Man that went quick, didn’t it? I guess it always does.
Did some traveling this summer. Did some music. Did some fun summer stuff. Now the weather is getting chilly. Really, this morning was downright cool.
We were out east for the first half of July, and while staying in Provincetown, at the very Eastern end of Cape Cod, I tried my hand at a little busking. P-town is known for it’s street performing scene, and you have to get a permit to perform on the street. Getting a permit involves ID, and about six minutes at the local police station. It really is a system so if there is a problem, and you have a permit, you cannot say you didn’t know the rules.
My sister, Anne Stott, played on the streets in P-town for years and is a pro, so she offered some advice on where to go in town and how performers work out who goes where. It was pretty cool to be able to just find a spot, open up the case, and start playing. I found that I have a 360 degree awareness which was new and different (normally I’m just looking out in one direction at an audience). And while the average bar crowd is hardly static, I found tracking everything that was going on in the street in front of me was a whole new feeling while playing. Not sure I can describe it, but it was cool.
Makin’ my #streetmusician debut in #Provincetown.
A photo posted by Jay Stott (@jgstottmusic) on
I borrowed my sisters super-portable amp/PA combo the first time, and I can see the value of kicking out a bit of volume on the street, but I really enjoyed just standing on the sidewalk playing. It was a very freeing experience.
My sister plays musical backup for a drag show in P-town, so she roped me into joining the show the week I was there. The performer, Elle Ememope, does a variety show called ‘What the Elle.’ That was a super cool experience. We played a few classic tunes (Layla, When Doves Cry) and some hilarity ensued. Also, I got to wear a pink feather boa on stage. So there’s that.
Dig my pink feather boa. That’s my sister playing the black LP- she’s a badass.
I played a bunch of shows at some of my favorite local spots in August- The Rock Inn in Estes Park being top of that list. I got to play on the patio at Swing Station in LaPorte, North of Ft. Collins as well (that’s the new banner photo at the top of the page), and I just played another duo show at Oskar Blues in Lyons with the awesome Chris Ramey on pedal steel (first time we’ve played together- we’re gonna have to do that again).
August was also Song School and Folks Festival time. It’s an awesome recharge, and a great musical party. Here’s me doing my thing on the Wildflower Stage at Song School. MD, Ingrid and JJ were great to help me out and make that song sound so good!
As I said, September is cool, in both senses of the word, I love the fall, so I’m not complaining. I had a total fanboy night this last week. I saw Jason Isbell at Red Rocks. Really all I can say is that it was church for me. My favorite songwriter and guitar slinger in the best venue there is. He puts on one hell of a show. One of those nights that makes you want to go home and play until your fingers bleed (except I had to get up and go to work the next day and play a show that night- I slept in this morning!)
Next week I’m playing a few songs at the Tom Petty Tribute night at Oskar Blues in Lyons- a great event with a ton of cool local people playing, and I’ll be at the Jamestown Mercantile in October as well as doing a string of shows at The Rock Inn over the fall/early winter. Check the Shows page for updates, or even better, put your name on the email list (Red Box to your right).
Southbound I-35, a Texas music news and reviews podcast, was kind enough to give me a shoutout in their ‘Texas Loves You Anyway’ section this month. You can hear the show at the link, and thanks David for the kind words! I am doing some intros for Red Dirt Roots Radio, so listen in to hear my voice, and they have the record so maybe they’ll give me a few spins as well. Thanks Texas for all the love. And Jayson at Wreckingball Radio really digs ‘The River Don’t Care.’ Thanks man, and glad you like the song.
Branching out a bit, I’m headed to Georgia and Florida in November, and working on booking some dates down there while I’m passing through. Stay tuned for more. If you are reading this and are from there or know the area, and have suggestions for venues for a solo Americana singer/songwriter, hit me up. I’m open to anything- house concerts, coffee shops, church basements, whatever.
And, of course, if you don’t have a copy of Dirt & Heartache, I can help solve that problem for you! Try here, for an actual CD, or bandcamp and iTunes for downloads (you get something extra if you download from bandcamp).
See you out there somewhere!
Follow me wherever you are!
Great work on “Dirt & Heartache”! You are are talented, indeed.
Thanks very much!