Christmas in July

Santa's Got a Brand New Bag Tom Ciurczak  male vocals, similar timbre as Bruce Springsteen, rock band with horns. This song is about Santa getting a new bag. The first few notes sound like James Brown's "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," but the song swings into theatrical rock. It mentions the children all over the world, way up in the sky.'' 

Christmastime in Hollywood Tom Ciurczak  upbeat rock with sleighbells, male vocals, looking for the soul of Christmas, thinking of "It's a Wonderful Life." trying to imagine life with snow in Hollywood, "None of this is real in tinsel town." "I just want my Christmas to be with you" jingle bells interludes. 

A Million Matzoh Balls Dean Friedman acoustic guitar with male singer and children, humorous folk-show tune, tall story about his mama making a million matzoh balls, and everywhere they were at his home! "There were so many matzoh balls I didn't know what to do!"

A Million Matzoh Balls | Dean Friedman

 Ave Maria (Instrumental)  Stephen Melillo instrumental, slow, strings of classical piece, “Ave Maria.” 

Glogg Emily Hurd  Clever lyrics like “Let’s go shovel the sidewalk in a relative sense.” There is an underpinning lyric “Because there’s wine” throughout the song. bells and electric guitar.    

 I Ruined Christmas  Refestramus  Contemporary art-rock band, female fronted-vocals like Miley Cyrus, bells, "I ruined Christmas this year...It's like I told you before, it won't happen again, my dear."  This is a list of things she's done to reindeer, family members, and the eggnog! 

Never Take Love For Granted Dan Berggren Shopping in the malls for Christmas. “You’ll never take love for granted if you always give love in return.”  Male bass/baritone and acoustic guitar.  Folk styled. 

 

Valentines & Love songs

You Hold My Soul Nicole Bacher  piano with female vocal and guitar solo, a classic pop ballad exploring themes of gratitude and dedication towards her partner for their journey together ... "You made me whole, let me be bold, you hold my soul”  

We Talk Without Words Christian Hoff Melissa Hoff (performers): writers: Eileen Bluestone Sherman & Gail C. Bluestone  show tune-jazz, piano building to horn band male, female duet, slow with mid to uptempo build and instrumental break. lyrics on movement, This song offers a loving description of “dancing together.” plie’, we leap from the ground to soar through the air. their movements keep them together.  

When Dreams Come True The Kings  male vocals, acoustic guitar building to full band, ballad, dreamy, wedding song, the power of new beginnings, "it's so easy loving you" Mixed by Terry Brown of Rush, Blue Rodeo fame, 

Silent Conversations  Emily Hurd   Kacey Musgraves-like purity, comforting, intimate one-on-one, gentle flow piano, soprano, organic vocal lilt silent conversation, you tell me a lot, fingertips, if ever your heart is broken.   

Carry Across Jessie Galante female vocals, Anthemic, upbeat gospel-y, "Honey, you carried a cross... I'll carry you across" soulful song about compassion and strength, any sex can sing.  https://soundcloud.com/leightonmedia/carry-across?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

You Got Me Karen Besbeck  slow electronic female singer passion, the song has possession as subtext.“You got me right where you want me, the rain of love falls down to see.  You got me right where you want me—there’s one place I’d rather be. https://soundcloud.com/karen-besbeck/you-got-me?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Yulia Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius (Instrumental)   instrumental slow to mid tempo then slow acoustic violin with a band.  Gypsy jazz fusion, like John Coltrane meets Jean Luc Ponty. “Pat Metheny on violin.” goes from moody to orgasmic and major colors.  

Love and Valentines Songs

  

LAST CUTE MINUTE  by Robin Lane  country female electric "Maybelline"-styled guitar. A fun song about coming in touch with her own "fading beauty"--looking for a man with nothing wrong with him, and then admitting that she's got wrinkles. hook "This could be my last cute minute." 

ALL THAT RAZZ by Robeone - flutters, has a smooth jazz chime…. And synthesizer flow that sometimes feel like wailing vocals, Gershwin and Dave Brubeck meets Space influences.

Emily Hurd's "Kiss Me Outta My Right Mind" is a finalist and honorable mention winner in the USA Songwriting Competition.  This old-school country song is about believing love will make it right, while she's trying so hard to do the right things and watching it all fall apart.  

 

Yulia Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius (Instrumental)  Gypsy jazz fusion, like John Coltrane meets Jean Luc Ponty. “Pat Metheny on violin.” goes from moody to orgasmic and major colors.  

Love Killer Jaclyn Bradley  lush, slow tempo, dream pop female vocals, theme of fear as a love killer, let it all hang out, I'm here for the dream of love.   

   There She Is by Firefall:  Commercial pop yacht rock song that elevates an energetic and beautiful woman. "She keeps me inspired. She's taken my breath away. She's got me on fire, and I'm on my best behavior every night and day." 

