Songwriters 4 Survivors - June 25th - Noon - 8:00 PM Come Help Us Help Our Neighbors

Our charity will directly benefit the United Way of Limestone County, Alabama. The United Way will use the funds to purchase lumber and materials, at cost, for rebuilding homes destroyed or damaged by the April 27th tornadoes. The building supplies will be donated to those homeowners who were uninsured or have received inadequate FEMA funding or inadequate insurance payment. 

The Amish Community of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee,   have, once again,  come forward and volunteered their time, workmanship and love of giving for LABOR, FREE OF CHARGE, to rebuild and/or repair these homes.

 

Andrew & MaryJustice

ANDREW VELEZ

&

MaryJustice Lucas

Friday, June 24th
7:00 – 9:00 PM

Coffee Tree Books & Brew

7900 Bailey Cove RD, SE

Huntsville, AL 35802

(256) 880-6121

Tornado Relief - Fam Jam 2011 Engall's Harbor - Decatur, AL

On April 27, 2011, tornadoes ripped through large areas of Alabama leaving large paths of destruction and people without homes in Northern Alabama and the Tennessee Valley. Neighbors have joined hands to raise money to benefit those left homeless or with extensive damage to their homes. Many were uninsured. Would you come and join us to help raise money for this worthy cause?

The Family Jam 2011 promises to be a fun-filled week-end. It is being held in conjunction with the Bassmaster Elite Series which is wrapping up its 2011 season on Wheeler Lake with its Dixie Duel competition June 16^th-19^th. The Family Jam Music Fest offers two days of ongoing live entertainment, children’s activities and games, and topped off with a spectacular fireworks show. 

There is no charge for this event, but donations will be accepted throughout the week-end. MaryJustice will be joined by songwriter friends, Matt Morrow and Andrew Velez on Sunday, June 19 from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Songwriters 4 Survivors

Our charity will directly benefit the United Way of Limestone County, Alabama. The United Way will use the funds to purchase lumber and materials, at cost, for rebuilding homes destroyed or damaged by the April 27th tornadoes. The building supplies will be donated to those homeowners who were uninsured or have received inadequate FEMA funding or inadequate insurance payment. 

The Amish Community of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee,   have, once again,  come forward and volunteered their time, workmanship and love of giving for LABOR, FREE OF CHARGE, to rebuild and/or repair these homes.

You can help!

Do you like to sing? Maybe you have a choral group or a band ... we are producing a benefit concert on Saturday, June 25th at Railroad Bazaar in Athens, Alabama. General admission is $5.00. All performers will "Pay 2 Play" with a $25.00 donation per song, per artist, with all proceeds going to the United Way of Limestone County. Performers of all ages who wish to donate their time, talent and just a little money, to help our neighbors. Registration will be due by the 18th of June. Registration information is available at www.songwriters4survivors.org.

Bring your Karaoke CD's, musical instruments, bands!!!

Donations may also be made at 
ANY Superior Bank location throughout the country! 

Come on ... Lots of Family Fun ... Lots of Talent

Saturday, June 25th

Noon - Until

 Railroad Bazaar

1207 Eidson St
Athens, AL 35611
(256) 232-5800

Coming Attraction!!!

Songwriter's Round - Guntersville, Alabama

Lakeside Summer Concert Series sponsored by the Mountain Valley Arts Council, Guntersville, Alabama presents:

Tuesday, May 31, 2011 - 6:00 PM

Pavilion at the Civitan Park

MaryJustice Lucas

MaryJustice Lucas is a 16 year old performing songwriter from Huntsville. Her passion for writing and singing began at age five. Whether Pop or New Country, her songs appeal to teens and older music lovers. MaryJustice is a multiple award winner of local, regional and international songwriter and singing competitions. She plays regularly in local venues and in Nashville. She is a member of NSAI, TGCMA and Nashville Spotlight. MaryJustice is a member of Willowbrook Baptist Church. She is an honor roll student enrolled in the College Preparatory Program at Ashworth High School under the cover of The Way Home Christian School. Website www.maryjusticelucas.com

Matt Morrow

Matt Morrow is a singer-songwriter from Guntersville who writes acoustic folk music in the vein of Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, and Ryan Adams. Matt frequently writes from the perspectives of other people, his songs sometimes sounding like short stories. "I like to write songs that tell the stories of people who you wouldn't expect to have stories to tell," he says. His album, Burlap and Gold, which contains songs inspired by the lives of people from Guntersville, will be released this spring. Matt plays acoustic guitar, banjo, piano, harmonica, and other instruments on the record, which also will feature vocals by MaryJustice Lucas, violin by Celtic recording artist Tom Morley, and drums by Guntersville's own John Harvey. Matt is a multiple MOVA Songwriter's Competition winner, and has played concerts all around the country.

