Upcoming Open Mic Events


Thursday 7-10 p.m. Open Mic
Friday 7-10 p.m. Extended Play

Monday, July 29, 2013

Don't Miss This! Amazing Singer Songwriter Lani Nash Comes to Thirsty Mind Fri. Aug 16th





Really, independent artists don't get much better than this. And Ms. Nash doesn't need to; she's perfect the way she is.”—from Amazon Review



“[She has] the heart and soul of Lucinda Williams (think ‘Car Wheels on a Gravel Road’), and the timbre and phrasing of Jennifer Nettles (think Sugarland’s ‘Stay’)”—Got Folk.com


Lani Nash’s most recent album is called “I’m Only Here for the Music,” and the emotional power of what she achieves on recording and in peformance suggest someone who never says less than exactly what she means.

Lani Nash's always honest delivery and thought provoking, and often entertainingly clever songwriting of both ballads and up tempo folk repertoire has an appeal that cuts across genres. The combination of her songwriting and her ability to convey emotion make for electrifying performance.

Nash’s voice and subject matter unmistakably reflect her Nashville and southern roots, and her recordings feature some of the cream of Nashville session instrumentalists and vocalists including Delaney and Bonnie's daughter,  Bekka Bramlett.  Nash herself comes from a musical lineage. Her grandfather, Connie Crunk (known in 1950s and 60s as Connie Conway), a noted musician, singer, songwriter, music teacher, and producer who worked with producer Lee Hazelwood (known for his 60s hits with Nancy Sinatra.) Her mother and her aunt, who were musical prodigies like Nash, grew up singing and recorded early as “The Three Teens” and The Crunk Sisters.

Currently on an East Coast tour this summer, Lani Nash comes to the Valley August 16th to play a show at the Thirsty Mind Café in South Hadley, which has become a mecca for area singer-songwriters with its Thursday night Open Mics.

Nash will perform songs from her most recent album:
“I’m Only Here for the Music” and more at the Thirsty Mind Café and Wine Bar
Friday, August 16th  @ 7 p.m.
for more information:

LANI NASH WEB LINKS:

Lani Nash - VIDEO:  A Tribute to the affected parents of Newtown... "Like You Taught Me To":  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgnqn0HUs0k


LANI NASH YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Thirsty Mind Extended Play Upcoming Schedule


The Thirsty Mind's Thursday popular night open mic has extended itself into a Friday Night showcase called, "Thirsty Mind Extended Play" which features some of the Thursday night luminaries in an extended concert format. The April 26th show of The Varlets (& Friends) was over-the-top great.

We're happy to announce the upcoming scheduled performers for April and May:



Fri. May 3
7-8 p.m.  Songwriter, guitarist, recording artist   Bill Burke




8-9 p.m.  Alt. Down-home Folk music by YouTube's "Cadwalladee" Scott Cadwallader

Fri.  May 10
7 p.m. The Singing Lords--a spectacularly talented multi-generational family of musicians and singers

                                          Photo by Scott Cadwallader

8 p.m. Jesse French and the Young Tricksters--the only joke will be on those who miss miss these rising 20-something groove masters

                                          Photo by Lily Chau

And of course, you can always come to play on Thursday nights 7-10 p.m.

     End of night jam Photo by Robbie Lloyd Henderson, courtesy S. Cadwallader.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Friday Extended Play Nights at the Thirsty Mind

If an Open Mic is an entry point for emerging performers.  Extended Play is the next step--a one hour performance spot in front of a live audience for Open Mic veterans who are ready for more than 2 songs/ten minutes and out.

Extended Play began Feb 22, and has been by all accounts, a tremendous success:


                                           Songwriters Chris Goudreaux and Dan Daniels
                                           shared a triple bill . . .


                                           . . .with Susanna Holstrom in the Thirsty Mind's 
                                           annual "Ides of March Spectacular."


The schedule so far will appear below. The way this works is that one person each night will have primary responsibility for setting up the mics, and p.a. and making sure things are put away properly at the end of the night (If you want to use the house equipment). It is also possible that you could play with your own
gear or no gear at all. A number of people are trained already, but if you need to know more, ask Scott or whatever non-uniformed personnel look like they know what they're doing.

Some things to keep in mind:

1. One person per night will be designated as set-up/take-down person. Their role is to make sure things are set up by 7 and that things get put away at the end of the night.
2. An important responsibility to our hosts (Thirsty Mind staff:  Nick, Sarah, Jessica, Lauryn,) is that we end the night in a timely manner (starting to wind down by 9:45 so we can send everyone out the door happy by 10:00). Also, make sure to acknowledge and thank them because they are working hard on behalf of the Thirsty Mind to make a pleasant experience for everyone in the place.
3. Since you have advance notice, make an effort to get the word out about your performance--invite friends, family, co-workers astrologers, ex-wives, thesis advisers, and parole officers, personal trainers, plow guys, and of course Yellow Sofa friends. Our goal is to build something that supports you in your growth as an artist, and that helps the Thirsty Mind be even more of a community hub.

One final note--bringing friends helps stack the deck in your favor. There will always be people coming in, but if they didn't come for the music, they are students and people using computers, or people who came to talk, maybe loudly, and maybe during your set. There's a lot to learn just by being on stage for an extended period of time. One thing you may learn quickly, is how to stay focused and confident when there is a lot of noise in the background, and when you are playing in front of people who don't know they are at your very special concert. This is a good thing to know how to do, but if you want to save yourself the some of the rigorousness of this experience, plan to bring at least 3-5 people and be ready to stay for all three sets to support and enjoy the other performances. This will mean that there will be a solid rooting section near the stage to minimize existential questioning of all sorts during the hour of your performance.


Feb. 22
7-8 p.m    Nikia Camp
8-9 p.m.   Christopher Griffin 
9-10 p.m. Jack Dwyer

March 1
7-8 p.m    "Tony"
8-9 p.m.   Felix Harvey
9-10 p.m.  Jackie D'Agustino

                                            Felix Harvey rocks the 'Mind


March 8
7-8 p.m     Jim Eagan  guitarist, songwriter, interpreter of classic alt. country
8-9 p.m.    Ben Grosscup  singer/songwriter member of People's Music Network, activist
9-10 p.m.  Dave Stern  rock and roller, Beatles maven, songwriter, author

March 15
7-8 p.m     Christopher Goudreaux
8-9 p.m.    Dan Daniels


 Dan Daniels--Interdimentional Man of Mystery seen sloughing off Higgs-Boson particles during his set.
9-10 p.m.  Susana Holmstrom
         
March 22
          7-8 p.m     Rob Douglas
          8-9 p.m.    Jeremy Kent
          9-10 p.m.   Michael Silverstone 

March 29 

April 5
7-8 p.m. Calvin Bentancourt  singer/songwriter
8-9 p.m. Laura Mustard   singer song/writer




                                                                                                                 
April 12
         7-10 p.m The Varlets & friends

          May 10
           7- 8 p.m.Singing Lords
                         
[check the yellow sofa website:  http://yellowsofaopenmic.blogspot.com for additional bookings as they emerge]