tag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:/blogs/news?p=5News2022-10-21T14:41:24-12:00Curtis & Lorettafalsetag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/70864752022-10-21T14:41:24-12:002023-10-16T02:55:51-12:00E-newsletter - "Lift the World" album now out !<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/393132/3aa15d0574749fd83338ce7835f6f9e42d80363a/original/4a5ca3ab-a1ab-42d8-8a8f-25f759b8efa6.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><em><strong><span class="font_large">"Lift the World" has Arrived!!! </span></strong></em></p>
<p>Our brand new CD, "Lift the World" is out today, Oct 21 !!! You can listen, stream, download, or buy a physical copy athttps://curtisandloretta.com/music-store. It's also on all digital platforms, such as Spotify, Apple Music, etc, etc. We'll also have CDs available at our concerts, and they're at Homestead Pickin' Parlor in Richfield, MN. </p>
<p>If you don't like ordering online, no problem! Send your address and check for $14 ($10 for the CD, $4 shipping), made out to Loretta Simonet, PO Box 18652, Minneapolis, MN 55418, and we'll mail you one right away. Any questions? Email us at loretta@curtisandloretta.com </p>
<p><strong>WHAT'S ON THE ALBUM?</strong> - Like so many others, we had time during the pandemic to step back and think about what means the most to us. These songs celebrate what is really important in this life, from the humorous, to the heart-warming, to the heart-breaking. The songs shine a light on what we should keep and build upon, what we should throw out, and especially on how we cherish those most dear to us. </p>
<p>Chris Vallillo of Gin Ridge Concerts in Illinois said, "It's a generous cornucopia of beautifully crafted songs that speak from the heart of the struggles and joys of life, performed with honesty, grace, and uncommon musicianship. You can't listen to this recording and not be touched.” </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>HERE ARE THE SONGS</strong> - For more info about the songs, go to - <br>https://curtisandloretta.com/lift-the-world-new-album </p>
<p>1. Roots Grow Strong (Simonet) <br>2. Santa Claus on Halloween (Simonet) <br>3. Lift the World (Simonet) <br>4. Karmic Closet (Simonet) <br>5. Home in You (Simonet) <br>6. Corona (Simonet) <br>7. Shoulda Coulda Woulda (Simonet) <br>8. Beauty of the Song (Simonet) <br>9. Dr Grace Danforth (Simonet) <br>10. When the Roll is Called Up Yonder (Black) <br>11. Get a Hound (Teague) <br>12. Hand Me Down My Walkin’ Cane (Bland) </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>CD RELEASE CONCERTS IN MINNESOTA</strong> - Please mark your calendars for these dates. We'd love to see you! November 3 at the Cultural Center in New York Mills, November 10 at the Princess Theater in St James, and November 19 at Ginkgo Coffeehouse in St Paul. Scroll down for all the details. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>RADIO AIRPLAY</strong> - If you don't hear it on your favorite show, contact them and request it! <br>Thanks to the folk radio shows across the country that have already played it, including - <br>Radio Heartland (The Current, MPR) - Minnesota <br>Womenfolk (KFAI) - Minneapolis / St Paul, MN <br>Midnight Special (WFMT) - Chicago, IL <br>Roots for Breakfast (WFHB) - Bloomington, IN <br>The Folk Show (NHPR) - New Hampshire <br>Americana Alley (KMUZ) - Salem, OR <br>Folk Renaissance (WLJS) - Jacksonville, AL <br>Hootenanny Power (WRKF) - Baton Rouge, LA <br>Americana Backroads (KGLT) - Bozeman, MT <br>Music They Don't Want You to Hear (KATAL) - Las Cruces, NM <br>The New Brick Road (KVMR) - Nevada City, CA <br>Movin' On (KBOO) - Portland, OR <br>Saturday Light Brigade (WRCT) - Pittsbugh, PA </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>THANKS TO SO MANY</strong> - From the backing of the Minnesota State Arts Board, to our recording engineer Doug Lohman, to our guest musicians Tom Schaefer (fiddle), Sandy Njoes (bass) and Sera Smolen (bowed cello), we are blessed to be surrounded by such a wonderful arts community in Minnesota. And more than anything, we thank all of you; our audiences, fans and friends. If it wasn't for you, we wouldn't be making music. Thank you for making our dream of performing come true, over and over! <br> </p>
