TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. GREETINGS
2. UPCOMING SHOWS AT-A-GLANCE THROUGH DECEMBER 2011
3. TOUR DATES TO FILL
4. PRE-ORDER DEBRA’S NEW LIVE RECORDING
5. DEBRA ON NEW COMPILATION CD “CDV”
6. DEB’S FAVES
-Steve Hawkins
-Tom Lewis
7. NEW WEBSITE AND NEW MAIL LIST PROGRAM
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Hiking in the mountains around Sandpoint, ID with my sister, Judy York and Kelsey-The-Dog. Oct. 2011
GREETINGS!
This is going to be a bit of a longish newsletter. I was so busy traveling at the beginning of the month that I didn’t get a chance to get one out earlier. I do appreciate your willingness to read my missives, and as much as I would love to keep sending you the newsletter, you are always free to leave this list at any time.
I am home now after a really fine trip to the Pacific Northwest region of the US. Stops in British Columbia, Idaho, Washington State, and Oregon gave me a chance to see old friends and meet new ones. I also had a lovely visit with family and a short visit with my good friends Tom and Lyn Lewis. More on Tom below. Autumn is a splendid time to be in this region of the US; the colours were spectacular and of course the beauty and majesty of the Cascade Mountains, many of the highest peaks snow-covered, were sights to behold. I’ll be returning again next year, so watch the schedule.
UPCOMING SHOW AT-A-GLANCE THROUGH DECEMBER 2011
Last concert of the year!!!
Dec. 10, 2011 – Hamden, CT (USA) @ House Concert
This will be a house concert with my dear friends Sheldon and Nancy Campbell. I first met Sheldon about 12 years ago and he has been coming to shows ever since and has kept in touch. His daughter became a fan when she was very young and now she is in college! They sure grow up fast, eh?
Reservations are required. You can phone Sheldon and Nancy at 203-865-4171
or email: sheldon.campbell@yale.edu . We’ll be starting at 7:30 pm.
As always more dates are added on a continual basis so please check
for up-to-date performances
And always check with the venue for updated venue information
TOUR DATES TO FILL
2012
Jan. 18, 19, – NH, ME
Feb. 9 (with John Roberts) – Central or Western MA, RI
Feb. 16, 17, 19, 20 – Western MA, NY State
Apr. 19, 21 -NJ or Greater NYC area
PRE-ORDER DEBRA’S NEW LIVE RECORDING “AMONG FRIENDS”
As I mentioned in my last newsletter, I am currently in the process of working with Mike Barry at Babyland Studios in Medford, MA to put together a new recording. This was a concert that was recorded live at Bacca Pipes Folk Club, Keighley, UK in November of 2006.
Again, no other way to say it but I’ll need your help to do this.
As prospective “Executive Producers” of this recording, I thought I’d give you a breakdown of the budget. I am estimating that this recording will cost $7000, which is quite inexpensive by industry standards:
-Mixing and editing the already recorded tracks – $1200
-The songwriters of the contemporary songs need to be paid a licensing fee so that I may release my version of their wonderful creations commercially – $700.
-Additional studio engineering called Mastering that will need to be done to make this recording ready for “prime time” – $1000.
-Graphic designer – $1500
-Duplicating for 1000 copies – $2000
-Marketing, promotion shipping – $600
View and download the form HERE . If you have any questions, please contact me via email: dcowan@DebraCowan.com .
DEBRA ON NEW COMPILATION CD
Back in 1998, I discovered an online discussion group about acoustic guitars called rec.music.makers.guitar.acoustic or RMMGA. It is on a network called Usenet and at the time, I accessed this group because I had some questions about the guitar I was playing at the time, my Martin HD-28. I was immediately taken with some of the personalities in this forum, mainly the humour. Many of these folks have become good friends and I have also met a number of them on my travels around the US and UK.
There have been a few compilation CDs that this group has put out and I finally submitted a track to the fifth CD. I submitted my version of “Darlin’ Corey” mainly because I think Geoff Bartley’s guitar work is brilliant and has stood the test of time. Imagine my surprise to discover that “Darlin’ Corey” is the first track on the compilation. “CDV” is available from CDBaby.
DEB’S FAVES
-Steve Hawkins
My good friend Steve Hawkins is a wonderful fingerstyle guitar player who lives in Portland, OR. He is also active in the Portland Guitar Society and is quite well-known amongst fingerstyle guitarists all over the world. His new CD, “Fingerpainting” is available through CD Baby. Check out track #14, “Herman’s Ramble”. Herman is our cat and Steve wrote this tune after a visit to our house a few years ago. Those of you that have met Herman-The-Cat will agree that Steve captured him quite accurately. You can go to the CDBaby link above or just send Steve an email at . If you buy from Steve directly, the shipping is free! Such a deal!
-Tom Lewis
I have known of Tom’s work for decades, but only met him when we were both hired at the Lancaster Maritime Festival (UK) a few years ago. Tom is a retired Navy submariner and has spent the last 30 or so years traveling around the world singing and performing. He was making the Ukelele popular before it became popular! Check out his music at the link above. One of his songs, “Recall” is a favorite of mine and visiting with Tom and Lyn reminded me that I need to pull it out and dust it off.
NEW WEBSITE AND NEW MAIL LIST PROGRAM
It’s happening! Hooray! Break out the champagne! DebraCowan.com will be getting a complete makeover after the new year. Dana Whittle is doing a great job with the overall re-design and has given me some good suggestions as to how I can finally get into the 21st century on the web.
This will be the last plain text, olde-fashioned newsletter that you will receive. I am going to be using a new mailing list program called Mail Chimp that will give my newsletters a new look. Again, know that your email details are always safe with me; I NEVER give or sell my list to anyone. With Mail Chimp I’ll be able to let you know about my concerts in your specific area and keep you updated on the latest news.
That’s all for now. Hope everyone in the US has a great Thanksgiving. If you aren’t in the US, have a great November 24.
Please keep in touch. Thanks so much for supporting my music and for helping me do the best job in the world.
Debra