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John McCutcheon's Yule-tire Newsletter

12/12/2017

 
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Dear Friends,

It seems hardly possible that it’s already December.  I’m more than ready for this year to be history, but marvel that it slipped by so quickly.  When I was a kid I thought recess would never arrive.  Now, suddenly overnight, all the grandkids are ambulatory, I have a completely unexpected recording out, and we’re somehow toddling along into 2018. 
November was a whirlwind of visits to familiar joints: from Natalie’s Coal Fired Pizza in Worthington, OH to the Ark, to Defiance, OH, to Goshen, IN, to Old Songs, to the Sounding Board.  At the tail end of the touring I landed for the first time at the wonderful Next Stage Theater, in Putney, VT, awash with old friends and inspiring community support.  A great way to end a busy touring season.

December is relaxed, as it always is when I’m not mounting a Christmas show.  Tomorrow I’m in Appleton, WI for a quick visit and then at the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, TN for a pair of shows before I head up to Harlan County, KY for my annual end-of-the-year fireside show at the Pine Mountain Settlement School.  Surrounded by the hills I love, it is, each year, the beginning of Christmas in my heart.
January, of course, is Groundhog Day: my thirty-something-th annual Left Coast Tour.  It’d down-right Pavlovian at this point.  “If it’s January, it must be time for McCutcheon.”  It’s a lovely tradition and I’m eager to visit halls-full of audiences that feel more like family than fans.  I’ll be doing lots of material from Ghost Light, at the same time that the Trolling for Dreams songs still feel surprisingly fresh.  Check out the touring schedule below to see if I’m near you.
​
I’m trying hard to settle into “retirement,” whatever that means to someone who loves their job as much as I do.  Sure, I’m collecting my union pension now and all the diabolically-constructed confusion about health care is in my rear-view mirror, and guys with grey hair call me “sir.”  But I keep writing new stuff (it’s my job, for crying out loud!), cooking up new projects, and have yet to feel a waning of energy or passion.  I do plan on cutting my touring by about half in the next year, allowing me to spend more time with my family, and stay limber enough to coach Sam’s little league team in about five years.  That’s when another kind of schedule will dominate my life.
In the meantime, though, there are small victories to celebrate, buffoonery to lampoon, fiddle tunes to be played, and stages in towns across the world to mount for a few, blest hours each night.  May we meet there soon!  Thanks for your interest and sparing this monthly missive from landing in your spam folder.  See you in the New Year.  Until then, may you have a wonderful season that celebrates whatever holiday you love.

​​Flowers for Sarajevo

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​Flowers for Sarajevo, my latest picture book, has been generously honored this year.  Both School Library Journal and Kirkus give the book starred reviews, we’ve gotten lovely mentions and reviews in loads of other places and Parents Choice gave it their coveted Gold award.
​
During their end-of-year roundups, both Kirkus and the New York Public Library placed Sarajevo on their “Best of 2017” lists.  (I’ll be quick to mention that Carmen’s The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet is also on these lists…and many more.  It’s a terrific book that you all should check out.)
This is a book that, like Christmas in the Trenches, began as a song that told an historical story.  And, like Christmas, it was a story that I thought kids should grow up knowing.  Stories are those clues into who and what we are.  We tell them both to discover and remind ourselves of whom we might be and become.  Especially in this time, rife with ugliness and violence of all sorts, stories like this might give additional tools to our children as they learn to navigate the rocky shoals of this world.
​
Click here for more information and ordering.

Ghost Light

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Ghost Light is now out and, despite the fact that the official release date is not for over two months, the first reviews are appearing.
“Ghost Light, it is yet again a true tour-de-force of his writing abilities. With each of the 13 new songs covering all the bases of our own lives: love, aging, changing times, faith, grand babies dancing, redemption, and more, Ghost Light tells stories packed with real emotive expression…a stunning album.” 
"compelling...highly recommended.
“…damn!  Just…damn!”
Thanks to all of you who helped this recording find its way into the world.  I’m already working on my next project (big news about that next month!).  In the meantime, if you’re still looking for a cool Christmas/Hannukah gift for someone, that you can’t get anywhere else, click here.

