The latest Stumpjack tidbits

I haven't been blogging lately for a few reasons. Since the closing of the coffee house in Two Rivers we have been engaged in countless discussions, between ourselves and with other interested parties, on what we're going to do next and how we're going to do it. We're very good at what we do and we want to do it again, although with some significant modifications and a revised vision. That conversation has been ongoing, creatively stimulating and enjoyable. I have also mentioned on facebook that I'd be giving an update about the whole story of our closing the Two Rivers location, including all of the stupidness we've been dealing with from the place that's there now. Frankly, I just haven't felt like dredging all of that up again and am hopeful that eventually those people will just lose interest in continuing to poison the waters. If it continues I've decided that I may just post in PDF form all of the weird and nutty messages that I've received from them and let it go at that. In any event, I'll cover the story of the closing sometime down the road here.

We've also been working like beavers with getting our house squared away, cleaning and organizing years worth of stuff we've accumulated in an effort to streamline and minimalize our lives. Like many folks who are lightening their lives these days, we wonder, "Where did all this stuff come from?" It's been an all summer project.

I've also been working on writing and developing stories and characters for an animation project with my uber-talented friend Carson Kugler, who is out in California right now working with Nickelodeon. That's been my primary passion these days and I'm very juiced up about the chance to flex my art muscles again.

And finally, this blogsite has been on my on-again-off-again project list. It needs a total remake and I work on that in the admin background when time and inclination coincide.

But what may be of immediate impact to you, dear reader and Stumpjack friend, is the Stumpjack "Music Without Boundaries" Summer Series that friends Brian Powell, Marty Suettinger and I have created. Great music was a huge part of what made Stumpjack special (the place got voted "Best of..." in live entertainment and live music venue pollings a couple of times). We want to keep that part of the Stumpjack experience going and we're doing so with a fantastic series of outdoor music events. You can get the lowdown on who's performing when, as well as any and all other news about upcoming shows, via the facebook group page "Music Without Boundaries."

Here's is the current schdule of upcoming shows:

Friday, July 22: West of East

Saturday, August 6: Matt Davies & Band

Friday, August 19: Lea Holz

Saturday, August 27: Becky Markvart

Friday, September 2: The Hollands!

Saturday, September 10: Chris Darby & Julius Otto

Also hoping/planning to get shows scheduled with Mark Hubing and The Brothers Burn Mountain. The shows are out-of-doors in a park and picnic ground-like setting. There is also no admission fee and it's all BYOB&G (Beverage & Grub); it's just something we wanted to do because it's fun and helps us all stay connected. Check it out on facebook and let us know if you'll be able to join us at any of the shows.

Tomorrow night is West of East, 2011 WAMI Award Winners for Americana Artist of the Year. Click here for more info.

That's all for now. Talk to you again, sooner than the last blogpost!