Mark your calendars for March 7, 2009 at Liberty Hall! 

    The 2009 Kansas Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held on March 7 at Liberty Hall in Lawrence.  Current plans are to hold future inductions on the first Saturday in March every year.

Marilyn Maye honored at Governor's Arts Awards     2007 inductee Marilyn Maye was honored at the 2008 Governor's Arts Awards banquet last Thursday night in Topeka.  For more on the ceremony and Marilyn, check out this article from The Topeka Capitol-Journal: CJOnline / The Topeka Capital-Journal - State to honor jazz chanteuse.

80's bands reunite on July 5 in Lawrence

    The Lawrence 80's Music People Reunion is happening on Sat. July 5th at  Burcham Park in Lawrence. Starting around 1pm and going to whenever.  It is BYO-Everything.  Later on, there will be an assortment  of people from old 80's bands either reuniting or just  playing in a big jam band setup.  People expected include:  Steve Buren (Brompton's Coctails) and Steve Eddy & John  Harper (Micronotz). The Pedaljets are  tentative, but  Marc Koch (Get Smart), Frank Morris (Gardrails), Lori  Wray, and Rob Fitzgerald and  others will make it.  NYC club DJ Ray "DJ Ray" Velazquez will also make an appearance.  

Wichita Blues Challenge on August 10

    The Wichita Blues Society Blues Challenge is coming Sunday, August 10 th at Sam's Place, 5521 W. Kellogg, in Wichita. The event will be starting at 4 pm. The WBS is looking for Blues Bands to compete for the honor of representing Wichita at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis early next year. First prize will be a $1,000 for expenses, open for Bernard Allison at Sam's Place, August 21 st , A slot in the Fall Blues Crawl, be featured at the Blues Ball, play at the CQ Blues fest. You can register your band or find out more by sending an email to Randy Crump at: Rcrump7744@aol.com .

Melissa Etheridge in the news

    Melissa Etheridge took a break from her current tour for a tour of a different kind according to The Hill's Blog Briefing Room: Etheridge Tours Capitol with Kucinich @ 3:13 pm by Walter Alarkton:

Rock singer Melissa Etheridge and her son Beckett sat outside the House floor Thursday virtually unrecognized while waiting for Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) to give them their first-ever tour of the Capitol.  Etheridge, in a baggy yellow button-down shirt and khaki pants, patiently waited with her son for Kucinich to finish voting while other lawmakers and staffers hurried by without giving her so much as a glance.

 "I'm visiting my friend Mr. Kucinich," Etheridge said when asked what brought her to the Hill.  She said     it was her first time in the Capitol, and she was impressed.  "I'm very thrilled to feel the power, she said. She didn't go unnoticed by Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio), who stopped to chat with the star and pose with her for a picture.  "My wife and I are big fans," he told The Hill. "She's a great rocker."

As Kucinich rushed from the Speaker's Lobby to greet his guests, he explained that he and Etheridge "have a mutual interest in human rights." Upon seeing Kucinich, Etheridge exlaimed, "There he is!" and gave him a long hug. "I want you to meet my son," she said before the group walked off for a tour of the Capitol.     - Kris Kitto     

    In other Melissa Etheridge news: She's interviewed in the next issue of Rolling Stone. Head over to: http://www.melissae theridge. com/home/ images/merolling stones062008. jpg...to read the interview.  The interview will be in July 10-14, 2008 issue. At her Danbury, CT concert on Sunday, June 29, Melissa Etheridge took a cell phone from an audience member and spoke with a fan as part of the show.  The event was captured by another fan who has posted it online at: http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/s ... nphone.flv . Looking way ahead, Etheridge was just announced as a headliner at the Sugarbush Music Festival & Women's Cultural Fair in Indian Wells, CA, April 4, 2009.

McBride joins others on Country Sings Disney     According to CMT, a new compilation album, Country Sings Disney , will feature Faith Hill, Tim McGraw and Trisha Yearwood and will be released on July 8. The collection features country artists singing songs from films  like Bambi II (Alison Krauss, Martina McBride) and Cars (Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts). Other artists  include Bucky Covington, Josh Gracin, Little Big Town, Bonnie Raitt, SHeDAISY and Phil Stacey, as well  as the Billy Ray Cyrus-Miley Cyrus duet, "Ready, Set, Don't Go."

Kansas City smoking ban takes effect

    A Jackson County, MO, judge lifted his restraining order on Kansas City's smoking ban last Friday, and the voter-approved ordinance took effect on Saturday, June 21.  That means smoking is banned in all bars and restaurants but is still allowed on gaming floors in Kansas City's two casinos.  This will make going out to hear live music in KC a more pleasant experience.

