12/7 Holidaze Moon
Our traveling artists, who flew in on distant winds, thinned out as the year waned, candles in the windows of their own homes calling them back to nest for a bit with families and familiar faces. A more open schedule made possible this week’s parade of local players, who stepped up handsomely to keep Moonlight’s Yuletide fires aglow. True, Thursday night headliners Martha’s Trouble worked from a Canadian base for years, but by this time they’d already zeroed in on the home they’ve made since in Opelika AL, MUCH to the musical benefit of that little burg and our region as well… to wit:
https://opelikasongwritersfestival.com
For Friday night, new-gen geniuses Alison and Ben Smolin recruited a night of full-steam Birmingham players who brought out a hundred of their fans, cracked the windows, and gave us every dime we collected at the door, a Christmas gift of extreme generosity. A day later, Travis Morgan treated us all to his Skybucket Records roster, so we could plainly see a slice of our city’s solid song talent in concentrated form. Those performers’ and patrons’ support made us even more certain of our mission, and boy we took to hawking those gift certificates as the season for giving prescribed—-
December 7, 2010
Friends of The Moonlight---
We know your time is diced a dozen different directions just now, so we'll hit ya quick with an idea for knocking out a sizable portion of those hard-to-buy-for names on your gift list--- Moonlight offers GIFT CERTIFICATES in any dollar amount, good for the only thing we have for sale up here, which is admission to our shows. Consider that you might solve the dilemma of what to present thoughtfully to your daughter's sketchy boyfriend, or those new oddball in-laws, or the old college roommate who's moved back to town after losing his job in Shreveport.
Just click "Reply" to this email, tell us how much you want to make it for, who's it from and who's it to--- we'll custom print it on a spangly sheet of letter-size parchment and hold it for your pickup, all you gotta do then is fold it into a Christmas card envelope and bestow it with a big smile. The recipients can scan our website for a future show of their own choosing, and we'll treat it just like the cash we collect at the door, at any event we have on our schedule.
One size fits all, no expiration date, something that anybody can enjoy--- at whatever price you decide. Readily available, never on backorder, good for the planet, too!... get your order in now, so we can put 'em in your hands in the next few days--- Mission Accomplished!
Also, in the next few days, we officially start the celebrating--->
Thursday the 9th-- MARTHA'S TROUBLE Christmas Tour 2010, $15
More than a few folks hereabouts will be glad to welcome the annual return of this unique duo, who have become known for bringing their yuletide program to a popular house concert for our friends on Highland Avenue.... Jen and Rob Slocumb never fail to delight, putting her dazzling voice out in front of his fulsome guitar, both weaving enchanting treatments of their imaginative folk/pop originals. Those ingredients are delightfully appropriate for interpreting some classic year-end chestnuts, and some of their own songs specific to the season, many of which are collected on a brand new CD, of which they are likely to have plenty of copies for purchase.
In addition, our own Birmingham duo and Open Mic winners SCARLET AND ROGUE will open the show with a tidy set of their own. Show begins at 7:30pm----
www.marthastrouble.com
Martha’s Trouble, December 9 2010, 34 present
Scarlet and Rogue, December 9 2010
Friday the 10th-- A Moonlight Benefit, with TO LIGHT A FIRE, THE GREAT NON-FICTION, and AEREOPHONICS ATLAS, $10
This is an early Christmas present for us, we are so grateful for the generosity and enthusiasm of these remarkable musicians--- three of this city's exciting new post-college bands come out for the sheer joy of playing, and turn it into a further gift to us by asking nothing in return---- all proceeds collected at the door go to The Moonlight, as a gesture of support for giving live acoustic music a dedicated stage. A month-long Facebook campaign has resulted in a promising turnout, for which we are happy and hopeful--- the cool thing is that the evening's musical rewards will be in equal measure to the spirit of benevolence. If you want to be part of a jumpin' roomful of people having a great time & doing something helpful, make plans to be here--- we will forever thank you for it! 7:30pm
www.tolightafire.com
www.facebook.com/pages/The-Great-Nonfiction
To Light A Fire, December 10 2010, 100 present
The Great Non-Fiction, December 10 2010
Aereophonics Atlas, December 10 2010
Saturday the 11th-- SKYBUCKET AND FRIENDS Songwriter's Round, $10
Those good folks at Birmingham-based Skybucket Records have put together an unusual project tonight, inviting selected members of their roster's bands to pitch in to a potluck acoustic show of their best original work, ostensibly in an unplugged, courtly presentation of tunes--- actually, we expect (and hope) it will morph into a more rollicking session of vocal and instrumental collaboration, since all of these folks know each other and have previously conjoined in varying combinations in the recording studio.
Among the literati we might look for will be Wes McDonald (Vulture Whale), Jody Nelson (Through the Sparks), Janet Simpson (Delicate Cutters, Teen Getaway), Brad Armstrong (13ghosts and Dexateens), Duquette Johnston (Rebel Kings, Gum Creek Killers), and Van Hollingsworth (Magic Math, Monarchs). Come prepared for whatever might happen--- we can pretty much guarantee you it will be unprecedented, and an evening to long remember. 7:30pm
www.skybucket.com
Wes McDonald, December 11 2010, 39 present
Grey Watson and Jody Nelson
Janet Simpson
Brad Armstrong
Duquette Johnson
Van Hollingsworth
NEXT WEEK WE ONLY GOT A COUPLE, BUT HEY..... WOT GOOD ONES!
Wednesday the 15th--- LEGACY BAND, an authentic Irish Christmas party, it starts with a whisky tastin'!
Thursday the 16th-- CHAPMAN JAMES BIRTHDAY SONG BASH, myriad players come serenade one of our favorite songwriters--- no cover, no brakes!
More can be learned about the future--- well, our events, anyway--- with a visit to the website Calendar page-->
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