 

Love & Valentines (plus one fun Birthday song)

I Know So The Kings   Upbeat with influence of 1960s power pop, rock & roll beat with horns and rock and roll guitar, Hammond b3. Male vocals. Tempo like J. Geils "I Do" and Syndicate of Sound “Little Girl” "She wants me, I want you.  I know so!"   

According to the Plan Dan Berggren  mid to up tempo folk music, baritone male, acoustic guitar w/ picking, you can't plan love, for better or for worse.  according to the plan, keep your eyes wide open, lifelong love with ups and downs.  

Beautiful Dream  Jann Klose  Midtempo, orchestral pop, male vocals, violin solo hook: I don't want to wake up this beautiful dream. feeling predestined for true love & how good it feels.  (Contact: Royalty Network) 

Long Lost Ghosts Emily Hurd  Similar to Dolly Parton, literate writer, piano, full band, Traveling song, linen sheets, ghosts, “I have come for you because.”  Her repeating herself about various things in her experiences intensify the stories actions.  For instance—she sings "I gave you a kiss that I hoped would save your life, and it did."  OR “I thought you were all there was… and you were.”  They also move the story along.  

 

FI  The Slambovian Circus of Dreams  male vocal band, horns, Tom Petty meets John Denver meets Oasis! Cosmic love song with tempo like "Sunshine on My Shoulders." If I were any more high.  “FI” is pronounced “If I.” 

 slambovia.bandcamp.com/track/fi

You Are the Best Gunhill Road mid to uptempo, male vocals chamber pop band piano and Nilsson-like tempo of "everybody's talking" a song praising you "you are the best" & "I'm in love" both repeated. 

   Halos Robert Schindler  Instrumental   acoustic piano solo, flowy, midtempo  some gorgeous synths for background,rich, epic.   

Carry Across Jessie Galante  female vocals, Anthemic, upbeat gospel-y, "Honey, you carried a cross... I'll carry you across" soulful song about compassion and strength, any sex can sing 

soundcloud.com/leightonmedia/carry-across  

Just Another Birthday Song Dean Friedman music hall pop, tenor, fun jabs at the birthday boy during isolation, "give thanks that your dad wasn't shooting blanks." "thank your mom for pushing you out."   

 

  

Holiday 2021 Songs

A Christmas Song  Jack & Lara Hicks  father & daughter singalong,  some annoying things that grown men do like snore and sing off key with a sense of humor, laughter, bells, piano and guitar   

Christmas Time Jon Mullane Upbeat! Baritone version of Adam Levine, song in the same tempo as USA for Africa’s “Do They Know it’s Christmastime” About the joys of Christmas, and getting ready for it.  

Glory to the Newborn King  Erin Hannon / Stephen Melillo classical music with a full lyric soprano that rolls her rrrrs, and "Sleep In Heavenly Peace"  

 

New Star Shining  Orleans classic male group harmonies, alternative lead singers, acoustic guitars, about a baby being born in the winter, and the child they were anticipating, homeless family, finding a new star in the sky that's shining for us still. 

 

Reiner the Rhinestone Reindeer  Phoebe Legere  Female electronic music, campy story about Reiner the Rhinestone Reindeer, who wore a tiara and was bullied by the others.  But his bling saved Christmas!  

 

 

Take a Holiday  Emily Hurd  Intimate and lilting Allison Krauss voice, piano, waltz tempo, all the different images and upbeat attitudes about the holiday. Hymnals & Candlestick, condos & tenements  Let's take a holiday and give it a name. thoughtful transition. 

Warm, Lovin’ Christmastime  Rob Bonfiglio  Bouncy, Brian Wilson-y, from one of Brian AND Carnie Wilson’s long-time musical partners.  In fact, Carnie and Rob have recorded this song, and so have Wilson Phillips! All the imagery of mistletoe and writing our names in the snow!             

 

 

Dedicated to Greta Thunberg & Pete Seeger

Songs of The Environment, Leadership, the Pandemic

Wake Up   Orleans Adult Album Alternative, trumpet, group harmony, wake up, people, “wake up!” environment, pollution, “stop throwing plastic in the sea/can’t you let the fishies be!” ecology, snow, lightning, birds in flight, seasons, signs of life, “the day’s gonna come” air pollution, water pollution, #MusiciansUnitedForSafeEnergy,  

 This Darkness  Rachael Sage female singer with CSNY protest guitar sound, environment, the song is about the Dakota Pipeline, keywords:  see myself, grieve myself, somebody's fool, hate, “I don’t know why you’re full of hate.”   

 

Beez (I Know Where The Beez Have Gone Slambovian Circus of Dreams Rock, slow tempo, environment, Americana, vocals like Tom Petty, “Stopped controlling the world,” lyrics offer ideas on how to increase the bees to visit plantlife. “the bees are in my yard, I know where the Beez Have Gone,” “Reteaching me the facts of life” “creatures great and small”    

Freedom Hymn CC Clevenger patriotic southern rock starting with a drum roll & Charlie Daniels/ Molly Hatchet style guitars & voice, respect for our military, hook is "thank you Air Force & Marines, Coast Guard, Army and Navy to the men and women." recites Pledge of Allegiance.

