1. Selections for the 2008 HAAM Compilation CD have been made;

2. The next general meeting for HAAM is scheduled for September 9, 2008;

3. Check out the latest updates to the HAAM Website;

4. Upcoming events of interest: Southwest Regional Folk Alliance (SWRFA), FarWest, and the Kerrville Wine and Music Festival.

1. 2008 HAAM Compilation CD:

After a two-month process, the judging crew finished the difficult task of selecting songs for the 2008 HAAM compilation disc.  Members of the crew included artists with cuts on the original HAAM compilation disc, as well as other accomplished musicians, recording artists and engineers. On the basis of the judges’ evaluations, twenty songwriters have been invited to include their songs on the 2008 compilation disc. These 20 songs will be officially part of the project when release forms have been signed and returned to HAAM by the songwriters. All songs are excellent representations of the quality of HAAM musicians and all exemplify the best of Houston music, in the same historic tradition as the first HAAM compilation. The selection process was greatly streamlined and improved through the efforts of Pete Simple, our genius webmaster, and by the hard work of the judges.  Special thanks to all the judges: Bill Aspinwall, Mark Beets, David Britton, Lawrence Clark, Lloyd Daniel, Jim Kam, Connie Mims and Selia Qynn.

The CD team has planned for the CD to be produced with a four sided color insert in a jewel case and Selia Qynn has designed a beautiful cover promoting “Genuine Texas Music by Genuine Texas Musicians”. Advance order forms for the CD will be available at the next HAAM meeting. We’re keeping the cost of the CD to a mere 10 bucks! Plus, Patti Sullivan has generously produced a new HAAM bumper sticker and made them available for free with each advance order or for a minimum $1.00 donation at our next meeting. Put them on your guitar or instrument case, car bumper, window, any place to announce your membership and promote HAAM! Any profits from CD sales will go to our HAAM Radio Show which airs on KPFT 90.1. The CD release party is scheduled for October 26 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at JP Hops House. Details will be forthcoming.

2. HAAM Meeting September 9, 2008:

Please mark your calendars now to attend our next general meeting. Kat Rose has volunteered to host the meeting at Mainstreet Crossing on September 9, 2008. Our meeting will start at 7:00pm. Open mike to follow from 8:00 to 10:00pm. Danny Everitt hosts the open mike. It would be nice to have a head count of who would like to be included in the OM line-up. Danny will put your name on the list if you let him know in advance. danny@dannyeveritt.com Mainstreet Crossing, 111 West Main Street, Tomball, TX 77375 (281-290-0431)

3. Website updates www.haam.us:

Pete has the Member bio pages up and running. If you are a registered member on the blog you can put a valid bio and picture on the haam site yourself!! While you’re there, also check out the Addresses link to make sure we have all your current contact information (note: if you need access to the address book please contact pete for the password)

4. Upcoming events:

The Southwest Regional Folk Alliance (SWRFA) is Oct 2-5 at the Radisson Austin North. Although all of this is not yet up on the websites, www.swrfa.com or their MySpace, www.myspace.com/swrfa, the rates for this year’s conference and rooms are the same as last year. Dalis Allen, Conference Coordinator is recommending going ahead and using last year’s form to register. One note to make clear…..Aug 15 is the deadline for submission to the formal showcase!!! Also, SWRFA is offering a scholarship, free admission, to one member of HAAM.

Ken Gaines is the contact point and will take all the help he can get.

Info on FarWest is at www.Far-West.org. The deadline for submissions for formal showcases is already past as well as early registration.  The dates are Oct 24-26 at the Phoenix Marriot Mesa in Phoenix, AZ. This is about as close to us mileage-wise as this conference will ever get. If enough folks are interested, you can still register and book a guerrilla showcase room for this conference. The deadline being Sept. 20 or until they run out. Contact Ken Gaines at http://www.kengaines.com or Cell 281-723-8744.

Labor Day weekend, Aug. 29-31 the Kerrville Wine & Music Festival takes place at Quiet Valley Ranch featuring over 20 songwriters. Check out www.kerrvillefolkfestival.com for the 2008 Wine and Music schedule.

Hope to see you all at the meeting.

“Great things are happening!”

Sheryl

Hi guys! Hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend, grillin’, chillin’, or however you spent it!

Last week’s meeting at JP Hops House was newsy and fun. Thanks to Jim & Pam for hosting us there and Kat Rose for leading the meeting and song circle as well!

