime is Here"--you
all know it from the Peanuts Christmas Special - Intermediate on up.
-3:00 to 4:15: Fiddle Tunes--work on two popular old time tunes -
Intermediate on up.
Workshops are $20 per workshop--$50 total if you do all three.
*Shows*
Sat. Dec 17, 2011—7pm
Columbus, OH @ Guitar House Workshop
1423 Chambers Road (Grandview Heights)
$10 Suggested donation.
CALL (614) 488-2477 TO RESERVE THIS SHOW WILL LIKELY SELL OUT!
Wed. Dec 21, 2011
J.K. O'Donnell's
121 West Wayne Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802-2503
(260) 420-5563
Thurs. Dec. 22, 2011 -- 7pm
House Concert at the home of Steve and Linda Gwinn
call Linda at: 440-328-7458 to RSVP
THIS ONE TOO MAY SELL OUT!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Christmas tour starts this weekend and there's a NEW Christmas Album
*Workshops
*Saturday, December 17th: Three workshops with Butch Ross at the Snapp's
residence (lunch provided) call: 614-313-6424 to RSVP
-10:30 am till 11:45: "Here Comes Jingle Bells" - Novice on up. This
combines a very nice version of "Jingle Bells" that moves right into "Here
Comes Santa Claus."
-1:15 to 2:30: Explore D-F#-A Tuning (1-3-5 Tuning) with Merv Rowley's
Version of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" in the D-F#-A Tuning. We'll also
work on a 1-3-5 version of Vince Guaraldi's "Christmastime is Here"--you
all know it from the Peanuts Christmas Special - Intermediate on up.
-3:00 to 4:15: Fiddle Tunes--work on two popular old time tunes -
Intermediate on up.
Workshops are $20 per workshop--$50 total if you do all three.
*
Shows*
Sat. Dec 17, 2011—7pm
Columbus, OH @ Guitar House Workshop
1423 Chambers Road (Grandview Heights)
$10 Suggested donation.
Wed. Dec 21, 2011
J.K. O'Donnell's
121 West Wayne Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802-2503
(260) 420-5563
Thurs. Dec. 22, 2011 -- 7pm
House Concert at the home of Steve and Linda Gwinn
call Linda at: 440-328-7458 to RSVP
Happy Green Monday to ya (at least for another 20 minutes) I've been out of
the loop for some time now, feverishly working away at my new Christmas
Card CD. Been meaning to do this for a while, but then computer issues kept
me from being able to record until mid November.* So once I got back on
track I put my nose to th grindstone and feverishly cranked this baby
out.** The Dulcimer Christmas Card 2 is 12 new (loosely-defined)
Christmas/Winter songs recorded for dulcimer and other instruments by yours
truly, with a little help form some of my very remarkable friends.
Here's the tracks.
1. O Come Emanuel/ Cold Frosty Morning
2. Angels We Have Heard on High (funky version)
3. Gettin' Ready for Christmas Day (Paul Simon)
4. Merry Christmas From The Family (Robert Earl Keen)
5. Good king Wenceslas (New "dance" version featuring Bing Futch)
6. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies (no really)
7. Little Jack Frost (Kate Rusby) vocals by the amazing Hayley Graham
8. Let There Be Peace on Earth
9. Judy Garland/White Christmas (Pete Chambers and Bing Crosby
respectively)
10. Christmastime is Here (Vince Guaraldi)
11. The Ballad of Larry (Jonathan Byrd)
12. Happy Xmas (War is Over) (John Lennon) featuring the Tremont
Tabernacle Choir
As before you can listen to the whole thing online, simply by going to
Butch Ross dot com. It's right there on the front page, with a little music
player so you can listen to the tracks as many times as you'd like for
free. NEW this year, is the option of downloading the songs (and liner
notes) directly from the site.
Prices for the Dulcimer Christmas Card are
$12 for the card
$15 for a jewel-boxed CD
$10 for a download
And don't forget the first Christmas Card CD is still available. Check it
out here: http://butchross.com/xmas.html
Of course the Holy Holiday is rapidly bearing down upon us, and the USPS
has only promised to be less efficient than before. So, I can ONLY
guarantee pre-Xmas delivery on items ordered before December 15th.