Songwriting Camp

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There are still a small handful of spots left in each of my Songwriting Camps at Highlander.  These will absolutely disappear during my Left Coast Tour in January, if not before as people tend to give these as Christmas gifts.  If you’re considering coming, best act quickly.  ‘Cause once the twentieth slot is filled, the “no vacancy” sign goes up.
The sessions are scheduled for
                                               
May 20-24, 2018 
and June 24-28, 2018

Click here for more information.  The $150 deposit holds your spot.  No further payment is required until next April.


​Hope to see you at Highlander!


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John McCutcheon Still on Tour!

2018
Fri
JAN
05
Berkeley, CA
Freight & Salvage

2020 Addison St., Berkeley, California, United States
510-644-2020
Buy Tickets

2018
Sat
JAN
06
Walnut Creek, CA Devil Mountain Coffeehouse
Mt. Diablo UU Church

55 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek, California, United States
(925) 934-3135
Buy Tickets

2018
Sun
JAN
07
Chico, CA
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company

1075 East 20th Street, Chico, California, United States
530-345-2739
Buy Tickets

2018
Mon
JAN
08
Sonoma, CA
Sebastiani Theater

476 First Street East, Sonoma, California, United States
707-996-2020
Buy Tickets

2018
Tue
JAN
09
Modesto, CA
Modesto Church of the Brethren

2301 Woodland Avenue, Modesto, California, United States
209-523-1438
Buy Tickets

2018
Thu
JAN
11
Fresno, CA
UU Church of Fresno

2672 East Alluvial Ave, Fresno, California, United States
559-222-9802
Buy Tickets

2018
Fri
JAN
12
Grass Valley, CA
Don Baggett Theater

Nevada Union High School 11761 Ridge Road, Grass Valley, California, United States
530-477-0708
Buy Tickets

2018
Sat
JAN
13
Santa Cruz, CA
Rio Theater

1205 Soquel Avenue
831-479-9421
Buy Tickets

2018
Sun
JAN
14
Winters, CA
The Palms Playhouse

13 Main Street, Winters, California, United States
530-758-8058
Buy Tickets

2018
Mon
JAN
15
Fremont, CA
St. James Episcopal Church

37051 Cabrillo Terrace, Fremont, California, United States
510-797-1492
Buy Tickets

2018
Fri
JAN
26
Decatur, GA
Eddie's Attic

515-B North McDonough Street, Decatur, Georgia, United States
404-377-4976
Buy Tickets

2018
Sat
JAN
27
Cherry Log, GA
Craddock Center

Chattahoochee National Forest 186 Fred Craddock Dr,, Cherry Log, Georgia, United States
(706) 632-1772
Buy Tickets

2018
Wed
FEB
07
Daytona Beach, FL
Lemerand Auditorium

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University 600 South Clyde Morris Blvd., Daytona Beach, Florida, United States
386-226-6683
Buy Tickets

2018
Thu
FEB
08
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Ponte Vedra Concert Hall

1050 A1A North, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, United States
(904) 209-0399
Buy Tickets

2018
Fri
FEB
09
St. Petersburg, FL
Craftsman House

2955 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, Florida, United States
727-323-2787
Buy Tickets

2018
Sat
FEB
10
Port Charlotte, FL
Riverwood Activity Center

4100 Riverwood Drive, Port Charlotte, Florida, United States
Buy Tickets

2018
Fri
FEB
16
Oxford, NY
6 on the Square

6 Lafayette Park, Oxford, New York, United States
607.843.6876
Buy Tickets

2018
Sat
FEB
17
Penfield, NY
Golden Link Folk Singing Society

Rochester Christian Reformed Church 2750 Atlantic Ave, Penfield, New York, United States
[email protected]
Buy Tickets

John's October Newsletter

10/3/2017

 
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John McCutcheon | www.folkmusic.com
drawing by Woody Guthrie

