WATERS Tour Dates

AUG. 10         LOS ANGELES, CA              THE TROUBADOUR*
AUG. 11         DAVIS, CA                        SOPHIA'S THAI KITCHEN*
AUG. 18         PORTLAND, OR                  BRANX#
AUG. 19         VANCOUVER, BC                BILLMORE CABARET#
AUG. 20         SEATTLE, WA                    CHOP SUEY#
AUG. 22         SAN FRANCISCO, CA           THE INDEPENDENT#
AUG. 24         SALT LAKE CITY, UT            KILBY COURT#
AUG. 25         DENVER, CO                      HI DIVE#
AUG. 27         LAWRENCE, KS                   THE BOTTLENECK#
AUG. 28         NORMAN, OK                     OPOLIS#
AUG. 29         DENTON, TX                      HAILEY'S#
AUG. 30         AUSTIN, TX                       THE MOHAWK#
SEPT. 1         PHOENIX, AZ                      RHYTHM ROOM#
SEPT. 2         SAN DIEGO, CA                   BAR PINK#
* supporting Vetiver
# supporting Mister Heavenly

2011 Top 50 T-Shirts!

Where Can You Play Poker in Nashville?

Nashville, Tennessee is slowly but surely becoming the new "it" spot. Its vibrant growing music scene and diverse neighborhoods are home to an eclectic melting pot of cultures. There are many activities that pull the community together, among the most fun are Nashville's poker nights.

Not just a game for the gentlemen any longer many ladies are participating and cleaning up the the tables quite nicely. If you live in town and or looking to get in on a game or if you are simply passing through check out my top picks for the poker protagonist.

Coyote Ugly

Here you get to meet the infamous "broads" of Coyote Ugly. The vibe is electric, the beer and tequilla shots are flowing literally and the poker night is sinful. Located in the heart of downtown Nashville this bar has a wild Tuesday night poker party .The tournaments are twice per night, one at 7 p.m. and again at 10 p.m. Drink and food specials all night including their $4.00 juicy double cheesburger and fries. The crowd is mixed but they all have one thing in common they love their music loud and they are there to win.

The Tin Roof

Thriving and pulsing in Nashville's Music Row section the Tin Roof offers up a little bit of Texas Hold 'Em. The Tin Roof is a home away from home for some of the music industry's big wigs. Make no mistake big or small someone will be taking home the pot after this variation on the old standard poker game. Every Wednesday night The Tin Roof Hosts Texas Hold 'Em along with some of the best live musical performances in town. Get loose, play your cards wisely and take advantage of the array of drink specials they run on this hump day of hoopla.

Cabana

Cabana is the crown of Hillsboro Village and holds the best poker night in Nashville. Cabana is luxurious in decor with handfuls of curtain clad cabana's strewn around the restaurant. At the same time you feel like you are home with an inviting staff and cozy round up of regulars. Monday and Wednesday nights at 11 p.m. Cabana is transformed into a good old fashioned poker den with a hardy serving of hosts for the game. Texas Hold 'Em is again the variation and the action is on from start to finish. They offer drink specials and a late night menu. The mushroom pizza well done is crunchy and so fresh it melts on your tongue. This is usually a tight group with mostly regulars so they crave fresh meat for their game.

Thanks to Maria DiLorenzo

Patsy Cline Historic House Opens to the Public for Tours

Keeping true with one of Patsy Cline’s signature songs, “Come on in and sit right down and make yourself at home”, Celebrating Patsy Cline, Inc. (CPC), the nonprofit corporation committed to preserve and perpetuate the legacy of Patsy Cline and her music, proudly announces the opening of the Patsy Cline Historic House for public tours on Tuesday, August 2, 2011.

The Patsy Cline Historic House is on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register. Patsy resided here from 1948-53, longer than at any other house associated with her in the Winchester and Nashville areas, and she returned to it intermittently until her singing career began in 1957. The house serves as a proud testament to Patsy's love of family. Her devoted and influential relationship with her mother and their drive and determination launched Patsy's career. The house, furnished with some personal items, appears as when Patsy and her family lived there.