Backbone Emily Hurd  country, female lead vocals, like Alison Krauss, rising above obstacles, against the people that got in the way of her success or love, it breaks her heart but you played your part building my backbone. 

One Good Man   Cornelius Eady male vocals percussion, John Henry's hammer, one good man shook people up against the odds, mock the devil straight to his face, Resist 

Divided We Fall Bill Leverty  hard rock/classic rock, male vocals, bass, lead   guitar, dangerous song, standing up to a troublemaker who can anything than anyone else.  "You're a natural--natural disaster."  

A Void  Andrew Alling acoustic/singer-songwriter Neil Young style with guitar and harmonica male vocals  A Void in relationships, why are we against the world? DirtyWords, time to heal, rock & ground shaking poetics. 

Holiday Songs for 2021

 

PIRATE XMAS Slambovian Circus of Dreams  male vocalist, pirate march, Christmas song magic comparisons feels like a song Mr. Hook would sing! "childhood dreams at the realm" "Ring the Bells and Break the Spells that traps us in reality"

IF I WAS A DREIDEL by Dean Friedman   singalong with lyrics:  “If I was a Dreidel, gee, how I would spin…… I might be made of plastic, or wood or clay or tin…… And you could pick my letters, Nun, Gimmel, Hay or Shin…… And if your letter landed, the Chanukah Gelt you’d win, Oh….” https://soundcloud.com/deanfriedman/if-i-was-a-dreidel

CHILDREN BELIEVE Emily Hurd female vocals, jazzy-pop, keyboards, “children believe” is the hook.  the singer finds the comparison between children and grownups that connect w/ them. "we need the magic too"

CHRISTMAS TIME Jon Mullane Upbeat! Baritone version of Adam Levine, song in the same tempo as USA for Africa’s “Do They Know it’s Christmastime” About the joys of Christmas, and getting ready for it.  

CHRISTMAS LULLABY Leo Schaff  Haunted or gothic or mystical song. No two snowflakes are the same. Mystical melody. Orchestrated    For covers only Christmas traditions, gentle magic. Pagan stylings.  Fill our hearts, fill our dreams, fill us with love and peace.”

CHRISTMAS IS COMING Leo Schaff  Beach Boys meets Shins. Male vocals. His true love ran around the world, and said she’d make it home for the holidays.  A year has gone by, and he’s singing, “Christmas is coming, New Years is coming,” sand “Will you make it home for the holidays?” https://soundcloud.com/leightonmedia/christmas-is-coming-by-leo-schaff

Fall for the Holidays

SUDDENLY IT’S CHRISTMAS Slambovian Circus of Dreams  Joziah Longo's voice feels like Tom Petty meets Neil Diamond.  Majestic comforting light sleighbells, band, “Nat King Cole,” “Suddenly it's Christmas Have we lost another year.” Lightly lifts lyrics of “O’ Come All Ye Faithful” “O’ Holy.”

 

 TAKE A HOLIDAY  Emily Hurd  Intimate and lilting Allison Krauss voice, piano, waltz tempo, all the different images and upbeat attitudes about the holiday. Hymnals & Candlestick, condos & tenements  Let's take a holiday and give it a name. thoughtful transition

WONDERS Emily Hurd Wonders never cease, the glories and beauty of Christmas wrapped up with Chicago soul--horns and hammond B3  Christmas eve is the setting. Christmas bells understated.  Little children fast asleep  Balsam Tree. Tempo like James & Bobby Purify’s “I’m Your Puppet.”

 

THIS CHRISTMAS The Kings Harmonic pop rock. Elvis Costello, Smithereens-y, celestial chimes.  the theme of the song is wishing for love for your family who is so far away and for strangers that are alone. Canadian Content. 

AVE MARIA by Aeone classical, gentle and slow

 

CHRISTMAS TIME Jon Mullane Upbeat! About the joys of Christmas, and getting ready for it 

and happy new year from Tony Moore.  

Auld Lane Syne is sung by a tender tenor with

 the theme, "We'll take a cup of kindness."

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vgmh1TkNO6k

 

Songs We All Can (or Should) Understand

I gave myself the nickname "Phoenix," after a comforting industry man from Phoenix talked with me late night on the phone. He helped me instill the me in my dreams.  

With that, here are Themes of Empowerment--the Phoenix Rising From the Ashes, and that we can comfort one another.

BACKBONE Emily Hurd 

Turning one's weakness into a strength as she recovers from an abusive situation. Americana similar to Alison Krauss' music.

WEEPING WILLOW Rebecca Loebe
Waltz tempo with acoustic guitar and other gentle instruments supporting comforting voice supporting a friend suffering from abuse by her man.

WORRIED MAN BLUES Elliott Murphy

It takes a worried man to sing a worried blues. Sounds like Tom Waits, Sylvester the Cat, and a howling dog.

