Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in story and song at the Paramount Cafe

"The Story of St. Patrick: Celtic harp with narration and friendly conversation" by Michael Riversong at the Paramount Cafe, 1607 Capitol Ave. Cheyenne, on Saturday, March 17, 5:30-8 p.m.

This is an informal family friendly performance by Michael Riversong. Children are especially welcomed.

FMI: Michael Riversong, Biblical Bards, http://home.earthlink.net/~mriversong

Call for entries: Woody Guthrie Folk Festival Songwriting Competition

From a press release:

The Oklahoma Songwriters & Composers Association, in association with the Woody Guthrie Coalition, is proud to present the Annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival Songwriting Competition.

This international, folk-oriented songwriting contest is held in conjunction with the annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, held in Woody's hometown of Okemah, Oklahoma, each July. This year's Festival dates are July 11-15, 2012. Okemah, the county seat of Okfuskee County, is located on Interstate 40 in east-central Oklahoma, and is 70 miles equidistant from Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

Songs should represent the spirit of Woody Guthrie's music and may fall into one or more of these general areas: topical songs about current events, songs containing political or social commentary, folk ballads, songs relative to Americana and related topics, and songs for children and/or pertaining to family life. Both traditional and newer styles of folk are encouraged. Songs must be original and should be copyrighted at time of entry.

Entry deadline: March 30.

FMI: http://www.woodyguthrie.com/2012_Songwriting_Competition.htm

NPR's Health blog: Singing therapy is proving effective for stroke patients

Laurel Fontaine, 16, (left) and her twin sister Heather. When Laurel was 11 years old, she suffered a stroke that destroyed 80 percent of the left side of her brain. The singing therapy helped her regain the ability to speak. 

From "Shots," NPR's Health blog:

Debra Meyerson was hiking near Lake Tahoe 15 months ago when a stroke destroyed part of the left side of her brain, leaving her literally speechless. It happens to more than 150,000 Americans a year. 

But now Meyerson is learning to talk again through an approach that trains the undamaged right side of her brain to "speak." Specifically, it's a region that controls singing.For more than 100 years, it's been known that people who can't speak after injury to the speech centers on the left side of the brain can sing. 

In the 1970s, Boston researchers started to use a sort of "singing therapy" to help stroke survivors speak again. 

However, it never caught on much – perhaps because a lot of therapists, not to mention patients, weren't comfortable singing what they wanted to say. And back then, the science wasn't advanced enough to show the actual changes in the brain that result from the therapy. 

That's changing fast.

Saratoga Community Choir performs annual Christmas concert on Dec. 18

From Lori Van Pelt in Saratoga:

Traditional holiday favorites, tropical island rhythms and swinging rock melodies are among the musical numbers to be performed by the Saratoga Community Choir during the group’s annual Christmas concert this month.

 

The concert will be held on Sunday, Dec. 18, at 4 p.m. at the Platte Valley Community Center Theater in Saratoga.  Admission is free, but donations are welcomed.

 

Choir Director Valerie Larscheid says, “I’ve heard people say they look forward to the concert all year and it ‘makes’ their Christmas.”  As the choir hosts an “after concert reception,” she says, “It’s a wonderful time for people to socialize, too.”

 

Ten numbers, ranging from the more traditional “Silver Bells” and “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s “Messiah” to the swinging sounds of “Calypso Lullaby” and “Santa’s Rockin’ Round the Clock Tonight!,” will be performed by the “strong and mighty” 20-member group.   

 

Pianist Carol Blake accompanies the choir.  Local violinist Angela Tourney will join the musicians for a special rendition of “A Celtic Silent Night.” One unique aspect of this year’s group is the tenor section.  Three of the four tenors are women.

 

Several choir members will perform solos and duets.  Alto Erin Easter will be a soloist, Gene Smith and John Johnson will sing a duet and trombonist Robby Follum and flutist Lori Van Pelt will play a duet. 

 

Larscheid says she’s grateful and honored to be able perform in the state-of-the-art Platte Valley Community Center Theater.  “I also appreciate the members who come out to sing, and the volunteers who help to make the program possible,” she says. Donations received at the concert enable the group to purchase new music and are used also for advertising.

