Gaelynn Lea Music's Newsletter: Summer 2016


I hope this long-overdue newsletter finds you well! I am sincerely baffled as to how it is already almost July - the phrase "time flies" doesn't even seem to cut it anymore! Anyway, wishing you a wonderful summer filled with sunshine & the  occasional  nap... Thanks so much for your support! 


SUMMER DAYS BY THE LAKE
Performing, Teaching, Busking & Releasing a New EP 

Summer has finally arrived in beautiful Duluth! The locals and tourists alike have been soaking in the sun by the shores of Lake Superior with every spare moment they have. Each season has its charm, to be sure, but summer is so incredibly gorgeous in Duluth that it's hard not to declare it the best season hands down. :)

This summer is a busy one for me indeed! I am teaching fiddle students at my studio every other week, playing quite a few shows, and then my husband and I are trying to get our house ready to sell. Home projects, packing, and planning are what the month of July is all about!  


A few summer musical highlights include:
  • Alan Sparhawk and I play at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC on July 26th for the 26th Anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act - an exciting gig on multiple levels... More details soon!
  • I just ordered a bunch of merchandise for my upcoming summer & fall shows - there is now a variety of t-shirts, tank tops, children's clothing, and accessories to choose from at live shows & on the web: CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT MY NEW ONLINE STORE! 
  • I have been doing a lot of busking on the Lakewalk whenever the sun is out! For those of you who don't know, busking is playing outside for tips... I have been doing it each summer for the past decade because it's a great way to enjoy the Lake, and I get to play music for lots of adorable children... I love kids!
  • This summer I have had the total pleasure of playing with a musician friend, Al Church, who I have known for quite some time... We actually went to high school together in Duluth! Al has since relocated to Minneapolis, and so our musical paths had not yet crossed as adults... But by what can only be explained as a perfect twist of fate, he ended up sitting in with me at one of my shows down in Minneapolis. That night was so much fun that I asked if he would join me the next day to record in Minneapolis at The Peal Recording Studio with sound engineer Zach Hollander... What started as an impromptu jam ended up turning into a 6-song EP that will be released mid-August! I can't wait for you to hear this collaborative effort (my husband Paul even makes a cameo on this recording)! I am planning a pair of EP Release shows later this summer to celebrate the completed recordings -first on August 16th at The Red Herring Lounge in Duluth, MN and then on August 17th at the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis! I hope you can join me for a show - save the date! - otherwise the EP will be available for sale at my website and for digital download online. I am sooooo excited to share this music with you! 
BOOKING GIGS, PACKING UP & HITTING THE ROAD
Gaelynn & Paul on Tour this Fall
So much has happened since the Tiny Desk Contest, it's hard to keep track! I've played many enjoyable shows and met some absolutely amazing people along the way. Needless to say, it's been a fun 2016 so far, and I am excited for the adventures that await await us in the second half of the year! 

I'm happy to announce that I recently began working with a booking agent named Craig Grossman at Green Room Music Source. He's a super nice person who is also enthusiastic about helping me play out to new audiences across the country. So together Craig, me, and my husband Paul are forming a small but mighty team to tackle something that I've always dreamed of doing: TOURING!

Because of my disability, touring involves an extra set of logistical considerations, but I am blessed beyond words to have the support of my loving husband and my family as we embark on a few regional and national tours this fall. Touring will require a steep learning curve, but I am really excited for the challenge!  I've been reading one of the best books ever (Tour:Smart by the Martin Atkins) to prepare myself, but I am sure there is no substitute for experience!

Anyway, here is the outline of the fall tour so far... We're still in the planning stages, but it's coming together!  

STATES WE'LL BE VISITING DURING OUR TOUR THIS FALL: (SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER)
        • North Dakota 
        • Colorado
        • Nebraska
        • Iowa
        • Minnesota
        • Michigan
        • Ohio
        • New York
        • Pennsylvania
        • Massachusetts
        • Maine
        • New York  
        • Washington DC
        • Virginia
        • North Carolina
        • Tennessee
        • Kentucky 
        • Illinois
        • Wisconsin
I wanted to share this list because I have a request: if you'd like to help me spread the word about events in your state, please email me! The advice, support, and/or assistance from the people who actually live in these areas will be truly invaluable. It takes a village to create a successful tour, literally and figuratively!

It will be so fun to play music and connect with people in different parts of the country - Paul and I can't wait to see you on the road!


It's Christmas in July!
Contribute to my holiday album & get a free copy when it's done!

Christmas has always been my favorite holiday (hence the reason Paul and I got married on December 21st a few years back). Most especially, I am enamored with the music of the season - many carols evoke a sense of peace, coziness & nostalgia that can rival even the  comforts of a home-cooked turkey dinner.

So early this fall I'm planning to head back into the studio to record a full-length album of my favorite live-looped traditional Christmas carols, to be completed in November 2016!

As with traditional fiddle tunes, the looping pedal is a wonderful vehicle to explore the winding, familiar melodies of the holiday season. I am excited to bring these carols to life in a new way. I hope this album can become a part of your family's winter tradition! 

Recording an album is a labor of love, to be sure, but it's also a costly endeavor. This summer my goal is to save at least $3,000 to make this album a (credit card debt-free) reality! Rather than start a Kickstarter campaign to help with the costs, I thought I'd reach out to you, the people who support my musical journey the most! 

I'd be thrilled if you could help me raise some of the money to record, mix, master, and print this holiday CD. If you would be willing to contribute funds to my Christmas album (no amount is too small!) I will send you a free copy of the album once it's finished as a token of my appreciation!  Cheers (a few months early!) to the music of the holidays!

 

 

 (Full list of events available at Gaelynn Lea's website: www.violinscratches.com/shows)

 

"Gaelynn Lea takes a meditative approach, building loops that are based on sustained notes and vibrato, loops that seem like she's scoring a sunrise on a winter morning." - Tony Bennett, Duluth News Tribune