CHECKING OUT  by Allan Holdsworth Scatty vocal jazz with guitar, bass, drums.  

The collapse one feels from wearing his heart on his sleeve. Relaxed and loose vocals from a British tenor named Paul Williams who sounds like Jack Bruce.1982 release from Allan’s 5-star I.O.U. album.

BORN BEAUTIFUL Jon Mullane  Upbeat pop song like something by Maroon 5, with an important message for anyone with low esteem. The song is partnered with a variety of Mental Health associations, and has won a number of video awards including the Music California Video Awards and International Music and Entertainment Award (IMEA). 

Listen to our playlist: spotify:user:leightonmedia:playlist:2hAbN2ecZ6Jtq9uCfc4rND

2018: Flourishing Advertising Playlist

We work in the spring, and hope the season’s rebirth and optimistic attitude can saturate the world.

I have New York City shows from Hank Wedel, whose song LISTEN was covered by the great Irish folk singer, Christy Moore.

Friday, March 30: Saints & Sinners, 59-21 Roosevelt Ave., Queen

Sunday, April 1, 9 PM: Tom Clark's Treehouse at 2A, 25 Ave A (Upstairs), NYC 

Monday, April 2, 11 PM: Rockwood, 196 Allen, NYC

Sunday, April  8, 9 PM: Tom Clark's Treehouse at 2A, 25 Ave A (Upstairs), NYC 

Wednesday April 4:  The Harefiled, 769 Metropolitan Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn 

One of Hank’s recent songs is “Living in the Land of Love.”

https://hankwedel.bandcamp.com, 

My West Coast friends are invited to a Tribute to Allan Holdsworth at the Alvas Showroom in San Pedro, CA, Saturday, April 14 at 5 PM. That was Allan’s hometown venue. 

Vintage Guitar Readers chose Allan as 2017’s Featured Artist AND Jazz Player.  Scroll down at this link for a stupendous and sweet write-up for Allan’s contribution to music and also to see a gorgeous illustration by Sean Thorenson/VG Archive. http://www.vintageguitar.com/28719/2017-readers-choice-awards/.

Listen to 2018’s advertising reel either on SPOTIFY at spotify:user:leightonmedia:playlist:6Fm9lYqYlUEFjBZwYFrQsC.

 or SOUNDCLOUD at https://soundcloud.com/leightonmedia/sets/songs-for-advertising.

It's been an amazing few years working with Phoebe Legere. I came in as she was working on Americana music, which she'll be playing festivals for this year. We're on the road to confirming Maine and Ithaca. Recently I got to see her create a project from beginning to premiering in front of an audience. Her play SPEED QUEEN just finished at Dixon Place, and will be at more venues. TBA: Florida and more New York City.

AMAZING LOVE Phoebe LegereCaribbean influence. Reggae. She plays accordion on this. The song is about #Love finding her when it was most needed.

BORN BEAUTIFUL Jon Mullane 

Upbeat pop song like Maroon 5, with an important message for anyone with low esteem. What’s inside a person is more important and meaningful than outward appearances.  Recently the “Born Beautiful” video won it's fourth award from the Music California Video Awards.

FAVORITE FEELING John Brodeur

Alt pop, joyful song “I’ll stick around, this is my favorite feeling, floating in your arms” with reverb. A pop-punk version of “I’ll Melt With you.” A little “happier together”-ish interlude.

CLIMB THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN Gary Lucas

GLOGG Emily Hurd 

Classic Christmas pop music, clever lyrics like “Let’s go shovel the sidewalk in a relative sense.” There is an underpinning lyric “Because there’s wine” throughout the song. bells and electric guitar.

Listen to our Seasonal songs at: https://soundcloud.com/leightonmedia/sets/christmas-songs

Two Songs with Traditional roots:

WORRIED MAN BLUES Elliott Murphy

It takes a worried man to sing a worried blues. Sounds like Tom Waits, Sylvester the Cat, and a howling dog.

FROM EVERY MOUNTAINSIDE Dan Berggren

Same melody as “My Country ’Tis of Thee.”  This version is about fighting for liberty to keep us strong. The song takes a political stand for democracy and freedom. flute, guitar, male and alto female folk voice.

Our 2018 Flourishing Advertising Playlist

50 Concerts In 50 States For Epilepsy Awareness

Three of my artists: Emily Hurd on March 27, Uncommon Ground, Chicago
and
Jann Klose (w/ Gary Hoey and Jeffrey Gaines) on March 23, Trinity UMC, Ewing, NJ
Rita Coolidge and the Dayton Philharmonic at the Shuster Center, March 22 and 23
will be performing in support of Epilepsy Awareness.

