THE PARTY LIST - July 18-24th

Note: Please remember to check with the venue as to whether or not there is a cover charge or ticket required for the shows you plan to attend. Note dates are subject to change. I have provided links to the venues when possible, making it easy for you to check it out.

Not all events take place in Texas. With that in mind I will begin listing them not only by day but by TEXAS and ON THE ROAD. With that in mind…

Let’s Get This Party STARTED!


TEXAS

Thursday – 18
Matt Dunn – Deep Ellum Brewing Company – Dallas
Walt & Tina Wilkins – The Badu House
Heath Webb- Adair’s – Dallas – 7:00 p.m. - FREE
Chris Wall – Adair’s – Dallas – 8:30 p.m. – FREE
Leland Williams – Adair’s – Dallas – 10:30 p.m. – FREE
Heather Roberts – M Lounge – Fort Worth –
/w Whitnye Raquel
Saints Eleven – Red’s Roadhouse – Kennedale
Rod Ballou – Grovers – Frisco


Friday – 19
Jerry Audley – Texas Spur Dancehall – Lindsay – 9:30 p.m.
Richie Allbright – Horney’s Bar – Mathis
Blacktop Outlaw – Mardi Gras  - Mt. Pleasant
Jeremy Phifer – Thirsty Armadillo – Ft. Worth

Saturday – 20
Big Star ’97 Pre-Awards Party – Fort Worth
Seth Walker – Dosey Doe’s Big Barn – The Woodlands -
Kyle Hutton Band – Dosey Doe’s Café – Conroe –
The Warren Hood Band – Threadgills – Austin
CD Release Party!
Heath Webb & the Haymakers – Adair’s – Dallas – 10 p.m. – FREE
Blacktop Outlaw – Hoot’s – Burleson – 9 p.m.
Jerry Audley – Texas Spur Dancehall – Lindsay – 9:30 p.m.
Saints Eleven – Hoots Bar – Rendon

Sunday – 21
Big Star ’97 Awards Show – Fort Worth


Monday – 22
No shows found

Tuesday – 23
Terri Hendrix – Fiddlestrings Summer Concert Series – San Angelo
/w Lloyd Maines
Troy Cartwright – Adair’s – Dallas – 10 p.m. FREE


Wednesday – 24
Kent Finlay – Cheatham Street Warehouse – San Marcos
Kent hosts the Songwriters Circle every Wed. night!


ON THE ROAD

Thursday – 18
Byrd & Street – Clemmons House Concert – Albuquerque NM
Email: tjcmarie@comcast.net for details & directions
Tenasie – Silver Dollar Saloon – Nashville TN – Midnight!


Friday – 19
Mark Allan Atwood & Brimstone – No Scum Allowed Saloon – White Oaks NM
They take the stage at 7 p.m.
This is part of the Ghost Riders in the Oaks Bike Rally
Byrd & Street – The Range Café- Bernalillo NM
Buddy Case – O’Henry’s – Conway  AR
Mike Blakely – Empire House Theater/ Old Cowtown Museum – Witchita KS – 8 p.m.



Saturday – 20
Byrd & Street – Solid Grounds Coffeehouse – Albuquerque NM
St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church
Mike Blakely – Community Center – Norway KS – 7:30 p.m.
Saints Eleven – Hoots Bar – Rendon
Jason Helms band – Alex Gibson Awareness Event  - Hope AR -

Sunday – 21
Kelly McGuire – Lighthouse Grill – Ontario CA – 3 p.m.
/w Mark Mulligan & Sunny Jim
Mike Blakely – Plainsong House Concert – Lincoln NE -  7 p.m.
Email: Plainsongfolk@gmail.com for details
Oak Ridge Boys – Jamboree In the Hills – Morristown OH -

Monday – 22
Mike Blakely – Kearney Public Library – Kearney NE – 7 p.m.

Tuesday – 23
Byrd & Street – The Cowgirl BBQ – Sante Fe NM
Buddy Case – Terri-Lynn’s BBQ & Deli – Little Rock
/w Rudy Terwilliger & Mark Kroos
Tickets: $25 for all three performances + BBQ!
Mike Blakely – Converse Co. Library – Douglas WY – 6 p.m.

Wednesday – 24
Mike Blakely – Converse Co. Library – Glenrock WY – 10:30 a.m.

Mountain View AR

What a beautiful trip down to Mt. View Arkansas last week. I drove in misty rain most of the way, enjoyed the coolness of the auditorium for a couple hours then made the three-hour trip back home in the drizzly rain. But I wouldn't have missed the time at the Ozark Folk Center for anything.

I wasn't able to meet up with Buddy Case and his wife, Karen. Sadly, Karen's mother passed away on Saturday so they were unable to attend the Thumb picking competition this year. My condolences to Karen and her family for their loss.

I did enjoy the jam session performance on Friday afternoon. It was a chance for some of the competitors to arrive and loosen up a bit before the weekend festivities got underway. I heard some unbelievable picking like I haven't heard in years. Legends such as Comer "Moon" Mullins, Eddie Adcock, Darryl Nixon and a young man by the name of Ben Hall made up the main jammers. They were accompanied by a 'washtub' picker whose name I didn't catch.

Thumb picking originated at the turn of the 20th Century and was made famous by Merle Travis and Chet Atkins. The basic concept uses one or two fingers to pick the lead notes on the strings while the thumb carries the base.

Returning from short hiatus

I didn't mean to run out on everyone. My apologies. I was experiencing some internet issues and a living room remodel. Didn't need either right now but both proved to be for the best in the end. The living room looks awesome and I have my own High Speed internet at home. No more making a 80 mile round trip and 7 hours away from home to get caught up.

Speaking of getting caught up, I'll be back in here tomorrow to do some updates. On Friday I am going to Mt. View Arkansas to see a friend of mine, Buddy Case (we've showcased his talents here) compete in the National Thumbpicking Competition. I haven't seen Buddy and his wife, Karen, in over a year so I'm looking forward to the reunion and hearing him play. I'll have news of the event, with pics, on Monday.

Until tomorrow...

Country Blessings!