<p><span class="font_large"><em><strong>CURTIS & LORETTA SHOWS </strong></em></span></p>
<p><strong>***Thursday, November 3 at 7:30 pm <br>NEW YORK MILLS CULTURAL CENTER <br>CD RELEASE CONCERT for LIFT THE WORLD </strong><br>24 N Main Ave, New York Mills, MN 56567 <br>Reservations and info at 218-385-3339 <br>https://www.kulcher.org/fall-2022-concert-series/ <br>Tickets $10 advance, $12 at the door. Members $2 discount. </p>
<p><strong>***Thursday, November 10 at 7 pm <br>PRINCESS THEATER <br>CD RELEASE CONCERT for LIFT THE WORLD </strong><br>505 1st Ave S, St James, MN 56081 <br>Admission is $5 <br>More info at 507-375-4370 <br>https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054000384407 <br>https://www.ci.stjames.mn.us/189/Princess-Theater </p>
<p><strong>***Saturday, November 19 at 8 pm <br>GINKGO COFFEEHOUSE <br>CD RELEASE CONCERT for LIFT THE WORLD </strong><br>721 N Snelling Ave, St Paul, MN <br>We'll be joined by our fabulous guest musicians from the recording - <br>Tom Schaefer on fiddle and Sandy Njoes on bass! <br>Info at 651-645-2647 <br>https://ginkgocoffee.com <br>Admission is $15 </p>
<p>***Loretta Simonet is a fiscal year 2022 recipient of a Creative Support for Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature; and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. </p>
<p><strong>HOLIDAY SHOWS - </strong> </p>
<p><strong>Sat, Nov 5, 1pm - 3 pm <br>ART'S HOUSE GALLERY </strong><br>Art Gallery in Riverwalk <br>127 N Main St, River Falls, WI <br>https://www.riverfallscab.org <br>Free admission </p>
<p><strong>Thursday, Dec 1, 6 pm - 8 pm <br>HOOPER-BOWLER-HILLSTROM HISTORICAL HOUSE </strong><br>Holiday Open House <br>405 N Chestnut St, Belle Plaine, MN <br>Free admission </p>
<p>For more info, and our recordings, go to our website at <br>http://www.curtisandloretta.com </p>
<p>http://www.Facebook.com/CurtisandLoretta <br>http://www.twitter.com/CurtisLoretta2 <br>https://www.instagram.com/curtisloretta789/ <br>https://www.youtube.com/c/CurtisLoretta <br> </p>Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/70322482022-08-06T06:10:20-12:002022-08-06T11:20:42-12:00E-newsletter - New recording on the way, Aug 25 show in Minneapolis, and more!<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/393132/115a9823fd64287a391ccefdc2ebaa751e3d8c91/original/pic-for-8-4-22-e-newsletter.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><strong>IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME!!! </strong>- We haven't been in touch with you for awhile, but we're thinking of you all the time!! We hope you're having a great summer. We've been really busy this summer, making a new recording (see pictures from the studio above). We are really happy with how it's sounding, and the official release date is October 21. </p>
<p><strong>Please save these dates for the CD release concerts! <br>November 3 - New York Mills Cultural Center, NY Mills, MN <br>November 10 - Princess Theater in St James, MN <br>November 19 - Ginkgo Coffeehouse, St Paul, MN </strong></p>
<p>Please scroll to the bottom for more info on the recording!! </p>
<p><strong>LIVE SHOW IN MINNEAPOLIS ON AUGUST 25 - </strong><br>Please join us for a free noon-time concert at Peavey Plaza, right outside of Orchestra Hall in downtown Minneapolis, on Thursday, August 25. It's a beautiful oasis in the city, with a large pool you can walk through, and several water falls. Presented by MNSpin and Green Minneapolis. We'll be previewing several songs from the new CD. Scroll down for details! </p>
<p><strong>MORE GOING'S ON IN AUGUST</strong> - We'll be at the Minnesota Bluegrass Festival on August 11, performing on the Market Place Stage at 5pm. Also, we'll be returning to play music and doing sound effects at the Kalavela Puppet Pageant in New York Mills, MN. Shows are Aug 19 and 20. Scroll down for details. </p>
<p><strong>HEADING SOUTH IN SEPTEMBER</strong> - We are so pleased to be making our debut at 3rd Friday Coffeehouse in Somerset, Kentucky, with LaMay and Reese, on Sept 16. We'll also be at a favorite venue of ours, Huntsville Traditional Music Association, on Sept 20. On our way back up north we'll make a stop in Murphysboro, Illinois to do a house concert. Please scroll down for details! <br> </p>
