Mary Sue Twohy: News

Hi music lovers!

I hope you are well and had a great Labor Day weekend. What have I
been up to? Well taking in baseball! I now know what 4 - 3 means.
Does this mean I am a geek? You decide!

Probably the most important thought as of late has to do with the
simple concept of quietude. As a noisemaker of sorts - either behind
a guitar or a mic -- I have come to savor quietude. But it is kind of
like water flooding a building. Water on the inside balances the
water on the outside --and this can actually help insure the building
will still stand when the flood recedes. Same with quietude. One can
take in the spa-like effects more thoroughly if there is quiet on the
inside and the outside --- in balance.

Thanks so much,

peas,
Mary Sue

www.marysuetwohy.com
www.azaleacityrecordings.com

Hi all,
Back from Chicago - what a great tour! WNUR, Bills Blues, Old Town School of Folk, Fiddler's Hearth and longtime friends from South Bend, Indiana! Great to see everyone again!

Just did short jaunt up to New York City and soon the nose of my car will point towards West Virginia. Playing songs with Jon Carroll and Charlie Pilzer is always a complete joy - we had a great little gig last Wednesday.

I have been kayaking many times this summer, as my sunburnt shoulders can attest to -- and look forward to more before summer closes her doors.

NEW Mp3s FOR SALE: www.marysuetwohy.com/music.html
Two new songs for you to download :"Favorite" and "The Years that Follow." Yep, these are the wedding songs!

GUESTBOOK:
The guestbook is a little lonely - stop by and say hello. Also we need reveiws of "Songs to Hang on Stars" on Amazon.com. Unleash your inner writer!

Thanks for all your support!

peas,
Mary Sue
www.marysuetwohy.com

Hi all,

BIG NEWS: I am on Studio 360 a PRI syndicated show out of WNYC!

I was interviewed by Sean Cole for my version of "Because I Could Not Stop for Death." I am not referenced by name but listen and you will hear a little bit of my voice - speaking and singing. You can listen online for free. http://www.studio360.org/show.html

REVIEW: Another SWEET review for Songs to Hang on Stars by the folks at Rambles.net: http://www.rambles.net/twohy_stars06.html

WEDDING SONGS: Just got back from a beautiful wedding in Vermont. I was honored to write the new couple, Jen & Tom, a custom wedding song. I have written two custom wedding songs this summer, the first one was for Carolyn & Scott and I LOVE the process. Demos (home recorded versions guitar & vocal only) of both songs are available for download on my website for .99 cents.

NEW Mp3s FOR SALE: www.marysuetwohy.com/music.html
Two new songs for you to download :"Favorite" and "The Years that Follow." Yep, these are the wedding songs!

CUSTOM WEDDING SONGS: I enjoy the process of writing custom wedding songs SO much, I plan to offer custom wedding songwriting now as a service to people who are getting married or friends of the couple to-be. If you would like more details - please email me at marysue@marysuetwohy.com.

Here are my shows this month forthcoming. Please email your pals in Indiana and Chicago about those upcoming shows I have out there - it would be great to pack the house!

Enjoy some down time :)

peas,
Mary Sue
www.marysuetwohy.com

Sweet corn, youth reborn on beaches everywhere. Return to mother ocean.

How are you? I am digging summer, really taking some time to enjoy myself! We Virgos tend to focus on work a lot, so this having fun thing is a different drum beat! I am really enjoying working on my show on XM Satellite Radio Songs to Hang on Stars. I would even say it is keeping me out of trouble for the most part!

I am lately intrigued by a family of house wrens nesting in my backyard. First of all, these birds are the size of teaspoon! TINY!The wrens sing often and seem family-focused! I would love to read up on the social patterns of these birds. What is their family structure? Do they partner for life? Do these wrens have names we cannot distinguish? Is song about territory mostly or does it have many communicative uses for these little winged friends? I know one you knows these answers or know what book I should read – so I will thank you in advance!

And they (the wrenmen) are so dang busy, they MUST be up to something good. But then again, I am pretty busy and what do I really accomplish besides honing my expert skill at clearing a plate of nachos?

1. July Shows in MD – Chicago – here I come in August!
2. XM Satellite Radio - Free Receiver (it's not too late)
3. House Concerts
4. Mp3s, iTunes, CDs for Sale
5. Quote of the Day

peas,
Mary Sue

www.marysuetwohy.com

Hey everyone!

The air is sweet as honey, scentfull. Such a pleasure to breath spring air.

Thank you for all your help in finding the right apartment and job! I have a new place to move into in June in Takoma Park, MD and I am all set on the job front. I will let you know when I can announce it officially. Now I just need a vacation!