 

Larscheid has led the choir since 2006, with the exception of 2009, when she underwent successful surgery and treatment for breast cancer. Previous directors have included Bill Rathbun and Leslie Springsteen.  For more information about the concert, contact Larscheid at (307) 326-8603 or by email at valley_girl1781@yahoo.com.

Company of Thieves in concert at UW Aug. 22

Chicago band Company of Thieves will perform at the University of Wyoming's annual President's Barbecue Monday, Aug. 22, at 6 p.m.  Free food will be served to all in attendance starting at 5 p.m.

An indie rock band, Company of Thieves has released two albums, "Ordinary Riches" in 2009 and their newest album "Running from a Gamble" this year. "Ordinary Riches" debuted at No. 5 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart. The band won the 2007 New York Songwriters Circle contest for its song, "Oscar Wilde."

"Company of Thieves bring in triumphant, catchy music with their own energy and soul, making for a deeply energetic sound that can turn from sweet to intense on a whim," according to a review. "Using a mix of rock and pop delivered with style and soul, propelled by front woman Genevieve Schatz's powerful voice and her band's inventive guitar and drum work."

The band has toured with such groups as Annuals, OK Go and The Hold Steady, and has performed at Lollapalooza, Last Call with Carson Daly and Live from Daryl's House.

For more information and music visit www.companyofthieves.net . Monday's concert is sponsored by the Student Activities Council. Individuals needing assistance to attend the event call the Campus Activities Center at (307) 766-6340.

Photo: Singer Genevieve Schatz and other members of Company of Thieves will perform at the University of Wyoming, Monday, Aug. 22, at 6 p.m. during the President's Barbecue on Fraternity Mall. (Sean Popke Photo)

Call for entries: American Songwriter Amateur Lyric Contest

From American Songwriter magazine online:

For 27 years, the American Songwriter Amateur Lyric Contest has helped thousands of songwriters become involved in our community. Established in 1984, America Songwriter magazine sponsors six (6) contests per year that run in conjunction with each issue published. Entrants should send lyric sheet only, no cassettes or musical direction. The winning lyric, along with three (3) additional runners-up and up to ten (10) honorable mentions from each contest, will be published in the issue of American Songwriter that follows the deadline of each contest.

Honorable Mentions: Up to ten honorable mentions are recognized in each issue.

Finalists: Top four finalists have their lyrics printed in American Songwritermagazine. One of the four finalists will also be chosen for American Songwriter's one-page Q&A feature in the coinciding issue. 

First Place: First place winner receives a Martin DCX1E acoustic-electric cutaway guitar and a legendary Shure SM58 Microphone.

Grand Prize: One bi-monthly First Place winner will win a trip to Nashville for a dream co-writing session with RCA Recording Artist Chris Young, who recently scored his fourth “No. 1” hit on the U.S. Country charts with the hit single “Tomorrow.” The winner will also receive a full-band demo recording session at a leading Nashville recording studio.

Past Grand Prize Lyric Contest winners have co-written with hit songwriters such as Rodney Crowell ("Stars on the Water," Jimmy Buffett, "Please Remember Me," Tim McGraw, "Making Memories of Us," Keith Urban), Bobby Braddock ("He Stopped Loving Her Today," George Jones, "People Are Crazy," Billy Currington, "D-I-V-O-R-C-E," Tammy Wynette) and Chris Stapleton ("Your Man," Josh Turner, "Never Wanted Nothin' More," Kenny Chesney, "Swing," Trace Adkins). 

Remember, this is a LYRICS ONLY contest, so it is not necessary to have an Audio File attached to the lyric/song you would like to enter (although it is fine if you do). Both Members and non-Members of AmericanSongspace.com only need to account for the LYRIC SHEET for each song entry! 

Upcoming Lyric Contest DEADLINE: September 21, 2011 11:59 P.M. (CST) (November/December Issue).

