SINGER CALLAGHAN ON US TOUR BEGINNING MAY 3

Greetings from the chilly UK!

After hiding from the winter in California over the last couple of months, it's come as a shock to be back in the middle of England where Spring has not yet sprung.

I hope the weather is starting to get better where you are!

Still, it's great to be back in the UK for a while and I'm excited about my UK tour which starts in Liverpool next week.

I'm also really looking forward to a whole run of shows in the USA starting on May 3rd in Pensacola and taking me all the way to Boston, Philly, Chicago, and more by early June. If there's a show near you I hope you can join us:

May 3 Pensacola FL - Radio Live

May 16 Cambridge MA - Club Passim

May 19 Philadelphia PA - Burlap & Bean

May 26 Tampa FL - The Attic

May 27 Seaside FL - The Rep

June 2 Atlanta GA - Eddie's Attic

June 7 Spring Lake MI - Seven Steps Up

June 8 Lake Orion MI - 20 Front Street

June 9 Chicago IL - SPACE

July 21 Telluride CO -Telluride Americana Music Festival

Full show details and ticket links are at www.callaghansongs.com/live

I'll be joined by great players throughout the tour and we'll be playing new songs recently recorded in LA as well as your Callaghan favourites.

For a taste of the new music please check out my latest EP Skin On Skin wherever you get your music. You can also get it direct from me as a CD or download at www.callaghansongs.com/callaghanstore

During May I'll also be doing house shows along the east coast. In September I'm planning to bring the house show tour back to the west so if you're in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Arizona or California and might be interested in hosting a Callaghan show in your home or garden please reply to this message for more details.

Finally, if you like to listen to music on Spotify please check out my Callaghan playlist - it's an easy way to enjoy my music and to share it with people you think might like it!

Thanks for listening. I hope you're looking forward to a great weekend.

Callaghan x

ROBBIE GENNET NEW RELEASES: LP GLEAMS AND SINGLE THE CAMERA'S ON

top photo by Cyn Lowery @ Cynister Photography

Los Angeles, CA: At first listen, singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Robbie Gennet’s music sounds so original and different from the norm that it’s almost jarring. After all, most new music is “borrowed” from artists that inspire the songwriter, and is easily classified in a specific musical genre.

Not so in Gennet’s case. Perhaps “multi-dimensional, progressive, piano-driven pop/rock” best describes it. Or, to compare his sound to well-known artists, think Father John Misty, Arcade Fire, Rush and the Killers, with Elton John-esque piano and even a string section throughout.

Robbie Gennet is proud to announce his upcoming 7-song album of all original songs, Gleams, set for a May 24 release. Having previously been a sideman on keyboards, vocals, guitar and bass for other artists, including Fuel, Lisa Marie Presley, Nick Lachey, Everclear and many others, he’s excited to release Gleams, his own latest original musical creation.
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Prior to the release of Gleams, the first video from the album is “The Camera’s On” which comes out on April 27. “The Camera’s On” is a frenetic, multi-layered piece of music that reflects the constant state of surveillance we all live in now, while also connecting with the recent anti-patriarchy #metoo movement. “There are cameras in most public spaces, and we are increasingly captured on video,” he explains. “There’s the concept of Big Brother watching us, which I wanted to touch on by showing that through our collective cameras, we are the Bigger Brother watching back. As the lyrics state: ‘Watch what you watch-they see what you see. Don’t leave a trace if you want to be faceless in the crowd when you’re not allowed anonymity.’”

“I was also compelled to tie-in an anti-patriarchy theme in this video,” he continues. “I feel very strongly about women rising up and gaining an equal seat at the table, which requires the patriarchy to unwillingly lose its long-held privilege. As the video started forming in my mind, I saw my initial ‘Reservoir Dogs-meets-Eyes Wide Shut’ plotline through the eyes of a female main character. I knew this video was meant to be built upon the theme of a woman turning the tables on a man and in the end, assuming total power over him.”