Contact: Eric Miller: 267-980-5120
contact@candlelightconcert.org

www.CandlelightConcert.org/50.asp
www.Facebook.com/CandlelightConcert



Partnering with the largest non-profits in the world of epilepsy, Candlelight Concerts for Epilepsy Awareness is proud to announce the first nation-wide epilepsy awareness endeavor – 50 Concerts in 50 States. It’s a network of coordinated live events over one weekend in March 2013.
Candlelight Concerts, along with Epilepsy Foundation (www.EFA.org ), CURE: Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (www.CureEpilepsy.org ), Team Epilepsy ((www.TeamEpilepsy.com ) and Doose Syndrome Epilepsy Alliance (www.DooseSyndrome.org ), are standing united to raise epilepsy awareness on this single weekend in March.
At each event, volunteers will be present to distribute information regarding epilepsy (a 16 page book prepared specifically for these events), provide access to services, answer questions and raise donations – all of which will go directly to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Events will vary in size from intimate house concerts with 20-40 attendees to 18,000+ seat arena shows with nationally known touring artists. Artists from all genres – classic rock, folk, jazz, singer/songwriters, orchestras, electronic, comedians, plays and more. All with the same objective, to distribute information and raise epilepsy awareness. All genres, all volunteers involved with the singular purpose to change the way the world sees and understands epilepsy.
This national network of events grows out of Candlelight Concerts for Epilepsy Awareness – a webcast house concert series based in Pennington NJ. Started and run by Eric Miller, whose wife Carolina, passed away in August 2011 at the age of 25 as a result of epilepsy. Since that time, Eric has worked tirelessly to raise epilepsy awareness in her honor and in honor of all those living with or lost to epilepsy. The series has featured such amazing artists as Corey Glover of Living Colour, Eric Bazilian, Chris Barron, The Young Dubliners, Dan Reed, Mary Fahl, and many others. This network of events takes that model and raises it to a national level on a single weekend.
MORE STATES AND DATES WILL BE ADDED.
Please visit www.CandlelightConcert.org/50.asp for updates.

3/22/13 Hering Auditorium Fairbanks AK Beau Soleil
3/22/13 Sundilla Auburn AL Caroline Herring
3/23/13 Moonlight On The Mountain Birmingham AL Kelley McRae
3/24/13 Powerhouse Grill Fayatteville AR Various
3/23/13 Scottsdale Ctr Performing Arts Scottsdale AZ Jesse Cook
3/23/13 Boulder Philharmonic Boulder CO Boulder Philharmonic
3/22/13 Boulder Theatre Boulder CO Great Big Sea
3/23/23 Boulder Theatre Boulder CO Great Big Sea
3/23/13 Ridgefield Playhouse Ridgefield CT David Bromberg Quartet
3/23/13 Vitoria Station Café Putnam CT Sam Miller Memorial
3/24/13 Howard Theatre Washington DC Afro-Cuban All Stars
3/22/13 Grand Opera House Wilmington DE Afro-Cuban All Stars
3/22/13 World Café - The Queen Wilmington DE Sons of Cream
3/22/13 Ruth Eckerd Hall Clearwater FL Supertramp's Roger Hodgson with Orchestra
3/15/13 Stella Blue Maui HI Hapa
3/16/13 Stella Blue Maui HI Hapa
3/21/13 Woolys Des Moines IA Soul Asylum
3/27/13 The Knitting Factory Boise ID Donavon Frankenreiter
3/23/13 Egyptian Theatre Boise ID Anjelah Johnson
3/27/13 Uncommon Ground Chicago IL Emily Hurd
3/22/13 City Winery Chicago IL Catie Curtis & David Wilcox
3/25/13 The Granada Lawrence KS Lindsey Stirling
3/23/13 Valley Grace Pikeville KY Eternity Singers
3/23/13 New Orleans Arena New Orleans LA Eric Clapton
3/24/13 Knights of Columbus Whitman MA Various
3/23/13 Baltimore Soundstage Baltimore MD Y&T
3/24/13 The Fillmore Silver Spring MD Garbage
3/22/13 Stone Mountain Arts Center Brownfield ME Shemekia Copeland
3/23/13 Stone Mountain Arts Center Brownfield ME Paula Poundstone
3/23/13 The Ark Ann Arbor MI Steel Wheels
3/22/13 First Avenue Minneapolis MN G Love & Special Sauce
3/26/13 Hopkins Center for The Arts Hopkins MN The Pines
3/23/13 The Pageant St Louis MO Owl City
3/21/13 Underground 119 Jackson MS Kelley McRae
3/24/13 Dennison Theatre Missoula MT Brian Regan
3/23/13 Justice Fellowship Raleigh NC Play - Dannee White
3/23/13 Lincoln Theatre Raleigh NC Minus The Bear/Circa Survive
3/23/13 Party & Event Center Saluda NC Sound Investment
3/17/13 Colonial Theatre Keene NH Jerrod Niemann
3/24/13 Algonquin Arts Manasquan NJ NYGASP
3/24/13 The Stone Pony Asbury Park NJ Paint the Pony
3/23/13 Papermill (childrens) Millburn NJ Chldrens Play
3/23/13 Trinity UMC Ewing NJ Jeffrey Gaines, Jann Klose & Gary Hoey
3/22/13 Shea Center / Willian Paterson University Wayne NJ David Bromberg Quartet
3/24/13 Candlelight Concert Pennington NJ Gary Hoey
3/22/13 KiMo Theatre Albuquerque NM Jesse Cook
3/22/13 The Paramount Huntington NY They Might Be Giants
3/22/13 Stage 48 New York NY Y&T
3/22/13 Jazz at Lincoln Center - early and late show New York NY Madeleine Peyroux
3/23/13 Jazz at Lincoln Center - early and late show New York NY Madeleine Peyroux
3/24/13 Wheatfield Community Center Lake Towananda NY Zach Carr & Chris Glowacki
3/22/13 Ohio University Memorial Auditorium Athens OH Colbie Caillat
3/22/13 The Schuster Center Dayton OH Rita Coolidge with Dayton Philharmonic
3/23/13 The Schuster Center Dayton OH Rita Coolidge with Dayton Philharmonic
3/20/13 Chesapeake Enery Arena Oklahoma City OK Eric Clapton
3/23/13 Freehold Center Bristow OK Emily Drennan
3/23/13 St Claire Ashland OR Karen Drucker
3/22/13 Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland OR Brian Regan
3/24/13 The Fuge Warminster PA Various
3/22/13 The Ritz Lancaster PA Jeffrey Gaines
3/24/13 Colonial Theater Phoenixville PA David Bromberg Quartet
3/30/13 Carnegie Hall of Oakland Pittsburgh PA Grizzly Bear
3/23/13 Electric Factory Philadelphia PA Garbage
3/23/13 Keswick Theatre Glenside PA The Fab Faux
3/23/13 Sellersville Theater Sellersville PA Rockapella
3/24/13 Rock Junction West Greenwich RI Y&T
3/22/13 The Vault Sioux Falls SD Soul Asylum
3/22/13 Bridgestone Arena Nashville TN Eric Clapton
4/3/13 Private House Concert - Kelly Crofoot Slaton TX Terri Hendrix
3/20/13 St Marks Episcopal Houston TX Terri Hendrix
3/17/13 Warehouse Live Houston TX Tegan & Sara
3/24/13 The Depot Salt Lake City UT Donavon Frankenreiter
3/24/13 Stone Room House Concert Falls Church VA Danny Schmidt
3/22/13 The Lyric Blacksburg VA Loudon Wainwright III
3/22/13 Ferguson Center for The Arts Newport News VA Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
3/23/13 Chrysler Hall Norfolk VA Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
3/26/13 Higher Ground Burlington VT Todd Snider
4/2/13 Triple Door Seattle WA Chris Trapper
3/23/13 Paramount Theatre Seattle WA Brian Regan
3/21/13 Turner Hall Ballroom Milwaukee WI G Love & Special Sauce
3/23/13 Purple Fiddle Thomas WV Sarah Lou Richards
3/24/13 Purple Fiddle Thomas WV Sarah Lou Richards
3/25/13 Jackson Hole Center for Arts Jackson Hole WY Donavon Frankenreiter