Details at http://www.americansongspace.com/contest/nov11lyric

Singer/songwriter Roy Zimmerman performs Sept. 1 in Cheyenne

The Unitarian Universalist Church in Cheyenne hosts Roy Zimmerman on Thursday, September 1 at 7 p.m. 

Rob Drabkin performs free concert at UW July 13

Denver musician Rob Drabkin will perform a free concert from 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, at the University of Wyoming Simpson Plaza.

Drabkin was voted Colorado's Best Singer/Songwriter by Westword Magazine for 2008-2010. He gathered enough votes to earn his turn on stage at the Mile High Music Festival with artists like The Fray, Widespread Panic, Tool and Ben Harper.

"On These Heavy Feet," Drabkin's first full-length release, hit No. 10 on the CMJ chart on KOTO radio in Telluride, CO.

"I'm having a great time making music and I just want to inspire others to go after what will truly make them happy. That's why I grew my hair a bit crazy. I just wanted to let loose, get expressive, create some nice grooves and get people to move," says Drabkin.

For more information and music, go to www.robdrabkin.com on the Internet.

The concert series is sponsored by the Campus Activities Center Summer Programs. Individuals needing assistance to attend this event can contact the CAC at 766-6340.

Photo: Denver musician Rob Drabkin will perform a free concert from 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, at the University of Wyoming Simpson Plaza.

Tonic Sol-fa performs at UW on March 4

From a UW press release:


One of the nation's most popular a cappella ensembles, Tonic Sol-fa, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 4, in the University of Wyoming College of Arts and Sciences auditorium.

The first 300 full-time UW students will be admitted free, IDs must be submitted in advance at the Wyoming Union information desk or Fine Arts Center box office. Tickets cost $25 general admission and $21 for senior citizens and students not among the first 300.

Creating a sound the New York Times described as "a vocal kaleidoscope ... unique to the human voice," Tonic Sol-fa has appeared on NBC's "Today Show," on Jay Leno's "Tonight Show," on Garrison Keillor's "Prairie Home Companion," and in two national TV specials of its own. The ensemble was also the subject of a multipage spread in Newsweek.

Tonic Sol-fa now plays about 150 dates annually, and has sold more than 1 million albums.

"We're pleased to present a group that already has a large following among a cappella aficionados," says Cedric Reverand, director of UW Cultural Programs that sponsors the concert with Friday Night Fever.

Photo: Tonic Sol-fa performs Friday, March 4, at the University of Wyoming (Cultural Programs)

Miner's Delight Inn B&B hosts songwriting workshop May 20-22 with Miss "V" The Gypsy Cowbelle

Miss "V" The Gypsy Cowbelle called today to tell us about her upcoming events. One of the most intriguing is a songwriting workshop she will teach May 20-22 at the Miner's Delight Bed & Breakfast in Atlantic City. The Miner's Delight Inn B&B is owned by two fine entrepreneurs and writers, Barb and Bob Townsend, who have also helped put together a writing group in tiny Atlantic City. This workshop looks like a fine collaboration between Wyoming's most unique B&B and one of the Wyoming Arts Council's talented roster artists. Here are the details:

THE ESSENTIALS OF SONGWRITING: An Interactive Weekend Workshop with Miss "V" The Gypsy Cowbelle

Let the artist inside you emerge as you take a memorable and enriching creative journey with Miss “V” The Gypsy Cowbelle. Hailed as "the quintessential Wyoming singer/songwriter" (Virginia Moore, Wyoming PBS), “V” has designed a workshop to help students engage the creative process and develop the art of conveying ideas and emotions. The workshop is an excellent forum for beginners interested in introductory songwriting, as well as those who wish to hone lyricism and polish their current repertoire.

The weekend event will begin at 7 p.m. Friday, May 20, at Miner’s Delight Inn Bed & Breakfast in Atlantic City, Wyo., with a light-refreshment reception and private concert. On Saturday students will participate in a day-long "Essentials of Songwriting" workshop focusing on: selecting a topic; developing song structure; writing by ear; using artistic language to paint a picture, and adapting music to lyrics. Light refreshments will be available throughout the day.

Saturday evening, “V” will lead a song circle, where students will have the opportunity to perform their own songs and receive feedback from the instructor and fellow participants. A cash bar and light refreshments will be available.