The CDs will be available at the shows as well. Those shows and workshops
again...
*Workshops
*Saturday, December 17th: Three workshops with Butch Ross at the Snapp's
residence (lunch provided) call: 614-313-6424 to RSVP
-10:30 am till 11:45: "Here Comes Jingle Bells" - Novice on up. This
combines a very nice version of "Jingle Bells" that moves right into "Here
Comes Santa Claus."
-1:15 to 2:30: Explore D-F#-A Tuning (1-3-5 Tuning) with Merv Rowley's
Version of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" in the D-F#-A Tuning. We'll also
work on a 1-3-5 version of Vince Guaraldi's "Christmastime is Here"--you
all know it from the Peanuts Christmas Special - Intermediate on up.
-3:00 to 4:15: Fiddle Tunes--work on two popular old time tunes -
Intermediate on up.
Workshops are $20 per workshop--$50 total if you do all three.
*
Shows*
Sat. Dec 17, 2011—7pm
Columbus, OH @ Guitar House Workshop
1423 Chambers Road (Grandview Heights)
$10 Suggested donation.
Wed. Dec 21, 2011
J.K. O'Donnell's
121 West Wayne Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802-2503
(260) 420-5563
Thurs. Dec. 22, 2011 -- 7pm
House Concert at the home of Steve and Linda Gwinn
call Linda at: 440-328-7458 to RSVP
Merry Christmas, Kwanza, Chanukah, Ramadan, Life Day, Festivus or however
you choose to celebrate the winter solstice. Thank you for making 2011 a
great year for me, and please accept my best wishes for a fantastic 2012
--Br
www.butchross.com
"Now I know what a dulcimer is supposed to sound like" —Jake Shimabukuro
*Saturday, December 17th: Three workshops with Butch Ross at the Snapp's
residence (lunch provided) call: 614-313-6424 to RSVP
-10:30 am till 11:45: "Here Comes Jingle Bells" - Novice on up. This
combines a very nice version of "Jingle Bells" that moves right into "Here
Comes Santa Claus."
-1:15 to 2:30: Explore D-F#-A Tuning (1-3-5 Tuning) with Merv Rowley's
Version of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" in the D-F#-A Tuning. We'll also
work on a 1-3-5 version of Vince Guaraldi's "Christmastime is Here"--you
all know it from the Peanuts Christmas Special - Intermediate on up.
-3:00 to 4:15: Fiddle Tunes--work on two popular old time tunes -
Intermediate on up.
Workshops are $20 per workshop--$50 total if you do all three.
*
Shows*
Sat. Dec 17, 2011—7pm
Columbus, OH @ Guitar House Workshop
1423 Chambers Road (Grandview Heights)
$10 Suggested donation.
Wed. Dec 21, 2011
J.K. O'Donnell's
121 West Wayne Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802-2503
(260) 420-5563
Thurs. Dec. 22, 2011 -- 7pm
House Concert at the home of Steve and Linda Gwinn
call Linda at: 440-328-7458 to RSVP
Happy Green Monday to ya (at least for another 20 minutes) I've been out of
the loop for some time now, feverishly working away at my new Christmas
Card CD. Been meaning to do this for a while, but then computer issues kept
me from being able to record until mid November.* So once I got back on
track I put my nose to th grindstone and feverishly cranked this baby
out.** The Dulcimer Christmas Card 2 is 12 new (loosely-defined)
Christmas/Winter songs recorded for dulcimer and other instruments by yours
truly, with a little help form some of my very remarkable friends.
Here's the tracks.
