Dayjob Refugees was one of 24 bands selected for the Shiner Rising Star competition run by 95.3, The Range!  The 24 bands were selected from over 100 entries and will compete in groups of three bands each week for the next eight weeks.  The winner of the competition gets a two week recording session in Austin or Nashville with a nationally known producer, with the final CD published and distributed by Shiner Records.  The DayJob Refugees will compete in the first round on Thursday, July 31^st from 8pm to 10pm at Love & War in Texas, Plano Road and Hwy 75.  Part of the judging includes audience participation, so please come by and cheer them on!  They'll also be at Obzeet (Preston Rd, Just south of the Bush) in Dallas this Saturday, July 19, 7:30 PM to close.

Last night, CCSA performers C. Aaron Moore, Diane Hart (CCSA President), Nelson Miller, The Black Prairie Band and Tony Vea joined the Visual Arts Guild (VAG) for a show at the new Frisco Holiday Inn’s Grand Opening.  This was a major event with talented artists showing examples of what they do best, while Holiday Inn executives and local residents circulated to the music.  The event was spearheaded by Diana Moya of the VAG.CCSA performers Black Prairie Band, Lee Trawick, Paul Gorman, joined headliner Ryan Michael Galloway, Dallas Songwriters Association performers Bill Amos, Reagan Redfern, and host Steve Sullivan (DSA President) for an absolutely blockbuster night of performances at DSAs Cross Roads Showcase (co-sponsored by Harmonica Organization of Texas – HOOT), on Saturday, July 5th.  If you weren’t there, you missed an incredible evening of inspired original performances.  Keep your eyes open—the original shows are some of the best.

We’ve just received word that The Black Prairie Band will headline at the Prosper Arts and Music Festival on September 13.  This is a fun country-leaning band, that plays in a number of different configurations.  They’ve got some good serious stuff, too.  Stay tuned, we’ll share more details as we get them.

Michael “The Mudcat” Reames spent last week on several recording projects at his Vault Studios in Houston.  In addition to coming up with some really innovative harmonica work, he also helped popular British bluesman, Bron Buick, record some of his (Mudcat’s) tunes for the European market.  Mudcat also worked with longtime friend, guitarist and vocalist, Wayne Folse, on some more of his songs for a project-in-progress.  Music industry veteran Dave Williams, the Vault’s operator and chief engineer, also produced the sessions.

Ryan Michael Galloway appears at The Filling Station, 19009 Preston Road in Dallas, Wednesdays, July 16 and 30 (7PM), and at Journeys Pub, 644 Custer Road, right next to The Zone in McKinney, Saturdays, July 26 and August 9 (6PM).  The Filling Station is a fun boisterous room with some of the most unique drinks in North Texas (you can yell “FREEBIRD” and no one will mind).  Journeys Pub is a great sounding intimate room that is a bit more kid friendly—and the kids can play next door at The Zone if they need a break. Two great choices, depending on the environment you enjoy.  Ryan was joined this past Saturday at Vault Studios in Houston by son Aaron Yuhas, who played sax and bass on a recording of “Lawd Ha Mercy.”  The song will be part of an upcoming CCSA compilation CD.  Aaron just won a music scholarship to Cameron University in Oklahoma.

We’ll publish a full article shortly, but want to let you know about an epic development for DFW songwriters and audiences.  North Texas song-hunter Randy Tredway and partner Helen Kennedy—of songwriter showcase sponsor Tredway and Friends—have launched a historic series of songwriter showcases to be performed at Waxahachie’s Chautauqua Auditorium.  One Saturday a month will feature six singer songwriters.  Some will be exceptional local acts, some will be more famous regional and national acts who are traveling through.  It is a family-oriented event, and well worth the trip to Waxahachie.