Emily Hurd Introduces Stone Blind Valentine, February 14

Emily Hurd introduces her new band, Stone Blind Valentine (also known as SBV), with the independent release of the album BURN LIKE A FIELD.  The album will be available through iTunes, the band’s website (http://www.stoneblindvalentine.com ), and live shows.

SBV is the acoustic project of longtime Chicago musicians Emily Hurd, Colby Maddox, and Gregg Ostrom.  Gritty lyrics and unruly guitar get a layer of polish from bright mandolin and sharp fiddle licks. The group treads on bluegrass while digging into rock and early American country. BURN LIKE A FIELD was recorded live at Chicago's King Size Sound Labs.

Like all good mountain music, SBV builds their tunes with strong singing, nature imagery, and a lot of twang, but their Chicago roots are unmistakable in BURN LIKE A FIELD.   The bluesy guitar and industrial groove in "Extra Extra" thump defiantly as Hurd belts out "Honey, I can read you like the Sunday Morning Times; I can see you're lying by the headlines in your eyes."  The group sings in three-part harmony about simple city days in "Crown The Kings," and "Whiskey Neat" sounds like late-night Bourbon Street in the July.  

The songs on BURN LIKE A FIELD were penned by Emily, the lead vocalist, piano and banjo player.  A critically acclaimed songwriter, her music has appeared on NPR and TV’s NCIS.  The tunes were then brought to life by Gregg Ostrom (guitar, vocals) and Colby Maddox (mandolin, fiddle, guitar, and vocals).  SBV called on close friend and producer John Abbey to play upright bass on the album.

