Below is the current edition of my email newsletter which features all the news that is and isn't for my two largest enterprises; the Pickin' Porch and Oh Papa Music. If you'd like to join the thousands (really!), who receive this occasional email news rag send me an email that says something like "Add me to your list."
Hey Gang,
So, some of you may be asking...
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
I’ve received several (okay two), concerned emails about the lack of information coming from our marketing staff here at the offices of Oh Papa Music and the Pickin’ Porch. This has been due to two inexorable forces. First, I haven’t been up to much. Second, my lengthy email list got obliterated in a computer upgrade disaster! More on what I haven’t been doing later, the mailing list debacle really set me back. The only way to reassemble the list was to go back to older saved lists and rescue fragments of the list from old mailings. I’ve also added email addresses from anyone who has emailed me in the last two months. The net result is that the reconstructed list contains close to the number of addresses on the old list. However, some of those addresses may be defunct, or worse, not really interested in being on the list. If your address is defunct, then you’re not getting this message. If you have been unwillingly added to the list, drop me an email with a message of “Remove” (and/or your favorite expletive), and we’ll do so tout de suite and forthwith.
THE RUMOR MILL
So I have received some email inquiries and been engaged in conversations about town and its very clear that some of you have either very vivid imaginations or too much time on your hands. Here’s my response to a handful of my favorite rumors regarding the activities of yours truly.
The Pickin' Porch is moving into the "new and improved" Country Store?
No. Although it is true that the Pickin’ Porch was offered retail space in the new Country Store, I passed. It is well known that I cast a wary eye upon all the “improvements” to downtown Floyd, however I do hope for the best and I did consider the move. In the end I decided my little dog and pony opperation can continue to stumble along just fine in its present, hard to find, location and fulfill its mission to “Celebrate & Cultivate Floyd’s Music Making Tradition.” I will be renting the stage at the Country Store for several shows, including my CD Release Party on May 5th.
The Pickin’ Porch is for sale.
Yes, sort of…. I have fielded two serious and one not so serious offer on the Pickin’ Porch. I love my little shop and appreciate your support. My main motivation for opening the store was to avoid getting a real job and so far that’s working out just fine thanks to you all. However, as you know, I’m equally interested in continuing and developing my “so called music career” and spending more time with my family on our neglected little farm in Check. I don’t have an exact dollar figure in mind, but if the right person offered a reasonable price, I’m ready to find new and exciting ways to avoid real work. However, whatever happens, you can count on me to continue corrupting the youth of Floyd County with guitar lessons and tormenting audiences with my "unique" brand of blues and roots at the few venues in town that will allow me to do so.
I’ve been seeking marital counseling from Tom Ryan.
Also true, sort of…. I haven’t really asked T-Bone for advice about anything, but that doesn’t stop him from offering it! Here’s what he published recently in his scandal sheet, “the Floyd Enquirer:”
If this rag doesn’t provide you with enough mis-information, drop Tom a line at tryan@swva.net and subscribe to his bit of self-indulgent doggerel!
I’m moving to Ireland.
I think this one is more wishful thinking than rumor. However, I could be enticed to pack up and leave town. If you’d like to make that happen, make an offer on the aforementioned store and neglected little farm in Check!
I have a blog.
True. However, you wouldn’t know it based on the amount of traffic it gets. If this newsletter doesn’t provide enough worthless information, visit “Don’t Start Me to Talkin’, I’ll Tell Everything I Know” to be bludgeoned with more rants and ramblings. If you want to read something worthwhile and redeeming, visit my wife’s blog, “Dark Chocolate, Red Wine.”
I’m having an affair with Rachel Ray.
True. How else would I have gotten the Pickin’ Porch featured in the April issue of her magazine, “Every Day with Rachel Ray.” Read more about Rachel and I in this past weeks blog entry. While we’re on the subject of free publicity, I’ve been quoted recently in “The Old Time Herald,” spouting off about musician compensation (or rather the lack thereof), in Appalachia. The Pickin’ Porch has also been featured in the Washington Post Sunday Magazine (hey, that Bob Woodward’s not a bad kisser), and Subaru's "Drive" magazine.
BUT SERIOUSLY FOLKS!
Okay, so here’s what I really did during my winter “vacation.” I finished recording my CD, “8 Miles to Perryville: the Roots & Routes of Oh Papa.” 1000 copies are being pressed as we speak and will be complete in time for my May 5th Release Party. I'm counting on you all to purchase them by the dozen! To get a taste of what's on the disc check out audio clips at www.ohpapa.com I also did a few “Blues Pathways” workshops at local schools through the Jefferson Center’s INSPIRE Program. I played an "off season" show at Michael Gucciardo's new restaurant, Nico's in downtown Roanoke. Cool place. They're having me back on May 16th with Front Porch Swing. I've booked several festival gigs including a week of workshops and two appearances at the LEAF Festival, my 4th appearance at Chateau Morrisette's "Our Dog" Blues Festival and my 6th appearance at FloydFest.