1. O Come Emanuel/ Cold Frosty Morning
2. Angels We Have Heard on High (funky version)
3. Gettin' Ready for Christmas Day (Paul Simon)
4. Merry Christmas From The Family (Robert Earl Keen)
5. Good king Wenceslas (New "dance" version featuring Bing Futch)
6. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies (no really)
7. Little Jack Frost (Kate Rusby) vocals by the amazing Hayley Graham
8. Let There Be Peace on Earth
9. Judy Garland/White Christmas (Pete Chambers and Bing Crosby
respectively)
10. Christmastime is Here (Vince Guaraldi)
11. The Ballad of Larry (Jonathan Byrd)
12. Happy Xmas (War is Over) (John Lennon) featuring the Tremont
Tabernacle Choir
As before you can listen to the whole thing online, simply by going to
Butch Ross dot com. It's right there on the front page, with a little music
player so you can listen to the tracks as many times as you'd like for
free. NEW this year, is the option of downloading the songs (and liner
notes) directly from the site.
Prices for the Dulcimer Christmas Card are
$12 for the card
$15 for a jewel-boxed CD
$10 for a download
And don't forget the first Christmas Card CD is still available. Check it
out here: http://butchross.com/xmas.html
Of course the Holy Holiday is rapidly bearing down upon us, and the USPS
has only promised to be less efficient than before. So, I can ONLY
guarantee pre-Xmas delivery on items ordered before December 15th.
The CDs will be available at the shows as well. Those shows and workshops
again...
*Workshops
*Saturday, December 17th: Three workshops with Butch Ross at the Snapp's
residence (lunch provided) call: 614-313-6424 to RSVP
-10:30 am till 11:45: "Here Comes Jingle Bells" - Novice on up. This
combines a very nice version of "Jingle Bells" that moves right into "Here
Comes Santa Claus."
-1:15 to 2:30: Explore D-F#-A Tuning (1-3-5 Tuning) with Merv Rowley's
Version of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" in the D-F#-A Tuning. We'll also
work on a 1-3-5 version of Vince Guaraldi's "Christmastime is Here"--you
all know it from the Peanuts Christmas Special - Intermediate on up.
-3:00 to 4:15: Fiddle Tunes--work on two popular old time tunes -
Intermediate on up.
Workshops are $20 per workshop--$50 total if you do all three.
*
Shows*
Sat. Dec 17, 2011—7pm
Columbus, OH @ Guitar House Workshop
1423 Chambers Road (Grandview Heights)
$10 Suggested donation.
Wed. Dec 21, 2011
J.K. O'Donnell's
121 West Wayne Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802-2503
(260) 420-5563
Thurs. Dec. 22, 2011 -- 7pm
House Concert at the home of Steve and Linda Gwinn
call Linda at: 440-328-7458 to RSVP
Merry Christmas, Kwanza, Chanukah, Ramadan, Life Day, Festivus or however
you choose to celebrate the winter solstice. Thank you for making 2011 a
great year for me, and please accept my best wishes for a fantastic 2012
--Br
www.butchross.com
"Now I know what a dulcimer is supposed to sound like" —Jake Shimabukuro
Thursday, April 07, 2011
Amplifying the Dulcimer
A couple of years ago, I wrote and article on amplification for The Dulcimer Players News. Since there's been some talk about this on the Everythingdulcimer forum, i thought I'd repost it here: http://butchross.com/pdf/amplification.pdf
Philly house concert and NJ workshop this weekend and a new book.
April 9th, 8pm - $15
XFS House Concert
Ambler, PA
RSVP via web site
http://www.xfsmusic.org/
Sunday, April 10th - see below
Workshops at Pinelands Folk Music Center
31 White St. (in Mill Race Village)
Mt. Holly, NJ 08060
609.518.7600
12:30 to 2pm - The Right Stuff: A fun rhythm primer for beginners on up.
3pm to 4:30 - If You Like One Tune, Yu'll Like 'em Both: Learn to
recognize recurring patterns in old-time tunes and use them to help
you quickly learn new tunes.
$15 for each workshop or $25 for both.
On my way back to the great northeast for the first of two rounds in
the region. On the first round I'm flying Southwest, who have begun
offering complimentary sunblock on domestic flights (too soon?)
Anyway, this weekend, I'll be playing a house concert in Ambler, PA
for the XFS (Extreme Folk Scene) Who, I have to say, despite what
their name may imply, are really all about what folk music is really
all about. Anyway, a great bunch of folks, and Steve Quelet, a
songwriting buddy from a million years ago is opening the show. He's
great! get there early. Philly Folk, this is as close to the City of
"Yo" as I'll be for a while so make the trek (I think it's the R5).