John McCutcheon October Newsletter

Happy Autumn, All!
I’m actually writing this October 2nd, in the friendly confines of the Madison, WI airport. It’s indicative of the kind of month I’ve had. It began innocently enough at the National Book Festival in Washington, DC.
My book, Christmas in the Trenches, had been selected to represent the state of Georgia at the Festival. Carmen was a featured author, as well, so we got a rare chance to attend a festival together. It began with a swanky affair at the Library of Congress, possibly my favorite building in the US, and a reunion with old friend and wonderful author, Alice McDermott.
Winfield came up next and Delta airlines managed to coincidentally seat me next to John McEuen (of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band fame), allowing us to have a proper visit and plot out crashed sets at the festival. The Steel Wheels, who are entirely too nice to be as good as they are, joined me, as well, and a good time was had by all. I arrived back home in time to join my brothers for the Packers-Falcons game, but I don’t want to talk about that…
The following week I spent in the studio working on Ghost Light (details below), followed by a return to the nearby Birchmere and then a wild weekend in the Twin Cities with Holly Near, supporting the work of EPES, then on to Cedar Rapids and, finally, Rochester, MN. After a couple of days at home I returned to my alma mater, St. John’s University, for an amazing concert with their orchestra and chamber choir. And last night I was here in Madison. I’m looking forward to a much-needed weekend off…
Coming up this month is grandson Brady’s 1st birthday and hammer dulcimer guru Paul Van Arsdale’s 96th. Oh, and I do have some shows, as well.
I’m in Ithaca, NY on the 13th and back at the Clearwater Coffeehouse in White Plains, NY on the 14th.
I’m heading back up to St. John’s on the 20th for firing of my dear friend, Richard Bresnahan’s, pottery kiln. Richard has been the artist-in-residence at St. John’s for 35 years and has the largest wood fired kiln in North America. He also has a beautiful family that has welcomed me as its own. I’ve composed a piece of music for the lighting of the kiln and plan to pull my shift loading and tending. There’s beauty in the work and even more beauty on the other side.
Then I’m back in the studio mixing Ghost Light and returning home for a weekend in the southeast: Knoxville, Winston-Salem, and Sparta, NC.
A quick heads up: in very early November I’m in Worthington, OH, the Ark in Ann Arbor, Defiance, OH, and Goshen, IN. These are all return dates and many sell out in advance.
My trusty tour manager, Tommy Slothower, underwent heart surgery in July, putting him out of commission until this past weekend. He’s been my traveling companion for nearly 30 years and my dear friend for far longer. Many of you know him as well as you know me from our years of touring together. He’s the reason I get to places on time, the reason the sound is always nearly flawless, the lights are properly focused, the CD and book sales run smoothly, and that everyone feels warm and fuzzy at night’s end. He puts his heart into everything he does and it got severely tested this summer. He’s gradually making his way back and is his usual agreeable and genial self. His crappy jokes are even coming back. Give him a greeting when next you see him. I know it’ll cheer up his day.
Well, flight looks like it actually might be on time. So I’ll close here with another thank you for your company and support. You’ve made the time away from home feel familiar and the work lighter. Here’s wishing you love and light until we meet again. I’ll be back here again next month.

New Website!

After many years, my web site, www.folkmusic.com, has gotten a make-over. It’s easier to navigate, has a more logical layout, a better tour calendar, and translates onto portable devices. There’s a really cool lyrics section that allows you to search not only by song title, but even by key words in a song. More stuff will be added all the time and we’ll alert you here. But it’s up and running today, take it out for a spin.