The weekend concludes Sunday morning with an "Introduction to Homemade Instruments" workshop. “V” will discuss the creation of her original Plank Banjo and other assorted homespun instruments and encourage students to participate in a farewell hoedown.

“Nothing fancy but guaranteed authentic," The Gypsy Cowbelle has been recording and performing her original songs throughout the western states for more than a decade. She has been accepted onto the Wyoming Arts Council Artist Roster and was included in the Wind River Music Showcase, a concert series to be aired on Wyoming PBS in March 2011. She has performed on such stages as the 10-Year Celebration for the Wyoming Women’s Foundation, the Nowoodstock Music Festival in Ten Sleep, Wyo., Gold Rush Days in South Pass City, Wyo., and at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nev. She was a semi-finalist in a national talent contest and has produced three original CDs.

V’s engaging perspective on life and inspiration for many of her folk songs and ballads stems from two decades spent roving America and living on a remote Wyoming homestead ranch.

Original hotel in Atlantic City that's now a B&B

Registration is limited to 16 students. Workshop-only fee: $150. Workshop and lodging fee: one person: $315 in a room or $285 in a cabin. For two attendees who desire to share a room or cabin, call us for rates. The lodging fee includes breakfast on Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday's lunch and dinner are not included, but are available within walking distance. For more information, contact Barbara and Bob Townsend at 307-332-0248 or bandb@minersdelightinn.com, or “V” at 307-231-9252 or gypsycowbelle@gmail.com. Listen to The Gypsy Cowbelle at www.myspace.com/gypsycowbelle.

Photo caption: Miss “V” The Gypsy Cowbelle with her handmade plank banjo and a few of the other instruments she plays.

Richter-Uzur Duo perform Feb. 13 in Jackson

Center for the Arts Theater in Jackson presents a warm and fun Valentine's Day concert on Sunday, Feb. 13, 7 p.m. Cellist Viktor Uzur and guitarist Brad Richter are classical musicians of the highest caliber, with successful international solo careers and intensive training from two of the world’s most lauded musical institutions: The Moscow Conservatory and The Royal College of Music respectively. Their musical interests and abilities, however, run the gamut from Albeniz to Led Zeppelin.

The Richter Uzur Duo may be unique in the way they combine classical, rock and folk music and themes into truly original new compositions as well as in the way in which they collaborate. The fun and friendship Viktor and Brad share in this partnership are obvious on stage and in their music. www.RichterUzurDuo.com

Reserved seats for the concert are $20.

Supported in part by a grant from the Wyoming Arts Council, through funding from the Wyoming State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.

EDITORS NOTE: Brad Richter of Tucson served as a juror for the 2009 Wyoming Arts Council's performing arts fellowships in music performance. Welcome to Wyoming, Brad.

Detroit performance poet and 60s psychedelic music pioneer team up for Feb. 26 show in Cheyenne

Detroit author and performance poet M.L. Liebler and L.A. musician Peter Lewis (shown in photo at right) one of the founding members of Moby Grape, will perform at the Historic Atlas Theatre in downtown Cheyenne on Saturday, Feb. 26. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $5, $3 for students, military and seniors (including over-the-hill hippies).

On Sunday, Feb. 27, Peter and M.L. will conduct a free public workshop at the Laramie County Public Library from 2-4 p.m.

On Monday, Feb. 28, M.L. will serve as one of three judges for the 2011 Wyoming Poetry Out Loud competition. The competition begins at 7 p.m. at the Atlas Theatre. Peter will perform a short performance during intermission. This event is free and open to the public.

These events are all sponsored by the Wyoming Arts Council, the Poetry Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Here is some bio info on M.L. and Peter:

One of our judges for the Poetry Out Loud event will be M.L. Liebler, a mover and shaker in the Detroit poetry scene. He has written several books of poetry including the 2001 Finalist for The Paterson Poetry Prize and was winner of The 2001 Wayne State University Board of Governors’ Award. He has read and worked with Ed Sanders, Diane di Prima, Michael McClure, Allen Ginsberg, Ken Kesey, Timothy Leary & William Burroughs.

