February is here! Things are beginning to happen!! YES!! Here’s the schedule for the month so far:
FEBRUARY
***11th – JPF Showcase in Woodbury at Borders Books and Music Café
7:00 pm until 9:00 pm featuring members Sally Heuer and Tom Englehardt
94 East to Radio Drive exit – South (right when traveling East on 94) for 3 lights – Borders is on your right.
***19th – JPF Showcase in Richfield at Borders Books and Music Café
7:00 pm until 9:00 pm featuring members Wayne Longtin Sr., Precious and Lyra Peterson
800 West 78th Street; Richfield, MN 55423 Phone: 612.869.6245
***22nd – Song Circle at Dunn Brothers in Roseville from 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm
Traveling either east or west on Hwy 36, take the Hamline exit and travel south.
The coffeehouse is 1 block south of 36 on the left hand side of the street.
***23rd – Minnesota Association of Songwriters meeting – JPF/MAS Member Chuck Taylor will be presenting a 30 minute presentation/demonstration on sound and sound equipment. As MAS and JPF are working together, as to not exhaust all of the resources of either group, we will be able to provide a lot of additional opportunities for members of both groups this year.
7:00 pm until 9:00 pm at Musictech College (19 Exchange Street) in St. Paul
SHOWCASES!!!
Well, our first round of showcases are set to start and those of you who have visited the JPF Bulletin Board recently will be one step up. During our last meeting of JPF (January 13th) it was decided to move forward with the JPF Showcases to be held at the Borders Books and Music Stores in both Woodbury and Richfield. Here’s how they will work:
Each showcase will last 2 hours (from 8:00 pm until 10:00 pm – so you will want to be there by 7:00 for set-up, sound check, etc.) and feature members of Just Plain Folks. There will be 2, 3 or 4 performers per showcase. Depending upon the number of folks in a showcase, each performer will have anywhere from 1 hour to 30 minutes to play. An act can be solo, duet or trio.
The dates are as follows: every 2nd Friday at Woodbury and every 3rd Saturday at Richfield from February until August 2005.
Borders has their own sound equipment and mics, but, depending upon your needs, you may want to use your own or work together with the other act(s) to find what works best for your group.
Each performer will be required to send a brief 1 to 2 paragraph description of themselves and their music and an image for posters and the newsletter. Borders will also be promoting the showcases through their database of customers and on their websites. Take advantage of EVERYTHING!!
If you would like to be part of the showcase, please e-mail justplainfolksmn@yahoo.com and let me know the date and venue in which you would like to perform. In order to get the promotion moving, I need to know 2 months prior, if possible. Thanks.
Schedule thus far:
FEBRUARY 11 (Woodbury) – Sally Heuer and Tom Englehart
FEBRUARY 19 (Richfield) – Wayne Longtin Sr., Precious and Lyra Peterson
MARCH 11 (Woodbury) – Paul Dennison, John Hassinger and Wayne Longtin Sr.
MARCH 19 (Richfield) – Duo Guy Acree and Zack Paris (spots still available)
APRIL 8 (Woodbury) – Sally Heuer and Claire Van de Crommert
APRIL 16 (Richfield) –
MAY 13 (Woodbury) –
MAY 21 (Richfield) –
JUNE 10 (Woodbury) –
JUNE 18 (Richfield) –
JULY 8 (Woodbury) –
JULY 16 (Richfield) –
AUGUST 12 (Woodbury) –
AUGUST 20 (Richfield) –
· * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
SHOWCASING AT THE MINNESOTA FOLK FEST
June 25 & 26, 2005
Little Log House Pioneer Village, Hastings, MN
I have begun talking with Deb Martin at the MN Folk Fest and have gotten us a booth (to be shared with MAS) which will have to be manned as well as a showcase segment for 3 hours. We should be able to showcase 5 people at 30 minutes each. They are also in need of volunteers in their marketing efforts and sound department. They need help getting the word out about the event, so they will need folks to distribute flyers, send press releases, etc. In addition to that, they need some sound people or someone who might have some sound equipment that they could use for a third stage. If we can get a third stage, we can get more time in the showcasing department. So, if any of you are up to the challenge, there will be more info coming down the road on this and, if you want to jump in right away, you can contact the MN Folk Fest people at 651-292-4900 and ask for Debra Martin. They are also looking for some “stage” help…basically someone to man an area where performers can sit back and relax before the performance. They are also looking for some donations of food for this spot.
Again, if any of you can volunteer a little time here and there to help, it would be GREATLY appreciated!!
IN ORDER TO SHOWCASE: Your genre must be folk or contemporary folk. As this is a folk festival, they require your genre to be that style of music. That is their niche.
*************************
LOCAL RADIO PLAY AVAILABLE ON 89.3 FM NPR St. Paul
Minnesota Public Radio and The Current program (89.3 FM)
CD submissions with a cover letter and any promotional materials to:
Thorn, Music Director
89.3 The Current
45 E 7th St
Saint Paul MN 55105
NOTE: You must have a radio ready CD to send. It would also be helpful if it were made available for sale, just in case people ask.