<p><em><strong>CURTIS & LORETTA SHOWS </strong></em><br> </p>
<p><strong>Thursday, Aug 11 at 5 pm <br>MINNESOTA BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL </strong><br>We're on the Market Place Stage at 5 pm <br>El Rancho Manana Campground <br>27302 Ranch Rd, Richmond, MN 56368 <br>Presented by MBOTMA <br>https://www.minnesotabluegrass.org </p>
<p><strong>Aug 13 and 14 - </strong><br>Please note the OLD WADENA RENDEZVOUS has been canceled for this year, due to extensive tornado damage at the site earlier this summer. We'll see you there in 2023 !! </p>
<p><strong>Friday, August 19 at 7 pm <br>12th Annual KALEVALA PUPPET PAGEANT </strong><br>We do music and sound effects for the annual puppet pageant, presented by New York Mills Cultural Center <br>At the VFW, 120 S Boardman Ave, New York Mills, MN <br>Info at (218) 385-3339 <br>www.kulcher.org/2022-kalevala-puppet-pageant <br>Free admission, and it's the Free Town Corn Feed too! </p>
<p><strong>Saturday, August 20 at noon <br>12th Annual KALEVALA PUPPET PAGEANT </strong><br>We do music and sound effects for the annual puppet pageant, presented by New York Mills Cultural Center <br>At Finn Creek Open Air Museum <br>55442 340th St, New York Mills, MN <br>Info at (218) 385-3339 <br>www.kulcher.org/2022-kalevala-puppet-pageant <br>During Finn Creek Fest, free admission </p>
<p><strong>Thursday, August 25 at noon <br>PEAVEY PLAZA </strong><br>1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55415 <br>Free outdoor concert at beautiful Peavey Plaza, right outside of Orchestra Hall in downtown Minneapolis <br>Presented by MNSpin and Green Minneapolis <br>Bring a lawn chair or a blanket <br>https://www.greenminneapolis.org/event/mnspin-musician-of-the-week-13/ </p>
<p><strong>Friday, September 16, 7 pm <br>3RD FRIDAY COFFEEHOUSE</strong> <br>Cooper Community Arts Center <br>107 N Main St, Somerset, Kentucky <br>Split bill with LaMay & Reese, info at 606-305-6741 <br>http://lamay.com/3FF/schedule.htm <br>$10 suggested donation </p>
<p><strong>Tuesday, September 20, 7 pm <br>HUNTSVILLE TRADITIONAL MUSIC ASSOCIATION</strong> <br>Burritt on the Mountain, outdoor concert <br>3101 Burritt Dr, Huntsville, AL <br>https://burrittonthemountain.com/htma-coffeehouse-concert-series/ <br>Admission $10 online, $15 at gate, kids free <br>Opening by Randolph Avenue Motleys </p>
<p><strong>Sunday, September 25 at 3 pm <br>HOUSE CONCERT IN MURPHYSBORO, ILLINOIS </strong><br>Open to everyone - More info coming soon! </p>
<p><strong>Sat and Sun, Oct 1 and 2 <br>BIG ISLAND RENDEZVOUS </strong><br>Bancroft Bay Park, Albert Lea, MN <br>Everyone MUST park at Freeborn County Fairgrounds, 1031 Bridge Ave, Albert Lea, and take free shuttle to the Rendezvous <br>More info and advance tickets at 1-800-658-2526 <br>Tickets - $15 ($13 advance), $9 kids 6 - 11 ($8 in advance), kids 5 and under free, Family pass $35 <br>http://www.bigislandfestivalandbbq.org/rendezvous/rendezvous.htm </p>
<p><strong>***Thursday, November 3 at 7:30 pm <br>NEW YORK MILLS CULTURAL CENTER <br>CD RELEASE CONCERT for LIFT THE WORLD </strong><br>24 N Main Ave, New York Mills, MN 56567 <br>Reservations and info at 218-385-3339 <br>https://www.kulcher.org/fall-2022-concert-series/ <br>Tickets $10 advance, $12 at the door. Members $2 discount. </p>
<p><strong>***Thursday, November 10 at 7 pm <br>PRINCESS THEATER <br>CD RELEASE CONCERT for LIFT THE WORLD </strong><br>505 1st Ave S, St James, MN 56081 <br>Admission is $5 <br>More info at 507-375-4370 <br>https://www.ci.stjames.mn.us/189/Princess-Theater </p>
<p><strong>***Saturday, November 19 at 8 pm <br>GINKGO COFFEEHOUSE <br>CD RELEASE CONCERT for LIFT THE WORLD </strong><br>721 N Snelling Ave, St Paul, MN <br>We'll be joined by our fabulous guest musicians from the recording - <br>Tom Schaefer on fiddle and Sandy Njoes on bass! <br>Info at 651-645-2647 <br>https://ginkgocoffee.com <br>Admission is $15 </p>
<p><strong>NEW CD, "LIFT THE WORLD" </strong> is a collection of mostly original songs, inspired by the pandemic. These songs celebrate what is truly important in this life, all the way from the heart-warming to the heart-breaking. </p>
