July 2011

JULY 2011 E-ZINE
Why they are called "dog days" makes no sense to me - no dog would choose 100 degree heat if given the chance. Most of the rest of us wouldn't either. Despite the heat, it's been a very busy few weeks here, and while there are a handful of shows over the next few, there is plenty coming up to look forward to and to share with you.

Concert details, latest news, much more at http://andrewmcknight.net
1. Upcoming Shows
2. Arts Grant Award
3. CD/DVD and Website Updates
4. Other Summer Doings
Song for the Month: "Shenandoah Moon"
Essay: "The Rocket's Red Glare"

Help a little or a lot by sharing a song or CD from the website via email or Facebook, hosting a house concert or something in between: http://andrewmcknight.net/help
Thanks most of all for reading this!
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1. UPCOMING SHOWS More details and links at website.
WE 7/13 * ALEXANDRIA VA - Canal Center Plaza, noon
1-hour Lunch Bunch concert overlooking the lovely Potomac River, ppd if raining (703/746-5592); at 44 Canal Center Plaza [ZIP 22314]

FR 7/22 * CLARKSVILLE MD - River Hill Village Center, 6pm
Ppd if raining (443/367-0110); Rte. 108 & Daybreak Circle [ZIP 21029]

TH 7/28 * MOORESVILLE NC - FolkGrass Songwriter Showcase Feature, 8:30pm
Andrew does feature set at 9:30; At The Bathtub Gin, 166 N. Main St. [ZIP 28115]

SA 7/30 * STATESVILLE NC - Third Creek Concerts, 4pm
Reservations at http://www.thirdcreekconcerts.com [ZIP 28677]

SU 7/31 * HICKORY NC- "Earth Day Every Day" Music Service, 11am
All are welcome. At U.U. Church of Catawba Valley 833 5th St. SE [ZIP 28602]

SU 7/31 * HICKORY NC - Concert at U.U. Church of Catawba Valley, 2pm
833 5th St. SE [ZIP 28602]

ON THE HORIZON
TH 8/25 * NEW BERN NC - Trent River Coffee, 7:30pm
FR 8/26 * ST. JAMES NC - 211 Playhouse, 7pm
SA 8/27 * CHARLESTON SC - Gage Hall Coffeehouse Series, 7:30pm
SU 8/28 * CHARLESTON SC - Special Music Service, 11am
TH 9/8 * SHEPHERDSTOWN WV - Opera House (with Beyond Borders), 8pm
9/15-24 * Midwest Tour and Folk Alliance Regional Midwest
SU 9/25 * LEESBURG VA - Lawn Concert at Morven Park (with Beyond Borders), 6pm

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2. ARTS GRANT AWARD
Andrew McKnight & Beyond Borders have once again been accepted into the prestigious Virginia Commission for the Arts Touring Assistance Program, which reimburses eligible in-state presenters (local governments, schools, libraries and non-profits) up to 50% of the band's fee for concerts and/or workshops.

VCA funding has helped us bring the band to different parts of the state and new audiences, and we are thrilled and honored to continue in the program alongside some of the finest performing arts groups in the Commonwealth; Robin & Linda Williams of Prairie Home Companion fame, the Virginia Symphony, the Richmond Ballet, Celtic group IONA and the Tidewater Guitar Orchestra are some of the diverse talents represented.

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3. CD/DVD AND WEBSITE UPDATES
The Andrew McKnight & Beyond Borders live CD is headed off to mastering in a few days, and the video editing begins in earnest for the DVD. While the shiny bundled package won't be ready to hold in your hand for awhile yet, we will soon share downloadable audio teasers to share as well as available downloads. We're pretty excited about all of that.

And we've been hard at work building and updating the new website. Lots of handy new stuff - a searchable database of Andrew's songs including any available sheet music and guitar tabs, easy to share features for social media and blogs, and of course a very handsome new design.

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4. OTHER SUMMER DOINGS
It has been a very busy summer here for several weeks, between the aforementioned projects, fall tour booking, and Andrew spending some serious time in the woodshed with guitar and writer's pad. He's been working on some new guitar techniques as well as some new songs solo and with his bandmates, and developing interpretations of a few favorite traditional and public domain songs. There's been some family travel and a lot of nature photography, especially at nearby Shenandoah National Park. A couple other new projects are looming in the works as well.

We invite you to partake of more frequent and more detailed updates at the Facebook page, http://facebook.com/AndrewMcKnight.Musician (Drop by and enjoy the latest post, a photo album from Shenandoah.)

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SONG FOR THE MONTH
"Shenandoah Moon" from Where This River Runs; "Summer seems a perfect time for a waltz, so here's an oldie but still a concert favorite. I've been spending a lot of time in and above the Valley this spring and summer. Bruce Molsky's fiddle and Terri Allard's harmony vocal add some gorgeous color."
http://andrewmcknight.bandcamp.com/track/shenandoah-moon
Hear the whole song, read lyrics, and share with friends via Facebook, email, blog and more.

We sell CDs and downloads direct to you via Bandcamp.com - easy to use, artist and consumer friendly, high audio quality downloads, and allows us to personally ship your CDs.

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ANDREW'S ESSAY: "The Rocket's Red Glare"
Is the age of great and singular American achievements over? Musings on the national birthday, the end of an era, and nothing about Roger "The Rocket" Clemens or any other courtroom drama.

"Our little village celebrates the 4th of July with a morning parade. All of the kids are drafted into service, as are a number of farm animals so that there will be enough passing by the parade judges on one of the porches to allow them to finish at least half a cup of coffee. Then we have an awards ceremony and community sing followed by a big potluck picnic.

I'd imagine we're like a lot of small communities across the land, celebrating our history and heritage with food and song, pomp and circumstance. While we all might vary the ingredients to our Americana pie a little bit, it's basically the same recipe.

But this year's national birthday celebration was followed by a milestone I found personally sad - the final mission of the Space Shuttle.. . ."

[Read the rest at http://andrewmcknight.net/rockets-red-glare-july-2011]

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