April was full of great music - I really enjoyed sharing the bill with Ina May Wool and her husband - they did a terrific job! And on the way home from the Spring Fever Folk Festival in Erie, PA -- I was able to stop and see Buddy Mondlock in concert in Pittsburgh at Jim & Llouise's house concert series - that was a treat!

Good news! "Songs to Hang on Stars" charted in April 2006 Folk DJ Lists for airplay! Glad to see this record getting airplay.

peas,
Mary Sue

www.marysuetwohy.com

Dear Beholders of Blooms,

Can you tell I have been diving back into "The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson" by Thomas H. Johnson? About quarter of her poems comtemplate the bumble of the bumble bee. I have included one below for you. I saw one just the other day.

March was a blast - Boston, Pittsburgh, Shippensburg - so nice to see old friends and make new ones. And sharing the bill with the talented Tim Harrison and opening for Jeff Black was over the top - they are great! Also, my new cd SONGS TO HANG ON STARS got a very nice review in Dirty Linen Magazine!

April come she will and she brings my friend Ina May Wool from NYC to our fair city. Gene Dawson is hosting us - this is a "must see" show! See below for details on April 15. She will be on Michael Buckely's show April 16 in the morning on WRNR which now streams and she will be doing a workshop with the Baltimore Songwriters Association. www.inamaywool.com

APARTMENT:
If any of you know of 1 BR apartment openings - in MD or DC - please let me know. Thank you!

JOB:
I am in a job search so if you know of job openings that involve the arts, arts management, programming, publicity, HR - I have already started interviewing and I am looking forward to this new job!

NATIONALLY SYNDICATED RADIO INTERVIEW:
I will email you later this month regarding a nationally syndicated show I was invited to be on wearing black sequins and holding a neon baton. More soon...

PLUS my friend Zoe Mulford is having a CD Release concert at the Institute of Musical Traditions on Monday, April 10. John Jennings will be there. You may see me hop up on stage (with black sequins?) for some harmony vocals... Come on out! www.imtfolk.org

1. April Shows in MD, PA
2. XM Satellite Radio - Free Receiver (it's not too late)
3. House Concerts
4. Mp3s, iTunes, CDs for Sale
5. Quote of the Day

peas,
Mary Sue

www.marysuetwohy.com

“What initially comes across as a fanciful pop-folk album ends up sounding far more intriguing and complex”
–The Washington Post, Nov 2005

“Artists like Mary Sue Twohy help guarantee that folk music will remain in the hearts of many, and be enjoyed for generations to come.”
-Singer&Musician Magazine, Feb 2006

“I want a peaceful mountain cabin, this album and a blazing fire. Like the flames, this CD’s sparkling songs and delicate vocals warm my every cell.”
-Sing Out! Magazine, Spring 2006

“Twohy sings with a graceful and knowing voice. She performs ballads, love songs and keen observations of survival with equal conviction.”
-Dirty Linen Magazine, April/May2006

“Her airy soprano shines through these introspective songs like light on a winter's night…Whether she's singing her own lyrics or using the words of Emily Dickinson.”
-minor7th.com, Jan/Feb 2006

National Airplay: WYEP (PA), WXPN (PA), KZSC (CA), WRKF (LA), WFMT (IL)m WVGN (Virgin Islands), WXXE (NY), KOPN (MO), WBGU (OH), WBRS (MA) WFDU (NJ), WETA (VA), WCVF-FM (NY) KVMR (CA), KPR (KS), MPR (MT), WYRS (NJ), WRSU (NJ)

Dear Music Lovers,

How are you? I hope this finds you well. Covering 4 states in 4 weeks - hope you can make it out to a show. I debut on WUMB on March 9 - you can listen online!

Thanks to everyone for your support in Texas and New Jersey. I was great to come back to WRSU and for my record label to be mentioned on air at KUT in Texas.

The good news for the new CD "Songs to Hang on Stars" -- stunning review in Sing Out! Magazine ( PA) and 3rd Coast Magazine (Texas) and voted best folk act in Music Monthly (MD)! Thanks for the 2005 Wammie nomination for Female Folk Vocalist - it went to one of my favorite singers - Lisa Moscatiello! My co-op record label Azalea City Recordings won for best record label of the year - we are excited!

Also, anyone with an AOL account can listen to my XM Satellite Radio show! Tune in online to XM15 The Village!

1. March Shows in MA, DC, MD, PA
2. XM Satellite Radio - Free Receiver (it's not too late)
3. House Concerts
4. Mp3s, iTunes, CDs for Sale
5. Quote of the Day

peas,
Mary Sue
www.marysuetwohy.com

Hi there Music Lovers!
More reviews – World Folk Music Association reviewed Songs to Hang on Stars and so did the most recent version of Singer & Musician Magazine –Both favorable! Made semi-finals on International Songwriting Contest and Billbaord this month too. And I am honored to have been nominated for another Wammie for Female Folkalist. Glad to see so many talented people on the ballot! Thank you for all your support!