If you didn’t make it to this meeting, here are a few things you may be interested in:

1.) CD Compilation Update;

2.) HAAM Radio Show and Host;

3.) HAAM newsletter and HAAMY’s;

4.) Membership Directory and Website updates.

Patti Sullivan reported that we received 48 submissions for the new HAAM Compilation CD. Thanks to Carolyn Wallace for collecting all the submissions from the post office box. The next step in the process is the selection phase. Bill Aspinwall explained there are nine judges. Pete Simple will upload each selection to a page on the website for the judge’s review. This will be a blind review. After June 5, we will need to plan a party for the selection process, post production and distribution. Chris Collins and Saylor White have volunteered to produce the master, Selia Qynn will design the art, and Pete Lippencott will produce the CD’s at cost. This will be an 80-minute CD and has an August target date for release.

Chris Collins, our HAAM Radio Show DJ, lead us all in thanking Joanne Sprott and Tom Tranchilla for the really outstanding job they have done in booking the radio show. Mark Zeus will be the new contact for live guest performers. The show has been playing more regional music, so HAAM members please submit your radio-ready CD’s for airplay, and if you want to appear on the show. The show only reached 30% of its goal during the last fund drive, so please go to www.kpft.org and pledge your support for this show by making an online donation. It’s tax deductible. This is a vital part of HAAM. Let’s keep our local talented musicians on the air for all listeners!

Our friend and co-founder April Kelly is moving into new digs on the north shore of Lake Austin, but is not giving up her HAAM membership or participation! We thank her for her dedication and uplifting work! Saylor and I are taking up the role as newsletter writers. You can contact me at folkmom1’@’comcast.net or Saylor at saylorwhite’@’comcast.net. Remove the apostrophes (‘ symbols) on either side of the @ symbol before you send an email.

Several nominees for the HAAMY awards were presented to the HAAM Wheel (an advisory board elected by a quorum of members) and two have been selected. The awards will be presented at the next meeting!

The HAAM Membership Directory was last updated before the new website design, so I will be undertaking to update the directory. Although we send out over 400 emails, the membership directory contains half that number. Even though Saylor and I have been members since 2003, we were not in the directory! Look for an email from me soon. Encourage everyone you know to join HAAM. You perform with other musicians, let them know! You visit venues that host acoustic musicians, invite them to join too! Pete has already updated the website to make it even easier!

We had several new members and participants at JP’s and thank them so much for coming out! In keeping with choosing a variety of venues for future meetings, we are planning our next meeting at the Main St. Café in Tomball in September.

If you went to the Kerrville Folk Festival or have any pictures, HAAM news, or music stories to share, please post them to the Forum. We’d love to see ‘em! And don’t forget to post your gigs to the website so we can come out and see you!

“Great things are happening!”

Sheryl

We will discuss the CD compilation and the change in booking agents for the HAAM Radio Show.  A round of applause for Joanne Sprott and Tom Tranchilla for the great work they’ve done and another for Mark Zeus for taking over for them!  Sheryl Hutchens and Saylor White will be taking responsibility for the newsletter from our dear friend and co-founder April Kelly.  Let’s show her our appreciation!

We will also be needing your input on updating and editing the HAAM Directory.

Kat Rose will host the meeting and open mic/song circle afterwards, so bring your instruments and plan on having a great time!

This will be the last meeting before school is out and your summer vacations begin, including those of you going to the Kerrville Folk Festival, so please come out and play!

For a map and phone number:  www.JPHopsHouse.com

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New updated HAAM Radio Listing (by Joanne Sprott)

Mar 24    Celeste Terrell
Mar 31    April Kelly
Apr   7     Brian Ashley Jones
Apr  14    David Brake and That Damn Band
Apr  21    Buddy Allen and Sherrie Koy
Apr  28    Bob Pryor
May   5    Adam and Lena
May 12    TBA
May 19     Jonathon Dewvealll
May  26    Dan Ennis

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1.) Compilation CD PO Box Address Correction!!

2.) HAAM Forum – Interesting Stuff There!

3.) Wanted – HAAM Newsletter Writer to Take My Place

4.) Houston Press HAAMster Mention – Who’s the Mystery HAAMster??

5.) The HAAM Radio Show Fund Drive Results

6.) International Folk Alliance Review

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1.) Compilation CD PO Box Address Correction!!

