Dear Friends,
A mid-summer greeting to you from Austin, Texas! What a wild ride these summer months are taking. Just when we thought things were getting better with Covid, here it comes again! Although I am making plans for travel and gigs in the coming months, again there is some fear and doubt with the new Covid surges and outbreaks. I wish people would put politics and conspiracy theories to rest and just get the damn vaccine. There is enough evidence that shows that most of the new cases are unvaccinated people. Many are asking for the vaccine from their ICU beds, but by then it's too late. It is so sad, especially because it is so avoidable.
I am concerned and worried, but at the same time, if the world doesn't shut down again, I have some bright spots on the calendar coming up that I want to share with you. Coming up in September, I'll be attending the Americana Music Festival in Nashville. I'll be on a panel of Latino/Latina artists at the festival itself, and then The Texicana Mamas will have a show at the famed Bluebird Cafe, and then...we are going to play The Grand Ole Opry on September 24th!!! Woo Hoo!! I really love the Bluebird Cafe as it played a part in me getting my first major record deal. I played a set there in 1988, and that's when an A&R guy from A&M Records was there to hear the other acts. That set got me signed to the label, and the rest is history!! As for The Grand Ole Opry, wow - it's been on my bucket list since I worked for Mel Tillis's publishing company in the 80's. So, if all goes well, I'll be able to cross that off my list!
If this wasn't a busy enough week already, I'm then traveling to Houston on September 25 to play for an event that celebrates Old Town Harrisburg, followed by a trip to Lockhart on the 26th to sit in with my long-time pal, "Ole" Al Dressen's Super Swing Revue at The Western Swing Festival going on there. I sang in Al's western swing band when I first moved to Austin from New Mexico back in 1988. It will be a nice reunion, since I haven't played in his band since then!
October holds some interesting events - The Texicana Mamas will play The Kerrville Folk Festival on October 8, then I will travel up to New England to play at Club Passim in Cambridge, MA, then at The Highland Center For The Arts in Greensboro, Vermont. I've also got Gruene Hall Sunday noon set on October 24, in beautiful downtown Gruene, Texas, with Marvin Dykhuis and Chip Dolan. That's always a fun gig! November will take Marvin, Chip and me out to the northwest where we'll play a couple of shows in Oregon: A house concert on the 19th, and a fundraiser in Eugene for the Centro Latino.
Keep posted to my tour dates to check for details or any changes that may come up. Also, check out my "Tiendita". I've got a bunch of CDs and vinyl West albums that I need to sell ; ) Take good care and enjoy the rest of the summer. I am loving grandma duty and appreciating our little "cocktail pool" that Lynn built in our backyard here at our Austin house. I hope you and your loved ones are staying safe and taking precautions when going out. If you have friends and family that are not vaccinated, please encourage them to get it. If you're my fan and are not vaccinated - do it for me!! I want to play The Grand Ole Opry and don't want the gig cancelled. I've been waiting forty years! Seriously though, it is so important for all of us. I really want for us all to be able to get together for festivals and music events and feel good about being with other people. Remember how good those good times were? It can be that way again!
Abrazos,
Tish