I know I have earned a reputation as being difficult to get along with and not playing well with others. Yet I have two groups I’m playing with this summer. The New Dominion Ramblers features Tom Ohmson and Dylan Locke (both appear on my new CD). The New Dominion Ramblers sound is what you'd expect if Blind Lemmon Jefferson sat in with Homer and Jethro and Charles Mingus dropped by for a couple of tunes. The other group, Front Porch Swing, features Bill Adams (also on the CD), and Bob Thomas of “No Strings Attached.” If Ukulele Ike and Blind Blake were asked to sit in with Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, you'd capture the sound of Front Porch Swing. Both groups sound great and find me adding even more diversity to my repertoire. The Ramblers debut at the Roanoke Farmer's Market on April 16th. Both groups appear at the CD Release Party at the Floyd Country Store on May 5th. Front Porch Swing (below) joins me at Nico's on May 16th.
SO WHEN & WHERE CAN WE SEE & HEAR THE NEW MATERIAL?
Funny you should ask…. Here’s the current performance calendar:
Date Time Venue Type of Show City
Apr 16 5:30 PM Country Store Pickin’ Porch Student Recital - Floyd, VA
Apr 21 11:00 AM City Farmer's Market w/ ND Ramblers - Roanoke, VA
Apr 23 5:30 PM Country Store Pickin’ Porch Student Recital - Floyd, VA
Apr 25 TBA VT School of Engineering Awards Dinner - Blacksburg, VA
May 5 7:00 PM The Country Store CD Release Party - Floyd, VA
May 9 TBA Blues Pathways Workshop - Black Mountain, NC
May 10 TBA Blues Pathways Workshop - Black Mountain, NC
May 11 LEAF Festival (Solo) - Black Mountain, NC
May 12 LEAF Festival (Solo) - Black Mountain, NC
May 16 7:00 PM Nico's Ristaurante e Cafe w/ FP Swing - Roanoke, VA
May 19 11:00 PM City Farmer's Market (Solo) - Roanoke, VA
May 25 TBA Private Party - Indianapolis, IN
May 26 TBA Private Party - Indianapolis, IN
Jun 2 Vintage Virginia Wine Festival (Solo) - Centreville, VA (DC area)
Jun 3 Vintage Virginia Wine Festival (Solo) - Centreville, VA (DC area)
Jun 16 7:00 PM The Country Store w/ Front Porch Swing - Floyd, VA
Jun 20 7:00 PM Nico's Ristaurante e Cafe - Roanoke, VA
Jun 30 7:00 PM Oak Grove Pavilion w/ ND Ramblers- Floyd, VA
Jul 7 Wine Down the Music Trail (Solo) - Mile Post 170.5 BR Pkwy, VA
Jul 8 Wine Down the Music Trail (Solo) - Mile Post 170.5 BR Pkwy, VA
Jul 14 5:00 PM Chateau Morrisette Our Dog Blues Festival (Solo) - Meadows of Dan, VA
Jul 21 11:00 AM City Farmer's Market w/ ND Ramblers - Roanoke, VA
Jul 21 3:00 PM Blue Ridge Blues & Barbeque Festival - Roanoke, VA
Jul 26 FloydFest (Solo) - Mile Post 170.5 Blue Ridge Parkway, VA
Jul 27 FloydFest (Solo) - Mile Post 170.5 Blue Ridge Parkway, VA
Jul 28 FloydFest (Solo) - Mile Post 170.5 Blue Ridge Parkway, VA
Jul 29 FloydFest (Solo) - Mile Post 170.5 Blue Ridge Parkway, VA
Aug 10 7:00 PM The Winter Sun - Floyd, VA
Sep 1 4:00 PM Black Snake Meadery (Solo) - Dugspur, VA
Sep 15 7:00 PM Country Store w/ Mac & Jenny Traynham - Floyd, VA
All the best,
Scott
This is the Oh Papa Email Newsletter, on-line mouthpiece for Oh Papa Music representing the OPM label, acoustic blues & roots artist Scott Perry and Blues Pathways educational programs. You are receiving this either because you requested it, or because I thought you'd enjoy it. If for any reason you'd like to stop receiving it, simply reply to this mail with a message of REMOVE. Of course if you know anyone who might enjoy receiving this newsletter please forward it to them.
So, some of you may be asking...
