photo by Bryce GoldsteinThis Bohemian Art Loft will ring with the sounds of original folk rock music this weekend, when

Singer songwriter Chuck McCabe lost a battle with cancer last Friday, and the North State music community lost a dear friend.I met Chuck when he offered a weekend songwriting workshop through the Shasta County Arts Council several years ago. He listened to us -- all rank amateurs - and he shared stories and advice and

We eat bushels of fresh veggies this time of year -- love the organic produce at the Farmers Markets and our Cottonwood Holiday Market.This Ranch Dip/Dressing is much better - and more wholesome -- than the bottled versions. We go through a lot of it. The secret is the Cow Camp Garlic Season-All:

Cottonwood singer-songwriter Diana Wallis and her husband Wally are finalists in the Next Wedding Song Contest. Diana and Wally are terrific writers, engaging performers and good-hearted souls. You can help them out -- together they are The Pine Dogz -- by casting a vote (or two or three) on the contest

Without any gigs on our schedule, Craig and I are having fun learning a few cover songs. I love this one - Remember Me - a 70-year-old song written by Scotty Wiseman, a songwriter and singer who also penned "Have I Told You Lately that I Loved You?"He and his wife Lulu Belle (

A couple years ago, Craig and I played an evening parking lot gig in Anderson in July. Because my husband has a bit of a sadistic streak, he brought a thermometer onstage, and at the time we finished our 2-hour set, the temperature was 109 degrees. The restaurant is long gone, (I don't think THAT was our fault), but the me

My sister Nora recently shared a recipe for Pork Char Sui - brined and barbecued pork tenderloin sandwiches. It was wonderful - but I'm seriously into simplifying my recipes. And I'm currently in love with my crockpot - It cooks while I'm at work! It's like having a a maid without the guilt of that comes with ordering peopl

Wednesday, June 23 and Saturday, June 26th.Redding singer-songwriter Nick Ciampi will help Redding usher in Summertime with a performance at The Post Office in The Downtown M

It's Friday and that's reason enough to celebrate. I'm giving away two Still Marri

When I met Craig back in 1977, this was the picture hanging in his bedroom.Craig had ordered the print (Gray and Gold - by John Rogers Cox) when he was a teenager - bec

My Granddad - a comedy writer in the Golden Age of Radio - always said: "Know your audience."Richard Horner played to the crowd when he chose Chuck McCabe's song, "I'd Rather be in Redding" for the Redding Senior Idol Contest. He took second place in the contest, on stage at the Cascade Theatre in front of a sel

They're back!In town from the Bay Area: Blah Blah Woof Woof. If you like smart, well-crafted songs, you'll show up at the Post Office in Redding's Downtown Mall on Thursday evening (8ish) and enjoy some first-rate songwriting and excellent musicianship from Jay Howlett, Chuck McCabe and Rolfe Wyer.C

In June of 2008, far Northern California was hit by a beautiful, awful summer storm - there was no rain, but incredible flashes of Dry Lightning touched down and ignited hundreds of wild fires. Many burned throughout the long smokey summer. That dismal season left the land scarred and black and gave me the metaphor that ins

How's our new CD coming along? We still have several tracks to record and master, but I'm calling this progress. Thank you, Picasa 3.

To be honest, the only thing I've ever purchased at Neiman Marcus is food. When my sisters whisk me off to Las Vegas for a Sister's Weekend, we always end up eating a delicious, girly lunch at Neiman Marcus's

I wrote this song after watching real working cowboys dealing with rodeo stock in the pasture just behind our house. Living in Cottonwood definitely has its inspirational perks.Celebrat

Delighted to be featured today on Sharon Goldman's Songwriting Scene Blog. Link is here: Songwriting Scene

Kool Banner PicOriginally uploaded by erin_friedman2007Hilltop Drive is Revving up for Friday's Ko

Chuck McCabe's clever song "I'd Rather be in Redding" has played on KPIG, circulated through email boxes and entertained locals. Chuck will be in town this week, performing at The Post Office in the Downtown Mall this Thursday evening, starting at around 7 ish.Here's a YOUTUBE video of "I'd Rather be in Redding"

It wasn't written as an Easter song - but it surely fits in with the message of resurrection:You tube link: HERE

My dream is to someday have a real recording studio - carefully constructed, acoustically balanced and decorated for warmth and inspiration. Until then, we've made-do with a large open music room -- a room wi

Cooking is a lot like songwriting - Start with a few ingredients, a little inspirationand attempt to put them together in a way that's unique and satisfying.

--- but he plays one in this song. I like telling stories with the songs I write, and in this one, an old man looks back on a long and satisfying life.I think Craig does a great job in his

According to family legend, my great-great grandfather George Convy brought a piece of sod from the homeland when he emigrated from Ireland in 1866. Now and again he would take it out and have a good cry.The Irish, who fled their country by the thousands, did not have a word for "emigrate" -- instead, they used

That's Whole Wheat Radio.It's a hardy, flavorful treat after a bland diet of mainstream radio's fluffy Wonder Bread.From the WWR website:"Whole Wheat Radio is a homegrown grassroots online radio station originating from Talkeetna, Alaska.""We feature the music of 2,794 tru

......Drosselmeyer, the plastic owl.During December, our owl perches at the top of our Christmas tree:The rest of the year he bides his time in the front hall. But last week he was conscripted to duty just outside the front door. His mission: Keep those blasted, messy chick

This soup is a staple at our house in the winter. I made it the other day with Funari's Italian Sausage and was VERY impressed by how lean and meaty this sausage is. And flavorful -- and LOCAL.Find these spicy treats at the Holiday Market or at Leatherby's in downtown Redding or online at their web site:

