Off to the Hills!

So, we’re finally kicking off some traveling with our first long-distance shows of the season this weekend up in the Asheville area. It feels great to be getting out of the triangle (not that we don’t love you!) and playing in some new places with new faces. If you’re in the area or have friends out that way, please invite them to come out to hear our show.

Tomorrow (Friday) night we get things started up in Black Mountain at the Straightaway Cafe. You can hear us there from 6-9pm. After that we’ll regroup in Asheville at Jack of the Wood for an 8pm show on Saturday night. We are thrilled to be warming the stage up for the talented four piece Chompin’ at the Bit and their exciting cd release party.

So, good times all around. Happy Memorial Day Weekend to you, and if you’re vacaying up our way, stop by and say hi.

Calabash at the Carrack

Jamie B. Wolcott is an amazing, Durham-based artist. If you haven’t yet heard of her, I am delighted to be the one to introduce you. I first met Jamie when I was watching her partner, local musician/entertainer Curtis Eller tear it up at the Pinhook. If you’ve never seen him live, I highly recommend it… oh wait! Guess what? You can see him AND Jamie at the Calabash event. Hooray!
I know Jamie mostly for her amazing poster and album cover works, many of which you can check out for yourself this week.

So come on out and give whatever you can to support ART!

Worthwhile

My heart sinks a little every time I bring my fellas into a gig that ends up costing us more to play than we make. When you play for tips or a cover charge, it’s always a gamble. It’s a hard balance to find and one that most musicians struggle reaching: To get out there and be heard WHILE making somewhat of a living… or at least not loosing money. And of course, it isn’t really about the money so much in the end as it is about the art.

Me personally? Well, I’d rather play to a room of 20 attentive and appreciative folks than 1000 folks who would rather talk over our background hum. I suppose, like with anything, there must be balance. There is an equilibrium, and as an artist, I need both. The well-paying gigs fill the pockets. They pay rent and bills. They put gas in the tank and food in the belly. This is essential.
Last night we played an incredible show at the Greenbean Cafe in Greensboro, NC. We performed to a small crowd of maybe 30 and had the pleasure of sharing the stage with some talented whippersnappers from Concord, NC and a fella touring from Kent, OH. We left with a grand total of $15 and gurgling guts from our PBRs, but it was all worthwhile. You see, those 30 or so strangers connected with us. For that hour, they were bold enough to follow us into the world of our music, and they reminded all three of us that we are worthwhile. This music we make, it’s worth a listen… So maybe it didn’t fill our pockets, but it damn well filled our souls.
Thank you Greensboro. We’ll be seeing you.

Making it just right

If you know me personally, you’re probably not too surprised that the album we have been working on is not yet released. Perhaps it’s my Aries nature or overachiever tendencies, but I’ve got this thing where I’ve got to feel like anything I’ve put my heart into has come out just right. It may still fall short of perfection, but it has to at least been given my best effort. You see, this was the way I was raised… the one lesson that resonates strongest… it never mattered where I finished in the race, but that I tried my best and crossed the finish line. Between the non-stop that is school, teaching and planning a wedding with the love of my life, there has been too little time to devote to the mixing process of this record. So I want to have a second pass, if you will, once the non-stop has slowed. 

 Tim worked hard to mix and produce the record, and we’ve got some really great material; however, there are still some tunes that I still need to spend a little more time with, balancing out the sounds as I hear them when they play inside my mind. I will feel much prouder and happier offering you, our most supportive fans, a piece of work that I can genuinely say I saw through from start to finish and gave my all. Sorry to make you wait a little longer but know that it will be well worth it in the end. Until then, stay tuned… We’ll be sharing some of the finished materials as they become available. We’ve also got a few fun live shows on the horizon, and we’d love to see you there.

Thanks for your continued support and enthusiasm. It truly brings meaning to the hard work, and it’s the reason why I feel compelled to share what I write beyond the walls of my home.

