Branden Sipes

...but I'm on my way.  I'll be finishing off my Midwest tour with another show at Cafe Somolino tonight in Hays, KS.  This place was fantastic a few weeks ago when I played it as my first tour stop out of Denver!  I'm hoping to see some of my new Hays, KS friends out tonight, and for the chance to see new faces too.  Tomorrow, I'll be back in Colorado.. I'm homeward bound! 

After a few shows in Indiana, I headed south to Nashville, TN last week.  It has been a busy week with several shows and writers' nights in Nashville, and a quick trip up to Chicago for a vist to Chicago Acoustic Underground.  I recorded a podcast with CAU in the afternoon then had a show at Elbow Room that night.  I was fortunate to open the Chicago Acoustic Underground Showcase at Bottom Lounge, wrapping up a great couple of days in the windy city. 

I'm back in Indiana at the moment and just finished a show in Indianapolis.  Next, time to head west for Colorado...  

I have had some fun performances on this tour so far.  A few highlights so far have been Cafe Semolino in Hays, KS, and Muddy Boots Cafe in Nashville, IN.  Getting ready to head for Nashville, TN next... 

I've been invited to perform at the Rock-N-Bowla event at Lucky Strike Lanes in Denver on June 8th.

Rock-N-Bowla is a fundraising event partnering with OurStage & Lucky Strike Lanes to bring the best indie rock bands in the USA. Celebrities and athletes from around the globe will start off the event in a fierce bowling competition, followed by a live concert from the best indie rock bands in 11 major US cities.

Rock-N-Bowla is kicking off its Tour as a national fundraising event with Team Fox benefiting the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. The tour will showcase the innovation, social media strategies and the power of street teams to show the viral and grassroots power of the indie music scene. Our goal is to raise $200,000 for Team Fox.

I need you to become my fan on Ourstage.com. The performer with the most fans will move on to the final round in November.  So, take a minute to head over to my page on Oustage.com and become a fan!  Thanks!

I was fortunate to be selected for a professional development program with Creative Capital this past weekend.  Sponsored by Beet Street in Fort Collins, the Creative Capital workshop was a great source of information visual artists, performing artists, and writers working in the art business.  We were given valuable instruction and guidence in strategic planning, marketing, and promotion of our work.  I have come away more focused and inspired to move forward with my music.    

I also met a core group of incredibly talented artist from Colorado and  I look forward to sharing their work with you as events come up.  Cultivating the creative community is something in which we can all participate! 

For more information about these organizations, check out their websites.  

www.creative-capital.org

www.beetstreet.org 

I just got a call from the Taylor Guitars factory with the news that my guitar service is finished and it is coming home!  I can't wait to hear the sound of the new pickup... hopefully an improvement from the first generation Expression System I have been playing for years.  My guitar also recieved a partial fret job, so it should be back to mint condition and play like new! 

It has been great fun playing my newest guitar, the Taylor GS Mini, while my main axe has been in the shop.  I'll soon be posting a review detailing its stellar performance as a travel guitar.

I am in Denver this week and played at the Meadowlark Bar open stage last night - a very cool venue with a cozy basement feel, stone walls, and awesome dim lighting.  I hope to be back soon.  Tonight I plan to check out the open stage at Mercury Cafe, Wednesdays @ 8pm.  Stop by and share a song if you're in town...

As a performing musician, it is necessary to understand the technical side of a live performance.  Of course we love to get up to play guitar and sing our hearts out for a captive audience, but it is also vital to the show that we know how to setup the sound system and get the music flowing as quickly and smoothly as possible in new venues each night.  Since I usually end up performing by myself, without bandmates to assist, I am stuck hauling the gear myself, pluggin in all the cables, and balancing the sound for the room.  It can be a challenge to achieve mastery of both the technical setup and artistic performance at the same time.  

Last night I played at Spotlight Music Cafe in Fort Collins.  The stage is great with a nice sound system and lights installed.  This is a welcomed change from bringing in my own equipment like I do at the majority of my gigs.  With a talented sound person running the board, the technical side was all taken care of for me so I could focus on playing the music.  Very nice!  I look forward to booking another date at Spotlight Music Cafe soon. 

Today, I am in Estes Park where I've provided my sound system for a private party.  This is a big change from my usual routine because I am not even playing guitar for the event.  I can't remember the last time I just did sound without providing live music.  After setting up I realized how much less stress there is without the performance factor.  I don't have to worry about out of tune guitars, forgetting lyrics, blanking out on chords, or even deciding which song to play next in the set.  My equipment does the work for me.  I suppose I can just wear my technical hat today!

It almost feels too easy...  I'm up for the challenge.  Good thing I perform tomorrow at Vincent's in Fort Collins where I'll get to set up a small sound system and provide live music for the duration of the evening.  Stop by for happy hour till 6pm...  I'll be there from 5:30-8:30pm.  Cheers!

I've had a blast visiting Nashville, meeting friendly music people, and hearing great songs.  There have been some great adventures the past few days.  I played sunday afternoon at Richard's Louisiana Cafe in White's Creek before heading to a writer's night at Battle Ground Brewery in Franklin.  It was a very good evening of music, with lots of songwriters sharing their work.  I met June McHugh from Ash Street Music and we became fast friends, as she and her husband Tom are from Colorado!  I spent time speaking with her yesterday while listening to fantastic songs in her catalog.  I was particularly impressed with songs from the young Carleigh Nesbit, who I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot more about soon in the Americana music scene.  I'm surprised how many new friends I have in Nashville now. 
 
After leaving Ash Street Publishing, I headed over to the Bluebird to get in line for the Monday night open mic.  Just before getting in line I got a phone call from June about a gig for that night.  Musicians had cancelled last minute and she got the call asking for someone to fill in for the show.  She was nice enough to think of her new friend, Branden, from out of town and call me up for a shot to play.  So, I waited in line, got in the bluebird, and stayed for a handful of songs before I had to leave to head to my new gig at Taps & Tapas.  I had Rachel Morgan Perry come out to play a set along with some new friends I ran into at the Bluebird.  After what turned into a really great show at Belcourt Taps & Tapas, I headed over to Hotel Indigo West End.  The host, and my new friend, Ashely Norton, was kind to let me get up to play 3 songs at the end of the writers night.  All in all, a very eventful day.  

I met today with a writer's representative from SESAC (performing rights organization); I'm trying to decide between ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC...   the descision seems a little more confusing than it should be.  Anyway - there are new programs set up to pay performers royalties for performing their own songs live at each show...  potential income that I'm not getting yet....  really need to sign up!  I was invited to a kick off party for Tin Pan South, a songwriter's festival here in Nashville, put on by NSAI - Nashville Songwriters Association International, where I made a few more good contacts, met some hit songwriters, and producers.  Another productive day in town.   

That's the update for now...  headed back to Colorado in the morning.  Goodnight, Nashville. 

    

It has been a great week of music here in Nashville.  I've heard some amazing songwriters and shared the stage with many as well!  A few days ago I played at Hotel Indigo downtown with my friend, Rachel Morgan Perry, and had the pleasure of hearing the featured guest, Rand Bishop, a writer with several hundred cuts throughout his prestigeous career.  After this show I went "honkey tonkin'" on Broadway to see the many bands playing for the tourists and Country Radio people late into the night.  

Last night I returned to the Commodore to hear a set from my friend, Jed Riley, backing up a country duo on bass, and stayed to play the late night open mic.  I feel lucky to have seen these many great venues in Nashville and to have found a stage to play on each night.  With a few days left in Nashville, there are more performances to come; more chances to share my songs and hear the work of others.  Stay tuned.