Hi Everyone,
I hope summer is going well, and you have dodged all the COVID bullets. If you live out on the West Coast with 115 degree heat and lots of wildfires, you have our sympathies. Prayers for relief!
This is my first attempt to send out this newsletter via my website. The last edition was sent out by my webmaster, and prior to that, I simply sent it via email. Recently Pam (My webmaster) trained me on how to do this. I am still fumbling a bit, but hopefully, it will become second nature to me before the start of the next millennium (LOL). As I understand it, people can now go to this site (gordonellismusic.com) to add their name to the mailing list or remove it on their own. It makes things simpler. Now, on to the news.
UPCOMING GIGS
I have been rehearsing with a small ensemble this year (Arnie Reed on Keyboards and David Johnson on lead guitar). I am still calling it the Gordon Ellis Ensemble–but it’s a slightly different incarnation from what it was before COVID shut things down. Our first two gigs are coming up in August. We will be at the new BOBBY’S IDLE HOUR on Saturday, August 14th from 3 – 4 p.m. Then, we will be at BROWN’S DINER on Wednesday, August 18th from 6:30 – 8:30. Frank Wood and Pam Atha will be joining us with backup vocals at both gigs.
Bobby’s Idle Hour is under new ownership and has moved from its old address. The new one is 9 Music Square South (AKA Grand Ave) between 16th and 17th Ave. S. Brown’s Diner, also under new ownership is still at 2102 Blair Blvd., a half-block west of 21st Ave. S. in the Hillsboro Village area. I hope you can make it out to see us.
NEW CSLN WRITERS NIGHT
A lot of people have asked, “When will the Coffeehouse be starting up again? Well, CSLN has just approved (On a trial basis) a new Writers Night. The first event is Friday, Aug. 6th . In some ways, it will be similar to the old Coffeehouse, but the emphasis will be on original material. If this goes well and is well attended, it could (And hopefully will) become a regularly occurring event.
AJ Bigler will once again be in charge of the event and will also be running sound. I will be the MC and part of the team that will guide and manage this event.
The format (Which may evolve if this becomes a regular event) will be as follows: A sign-up Open Mic (Original material) from 6:30 – 7:15. We will probably be able to accommodate 9 performers–maybe 10 (Figuring a maximum of 5 minutes/performer). We will then have a “Spotlight” act doing a 25 minute set at 7:15, and a second ” Spotlight” at 7:45. Around 8:15, we will have a Featured Performer doing 45-minute set.
The Spotlight acts for August 6th are Julie Grower and Gary Cavanaugh–two well established performers in the songwriting community. Our Featured Performer will be SEAN O’SHEA. Sean was the Music Director at CSLN for 3 years. He is a dynamic performer with some great songs, who opened for Wayne Dyer a number of years back, and is also an up-and-coming motivational speaker.
The three best ways to make this a regular monthly event are: Attendance, attendance, attendance.
That’s all for now. Be well and stay cool.
Gordon