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JUST PLAIN FOLKS LOCAL CHAPTER CELEBRATES FIRST ANNIVERSARY

February 9, 2001 Twin Cities, Minn. -- The Twin Cities Chapter of Just Plain Folks will celebrate the first anniversary of its founding with a music showcase on Thursday, February 22nd at 7 PM that features performances by seven of its members. The event will take place at Anodyne Coffeehouse, 4301 Nicollet Avenue South in Minneapolis. Just Plain Folks recognized the Twin Cities Chapter in 2000 by presenting it with the Founders Award for "Chapter of the Year."

The local chapter presented six showcases during the 2000 calendar year, organized a benefit for a Cannon Falls music organization for children and doubled its membership while holding monthly meetings for its members. The Anniversary showcase is the chapter's first in 2001, with several more planned. Performers include musicians who actively perform in the community; most of them have independently released commercial CDs. They are listed here in order of appearance.

1. Wayne Hamilton is the Twin Cities Chapter Coordinator of Just Plain Folks and host of the organization's first-anniversary showcase. He is a two-time finalist in the Minnesota Folk Festival's New Folk songwriting contest. His roots in the acoustic music of the folk revival, vintage rock and the blues are evident on his CD release, titled "Lucky That Way," which also celebrates its first anniversary this month and which has received radio air play on three continents. Critic Bob MacKenzie wrote, "Hamilton's vocal style is clean and evocative, breathing life into his tightly written stories of ordinary people." Visit him at www.waynehamilton.com

2. Since 1995, singer-songwriter Amy Holland has captivated audiences of all ages with her warm stage presence and down-to-earth delivery. She currently performs solo acoustic shows and plays with her band throughout Minnesota and nationally. Amy's debut EP, "Short Story," was co-produced by Amy and Dr. Fink, (former keyboardist for Prince.) She is now recording her first full-length CD with her band, which will contain 12 original songs. For more info on Amy, go to www.amyholland.com.

3. "Karl Burke is a singer in the tradition of the great troubadours - Stan Rogers, Gordon Lightfoot, Ian Tyson, Tom Paxton and many others. With a room-filling baritone and guitar work that is by turns driving and lyrical, Karl interprets the best from the acoustic/folk palette, and he does so in a way that lights up an evening with warmth and friendship. Listen to Karl and close your eyes. No doubt about it - THAT's folk music!"
Eric Garrison, Swannanoa Gathering Folk Week Coordinator

4. Amy & Adams is the St Paul Husband & Wife acoustic duo Amy & Mark Adams-Westin. They both have wonderful voices, write touching tunes, and play guitar. Amy also plays penny whistle and piano, while Mark plays mandolin. They add the Amy & Adams touch to cover songs from many eras and styles.

5. Raymond Yates has been writing and performing music for more than nine years. His music has a wide range of flavors, from the soul of jazz, to the frenzy of rock, to the introspection of folk, to the earthiness of blues. He has recorded and/or performed with "Prairie Home Companion" favorites Pat Donohue and Peter Ostroushko, as well as Dean Magraw, Tim Sparks, Peter Mayer, and Phil Heywood. His latest release, "In The Winter" has received rave reviews, and has received air play in the U.S., Canada, Germany, Portugal, and England. He has also played at numerous music festivals in the U.S. and Canada, and was a finalist at the Minnesota Folk Festival's songwriting contest last year. A young, up-and-coming songwriter, vocalist, and performer, he definitely should not be missed.

6. As a performer, Minnesota singer-songwriter Katy Tessman combines energy and emotion with genuine warmth and musical passion. Her rhythmic guitar style and powerful voice express a straight-from-the-heart songwriting style that's won accolades from fans and critics alike. Katy's 11-song solo debut CD, "Fall," remarkably showcases her abilities as a vocalist and songwriter; music critic, John Costello says it's "an album worth gently savoring."

7. DAVID HANNERS' music often fits his subjects like a favorite pair of shoes: comfortable, familiar, casual. Winner of the Minnesota Folk Festival's 2000 New Folk Songwriting Competition, his music combines the sensibilities of his native Midwest with the best story-telling traditions of Texas, a state he lived in for 17 years. True to life, there aren't a lot of winners in Hanners' songs, which are inhabited by people with broken hearts, hapless criminals, women with secrets, men with too many exes and excesses, friends who died young and people who hit the road to see if there's anything out there besides more road.

8. Michael Loonan is a Twin Cities singer, songwriter, guitarist, pianist, arranger, and producer. His CD, "Share the Disguise," earned a Minnesota Music Awards nomination for Best Pop Album. He also released a collaborative Spiritual CD with his brother, Patrick, entitled "The Day Has Come." Michael writes and records jingles and movie scores and is well known for his creation of "the Loony Bin Band" on KSTP-AM's The Mischke Broadcast.

Just Plain Folks is an Internet-based networking organization of more than 10,000 independent musicians worldwide. The group has 23 chapters in the United States and additional chapters in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and Europe. Its members have won Grammys, Emmys, CMA Awards, Academy Awards, Clios and nearly every local and regional music-related award in the industry. The group's goals include a desire to provide a networking environment of inclusion and cooperation among its members for the benefit of the group and individuals involved; to share wisdom, ideas and experiences with others who have "been there," and to help educate those who have yet to make the journey; to form long-term relationships with other industry professionals; and to leverage the power of the Internet for the benefit of its members.

For information about the Twin Cities Chapter of Just Plain Folks, contact Wayne Hamilton at 651-771-6284 or e-mail him at wayne@waynehamilton.com. For directions to Anodyne Coffeehouse, call 612-824-4300.


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Twin Cities Chapter
Coordinator

A Big Congrats to all the Twin Cities Chapter Members! We are all very proud with the community that you are continuing to build there and wish you fabulous success on tonights historic anniversary! We are sure this will be the first of many for the Twin Cities community and our first Just Plain Folks Chapter of the Year winners!

I hope all of you will get involved on the new message board and keep us all updated on what is happening in the Twin Cities music scene.

Continued success everyone!

Brian Austin Whitney
Founder-Just Plain Folks

Any pictures from the event?

Brian

Pictures coming soon!
-Wayne