In addition, Liebler has recorded his poetry with such musical legends as Al Kooper, Country Joe McDonald, Jorma Kaukonen, Mike Watt, The Magic Poetry Band and many others. Liebler also edited the recently released anthology, Working Words: Punching the Clock and Kicking Out the Jams, (Coffee House Press).

M.L. has worked with the Wyoming Arts Council before – as one of the judges for the FY 2002 creative writing fellowships and as a presenter at one of the last ARTSPEAK conferences, held in Jackson in the fall of 2001. As director of the Detroit YMCA Writer's Voice, he came to Cheyenne in 2002-2003 at the request of the YMCA to conduct poetry and music presentations and workshops with Woodstock legend Country Joe MacDonald.

Peter Lewis is a founding member of the 1960s band Moby Grape. Their debut album was released in 1967, and it is still to this day one of the most revered rock albums of all times according to Rolling Stone magazine and other cultural critics. The band's energetic and hyper-exciting combination of folk, blues, and country was a unique sound to rock & roll. It was a new kind of American roots music but the band's career never took off the way it should have, due to personal tragedies. It took Peter Lewis a long time to shake off the troubled legacy of his band and begin to make his mark again with a stellar singer/songwriting recording career. Don’t miss out on the chance to see this living legend perform.

M.L. and Peter perform together (see photo at right). These two artists take their audience on a historical, cultural & literary journey from poetry to blues, folk and rock up to original contemporary compositions of both poetry and music. Together they blend words & music with beautiful harmonies, memories and the art of spoken word.

FMI: Wyoming Arts Council and 307-777-7742.

Musician Kathy Moser conducts school residencies Jan. 10-13 in Casper

New Jersey singer/songwriter Kathy Moser will conduct school residencies in Casper in January. Here's some bio info on Kathy from her web site:

Kathy Moser is a songwriter, performer, teacher and social artist, working to bring positive change to the world through music.  She performs and tours nationally. Kathy has appeared at well known folk venues such as Club Passim and Godfrey Daniels, as well as colleges, churches, coffeehouses, prisons, and benefits too numerous to mention!

Known for her poetic lyrics, driving guitar style and goofy stage presence, her songs confront a variety of topics ranging from world peace to lawn mowers, dysfunctional families to shopping malls, drug addiction to the wisdom of trading in your car for a horse.  Audiences leave her shows entertained and uplifted, thoughtful and motivated.

Working with young people is one of Kathy’s passions and she gives workshops, artist residencies and concerts in a variety of educational and institutional settings.  Her work encourages young people to find a place to make a positive contribution to their communities

The schedule:

Monday, January 10th

Roosevelt High School

Some 1 Like U Performance - all day event

Casper 

Tuesday, January 11th

REACH High School

Recovery Songwriting Workshop

Casper

Wednesday, January 12th

Star Lane Center

songwriting residency

Casper

Thursday, January 13th

Star Lane Center

student songwriting workshops

Casper

Warren Keldsen (a.k.a. WarrenZ): "Let your light shine/In this crazy town"

Warren Keldsen (a.k.a. WarrenZ) dropped by the Wyoming Arts Council offices this afternoon. He wanted to talk about grants for individual artists -- so we did. He also said that he plays most Tuesday and Thursday at Suite 1901 in downtown Cheyenne. Suite 1901 features live music almost every night. Food and cocktails too.

Warren left Wheatland to play in the Austin and Nashville music scenes. For an Americana singer-songwriter, those are about the toughest places to ply your trade. He's now finishing up his fourth CD and living in Cheyenne and encouraging ecveryone to go out and enjoy live music.

He's at Suite 1901 on Tuesday, Nov. 9. He then takes a vacation and will be back on Nov. 23.

Wyomingarts went to Warren's Myspace site and listened to his songs. We suggest you do the same. Listen to "This Town." You'll hear Austin and Nashville in it. Wyoming too. Go to WarrenZ at Myspace Music

Alex "Wherever You Will Go" Band in Casper Nov. 12

Alex Band

November 12, 2010 • 7:30 p.m.

