Friends of The Moonlight---
 
 
Amazing--- the number of folks we run into who congratulate us on the quality of our performers... "You've had some really great people playing up there!", they declare... why yes, thank you, we say, who did you really enjoy? "Oh, gosh, I haven't quite made it out to see you yet, I sure do plan to come soon, though---" Mmmm-hmmmm... anybody particular you have in mind? "Oh, I'm for sure gonna be there for LEON REDBONE, I can't miss that!" Well, you DO know that we have only a hundred seats, and for once they ARE being sold in advance?.... you better jump on it if you mean to get in. "How can I do that? I CAN'T miss that show!"  
 
 
So for those of you who really DO want to see LEON REDBONE, and DON'T relish the thought of being numbers 103 and 104 when you get around to buying tickets, here's the heads-up--- you need to email the folks who are taking reservations, do it NOW---
 
 
todd@hopemanifest.org
 
 
and be prepared to send them a check right away so you will be one of the lucky hundred. Every seat is the same price-- fifty dollars--- and they will all be gone, long before the show takes place on September 30. This is guaranteed to be one of the most popular and memorable performances we've ever hosted, you don't want to miss the chance to tell your great grandchildren that you were actually there!
 
 
 
OUR BACK TO SCHOOL SPECIALS THIS WEEKEND---->
 
 
Thursday the 1st--- NEELY, 7:30pm, $10
       Two small-town mid-Western kids, growing up mesmerized by long nights of Kansas City radio, spend their separate childhoods fiddling around with cassette tapes, tuning their voices and ears, and practicing pop-star moves in the bedroom mirror. Somehow, they meet and marry, but four years goes by before they get the idea to combine their skills and explore the possibilities of life as musicians. It's the will of Providence that magic ensues, and they enjoy reward a-plenty in touring the Central US with several bands of their own making.
 
 
Ten years goes by, and Fate draws them to Nashville, where they find contemporary guidance and inspiration with the gifted production team at Zodlounge, a sort of American-pop music factory that tightens and grooms performers for success in the business. Working on ten carefully-chosen songs, the Neelys make good use of this time in the pit--- getting fueled up, tires rotated, and the windshield cleaned, now blasting back out onto the track with an impressive debut album and a new determination to lead the field.  
 
 
www.neelymusic.com
 
 
 
Friday the 2nd-- GRACE ASKEW,  and DAVIS COEN, 7:30pm, $12
       When we last saw Grace here in March, opening for James McMurtry, she was hard at work on the new record that's since been born, a full-band treatment of tunes she welded together with her sympatico sidemen at Tweed Studios in Oxford MS. With this fourth release to her credit, the Memphis native has begun to elbow her way past all the chit-chat about her youth and dark glamour--- she's achieved a unique swampy, gutsy, Southwestern sound that veers away from the spooky ballads that marked her previous CD. Time to wake up, boys-- Grace got somethin' new to tell ya---
 
 
www.myspace.com/graceaskew
 
 
       Many's the young white kid who's tried to channel a century of authentic folk-blues innovators, to capture the rugged romp and swagger of the towering dark giants who laid the foundation for an enduring legacy of American roots music. Only a few of these pale imitators have actually hit the vein, though Davis is one who's been accepted as something more than a pretender--- he gets to ride in the front seat these days, having been featured on a slew of NPR and PBS programs, provided vintage-sounding scores for documentary blues projects, and been booked in concert alongside the last living originators of the music he so obviously understands. Boogie, chill'en---
 
 
www.myspace.com/daviscoen
 
 
 
Saturday the 3rd--- BLUE GALAXY STRING PROJECT, 7:30pm, $10
       Points for originality--- points for musicianship--- points for attitude! Six classically-trained symphonic players break away from the orchestra to get wiggy on a sparky list of pop tunes you won't normally hear treated this way. Chamber music instruments are applied to songs by Radiohead, Led Zeppelin, REM, Flaming Lips, and Arcade Fire, among many other surprising choices. The six very accomplished members of this outfit--- in stunning mastery of two violins, viola, cello, bass, and drums--- are sure to be enjoying this irreverent mischief as much as you will. AND, they're donating half of the evening's proceeds to the support of The Moonlight-- we can't thank them enough!
 
 
www.myspace.com/bluegalaxystringproject
www.facebook.com/pages/Blue-Galaxy-String-Project/52633496682
 
 
 
Monday the 5th-- OPEN MIC NIGHT, 7:30pm, $5
       We were overwhelmed by the list of players who signed up last time for our bi-monthly Open Mic, they just kept comin', and we somehow got everybody onstage for a short turn in the spotlight. We don't know if the turnout will be as strong for our first September edition--- these ARE the last few hours of a long Labor Day weekend--- but the night never passes without a few genuine surprises, and somebody walking away with a little cash prize money. You can play, or you can just listen--- it don't cost but five skidoos either way--- time well-spent, however you might look at it. See you here?
 
 
www.moonlightonthemtn.com/MOTM/openmike.html
 
 
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TEN DAYS 'TIL THESE THREE COME ALONG--->
 
 
Thursday 8th-- JAMES HARWELL, A Moonlight Benefit!, we did this before at the old place, JH has lots of fun friends we know will be there--
 
 
Friday 9th-- HANNAH ALDRIDGE, Walt's lovely daughter, in complete command of the songcraft talents she's inherited
 
 
Saturday 10th-- PAT TERRY, Wilder Adkins opens, long-time country/gospel hit songwriter shows how it's done
 
 
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A fair portion of our performers are veterans of the "busking" profession, whereby they choose a random street corner, set an open guitar case on the sidewalk, and play every song they know to solicit spare change from passing strangers.
 
 
That's not so very different from what we're doing at The Moonlight, in that we suggest you show your approval and amusement with a voluntary contribution to help us keep going--- thing is, an open guitar case doesn't offer a tax deduction, which you WILL find available on the link below. That, and a sincere, deep gratitude for your generous support--- you have our many thanks!
 
 
www.moonlightmusicalliance.org