BLUES SOCIETY PRESIDENTS LETTER #4-2020

These are trying times for sure and Blues Society of the Ozarks shares the heartfelt concerns of the community. Though it may be disappointing to those who are used to regularly and freely going out to visit local live music venues it is even more challenging to those who derive their income from these activities.

Since the challenges of Covid-19 outbreak have now become a reality in the USA, and live events have been cancelled for the foreseeable future, there has been a surge of virtual concerts produced through social media.

Check out your local musicians FB page or web pages.

The following are links to virtual concerts you may enjoy:

Queen City Shout (Quarantine Open Mic) Springfield Music has a weekly half hour segment of a local musician or musicians. Contact Mitch if you want to participate in recording one.

Homebound Blues Can't Stop the Blues Your one-stop location to get your live blues music fix! When you can't get to the blues- we'll bring the blues to you! cantstoptheblues.com

Blues Radio International

Other sites

https://blues.org/find-blues-radio/

https://www.cnet.com/news/every-livestream-concerts-coronavirus-shutdown/

https://www.unr.edu/counseling/virtual-relaxation-room/releasing-stress-through-the-power-of-music

The BSO just last month in time for March completed and printed an activity card in living color that we call the 6-month Look Ahead. Our Look Ahead has been hammered by the virus:

April - Nathan Bryce Loaded Dice event at Archie’s Lounge – cancelled.

May - Stomp the Blues out of Homelessness - cancelled. Any advance ticket purchase can be redeemed, but, donating the fee to the cause would be the kind thing to do.

June 14th International Blues Competition is on hold to see what condition the world will be in at that time – stand by. (During this time we are welcoming any bands and solo/duo to enter by filling out an official form, we can mail or e mail it to you. Please contact either Joy Hubbs or Mary Certain. )

July 11 – Chamberjam – Outside blues picnic tentatively still scheduled – standby

August 28 – Brother Ray and the Sometimes Righteous still scheduled - standby

OTHER NEWS & EVENTS

  • Support your local venue: Dan at the Shuffle is providing curb-side service with food and beverages to go. Help him out if you can.

  • Mitch at Springfield Music is also doing curb-side service for all of your musical needs.

  • The BSO has the Telecaster Raffle and the Harmonica raffle going on. You can get tickets by contacting Mary Certain who will wear gloves and mail tickets to you. The Telecaster and Harmonica are at Springfield Music, should you want to pull up and gander at them, all proceeds go to the Blues in the Schools program.

  • Mark your calendar now for our tentatively planned 12th-Annual Chamberjam and BSO Presidents Summer Picnic, July 11, 2020 at Joel Chamberlain and Mary Certain’s place out Fair Grove way. We’ll let you know 30 days in advance if we have to cancel. The Uncle Buster Band will be featured. We had a spectacular jam last year (as we do most every year), so bring a friend and an instrument, if you play or sing, and come on out.

  • This would be a good time to take those on-line guitar lessons you always wanted to do.

  • Our Blues in the Schools mission continues on – George and Bob gave away approximately 600 harmonicas at their school programs before shutting down for the year. The last three BITS presentations were at Disney, York and Bissett Elementary schools

  • We are still gearing up for our first expanded multi-page newsletter and we are looking for articles. If you know something of interest, want to write about hour social distancing experience or want to otherwise write up a blues related article please contact Mary Certain 316 -210-7720 or Mike Fisher – 417-861-7280

  • Don’t forget to tune in to KWPQ FM 103.3 for the best in Blues and Jazz

MEMBERSHIP

Thanks for all of you who have sent your dues in. Your dues help the BSO keep the blues alive and our hardworking organization up and running. If you haven’t sent your dues in yet, please return your application with your dues at your earliest convenience. Unpaid members will be retired and will have to be taken off our contact lists. Please encourage others to join the BSO. We are still including a BSO T-shirt with each new membership.

See Ya next time!

Rick Shortt