Jim Ward Tour Kicks Off Today

AUG. 2           EL PASO, TX                      THE PERCORLATOR
AUG. 10         SYDNEY, AUS                     ANNANDALE HOTEL
AUG. 12         MELBOURNE, AUS               EAST BRUNSWICK CLUB
AUG. 13         BRISBANE, AUS                  ALHAMBRA LOUNGE
AUG. 19         TUCSON, AZ                      CLUB CONGRESS
AUG. 20         SAN DIEGO, CA                  SODA BAR
AUG. 21         LOS ANGELES, CA               THE SATELLITE
AUG. 22         SANTA BARBARA, CA           MUDDY WATERS
AUG. 23         SAN FRANCISCO, CA           HOTEL UTAH
AUG. 25         SEATTLE, WA                     SUNSET TAVERN
AUG. 26         VANCOUVER, BC                 MEDIA CLUB
AUG. 27         PORTLAND, OR                   THE BUNK BAR
AUG. 30         MINNEAPOLIS, MN              400 BAR
AUG. 31         CHICAGO, IL                      SCHUBAS
SEPT. 1         UNIVERSITY CITY, MO          CICERO'S
SEPT. 2         NORMAN, OK                      OPOLIS
SEPT. 3         AUSTIN, TX                        THE MOHAWK

Suzy Bogguss Celebrates Release of American Folk Songbook with Book Signing at Belle Meade Plantation

Suzy Bogguss had a revelation on stage with Garrison Keillor in 2008. Everyone loves to sing along on “Red River Valley” – except the children who somehow don't know the song. Folk songs are the scrapbook of the American experience, but as music education fades from our public schools, she worried; these beautiful melodies are in danger of being overlooked. She resolved to record these timeless songs in an updated but reverent way – so that everyone can sing along on “Red River Valley.”

And who better than the golden throated Suzy? The platinum selling songstress already has a full bookshelf of Grammy and CMA awards and now with the release of American Folk Songbook she can put her own book up there too. Suzy will be signing copies of the book at Belle Meade Plantation on Thursday August 4, 2011. From 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., fans can catch Suzy reading passages from the book and performing some of the classic songs.

As Suzy writes in the introduction to the book: “Music has always been my purest joy even as a child. One of my favorite memories is my grade-school music teacher pounding on the piano and leading the class in rousing renditions of folk songs from all around the world. In the summer of 2008 I toured with the brilliant and engaging Garrison Keillor. The energy that passed between the audience and Garrison was overwhelming at times. Several thousand people standing and singing together—old songs, hymns, the Beatles and the Everly Brothers. People of all ages, sharing music. Ahhh, pure joy." But Bogguss was not content to present the songs as dusty museum pieces, instead she chose to breath new life into them with contemporary arrangements and a crack squad of Nashville's acoustic A-Listers. Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Pat Bergeson, Charlie Chadwick and Jeff Taylor all join the band for Suzy's self-produced project. Ultimately though it's the voice that lovingly weaves through the guitars and mandolins to find the new in these old songs. As John Lomax III writes in the forward to the book, 'Prepare yourself for enchantment! ...This work is, in a word, delightful!"

Suzy says she modeled the songbook after her "good old 5th grade songbook." The hardcover, 96-page book is filled with illustrations, fascinating historical stories about the songs, easy to read sheet music arrangements for piano, voice and guitar as well as personal insights and anecdotes from Bogguss. Her intent from the beginning was to make the book attractive to music lovers and musicians at every level. Again from her introduction: "that way, younger generations could share these slowly fading gems with their families and tell their stories of how they learned a few chords on the guitar or a couple of favorites to play at family gatherings.”

Cracker Barrel, with its devotion to families and appreciation for authentic Americana was the obvious choice for the initial release.

American Folk Songbook is the natural progression of an artist who has demonstrated skill and passion for all types of music in her career. Songs like “Aces,” “Drive South,” “Someday Soon,” “Outbound Plane” and "Letting Go" took her to the top of the country music charts. Along the way she won raves from critics and peers including winning a GRAMMY in 2005 for Traditional Folk Album, the Country Music Association’s Horizon Award in 1992 and album of the Year Award in 1994.

2007’s Billboard Jazz Chart topping Sweet Danger, the universally praised album, Swing recorded in 2003 with Ray Benson of Asleep At The Wheel and Simpatico, her beloved collaboration with Chet Atkins showed the world Bogguss was willing to both embrace tradition while continuing to grow and challenge herself as an artist. However, it is an appreciation for tradition that really shines through on American Folk Songbook.  The album is filled with songs that are the very fabric of American musical history and Bogguss reclaims this history and revives it with a fresh and beautiful take on classics like “Shenandoah,” “Wayfaring Stranger,” “Ol’ Dan Tucker,”  “Beautiful Dreamer” and of course, "Red River Valley." Everybody sing along!