BIRTHDAYS

Happy Birthday wishes to Roger Creager!  He plays so many “birthday concerts” that no one’s sure what day it really is!  (I am.  It was Sunday!)  The birthday concert at Gruene Hall Saturday night was sold out.  Cody Johnson Band opened for the birthday boy.

 

Speaking of birthdays, thanks to the James Lann Band for a tight set at the Best in Texas Birthday Bash last Wednesday at Goode Company’s Armadillo Palace in Houston.  James and his wife Stephanie are stoked about going to Europe next month.  James plays the Equiblues Festival and other dates in France and Italy.  First, though, a big show at Wild West in Lubbock, July 31, where the band is giving away an iPad to a lucky audience member.     

 

Back to the Birthday Bash: Rich O’Toole continues his series of songs swaps Wednesday night at the Armadillo Palace.  This week, his special guest is his buddy Kyle Park. 

 

KUDOS

Jeremy Steding got some good news from American Songspace (the publishers of American Songwriter magazine).  Jeremy’s "Let the Boys Drink Whiskey" has been selected as a top 25 finalist (from of 1,000's of submissions) to be the featured artist on the Zac Brown Band’s “Southern Ground” cruise!  You can leave a comment for Jeremy, at

http://blog.americansongspace.com/blog/2010/07/zac-brown-band-sailing-southern-ground-contest-semifinalists/

 

Lindsey Swart and the gang at Texas Music Chart reporting station KOFM, Enid, Oklahoma, must be excited.  Their station is nominated by the National Association of Broadcasters as “Small Market Station of the Year.”  Good luck!

 

More congratulations...this time to Greg Henry, booking guru at Austin’s AUE, and everybody associated with the Randy Leasley Scholarship Fund.  They’ve just announced that June’s “Leasleypalooza” golf tournament and concert generated over $12,000 for China Spring High School, increasing funds for the Randy Leasley Scholarship Fund. 

 

CHECKING IN

Nice to hear from the “Ten Foot Texan,” Eric Hanke!  He’s been playing Gruene Hall a couple of times a month, getting ready for a new CD to be released this fall.  Send me a copy when it’s ready, Eric. 

 

john Arthur martinez is back in Texas after a whirlwind set of dates in Southern California.  He played house concerts, private parties and a couple of public venues in Carlsbad, Yorba Linda and Pacoima.  Texas gets him back for a show in Wimberley this coming Sunday.  

 

GOOD READ COMING

The August issue of Best In Texas Music Magazine hits the streets this week.  Cory Morrow’s on the cover, and he’s excited about response to his new CD, Brand New Me.  Writer Laurie James explores the “brand new” Cory in her cover story. 

 

Also in Best In Texas: Rob Baird describes his appreciation of Texas fans.  Shy Blakeman shies away from becoming an “edgier Keith Urban.”  David Ball has a new mantra -- “Less Coffee. More Beer!”  David discovered that coffee was making him hoarse, so he gave it up.  

 

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