Carlyn Hutchins - April 2009 Newsletter

Happy spring everyone! Every day I drive home from work and pass the Arnold Arboretum. Every day around this time of year I get to watch the buds come out on all the trees, and it never ceases to amaze me how what was once brown and barren will “green up” in a week’s time. I hope you’re enjoying the early spring as much as I am!

I only have a few announcements this month:

• First, thanks to everyone who came out to the gigs I had in February and March. I had so much fun opening for Chris Pureka and Ellis, and even more fun meeting so many new fans!

• Second, I got some recording software and a digital interface (meaning I can hook up my guitar and a microphone into my computer), and made a recording of “North Carolina Called”, one of my newer songs. You can listen to it here. The first 10 people who send me an email (carlyn AT carlynhutchins DOT com) with some feedback will get it as a free MP3 - constructive feedback is preferred of course, but say what you must! If you hate it, then please tell me, because there is no sense in me sending it to you if you hate it, right?

• Third, I will be attending a workshop called “Powerful Women, Powerful Voices” in late April at Kripalu in Western MA. All you creative type women (sorry boys) should seriously think about coming. Here’s more about the workshop:

Women and Songwriting Retreat April 26 to April 29 at Kripalu Yoga Center

For all women who love music. We have a few spaces left for an intimate writing workshop with Eliza Gilkyson, Gretchen Peters, The Nields and Val Denn for intensive writing and creativity workshop in a nurturing environment.

Come together in community with other women to connect with your creative self and explore the power of words and music to express the human experience. Co-created by a bevy of talented grassroots musical artists, this workshop will awaken you to your own inner well of creativity and strength.

Eliza Gilkyson, The Nields, Gretchen Peters, and Val Denn have created a program for women who want to write and gather together to enhance that desire. They will share their creative journeys, and delve into what it means to make music out of the tumult and beauty of their inner lives and then offer their songs to the world.

The program includes experiential workshops, panel discussions, live performances, open mic sessions, nuts and bolts discussions, and singing together as a group to draw you deeper into the heart of your own unique, essential, powerful voice, no matter how you express yourself. Whether you are a musician, writer, or music lover, Powerful Women, Powerful Voices offers a wealth of ways to use creative expression as a spiritual practice and move toward your creative dreams with balance and integrity.

Kripalu is a Yoga Center in the Berkshires that provides a quiet place to do yoga, to retreat, eat organic food in the beauty of the Berkshires. Call and tell them your a FA member and receive a 20% discount on the program tuition, Housing is separate and prices vary from dorm style to private rooms, http://www.kripalu.org/program/view/PWPV91/powerful_women_powerful_voices or call Val Denn if you have questions. 512 391-3855

Speaking of Gretchen Peters, she will be performing at Driftwood Folk Café in Plymouth MA on Saturday April 25th, with opening act Lisa Martin! You may not recognize Gretchen, but she has been nominated for Grammys, is a Country Music Award winner, was the 2008 Folkwax Magazine artist of the year, and has more ASCAP awards than you can shake a stick at! Oh yeah, she’s written for the likes of Martina McBride, Bonnie Raitt, Bryan Adams, George Strait, Shania Twain… the list goes on and on! I highly recommend purchasing advanced seats for the show, $20 each.

Driftwood Folk Café at First Parish UU Church
19 Town Square
Plymouth, MA 02360
508-224-7024

In other news, you can now visit me on YouTube! I have a few performance videos for you to check out. Visit me on Facebook too! And if you Twitter, you can follow my tweets too. Oh yes, I'm all hooked up on social networks now!

Happy Spring, and hope to see you at my next show on May 10th! Come out at see me at The Burren's Sunday Night Songwriting Series! Always a good time, especially with Danielle Miraglia and Tom Bianchi as hosts!

Squishy hugs and love!

Carlyn

http://www.carlynhutchins.com