I am looking forward to Texas – and playing back in Baltimore on Feb 16 at Baldwins with David A Alberding! We are getting together to work out some harmonies before the show!

It would be great to have some reviews of the new CD on Amazon.com and CDbaby.com. If you feel inspired – please post a review!

My fellow DC songwriter Nefrit El-Or (www.nefritel-or.com) would like to open for the Dave Matthews Band. Please go to this website and vote for her. In this case, I believe your vote can have a very positive affect on Nefrit's life.
http://www.davematthewsband.com/surveys/OpenerSurvey.asp

Heads up on a great show coming to town : 2/07/06 Tuesday- 7:30 p.m. at Jammin' Java Ben Carroll with Jon Carroll and Daniel Lee in Vienna, VA - $10 Admission. I saw Ben and Jon play tonight at Institute of Musical Traditions – one of the best shows of the year for me!

XM show is going great – wonderful work! www.songstohangonstars.com

Peas,
Mary Sue
www.marysuetwohy.com

Hi there Music Lovers!
Things are looking good over here in MarySueLand. Reviews are starting to come in – Minor 7th Magazine, World Folk Music Association and the upcoming issue of Singer & Musician Magazine. Lots of airplay in December on folk shows around the country.

The new songs have made the cut or been awarded in the UK Songwriting Contest, The Mid-Atlantic Song Contest and the International Song Contest. It may sound like bragging – but actually I am simply astonished.

Looking forward to Texas, and going back to New Jersey! Still need a free radio from XM Satellite Radio? See below.

Peas,
Mary Sue
www.marysuetwohy.com

Hi Folks!
November’s CD Release at the Institute of Musical Traditions (IMT) was perhaps one of the best performing experiences I have ever had. I shared the stage with Jon Carroll on piano and Charlie Pilzer on upright bass. And I sold 50 CDs! Never before has THAT happened! Thank you to everyone who came out to make it a great show and to IMT for hosting it! Art Isaacs and Dave Eisner were on sound and I had the honor of sharing the bill with Dede Wyland - who rocked the house with bluegrass!

SHOPPERS in DC - Songs to Hang on Stars will be in all Olssons Bookstores in the DC Metro area this weekend.

Online SHOPPERS - all of my CDs are DISCOUNTED to $10.00 on www.cdbaby.com ONLY for December.

And I am thankful to say The Washington Post gave a very nice review! I have the entire review at the bottom of this email if you would like to read it.

FREE XM SATELLITE RADIO RECEIVER
As you know I recently signed a contract with XM Satellite Radio to regularly produce a radio show for XM15 The Village called "Songs to Hang on Stars". I also have a friends and family offer of a *FREE* XM Satellite Radio receiver available to you! Please go to www.friends.xmradio.com and enter the email sponsor address: Robert.Davis@xmradio.com. You will land on a shop page. Scroll to the last item on the second page – note the price is $0.00. Yes, FREE! You will need to buy a subscription for a minimum of 3 months to XM Satellite Radio activate this offer and it expires 12/31/05. So go ahead! Enjoy!

Happy Holidays!

Peas,
Mary Sue
www.marysuetwohy.com

Hi all!

So nice to hear from you - thank you for all the notes! I am so glad to see you
enjoying the guestbook - what a joy! And on myspace.com! Busy as ever - in fact, I
fly to California in 8 hours ! I can sleep on the flight!

Here is the scoop! CD Release show at Institute of Musical Traditions on MONDAY,
NOVEMBER 7th. Don't miss it - mark your calendar now!

Rain Schmain - be *more* than the rain, be at the show! Dede Wyland's Trio will be
splitting the bill with me - it will be a knockout night! www.imtfolk.org for
tickets or House of Musical Traditions in Takoma Park! This is an important show for
me - thank you for your support!

Okay, I have to tell you. Bettie, our dog has been trained to close the door. Yes,
close the door. She loves it and wags her tail and all! Now the other day, she
comes bursting into the house, turns around and swiftly closes the door without
command. I half expected her to take off her jacket and hat too! My girl! :D

I will be on Montgomery Community TV this weekend - details below!

NEW show on XM Satellite Radio - called "Songs to Hang on Stars' -- Read on!

AND my new song, Songs to Hang on Stars, got an honorable mention in the
Mid-Atlantic Song Contest in the Adult Contemporary/Soft Rock category. Does this
mean I grew up? In anycase - awesome!

