Next Concerts:
Apr 17: Garwood Free Public Library 7 PM
411 Third Avenue, Garwood, NJ 07027 – (908) 789-1670
“Ground Breaking Troubadours”
Apr 18: Hillsboro Library 7 PM
379 S Branch Rd., Hillsboro, NJ
“Library After Dark” series
Apr 22 – 27: Rutgers University + NJ Folk Festival
New Brunswick, NJ
Artist in Residency – See Details Below
1. Latest News
Hi Friends,
I am really excited about the recording. I’ve been working on this for a long time. I have a bunch of new songs that I’ve already begun laying down tracks for. If things go as planned, before you know it, we will be mixing the songs and sending them off to Oasis CD Manufacturing to be duplicated. I’ve tried some new ideas for arranging and producing songs. Bob Harris, my producer also has great ideas and together I think we’re coming up with the best music I’ve recorded so far. This is one of the two big stories for the past two years – writing, pre-producing, demoing and now recording this new material.
There is one big obsticle to my finishing the CD though. I’m just about all out of money and I don’t have enough to finish the project. This is the biggest reason I haven’t put out a CD in 6 years. Little did I know until recently that my situation is actually the most common situation nationally touring recording artists like me are facing. Read on ..
* Spook’s Kickstarter Campaign: Over the past several years the economy has changed drastically. There was the Great Recession and its economic impact on the arts. But for years there has also been an underlying trend that people are spending less and less money buying music. As a result, the days of full time independent artists being able to support themselves are dwindling. That’s not unusual. In the past 2000 years, at least 95% of that time it was a fact that artists – even great artists – needed patrons in order to afford to carry on their work. Today, that reality is re-emerging. So more and more artists are engaging in what is known as “crowd funding” in which people, “fans”, elect to support a project or entire career of an artist at any level they feel comfortable.
I am going to initiate a “Kickstarter” Campaign to do just that so that I can get my new songs recorded and out to the public – and to lots of radio stations. I’ll be telling you more about this soon.
* The Spook Handy Trio: We have a few gigs coming up this summer and I hope we can find more.
* It all begins in our hearts. But it goes further. A friend once told me that truth is not contained in any book. Rather it is found in the heart. I like that.
And remember, Word of Mouth is still the best way to get the music out. So, if you have suggestions let me know.
2. Where I am touring in the coming months?:
Spring Tour: Next month, I will embark on my longest tour in 2 1/2 years. This one will be 8 days, building on my 6 day venture to Toronto this past February. I’ll be preforming in VA, NC and MD for a short Southeast Tour. In October I’m heading to OH, IN, IL, and MO. I’m always looking for gig opportunities and I love playing house concerts. So, if you have any ideas or would like to host a house concert, I’d love to hear from you.
Many thanks to all of you who have joined the Spook Handy Street Team – to help spread the word about upcoming events and what this musical venture is about. A lot of people have volunteered over the years to help by doing this or that and it really makes a difference. A lot of “street teammates” have helped by downloading a flier and making 1, 2, 20 or 100 copies and posting them in highly visible places. Others have connected me with newspapers or DJs or concert presenters or important music industry people. Still others have saved newspaper articles. There’s a whole slew of small things that make big differences.Some things that I could use help getting done are:posting flier that I will email you.
recording live shows,
taking pictures and managing an archive
maintaining my MySpace page
you name it.
If you would like to join the Spook Handy Street team, write back and let me know. There’s no obligation. I’ll just send you emails a little more often with attachments of fliers or other stuff and its up to you what you want to do with it after that.