The next day, I'm headed to NJ to Rich Carty's Pinelands Folk Music
Center. There I'll be teaching two workshops, one on rhythm, and one
on how learn old-time tunes quickly and effectively. The workshops are
$15 a piece or both for $25. Hope to see you there.
Finally, thanks to all of you who came to OVG up in Indianapolis, yes
it was cold. But it was wonderful. For me (and I've said this before)
VG is the symbolic end of winter and the beginning of the festival
season. So I'm glad it happened.
For those of you who weren't there, you might be interested to know
that I have a new book, called "The Beatletudes" it's seven of my
favorite Beatle tunes arranged for solo dulcimer, it is NOT any of the
ones on Neal Hellman's excellent Beatles book. In addition, it comes
with a CD of the tunes, But these are NOT instructional recordings,
These are full blown arrangements, including an alternate take of
"Eleanor Rigby" from the Shady Grove sessions. This is a full-on new
EP, that I will release as a solo recording, but probably only as a
fundraiser for the oft-mentioned new CD. So for right now this is the
only way to get it. It's on the merchandise page.
butchross.com/stuff.html I hope to videotape me doing these songs as
well, more on that as it develops.
That's it for now, I got more stuff in the works, but more on that
when I talk to you about my return to the Minstrel Coffeehouse in
Northern NJ in two weeks.
C-ya out there.
--Br
www.butchross.com
XFS House Concert
Ambler, PA
RSVP via web site
http://www.xfsmusic.org/
Sunday, April 10th - see below
Workshops at Pinelands Folk Music Center
31 White St. (in Mill Race Village)
Mt. Holly, NJ 08060
609.518.7600
12:30 to 2pm - The Right Stuff: A fun rhythm primer for beginners on up.
3pm to 4:30 - If You Like One Tune, Yu'll Like 'em Both: Learn to
recognize recurring patterns in old-time tunes and use them to help
you quickly learn new tunes.
$15 for each workshop or $25 for both.
On my way back to the great northeast for the first of two rounds in
the region. On the first round I'm flying Southwest, who have begun
offering complimentary sunblock on domestic flights (too soon?)
Anyway, this weekend, I'll be playing a house concert in Ambler, PA
for the XFS (Extreme Folk Scene) Who, I have to say, despite what
their name may imply, are really all about what folk music is really
all about. Anyway, a great bunch of folks, and Steve Quelet, a
songwriting buddy from a million years ago is opening the show. He's
great! get there early. Philly Folk, this is as close to the City of
"Yo" as I'll be for a while so make the trek (I think it's the R5).
The next day, I'm headed to NJ to Rich Carty's Pinelands Folk Music
Center. There I'll be teaching two workshops, one on rhythm, and one
on how learn old-time tunes quickly and effectively. The workshops are
$15 a piece or both for $25. Hope to see you there.
Finally, thanks to all of you who came to OVG up in Indianapolis, yes
it was cold. But it was wonderful. For me (and I've said this before)
VG is the symbolic end of winter and the beginning of the festival
season. So I'm glad it happened.
For those of you who weren't there, you might be interested to know
that I have a new book, called "The Beatletudes" it's seven of my
favorite Beatle tunes arranged for solo dulcimer, it is NOT any of the
ones on Neal Hellman's excellent Beatles book. In addition, it comes
with a CD of the tunes, But these are NOT instructional recordings,
These are full blown arrangements, including an alternate take of
"Eleanor Rigby" from the Shady Grove sessions. This is a full-on new
EP, that I will release as a solo recording, but probably only as a
fundraiser for the oft-mentioned new CD. So for right now this is the
only way to get it. It's on the merchandise page.
butchross.com/stuff.html I hope to videotape me doing these songs as
well, more on that as it develops.
That's it for now, I got more stuff in the works, but more on that
when I talk to you about my return to the Minstrel Coffeehouse in
Northern NJ in two weeks.
