A Note from Michael
When I was in my teens I would often buy recordings (45’s) if the design of the label caught my eye (!?!). I liked the way the Coral Records label looked, and so one steamy July I bought a 45 called The Train Kept A-Rollin’, played and sung by The Johnny Burnette Trio. The other side (45’s had two sides) was called Hi Yo Silver and sounded exactly like Train Kept A-Rollin’ except with different words.
I didn’t know then, as I do now, that the JBT was just a couple of states away from me, playing gigs and arguing; and that as I sat on my bed listening to their song over and over, they were breaking up because each one thought the other two were too interested in self-promotion. If by some miracle they’d asked me for advice I’d’ve said, Why would you break up? You’ve got some cool songs here and you don’t sound like anyone else. Put out another recording that sounds like this one and I’ll buy that too. It doesn’t have to break any new ground. There’s no one like you, just do what you do, it’ll be fine. I say that to myself all the time now. Happy Independence!
(Read this E-news is a newsletter format: http://mailchi.mp/f98a1a515183/t3v1xxk04h)
FESTIVALS
Shawano Folk Festival
August 11, 12, 13, 2017
Mainstage Fri 6 PM and Sun 3:30 PM
Workshops Sat: 12:30, 1:30 and
Sun: 12:30, 2:30
Mielke Park
5649 N Airport Road
Shawano, WI 54166
http://shawanoarts.com/folkfes
Fox Valley Folk Music and Storytelling Festival
Sept 3-4, 2017 from 11AM – 6PM
Island Park, Geneva IL
(Michael’s times tba)
More: http://www.foxvalleyfolk.com/
RADIO! A Live Concert
WFMT 98.7, wfmt.org
Sat Sept 2 at 7:00 PM
Unitarion Universalist Church
102 South Second Street
Geneva, Il
http://www.foxvalleyfolk.com/#WFMTZ
World Puppet Theatre Festival
Sept 23, 24 2017
Charleville-Mezieres, France
Moby Dick with Blair Thomas & Co
Songs by Michael Smith
(Chicago shows tba)
http://www.festival-marionnett
http://www.blairthomas.org/por
Visit Michael on FACEBOOK:
http://www.facebook.com/michaelpsmithsongwriter
Festival banner design by Nia O’Reilly Amandes
niaoreillyamandes.com
Copyright J. O’Reilly Productions, 2017
Hi Michael – I look forward to seeing you at the Shawano Festival – I’ll be playing a few workshops and hope to attend yours. Wishing you safe and happy traveling!
I love Michael Smith whom I first heard in 1985 in Northville, MI at a fundraiser for Huntington’s Cholera. Another time I heard him, also in Northville, Mi. I love his song, the Dutchman and he sang it. During a break, I told him I had heard it on a Canadian radio station– A program called, Old Rawhide, but regretfully couldn’t remember the program at the time when Michael asked. I’ve heard Michael several times since, at Mama’s Coffee House in the Unitarian Church in Bloomfield Hills, Mi. He’s amazing. Sometimes I repeat his songs to myself, The Dutchman and I Brought My Father With me as I’m falling asleep. Thank you, Michael.