4. Upcoming Dates:
Apr 17: Garwood Free Public Library 7 PM
411 Third Avenue, Garwood, NJ 07027 – (908) 789-1670
“Ground Breaking Troubadours”
Apr 18: Hillsboro Library 7 PM
379 S Branch Rd., Hillsboro, NJ
“Library After Dark” series
Apr 22: Rutgers University
New Brunswick, NJ
Artist in Residency – Check website for last minute info
Apr 23: Rutgers University
New Brunswick, NJ
Artist in Residency –
“An Evening with Spook Handy – Red Lion Cafe’ – Rutgers University 6 – 8 PM
Free refreshments
Apr 24: Rutgers University
New Brunswick, NJ
Artist in Residency – Check website for last minute info
Apr 25: Rutgers University
New Brunswick, NJ
Artist in Residency – Check website for last minute info
Apr 26: Rutgers University
New Brunswick, NJ
Artist in Residency – Check website for last minute info
Apr 27: New Jersey Folk Festival
New Brunwick, NJ
Performing and MCing- My set is at 4:15
May 1: Ross Mansion
Bernards Township
Private School Program
May 2: Ross Mansion
Bernards Township
Private School Program
May 10: Mercer County Teen Arts
Mercer County Community College, West Windsor, NJ
Workshops and MCing
May 13 – 21: 2013 Southeast Tour
MD, DC, VA, NC, SC
Available for concerts and workshops
May 14: House Concert 7 PM – $10 Suggested Donation
Blackstone, VA
Limited Seating – Reservations Required: Call 434-292-3199 for more info
May 15: Guitar Workshop 6:00 – 7:15 PM
The Arts Center, 300-G East Main St Carrboro, NC 27510 – 919-929-2787
Registration required
May 15: The ArtsCenter 8 PM
300-G East Main St Carrboro, NC 27510 – 919-929-2787
$6 member advance, $10 advance, $14 day of show
May 16-19: South East Regional Folk Alliance Conference
Montreat, NC
I will be a featured showcase artist and workshop facilitator
May 19: Looking for Gig somewhere in Virginia
May 20: Brewer’s Alley 8 PM
124 North Market Street, Frederick, MD 21701 – 301-631-0089
Featured Artist at Open Mic
Jun 8: LUUF Peace and Social Justice Festival 3 – 8 PM
Lakewood Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 231 Parish Drive • Wayne, NJ 07470 – (973) 696-6362
I play 2 – 5:30 PM. Also featuring Spirit Wing
Jun 12: Tower Center – Hilton Hotel 12 PM
3 Tower Center Boulevard, East Brunswick, NJ, 08816 – 732-828-2000
Free Outdoor Concert (inside if it rains)
Jun 13: Forestdale School
Rumson, NJ
“Make a Difference with Music” assemblies for students
Jun 30: Morristown Unitarian Fellowship 10 AM
21 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ 07960 – 973-540-1177
Leading “Freedom Is Your Destiny Service
Jul 23: Carnegie Center 12 PM
US 1, Princeton, NJ
Free outdoor concert. Rain date is July 24
Jul 30: Reformed Church Home
Oldbridge, NJ
A “Seniors Outreach” program.
Aug 10: Monmouth County Library Headquarters 2 PM
125 Symmes Rd Manalapan Township, NJ 07726
The Spook Handy Band
Aug 11: Corn Festival with Pete Seeger
Beacon Waterfront, Beacon, NY
More info TBA
Aug 17: Solar Expo Jam
Rickey & Son’s Organic Farm, 442 Route 94, Vernon, NJ
Tentative – More info TBA
Oct 6: Riverfolk House Concert 4PM Potluck. 5PM Concert
Near Honesdale, PA. Near NY border.
Call 845-252-6783 for reservations & location information
Oct 12: Mercer County Cultural Festival
Mercer County Park, Hamilton, NJ
Spook Handy Band and many other bands from various cultural backgrounds
Oct 14 – 30: 2013 Midwest Tour
PA, OH, IN, IL, MI, MO, KY, WV
Available for concerts and workshops. Spook would love your help filling his calendar.
Oct 17: Wellness and Total Learning Center
715 W. 30th Street, Ashtabula, OH – 440-997-5353
Workshop – TBA
Oct 18: Wellness and Total Learning Center
715 W. 30th Street, Ashtabula, OH – 440-997-5353
Workshop – TBA
Oct 19: TBA
Ashtabula, OH – 440-997-5353
Spook Handy in Concert
Oct 20: Wellness and Total Learning Center
715 W. 30th Street, Ashtabula, OH – 440-997-5353
Workshop – TBA
Oct 21: Wellness and Total Learning Center
715 W. 30th Street, Ashtabula, OH – 440-997-5353
Workshop – TBA
Plus: Many, Many More!
For bookings send email to spook@spookhandy.com or call 732-418-1340