C-ya out there.
--Br
www.butchross.com
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
Ukulele
Some of the new tunes haven't been laying out on the dulcimer very well. This is actually been an ongoing issue since I started to play dulcimer. It's one of the reasons why there are so many covers on Moonshiner's Atlas for whatever reason it's been far easier to recreate or adapt, than it has been to create. I think this is why one song, called Weathervane has been in contention for this album since I first wrote it (which was like 2004): it's the first time that a lick on the instrument inspired lyrics (that's how I've written in the past). Anyway, although I've worked out dulcimer versions of all the tunes I'm kicking around, there are three that just don't sound right. Normally, that would just mean those songs weren't going on the record. But one of the tunes that's causing me a lot of consternation is a new one called Be Somebody (Do the work), It's what my old roommate used to call "the single" (my old roommate is also a songwriter and we used to throw a lot of ideas back and forth to each other). It's a euphemism, since realistically hoping for airplay has been a pipe dream since Clinton initiated the telecommunications act of 1997 (the so-called "information superhighway" that deregulated radio and allowed Clear Channel to buy them all). But it still means to us, that song that is gonna make you want to buy the album. On Moonshiner's it was folk songs and 52 Vincent, on Shady Grove it was Eleanor Rigby and (surprisingly) Birdwatching. A single doesn't necessarily mean the "best" song on the record, just the one that compels you to buy the record. If you think of albums as collections of songs that tell a story (and I do) the single is the sizzle to the steak.
I think that that song is Be Somebody, but it hasn't been working out as a dulcimer tune. So, as I've been talking with Folkcraft about one they're developing anyway, I figured maybe I'd try one out. I'll let you know how it goes.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Day Two.
Obviously I'm not keeping this diary as a day to day thing. In part because I'm not recording everyday. In fact I feel as though I'm still demoing...I am still demoing. It's just that the line between demo and recording is going to be ever blurring. Last time I ended up recording what I thought were demo's only to have the whole thing be done in Garageband (A recording program that comes with the Mac). To that end I bought a new Mac Mini specifically to have a dedicated computer for recording. Then my laptop bit the dust again, and it's become clear that as much as I would like to separate work and creative computers I can't do that yet. And anyway, what does that mean? Anyway, so that's been the plan, But I've been slow on getting a dedicated space together and the new computer has been a source of some consternation. The Zoom I used before and the new version of Garageband do not like to play well together, an issue that will have to be resolved before I can move forward full time, which is what I'm playing on doing come March 1st, which was yesterday...You following me?
Something that I've noticed is that the recording of this album and the writing have become inseparable. Used to be I'd write a bunch of songs on guitar, play 'em out some and then go add other instruments to it. Here I've been using the recording process on a couple of tunes, New Used Car, and Be Somebody. I spent way too much time working on the intro to Angry Anymore as I see it as the intro to the album. But it starts with this old scratchy recording, Just like Shady Grove did, just like the intro to Old Home Place on Moonshiner did (and how long did we spend on that?!?!). And just like those, I've always heard this tune coming out of an old machine, preferably from an Edison wax cylinder. The problem with this genius idea is that occasionally people will come up and tell me that they're something wrong with their CD, a woman in Florida even asked for her money back (WTF!) So now I'm actually torn between art and commerce. Maybe I should put a sticker on the front that says "the first 30 seconds of this CD is supposed to sound like shit."
Something that I've noticed is that the recording of this album and the writing have become inseparable. Used to be I'd write a bunch of songs on guitar, play 'em out some and then go add other instruments to it. Here I've been using the recording process on a couple of tunes, New Used Car, and Be Somebody. I spent way too much time working on the intro to Angry Anymore as I see it as the intro to the album. But it starts with this old scratchy recording, Just like Shady Grove did, just like the intro to Old Home Place on Moonshiner did (and how long did we spend on that?!?!). And just like those, I've always heard this tune coming out of an old machine, preferably from an Edison wax cylinder. The problem with this genius idea is that occasionally people will come up and tell me that they're something wrong with their CD, a woman in Florida even asked for her money back (WTF!) So now I'm actually torn between art and commerce. Maybe I should put a sticker on the front that says "the first 30 seconds of this CD is supposed to sound like shit."
