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Saturday, April 20, 2013
PledgeMusic Campaign For "Rabbit Runs A Destiny"
Hey y'all--
First off, I want to thank you all for supporting me- you're either here because you've been a fan for a while, found out about me recently on Facebook or downloaded my recent Rebel King (EP) on NoiseTrade. So, thank you for being here- I couldn't do this without you.
Today is a big day for me, as it's the launch of my very first PledgeMusic campaign. I decided to use PledgeMusic because I really believe in community. Having been a part of the Birmingham, Alabama music scene for the past 20 years, having a team of people around who you support and who then reciprocate has been huge, and I see this campaign as a way of joining with you- the folks who are willing to help out to help me make this venture a success.
Last year, I went into the studio with my good friend Armand Margjeka, and over the course of many months, we put together a record that I couldn't be more proud of. And now, if you join me with this PledgeMusic campaign, you can hear it before anyone else does.
In pledging, you’ll have the chance to get involved in some very exclusive merchandise and interactive experiences that I’ve never made available or done before. I’ll be recording some live takes on songs that will be on Rabbit Runs A Destiny, which will only be available to those who pledge throughout the campaign. And not only will you be getting involved with new music by joining my Pledge campaign, but a portion of your pledge will also go to an amazing charity near and dear to me, The Pablove Foundation.
So here it is. And now it’s in your hands, to share with your friends and family. I’m blessed that I get to do what I love in this life, and I need you to join in this community and family so I can keep making music for you. Thank you.
- Duq
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Ride 4 Freedom: Open roads. Open Hearts. A benefit for the Wellhouse Center
BIRMINGHAM, AL ⎯ The WellHouse and Heart of Dixie Harley-Davidson
today announced the schedule for an ambitious fund-raising event that
promises to turn heads, hearts and wheels across Pelham (just south of
Birmingham, Alabama) -- with a mission and a message that stretches far
beyond the city limits. The event, “Ride4 Freedom: Open roads. Open
Hearts.” is the first fund-raiser of its kind for the local non-profit
(a planned annual event), and it will include a one-hour motorcycle ride
and a half day of activities for non-riders: food, music,
entertainment, prizes, face painting, balloons, leather patch stitching,
a silent and live auction (including an autographed Nick Saban
football,Bamafever.com and a 2013 Harley-Davidson), and a Two-hour live
show by Todd Simpson, who is one of the greatest young musicians Alabama
has produced in a generation -- and who also happens to have one of the
most incredible stories you’ll ever hear.
Event: Ride 4 Freedom: Open roads. Open Hearts.
A benefit for the Wellhouse Center
Date: Saturday, April 20, 2013
Location: Heart of Dixie Harley-Davidson
333 Cahaba Valley Parkway North
Pelham, AL 35124
Route: http://bit.ly/119SjHi
Time: 9:00 a.m. – registration for motorcycle ride ($35 per bike)
10:45 a.m. – kickstands up (one-hour ride)
11:45 a.m. – ride ends (at Heart of Dixie Harley-Davidson)
Event: Live music by Todd Simpson & Mojo Child
Time: 12:00 Noon – show begins
2:00 p.m. – show ends
Event: Live auction - Nick Saban football and Harley Davidson motorcycle
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Event: Silent auction
Time: All day
Other special guests and participants include Radio-Active, Tannehill
Leather (their team will sew patches on bike jackets at the dealership);
Mrs. Alabama International (11 a.m. for photos and autographs); and
Christian radio host Lisa Roxanne Holifield from WDJC FM, who will serve
as the event’s Emcee (arrives 8:30 a.m. for photos and autographs).
About the Wellhouse: The WellHouse is a non-profit, faith-based and
Christ-centered organization devoted to the rescue and recovery of women
who are being sexually exploited. Based in Birmingham, Alabama, the
organization reaches out to victims of sex trafficking across the
southeastern United States, especially along the I-20 corridor. More
than 60 women have been rescued since 2011, and in 2012 more than 1,000
calls were placed to the WellHouse’s 24-hotline (800-991-0948). Through
the WellHouse, victims are given shelter, food, clothing, spiritual
guidance, and other necessary support. In the care of the WellHouse,
exploited women are empowered to reclaim their stolen lives.