Click here: Kansas City, Mo., Smoking Ordinance

King Midas & the Muflers featured in article     The McPherson newspaper had a nice article about 2006 KMHOF Inductee King Midas & the Muflers recently: King Midas Returns, with son inheriting his father's position as drummer King Midas website

Moreland & Arbuckle heat up the blues scene

   Wichita blues duo Moreland & Arbuckle recently announced that Piedmont Talent has them effective immediately.  The group's mix of Mississippi Hill Country, Delta and rural blues, laced with rock has made them local favorites, but bigger things are on the horizon.  Reaching the finals of the 2005 International Blues Competition in Memphis has allowed them to take their music around the world.  Their new album "1861" was released last March on NorthernBlues Music and has been getting good reviews and airplay.

    Among the good things that have happened to the duo recently:

• Guitar Edge in its May/June issue cited Aaron Moreland as one of the ten blues legends in the making.
• Recently added to XM Radio's Bluesville as a "Pick to Click" with three songs from "1861."
• Charted at #3 on the Roots Blues chart of Roots Music Report.
• On the Living Blues chart for the months of March (#13) and April (#12).
• Charted at #2 on the May 2008 French Collectif des Radios blues chart.
• Cover and feature article in the June issue of Bluegrass Special

Beth Scalet live in Westport on June 25

This Wednesday evening, June 25, 2008 KMHOF inductee Beth Scalet will be making a rare live appearance at Blayney's Upstairs in the heart of Westport.      It's a songwriter's showcase, so there will also be performances by Chris Stout and Nate Bowman following Beth's 7:00 set.  Beth will have her CDs there, so pick up her new one Body of Work or last year's double live set Roadwork .  If you can't make it to the show the CDs are also available through CDBaby or Amazon.

Kansas City Kansas Street Blues Festival June 27-29

   This coming weekend, the Kansas City Kansas Street Blues Festival returns to its original location in KCK.  The whole thing is free, so take your lawn chairs and coolers, and have a great time enjoying two days of music.  On Friday, the lineup includes Cadillac Flambe, Kool-Aide & Exact Change Band, Dan Bliss, Blue River Ordinance, Phil Sanders, Ernie Johnson, Tommy Soul, and Millage Gilbert.  Following a panel discussion on "Kansas City Blues - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow" featuring Jim O'Neal, Lindsay Shannon, Chuck Haddix, Groovy Grant and White Hat Mike Rose, there will be music from Trampled Under Foot, Lonesome Hank & the Heartaches, Lazy Lester, Myra Taylor (the year's queen), Blue 88, Shannon Basham, Turkey Bone & Stix, Shinetop Jr, Marquise Knox, and Linda Shell's Blues Thang. This is a great place to show your support to the local musicians who will be donating their time and talent.

More music news

   A documentary is being made about the old KC music venue The Cowtown Ballroom .  Any project like this is largely an effort of love, but funds are required to make it a reality.  For that reason a benefit will be held next month:  Click here: www.kansascity.com | 06/17/2008 | Benefit concert for Cowtown Ballroom documentary is July 18

   A reminder that LA's Jack Mack & the Heart Attack featuring KC native Bill Bergman will be playing in Wichita this Thursday as part of the Capitol Federal Summer Concert Series at the Zoo. Gates open at 6:30, and the concert begins at 7:30.  This exciting ten-piece band knows how to get you out of your seats, so plan to have a great time partying will Bill and the guys.

   Sunday June 29 Kansas City blues legend Millage Gilbert will be enjoying his 70th birthday onstage at Knuckleheads.  A lot of old friends will be there to play and join the celebration.  

   Some of the old SE Kansas musicians are gathering in Pittsburg this fall for a reunion at the Cove.  The date has been changed from September 13 to September 27.  If it goes as well as last year's did, it should be a lot of fun.

Bands lose equipment in Manhattan tornado

A large number of musicians in the Manhattan area lost most of their equipment and merchandise following the tornado that hit Manhattan last Wednesday night (June 11).     Amherst Self Storage, one of the hardest hit areas, is where many of the local bands store their gear and rehearse.  The Manhattan Music Coalition is coordinating efforts to replace everything.  They are compiling a list of who lost what so they can get a definite dollar amount.

    A fund has been started, and so far the band Lucia Drive has donated their earnings from the door at Auntie Mae's last Thursday night.  The owner of the establishment matched the earnings, for a total of $800.  The MMC will donate $1000.  Mr. David Brown, of Brown Bear Sound, has generously donated his time, labor and equipment use to the bands that lost their gear for the next 2 months. 

    Many local musicians are approaching local venues to set up benefit shows.  T-shirts are in the works.  A donation jar is set up at SOS Music, MMC Headquarters.  Checks can be made payable to MMC, Tornado Relief as the memo.  Every little bit helps.  Donate your time, money, guitar strings, drum sticks, etc.  100% of your donation will go directly to the affected bands.  Any extra funds will go straight to the local Red Cross.  Stop by the record store, or send your donation to The Manhattan Music Coalition, 1214 C Moro, Manhattan, KS 66502.  For more information, please call (785) 320-7151.  Leave a message, your call will be returned.

     The MMC needs your name/band, list of gear lost, and estimated value.  Contact the MMC in the record store with this info or call (785) 320-7151.