The BURN LIKE A FIELD recording sessions were filmed and photographed by the crew of Carla Englof Productions.  When the album is released, the video "Extra Extra" can be seen on Youtube and the band's web site: http://stoneblindvalentine.com

The BURN LIKE A FIELD album cover was designed by Chicago artist Dolan Geiman.  Dolan is a nationally recognized mixed media artist creating original paintings, collages, constructions, and limited-edition reproductions. Produced from salvaged wood, found objects, and other recycled materials, his eco-friendly artwork emerges from a folk art tradition infused with a contemporary, urban style.

BURN LIKE A FIELD will be released to the public at two shows.  On February 16th, 2013, SBV will play at 7:30 pm at The Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center in Rockford, IL.  On February 17th, SBV performs at 2:00 pm at S.P.A.C.E. in Evanston, IL.  Tickets are available on the band’s website.

http://www.stoneblindvalentine.com

Emily Hurd Releases ANY GIVEN DAY Original Christmas Music For Year 'Round Listening

http://www.emilyhurd.com

Singer-songwriter available for interviews

Emily Hurd releases a full-length live studio album of original Christmas music on December 7th, 2012. The cost of the album is $10 and is available through the artist’s website (emilyhurd.com) and cdbaby.com.

Unlike other Christmas records, listeners can enjoy ANY GIVEN DAY beyond the holiday season. Emily Hurd’s sultry vocals deliver messages of spontaneous celebration, humble gifts, and fundamental good will on a backdrop of vintage soul arrangements.  Hurd gives a voice to her desire for human empathy in songs like “Chain of Light” and “In The Spirit of Giving,” and she creates clever rhymes of winter love in “Cold Outside” and “Glögg.” This collection of music has a clear message: any common day is worth reveling in like Christmas.

Emily Hurd wrote the songs from ANY GIVEN DAY—her ninth studio album—in the month of October, 2012. The tunes were recorded live on the evening of November 13th, 2012 at Chicago’s Kingsize Sound Labs. The record was mixed and mastered in one afternoon, and sent to be manufactured the same day. This whirlwind process was captured on film by Chicago videographer Mark Helenowski. Emily will be releasing music videos to her fans throughout the month of December.

ANY GIVEN DAY was engineered and produced by Emily’s long-time producer, John Abbey. The album includes a line-up of well-established Chicago musicians: Gerald Dowd (Justin Roberts, Sons of The Never Wrong), Gregg Ostrom (Tom Comerford, Covered In Honey), and John Abbey (Robbie Fulks, Amy Speace).

Over the course of her career, Emily has shared the stage and/or opened for Irma Thomas, Bettye Lavette, and Roger McGuinn. Her music is featured on the popular CBS crime drama NCIS.  She appears on the prestigious Old Town School of Folk Music "Songbook" collection (released by Bloodshot Records).  She is a winner/finalist in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, NPR's NewSong Contest, and The International Songwriting Competition. “Irreparably Yours” from Long Lost Ghosts was a Semi-Finalist in 2011’s Great Lakes Songwriting Contest. In 2013, Emily and her country band Stone Blind Valentine—will be releasing their first album, ‘Burn Like A Field,’ on Valentine’s Day.  Emily has released 10 albums since 2005.

Touring across the heartland, the wild west, and east coast parts of America, Emily has been meeting new fans at every show she plays, from coffeehouses and schools, to TV and radio shows and festivals,including events that fans have organized, most notably an annual “Emilyfest” in rural North Carolina (the next one is scheduled for October 14, 2013).

Emily Hurd's two area shows: CD release on Jan. 20, at SPACE w/ Raul Midon on Jan. 27

Chicago-based Emily Hurd will be performing and throwing a CD Release Show for her album, LONG LOST GHOSTS at Strobe Studios, 2631 W. Division Street, in Chicago, on January 20th at 8:00 pm. This show will be video taped and recorded. Admission is $10. Seating is limited, and people must RSVP to attend via e-mail at contact@emilyhurd.com. You can also call 773.486.1459 for more information. The web site is http://stroberecording.com/.

On January 27, Emily opens for Raul Midon, at Evanston Space, 1245 Chicago Ave., in Evanston, IL. Showtime is 8 PM, and the venue phone is 847-492-8860. The web site is http://evanstonspace.com/

LONG LOST GHOSTS is Emily's latest album, featuring her signature voice and folk-pop songs that tell stories of old-fashioned love and its bittersweet triumph. Highlights include the irresistible blues-tinged hit, "Irreparably Yours" and the palpable nostalgia of the cross-country driving tune "Long Lost Ghosts." Emily's fervent crooning uplifts in "My Favorite Part," "Silent Conversations," and "I Won't Tell a Soul." Emily's music echoes the uptempo balladry and intelligent anthems often linked to kindred troubadours Lyle Lovett and Steve Earle.”

Emily wrote LONG LOST GHOST's songs on her ukulele and recorded them on the vintage grand piano at Chicago's King Size Sound Labs. The record features an all-star line-up of Chicago musicians: John Abbey (Robbie Fulks, Amy Speace), Darren Garvey (Cameron McGill and What Army, Miles Nielsen), Sue Demel (Sons of the Never Wrong, Come Sunday), and Maria McCullough (SleepyLou, Jonas Friddle).

