Dear Friends,
I'm in sunny southern Arizona as I write this little greeting. This is where I love to be when I'm not in Austin or on the road. Wow! Time has flown since my last note. It seems like as soon as Halloween arrives, November, December, January just fly by. I'm still behind on saying thank you for all the birthday wishes from December 6! So, thank you for all those happy wishes. It worked! I had a wonderful 64th birthday.
Besides my Tish work and touring, I've been very busy with my Tex-Mex sisters Patricia Vonne and Stephanie Urbina-Jones, with our trio the Texicana Mamas. We've picked up some momentum this past year and 2020 looks to be even bigger and better. Our start to the year began with a Texicana Mamas show at The Kennedy Center on the Millennium Stage in Washington DC. We played to a packed house and it was so much fun. While in DC we visited the NPR studios and had an interview on Alt Latino with host Felix Contreras. It will be aired later in the spring. We attended the Association of Performing Arts Professionals Conference (APAP) that was held in New York City where we had a booth and had a few showcases to present our work to Performing Arts Center buyers. We're following good leads to getting Performing Arts Centers and Theaters across the country.
It's not an easy task getting all our schedules together as we all have families, individual careers, and busy lives, but we love the music we're making together and the impact we are seeing we can have culturally and in raising social consciousness through border stories and songs, women's issues and Latino and Latina empowerment. All this, and fun too!! We love seeing lit up kids faces and people dancing.
In the months ahead we have shows in San Antonio, and Mason, Texas, some exciting SXSW showcases in March, in May we will be in Santa Fe and Albuquerque New Mexico with Border Aid - Concerts To Restore Humanity. Also in May, the Kerrville Folk Festival! We are collaborating on an album that we hope to have out by Summer/Fall.
Back at home, I'm in blissful happiness as I am able to hold my beautiful baby grand daughter born to my daughter and her husband. My son and his wife are expecting a baby boy in April. I love watching our eclectic, interesting, and fun family growing. I truly appreciate all the blessings in my life right now. I hold them dear and I treasure every moment.
The world is suffering a lot, our country is too. Society is in a low and dangerous place. Let's keep positive and optimistic, let's show and share with each other the importance of integrity, dignity, truth and compassion. Let's teach our children and grandchildren these qualities through our actions and behavior. Let's raise a great society and make God smile.
Love and thanks to you all,
Tish
Tish Note - Summer 2019
Hey Friends,
I have some exciting shows coming up that I want to tell you about, however, I want to mention a few words about my summer travels first. At my last newsletter in May, I was about to embark on a month-long tour in Europe. I had not been there in a few years so I wasn't all sure of how attendance and reception would be. Luckily, any nerves or trepidation I had about re-visiting quickly evaporated. From Ireland and UK, to Holland, Italy, Germany, and Sweden, we were met with enthusiasm and friendliness. Yes, the travel part can get tedious and a little stressful at times, but overall the tour went quite smoothly. The fun part of reconnecting with old friends and making new ones made up for any frustration of missing a train, or having a hotel get our reservation wrong. I love Europe and want to send big hugs and thanks to all of the special friends and venues that helped make this tour a success.
Watch the video slideshow from my time in Paestum, Italy while on my recent European tour. Featuring “West”
Returning to Austin was quite special in that my lovely daughter and son-in-law were expecting a baby and I was thrilled to be around to help with preparation and arrival of my first baby grand-daughter. Pollyanna Maria arrived in early August, and all us grand-parents are in in love with this beautiful addition to our families.
So, back to the music ...Texicana Mamas (Stephanie Urbina-Jones, Patricia Vonne and myself) have some interesting and exciting shows coming up:
September 12 - We'll be in Nashville at The Bluebird Cafe, returning to the place where Texicana Mamas was born, along with our compadre, hit songwriter James Slater, of whom it could be easily said is the Godfather of our trio!
Get Tickets to Texicana Mamas at The Bluebird Cafe - 9/12/2019
September 14 - We'll be recording new originals and other surprises at Nashville's Imagine Recording Sessions. Tickets are available at Imagine Sessions. This is a hands on full recording session with wonderful seasoned session players backing us up. Audience members get to take home a demo recording of the session. Get your tickets pronto!
Get Tickets to Texicana Mamas at Imagine Recording Sessions - 9/14/2019
September 26 - We are in Houston, TX for a show at The Mucky Duck.
Get Tickets to Texicana Mamas at The Mucky Duck - 9/26/2019
September 28 - We are in San Antonio, TX at The Tobin Center (Carlos Alvarez Theater).
Get Tickets to Texicana Mamas at The Tobin Center - 9/28/2019
September 29 - We are in Austin, TX at The One World Theatre.
Get Tickets to Texicana Mamas at The One World Theatre - 9/29/2019
In all of these shows we are supported by some of Austins finest musicians - Marvin Dykhuis on electric and acoustic lead guitar, Chip Dolan on piano and accordion, Patterson Barrett on rhythm acoustic guitar, and David Perales on violin.
Please get your tickets soon and come share in the fun, beautiful and spicy Latina cultural celebration of the Texicana Mamas! I am honored to be a part of this original trio that celebrates the significant history, stories, songs, and rhythms of our deep, beautiful, Latino culture. We need a lot more cultural and diverse celebration in our country these days. I think you'll love this show!
Check out the Texicana Mamas website and on Facebook!
Texicana Mamas - Official Site
Thanks always for your continued support! I hope to see you soon!
Abrazos,
Tish