<p>The songs range from “Corona” which details the devastation but also the silver linings experienced by so many of us during the pandemic; to “Karmic Closet,” a delightful blues song about the clutter many of us realized we needed to clean out; to the title cut, “Lift the World,” which celebrates the peace realized when a dear one literally lifts the world from our shoulders. Loretta wrote “Home in You” after learning a friend with Covid was not expected to survive. But he did survive, and she was inspired to write about all the dear ones who help us find our way home. The playful “Shoulda Coulda Woulda” ponders where else we’d be if we weren’t here right now. The uptempo “Get a Hound” convinces us how great it is to have a dog around when you’re stuck at home during a pandemic. “Santa Claus on Halloween” is a country-tinged love song that Loretta wrote for Curtis. </p>
<p>Guest musicians are making this recording sound extra special! We are honored to have Sandy Njoes on bass, Tom Schaefer on fiddle, and Sera Smolen on bowed cello. Sandy and Tom will join us onstage at the CD release concert at Ginkgo Coffeehouse on November 19. </p>
<p>This project is thanks to a Creative Support for Individuals Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. There are more pictures from the recording studio at https://www.instagram.com/curtisloretta789/, and a blog with more info at https://curtisandloretta.com/2022-new-recording. </p>
<p>We're doing a series of 3 videos, letting people know just what is involved in making a recording. Part 1 is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pnnqsl91Pes. We cover the logistics of going into a studio in that one. In the next two videos, we'll talk about what happens after you get the actual music recorded - artwork for your CD, registering with BMI or ASCAP, promoting the recording and more! </p>
<p><strong>2021 TUMBLEWEED MUSIC FESTIVAL SONG CONTEST ON YOUTUBE </strong>- In 2021, Loretta was a finalist in the songwriting contest, and it's all online now - you can listen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtML0-k2GRs. All the contestants are in alphabetical order, so with the last name of Simonet, I'm toward the end!! The winner was a lovely song, "Sea Glass," by Laura Zucker, so her entry is at the very end of the video! <br> </p>
<p>***Loretta Simonet is a fiscal year 2022 recipient of a Creative Support for Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature; and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/393132/f75f08f4508a95d5a78dbba4b6a9eaaac63b4b8a/original/msab-logo-color-tif.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/69958162022-06-16T15:30:47-12:002022-06-16T15:30:47-12:00Peter Razor has passed on from this Earth<p>We are so saddened to announce that our dear friend, Peter Razor, has passed on from this Earth. We first met him when we were working on our "When There's Good to Be Done," recording, in 2015. He was a native American man who grew up at the State School Orphanage in Owatonna, MN. It was an abusive upbringing, with no love. But as a teenager he worked on the farm of Pat and Lee Klug in Caledonia, Minnesota, and they helped him "turn his life around." He said they were the first kind people he had ever met, and he decided he wanted to be like them. He went on to receive 3 Bronze Stars in Korea, raise a fine family, and work as an electrician for many years. After retiring, he wrote his memoir, "While the Locust Slept," which won the Minnesota Book Award in 2002. </p>
<p>We interviewed him in 2015, and wrote the song "Where the North Wind Blows," about his life. He died at the age of 93. <a contents="Click here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.nelsonfuneralcare.net/obituary/james-razor?fbclid=IwAR3EiYyGxnh-Du8obKHoux_HQpTFX_k3QPMye7VwGJgiwlCZvxlC1OToeKE">Click here</a> for the link to his obituary. <a contents="Click here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://curtisandloretta.com/music-store">Click here</a> to listen to the song. Scroll down a bit to the song, then click on the little arrow next to it to listen.</p>
