Albert and Gage e-Newsletter

May 2011
Greetings from the MoonHouse in lovely south Austin, Texas

April showers bring May flowers? I don't know about that this year. Here in Texas we are parched and dry, burning and blowing. It's all we can do to keep the tomato plants from shriveling up before they get a chance to bear their luscious fruit.

However, this is the month to celebrate the never ending current of love that waters our souls...on Mother's Day, May 8th and our wedding anniversary, May 10. Our Mother's Day concert at The Great Outdoors on South Congress in Austin is part of our annual ritual, usually followed by a Mexican meal with our kids.

Taking the stage at The Wildflower Festival in Richardson, TX will be another highlight this month. There is an amazing line up; we are honored to be surrounded by such gifted songwriters. On our night alone you can see Beth Wood, Pierce Pettis, Ellis Paul, ourselves and Joe Ely. Our friend Bill Small, whose latest CD was produced by Chris Gage, is among the finalists in the songwriting competition.

We would like to acknowledge the passing of Michael Terry on April 14th, the esteemed leader of the Uncle Calvin's Coffeehouse family. He was a constant source of love and support to us and to many more throughout the years. He will be missed.


Watch for a film called "OK Buckaroos" about Jerry Jeff Walker's life. Chris Gage will be featured in live concert and studio footage, and they even used some of our Belize camcorder footage. Click the pics above to watch a movie trailer or a music video from the studio. The mandolin player in the music vid is Jimmy Ibbotson from the original Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

If you missed it...Chris' "Monday Night at Donn's Depot" got a very nice review in the Austin American Statesman recently. Read it online here. Christine wrote a cover story about Donn's for The Austin Chronicle several years ago. Read it online here. Visit the Donn's Depot webpage here. Visit our website to learn more, see more videos, listen to song samples and take the most recent photo tours.

Buskers - A Film by Chris Gage The latest short film is a collection of street musicians filmed during travels in the US and abroad. There's a young gymnast on the streets of Memphis, "Ave Maria" performed on the streets of Dresden by a classical trio, an incredible duo of violin and piano performed by marionettes in Galway, Ireland and a blues singing dog. Watch the Buskers video here.

MoonHouse Records Have you heard MoonHouse artist Abi Tapia's music? If not, you are missing a genuine talent. She spends most of her time in Nashville these days, with regular trips to New England and Texas so we still claim her as an Austinite. Visit her website and follow her travels and musings on Twitter (@abitapia) and her blog http://abitapia.blogspot.com.

MoonHouse Studio We're cooking up a pretty big deal with a New York partner that we can't jinx by talking about...fingers are crossed, emails are flying....wish us luck. Sarah Smith returns to finish her debut album and Tony Airoldi is next in the queue for some killer overdubs on his new project. Click here to view information about "South Austin Sweetening", Chris' long distance, online overdub and production company. moonhousestudio.com

"Gone But Not Forgotten"
Provincetown, MA, 2007 photo by Chris Gage

May 2011
Full show schedule online here.
Dates, venues and times have been known to change. Please call or check the venue's website to confirm.

Mon.	May 2	Chris Gage at Donn's Depot - Austin, TX Every Monday night - special musical guests drop by from all over the world! 1600 W. 5th St. Austin, TX 512-478-0336 Visit the "Monday Night at Donn's Depot" photo page		9 -1
Wed.	May 4	Donn's Depot - Austin, TX First Wednesday with Albert and Gage 1600 W. 5th St. Austin, TX 512-478-0336		9 -1
Sun.	May 8		Annual Mother's Day Concert among the plants at the Great Outdoors 2730 S. Congress Ave. Austin, TX 78704 (512) 448-2992 www.gonursery.com	2-4 pm
Mon.	May 9	Chris Gage at Donn's Depot - Austin, TX Every Monday night - special musical guests drop by from all over the world! 1600 W. 5th St. Austin, TX 512-478-0336		9 -1
Tues.	May 10	Chris and Christine 8th Anniversary!
Wed.	May 11	No Artz for Christine - she'll be on a little romantic getaway....
Thurs.	May 12	Chris with Jerry Jeff Walker - private event
Sat.	May 14	Donn's Depot - Austin, TX Albert and Gage Band (with David Carroll and Paul Pearcy) 1600 W. 5th St. Austin, TX 512-478-0336		9 -1
Mon.	May 16	Chris Gage at Donn's Depot - Austin, TX Every Monday night - special musical guests drop by from all over the world! 1600 W. 5th St. Austin, TX 512-478-0336		9 -1
Thurs.	May 19	St. Barnabas Episcopal Church - Fredericksburg, TX 601 W. Creek St. 930-997-5762 Fundraiser for "Adopt a Schoolroom" $15.00 Bistro concert open to the public! BYO snacks and drinks.		7:30 pm
Fri.	May 20	Chris with Jerry Jeff Walker - Gruene Hall www.jerryjeff.com
Sat.	May 21	Wildflower Festival - Richardson, TX Gatalyn Park Urban Center - www.wildflowerfestival.com It's an honor to be invited back to this great festival, one more time! Beth Wood 5:15; Pierce Pettis 6:30; Ellis Paul 7:45; A&G 9:00; Joe Ely 10:15		9 pm
Mon.	May 23	Chris Gage at Donn's Depot - Austin, TX Every Monday night - special musical guests drop by from all over the world! 1600 W. 5th St. Austin, TX 512-478-0336		9 -1

