Split Lip Rayfield CD release party in Lawrence this weekend

    Kirk Rundstrom, the guitarist for Split Lip Rayfield , passed away in early 2007. When it was discovered that Kirk had cancer, Wayne Gottstine, the former mandolin player, returned to make the band a four-piece again. However, with Kirk's death, there were a lot of questions about the future of the band. After a short hiatus, Wayne, Jeff Eaton (gas tank bass) and Eric Mardis (banjo) are continuing as a trio. Spilit Lip Rayfield has a new album, and there will be a CD release party at the Bottleneck in Lawrence this coming weekend, October 10-11. Moreland and Arbuckle will be joining them on Saturday after a Friday appearance in Arkansas.

KC Blues Society competition continues this Saturday

    The Kansas City Blues Society 's first preliminary round to pick the band that will represent KC in Memphis at next February's International Blues Competition is over, and the two bands moving on to the finals are The Scotty Boy Daniels Blues Band and Koolaide & the Exact Change Band.

    The second preliminary round will feature Josh Vowell & the Runmble, King King, Coyote Bill & The Rattlers, Mo Paul & Big House, ZZ Rose with Hardlikker, Motif Jam, and Nobodys Bidness. The competition will begin at 2 pm at BB's Lawnside Bar-B-Que on Saturday, October 11. Bands will play 30 minute sets, and there is no cover charge.

    The local finals will be on November 1 at Knuckleheads Saloon, when the four finalists will compete for $1750 in prize money and the trip to Memphis .

    In other KCBS news, there will be solo/duo competitions November 15 at BB's.

More music news ...

    Kansas ' City's Pitch has published their annual Best of Kansas City , including what they see as the best music in town. Click here: Kansas City - Wayward Blog - Best of 2008: MUSIC .

    Drummer Pat Tomek, who designed our website, reacted to the naming of Howard Iceberg as the best songwriter of 2008 with the following blog: Click here: Forty-Two: hot damn! .

    Speaking of Kansas City 's music scene, the Star 's Hearne Christopher Jr. recently caught up with KC's heavy metal guru for the past two decades, Jim Kilroy . Click here: www.kansascity.com | 10/05/2008 | Heavy metal king Jim Kilroy reflects on changing time .

    Also in Kansas City , Present Magazine talked with bassist Jeff Harshbarger 's alternative jazz. Click here: Present Magazine Kansas City Music - Presenting: Jeff Harshbarger's Alternative Jazz .

    Meanwhile, down in southeast Kansas, Pittsburg State University will kick off its new jazz season. Click here: Pitt State to kick off jazz season with Monday concert - Pittsburg, KS - Morning Sun .

    And the Topeka Festival Singers open their 25 th season tonight. Click here: CJOnline / The Topeka Capital-Journal - Festival singers think globally, sing locally

    Kansas City 's next record show is coming up Sunday, October 26, 9 am to 3:30 pm at the Radisson Hotel in Lenexa (95 th & I-35). Admission is only $3, and there'll be lots of new and used records, CDs, tapes, videos and memorabilia for sale. This is the last of three shows this year.

    A lot of recent local releases were reviewed in last week's edition of The Pitch. Click here: Locally Yours: Our critics discuss some recent releases - Music - The Pitchpage 1 - The Pitch

2009 Kansas Music Hall of Fame Nominees Announced!

    Ballots have been sent out to over 200 members and inductees to select the 2009 inductees.  If you're not already a member, you can still join and receive a ballot before the voting ends on October 31, 2008. CLICK HERE FOR MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION.

    The 2009 induction ceremony will be held at Liberty Hall in Lawrence on March 7.

    The nominees this year are:

• Bloodstone, Kansas City
• Conny & Bellhops, Pittsburg
• Danny Cox, Kansas City
• Devastating Dinks, Salina
• Dinks, Beloit
• Embarrassment, Wichita
• James Gadson, Kansas City
• Junkyard Jazz, Lawrence
• Larry Lingle, McPherson
• Rudy Love, Wichita
• Kevin Mahogany , Kansas City
• Lee McBee , Lawrence
• Moanin' Glories, Wichita
• Morning Dew , Topeka
• Mystic Number National Bank, Kansas City
• Plain Jane , Manhattan
• Pott County Pork & Bean Band, St. Mary's
• Samuel Ramey , Colby
• Vernon Sandusky, Sedan
• Sensational Showmen, Parsons/Pittsburg
• Serfs, Lawrence/Wichita
• Shooting Star, Kansas City
• Billy Spears, Lawrence
• Craig “Twister” Steward
• Tree Frog, Lawrence
• Bobby Watson, Kansas City
• Wichita Linemen, Wichita
• Wizards From Kansas, Lawrence
• Chely Wright , Wellsville
• Young Raiders, Lawrence

    In addition to the 30 nominees listed, qualified write-ins are encouraged.