In addition to writing all the songs, Gennet plays most of the instruments on the album. “I’ve always played piano on my previous recordings, but playing bass this time has given me the freedom to map out more adventuresome parts. I also played drums on the demos to give Ryan Brown (Dweezil Zappa) a fairly explicit roadmap. Of course, he added his own dazzling touches!” Gennet also specializes in vintage keyboards (Rhodes, Clavinet, Wurlitzer, Minimoog) and has experience playing Hammond organ. He is also a longtime music journalist and video host with Keyboard magazine, teaches music (at Musicians Institute and privately), and is the author of The Key of One (Alfred) book/DVD, his own notation-free approach to learning music as a language.

ROBBIE GENNET ON AMAZON

Growing up, Gennet idolized Elton John and Billy Joel. “Elton and Billy Joel were the pinnacles of piano playing singer/songwriters to me. Having no classical training and minimal exposure to classical or jazz music, I was more interested in rock and blues piano, so I gravitated in that direction. Also, one of my seminal influences when I was a kid was the soundtrack to the movie Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band starring the Bee Gees and Peter Frampton. It was my introduction to the songwriting of the Beatles, as we didn't have any of their records in the house at the time.””

“This new music and sound is one of the most exciting things I have done musically,” he concludes. “By adding live strings and stacked vocals to my piano trio arrangements, I branched away from the guitar-frosted music of my past into more cultured and rich arrangements. Coupled with more complex chord progressions, lyrics and melodies, these songs have broken new ground in my catalogue. It’s much harder for me to find references to tag this music with because of its individuality, which to me is something of a victory artistically. I don’t want to align my music with what’s on the radio or is currently enjoying its15 minutes of coolness. I am focused on timelessness, and being true to my vision.“

Stay tuned for more news…additional new musical releases are planned, as well as live show dates in select cities…

CANADIAN SINGER JEREMY BENJAMIN HAS NEW RELEASE!

Jeremy Benjamin - Cold Hard Cash

Jeremy Benjamin is a singer-songwriter from London, Ontario. Signed to Divergent Recordings, a subsidiary of True North Records.

Jeremy Benjamin (Zeyl) is an award-winning Songwriter whose work spans the genres of Folk, Pop, Country and Gospel. Since 2007, Jeremy has served as the songwriter and leader of the internationally-acclaimed Folk Vocal Trio Isobelle Gunn along with both his wife and his sister. 

In 2013, Jeremy released a commissioned work entitled Heidelberg: Songs from the Catechism to critical acclaim within the Christian Church. Jeremy took a full-time role as Director of Worship Arts at Talbot St. Church in London, Canada in 2014 and served there until 2017.

Cold Hard Cash

During his tenure in London, Jeremy created the Body & Soul Collective and began touring and teaching his songs in the U.S. and Canada at worship conferences and retreats. In 2017, Jeremy signed a record and publishing deal with True North Records and is currently working on an album to be released in 2018.

Jeremy lives in London, Canada with his wife and two children.

Label: Divergent Recordings / True North Records

TOP STARS WHO PLAYED IN LAS VEGAS

A lot of people who visit Las Vegas do so because they want to partake of the gambling on offer in this casino hot spot. They are often attracted by the film and television portrayals of these casinos, which depict them as dangerous, exciting and glamorous, but they are not all that the city has to offer. In particular, Vegas is a music city, with many of the top musicians in the world choosing to perform there.

It was during the 1950's and 1960's that Las Vegas truly developed its reputation for hosting major music stars. During the 1950's, flamboyant stars like Liberace made the city their own, but it was the arrival of the Rat Pack during the early part of the following decade that made history.

Combining crooning jazz and easy listening tunes with banter, the Rat Pack packed crowds in at casino/hotel resorts such as the Sands and the Riviera. The leader of the Rat Pack, Frank Sinatra, became particularly associated with Las Vegas and continued to perform there throughout the rest of his career.

Vegas continued to be a hugely popular place for big stars to perform in as well, with the likes of Tom Jones making their debuts there during the 1970's and helping to establish the reputation of the resort for adult-oriented, easy listening music.

While this is the kind of music that many still associate with Las Vegas – and indeed singers of that type like Celine Dion and Elton John still perform lavish concerts at venues like the Colosseum in Caesars Palace, drawing crowds of thousands – Vegas has also attracted more edgy, experimental musicians during the last decade or so. One notable example of this was the late funk-pop star Prince, who took to the stage of the Rio towards of the end of 2006.