If you have printed out the submission form so that you can submit your songs, please make sure that you have the correct PO Box address to send to. Unfortunately, there was an error on the original submission form that was posted to the site, but now the error has been corrected. (If you have already sent in your CD and you sent it to the incorrect address, please contact Patti Sullivan.)

Please make note of the correct address here and on the website:

HAAM

PO Box 130446

Houston, TX 77219

Send in your submissions soon – Deadline is April 15^th. Find the rules and submission form on the website at http://www.haam.us/

Good luck! =)

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2.) HAAM Forum – Interesting Stuff There!

Ya’ll need to go visit the forum today. There are several new items that’ve been posted this last week, including a couple which are time-sensitive. Go there to see an opportunity to play at The Bugle Boy (Contact them about future Sunday shows), an invite to join a new band, overseas gigging opportunities and much, much more. Because I cannot write a newsletter every single week, the forum is the best way for HAAMsters to share news in a timely manner and keep their musical family in the loop. It’s all up to you guys to keep the forum going strong! If you know of something that might interest or benefit a HAAMster, please post it! (If you absolutely cannot post items to the forum, send it to me and I’ll get it done for you.)

Example: When are the deadlines for the Kerrville Newfolk and Wildflower Festival contests this year? If you know, please post it to the forum under “Contests.”

Please visit the forum at least once per week so that you don’t miss out on anything and be sure to keep your fellow HAAMsters in mind when you hear about something that might benefit the whole group. All for one and one for all….

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3.) Wanted – HAAM Newsletter Writer to Take My Place

Chris Collins and I began HAAM in the Summer of 2003 and I’ve been writing the newsletters at least once per month from that time ‘til now. I’ve totally enjoyed the honor and I’m going to miss doing it, but I must soon step down as the “Written Voice of HAAM.” I’m putting my house on the market very soon and have hopes to sell it by Summer, whereupon I will move with my hubby to the NW Austin area (Lago Vista). Because I won’t be able to make all (or most) of the meetings, I don’t feel that I can adequately shell out the news for the group anymore. I will, however, continue to be a HAAMster and will consider myself a HAAMbassador within the Austin music community. And, I’ll still try to make as many meetings as I can – You won’t be rid of me that easily, you know…. =)

This means that we’ll soon need a new newsletter writer for HAAM. If you are interested, it’s a pretty high-profile position and comes with a LOT of responsibility. It can be time-consuming, too, so make sure you have the time to take it on before volunteering.

Here are some of the qualifications that this person must have:

The new writer will need to have an entertaining style of writing (at least conversational and engaging), will need to be heavily involved in HAAM and will need to be dedicated, available and/or flexible enough to write a HAAMspam at the drop of a hat, as was the case with the last newsletter. (I had only found out the night before writing it that last Monday was the last day of the KPFT fundraiser for HAAM. HAAM had to come before my clients so I could alert ya’ll about the show.) They must also be an accurate and competent writer who will use their intuition to figure out what should and should not go into a newsletter and when and how often newsletters should go out. (Too many and folks lose interest; Not enough and folks lose interest.) The writer should be able to engender enthusiasm for new projects and should have some marketing skills within their writing in order to do so. Above all, the writer must be objective, group minded and have no personal agenda to promote within HAAM. There is no pay for this position as HAAM is run completely via volunteerism. However, writing the newsletter has it’s rewards.

I will assist the new writer for the first few times and then will release them into the wild! If you are interested, please write to me asap at: mailto:April’@'AprilKelly.com (remove the ‘ symbols from either side of the @ symbol before sending to me) to let me know and make sure that you put “HAAM Newsletter!” into the subject line so that I don’t mistake your email for trash. Please include your full name, phone number and preferred email address. We’ll go from there!

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4.) Houston Press HAAMster Mention – Who’s the Mystery HAAMster??

The article, linked below, was published in the Houston Press on February 14, 2008. HAAM gets a mention toward the end, a passionate call for HAAMsters to unite to change things in Houston. So, who’s the writer?? Show yourself so we can applaud you!! =)

Go here for the article and/or cut and paste the address into your browser to view it:

http://www.houstonpress.com/2008-02-14/news/mad-vegans-and-pedantic-scientologists/

So, we’d like to find out who wrote it, for sure. However, more importantly, does HAAM wish to pull together to try to get Houston leadership more aware of it’s own local music scene and the potential therein? This is one of the original missions of HAAM that fell to the wayside because most folks were too busy to take it on back when HAAM was small. Since then, we’ve accomplished some subtle changes, but nuttin’ fancy.