************************************************************
SOUND EXCHANGE and Internet Royalties!!!!
Okay people. I know this works as I have received my first check. It may not be a million dollars, but it’s something!! As internet radio is picking up, and it is the easiest way to get some good play, it’s time to start getting involved. This is a good first step.
NOTE: Deadline extended until July 2005 to apply for first distribution cycle royalties (1996-2000).
Welcome to SoundExchange®, Inc., a nonprofit performance rights organization jointly controlled by artists and sound recording copyright owners through an 18-member board of directors with nine artist representatives and nine copyright owner representatives. We have been designated by the U.S. Copyright Office to collect and distribute statutory royalties to sound recording copyright owners and featured and nonfeatured artists. Our board members and staff are dedicated to providing exceptional service and advocacy for artists and copyright owners to ensure the fair compensation for the use of copyrighted sound recordings.
http://www.soundexchange.com *****************************************************************
JPF Member Raymond Yates is offering special prices to ALL JPF members on any graphic design work they may need. Posters, brochures, album packaging, etc. Please contact him if you would be interested in additional information or having him design your next project. He does a great job.
Raymond Yates, Songwriter/Vocalist
Minneapolis, MN 55454
(612) 339-4679
www.raymondyates.com ******************************************************************
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
***YEAR OF THE MP3: DIGITAL MUSIC BECOMES COOL
2004 was an exciting, if strange, year for digital music as it continued to lead a double life, finally embraced by the mainstream music industry while continuing to thrive in the underbelly of illegitimate downloads.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4118751.stm ***SONGWRITERUNIVERSE ‘BEST SONG OF THE MONTH’ COMPETITION
The 'Best Song Of The Month Contest' not only spotlights the winning song and songwriter, but also showcases the Top Five songs of the month. All genres of music will be accepted for this contest. Each song will be judged on its artistic merit, originality, craft, and market potential. Please note: Submission will be judged for the contest during the month it is received.
http://www.songwriteruniverse.com/songcontest.htm ***SITES/PUBLICATIONS WHERE YOU CAN GET YOUR MUSIC REVIEWED
Courtesy of Indie Contact Bible
http://www.indiebible.com/im This is a great resource for all indie musicians!!
The Soundclash Music Webzine
Matt Armstrong shutterbox@gmail.com
http://www.soundclashmusic.tk 3900 Oxford St., Napa, CA 94558
PH: 818-251-0846
A website focusing on reviews and interviews of small label and unsigned bands.
Stylus Magazine
Broose Tulloch b2ware@hotmail.com
http://www.stylusmag.mb.ca I will review anything sent to me. I cannot ensure that the review will make the issue, but I can guarantee that the review will go up on the "Beer For Breakfast" and "Stylus" websites.
SheDivine.com
Héctor Noble Fernández info@shedivine.com
http://shedivine.com Apdo. de correos 4233, 35080 Las Palmas de G.C. Las Palmas (Canary Islands), Spain We do reviews of absolutely every kind of music (from the most Extreme Noise to gentle Classical Music). Please contact us before sending.
Inside Connection
editor@insidecx.com
http://www.insidecx.com 1919 Middle Country Rd. #205, Centereach, NY 11720
PH: 631-981-8231 FX: 631-981-8424
New releases from independent bands.
******************************************************************
UPCOMING EVENTS
February 12 - 16, National Association of Campus Activities National Convention, Minneapolis, MN,
http://www.naca.org This is a great way to submit material for college performances as well as get much needed information for this type of venue. Network…network…network…..
****************************************************************
PRINT YOUR OWN MANUSCRIPT PAPER - FREE!
Download Indie-Music.com's free and easy Music Paper Printer and print unlimited free sheets of manuscript, percussion, and tablature paper. Requires Adobe Acrobat.
http://www.indie-music.com/free.php -------------------------------------------------------
DOWNLOAD FREE COPYRIGHT KIT
Download Indie-Music.com's free Copyright Kit. Print Copyright forms, Copyright submission process, handy tips & tricks, choosing the right form, and more.
http://www.indie-music.com/free2.php *******************************************************************
SPECIAL PRICING FOR JPF MEMBERS
There are several stores in town offering discounts to JPF members. We need to present them a membership card in order to receive these discounts. I will be putting these together during the next month, so I will need full names and addresses of JPF members in order to create and then send you your membership cards so that you can take advantage of these discounts. Please e-mail me your information should you like a card. vicki@vickilogan.com
Thanks!! A list will be mailed with your card in regards to which stores and what is offered. So far we have Guitar Center in Edina and Roseville, DC Music in Blaine, Music Connection in both Edina and Forest Lake and Noiseland in Minneapolis. Several other stores are joining our team even as I write!! Take advantage of your membership!!