When I was growing up, "INSTANT" FOOD was all the rage: Instant mashed potatoes, Tang Instant Breakfast Drink.....It was the era of Space Food Sticks, for crying out loud. I don't know why everyone was in such a hurry - it's not like we had to micro-manage our Internet lives back then. For some reason, saving time was cruci

Thirty-three years ago, on Valentine's Day, Craig gave me a little promise ring and asked me to be his girlfriend. We were teenagers and madly in love. So far, it seems to have worked out pretty well.We're spending Valentine's Day doing what we love to do: Hanging out at home, playing music, cooking, sipping a l

Last month I read about a show being produced by talk radio host Ronn Owens, KGO AM 810(San Francisco). "The Best Music You've Never Heard" is a once-a-year show and they requested CDs from unsigned Northern California bands. They put all the CDs in a box and pulled out enough to play short clips for an hour and a half. The

Craig and I were singing last night -- going through some old cover songs. We tend to stick to originals when we play out, but our playlist here at home includes lots of great tunes by some brilliant songwriters.Singing Kris Kristofferson's "Help Me Make it Through the Night" is a good exercise, because besides

Make money with music? Now there's a novel concept. It's never been our strong suit - much to my husband's chagrin. Desperate times, though, require desperate measures -- so I'm giving myself a crash course in this maddening-but-lovable music business.CD Baby - a company that does their damnedest to hel

Phil Paige hosts a singer-songwriter Open Mic at the Downtown Eatery the first Wednesday of every month - that's this Wednesday, February 3rd.Sign up for open mic is 7-7:30 (or email organizer Phil Paige: ppaige2000@aol.com a

For a couple years, I helped the Old Time Fiddlers deliver FiddleGrams on Valentine's Day.What a kick!! -- It is a grand group of musicians, exquisitely organized by the talented and ever-enthusiast

For a couple years, I've helped the Old Time Fiddlers deliver FiddleGrams on Valentine's Day.What a kick!! -- It is a grand group of musicians, exquisitely organized by the talented and

North State Songwriters will perform original music as part of the 2010 city-wide Cultural Cruise. We'll be in the lobby of Redding City Hall, starting at 5 PM. View artwork from several local artists and enjoy complimentary refreshments.On the bill for the North State Songwriters:5:00 Still Married

Singer songwriter Dan Sheridan of Aspen, Colorado, got himself fired for singing about what "Big Money" has done to his town.Read the story - complete with a Capra-esque ending -- here:Folk Song St

I was lucky enough to have grown up with Leslie Rinchen Wongmo --we went all through grammar and high school together, back when she was Leslie Freilich and

Steve Gillette wrote "Darcy Farrow" and hundreds of other great songs -- his works have been recorded by Garth Brooks, John Denver, Nanci Griffith, Waylon Jennings, Anne Murray, Kenny Rogers and other A-list singers.Gillette and his wife, singer songwriter Cindy Mangsen were at Bernie's last year and Cr

The Sandra James Music Foundation announces the 3rd Annual Songwriting Contest. The contest runs until March 31st.What are they looking for? Sandra James was a singer-songwriter who was passionate about the environment and making the world a better place and she believed in the inspirational power of music. The

Tex Ash is a bass player with the California Old Time Fiddlers. A tireless volunteer and

Songwriter Steve Seskin (I Think About You, Don't Laugh at Me and many others) is most generous with his insight and experience. A wonderful storyteller, he shares the nuts and bolts of good songwriting with humor and honesty. He, Don Henry and Craig Carothers are presenting a songwriting workshop at the Freight an

...we get to hear about Grandma's unfortunate encounter with a reindeer -- over and over and over again. Songwriter Randy Brooks shares the back story on the novelty song he penned 30 years ago. Inspiration, he says, came from a Haggard song. Read the story on the Great American Country

Our new Christmas song - Christmas Carol Wishes, tied for second place in the Renee Ashley Baker original Christmas song contest.From her website: "reminds me of the great duets by June and Johnny and by Dolly and Kenny."That makes me merry.

Our neighbors know how to throw a fun party. It's the Annual Ugly Sweater Party, and it gets uglier every year.Last year we thought we had a good chance of winning the Ugliest Couple Contest.C'mon -- wouldn't you agree?But NO-O-O-O. A burly man in a wom

It's about this time each year, halfway through Shipping Hell Week (it's actually a Hell-Fortnight), that we prescribe a little R & R for ourselves. It involves champagne and movie-watching. The movie is always the Frank Capra classic It's a Wonderful Life.It's sappy-but-sweet and we've watched coun

I'm baking mountains of goodies this month - shortbread, toffee, biscotti.... But I think these White Chocolate Brownies may be the best thing to come out of my kitchen.My friend Bob -- loves these. The recipe came about when I had a shortage of eggs and had to tinker with t

Singer-songwriter Rita Hosking is originally from Eastern Shasta County. Her voice and her honest songwriting have won her high praise from critics and fans throughout the country. Rita won the prestigious Dave Carter Memorial S

In November, I accepted a songwriting challenge over at the Songwriting Scene blog. I had been wanting to write a new Christmas song, and figured if I committed to it in a public forum, I'd have to actually deliver.And Lo! - a Christmas miracle has indeed taken plac

Dairrien Call is a Redding teenager facing serious surgery in a few weeks, and friends have organized a fundraiser for the family to help defray some of the travel and family expenses.A Spaghetti Dinner - suggested donation of $4 each.Church of the Redeemer844 Butte StreetDecember 4th From 5pm-