About
Todd Simpson: Todd Simpson has overcome multiple disabilities in his
life, but you wouldn’t know it to see him. The 22-year-old, who suffers
from a rare condition called Variant DiGeorge Syndrome, is dyslexic, has
a speech impairment, and isn't able to tune a guitar or read music
notes, but he is able to crank out some mind-blowing sounds -- with his
voice and his guitar. Instead of reading music, he says he sees color
when he plays, and he has a message for young people: being different is
OK. Todd is walking evidence that miracles happen...and his talent and
devoted fan base are proof that with love, all things are possible...and
with passion, kindness, and practice you can be anything your heart
desires; anything your mind can dream.
Links and resources:
The WellHouse Web site: www.the-wellhouse.org
The WellHouse on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ thewellhousesaves
The WellHouse on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ the_wellhouse
The WellHouse on YouTube: thewellhousesaves
The WellHouse on Instagram: http://instagram.com/ thewellhousesaves
WellHouse feature story: http://weldbham.com/blog/2013/ 02/27/it-happens-here/
Heart of Dixie Harley Davidson Pelham http://www.heartofdixiehd.com/
Radio-Active Birmingham Gold Sponsor http:// www.radioactivebirmingham.com/
A special thanks to The Richard Scrushy Foundation
Deb Grisham Entertainment (representing Todd Simpson) - http:// www.debgrishamentertainment.com /index.php-Band
Todd Simpson and Mojo Child Web site: http:// www.toddsimpsonandmojochild.com /fr_tsmc.cfm
Todd Simpson interview and story by Fox news Austin: http://www.myfoxaustin.com/ story/19938506/ thousands-attend-texas-book-fes tival#ixzz2QNLQ8PaL
Todd Simpson promo video: http://www.vimeo.com/19426937
Todd Simpson on ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/ toddsimpson
Todd Simpson photo montage by Reggae Beat: http://youtu.be/m3zjlgJdG0o
Event: Ride 4 Freedom: Open roads. Open Hearts.
A benefit for the Wellhouse Center
Date: Saturday, April 20, 2013
Location: Heart of Dixie Harley-Davidson
333 Cahaba Valley Parkway North
Pelham, AL 35124
Route: http://bit.ly/119SjHi
Time: 9:00 a.m. – registration for motorcycle ride ($35 per bike)
10:45 a.m. – kickstands up (one-hour ride)
11:45 a.m. – ride ends (at Heart of Dixie Harley-Davidson)
Event: Live music by Todd Simpson & Mojo Child
Time: 12:00 Noon – show begins
2:00 p.m. – show ends
Event: Live auction - Nick Saban football and Harley Davidson motorcycle
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Event: Silent auction
Time: All day
Other special guests and participants include Radio-Active, Tannehill Leather (their team will sew patches on bike jackets at the dealership); Mrs. Alabama International (11 a.m. for photos and autographs); and Christian radio host Lisa Roxanne Holifield from WDJC FM, who will serve as the event’s Emcee (arrives 8:30 a.m. for photos and autographs).
About the Wellhouse: The WellHouse is a non-profit, faith-based and Christ-centered organization devoted to the rescue and recovery of women who are being sexually exploited. Based in Birmingham, Alabama, the organization reaches out to victims of sex trafficking across the southeastern United States, especially along the I-20 corridor. More than 60 women have been rescued since 2011, and in 2012 more than 1,000 calls were placed to the WellHouse’s 24-hotline (800-991-0948). Through the WellHouse, victims are given shelter, food, clothing, spiritual guidance, and other necessary support. In the care of the WellHouse, exploited women are empowered to reclaim their stolen lives.