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Day One (or the story so far)
I just re-read Ed O'Brien's diary from recording "Kid A" and (probably just because I'm a big fan) found it fascinating reading. I said to myself, I' think I'll do the same thing once I start recording…except I already have.
It's a bit like they said in the movie Inception. You don't remember how a dream starts, only that you've been in it for a while. Same with recording for me I guess.
One of the things I find interesting is that when Radiohead was recording Kid A, they took evenings and weekends off. You know…like a job. I guess that's 'cause it is.
So here's the story so far: A few weeks ago I wrote down a bunch of tunes that I wanted to record, separated into four categories: original songs, original instrumentals, covers and traditional tunes. Right now it's heavily skewed towards originals, so I've been starting there. I spent a day (and blew my voice out) recording a bunch of the originals to have in the car with me, but thus far that hasn't quite worked out. Some of the tunes are brand new, written in the last couple of months. Well others I've been picking at for years. Some have changed meaning as the context of my life has changed…I'm not saying which ones. Got to be a bit of an enigma. I think I know how this record will start, and kinda what it will be about. But I have NO IDEA what it will sound like when it's finished. This starting set of tunes is actually pretty bluegrass-sounding, ironic since one of the reasons I put "Shady Grove" last on the last CD was to be a launching pad for something completely different. I haven't ruled out the idea of having the record remixed, perhaps as two CDs. This is the best part, when it's all possibility. The rest is actual work.
Songs so far:
Originals:
1. Where's the damned river when you need it
2. Angry Anymore
3. New, Used Car
4. Heavy Metal Farmer's Sons (aka the ballad of Travis Kilgore)
5. A Long Way from Settling Down
6. Before the Flood
7. Weathervane
8. Brown Liquor
9. Down Where the Mountain Used to Stand
10. Shenandoah
11. Be Somebody (Do the Work)
12. What Have You Learned
13. All I Need is You
14. Betty/The Path of Least Resistance
15. Weatherman/Tornado Girl
Instrumentals/Traditional or Both
1. Little Liza Jane
2. Prototype
3. Cluck O'l Hen
4. Old Aunt Jenny with her Nightcap On
5. Elzic's Farewell (Jay Ungar)
Covers
1. Brand New 1964 Dodge (Greg Brown)
2. Brothers on a Hotel Bed (Death Cab for Cutie)
3. Here Comes the Flood (Peter Gabriel)
4. Shenandoah (Anais Mitchell)
5. Beeswing (Richard Thompson)
6. Blackout (The Affordable Floors)
7. The Pig (Todd Young)
8. Walk Beside Me (Tim O'Brien)
9. Little Liza Jane (Dave Carter)
10. Birches (Bill Morrissey)
No way is this a definitive list or a double-album, I'll be sure to drop a lot of these (and add a few back too), and don't be surprised if I end up writing a few new ones as well.
It's a bit like they said in the movie Inception. You don't remember how a dream starts, only that you've been in it for a while. Same with recording for me I guess.
One of the things I find interesting is that when Radiohead was recording Kid A, they took evenings and weekends off. You know…like a job. I guess that's 'cause it is.
So here's the story so far: A few weeks ago I wrote down a bunch of tunes that I wanted to record, separated into four categories: original songs, original instrumentals, covers and traditional tunes. Right now it's heavily skewed towards originals, so I've been starting there. I spent a day (and blew my voice out) recording a bunch of the originals to have in the car with me, but thus far that hasn't quite worked out. Some of the tunes are brand new, written in the last couple of months. Well others I've been picking at for years. Some have changed meaning as the context of my life has changed…I'm not saying which ones. Got to be a bit of an enigma. I think I know how this record will start, and kinda what it will be about. But I have NO IDEA what it will sound like when it's finished. This starting set of tunes is actually pretty bluegrass-sounding, ironic since one of the reasons I put "Shady Grove" last on the last CD was to be a launching pad for something completely different. I haven't ruled out the idea of having the record remixed, perhaps as two CDs. This is the best part, when it's all possibility. The rest is actual work.