Durham Hall, Aley Fine Arts Center, Casper College

The inspiring sound of Alex Band’s powerful, emotionally charged voice is immediately recognizable to millions of music lovers, thanks to modern-day classics like “Adrienne,” “Our Lives” and the chart-topping hit “Wherever You Will Go,” which Billboard recently named the #1 Adult Pop Song of the Decade. And though We’ve All Been There, Band’s solo debut (released June 29 on his own AMB label through EMI), contains the first new material we’ve heard from the former leader of The Calling in half a decade, “Wherever You Will Go” (which he wrote at 16 and released at 19, remarkably enough) remains a staple of the Adult Pop format, while “Our Lives” is a heavily used bumper on ESPN and other sports programming.

If his fans feel that Band is long overdue for a return to the spotlight, the L.A. native has himself been chafing at the bit to make his return throughout the last five years, which he spent in musical exile. But the time has finally come for that voice to inspire us once again. “I’ve lived with these songs for years,” says Band, “and the whole point is to share them with everybody now.”

Describing the title song, which opens this stunningly widescreen album and sets up its thematic breadth, Band says, “It’s definitely about my own struggle, but I think everyone can relate to what I’ve been through from experiences in their lives. I think everything I’m talking about on the record is pretty universal. And knowing now that I’m writing for different cultures, with fans around the world, it’s important that what I’m writing about is generalized enough that people can take the songs in their own way. ‘We’ve All Been There’ is almost like a mantra—‘Here I am…these scars on my hands…doing what I can’—with this chorus behind me singing, ‘We’ve all been there.’”

FMI: http://www.artcorewy.com/

Musician/poet Ken Waldman tours Wyoming this fall -- open dates still available

If you haven't already, pick up the beautiful new 2010-2011 program, "Everything ARTCORE." Cover design is by Eric Lewis and AdBay's Jason Yocum  and Travis Gray designed and produced the program.

ARTCORE plans a busy year for Casper arts lovers: Denver Taiko at Japan Arts Day (Sept. 11); Equality State Book Festival on Sept. 24-25; and Lazer Vaudeville on stage Oct. 14 and conducting school residencies while in Casper. One of wyomingarts' favorites is musician and poet Ken Waldman, who performs at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 5, 7:30 p.m. He plays original fiddle tunes and reads poems from his many books that include Nome Poems, based on his years teaching and performing in Alaska, and Conditions and Cures.

Ken tells wyomingarts that he has some open dates in his Wyoming and Colorado touring schedule.

Monday, October 4, 8 a.m., Ken begins a week-long residency at North Elementary School in Lander. Following a swing through Colorado that includes stops in Montrose, Telluride, Manitou Springs, Vail, Steamboat Springs and Denver, Ken will be back in Wyoming.

After his stop in Casper, he'll be off to Pinedale where, on Nov. 8, he begins a week-long residency in the schools. On Saturday, Nov. 13, 8 p.m., he performs with Jalan Crossland at the South Lincoln Events and Training Center in Kemmerer. He's off to Lander for five days of residencies sponsored by PALS. And then he travels to Vermont for the next leg of his national tour.

Ken has several open slots in his schedule. Wyoming schools, libraries and non-profit organizations can apply online for a Wyoming Arts Council Open Door grant to fund Ken's foray into your town. See details on the WAC web site at http://www.wyomingartscouncil.org/. Just click on grants on the page's left sidebar and take it from there. For more info, call the WAC at 307-777-7742.

Learn more about Ken's books and music at http://www.kenwaldman.com/

On July 4 in Laramie, Wyoming National Guard soldiers perform song they brought back from Iraq

"Freedom Has a Birthday" is Laramie's annual Fourth of July celebration. It takes place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in Washington Park on Sunday, July 4. On stage from noon-1 p.m. will be the Joe Speed Band, made up of National Guard soldiers from Laramie and Rawlins. They'll perform their song "Cowboy Soliders," the number one song on GIJams, a web site devoted to military musicians.

Jennifer Dunn wrote about the band in today's Casper Star-Tribune:

Christmas Eve in a tent in Iraq, three members of the Wyoming National Guard recorded a song.

