Will Taylor and Strings Attached Concert Blog noreply@blogger.com (Will Taylor)

One half of the Mandolin Christmas duo wrote an essay about the Winter Solstice. Enjoy and share with friends. Karen and I are thrilled to present to you the 3rd in our series of acoustic holiday albums A Mandolin Christmas, Vol. 2   Buy it at AMandolinChristmas.com Read episode notes here: https://christmassongsmusicandcarols.blogspot.com/2018/11/bring-torch-from-new-mandolin-christmas.html AVAILABLE ON Spotify b.link/karenwillspotify ~~ Apple Music b.link/karenwillitunes ~~ Amazon b.link/karenwillamazon ~~ DOWNLOAD FROM WILL b.link/karenwillbc ~~ CD b.link/karenwillcds Follow us on Facebook We’d like to invite you to let our record shine its light in your holiday atmosphere.  It’s a great accompaniment to preparing holiday meals, visiting with friends and family. Here are the links to do that: Want to help us get the word out and get this music playing everywhere we can this season? For every 1 paragraph or more positive review of our new album, we will donate $1 to Strings Attached Cares up to $1000.00 Want to match us and make this more fun and effective? Post your review on any of the digital outlets, your social media, or email us at will@willtaylor.com Include the amount you'd like to match for other reviews, and your limit, and you’re all set.  For example: “I'll donate $5 to Strings Attached Cares for every review submitted to Will a will@willtaylor.com , up to $500 Let’s raise $$$ for Strings Attached cares and help promote A Mandolin Christmas at the same time.. Liner notes Follow Karen & Will: FACEBOOK SPOTIFY PANDORA APPLE MUSIC AMAZON GOOGLE DEEZER axtcrhb8

LISTEN TO IT HERE

Interview With: Albert and Gage, guests for Strings on Grass November 13, 2015 RSVP here. Listen here or podcast here. Interview Conducted By: Will Taylor Will: Christine Albert & Chris Gage are appearing with Strings Attached at our Strings on Grass series, coming up on November 13th—after being rescheduled two times because of rain in Austin!—So, we’re here to talk a little bit about the two of them, and some questions that I have pulled together, as well as some reflections that they have on working with Strings Attached. I hope this interview will get people excited about the show. The special thing about Strings Attached and our concerts, is that we have this one-time experience when we get together with singer-songwriters, and reimagine their music… sometimes to an extreme level. For instance, when we do Beatles tribute shows, we might reimagine the music in a completely different way than the original versions. Along with our ever popular cover shows, we love to collaborate with singer-songwriters in the Austin area,—like Eliza Gilkyson, Slaid Cleaves—which was the original direction our band took in the beginning, years ago. We bring to the table, certain things like jazz improvisation, or different vocal sounds, adding some color to the arrangements. We try to create a unique experience for people to come out and be intrigued. That’s the first thing that I wanted to talk about. If I remember correctly, we had a show about 10-15 years ago.  Chris: Has is been that long? Christine: Yeah, I think so, I think it has. Will: Yeah, and it was at Saint David’s church, which is a beautiful space. Yeah, it’s a distant memory for me. I’m curious to see if you remember anything specifically about working with us… or anything in general about what we do. So yeah, my first question is: Was there anything notable about that performance? Chris: I just remember being thrilled to hear our songs envisioned by someone else. Like you said, everyone has a different take on music. Some people come from a more classical background, and some people have a little more jazz. You know, I do this gig at Strange Brew every week where I’m playing with somebody different every each time… it’s a lot of time the same songs, but each person is going to bring something different to it. And what you do with Strings Attached, is real inventive. And plus, you have a core group of people that do this a lot. And so they know what you’re thinking when you write an arrangement, and they can help you bring it to life. It’s just real exciting for me. Christine: Yeah, I think every artist has sort of a fantasy of hearing their music with strings or with an orchestra… more arranged in that way. For me, it brings an elegance to the music that we try to bring that to our performances at Don’s Depot. It’s not always there.  Chris: Well, I turn on the string machine sometimes. (Christine laughs.) Christine: So especially at Saint Davids, and in that beautiful environment, it was almost mystical. And I imagine the Strings on Grass is a different kind of environment, but also brings a sort of natural, organic beauty to it that really compliments the music.  Will: Exactly! Yes, that’s the same approach that we were taking with the original Strings Attached series in the church; was that context where people walk into it. It’s not just about hearing the music directly, but it’s the environment that you’re in. It really affects the emotional receiving of the song, or the music. So same thing, you’re right! With Strings on Grass, we’re in this beautiful, gorgeous yard with large trees, and there’s lights shining in the trees, along with the stars above. There’s something about hearing music in a natural setting. It’s very different from Saint David’s, but I think it’s very natural. You know, for instance, Karen and I love Kerrville (The folk festival). So there’s a little bit of a being-around-the-campfire

