Well, folks.. I feel like this past week really got me back into travel mode after a pretty good vacation for the holidays. The past week started out by flying back up to Boston and getting settled for my 4th semester at Berklee. (Yes, 4th! Hard to believe it's already here!) This semester will be my final semester at Berklee as I will be graduating with a special Artist Diploma in Performance. I actually found out that I won't be fully complete with my credits in time to graduate in May, BUT the school is so amazingly supportive and they are going to work with me to finish my remaining credits online/telecommute so that I can still make the move to Nashville during the summer. I am so blessed to go to a college with such a wonderful group of supporters. The teachers at Berklee truly want to see their students succeed and I'm so thankful they have worked so hard to help me with all the craziness that is my schedule both at school and on the road. Anyways... on to this past week - I flew up to Boston late last Sunday night just in time to get my things unpacked, clothes washed and then repacked to leave the next morning for NYC. The last month or so, I've been working on producing the music excerpts for a new stage show called Appalachia Tour. Here's a little info about the production from the website that explains better than I could:
THE STORY BLUEGRASS MOONSHINE birth of NASCAR
Inspired by the book Driving with the Devil–engaging storytelling, live bluegrass music and historical film footage tell the story of the Appalachian mountain people; their heritage, their migration south from the whiskey-taxing Northeast to Appalachia, and how their moonshine-making ways and legendary ‘runners’ became the renegade drivers of NASCAR...
A moving story of how ‘moonshiners’ and their need for fast cars created a sport the south could call its own–true blue American originals in the foothills of Appalachia where moonshine and bluegrass music were a way of life–creations of the Scots-Irish migrants.
Storyteller Baxter Black and superb live music combine perfectly to create the ultimate NASCAR history experience and a spectacular entertaining stage performance.
When asked to work on this project, the idea came up to find 3 Berklee musicians to perform the music on the road as the show tours the performing arts centers alongside the cities in which the official NASCAR races are held. So.. auditions were held, and Courtney Hartman, Trent Freeman and Lukas Pool were selected! They are doing a great job in setting the mood for the story line. I think it's going to be a really cool show to see especially for anyone that is interested in NASCAR. The story will be told by Baxter Black, a true gentleman and a real cowboy. (www.baxterblack.com) Check it out!
After leaving New York, I had a couple days back in Boston before flying to D.C. to perform last night with the band at The Kennedy Center. It was our first show of the year, so it felt very much like getting back in the swing of performing again, but we really had a great time. We had a big crowd and of course, it was just an honor to get to play at such a renowned venue.
Here's a clip from the show:
I have so many things on my mind and heart musically. I certainly want to grow so much this year as a musician and especially a singer. I can't wait to see how we grow as a band this year as well. We are very excited to announce our newest member of the band, Jessie Baker. Jessie is an awesome musician and we can't wait to work with him! He will play his first show with the band in March! So excited and inspired to to work on some new things.
Check out Jessie Baker jumps to Highway 111.
Well, that's all for now... more to come soon! :)
Sierra
