Coming to you from the beautiful rolling hills of Hereford, Maryland!
News, Jams & Music Happenings
I wrote this post on a hot August day while thinking, I bet some great blues songs were written on days like this; sitting on squeaky porches with cheap Stella guitars, pulling on shirt collars to air out the sweat, pushing back straw fedoras in a sun so hot you have to move to the corner of the porch to catch some air.
But some awesome music was produced on those porches and we have that music because of independent radio! Well, actually, it wasn’t radio, but “Race Records” and independent studios like Black Swan that captured the early Blues. It took a long while for radio to catch up. Still, the need remains to give exposure to musicians who are trying to make the climb. Read on about how online radio is filling that need.
RURAL RADIO COMING BACK TO THE NORTH COUNTY AND SOUTH. PA !
“My Rural Radio” is being re-launched as an app!
Earlier this month I had an enthusiastic talk with Michael Males, founder of My Rural Radio (MMR) in Central Pa., from his home in Stewartstown Pa. For those who don’t remember his original station (and the yearly festivals at Naylor Vineyards back in the early 00s), MRR is internet-driven and operated off your laptop, or now from an app similar to Spotify that you can play in your car. The station will play local music and give listeners an opportunity to deeply explore and appreciate the talent around us.
“It’s so hard for bands to market themselves now…. I’m doing this to provide a link for real talent and to build fan bases. We’re looking for the real deal here.”
Michael Males
The station–set to launch this September–will carry sponsors and is of no charge to the artists. There will be a “featured artist” each month and that band/singer will be part of a festival to be held at a location yet to be announced.
The exciting thing for us here at HMN is that the artists will now be curated, and we’re super excited to listen to the bands that’ll launch off this platform. So, if you’re a musician or a music fan, come and play/mingle/listen to the Northern Md/ Southern Pa. scene. It may not be the 1960s Laurel Canyon yet… but we’re workin’ on it!
LINK FOR MRR INFO: My Rural Radio
LINK FOR INTERESTED BANDS: Get on Rural Radio
NEW ALBUM COMING OUT FROM HEREFORD’S “OLD PART OF TOWN!”
They may be the Old Part of Town, but it’s a good part of town. The band includes a talented collection of old friends and newcomers, all of whom carry impressive musical creds. We’re anxiously anticipating their next album “Inside Out” because this band lives and breathes under that wonderfully mysterious mantle of eclectic Americana. Their sound can be anywhere from Little Feat to John Hiatt to the 80s band Madness. I’ll aim to do a review of the album in the October HMN post.
Pre-orders for “Inside Out” can be found at: ALBUM SALE
SHAWAN RICE – JAZZ ARTIST TO WATCH
Shawan Rice got her start in Harrisburg Pa. and now resides in New Orleans. Her bluesy, soulful sound is a unique addition to singers and bands playing small venues and breweries in these rolling hills. We believe that with the right accompaniment and songwriting, her music could catch some real wind. She’s been moving up the ranks in NOLA, opening in the next few nights at the Bombay Club and catching some music news attention. Her first studio album “Fever Dreams” just came out this year. Shawan plays locally several times a year and can be found next at the Bridgewater Public House in York Pa. on September 15th, 7-9 pm.
New Music Store in Hereford wants to be a hub for instructors and students.
I talked to Ben Maizlish, manager of the new Crossroads Music Shop (along with the Falls Road General Store) to see how music fit into his family’s rebirth of the iconic Falls Rd-Mt Carmel corner.
“I really want musical instruction to be a big part of what this store is about. There’s so much out there to learn, for any player on any level… I want this place to be a conduit for everyone’s music needs, like… who are the area instrument makers, or repair people…. or how can I find a teacher who’s in the community.”
Ben
Check out the store’s selection of instruments and gear on Thursdays/Fridays 12-6 and Saturday, 11 am – 4 pm. The store is located on the corner of Mt. Carmel and Falls Road, across from the Falls Road General Store.
Local Independent Music Instructors
As an ongoing monthly segment (and in memory of my local instructor, Butch Neal) – the link above will take you to a list of independent instructors by specialty. Though there are some great local music collectives like Stages Music Arts and Lutherville Music School, I found that working with a local independent instructor really allowed me to step out of my musical cocoon. NOTE: This is a work in process, so please comment or send names of instructors to emerson.probst@gmail.com.
September Festival Group To See!
Price Sisters (Friday show) at the Upperco Music Festival, September 20- 23. Come support this event. The Upperco Fire Company volunteers have been key players in supporting local bluegrass-keeping the traditional blend alive and well!
Recommended Craft Brewery Show!
– PIPE THE SIDE BREWING – HAMPSTEAD, MD. –
Daphne Eckman. We love this young singer/songwriter out of Annapolis. Thank you, Pipeside, for keeping a good musical eye out there. Folks on the “Eastside,” this brewery is worth a trip just over the Carroll County border. September 15th, 6 – 9 pm.
NEW LOCAL TALENT! – AVA MAE OTT
We discovered Ava from a post from her mother on Nextdoor announcing her recent graduation from university and private vocal instruction. Without a doubt, her voice stopped us at our typewriters! Well, we at HMN do have lots of old typewriters lying around. I spoke to Ava and told her that if she found musicians to collaborate and explored songwriting, she could find a place in the music mix. There’s talk about some exciting opportunities in songwriting workshops coming up near Hereford in 2024. Ava – please stay in touch!
Ava’s YouTube Channel – HERE
Maryland Festival on the Map!
The Annapolis Songwriters Festival, only in its second year, is poised to be one of the largest songwriters festivals in the U.S. after the one in Key West. Some of the headliners include Blondie, Leann Rimes, Michelle Branch, Patty Griffin, Marty Stuart, Amanda Shires, Nikki Lane, Elizabeth Cooke, James McMurtry and hundreds of other singer/songwriter throughout downtown.
MUSICIANS! COME OUT AND SUPPORT A GREAT CAUSE! Thursday September 7th – 6 – 8 pm: Hootenanny! – Open Jam at Black Locust Brewing in Freeland, Md- This will be a fun Bluegrass/Americana jam with all proceeds from the jar going to Hodgepodge Animal Rescue. One dollar per pour donated by Black Locust Brewery in Freeland. All levels of players and singers are welcome.
Thank you to all the readers who’ve followed or liked our Hootenanny Facebook site and Insta at @herefordhoot.
Sponsored by The Probst Team of Cummings and Co. Real Estate. Your North County and Southern PA experts!
Thinking about selling? Contact emerson.probst@gmail.com or call 443.996.5555 for free home price assessment.
Until next time…Goodbye!
High Lonesome Hills of Northern Maryland 
Catching up on my reading! Nice work! Good info! Hopefully I will get back to it and actually take advantage of your info!
LikeLike