Melissa Etheridge will open new MIdland Theater in September

Leavenworth, Kansas native Melissa Etheridge (2006 KMHOF Inductee) will be in Kansas City to open up the newly renovated Midland Theater. Her concert is September 9 at the Power and Light District theater. It's part of a kickoff event at the 80-year-old theater that underwent a $28 million renovation. Tickets for the show are on sale now as well as a tour that includes a stop at her childhood home and an autographed item.

Proto-Kaw album nears release

    Proto-Kaw lead singer Lynn Meredith has recently reported on the band's progress on their forthcoming album: "Fall release for the cd.... we are to be finished recording by August 1st...mix Aug/Sept and release Oct is the plan. Mike and Craig are nearly 100% complete... John is 80 to 90%... don't know exactly where Dan is completion wise... I am about 60%.. but am doing 2 more on Thursday... so I am catching up... starting to get excited about having it finished!"

Lawrence music reputation confirmed

    Lawrence has long had a reputation as a "music town."  This was recently confirmed by a recent news release:

Nashville leads the nation in percentage of musicians in the work force.*
1. Nashville, 0.65
2. Lawrence, Kan., 0.31
3. Los Angeles-Long Beach (PMSA)**, 0.29
4. Bloomington, Ind., 0.29
5. New York (PMSA), 0.27
* People who identified musician as their primary occupation
** Primary metropolitan statistical area
SOURCE: NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS

Kelley Hunt show on June 14

Kelley Hunt's much-anticipated new project "Mercy" is making its way into the world - a new generation of her music - a juxtaposition of her righteous roots influences and contemporary overlays with rich veins of political and social commentary woven throughout.  Kelley brings this stunning new project back to her home fans in the Kansas City/Lawrence area SAT. JUNE 14 at CROSSROADS, a great new outdoor venue in Kansas City's new Arts District downtown near the Sprint Center.  Doors open at 7 pm, The Garrett Nordstrom Situation opens, Kelley hits at 8:30.  Advance tickets are available in Lawrence at The Bottleneck 737 New Hampshire, in KC at Grinders 417 E. 18th - no service charge - and online at the ticket link on the right.

New album released by Chicago

The new Chicago album is called "Chicago 32: Stone Of Sisyphus" - the title track is written and sung by KMHOF inductee Dawayne Bailey (co-sung with Robert Lamm).  Rhino/Warner Brothers is offering a free audio stream of a half hour version of the record here - 7 out of the 15 tracks:     http://snipurl. com/2ej6r     1 Stone Of Sisyphus - Dawayne Bailey     2 Bigger Than Elvis - Peter Wolf-Ina Wolf     3 All The Years - Robert Lamm     4 Mah Jong - Jason Scheff     5 Sleeping In The Middle Of The Bed - Robert Lamm     6 Let's Take A Lifetime - Jason Scheff     7 The Pull - Robert Lamm-Peter Wolf

Winston Apple remembers

    The current issue of Kansas City's "The Pitch" has a nice piece on Winston Apple's show this past Saturday and his career.  You might remember him as "Gary Apple" if you were around KC in the 1970s.  Here's a link to the article: Click here: Winston Apple looks back on 40 years of songwriting, page 1 - Music - The Pitch - The Pitch

Karla Burns recovering from surgery

    Wichita native and Broadway star Karla Burns has been undergoing speech therapy at Wesley Medical Center. She is recovering from surgery to remove a nearly 10-pound goiter from her neck and chest. Doctors have told her she may not be able to sing again. Click here: The Voice is gone, but the song remains | Kansas.com

2008 Blues Benefest for Challenge Aspen

    Each winter, disabled Kansans travel to Aspen for the chance to do something they thought impossible - ski down a mountain.  A blues concert in Wichita on June 12 will benefit Challenge Aspen, the organization that makes this possible.  Challenge Aspen is a non-profit organization that provides mentally and physically disabled people the opportunity to enjoy recreational and cultural experiences in the Colorado Rockies.

    The 2008 Blues Benefest for Challenge Aspen will be held at Sam’s Place, located at 5521 W. Kellogg.  The concert will feature the Sharon Rush Band and local band Fuzzy Logic will open the evening’s program at 7:00.  Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are $10 at the door or purchased online at www.tftvideo.com.

    2008 Blues Benefest sponsors include 107.3 The Road; The Slope, House of Schwan; It's All Good with Sierra Scott, Sam's Place; TFT Productions; and GearConnexion.

    For more information on Challenge Aspen, visit www.challengeaspen.com.

KEYN Capitol Federal Summer Concert Series

     Wichita's KEYN Radio has announced the lineup for this year's Capitol Federal Summer Concert Series.  Every Friday night, join KEYN at 8 pm for a free concert in Old Town.  Here's this summer's lineup:    

• 7/11  King Midas & The Muflers    
• 7/18  Rain    
• 7/25  Blue Eyed Soul    
• 8/1  Grateful Not To Be Dead    
• 8/8  Harry & The Cats    
• 8/15  3 Ring Circus