Driving? Then listen to this here. Strings  on Grass Sunset Concert Series featuring Jimmy LaFave and surprise mystery guest Great Austin musicians in a country setting, under the stars featuring new arrangements by Will Taylor Sunday, April 19, 2015 (Doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7:30) at private home near Slaughter and Manchaca RSVP to get complete information Like us on Facbook Go to our website Strings on Grass is a donations-based concert series,  so pay what you can or feel. Suggested contribution: $20/person at the door. We are pleased to bring back Jimmy Lafave and a secret mystery guest, lover of Barton Springs in from Vermont. (See videos of Jimmy here) The last few years we’ve been in the studio with Jimmy, recording a cut with him on his Jackson Browne Tribute album, and two songs on his most recent album release.  Back in the 80’s my high school best friend and I would take our strings downtown and sit in at the Chicago House open mike frequently hosted by Jimmy Lafave.  Years later I ran into Jimmy at a live KGSR radio tribute to Bob Dylan; from that radio show the first season of  Strings Attached was born. Here are a few songs I arranged for that first show back in 2001: Never is a Moment When It Starts to Rain (KUT Radio Appearance) Jimmy LaFave was born in Wills Point, Texas, a small town 30 miles east of Dallas. He began school down the road in Mesquite and by Junior High was making music perched behind his Sears & Roebuck drum kit. It wasn’t long before his mother traded a drawer full of green stamps for his first guitar and the switch to singer–songwriter was in progress. His family later moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma, where he finished high school. Although he has lived in Austin for over 20 years, many people think of him as being from Oklahoma, because of his strong musical ties to the state and what he often refers to as its “red dirt music.” It was in this landscape that he began to define his sound and soak up a combination of his experiences among authentic songwriters from the tradition of Woody Guthrie. Before leaving Oklahoma for Austin, Jimmy did some independent recording and toured the southwest with the first version of his band Night Tribe. Read more here…. "Jimmy LaFave sings like a soul caught up in the rapture."--Claudia Perry, The Houston Post Jimmy LaFave is a musician, songwriter, and performing artist of unprecedented talent. An artist's artist."--Bob Johnston, Producer: Blonde On Blonde, Nashville Skyline, Johnny Cash, Paul Simon "Jimmy LaFave's songs move me 'cause he sings them with grit, passion, and uncommon beauty."--Lucinda Williams, Recording Artist "Jimmy LaFave uncovers the soul of America. And he does that so movingly and so beautifully that words fail."--Niew Revue, European newsweekly "Jimmy LaFave delivers with foot-to-the-floor passion." --Playboy "Jimmy, your words and music have captured new audiences who appreciate the Austin soundscape and the songwriting it encompasses. You are one of Austin's favorites, and you know that I'm one of your biggest fans."--Ann Richards, Former Governor of Texas Strings on Grass is a handicap accessible, smoke free, outdoor house concert series located near Slaughter Creek Dr. and Manchaca. Well-behaved youngsters any age are welcome. All attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic, their own seating, pillows, blankets as needed.   Attendance is by invitation only and RSVPs are required. Directions will be emailed to those with confirmed reservations. 2 ways To RSVP for the Jimmy LaFave concert 1) Online: click here or 2) By mail: please fill out the form below and mail it before April 14, 2014 to Will Taylor Strings on Grass Series – Jimmy LaFave 9300 S IH 35 Suite A500 Austin, TX 78748 Suggested donation is $20/person.Checks made out to Strings Attached. After April 14, please RSVP here http://stringsattached.org RSVP for the Jimmy LaFave house concert,  April 19, 2015 Please note that we will acknowledg