They called it "Cowboy Soldiers."

Despite my cowboy roots
They fit me for some combat boots
Instead of home on the range
We'll be ridin' the plains
Lookin' for that old sand dune

It's a song about what a cowboy from Wyoming needs, serving deep in the desert heat.

Namely, a beer.

It's what a lot of soldiers need, it turns out. The song has become something of an internet sensation, the most listened to and downloaded song on the website GIJams, a website devoted to promoting musicians of all genres serving in any military branch.

"We've been at No. 1 since we've been on there. I would like to think someone can knock us off the top," said Spc. Jeremiah Eaton, 33, of Rawlins. He's one of the three founding members of the Joe Speed Band, formed in Iraq with two other Wyoming soldiers -- Sgt. Nathan Harvey, 26, and Pfc. Dusty Scott, 26, both of Laramie.

Harvey and Scott met in elementary school. They met Eaton while deployed with the Guard's 133rd Engineer Company from 2004 to 2005.

“Nathan and I were heavy equipment operators, and Jeremiah fixed what we broke,” Scott said.

To read the rest, go to http://trib.com/lifestyles/weekender/article_0fdba667-981d-50f3-82d1-8efa04517f52.html

Listen to more music from the Joe Speed Band at http://www.gijams.com/web/joespeedband

Call for entries: Woody Guthrie Folk Festival Songwriting Competition

From a press release:

The Oklahoma Songwriters & Composers Association, in association with The Woody Guthrie Coalition, is proud to announce the Annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival Songwriting Competition. This international, folk-oriented songwriting contest is held in conjunction with the 13th Annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, held in Woody’s hometown of Okemah, Oklahoma, each July. This year’s Festival dates are July 14-18, 2010.

All entries must be postmarked by April 17, 2010.

Please do not send entries overnight, express or certified mail! This impedes the process, and is not necessary as postmarks are used exclusively as far as timeliness of receipt of an entry.

Songwriting Contest Rules & Entry Form for the 2010 Festival Contest at http://www.woodyguthrie.com/Songwriting_Competition.html

John D. Nesbitt of Torrington wins two Spur Awards from WWA

This news from Western Writers of America came out last week but it's worth repeating because writers from Wyoming fared so well.

Here's the WWA press release:

Western Writers of America announced the winners and finalists of its annual literary contest Saturday, March 20, during the National Festival of the West in Scottsdale, Ariz.

John D. Nesbitt of Torrington (shown in photo dueing book signing at Cheyenne's City News) won two Spurs, claiming his second consecutive Spur for Best Original Mass Market Paperback Novel with “Stranger in Thunder Basin” (Leisure Books) and for Best Western Short Fiction Story, “At the End of the Orchard” ( Hardboiled Magazine).

Winners and finalists will be honored at the WWA Convention, June 22-26 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The complete list of winners and finalists:

Long Novel -- Winner: Robert Flynn, “Echoes of Glory” (TCU Press). Finalists: Bob Cherry, “One-Eyed Jacks” (Cicada Wing); Mary E. Trimble, “Tenderfoot” (Treble Heart).

Short Novel -- Winner: Robert Olmstead, “Far Bright Star” (Algonquin). Finalists: Sandi Ault, “Wild Sorrow” (Berkley Prime Crime); Robert Greer, “Spoon” (Fulcrum).

Mass Market Paperback -- Winner: John D. Nesbitt, “Stranger in Thunder Basin” (Leisure). Finalists: Lyle Brandt, “Hanging Judge” (Penguin/Berkley); William Blinn, “A Cold Place in Hell” (Pinnacle/Kensington).

Nonfiction-Biography -- Winner: David C. Humphrey, “Peg Leg” (Texas State Historical Society). Finalists: Clyde Milner and Carol O’Connor, “As Big as the West: The Pioneer Life of Granville Stuart” (Oxford University Press); Polly Aird, “Mormon Convert/Mormon Defector: A Scottish Immigrant in the American West (Arthur H. Clark).