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
I’ve received several (okay two), concerned emails about the lack of information coming from our marketing staff here at the offices of Oh Papa Music and the Pickin’ Porch. This has been due to two inexorable forces. First, I haven’t been up to much. Second, my lengthy email list got obliterated in a computer upgrade disaster! More on what I haven’t been doing later, the mailing list debacle really set me back. The only way to reassemble the list was to go back to older saved lists and rescue fragments of the list from old mailings. I’ve also added email addresses from anyone who has emailed me in the last two months. The net result is that the reconstructed list contains close to the number of addresses on the old list. However, some of those addresses may be defunct, or worse, not really interested in being on the list. If your address is defunct, then you’re not getting this message. If you have been unwillingly added to the list, drop me an email with a message of “Remove” (and/or your favorite expletive), and we’ll do so tout de suite and forthwith.
THE RUMOR MILL
So I have received some email inquiries and been engaged in conversations about town and its very clear that some of you have either very vivid imaginations or too much time on your hands. Here’s my response to a handful of my favorite rumors regarding the activities of yours truly.
The Pickin' Porch is moving into the "new and improved" Country Store?
No. Although it is true that the Pickin’ Porch was offered retail space in the new Country Store, I passed. It is well known that I cast a wary eye upon all the “improvements” to downtown Floyd, however I do hope for the best and I did consider the move. In the end I decided my little dog and pony opperation can continue to stumble along just fine in its present, hard to find, location and fulfill its mission to “Celebrate & Cultivate Floyd’s Music Making Tradition.” I will be renting the stage at the Country Store for several shows, including my CD Release Party on May 5th.
The Pickin’ Porch is for sale.
Yes, sort of…. I have fielded two serious and one not so serious offer on the Pickin’ Porch. I love my little shop and appreciate your support. My main motivation for opening the store was to avoid getting a real job and so far that’s working out just fine thanks to you all. However, as you know, I’m equally interested in continuing and developing my “so called music career” and spending more time with my family on our neglected little farm in Check. I don’t have an exact dollar figure in mind, but if the right person offered a reasonable price, I’m ready to find new and exciting ways to avoid real work. However, whatever happens, you can count on me to continue corrupting the youth of Floyd County with guitar lessons and tormenting audiences with my "unique" brand of blues and roots at the few venues in town that will allow me to do so.
I’ve been seeking marital counseling from Tom Ryan.
Also true, sort of…. I haven’t really asked T-Bone for advice about anything, but that doesn’t stop him from offering it! Here’s what he published recently in his scandal sheet, “the Floyd Enquirer:”
Ask Mr. T-Bone
Because of my past, a lot of married guys seek my advice. Scott Perry is a typically sad case & he recently asked me, “Mr. T-Bone, I’m happily married, my wife loves me dearly, we both have great careers, wonderful children, and we’re really enjoying life......can you help me?” Well, the fact is that a lot of guys like Scott are often beyond help because they waited too long not only to recognize the problem but also to begin taking those critical initial steps. If you want to avoid the dismal life that faces Scott, contact me, Mr. T-Bone. Act now & receive my FREE pamphlet: “Hookers, Meth & Marriage—The Two Step Program to a Successful Relationship”.
If this rag doesn’t provide you with enough mis-information, drop Tom a line at tryan@swva.net and subscribe to his bit of self-indulgent doggerel!
I’m moving to Ireland.
I think this one is more wishful thinking than rumor. However, I could be enticed to pack up and leave town. If you’d like to make that happen, make an offer on the aforementioned store and neglected little farm in Check!
I have a blog.
True. However, you wouldn’t know it based on the amount of traffic it gets. If this newsletter doesn’t provide enough worthless information, visit “Don’t Start Me to Talkin’, I’ll Tell Everything I Know” to be bludgeoned with more rants and ramblings. If you want to read something worthwhile and redeeming, visit my wife’s blog, “Dark Chocolate, Red Wine.”
I’m having an affair with Rachel Ray.
True. How else would I have gotten the Pickin’ Porch featured in the April issue of her magazine, “Every Day with Rachel Ray.” Read more about Rachel and I in this past weeks blog entry. While we’re on the subject of free publicity, I’ve been quoted recently in “The Old Time Herald,” spouting off about musician compensation (or rather the lack thereof), in Appalachia. The Pickin’ Porch has also been featured in the Washington Post Sunday Magazine (hey, that Bob Woodward’s not a bad kisser), and Subaru's "Drive" magazine.
BUT SERIOUSLY FOLKS!