Wow!

peas,
Mary Sue

www.marysuetwohy.com
(check out the new website - groovy)

Hi Folks!
We have had two successful CD releases in Portland, Oregon and Freehold, New Jersey. Check out my "NEWS" section for journal entries on these CD Release concerts on my NEWLY REDESIGNED WEBSITE (www.marysuetwohy.com)! So excited about that (nerd), so stop by and sign my guest book.

I am trying out a new way to send out my e-newsletter. Too many people on my list said they stopped receiving it - so I am trying a new delivery service.

Radio Interviews so far on KBOO in Oregon, WYRS in Manahawkin, NJ, WXPN in Philadelphia and KVMR in Nevada City.

Peas,
Mary Sue
www.marysuetwohy.com

What a whirlwind!

After finishing up work on Friday, I loaded up the car, got a sandwich and zoomed up 95 to a hotel near Manahawkin, NJ. I was scheduled to be at the WYRS radio station at 8 AM. Yes, 8 AM. In the morning. Uh-huh. I woke ON THE hour to make sure I would not be late! I got there and interviewing with Terry Sikoriyak on WYRS is like being one of the Car Talk guys - he is so funny and leaves it wide open for you to chime in with whatever silly thought has come to mind. We had a blast! I played about 4 -5 songs and was live on the air for an hour and a half.

Still no coffee.

I then had a morning and afternoon to myself so I explored a cute town called Barengat, had a tea and lunch and then checked up on all the crabbers and fisherman, to see what their luck this morning had been for them thus far. After lunch at the Hurricane Cafe, I headed out to the Barnegat Lighthouse on Long Beach Island. There I learned more about the ecosystem of coastal shores, dunes and marine forestry. And climbed all the way up to the TOP of the light house and looked across the bay. It was refreshing, salt in the air. Many people enjoying the day like I was. And I saw about 15 plovers - which are on the endangered list. They looked well. The healing powers of water were well at work today!

Then I jumped in the car and drove up to Freehold, NJ, knitted some more of my hat and then found Mark and Elaine Costanza's home - where the concert would be in his beautiful, hardwood floor, high ceiling photography studio. All these folks, including my parents and two of my childhood friends, came to the show -- who have known me since I was BORN! Talk about people knowing you well. I was a little nervous. Regardless, I sang to the best of my abilities and hope they enjoyed the show. I really enjoyed singing these songs for them!

But is not over! After a leisurely breakfast with my parents and their dogs, I drove down to Philadelphia and did my first interview with Gene Shay of WXPN. The studios are gorgeous and I got to hang out in the World Cafe! Definitely my honor! And I saw The Kennedys - awesome- and a cool band called Boris Garcia's Family Reunion - neat, quirky songs!

And then had a leisurely drive home with Nanci Griffith's album "Flyer."

The combination of her songs and this particular trip made it clear to me that if we do not regularly travel down memory lane, we risk losing them, even the connections some memories provide to other memories. And the path can become overgrown. I made a point of trying to re-trace some of my earliest memories as I drove lisening to Nanci - and cleared the pathes a bit to enjoy the past.

No blueberries and no complaints!
peas,
Mary Sue

What a trip! As I flew into the fine city of Portland, I saw Mt Hood on my left, literally. Imagine a mountain staring you in the face - it was stunning.

First off, fall has hit Oregon. I still had my little Washington, DC t-shirts... but a little trip to Salvation Army supplied me with JUST the cozy sweater I needed!

I was lucky enough to play 3 shows - one with MacDonald Center (www.macdcenter.org), one with KBOO (www.kboo.org) and finally my CD Release Concert at the Multnomah Arts Center.

The MacDonald Center was wonderful, we sang, we told jokes and we handed out prizes for trivia!

At KBOO, I had the honor of being interviewed by Jade and playing two songs live - Songs to Hang on Stars and Because I Could Not Stop For Death. We talked about singing and some of the technicalities of it and voice lessons.

My name was in lights folks at the Multnomah Arts Center- a first for me! We had a wonderful audience! And a Big red velvet curtain - gorgeous! Tre opened the show and had a wonderful calming presence (www.tremusic.com). I am a new fan of his!

My Aunt and I spent some time wandering around Multnomah Village the next day and enjoying all the little shops, yarn, clothes, sweets, and dodads!

And knitted a scarf! In one weekend. With chopsticks. Yes, the poor man's knitting needles!

Looking forward to New Jersey CD Release! A visit to the Pine Barrens? Blueberries? The Jersey Shore? We shall see where the compass points me!

peas,
Mary Sue

Hi folks!

It was time! My hair is about 8 inches longer now since you last saw me on the turquoise, birdnesting website.

Hope you like my new home!

peas,
Mary Sue