Over the course of her eight full-length studio albums, Emily has shared the stage and/or opened for Irma Thomas, Bettye Lavette, Roger McGuinn, and Ozomatli. Her music is featured on the popular CBS crime drama NCIS. She appears on the prestigious Old Town School of Folk Music "Songbook" collection (released by Bloodshot Records). She is a winner/finalist in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, NPR's NewSong Contest, and The International Songwriting Competition.

Touring across the heartland, the wild west, and east coast parts of America, Emily has been meeting new fans at every show she plays, from coffeehouses and schools, to TV and radio shows and festivals, including events that fans have organized, most notably an annual “Emilyfest” in rural North Carolina (the next one is scheduled for October 13, 2012).

EMILY HURD ON TOUR

JAN. 20: CD RELEASE PARTY, STROBE STUDIOS, CHICAGO, IL
JAN. 27: W/ RAUL MIDON, SPACE, EVANSVTON, IL
MARCH 7: THE ARK, ANN ARBOR, MI
MARCH 11: BUTTONWOOD TREE, MIDDLETON, CT
MARCH 12: ROCKWOOD MUSIC HALL, NEW YORK, NY
SEPT. 10: BEAN RUNNER CAFE, PEEKSKILLE, NY
SEPT. 11: THE ROSENDALE CAFE, ROSENDALE, NY
OCT. 13: EMILYFEST, ADVANCE, NC

Emily Hurd

I met Emily Hurd and Vonda Shepard through my work promoting Jann Klose all these years.  It was a co-bill at Chicago's Skokie Theater.   She seemed like a female Randy Newman, with elements of Nanci Griffith a young Olivia Newton-John, and Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore).  She loves fry boots, animals, yoga.  She's rescued dogs. Her video for the title track of her new album, LONG LOST GHOSTS. 

Emily wants to stay on the road no matter how much or little money she makes. I'm looking for shows, co-bills, openers, house concerts from the Midwest on out, on the East coast, West coast, the South.

We're having a record release party on January 14 at Strobe Studios, Chicago! Admission is $10. Seating is limited, and people must RSVP to attend via e-mail at contact@emilyhurd.com.

EMILY HURD BIO

A little over a year in the making, Long Lost Ghosts is the album Emily Hurd’s fans have been waiting for, featuring her signature voice and folk-pop songs that tell stories of old-fashioned love and its bittersweet triumph. Highlights include the irresistible blues-tinged hit, "Irreparably Yours" and the palpable nostalgia of the cross-country driving tune "Long Lost Ghosts." Emily's fervent crooning uplifts in "My Favorite Part," "Silent Conversations," and "I Won't Tell a Soul." For the first time in a long time, she trades in her regular heartbreaker imagery for a welcome dose of contentment in "Brand New," "Skipping Stones," and "Easy Call." The songsmith sings it like she feels it.

Over the course of her eight full-length studio albums, Emily's singer-songwriter stylings have effortlessly fused pure vocals and chillingly sparse music with chamber pop, indie soul, and gypsy jazz. On Long Lost Ghosts, she does what she does best: combining acoustic instruments and vivid nature metaphors—singing of winter wheat, crickets, gravel roads, and skylarks—to connect with her audience.

The lilt in her voice is as endearing as ever, and the support of her backing band enhances without distracting from the delicate and hopeful vibe that has come to define Emily Hurd’s music.

Lush vocals, vibrant acoustic production, and tones of defiant optimism run through all the songs on Long Lost Ghosts, echoing the uptempo balladry and intelligent anthems, often linked to kindred troubadours Lyle Lovett and Steve Earle. Emily wrote the songs on her ukulele and recorded them on the vintage grand piano at Chicago’s King Size Sound Labs. The record features an all-star line-up of Chicago musicians: John Abbey (Robbie Fulks, Amy Speace), Darren Garvey (Cameron McGill and What Army, Miles Nielsen), Sue Demel (Sons of the Never Wrong, Come Sunday), and Maria McCullough (Sleepy Lou, Jonas Friddle).

Emily Hurd is an inspirational national indie act, performing for growing pockets of loyal followers who revel in her ample cache of new and old original songs. She's shared the stage and/or opened for Irma Thomas, Bettye Lavette, Roger McGuinn, and Ozomatli. Her music is featured on the popular CBS crime drama NCIS. She plays live on WGN TV and radio, WXRT radio, amongst other acclaimed Chicago music institutions. She appears on the prestigious Old Town School of Folk Music "Songbook" collection (released by Bloodshot Records). She is a winner/finalist in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, NPR's NewSong Contest, and The International Songwriting Competition.

Her supporters in the Southeast run the annual “Emilyfest” in an open barn down in a holler of rural North Carolina. The big skies and high country grass at Emilyfest serve as the perfect backdrop for her fans to listen and lose themselves for a while in her inimitable lyrics. Just listen...

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