Your favorite fan,

Steph

Upcoming Shows:

April 14 @ 12pm– Grow & Share Festival @ Norris Creek Amphitheater– Louisburg, NC

April 28 @ 8:30 pm– The Eddy Pub– Saxapahaw, NC

May 11 @ 8pm– The Green Bean– Greensboro, NC

Dear Sweet Ones…

Dear Sweet Ones,

We’ve been in and out of the studio, and I am OVERJOYED to tell you that we are now finished with the recording of our first ever full-length record. It has been nearly two years in the making, both a mix of lull and rush, and nearly a lifetime in the writing to bring you these ten songs. Stay tuned! More info coming very soon about our kickstarter campaign (how you can help fund the cost of record production) and cd release party!

‘Till then, we hope we’ll see you down in the Cave (452 1/2 West Franklin St.). We’ll be playing all your favorite songs from the new record. Cover $5 max. Show time 10pm.

Lovingly,
Steph & the fellas

Chef Kabui’s Farm Dinner: Steph Solo

I am honored and delighted to perform tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon for my dear friend Chef Kabui at his Sounds & Organics farm dinner.

In collaboration with Piedmont Biofarm and The Abundance Foundation, Chef Kabui, of Organics & Sounds, will be serving up a 4-course dinner at the Plant on Sunday, February 26th from 4pm-7pm. It is $50 per plate, and all proceeds go to benefit his fledgling local organization, Organics and Sounds.

The vegan-friendly meal will feature local ingredients from Piedmont Biofarm, and other area farms. There will also be fresh juices and elixirs, served hot and cold, as well as some lively African music. BYOB.

MENU:

First Course – SALAD freshly picked from Piedmont Farm, served with O&S vinaigrette, made with fresh organic avocado, fresh organic garlic, limes, parsley, nori seaweed, kiwi and organic olive oil. Salad garnished with fresh organic apple, pear and golden beets.

Second – SOUP made with roasted garlic, roasted fennel, roasted potatoes, and Farmer Doug Jones’ award winning roasted bell peppers, all in a fresh vegetable stock.

Third – KURIAMA made of Beluga lentils cooked with eggplant and celery and spiced with fresh oregano, rosemary, cilantro and garlic. This is then served with millet, which is first boiled and then cooked in an organic purple Cherokee tomato sauce, and nicely flavored with fresh herbs and spices. All this served with fresh sautéed veggies combination of cabbage, mustard greens, portobello mushrooms, and swiss chard. The dish is garnished with a purple beets sauce made with sea weed, white onions and heirloom tomatoes.

Fourth – BAHATI Elixir is a delicious drink is made from fresh squeezed organic apple juice, fresh squeezed pineapple juice, fresh lime juice, hibiscus flower, lavender flowers, star of anise and cardamom seeds.

Menu updates will be posted on our Facebook.

Please make your reservation using Google Checkout HERE.

Recording Wrap Up & Live at Local 506

Today Tim, Omar and I will head back to Davis Stillson’s studio to finish up the bulk of the recording efforts for our up and coming LP. For the past two years, we have recorded bits and pieces at a time and have since scrapped and re-vamped much of the originally recorded material. Today we are getting it all right for the mix down. It’s like a baby that wants to hold on for that extra month, and we’re doing everything we can to push out this little miracle. Well, it’s gonna happen sooner or later. Stay tuned for info on our Kickstarter Campaign and find out how you can help us get this little baby in your hands more lickety-split-like.

  In the meantime, we hope to see you this Sunday (tomorrow!) at the Local 506. We guarantee a line up that’s sure to please your pretty little ears, and we’re honored to be supporting Grammy-nominated musician and producer David Mayfield.  If you like the Avett Brothers, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Cadillac Sky or Among the Ash & Oak, you’re sure to to dig Mr. Mayfield… since he has played with all of these fine musicians. The music starts at 8:30 with me and the fellas, followed by another true Carolina gem, E-S Guthrie.

Check out the Indy Pick review for the show here.

Tix will sell out here.

Americana Revue Night

Join us and the amazing Sinful Savage Tigers for a night of top shelf Americana at its finest. You won’t be sorry. Oh, and this will likely be our last show until the album is done, so get it while ya can.

2/9, 10pm, So. Rail/Stn.

Everything is free now.

Pinhook

Calling all you Bull City-sins- Come out with us tonight to the Pinhook and enjoy live music by yours truly plus these talented SC groups: The Sea Wolf Mutiny and Joie.

 

10pm. 5 bucks.

For the Common Good

Join us next Friday, Jan. 13 @ Pittsboro’s favorite drinking hole.