His residency there proved an enormous success and featured collaborations with the likes of Chaka Khan, with his presence helping to give the Vegas music scene a hipper image. The likes of Jennifer Lopez have followed in his wake, as she set up home at the Planet Hollywood complex there, proving that Vegas is not just for older music fans. Indeed the current era is seeing cutting edge dance acts like Afrojack choosing to perform there – as this DJ performed a successful set to packed crowds at the Wynn Las Vegas.

The next few months will see stars ranging from older singers like Rod Stewart, to younger ones such as Keith Sweat taking to stages in Las Vegas, proving that it is truly a musical center.

MANFRED MANN SINGER CHRIS THOMPSON HAS A NEW RELEASE!

Legendary Manfred Mann's Earth Band Vocalist Chris Thompson Releases 'Jukebox - The Ultimate Collection' 2CD Remastered Anthology

London, UK - Esoteric Recordings is pleased to announce the release of 'Jukebox: The Ultimate Collection', a two disc anthology by legendary CHRIS THOMPSON!

Known for his work as the lead vocalist and guitarist on many hits with Manfred Mann's Earth Band, including “Blinded By The Light”, “For You” and “The Mighty Quinn” as well as featured on the classic Jeff Wayne concept album 'War of the Worlds', Chris is also a noted songwriter (penning among other songs the smash hit “You're the Voice” for John Farnham). His most recent studio album, 'Toys and Dishes', his first in over ten years, (released on Esoteric Antenna), gained excellent reviews from critics and praise from fans worldwide.

Chris Thompson continues to draw enthusiastic live crowds throughout Europe. 'Jukebox: The Ultimate Collection' is a fine, brand new 36-track newly remastered compilation of material that has defined Chris Thompson's career, including songs such as “Blinded by the Light”, “For You”, “Father of Day’, ‘Davy's on the Road Again”, “Martha's Madman”, “The Mighty Quinn”, “Thunderchild” and “You’re the Voice’, along with tracks from 'Toys and Dishes' such as “Eddie Wants to Rock” and “Millie Christine”.

DISC ONE

1. DARK SIDE
2. LOVE AND LONELINESS
3. FATHER OF DAY (LIVE)
4. HOT SUMMER NIGHT (LIVE)
5. MILLION DOLLAR WONDER HIT
6. COLD WIND BLOWING ACROSS MY HEART
7. SPIRITS IN THE NIGHT (LIVE)
8. WHOLE LOT TO GIVE
9. FOR YOU
10. ONE MAN MISSION
11. MARTHA’S MADMAN (LIVE)
12. BEAT OF LOVE
13. YOU ANGEL YOU (LIVE)
14. A SHIFT IN THE WIND
15. EDDIE WANTS TO ROCK
16. DREAM AWAY LITTLE GIRL
17. DON’T STOP
18. THE FIRE

DISC TWO

1. THE MIGHTY QUINN (LIVE)
2. THE CHALLENGE
3. RUNNER (LIVE)
4. REDEMPTION SONG
5. LAND OF THE LONG WHITE CLOUD
6. BLINDED BY THE LIGHT
7. ANGEL
8. HEART OF THE FIRE
9. DON’T KILL IT CAROL (LIVE)
10. IF YOU REMEMBER ME
11. MILLIE CHRISTINE
12. YOU’RE THE VOICE
13. DAVY’S ON THE ROAD AGAIN (LIVE)
14. QUESTIONS (LIVE)

BONUS TRACKS
15. ZU LEBEN
16. THUNDERCHILD (ACOUSTIC VERSION)
17. WHAT WORLD
18. WE ARE THE STRONG

Tour dates:

01/05/15 - Bergen Madam Felle, Norway
02/05/15 - Bergen Madam Felle, Norway
13/05/15 - Rjukan Festival, Norway
30/05/15 – Oslo Bjerkefestivalen, Norway
05/06/15 - Egersund Dalane Blues Festival, Norway
03/07/15 - Konsberg Konsberg Jazz Festival, Norway
04/07/15 - 24340 Eckenförde Radio Nora Sommer Open Air, Germany
09/07/15 - Mosjøen Festival, Norway
22/08/15 - Hamar Under Brua, Norway
10/12/15 - 63739 Aschaffenburg Colos-Saal, Germany
12/12/15 - 64625 Bensheim Musiktheater REX – Kulturdenkmal Güterhalle, Germany
17/03/16 - 76646 Bruchsal Fabrik, Germany
18/03/16 - 55232 Alzey Alzeyer Oberhaus, Germany
19/03/16 - 53721 Siegburg Kubana, Germany

For more information: http://www.christhompson-central.com/

ACTORS SINGERS COMEDIANS WORKSHOP AND TALENT SEARCH

DAVID E. TALBERT, National Playwright and Writer/Director of Baggage Claim and First Sunday, is looking for talented Actors, Singers & Comedians.

