News

December Meeting Recap

Hey songwriters,

The transition to Club Cafe is going well. During the season’s first winter freeze about a dozen members and new members attended the meeting upstairs and later were in the showcase room for an outstanding set by Christopher Mark Jones (cjsongwriter@gmail.com).

Sixteen open stage players, including Songwriters Circle members, played two songs each and the open stage was over by about 11 p.m. Club Cafe’s manager has told me he’s happy with what we bring to the venue and that most of our members stick around after the meeting and watch the show over a drink or food. I’m happy that Club Cafe open stage regulars who’ve ventured upstairs to see what the group is about have told me they get what we’re doing, enjoy the discussions and want to get on this mailing list. Thanks people for making this work.

A Songwriters Circle gem, Emay (emaymusic@gmail.com), will travel north across the Mason-Dixon to appear as the featured performer at the next group meeting, 7 p.m. Tue., Jan. 2. The suggested assignment is to learn a new chord and use it in a new song. Get some tips on that at this website’s Monthly Assignments page.

Christmas party

For five years Pittsburgh Songwriters Circle members have performed at the annual Christmas party at City Mission, a homeless shelter in Washington, Pa., run by the husband of Circle member Sue Gartland (suegartland@juno.com). Join us Sat., Dec. 16 as we sing the traditional Christmas chestnuts and throw in a few original holiday songs by group members. Bring kids — we’ll get them to sing along and serve cookies and hot chocolate to City Mission residents.

City Mission is at  84 West Wheeling St., Washington PA 15301. Be there at 10:30 a.m. We start at 11 a.m. and will finish between 1-1:30 p.m. Day of event reach me at 412-335-1446.

CDs

Since October I’ve been carrying a laundry basket of Pittsburgh Songwriters Circle, Collection 2018s in my car, and twice I’ve lugged the basket up and down the stairs at Club Cafe. I’m leaving for a much-needed vacation Dec. 17 and won’t be back until the end of the year. If you participated in the project and want the CDs that you’ve already paid for, call me now: 412-335-1446.

See you soon,
– John