"A New Thought for Christmas"
Melissa's first Christmas album arrives Tuesday, September 30th!

For more information please visit www.melissaetheridge.com

    A new song from Melissa Etheridge's new album is currently streaming on Deepak Chopra's website. The song “Ring The Bells” is written and sung by Melissa and Salmad Ahmad, both of whom will be appearing on Deepak Chopra's radio show this coming Saturday morning at 9 am Central Time. Listen to it at deepakchopra.com.

    2006 KMHOF Inductee Etheridge is certainly in the news this week. In addition to the release of her new album comes word that she and her partner Tammy Lynn Michaels are joining the list of celebrity nuptials in response to California 's legalization of gay marriage. Etheridge announced her intentions at Universal City 's Hard Rock Café last Friday, where she performed to launch the restaurant's monthlong breast cancer awareness program.

    “We have four children, and we're trying to find the right time now actually to go down and do it, she told the TV show Extra.

    In 2003 the pair held a commitment ceremony with friends and family, hoping that one day their marriage would be recognized legally. Click here: Etheridge Kicks-Off Pinktober | Extra

    ... previous Melissa Etheridge news

New CD release from James and Julie Rivers of earlier concerts

    James and Julie Rivers have performed together for four decades, but James and Julie Rivers: Duo-Pianists is their first album, which was engineered by Topeka 's Exceptions Studio from master tapes of live performances the couple did between April 1978 and November 1983 at Washburn University 's White Concert Hall as part of the former Topeka Chamber Music Series. The Rivers will be signing copies of their CD at Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 6130 SW 17 th in Topeka from 2-4 pm this Saturday, October 4.

    Julie Rivers' label Earth Star Recordings is distributing the CD, which is also available at www.earthstarrecordings.com , where samples of the music can be heard.

Mike "Puck" Ramel passes away

   News has reached us of the passing September 19 of KC area drummer Mike “Puck” Ramel . The 57-year-old was a member of Kansas City 's Iron Road in the early 70s, and he went on the road for a couple of years, playing Florida and South Carolina beach bars. Puck was also the driving force behind Southern Fried, Joplin 's premier southern rock band in the late 70s. His family is trying to organize a fundraiser in the KC area to help defray funeral expenses.

More music news ...

    Ron Bowell was inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame this year with his old band Friar Tuck and the Monks . Ron's current congregation is in Salina , where he continues to make music. Click here: Salina.com - an online service of The Salina Journal.

    2007 inductee Martina McBride has opened up about singing a duet with “The King.” Click here: Technology opens doors for Martina McBride - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
    ... previous Martina McBride news

    Not all musicians are able to hit the road and tour, but that doesn't mean they can't play. Click here: Kansas City - Plog - Careful With That Axe, Eugene: Lansing Inmates Get Guitars.

    Kansas City 's Republic Tigers have had a few problems on the road. Click here: Kansas City - Wayward Blog - Republic Tigers Detained by UK Immigration.

    A band that got its start at Hallmark Cards is attracting attention in Kansas City : Click here: www.kansascity.com | 09/17/2008 | Hallmark-bred Softee finds fans, favor in KC market.

Cathedral Brass plays concert at Topeka catherdral

    The Cathedral Brass (Steve Patterson, Neal Purvis, Katie Grose, Will Cooper and Bill Waterman) performed a Great Spaces Music & Arts Series concert Sunday afternoon at Topeka 's Grace Episcopal Cathedral. The hour long concert included brass favorites spanning centuries.

Matt Walsh returns for Midwest concerts starting Thursday in Wichita

    Blues guitarist and singer, Matt Walsh will be returning briefly to the Wichita area ( for one weekend ), where he lived for 5 years, making many fans while spreading his blend of 1950's styled Chicago Blues.

    Matt moved away in Nov 2007 to NC and has since furthered his career as a Blues musician playing with blues legends like Steady Rollin' Bob Margolin, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Calvin "Fuzz" Jones, and just recently, the 95 year old Pinetop Perkins, who Matt just backed in Connecticut a few weeks ago.

    Matt is looking forward to playing for some old fans and seeing some new faces in Wichita on Thursday Sept 25th, when he will play an acoustic solo at the Artichoke, and again with his former band, the Maddogs ( Kyle Couch and Jesse Major), during the Wichita Blues Society's Fall Blues Crawl on Sunday Sept 28th at Heroes. Matt will also be at Galileo's in Oklahoma City, OK on Friday ( 26th ) and BB's Lawnside BBQ in Kansas City MO on Saturday ( 27th ).

