SONGWRITER SERIES RETURNS AUGUST 7, 2008 AT SLATE STREET CAFE!
The monthly Albuquerque Songwriter Series returns to Slate Street Café in their fabulous Wine Loft on August 7. The session runs 7 - 9 PM and admission is free. Slate Street Café is located at 515 Slate NW Albuquerque, NM (one block north of Lomas between 5th and 6th) 505-243-2210 .
Presented by the City of Albuquerque Music Office, part of the Mayor's Economic Development Department, the monthly songwriter series features a changing lineup of local songwriters and takes place the first Thursday of each month. The August session will feature
songwriters JOHNNY BURNS, CRISTEN GREY and COLE MITCHELL.
JOHNNY BURNS:
Son of Country Music Hall of Famer JETHRO BURNS and nephew of musical legend CHET ATKINS, JOHNNY BURNS is a chip off of a very impressive block. A long time member of the Chicago Folk/Rock/Americana scene,
Johnny rose through the ranks as vocalist/guitarist with the late STEVE GOODMAN (City of New Orleans) and founder and leader of JOHN
PRINE'S recording and touring band...
www.myspace.com/mrjohnnyburns
CRISTEN GREY:
Veteran New Mexico songwriter CRISTEN GREY's compositions are at home
whether presented in full band glory or stripped down solo acoustic.
Christen is atwo-time New Mexico Music Award Winner, most recently in 2008 for Best Musical Productions Rock Adult-Contemporary for the song "So Much Better". She was also nominated in 2007 in two categories (Best Song and Rock Adult-Contemporary) winning in the later for the
song "Absolute".
www.cristengrey.com
COLE MITCHELL:
Ex-frontman for New Mexico's own legendary roadhouse band THE SADDLESORES and internationally critically acclaimed songwriter (his
album Invictus was named a Best of 2007 record by Dutch Roots Radio, among other accolades), COLE MITCHELL's "songs sweat bullets of genuine American tears laced with grit and asphalt. Filled with road weary tales of whiskey-soaked nights, deals gone bad, clocking time in
a slaughterhouse and "breathing fire and drinking gasoline". (Local
iQ).
www.colemitchellmusic.com
The goal of The Albuquerque Songwriter Series is to showcase songwriters from all genres of music by presenting an evening of exploring song craft in an intimate setting. Each month the featured
songwriters join each other on stage with host Rob Martinez, Jr. to take turns playing original songs, talk about their origins, how they
came to write them, their influences and challenges. Songs range from completed pieces to works in progress.
Mr. Martinez is a songwriter and musician with deep local ties. As well as performing solo and with local outfit THE DADDY Os, he is a member of New Mexico's legendary traditional band LOS REYES DE
ALBUQUERQUE. Mr. Martinez is also a member of the Mayor's Albuquerque Music Advisory Board (AMAB). James de Champlon, also a member of the AMAB and a part of the City's Cultural Services Department coordinates
the monthly series with City Music Liaison Tom Frouge.
"This series is not about performance, nor is it about perfect voices or playing." says Mr. Frouge. "It is about the art of song craft, and
is not an open mic presentation. The stripped down setting, whether
the songs are rock, rap, jazz, classical, folk, world, Latin or
country, will showcase the compositions presented as they were written, on a single instrument. It will allow the Albuquerque songwriting community the opportunity to display their wares to other
songwriters perhaps learn from one another and, hopefully help nourish that part of the music business in Albuquerque. It will also allow the community at large to get to know these artists through their songs."
Please note: the Songwriter Series is not an open mic session. or more information on the series and the possibility of participation
please contact Tom Frouge, Music Liaison, City of Albuquerque Economic
Development Department, Mayor's Office at 505-771-3166 or
tfrouge@cabq.gov