Songs so far:
Originals:
1. Where's the damned river when you need it
2. Angry Anymore
3. New, Used Car
4. Heavy Metal Farmer's Sons (aka the ballad of Travis Kilgore)
5. A Long Way from Settling Down
6. Before the Flood
7. Weathervane
8. Brown Liquor
9. Down Where the Mountain Used to Stand
10. Shenandoah
11. Be Somebody (Do the Work)
12. What Have You Learned
13. All I Need is You
14. Betty/The Path of Least Resistance
15. Weatherman/Tornado Girl
Instrumentals/Traditional or Both
1. Little Liza Jane
2. Prototype
3. Cluck O'l Hen
4. Old Aunt Jenny with her Nightcap On
5. Elzic's Farewell (Jay Ungar)
Covers
1. Brand New 1964 Dodge (Greg Brown)
2. Brothers on a Hotel Bed (Death Cab for Cutie)
3. Here Comes the Flood (Peter Gabriel)
4. Shenandoah (Anais Mitchell)
5. Beeswing (Richard Thompson)
6. Blackout (The Affordable Floors)
7. The Pig (Todd Young)
8. Walk Beside Me (Tim O'Brien)
9. Little Liza Jane (Dave Carter)
10. Birches (Bill Morrissey)
No way is this a definitive list or a double-album, I'll be sure to drop a lot of these (and add a few back too), and don't be surprised if I end up writing a few new ones as well.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
writing you from Florida about shows next week.
Mon. Jan 31st, 2011 8:00pm
Luna Star Cafe
775 N. 125th St.
North Miami, Fl
305·799·7123
www.lunastarcafe.com/
Pretty sure that they're opening Monday special for this show.
Thurs Feb 3, 2011. 8:00 Concert. 7:30 doors.
House Concert at the home of Gloria Holloway
Tampa, FL (Westshore/Gandy Area)
RSVP required.
Info/RSVP, contact: Gloria Holloway
gsholloway@email.com -- tell her you're on my mailing list.
813.837.6572
The Saturday house concert in Lakeland is SOLD OUT! Thank you!!!
I'm on my way to 2nd Annual Key West Gathering, but i wanted to remind you all that I'll be playing some other shows in Florida next week.
Monday, I'll be back in Miami at the Luna Street Cafe, this wonderful little place was recently voted best coffee house, best open mic, best beer selection and it's owned and run by a former chef. They're usually closed on Mondays, but I'm pretty sure Alexis is opening special just for me. It's that kind of place.
Thursday, I'll be making my first appearance in Tampa at the home of Gloria Holloway. She has a house concert series and has graciously offered to host me and my many dulcimers for the night. If you're in the area you should come out!
That's all for now.
C-ya out there.
-Br
Luna Star Cafe
775 N. 125th St.
North Miami, Fl
305·799·7123
www.lunastarcafe.com/
Pretty sure that they're opening Monday special for this show.
Thurs Feb 3, 2011. 8:00 Concert. 7:30 doors.
House Concert at the home of Gloria Holloway
Tampa, FL (Westshore/Gandy Area)
RSVP required.
Info/RSVP, contact: Gloria Holloway
gsholloway@email.com -- tell her you're on my mailing list.
813.837.6572
The Saturday house concert in Lakeland is SOLD OUT! Thank you!!!
I'm on my way to 2nd Annual Key West Gathering, but i wanted to remind you all that I'll be playing some other shows in Florida next week.
Monday, I'll be back in Miami at the Luna Street Cafe, this wonderful little place was recently voted best coffee house, best open mic, best beer selection and it's owned and run by a former chef. They're usually closed on Mondays, but I'm pretty sure Alexis is opening special just for me. It's that kind of place.
Thursday, I'll be making my first appearance in Tampa at the home of Gloria Holloway. She has a house concert series and has graciously offered to host me and my many dulcimers for the night. If you're in the area you should come out!
That's all for now.
C-ya out there.
-Br
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