Martina McBride marks "summer of 42"

		Martina McBride 's hit "This One's For The Girls" carries a verse that's dedicated to "all you girls about 42," currently appropriate since Martina turned 42 in July. For her, the "summer of 42" is one in which she's doing her best to come to terms with the ageing process and to find the silver lining in the advance of time. Click here: "This One's for the Girls"     "We need to take care of our own," Martina McBride says of a new Nashville development for retired musicians. Click here: Martina McBride Launches Country Retirement Community - Music News, Martina McBride : People.com.
... previous Martina McBride news

Topeka Band Brawl information

Wichita Blues Society's Blues Crawl on September 28

    The Wichita Blues Society's Blues Crawl is approaching, Sunday, September 28 th. in Old Town .  They have a wide assortment of blues from 6-9 pm, American's Pub has The Jeff Corbett Band, Brickyard has The Sharon Rush Band, Heroes has the Matt Walsh & The Mad Dogs, Jimmie Lewin & the Kingtones at Torre's Pizzeria, Arthetta & Wayne Long at the Larkspur, Morts with To Go Box and the Loft 151 with The Terry Quiett Band, the 2009 WBS Challenge winner. The after party is at American Pub with Blues Harvest from 9-12am. It is the best party in Wichita . It is still $5.00

Melissa Etheridge featured on HDTV

Upcoming concerts by Death Cab For Cutie, O.A.R. and Melissa Etheridge at the House of eBlues in Atlantic City , N.J. , will be the first of many performances through 2009 to be featured on high-definition cable network HDNET. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080910/tv_nm/hdnet_dc_1.     Melissa recently wrapped up her national tour with a date in Kansas City. Click here: Back to Rockville: Review: Melissa Etheridge.     ... previous Melissa Etheridge news

Martina McBride continues tour

Personal experiences affected performers in post-Katrina play

    Real-life losses have influenced the performances of Danny Cox and Merle Moores in the production of “Rising Water,” which runs through October 5 at the Unicorn Theatre. Click here: www.kansascity.com | 09/13/2008 | Real-life losses influence performances of Danny Cox and Merle Moores, stars of

Two new releases by local artists

    Two female singer songwriters, Sara Swenson and Suzannah Johannes , have new releases:
Click here: Local singer songwriter Sara Swenson debuts her first album
Click here: Four Songs for Suzannah Johannes to Sing | lawrence.com

KC musician Gary Amdahl authors new book

    Former Kansas City musician Gary Amdahl of the 70s band Amdahl-Wolfe has a new book on the market: Click here: www.kansascity.com | 09/13/2008 | Review: Gary Amdahl pens a gripping, funny-as-death novella

Alaadeen receives ArtsKC Inspiration Grant

    Veteran KC jazz saxophonist Ahmed Alaadeen is one of six musicians to receive an ArtsKC Inspiration grant: Click here: www.kansascity.com | 09/13/2008 | Ahmed Alaadeen, artists and groups are given ArtsKC Inspiration grants

Agents of Retro is new classic rock band

    A new classic rock band called Agents of Retro recall the bands of the 70s in a show this Saturday, September 20, at the Shadow. The guys are convinced that they can play classic, classicly inspired rock in a live setting.

    “We really like to push the limits and show off the musicianship in the project,” keyboardist Tommy Carlyle told the Wichita Eagle recently.

    Most of the band will be familiar to local clubgoers from their other bands. In addition to Carlyle (Gravy), there's John Pryor (Ten Day Wish), Randy Swisher (Rain), Jim Watts ( Theorosas Bridge ) and Peter Christmas.

80s band Alpheus reunites for benefit

    The 1980s Hutchinson-based rock band Alpheus reunited recently to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Douglas County. The show September 13 at Abe & Jake's Landing in Lawrence raised funds for the nonprofit organization. Big Brothers Big Sisters pairs at-risk children in the community with volunteer adult mentors to encourage a long-term personal relationship.

Wichita Art Museum offers free music on Wednesdays

    The Wichita Art Museum will be offering free music performances at noon Wednesdays this fall. Click here: WAM to offer music with lunch | Kansas.com

Melissa Etheridge wraps up tour in Kansas City

    Melissa Etheridge may top the charts with her popular songs, but at home, it's her children
who rule the iTunes. In this week's People , some of singing celebs share their children's top pop picks. Melissa Etheridge's four children, Bailey Jean, 11, Beckett, 9 ½, and twins Johnnie Rose and Miller Steven, 22 months, enjoy "Common Threads" by Bobby McFerrin, "The Rainbow Connection" as performed by Sarah McLachlan, "When It Don't Come Easy" by Patty Griffin, and a song by Mom -- "Message To Myself". "Really, it's their fave!" Melissa says. (the link to the Etheridge kids playlist is http://tinyurl. com/5h772o ).

