Well folks, we have officially moved past the realm of Happy New Year and into the juggernaut that is the dead of winter and sub-freezing temperatures! One month ago, I was gearing up for the 3rd Annual Atlanta’s Holiday Hootenanny at Terminal West. On Sunday, December 22, what transpired over 5 1/2 hours was pure magic. Both as a fan of the music and as a producer, a simply amazing feeling overtakes me – gives me goose bumps actually – listening to and watching these well-seasoned musicians get up and do their thing without any rehearsal! Let’s just say that the sound check is one of the best 😉 The family vibe is alive and strong, and without that family at the core, the Holiday Hoot would be hard to bring to the stage. In Atlanta, we are so fortunate to have such a wonderful, loving, amazing group of musicians in the form of bands and individuals that blow your mind on any given night. One night a year, everyone looks forward to Atlanta’s Holiday Hootenanny!
For me personally, I feel like the Holiday Hootenanny has helped me to purge some lingering effects of years’ past and create some special, new opportunities for 2014 and beyond. Atlanta’s Holiday Hootenanny (4th Annual on Sun Dec 21 at Terminal West) is here to stay, and the upcoming 16th edition of TDawg’s Back Porch Hootenanny (April 4-5) is going to be off the chain musically and energy-wise. All that needs to happen now is for YOU to be there!
Words of advice, EMBRACE live music that has any sort of a hook on you. You’ll be glad you pursued further. The Hootenannies, and before that HarvestFest, without fail have provided many opportunities to see some of the finest live music out there in it’s initial stages. I hope you’ll take some time to check out the bands at the Hootenanny this year, as I guarantee there will be something fresh that hits you.
I recently listened to the Eye of the Dawg Songwriter Showcase from the Keel Family Function in 2009, and let’s just say I was as blown away now as I was then. Two sets, featuring the incomparable Larry Keel, Col. Bruce Hampton, Rev. Jeff Mosier, Grayson Capps, Caroline Pond, Ralph Roddenbery, Donna Hopkins, Lefty Williams, Michael Tolcher, Scott Mecredy, Apt Q258 Jeff Sipe on drums accompanied by Duane Trucks for the finale, and fiddlin’ by Zebulon Bowles, Caroline Pond & Erin Zindle (The Ragbirds). WOW! Y’all this was spontaneity at its finest, presenting the best in each of the musicians in a relaxed and “damn I’m glad I’m here and not there” feeling that pervaded the audience as well 😉
We live in a wacked out world – politically, economically, and socially – however, one thing is true here. Through all the sometimes harsh divides we have to put up with, a common thread is good music to heal the soul regardless of beliefs. We are all music farmers, constantly looking for the perfect crop that provides that ultimate satisfaction and yearning more.
Enjoy the video below from the Eye of the Dawg Showcase featuring Larry Keel performing Dreams. It will soothe your mind, body & soul.
TDawg Presents 
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