Hello, everybody! Once again, we’re writing this from Huntsville, Alabama where we’re visiting our twin grandbabies, Jackson & Julie, 5 1/2 months old already & adorable, of course! Tomorrow (April 13th) we’ll be playing at BANDITO SOUTHSIDE again.
2013 marks our 30th year of playing music together, and it has been a great year so far. Liz & I flew to PARIS, FRANCE to perform at the 15th INTERNATIONAL BOOGIE ET BLUES FESTIVAL at Theatre Columbier on Jan. 18th & 19th. The two-night festival was sold-out both nights, despite Paris having its worst snowstorm in years! We shared the stage with ARTHUR MIGLIAZZA (from Seattle, WA), CHRIS WATSON & his band (from Belgium), and the DENIS MAZHUKOV Band (from Moscow), and we played in various combinations with the other musicians in addition to our own sets. Liz & I had a fantastic time and, despite the snowstorm, we were able to do some sightseeing in downtown Paris; I enjoyed an 18-inch hotdog wrapped in a loaf of French bread beneath the Eiffel Tower- the best hot dog I’ve ever had!
Two days after returning to St. Pete, Liz & I opened for the LAUREN MITCHELL BAND at the Palladium Theatre on January 25th. This was Lauren’s CD Release Party, and we were playing to her enthusiastic (and sold-out) audience in the Side Door. Lauren Mitchell (originally from Ohio) and her band are an exceptionally talented & entertaining group- go out & give them a listen if you get the chance.
On February 23rd, we hosted our 4TH ANNUAL BOOGIE WOOGIE/BLUES PIANO STOMP at the Palladium Theatre. This show was SOLD OUT for the first time (800+ tickets sold), and it was a huge success. This year, Liz & I were joined onstage by CARL SONNY LEYLAND (from England & California), DARYL DAVIS (from Maryland), and BOB SEELEY (Michigan), the world’s premier boogie woogie master & four-year-veteran of the Stomp. The show was filmed & can now be seen on YouTube (keywords: boogie woogie Palladium).
WEDU-PBS TV (Tampa) sent a film crew to our show at JAXSONS ON THE BOULEVARD (St. Pete Beach) on March 22nd for a featured segment on their ArtsPlus program, to be aired in Tampa Bay June 11 & nationally after that. Liz was also interviewed & filmed the following week for this show. Watch this space & your email for more info.
We have 2 new items for sale- please visit our STORE page & merch table at shows.
Congrats & thanks to these 2012 Frequent Fan winners: 1. Judy R. (attended 40+ shows!); 2. Teresa W., 3. Priscilla H., 4. Art O. (all attended 30+ shows!); Dan H., Diann F., Judi L., Barry S., Terry G., Barry H., Wayne K., (20+ shows each); Linda M., Harriett S., Diane G., Robert F. (10+ shows each). Loyal fans like these contribute greatly to our success & we invite you to join them in the crowd soon, & ask for your free Frequent Fan card while there.
This week marks the one-year anniversary of our new website! Our thanks to our webmaster & friend MIKE CONATY at Brunswick Media.
If you haven’t received an email from us in the past year, please sign up (again) for our email list on our HOME page.
Hope to see you soon!
Doc