Liz Riehl

Liz Riehl is a singer/songwriter from Guntersville, Alabama. She began her writing and recording career in the early 1990's and continues to do so today. Most of her tunes have been labeled "Country Folk with an Edge" by those that know her in the Nashville Music Community. Liz has performed at most venues in the northern Alabama area ... Panoply, Big Springs Jam, Boaz Harvest Festival, Lakeside Summer Concerts in Guntersville, Albertville Freedom Festival, and Gadsden Riverfest, just to name a few. Her performance is a combination of original tunes mixed some oldies but goldies!

April 27, 2011 Tornado Relief Benefit

Songwriters for Survivors (click link) is a Tennessee Valley collaborative of musicians organizing a benefit concert series throughout 2011, to raise funds to help meet the immediate needs of the citizens of North Alabama who were devastated by the April 27, 2011 tornadoes. 

All songwriters, music lovers, talented kids and generous hearts reserve this time on your calendars!

June 25, 2011 1:00 PM until TBD

Railroad Bazaar

1207 Eidson St
Athens, AL 35611

Admission: $5.00

This will be a fun-filled event with outstanding talent from "Homegrown Songwriters From Our Sweet Home Alabama". 

**Includes Kids Showcase**

Just a "heads up" so watch this space!!  More details to follow!
(Questions posted in comment box will be answered.)

Alabama Songwriters Festival

Entry Form, Rules and Regulations available at:

http://www.mountainvalleyartscouncil.com/ALABAMA-SONGWRITERS-FESTIVAL.html

Friday ~ March 4 ~ 7:00pm

Coffee Tree Books & Brew

7900 Bailey Cove Road

Huntsville, Alabama 35802

Stan Moore ~ February 10, 1949 - December 17, 2010

The songwriter community experienced yet another great loss in the passing of our friend Stan Moore.  I met Stan through music about 30 years ago and it was likewise through music and songwriting that we had more recently again been drawn together at the Coffee Tree and the NSAI meetings.  I’ve been around a lot of musicians and songwriters over the years and you can tell the ones who truly love music and songwriting.  The ones that dearly love it and have it deep in their heart and soul will *never* be able to quit and will continue to come into your life as the years go by with their songs out of that love and passion …and such as it was with Stan.  Thanks, Stan, for coming into our lives.  We will dearly miss you AND your songs, but will forget neither.  –– Donny Grace, Coordinator, North Alabama Songwriters
Official Chapter of Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI)

Nashville Event!!!

December 4, 2010
12:00 pm – 6:00 pm

  Our Sweet Home Alabama’s 
Own Homegrown 15 Year-Old
Award Winning Singer!
Award Winning Songwriter!

MaryJustice

 Appearing At The

2611 McGavock Pike, Nashville, TN

Mini-Showcase Production
By Producer Mike Jennings

HONORING

America’s Heros Through The Years.

Saturday – November 13 – 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Please join us as we seek to honor our VETERANS from across the years

Saturday Night Open Mic Series

Wayne Hemmerly
Host



Randy Duck
"Thin Blue Line"





Earl Watts
"More Than A Name On The Wall"

Coffee Tree Books ‘N’ Brew
7900 Bailey Cove Road
Huntsville, AL 35802
256-880-6121



Live at the Coffee Tree Books & Brew

Friday, November 5, 2010

7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Solo Performance

Featuring MaryJustice's Original Pop Songs

Plus Favorite Pop Hit Covers

Come on out and join your friends

for a night of fun and great entertainment!

&

Great food, coffee, lattes, frozen delights and more

served by the terrific staff at the:

Coffee Tree Books & Brew 

7900 Bailey Cove Road

Huntsville, Alabama

256-880-6121

LIVE! At The Coffee Tree Books & Brew!

Friday – September 17th

6:30 – 9:00

 

Featuring
Ken Cooper
Lisa Carr
Doug Budzak
MaryJustice
Marcia Lucas
Ron Brown
James Randolph  

Seven singer-songwriters forced to perform together as a single cohesive unit - can it possibly work?

Will there be sweet harmonies....

or bloodshed?

Come Find Out For Yourself!