If you agree with the above, please take the time to write down an idea or two that might help HAAM reason with the folks who are in the position to alter the face of Houston’s musical history. Feel like doing a sit-in? Write it down! Then, bring your passion and your ideas to the next meeting and let’s see if we can make something happen toward putting Houston on the map as an original music destination.

(I’ll let you know more about the meeting details as soon as I know more….)

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5.) The HAAM Radio Show Fund Drive Results

Well, HAAM fell short during the first week, hit par ($800) during the second week and surpassed expectations the third week with 167% of the goal! Yee-and-HA! Once again, we’ve pulled it out, guys! I listened in to the last show and want to thank the following HAAMsters for donating their time and/or pledges: Tom T. and Brian K. for DJing/Begging for $, Sugar Bayou, for offering up their CDs to callers when things were running slow, Pat B., Jane from Bellaire, Patty from Houston, Andrew (new member with deep pockets!), David (big pockets) and a large donation from an anonymous pledge. You guys rock!

Major thanks also go out to those of you who called in to pledge during the first two weeks. It’s thanks to you that we’re still on the air, talkin’ music and spinning CDs! Now we can relax for a few more months and just enjoy the ride….The HAAM Radio Show, Mondays from 3:30 to 5pm, KPFT, 90.1 FM, Houston, Tx. Listen in and tell the world to do the same!

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6.) International Folk Alliance Review

Wow! Sounds like HAAM had quite a presence at the International Folk Alliance Conference in Memphis, TN, this last February. We had a GREAT group of representatives from HAAM and, guys, HAAM really IS becoming more and more well known on a national level. It’s pretty darned cool to be rubbing elbows with great international arteests, isn’t it? Thanks again to Brian and Jim for putting it all together.

This might be long, but it’s worth the read: I asked two attendees to tell you all about it, a virgin and a veteran of the event, and here are their thoughts:

From Willie B:

“Perhaps you would like to hear how it felt going to the NFA for the very first time! Imagine 4 entire floors of the Hotel, including all of the conference rooms, filled with great musicians all showcasing at the same time. Where do you start? Make a list and just see as many as you can! If you see 15 % of the Conference then you saw a lot. Now add in the exhibit hall and the big auditorium in the mix and an outside stage for seminars (under a tent.) Walking down the halls was a poster platted sight to behold, every artist scrambling for wall space. The music and or talent level was very high. I heard great song after great song. Late at night though, just like Kerrville, all the ADHD insomniacs like me gathered and the magic happened over and over. We played songs till the sun came up and cherished every note. Special people filled the Marriot Hotel last week in Memphis.

The HAAM Showcase Room had several magic moments: Brian Ashley Jones and his wife were great! Caroline Herring was great on Thursday before she lost her voice along with Amelia K Spicer. (Voices were dropping like flies.) Hans York sat in with me and danced for 20 straight minutes. (He’s got more energy than a nuclear bomb!) All the HAAMsters showcased here as well as other places and we all made an effort to support each other as much as possible. In fact, one night we all went out together for some Memphis Bar-b-que. Naturally, that had to coordinated by a non-musician: Pam , Brian’s wife got us all in the lobby at the same time (a miracle) and then onto the trolley and back, wow!!! Thanks Pam!!!!

I meet so many caring souls who happen to be songwriters and musicians that it was hard to say goodbye! However their music will stay with me forever!”

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From Jim Kam:

“We had a relatively small HAAM contingent in Memphis this year – Brian and Pam Kalinec, Willie B, Tom Tranchilla, Marina, Glynace, Matt Harlan, Azalea Cervantes, Cheryl Duckett and myself.

As usual we hosted the HAAM showcase room, which worked out very successfully. In addition to giving performing HAAM members 2 showcase slots, we were able to get loads of talent to play the room. Some of these performers, we already knew such as Mick Overman, Jeff Talmege, Jeff Talmadge, Jaime Michaels, Brian Ashley Jones. Terry Allan Smith, Betty Soo, Effron White, Edge City, Mary Cutrufello, etc.

Others, we had not met before, This gave us the opportunity to make new acquaintances and we were very pleased to host such awesome talent as Audrey Auld-Mezera, the Dixie Bee-Liners, Faces of Eve, Sally Spring, Cleve & Sweet Mary, David Stoddard, Caroline Herring, and Uncle Monk (Tommy Ramone of “The Ramones”). These are all not-to-be-missed acts when they come to our area.