    ... previous Melissa Etheridge news

Season finale for Kansas City Blues Society set for October 25

    In other music news from KC, the Kansas City Blues Society will be having the final show of the 2008 Summer Concert Series with an awesome Harmonica Blowout at Knucklehad's Saloon on October 25 at 10 pm. Mark Hummel, Kim Wilson, and Magic Dick will follow local harp ace Lee McBee onlstage.

    Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Get tickets at www.knuckleheadskc.com .

KCBS Acoustic Showcase this Saturday in Lawrence

    Don't forget the KCBS' Acoustic Showcase this coming Saturday night at BB's Lawnside Bar-B-Que and the first preliminary round of the Blues Challenge for the International Blues Competition in Memphis . Five bands will compete September 27 at Marty's Blues Café in Merriam. The second preliminary round will be October 11 at BB's. The finals will be held November 2 at Knucklehead's.

New Jim Stringer CD is featured

Chet Nichols

2008 Inductee Chet Nichols ' song “Food, Food, Food, Food” has been licensed to be a new theme song for the radio show Sauced , heard Sundays at noon on ClearChannel's WLAC 1510 AM in Nashville . The show is streamed live online at www.WLAC.com and is the number one radio show on Sundays. Chet's also landed a new gig as Chief Creative Officer with Simage LLC in Northbrook, IL.     ... previous Chet Nichols news

Ottawa's Walt Butler has passed away

    Sad news reached us last week from Ottawa, KS . Longtime music store owner and father of KMHOF Inductee Beth Scalet, Walt Butler passed away on Tuesday, September 2 at his home. The family suggests memorials to the Americana Academy of Music in Lawrence sent in care of Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory Street , Ottawa , KS 66067 . Click here: OttawaHerald.com -- Community News. Community Connections. Click here: LJWorld.com / Obituaries.

More music news ...

    “For Your Ears Only,” the annual benefit for Audio Reader will be held September 19-20 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Building 21, 2120 Harper Street . Audio-Reader is a reading and information service for the blind and visually impaired. This year Audio-Reader has received more audio equipment than ever before (receivers, amps, speakers, stereos, VCR's recorders, CD players and turntables including several rare and vintage pieces. With over 12,000 vinyl records along with CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, Books on CD, musical instruments, TVs, and so much more, there should be something for everyone. Most LP's are only a buck and CDs are only three dollars each.

    Everyone in Southeast Kansas is looking forward to the upcoming reunion of old bands on September 27 at The Cove in Pittsburg. We haven't seen a list of who'll be attending and playing yet, but if you plan to put a band together for the event, sit in and jam with a particular band, jam in a free for all or just plan to drink a lot of beer, please RSVP to levi@bartonmutualgroup.com .

    A related SE Kansas event will be the performance November 22 in Parsons of the last version of the Parsons-Pittsburg version of the Sensational Showmen.

    Throughout its 37 year history, the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, has been known for attracting the finest acoustic musicians and performers from all over the world. The talent on the festival stages keeps audiences returning to Winfield year after year. Advance tickets are available for this year's festival September 17-21 at the Winfield Fairgrounds. Advance tickets may be purchased at the 918 Main Street office through September 16. Click here: Walnut Valley Festival - Winfield, Kansas.

    The Blue Room at 18 th Vine in Kansas City presents a double header on September 20, separate shows by Karrin Allyson at 7 pm and Deborah Brown at 8:30 and 10 pm. Allyson is a perennial favorite with a wide range, while Brow, who recently returned to KC after a long stretch in Europe , sings with conviction and style.

    On Saturday, September 6, Kansas City Star writer Steve Paul wrote an interesting piece on the current state of the local jazz scene. Click here: www.kansascity.com | 09/06/2008 | Jazz is alive, healthy and well, from the traditional to the contemporary.

     Yesterday, September 7, Olathe's Fountain City Brass Band, the reigning US Open Brass Band and North American Brass Band chanmpions, performed in Topeka. Click here: CJOnline / The Topeka Capital-Journal - Brass band blowing into town.

Voting for 2009 Hall of Fame class will start soon

    Ballots to choose next year's inductees will go out to all members whose dues are current and all prior inductees one month from today.  Votes are due by the end of October.

    The 2009 Kansas Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held on March 7 at Liberty Hall in Lawrence.