Ghost Light News

My new album, Ghost Light, is nearing completion. All the elements are in place and my engineer, Bob Dawson, and I are mixing later this month. Design is underway. Mastering is the final step before we hand it over to the manufacturer. It’ll be officially released in early February, but will be available on my web site sometime in mid-November. So you still have an opportunity to assist in the production of this new release. This seems to be the new paradigm: communities investing directly in the artists and music they want to support and see thrive. I deeply appreciate anything you can do to help bring this album out. There are ways small and large…and each one matters. If you order at the $50 and up level, we’ll send you a rough mix of one of the songs!
  • The simplest, cheapest thing is to pre-order the album. Official release date (when it’ll be available on iTunes, CDBaby, in stores, etc.) will be early Februry. But we’ll have it at Appalseed probably mid-November. Cool holiday gift, huh? Click here to do that. $15.00.
  • For $50, I’ll sign and personalize the album, plus you’ll get a free download of the album. Click here for that option.
  • For $100, I’ll do the above and get you two tickets to the concert of your choice. Click here.
  • For $250, I’ll do all the above and list you in the “Special Thanks” on the album itself. Click here. Deadline for this perk is October 27th.
  • For $500, I’ll do all the above and list you as “associate producer” on the album. Click here. Deadline for this perk is October 27th.
Any of the above can be done in multiples, of course, if you wish to gift something to someone else or honor them with their name on the recording. Thanks for your interest and, of course, thanks for your help. I’ll keep you posted.
Here’s a listing of the songs:
Ghost Light
Unaware
Me & Jesus
Waiting for the Rain
Dark Side of This Town
The Story of Abe
A Perfect Day
Burley Coulter at the Bank
When My Fight for Life Is Over
She Just Dances
Big Day
This Road
The Machine

Songwriting Camps

There are still a small handful of spots left in each of my Songwriting Camps at Highlander. As I continue an active touring calendar, these will disappear very soon, as non-newsletter recipients learn about the camps at my concerts. So if you are considering coming this year, it’d be best to act quickly.
The sessions are scheduled for: May 20-24, 2018 and June 24-28, 2018
Click here for more information. The $150 deposit holds your spot. No further payment is required until next April.
Hope to see you at Highlander!
John McCutcheon on Tour
Date
City
Venue
Contact
10/13/17
Ithaca, NY
Hangar Theater
607-280-2900
10/14/17
White Plains, NY
Walkabout Clearwater Coffeehouse
914-242-0374
10/27/17
Knoxville, TN
Laurel Theater
865-522-5851
10/28/17
Winston-Salem, NC
Muddy Creek Music Hall
336-923-8623
10/29/17
Sparta, NC
Mountain Soul
336-209-0475
11/2/17
Worthington, OH
Natalie's Coal Fired Pizza
614-436-2625
11/3/17
Ann Arbor, MI
The Ark
734-761-1451
11/4/17
Defiance, OH
Zion Lutheran Church
419-782-8781
11/5/17
Goshen, IN
Bethany Christian Schools
www.bethanycs.net
11/17/17
Voorheesville, NY
Old Songs
518-765-2815
11/18/17
West Hartford, CT
Sounding Board Coffeehouse
860-770-3001
11/19/17
Putney, VT
Next Stage
802-387-0102
12/11/17
Jonesborough, TN
International Storytelling Center
800-952-8392
PO Box 2999 | Tucker,‎ GA‎ 30085
404-474-7622
www.folkmusic.com

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New Website Launches Today

9/30/2017

 
We hope it will be easier to find what you need, browse on mobile, and generally have a good time with the new folkmusic.com. If you spot any problems or have any questions, let us know from the Contact Page. 

Here are a few quick Q&As that will cover a lot of ground for most people:

Q: I have an outstanding order from the old website, what will happen to it?
A: 
All orders from the previous site have been preserved and will be shipped out when ready. If you made a pre-order for the forthcoming album, "Ghost Light", it is recorded also, along with any special requests. Lastly, if you are signed up to attend one of John's Songwriting Camps in 2018: we have your details and will be in touch.

Q: What happened to my old account?
A: The new site does not have user accounts. On the old site, they existed but we didn't use them for much except order history. If you have any questions about information or files from the old site, contact Mark at [email protected].

Q: Can I still access MP3 downloads I purchased on the old site?
A: If needed, email Mark at [email protected], with details of the files you wish to download, and he will respond with instructions. 

Q: How can I submit fan pics?
A: ​For now, please email them to [email protected] and we'll take it from there.

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