Nonfiction-Historical -- Winner: Douglas C. McChristian, “Fort Laramie” (Arthur H. Clark). Finalists: William B. Schillingberg, “Dodge City: The Early Years, 1872-1886” (Arthur H. Clark); Paul Horsted, Ernest Grafe and Jon Nelson, “Crossing the Plains with Custer (Golden Valley Press).

Nonfiction-Contemporary -- Winner: Charles H. Harris III and Louis R. Sadler, “The Secret War in El Paso: Mexican Revolutionary Intrigue, 1906-1920” (University of New Mexico Press). Finalists: Katherine Benton-Cohen, “Borderline Americans: Racial Division and Labor War in the Arizona Borderlands” (Harvard University Press); Timothy Egan, “The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire That Saved America” (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt).

Short Nonfiction -- Winner: Roger Di Silvestro, “Teddy’s Ride to Recovery” (Wild West). Finalists: Kerry Oman, “Rejoicing in the Beauties of Nature: The Image of the Western Landscape During the Fur Trade” (Great Plains Quarterly); Michael A. Amundson, “These Men Play Real Polo: An Elite Sport in the Cowboy State, 1890-1930” (Montana: The Magazine of Western History).

Short Fiction -- Winner: John D. Nesbitt, “At the End of the Orchard” (Hardboiled Magazine). Finalists: Matthew Mayo, “Half a Pig” (Express Westerns); J.J. Clark, “As Is” (High Desert Journal).

Juvenile Fiction -- Winner: Johnny D. Boggs, “Hard Winter” (Five Star). Finalists: Victoria McKernan, “The Devil’s Paintbox” (Knopf); Melodie Cuate, “Journey to Goliad” (Texas Tech University Press).

Juvenile Nonfiction -- Winner: Nancy Plain, “With One Sky Above Us” (Mondo Publishing). Finalists: Annica Benning, “Arizona: Nations and Arts” (Walnut Canyon Press); Charles C. Mann, “Before Columbus: The Americas of 1491” (Atheneum/Simon & Schuster).

Storyteller -- Winner: Sandra Day O'Connor (author) and Tom Pohrt (illustrator), “Finding Susie” (Random House); Finalists: Joe Gribnau (author) and Adrian Tans (illustrator), “Kick the Cowboy” (Pelican); Vaunda Micheaux Nelson (author) and R. Gregory Christie (illustrator), “Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal” (Lerner Publishing).

Documentary -- Winner: Candy Moulton, “In Pursuit of a Dream” (Boston Productions Inc.). Finalists: Ric Burns, “We Shall Remain: Tecumseh’s Vision” (WGBH); Lyman Hafen, “Born to Ride” (Southern Utah University).

Poem -- Winner: Paul Zarzyski, “Bob Dylan Bronc Song” (Two Medicine). Finalists: David Memmott, “Where the Yellow Brick Road Turns West” (Wordcraft of Oregon); Larry D. Thomas, “Glass Mountains” (Southwestern American Literature).

Audiobook -- Winner: Gary McCarthy, “River Thunder” (Books in Motion). Finalists: Monty McCord, Mundy’s Law (Books in Motion); Phil Mills Jr., “Where a Good Wind Blows” (Books in Motion).

Song -- Winner: Wylie Gustafson and Paul Zarzyski, “Hang-n-Rattle: (Two Medicine Music/Bucking Horse Moon Music). Finalists: Steve Moulton, “Steamboat” (Butch Hause/The Ranger Station); Daron Little, “Pete French” (self-published).

Laramie Civic Chorus looking for new members

The Laramie Civic Chorus is now accepting new members.

Directed by James Bowyer, choral faculty member in the University of Wyoming Department of Music, the chorus will hold its first rehearsal Monday, Jan. 25, at 7 p.m. in Room 128 of the UW Fine Arts Center. Rehearsals are every Monday night and will conclude with the April 10 spring concert.

The course fee is $20 for non-registered chorus members. The group will perform Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with the UW orchestra in addition to masterwork choral pieces by Mozart, Haydn, Stravinsky, Schubert and others.

For more information e-mail Boyer at jbowyer@uwyo.edu.