Sweet Marian Moon
We came to believe that the end of a calendar year was the occasion for wealthy folks to start looking for tax dumps, and it behooved us to hang out our own red kettle and start ringing the bell for those of our clientele who knew what to do with deductions. Music, of course, remained our main order of business, as it was our central argument for livin’ and breathin’ at all—- so while our right hand was dancing out a melody on the upper keys, the left hand took to structuring a solid base that would get us through the song. We had the guidance of the invaluable Todd Heifner, who ran a shop downstairs underneath our very floor, whose main service was birthing 501(c)3 non-profit orgs, and navigating the exacting paperwork thereof.
The process reminded me of the dance lessons my mother signed me up for in the seventh grade—- “Just learn the steps, son, it’ll pay off later, you’ll see”— put some effort and foresight into the front end of a project, and set yourself up for the dividends to come after. Mom missed her prediction by two miles on my familiarity with the foxtrot, but the principle itself led to our keeping the lights on at Moonlight for years to come. And Mom’s not the only one to thank for that.
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November 10, 2010
Friends of The Moonlight---
For the last several weeks we've been hinting about our strategy to keep The Moonlight shining--- many of you will be glad to hear that we have a way out of the woods, and you have a chance to help. Following the model of some other visionary folk venues across the country, we can now count on the assistance of a collection of special friends, who have formed a non-profit group--- The Moonlight Music Alliance--especially to promote and present original acoustic music to the people of the Birmingham area--- here at The Moonlight, and anywhere else it might strike their fancy to do so.
A bare-bones website has just been set up for the organization, it'll be prettied-up and fleshed-out right soon...
www.moonlightmusicalliance.org
but for now it exists mainly as a portal for your heartfelt (and tax-deductible!) donations to the cause, which will be added to the seed money that has been so generously given by the group members themselves. If you agree that our efforts here are worth continuing, and you'd like to help maintain a full-time stage for local and traveling singers and songwriters, you can now click a button and painlessly pitch in whatever amount you may have to spare. It's your vote of approval for what we've just begun to do for this community.
While time passes, and the number of earnest supporters grows, the Alliance will make progress in its campaign to attract additional resources from corporate underwriters, cultural foundations, and others keen on supporting the songwriting arts. The overall intention, of course, is to strengthen the presence of real American music in this region where it is underserved, and to make it more accessible to the folks who want to hear it--- that surely includes YOU, and we deeply appreciate any small contribution you are willing to make in that effort!
MOONLIGHT SHOWS THIS WEEK--->
Thursday the 11th--- MARIAN McKAY and Her Mood Swings, $12
Here's an idea for celebrating Veteran's Day--- invite anyone you know who remembers the Big Band music of the '40s to come out for a stroll down Memory Lane, as conducted by this remarkable trio. Marian long ago chose her favorite albums from the bins of Charlemagne Records, the record store she has owned for more than thirty years on Birmingham's Southside--- turns out they were all jazz and blues standards from the War Years.... also turns out that she's a charming interpreter of those classic songs, her silky vintage voice supported by two of the smoothest players to be found hereabouts, Marvin McCombs on guitar and Jon Ford adding standup bass.
Moonlight's the perfect environment for this sort of easy listening--- candlelight, your special wine, a table in a dark corner--- it's a great opportunity to come enjoy what The Greatest Generation called a hot night out--- "S'Wonderful!" 7:30pm
www.wbhm.org/Tapestry/bands/MarianMcKay.html
Marian McKay, November 11 2010, 22 present
Marian McKay and Her Mood Swings
Friday the 12th-- BARBARA BAILEY HUTCHISON, $12
She's one of those insufferably talented people who got a share of each kind of artist's gift--- she draws, she paints, she sings, she writes--- no doubt Barbara's a pretty good dancer as well. You can't begrudge her these blessings, though, because she shares them with a joy and passion that's taken her across the globe, playing for delighted listeners from Bangor to Bangkok, Toledo to Tokyo.
Three American presidents have applauded her songs--- you'll recognize her voice from literally hundreds of high-profile advertising spots for national clients-- McDonald's & Mitsubishi, Hallmark & Heinz--- and she even toted home a Grammy award for a children's record that she cut for a friend. A remarkable lady indeed--- no doubt she can entertain the toughest of ya--
www.bbhsings.com
Barbara Bailey Hutchinson, November 12 2010, 12 present
Saturday the 13th-- SWEETWATER ROAD, $12
Bluegrass, jazz, pop, and country collide delectably in the playlist of Jason Bailey's current project, which features his typical assembly of supremely skilled bandmates--- Michelle Cone and Kelli Johnson each bring their stellar voices and Alabama-crafted original songs to the frontline, supported by Brandon Peoples' stalwart bass and Jason's intricate, punctilious mandolin runs.
Sweetwater's performances always seem to reach a high point early in the first set, then blithely supersede those accomplishments with ever more breathtaking displays of instrumental authority. It's down home and uptown all at once, and there will be plenty of your good friends there to enjoy it... you might best join 'em!
www.facebook.com/sweetwaterroadmusic
www.baileyjason.com
Sweetwater Road, November 13 2010, 41 present
Kelli Johnson
Michelle Cone
Jason Bailey and Brandon Peoples
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A DOWN-THE-CREEK PEEK AT NEXT WEEK-->
Monday 15th--- OPEN MIC NIGHT--- another one of our serendipity sessions, routinely shot through with good surprises--- and somebody always wins money!
Friday 19th--- PRIVATE EVENT-- you could be having one, too, we still got some prime dates left for Christmas parties, grab one now---
Saturday 20th-- KYLE MATTHEWS--- Gospel and contemporary Christian songwriter, performer, and speaker--- it's flat-out transformative!
Sunday 21st-- EDIE CAREY-- Perennial critics' pick soothes, seduces, stimulates, satisfies--- she's absolutely one of the best folksters we've found
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