Links and resources:
The WellHouse Web site: www.the-wellhouse.org
The WellHouse on Facebook: www.facebook.com/
The WellHouse on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/
The WellHouse on YouTube: thewellhousesaves
The WellHouse on Instagram: http://instagram.com/
WellHouse feature story: http://weldbham.com/blog/2013/
Heart of Dixie Harley Davidson Pelham http://www.heartofdixiehd.com/
Radio-Active Birmingham Gold Sponsor http://
A special thanks to The Richard Scrushy Foundation
Deb Grisham Entertainment (representing Todd Simpson) - http://
Todd Simpson and Mojo Child Web site: http://
Todd Simpson interview and story by Fox news Austin: http://www.myfoxaustin.com/
Todd Simpson promo video: http://www.vimeo.com/19426937
Todd Simpson on ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/
Todd Simpson photo montage by Reggae Beat: http://youtu.be/m3zjlgJdG0o
Friday, April 5, 2013
Alabama Musicians' Clinic: Music and Medicine
By Lee Waites
Saturday, April 6th there will be an important meeting at The Carver Theater, starting at 4PM, that all musicians in our area should attend if possible. There has been talk, chatter and downright heated discussion about the pay musicians receive, the lack of health care and benefits, and the idea of a co-op or union for local musicians for years now. BFP Music neither endorses nor opposes anything of this nature as a rule. We attempt to facilitate the communication and act as a forum for these issues. We allow the music community as a whole to approach these issues and make decisions without the infringement of our biases entering the mix. Some musicians lean one way on these issues, others lean the other way, as in our society as a whole.
Whether you feel strongly about how these goals are achieved, it is imperative that we, as a community, concern ourselves with the well being of one another and contribute to the manner in which society serves its citizens and is served by us. This is how civilization works. This is how we, as Americans and Alabamians, and as part of the music community, can help manage our environment and our culture. I don't often preach. I don't often interfere. I try to be impartial to most issues and do, what I consider is my job, spreading the word about shows, events, music news and other related items of interest. But I feel so strongly about this particular issue, given the medical community and opportunities we have in our area, and the obvious need of many in our music community, that I implore you to share this information with any musician you know in the state of Alabama.
Below you will find a letter from Christophe Jackson, the co-director of Save New Orleans Sound Initiative. Give it a read. Share the attached event and information and try to attend this event.
(Click here for the Music and Medicine forum event link)
Saturday, April 6th there will be an important meeting at The Carver Theater, starting at 4PM, that all musicians in our area should attend if possible. There has been talk, chatter and downright heated discussion about the pay musicians receive, the lack of health care and benefits, and the idea of a co-op or union for local musicians for years now. BFP Music neither endorses nor opposes anything of this nature as a rule. We attempt to facilitate the communication and act as a forum for these issues. We allow the music community as a whole to approach these issues and make decisions without the infringement of our biases entering the mix. Some musicians lean one way on these issues, others lean the other way, as in our society as a whole.
Whether you feel strongly about how these goals are achieved, it is imperative that we, as a community, concern ourselves with the well being of one another and contribute to the manner in which society serves its citizens and is served by us. This is how civilization works. This is how we, as Americans and Alabamians, and as part of the music community, can help manage our environment and our culture. I don't often preach. I don't often interfere. I try to be impartial to most issues and do, what I consider is my job, spreading the word about shows, events, music news and other related items of interest. But I feel so strongly about this particular issue, given the medical community and opportunities we have in our area, and the obvious need of many in our music community, that I implore you to share this information with any musician you know in the state of Alabama.
Below you will find a letter from Christophe Jackson, the co-director of Save New Orleans Sound Initiative. Give it a read. Share the attached event and information and try to attend this event.