A Band Named Sue! Live at NASA!

A Band Named Sue was honored to perform at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center Awards Ceremony,  August 17, 2010! 

We sorta think the NASA bunch liked us! They gave us an achievement award!



It was a fun gig! The food was great! We'll go back again anytime...

"Bigger Hands"

I think this video by our friend, Jim Parker, is very timely and will speak to each of us. Jim co-wrote this song with Nashville Recording Artist, John Anderson. It was released last year on John's album "Bigger Hands." This video was recorded during The Jim Parker Songwriter Series at the VBC in Huntsville, Alabama, where he hosts a monthly show.



A picture is worth more than a thousand words! Awesome video...awesome song...awesome singer!
Thank you, Jim!

Next Jim Parker Songwriter Series Show is
Friday Night ~ July 9th
6:30 PM at the VBC

 with
Jill Colucci
Pam Rose
Randy Sharp
& host Jim Parker
opener Mike Willis


**Tickets on sale at the
VBC & Ticketmaster

Madison Gazebo

Thursday June 24 – 6:30 PM

Village Green Gazebo in
Historic Downtown Madison


Donny and Susan Grace


 www.myspace.com/donnyandsusangrace

Jim Parker


www.jimparkermusic.com/

Lori Lovelace
 
www.myspace.com/lorilovelace

MaryJustice Lucas


www.myspace.com/maryjusticesings

  

MaryJustice Live! Guntersville Civitan Park

A great event for the young folkes.... See you there!

In Memoriam – BD Chase

Happy Birthday, BD!

BD started the Songwriters Open Mic at the Coffee Tree Books & Brew in Huntsville, Alabama, an event mentioned frequently on this blog.  I suppose you could say that this blog came into being because of him.  We stumbled onto the event one Wednesday night after MaryJustice's ballet class for a sandwich and cup of coffee, totally unaware of what that would mean to us. There were a handful of songwriters strumming guitars and singing their  songs… just a handful. Now the place is packed on Wednesday nights ... new comers and old friends sharing what they have written and carrying on his tradition of encouraging and helping one another.
 
Donald B. Faulkenbury was born June 20, 1947 in Pageland, NC.  He took the name BD Chase and began playing bass professionally in 1967.  He played in scores of night clubs, roadhouses, dives, and the usual assortment of weddings and played up and down the east coast in a variety of "beach bands" doing mostly Carolina shag music, oldies, and rhythm and blues.  He also performed backup for such groups as The Platters, The Clovers, The Coasters, Clifford Curry, Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs and a brief two-week stint with a young country singer named Randy Travis.  BD decided to go solo in 1987 and in '93 retired from professional performances concentrated on writing. BD won numerous awards at the Mountain Valley Arts (MOVA) Festival.  BD said, “I've enjoyed this aspect of the business a lot more than the performing end but have yet to see any financial gain, however, as any songwriter knows, once you start, you're hooked”.  “So, if I never make a dime on any of my songs, I'll continue to crank'em out”.

BD was a talented artist who loved painting caricatures and  Americana. Some of his work is displayed at the Coffee Tree Books & Brew.  

BD went home to be with his Lord on July 9, 2008. BD is lovingly missed by his family, friends and The Coffee Tree. His friend, Ken Dupree stepped up to host Songwriter’s Night. BD, he is faithful to get first time singers to sign the guitar. The first one got so full a second one was added.

Happy Birthday!

Live In Huntsville, Alabama!

Jim Parker's Songwriter Series

Friday - June 4, 2010  - 06:30 PM

Von Braun Center Playhouse
700 Monroe St SW
Huntsville, AL  35801

Jim Parker's Songwriter Series is a monthly showcase featuring the world's greatest songwriters and musicians. It is hosted at the Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Don't miss out on this rare opportunity to see these artists perform in the round, up close and personal!

Here is a small sample from the last show!

Sally Barris
 
“Let The Wind Chase You” recorded by Trisha Yearwood
”Reluctant Daughter” recorded by Martina McBride

Don Henry

“Where’ve You Been” recorded by Kathy Mattea
”If I Was Your Man” recorded by Blake Shelton

Tom Kimmel

“The Blue Train” and “Never Saw Blue Like That”

Host Jim Parker

“Chicken Truck” recorded by John Anderson
”Bigger Hands” recorded by John Anderson

The best and most entertainment you’ll ever get for $20.00. Food & drinks available and served by Playhouse staff.

Tickets on sale at the VBC & Ticketmaster