Virginia Evans: Calendar

I had a wonderful time at this show and at the pre-show activities. Acoustic players from Germany, Scottland, Canada, New England, Michigan, St. Louis, Louisiana, North Carolina, Kansas and Tennessee showed up to gather around a bonfire at Jo Robinson of the acoustic group Hollis Robinson Project. The first night we passed Jay Coxx's Martin guitar around the circle and took turns playing out songs, making jokes, and getting to know each other in person.

The next night all the international players were there and people were jamming, joining in on each other's songs. Tyler Weaver showed up to get it all on video. Sounds like he's going to take the footage from the bonfire and the venue along with some interviews to make a documentary. You can hear live recordings of the show at Verlie's Cafe at http://www.reverbnation.com/cleveland2008 At this time, there is one song loaded per performer, so the only song loaded for me is Santa Ana, which is a paired down version (just me and my guitar) of the recording on my cd. However, Jay said all my songs came out great and he said the Taylor (guitar) sounds completely natural - kudos to their pickup system ;) Eventually I will have seven new songs from that show to share with you. (It's about time!!!)

I enjoyed the experience so much that I plan to attend the Gathering in Germany as well.

Today I wandered and played at the Lockeland Design Elementary School’s Folktale Fiesta. I have never performed as a wandering minstrel before and I enjoyed it very much. Children ran up to me yelling, "Hey, it's a guitar lady!" And there was the oddity of people talking to me while I played. And an odd incident where I stopped playing to pick up items that had flown from a booth.

I met interesting people, speaking to someone I had seen at church services but whom I had never officially met. A couple from Maine asked me to stop by their creative arts center with my guitar sometime and visit. So the wandering minstrel gig is far more interactive than the performances I’m used to.

I’d like to do that sort of thing again. I particularly like the situation where I stop singing, keep playing while I’m talking to someone, and then hop back into the song again. I wasn’t always so smooth about it, and I can see how developing this skill would make me a stronger player. I’d recommend the wandering minstrel lesson to anyone interested in developing a stronger connection to their lyrics and music.

Blessed at the last minute by David Llewellyn who joined us for the round. Click here to go to David Llewellyn's page Deborah Bishop was in top form and shared some new tunes never before heard in public ;) And David filled out everything that Deb and I played with his on the spot improvisations. Then he played his own music and blew us away. I was recovering from THE CRUD (that's what we're calling this cold/flu thing going around, and my brain isn't functioning at full capacity) but I was satisfied with what I did and I had some people tell me they really loved my voice and that they thought Santa Ana was such a beautiful song. So...all good.

We had such a wonderful time last night at fooBAR. The place was packed and I was very pleased to see a dozen of my friends showed up. I enjoyed your company and your conversation.

Bonus: I got to hear some beautiful original music. And after our portion of the evening was done, I stuck around to hear Reeves Gabrell and Blues Episode. Couldn’t stay in my seat, had to get up and dance ;)

Thanks to fooBAR for hosting the Artists for The Department of Peace and Non-Violence Showcase. Thanks to Deborah Bishop for organizing the event and inviting me to play. Thanks to those of you who made your way to fooBAR on a brrrrrr cold Thursday evening.

So I tried the professional approach for this show. I did not stop mid song at any point and say "do over" ;) I behaved very well and played straight through. I held all joking to the interim between songs. And I have to say that there is something really unique and enjoyable about the silly patter that Dawn, Joe, and I shared between songs.

This was the first time I have ever shared the stage with other songwriters. Even though we had never been on stage together, it was comforting to have my fellow songwriters there beside me while I was playing. And I was really wishing Joe wasn't moving to the UK in January because then we could all continue to play together and develop our silly patter. The silly patter was one of my favorite things as I listened to the other groups playing after us. Some have it developed to a fine art, and some sound like they are hanging out in their living room just sharing songs. The whole effect is relaxing and intimate.

So results: my friends said I was great. My firend, Pam, who suffered through my "hand-held recorder phase" in which I wanted her to hear everything as I created it commented that perhaps all her suffering was worth it after all. Jack said they'd have to have me back. I am not alllowed to comment on myself because I am not nice enough...YET. LOL. But here's a hint which I shared with Dawn tonight...when I am no longer shaky at the beginning of a set, I will be able to pick a song instead of playing a strummer first. Strummers save me because I can do them even when I am slightly shaky. So when I start a set with picking I will be in a place of self assurance and less likely to go off the handle criticizing myself.

I am very greatful to Pam, Darci, Ev, Will, Jacquelyn, and Mar for taking the time out of a "last week before Christmas" schedule to come hear me play such a short set. You guys are the best!

My fingers don't operate properly in cold weather (anything under 60 degrees for me ;)

I'll be playing at Castrillo's again and other venues in The Hood, so please check back for updates.

It was a great show at Castrillo’s tonight. Easy setup with my little amp, my electric acoustic, a music stand and a mic stand. As I was unpacking my gear, I found that my music stand (which is one of the heaviest pieces of equipment I have – the sucker is HEAVY duty) had sheared off at a point where it narrows down to attach to the stand itself. I realized that this was a sign that I am to stop using my darned charts…even if I don’t use them the whole time. I showed the stand to a couple of people and they all said, “Wow. How did you do that?” I kept saying I had no idea, until I was tired of saying that, then I said, “Brute force. You have no idea how strong I am.” I ended up running next door to borrow a stand from the music school. I figured I’d listen to the powers that be on the next show…I’d already planned to have a music stand and that was just how it had to be.

I thought the audience was going to be mighty sparse (putting it mildly) –probably just the people who passed by on their way from picking up carry-out food. Reason being: some friends are out of town, many had previous commitments (I arranged to play at Castrillo’s less than a week ago and my friends have pretty serious schedules) and, a Latin Jazz band was playing close by with no cover, there was no time to advertise, and last but not least, I kept hanging out with my friends intermittently while I was going through 2 weeks of the flu and now they are ill.

However, joy of joys, my friends Glenn, Davalynn, Darrius, Grace, Izzy, and my friend/guitar instructor Danny Ray, all showed up to support me. And some of the carry-out people actually sat down to listen to me too ;)

It was a blast. I joked around a lot. I said “Do-over” at the beginning of a song and I said that they teach me to do this at East Nashville School of Music and that they actually pay me a dollar every time I stop in the middle of a song and say “Do-over.” (Of course, they don’t do any such thing). I also told everyone that I used to be a pirate and that I love to write sea chantys, which was why my title track had to be Seventh Siren. They all laughed and said I was quite the story teller.

Castrillo’s wants me to come back again and give some notice so we can advertise properly. It’s all good. Icing on the cake of my week.