(Click here for the Music and Medicine forum event link)
My name is Christophe Jackson and I am the co-director of the Save New Orleans Sound Initiative, a program under NOMC and co-chair of research development for PAMA to conduct interdisciplinary Performance Arts medicine Through Save Sounds I am leading a national campaign to conduct hearing and voice research, promote safe sound practices, and advocate for the prevention of hearing loss in New Orleans musicians. The website link: ( http://www.neworleansmusiciansclinic.org/medical-resources/hearing/about-save-nola-sounds )
The New Orleans Musicians' Clinic (NOMC), founded in 1998, provides comprehensive medical services to 3000+ musicians and tradition bearers. After Katrina, many of the hearing services to their patients were lost. By partnering with academic centers outside of New Orleans such as Wichita State, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Sydney in Australia, and Harvard I aim to further interdisciplinary research as well as coordinate broader partnerships crucial to insure the survival and well being of musicians.
The New Orleans Musicians' Clinic (NOMC..check them out at www.nomc.org) and its parent organization the New Orleans Musicians Assistance Foundation, which will this year celebrate its 15th birthday. (I'll be guesting at the Palm Court during Jazz Fest to help with the celebration on May 1). JoJo Hermann of Widespread Panic and I are two of the "non-New Orleans Musician Spokespersons" for the Clinic, and I know that Jo is as proud as I am to be so.
The exciting news is that recently, NOMC has been in talks with the The Alabama State Council On the Arts to look at ways to replicate amusician/artist-services-based clinic network in Alabama. Two of the locations being talked about are Florence and Birmingham.
Here's where you all come in, hopefully.... The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame will host, on Saturday April 6, a kickoff event that will include a performers' showcase. NOMC has already arranged for some New Orleans musicians, like Chief Albert Lambreaux, Big Chief of the Guardians Of The Flame) to participate. The idea is to light a fire in the hearts of the powers that be at the State Council On The Arts via connection of the two powerful artistic worlds on April 6--New Orleans and Muscle Shoals/Birmingham, and in so doing, to engage the community in the idea that the Clinic model can work in Alabama for the greater good of it musicians, singers, and artists.
The NOLA clinic serves so many in the Big Easy...musicians from the Preservation Hall Jazz Band; Mac Rebennack/Dr John (Mac is a outspoken advocate for the Clinic); and members of many of the prominent NOLA bands The same thing could happen in Alabama!! Think of how this could help someone line our dear friend Scott Boyer of The Decoys, for instance, as he recuperates from his recent life-threatening illness. We can do it!Thank you for spreading the word,Best,Christophe
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Luke Winslow King Live Performance Review @ The Nick
By Richard Y. Harris
The
night began with two rock n’ roll bands who were unimportant to me, and yet,
uninteresting to even comment. I was there to see the King’s trio
performance. Waiting and waiting-sipping water throughout the night. Longing for the last performance of the night-could sum up the first two
hours I spent at The Nick on Monday the 25th.
Luke enters the bar and makes his way around to his peers, then ends up at the bar right next to me. He orders a Budweiser. “Hi Luke!” I spill. “Hey man, thanks for making it out!” He replies. I let him know I’m writing a review on his performance. His surprise at my age is also a relief to him, for some reason.
The show kicks off and I find a comfortable seat. I place myself to get the best exposure to the sound, and a view pertaining to the aesthetics of their locomotion... which was shapely and still.
Luke Winslow King can easily be described as delta blues, a splash of jazz and gospel, all brought together with modern contemporary influence.
The first song is comforted with beautiful brilliant harmonies between Luke and Esther Rose, the washboard and occasional horse shoe dinger with the phenomenal, sexy and nostalgic vocals. I just wish I could have heard more. “Bumble Bee” sung by Esther was a solo attempt, knocked out of the park. It made me think of the song “Blitzkrieg Baby” by Una Mae Carlisle. Esther Rose is reincarnate of Carlisle which could be good news for me, as I do wish I could’ve had a shot at her.
Standup bass player, Cassidy Holden, accompanies Luke's instrumentation with a fervent attitude about the compositions, rounding out and neighboring all that is Luke’s guitar essence with ease. Luke’s guitar playing involves abundant steel slide usage and can also be described as simple, giddy little riffs that control the movement of the songs. I just wish the horn players could have been there. They are very prevalent in the album.