Okay, so here’s what I really did during my winter “vacation.” I finished recording my CD, “8 Miles to Perryville: the Roots & Routes of Oh Papa.” 1000 copies are being pressed as we speak and will be complete in time for my May 5th Release Party. I'm counting on you all to purchase them by the dozen! To get a taste of what's on the disc check out audio clips at www.ohpapa.com I also did a few “Blues Pathways” workshops at local schools through the Jefferson Center’s INSPIRE Program. I played an "off season" show at Michael Gucciardo's new restaurant, Nico's in downtown Roanoke. Cool place. They're having me back on May 16th with Front Porch Swing. I've booked several festival gigs including a week of workshops and two appearances at the LEAF Festival, my 4th appearance at Chateau Morrisette's "Our Dog" Blues Festival and my 6th appearance at FloydFest.
I know I have earned a reputation as being difficult to get along with and not playing well with others. Yet I have two groups I’m playing with this summer. The New Dominion Ramblers features Tom Ohmson and Dylan Locke (both appear on my new CD). The New Dominion Ramblers sound is what you'd expect if Blind Lemmon Jefferson sat in with Homer and Jethro and Charles Mingus dropped by for a couple of tunes. The other group, Front Porch Swing, features Bill Adams (also on the CD), and Bob Thomas of “No Strings Attached.” If Ukulele Ike and Blind Blake were asked to sit in with Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, you'd capture the sound of Front Porch Swing. Both groups sound great and find me adding even more diversity to my repertoire. The Ramblers debut at the Roanoke Farmer's Market on April 16th. Both groups appear at the CD Release Party at the Floyd Country Store on May 5th. Front Porch Swing (below) joins me at Nico's on May 16th.
SO WHEN & WHERE CAN WE SEE & HEAR THE NEW MATERIAL?
Funny you should ask…. Here’s the current performance calendar:
Date Time Venue Type of Show City
Apr 16 5:30 PM Country Store Pickin’ Porch Student Recital - Floyd, VA
Apr 21 11:00 AM City Farmer's Market w/ ND Ramblers - Roanoke, VA
Apr 23 5:30 PM Country Store Pickin’ Porch Student Recital - Floyd, VA
Apr 25 TBA VT School of Engineering Awards Dinner - Blacksburg, VA
May 5 7:00 PM The Country Store CD Release Party - Floyd, VA
May 9 TBA Blues Pathways Workshop - Black Mountain, NC
May 10 TBA Blues Pathways Workshop - Black Mountain, NC
May 11 LEAF Festival (Solo) - Black Mountain, NC
May 12 LEAF Festival (Solo) - Black Mountain, NC
May 16 7:00 PM Nico's Ristaurante e Cafe w/ FP Swing - Roanoke, VA
May 19 11:00 PM City Farmer's Market (Solo) - Roanoke, VA
May 25 TBA Private Party - Indianapolis, IN
May 26 TBA Private Party - Indianapolis, IN
Jun 2 Vintage Virginia Wine Festival (Solo) - Centreville, VA (DC area)
Jun 3 Vintage Virginia Wine Festival (Solo) - Centreville, VA (DC area)
Jun 16 7:00 PM The Country Store w/ Front Porch Swing - Floyd, VA
Jun 20 7:00 PM Nico's Ristaurante e Cafe - Roanoke, VA
Jun 30 7:00 PM Oak Grove Pavilion w/ ND Ramblers- Floyd, VA
Jul 7 Wine Down the Music Trail (Solo) - Mile Post 170.5 BR Pkwy, VA
Jul 8 Wine Down the Music Trail (Solo) - Mile Post 170.5 BR Pkwy, VA
Jul 14 5:00 PM Chateau Morrisette Our Dog Blues Festival (Solo) - Meadows of Dan, VA
Jul 21 11:00 AM City Farmer's Market w/ ND Ramblers - Roanoke, VA
Jul 21 3:00 PM Blue Ridge Blues & Barbeque Festival - Roanoke, VA
Jul 26 FloydFest (Solo) - Mile Post 170.5 Blue Ridge Parkway, VA
Jul 27 FloydFest (Solo) - Mile Post 170.5 Blue Ridge Parkway, VA
Jul 28 FloydFest (Solo) - Mile Post 170.5 Blue Ridge Parkway, VA
Jul 29 FloydFest (Solo) - Mile Post 170.5 Blue Ridge Parkway, VA
Aug 10 7:00 PM The Winter Sun - Floyd, VA
Sep 1 4:00 PM Black Snake Meadery (Solo) - Dugspur, VA
Sep 15 7:00 PM Country Store w/ Mac & Jenny Traynham - Floyd, VA
All the best,
Scott
This is the Oh Papa Email Newsletter, on-line mouthpiece for Oh Papa Music representing the OPM label, acoustic blues & roots artist Scott Perry and Blues Pathways educational programs. You are receiving this either because you requested it, or because I thought you'd enjoy it. If for any reason you'd like to stop receiving it, simply reply to this mail with a message of REMOVE. Of course if you know anyone who might enjoy receiving this newsletter please forward it to them.