The great thing about hosting a showcase room consistently at these conferences is that we meet a lot of people, giving HAAM a lot of visibility and credibility. It definitely raises our profile among the attendees and hopefully will pay dividends to the membership in terms of getting opportunities via HAAM’s “brand-name” recognition.

All in all, we encountered some incredible talent and made lots of new friends. In particular a number of the HAAM guys bonded with a contingent from Minnesota which included David Stoddard, Charlie Roth, Brian Mackey, James Moors, Hans York (who is from Germany, but also hung around with those guys).

Some of the highlights include seeing a guitar jam with the likes of Bill Kirchen ( of Commander Cody) who must surely be a deity among guitar gods, John Inmon (Jerry Jeff Walker’s guitarist) and others whose names I unfortunately do not know. 45 minutes of pure jaw-dropping guitar playing.

This year’s keynote was delivered by Eliza Glykyson and former Attorney General Janet Reno. Unfortunately Ms. Reno suffers from Parkinson’s disease, so her address with very short.

As with previous FA conferences, trying to take it all in is like drinking from a fire hose. Still I think we all enjoyed ourselves tremendously, made some good contacts, made friends, scored a bunch of CDs and wore our behinds off. On the down side, this my second year to visit Memphis and again, I did not make a pilgrimage to Graceland. Maybe next year.

One thing’s for sure, I chose the wrong weekend to give up smoking crack ”

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Jim’s joking there at the end, but it sounds like everyone had an incredible time this year. I hope this has given you a better feel for what you could expect if you went next year or even if you attend the SW region’s version of the IFA, SWRFA. (SWRFA is “IFA Lite,” but is still an awesome ride and an amazing time.) Think about making the trip next year, if you can, and we’ll try to announce it well in advance this time….

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Yowza! Sorry about the length of this newsletter, but there was a lot to review and so much to say. Go check out that forum now, guys! Until next time, be happy and keep that sweet music flowing….

Your sister in song,

) April Kelly

http://www.haam.us/

In an effort to represent the great talent within the Houston area songwriting community and to maintain an archive of recognized HAAM songwriters and their songs, HAAM is inviting all members who live in the Houston area or who regularly perform here to submit their original song(s) to the HAAM CD Selection Committee by April 15, 2008 for consideration. To enable greater representation, songwriters included on the previous CD, “Songs From the Stack,” will not be eligible for this project. Judges may not submit, either.

Selected songs will be included on the HAAM 2008 Compilation CD due for release in October 2008. The songwriters will be invited to perform their winning tunes for the CD Release Party and receive two free CD’s.  As HAAM is a self-promoting, mutually supportive association, finalists will be expected to help promote the CD after its release by joining the HAAM CD Promotion and Distribution Team.  All HAAM members are invited to help out. Email: pattisullivan@netscape.com.

Submitted songs will be reviewed by a panel of judges. After first eliminating entries not deemed radio ready or appropriate in length, songs will be individually rated by a number of factors including: memorable melody, engaging lyrics (if any) and good production/arrangement effort. The songs rated highest by the panel will be included on the 2008 CD, with the exception that only one song per writer can appear on the CD. The actual number of songs to be included will depend on the combined length of all songs (limited by CD capacity). “Songs from the Stack” contained 18 songs.Each participant may submit a maximum of two (2) songs. The submission fee for one (1) song is $15 and for two (2) songs is $25. The fee is non-refundable. If entering two songs, each song must be on a separate CD. One check or money order may be written for both entries and made payable to: Patti Sullivan. Profits from the CD will benefit KPFT HAAM Radio Show. Required form(s) are available on the HAAM web site: www.haam.us.

SUBMISSION  REQUIREMENTS

1. Participant must be a HAAM MEMBER. (Not a member? Sign-up online www.haam.us. It’s easy!)

2. Song must be original and owned by submitter. (Submitter must be at least 18 years of age.)

3. Song must be radio ready (mastered), under 4 minutes long and in MP3 or WAV format.

4. Submission Package must be postmarked by April 15, 2008.

5. Submission package must include:       
          
*     A completed and signed submission form.  (Go to www.haam.us.)           
*     A titled cd with song in MP3 or WAV format (One CD for each song.)           
*     A check/money order: $15 for one song/$25 for two songs, made payable to Patti Sullivan.

6. Mail package to: HAAM CD Selection Committee, P.O. Box 130446, Houston, TX 77219