The performance was all around great and very entertaining. I’ve conceived a new found respect for jazz and blues after witnessing them live. I highly recommend you check them out. They won’t disappoint. I’m sure to run into them again for they will be performing at this years South Sounds Festival in Mobile, AL. I will be there journalizing for BFP.
Luke enters the bar and makes his way around to his peers, then ends up at the bar right next to me. He orders a Budweiser. “Hi Luke!” I spill. “Hey man, thanks for making it out!” He replies. I let him know I’m writing a review on his performance. His surprise at my age is also a relief to him, for some reason.
The show kicks off and I find a comfortable seat. I place myself to get the best exposure to the sound, and a view pertaining to the aesthetics of their locomotion... which was shapely and still.
Luke Winslow King can easily be described as delta blues, a splash of jazz and gospel, all brought together with modern contemporary influence.
The first song is comforted with beautiful brilliant harmonies between Luke and Esther Rose, the washboard and occasional horse shoe dinger with the phenomenal, sexy and nostalgic vocals. I just wish I could have heard more. “Bumble Bee” sung by Esther was a solo attempt, knocked out of the park. It made me think of the song “Blitzkrieg Baby” by Una Mae Carlisle. Esther Rose is reincarnate of Carlisle which could be good news for me, as I do wish I could’ve had a shot at her.
Standup bass player, Cassidy Holden, accompanies Luke's instrumentation with a fervent attitude about the compositions, rounding out and neighboring all that is Luke’s guitar essence with ease. Luke’s guitar playing involves abundant steel slide usage and can also be described as simple, giddy little riffs that control the movement of the songs. I just wish the horn players could have been there. They are very prevalent in the album.
The performance was all around great and very entertaining. I’ve conceived a new found respect for jazz and blues after witnessing them live. I highly recommend you check them out. They won’t disappoint. I’m sure to run into them again for they will be performing at this years South Sounds Festival in Mobile, AL. I will be there journalizing for BFP.
Earthbound’s Earthfest Supports Black Warrior Riverkeeper at Avondale Brewery on April 21
Birmingham – On Sunday, April 21, Alabama rock favorites Earthbound will play their highly-anticipated annual outdoor concert, Earthbound’s Earthfest, at Avondale Brewery (201 41st Street South).

Earthbound’s Earthfest is open to all ages, but those under age 21 must be accompanied by a parent. Throughout the event, Earthbound – and a special mystery guest – will play several sets. Avondale Brewery’s large outdoor area will also feature displays and merchandise from Black Warrior Riverkeeper and local artists.
There will be no mandatory entrance fee. Suggested donations from the audience, plus proceeds from merchandise, beer, and raffle ticket sales, will support Black Warrior Riverkeeper’s efforts to protect local waterways and Birmingham’s drinking water supply. Corporate sponsors continue to roll in, with Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc. and their award winning water treatment partner, MacLellan, Inc. in the lead.
Avondale Brewery, along with the Forest Park / South Avondale Neighborhood Association, the Birmingham City Council, and numerous other organizations and businesses, have publicly urged the University of Alabama System’s Trustees to refuse to lease or sell their vast property for the proposed Shepherd Bend Mine. That coal mine would discharge pollutants 800 feet from the Birmingham Water Works Board’s Mulberry Fork intake, which provides drinking water to 200,000 people in the greater Birmingham area. Black Warrior Riverkeeper will provide information and displays about Shepherd Bend and other issues affecting local water resources.
To view an aerial photo by Nelson Brooke of the proposed Shepherd Bend Mine site, the Black Warrior’s Mulberry Fork, and the Birmingham Water Works’ intake, click here.
To view a previous Earthbound’s Earthfest picture by Rob Brewer, click here.
For an Earthbound’s Earthfest artist/vendor application, click here.
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