Lawrence's John Weatherwax is remembered

    Lawrence has lost a long-time musician with the death last Friday of John Weatherwax , founder of the Junkyard Jazz Band and member of the Lawrence City Band for many years. Click here: LJWorld.com / Weatherwax remembered as great friend, musician .

Punk legends The Embarrassment reunited for acoustic show

    Wichita 's legendary punk band The Embarrassment reunited for a special this past Saturday. It was their first acoustic show ever and their first without bassist Ron Klause. Click here: Embarrassmentback together | Kansas.com .

American Idol David Cook returns to Kansas City amid controversy

    Kansas City area native David Cook , the reigning American Idol champion returned to KC this past weekend for two shows at the Sprint Center. Several days before the show, he granted an interview to the Kansas City Star. Click here: www.kansascity.com | 08/27/2008 | We ask David Cook about touring, recording and coming home .

   The nonstop cascade of favorable puff pieces about American Idol / KC export David Cook couldn't last forever. Take National Enquirer columnist Mike Walker's harsh assessment of Cook in the August 25 issue.  “Looking every inch a loser, American Idol winner David Cook refused to close dressing room drapes while trying on jeans at a high-end Hollywood boutique, casually exposing what the Dude apparently thinks is a sex-god bod, clad in nuthin' but tighty-whities! When a salesgirl went to close the curtains so he could undress in private — hint, hint — Cook actually refused, saying he doesn't like being, like … uh … ‘Closed in.' One turned-off shopper shouted ‘Geek!' as Cook continued his undie-niably lame striptease, slipping in and out of jeans and shirts like he was home alone as gob-smacked patrons made barf signs.”

    ... previous David Cook news

Melissa Etheridge wraps up tour in Kansas City on September 9

New Martina McBride interview

Sherwood Center Benefit Show this weekend

    The 18 th Annual Sherwood Center Benefit Show is this coming Friday and Saturday at BB's Lawnside Bar=B-Que (two blocks east of Holmes on 85 th Street ).

    Friday's music starts at 6pm: Shinetop Jr., Blue Orleans, Frank Ace Blues Band and Platinum Express.

    Saturday thing kick off at 3 pm: McNally-Recob, Bobby Smith, Frank Plas & The Silver Tones, Levee Town , Fast Johnn Ricker, Four Fried Chickens & a Coke and Jonh Paul's Flying Circus.

Wichita Blue Crawl coming up on September 28

    The Wichita Blues Society 's annual Blues Crawl in Sunday, September 28 in Old Town . They'll have a wide variety of blues from 6-9 pm. We'll have a complete lineup of venues and performers in a future newsletter.

Moreland and Arbuckle continue to get notice

    Wichita blues performers Moreland and Arbuckle are featured in the Oct/Nov issue of Blues Review Magazine.

    ... previous Moreland and Arbuckle news

Classic "Hee Haw" featuring Hall of Famer Rodney Lay will air again starting September 7     Rodney Lay  fans, we've learned that RFD-TV will start running "Hee Haw" on Sunday, September 7 at 7 pm Central time.  They are going to start with the very first show & air them in the order they were originally aired. Click here: RFD-TV - Rural America's Most Important Network     ... previous Rodney Lay news

More music news ...

    Lawrence pop band Koufax is led by Robert Suchen, who splits his time between a home in Lawrence and one in the Czech Republic . This dual influence shows in the band's music. Click here: LJWorld.com / An American in Prague: Koufax frontman takes inspiration from years straddling two continents .

    The memorial service for KC bluegrass musician Michael O'Roark will be held this Thursday, September 4, at 7pm @ Pleasant Valley Church near Liberty , Missouri , at I-35 and Highway 291.

    Have you ever been interested in hosting a house concert? Dana Cooper is about to embark on a tour across the western U.S. and has a few open dates. He's primarily looking for something September 12 or 14 in Arizona or New Mexico; September 26 or 28 around Idaho, Utah, Washington or Oregon; also something October 10 in the Seattle area. Anyone interested in hosting a concert can contact Dana's agent Terri Stewart at 303-989-1764, or email her at stewartmgmt@earthlink.net .

    A profile of conga drummer and band leader Pablo Sanhueza appeared in Joe Klopus' “Jazztown” column in last Wednesday's Kansas City Star . Click here: www.kansascity.com | 08/27/2008 | JAZZTOWN | Conga drummer keeps up the beat .

    Join The Elders on a 7 day trip to Ireland February 20-27. Guided day tours, live music at night and tons o' fun with the lads!  Get all the info you need at http://eldersmusic.com/ireland2009.doc or call Toll Free: 1-866-486-8772 Email: mhammond@hammondtours.com .