December Greetings!
As I write this, a chill rain is pounding the skylight over my head here in Memphis. I pray that we're all warm and dry as these crazy storms roll across the country. And here, nearly at the close of another year, I wish for all of us, everywhere, true comfort and joy.
With that in mind, thank you for keeping up with me and my work. I don't take for granted the opportunities I'm given.
Now here's a very brief look at the news at hand and what's coming up in the year ahead.
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CONTENTS of This Newsletter
1. New music in the New Year
2. Ireland & Scotland tours: 2023… and 2024
3. Writing and performing the early new year
4. TK Poem of the Month: A Very Small Dog to His Master
5. Wisdom for the holidays and year's end from Robert Louis Stevenson, Khalil Gibran and... Oprah
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1. New music coming in the New Year: The Sherpas, The Zen RyDells & me
a. The Sherpas: Promise to Harry
Ten new songs, and it’s done! I’ll keep you posted on release date, etc. I’m so excited for this one. As Michael (Lille), Tom (Prasada-Rao) and I have said many times, we should record a new album at least every 20 years…
b. The Zen RyDells (EP)
Kenneth Robinson and Ed Hunsberger are the Zen RyDells, and they’ve been MORE than patient with me as I finish production on this one—but I believe it’ll be worth the wait.
In the meantime, they’re also working on a full length album in Nashville, and you can hear their very cool first single VooDoo Queen on all the streaming services (Spotify, Apple Music, et al). Just search for “Zen RyDells”.
c. My own EP, “Cain”
I know, I know, but it’s going to be finished and released in 2023.
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2. Ireland & Scotland tours: 2023… and 2024
a. Ireland 2023: There are 2 open seats (or possibly 3, if one's a single) for my April 18-27, 2023 tour of Counties Dublin, Waterford & Clare.
If you’re interested, please inquire asap by visiting this Inishfree Tours page HERE…
…and clicking ENQUIRE by my tour listing. (Vicki with Inishfree will get back to you right away.)
I’m excited about this trip—we'll be covering some beautiful new territory for me.
(For more general info, visit the Ireland page at my website HERE.)
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b. Scotland 2023: Both tours (May 1-11 and October 2-12) are FULL, but there’s always the possibility of a cancellation, so if you’re interested in being on our wait list…
…visit my Traceless Tours page
HERE, and send in the CONTACT form.
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c. Ireland and Scotland tours 2024
I’ll be hosting tours in both countries in '24, and I’ll have my dates available soon.
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3. Writing in TX (January) & performing in CA (March)
a. Next month I'll be participating in a writing retreat in Texas at the world-class Blue Rock Artist Ranch & Studio in Wimberley, courtesy of Billy & Dodee Crockett. I'm so looking forward to taking a break from this busy world and diving into that one for a full week.
For more on all things Blue Rock, click HERE.
b. In March I'll be performing in California in the Bay Area. (Thanks to Eric and Cheryl Behlmer.) More on that in my next newsletter.
To inquire about booking me for other CA dates while I'm out that way, drop an email to shauna(at)tomkimmel(dot)com
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4. TK Poem of the Month: A Very Small Dog to His Master
Last week I heard a story on NPR's Morning Edition in which Poet-in-Residence Kwame Alexander invited listeners to send in a poem written by their pet! (As a reference, he read the poem “A Dog on his Master,” by Billy Collins—one of my favorite poets.)
I talked it over with Dexter, and he gave it a shot.
A Very Small Dog on His Master
When you came along
I was skeptical & scared.
I barked and snapped
And kept my distance.
I bit you on the hand.
Bit you on the leg.
Bit you on the nose.
Yet did you leave? No.
Was it easy? No!
Take patience? Yes!
Are we happy now? Yes.
So happy.
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5. Wisdom for the Season
Finding seasonal and year-end quotes is a little tricky. So many are saccharine or preachy, but here are three that pretty much cover the bases.
“You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving.”
—Robert Louis Stevenson, (1850-1894), novelist & poet
“Kindness is like snow. It beautifies everything it covers.”
—Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931), writer & poet
“Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.”
—Oprah Winfrey (b. 1954), media proprietor, author & actress
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Happy Holidays & Happy New Year Everyone! See you in 2023…
TK
PS Thanks always to the folks at Elixir Strings for keeping me playing the world's best strings for over 25 years.