Those that attend the ACTORS WORKSHOP in Atlanta [April 11], Houston [April 18], Detroit [May 2] or New York [May 16] will receive a one-on-one audition with DAVID E. TALBERT for the chance to be cast in his next production. To register, go to www.DavidETalbert.com today! Spread the word!

GET SOCIAL: @DavidETalbert #NextGreatTalent

KATIE GARIBALDI NEW RELEASE FOLLOW YOUR HEART

 

We really loved Katie's  Next Ride Out album and we can't wait to hear this very talented singer songwriter's next lp....

Happy to announce the release of Katie Garibaldi's seventh full-length album FOLLOW YOUR HEART). Katie sings with an emotional resonance that, combined with her catchy melodic songs and her soulfully expressive vocals, captures her audience wherever she performs.

While she’s been compared to household names such as Sheryl Crow, Jewel, and Taylor Swift, Katie has a charismatic musical style all her own wherein her equally pop- and country-tinged folk-rock gives her a distinct and edgy sound—Americana with sparkling and memorable melodies.
 

This new album, Follow Your Heart, was recorded at John Vanderslice’s Tiny Telephone Recording Studios in San Francisco, CA, and engineered by Ian Pellicci. The band includes Katie Garibaldi on vocals and acoustic guitar (as well as writer and producer of the entire album), Memphis-based Kevin Blair on electric and upright acoustic bass, and Bay Area local Todd Richardson on drums and percussion. Magik*Magik Orchestra also makes an appearance on the album, which features Michelle Kwon (The Delphi Trio) on cello and Philip Brezina (Brothers Comatose) on violin.

Katie was fortunate to have the opportunity to co-write and arrange the string sections with Magik*Magik Orchestra artistic director, Minna Choi. Other notable players include Max Butler (pedal steel, mandolin, and ukulele), Sylvain Carton (flute, clarinets, and saxophones), Henry Hung (trumpet, trombone), Matt Blackett (electric guitar), and Shawn Shaffer (harmonica). Follow Your Heart contains 13 new tracks, which include her most personal recorded songs to date, all of which hearken back to her simple yet powerful message about the importance of having the conviction to follow your heart.

Follow Your Heart is Katie’s first full-length release of all new compositions since her award winning Next Ride Out album in 2009. In that time, the Americana songstress has toured the country and accomplished many exciting achievements, including being named a Music Connection Magazine Top 100 Live Unsigned Artist and being featured on the cover of The Indie Bible four different times.

Most notably, Katie received the Songwriter of the Year award in 2012 from Songsalive!, the largest international non-profit membership organization and social community for songwriters and composers.

Follow Your Heart will be released worldwide in stores and online July 15th, 2014. Katie will headline a CD Release party on July 12th at Neck Of The Woods, located at 406 Clement Street in San Francisco, with special guests Mike Annuzzi and The Devil’s Chord opening.

Katie then heads to Nashville for several shows, including a performance at her sponsor’s store, Two Old Hippies, and at the summer 2014 NAMM event. Late summer and fall tour dates will also be announced on her website in the next few weeks.

Follow Your Heart will be released Direct-to-Fans via Katie’s website on Tuesday July 1st, 2014, and Digitally and Physically worldwide on July 15th, 2014.

Visit Katie’s Website or Social Media pages for more information about the album and future tour dates. www.katiegaribaldi.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEITH WASHINGTON!

It was so exciting to meet Keith at the My Brother Marvin Rehearsal this past February...Lovely man..

Happy Birthday to Keith Washington (born November 15, 1960)...R&B vocalist from Detroit, Michigan who scored a hit single in the United States in 1991 with "Kissing You," which was also used as background music for a General Hospital on ABC. "Kissing You" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance Male. Keith also won a 1992 Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single - Male for the song "Kissing You".