"Wings of War"	"Dakota Lullaby"	"When You're Away"	"Malaguena"
Dakota Lullaby CD	Dakota Lullaby T-shirt	Jerry Jeff Walker video by Chris	Jerry Jeff Walker Moonchild CD
www.abitapia.com	WEBSITE CONTACT US MUSIC VIDEO PROMO REVIEWS LINKS SHOW SCHEDULE	C. ALBERT WEBSITE C. GAGE WEBSITE EMAIL SIGNUP TOUR PHOTOS MOONHOUSE STUDIO MOONHOUSE RECORDS RED WILLOW BAND SWANSONGS.ORG	Austin City Limits Cookbook
	Swan Songs fulfills musical wishes at the end of life. Concerts are offered free of charge by request, and there have been some very profound moments. Click here to view Jim Swift's story about Swan Songs that appeared on KXAN News in Austin on September 30, 2010. To learn more or donate visit swansongs.org.

Coming up! More shows and more details at our website
Mondays	Donn's Depot / Austin, TX - Chris Gage
July 9	Red Willow Band at The Knuckle / Sturgis, SD
July 10	Red Willow Band and Albert and Gage at The Oahe Speedway / Pierre, SD
July 12	Albert and Gage at The Grand Opera House - Dell Rapids, SD
July 14	Albert and Gage in Watertown, SD - City Park - Lake Kampeska
July 16	Albert and Gage appearing on Folk Stage / Chicago, Illinois
July 17	Albert and Gage at The Woodstock Folk Festival / Woodstock, Illinois
July 19	Albert and Gage at Good Folk Concerts - Fayetteville, AR

A note from Christine:
     We anticipate the highlight of May 2011 will be the birth of our first grandchild (a boy). Chris's son Casey and his wife Ali are due on May 25th. We all know that children have a mind of their own, from the time of their entrance here on earth to what color socks they will wear at age 4. The magic will begin whenever Brody Tyler Gage chooses, but there's a good chance it will be by the time we write our June newsletter.
     In honor of my son turning 23 on April 20th, and as we prepare to welcome a new life into our clan, I will share some things I didn't anticipate about being a mom that I listed in a journal I kept for the first few years of Troupe's life. I wrote this May 20, 1991, when he was three years old.
     "I didn't know as a mom that I would be expected to know where every toy or piece of toy was at any given moment, or that I would be so in tune with my child that I would know that."
     "I didn't realize that Mother's Day gifts made at school would mean so much and that I would save every art project he brings home."
     "I never thought that sitting alone on the couch for 30 minutes could feel like such a luxury."
     "I never expected what a good friend he has already become at 3 years old - my buddy."
     I look forward to witnessing this journey for Casey, Ali and Brody.
     Happy Mother's Day to all.
     Love, Christine

And a blurb from Chris:
     A spring cold front rolled in yesterday, and with it the prospect of rain....but...no rain. And by cold front, I mean 60 degrees. But it feels great. Austin has been stricken with drought conditions and several friends were evacuated last week in the Oak Hill section of town as wildfires threatened to engulf the neighborhood. Come on rain!
     I look forward to Mother's Day this year with a different take on it...my own mom has moved to Texas and I'll be able to visit her on Mother's Day for the first time in decades. She's hanging in there, and though the ravages of memory loss are taking their toll, but she's a joy to be with and knows exactly who is visiting her. We all choose to celebrate her just like she is, and she's so much fun to talk to. They had the royal wedding on the TV where she lives, and while she enjoyed it, she complained that she never got a good look at Princess Di. Either did I, Mom. Happy Mother's Day.
     And, yes, I'll be a grandpa soon, imagine that. This kid will have a grandpa that plays music for a living, wears t-shirts and jeans 90% of the time, likes to cook and garden, and sings "Hound Dog" like Elvis on a video game. Not bad, I'd say. I like to think I'll be a good influence...someone's gotta teach him how to say "Boom-shaka-laka-laka", right?
     See you at the gig. (I hope).
     Chris

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The TCA provides grants to arts presenters, schools, libraries, theaters and other non-profits throughout Texas to help with the cost of bringing in artists from the roster.

A reminder that Christine Albert's French Show has been approved for inclusion on the new Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) Texas Touring Roster for the Sept 2010 - August 2012 season. So, if you know of a school, non-profit arts organization (grants are not available for fundraising events), etc that would like to host Ms. Albert's French Show, please keep this in mind. The next deadline for Arts Respond Performance Support Grants is August 1, 2011 for performances Sept 1 - Dec 14, 2011. (Insider tip - you can also apply for funding for an A&G show through Christine's account, since Christine is the Albert in Albert and Gage!)

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