<p>RIP Peter. We will remember you always. From such a rough upbringing, you became an upstanding, kind, considerate, intelligent, forgiving and insightful human being. We are honored to have shared in your life on this Earth.</p>Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/68841712022-01-30T17:44:30-12:002022-01-30T17:44:56-12:00Grant from Minnesota State Arts Board<p>We are very pleased and thankful to announce that Loretta has been awarded a Creative Support for Individuals Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This will enable us to make a new CD in the coming year, do three CD release concerts (Twin Cities, New York Mills, and St James), and a virtual show. Stay tuned for updates on this project, which will be a collection of songs inspired by the pandemic!</p>Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/67018742021-07-29T16:37:07-12:002021-07-29T16:38:23-12:00Loretta is Finalist in Tumbleweed Music Festival Songwriting Contest<p>I'm honored to say I'm one of 10 finalists in the Jane Titland Memorial Songwriting Contest at Tumbleweed Music Festival in Richland, WA, on Labor Day weekend. This year's theme was "Silver Linings," and I can't wait to hear everyone's entry! The contest will be virtual, with all the performers featured on the Sunday night, Sept 5 concert, at http://www.tumbleweedfest.com/tmfvirtual2021.html <br>More details on time, etc coming soon! ... Loretta</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/393132/932105f1f2bd1fdc976f6d41f490d04c6bc37f0d/original/tumbleweedtwentyfiveyearslogo-fullcolor-standard-tumbleweed-orig.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/66572242021-06-11T17:32:03-12:002022-06-21T05:39:39-12:00Live Music is Returning!!!<p>As much as we have enjoyed doing virtual shows, we are happy to say we will be doing some live concerts this summer! We'll be at the Brookings Summer Arts Festival and the Wilder Pageant in South Dakota, Veterans Park in River Falls, WI, and Peavey Plaza in downtown Minneapolis. We'll also be doing our "old-time" show at the Family Festival in Walnut Grove, MN, and Old Wadena Rendezvous north of Staples, MN.</p>
<p><a contents="Please click here for all the details." data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://curtisandloretta.com/calendar">Please click here for all the details.</a> And check back often - things continue to get booked, which is great! By the way, we are not abandoning the virtual format. We've discovered that it is a great way to reach folks across the country, and across the globe! We'll be doing a pre-recorded set for Tumbleweed Music Festival in Washington State on Labor Day weekend, since their event will be virtual again this year.</p>Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/65735622021-03-14T07:56:15-12:002021-03-14T07:56:15-12:00Article about Curtis & Loretta in Chicago Tribune<p>A big thank you to Sheryl DeVore for this great article in the Chicago Tribune, about our music, and our upcoming concert at Lake County Folk Club in Chicago on March 21. </p>
<p><a contents="https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/ct-lns-ent-lake-county-folk-st-0319-20210310-xkjt4fuskffktc364davm6tyfm-story.html" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/ct-lns-ent-lake-county-folk-st-0319-20210310-xkjt4fuskffktc364davm6tyfm-story.html">https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/ct-lns-ent-lake-county-folk-st-0319-20210310-xkjt4fuskffktc364davm6tyfm-story.html</a></p>Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/65074812020-12-24T17:23:36-12:002020-12-24T17:33:43-12:00New Christmas video<p>Here's a new Christmas video we made, in our home in Minneapolis. Please sing along on these four classic Christmas / Holiday songs!!</p>
<p><a contents="Click here to listen on youtube!&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsYCvJsdR2o&t=428s">Click here to listen on youtube! </a></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/393132/bdf7761ed70d793a3ffdbdf77f515e4c11508e0e/original/screen-shot-2020-12-24-at-11-07-46-pm.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.png" class="size_xl justify_center border_" /></p>
<p> </p>Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/64920012020-12-04T10:10:33-12:002020-12-04T10:14:16-12:00Homebound Holiday Concert<p>This virtual show is presented by Three Rivers Folklife Society in Richland, WA. Four duos (including us!) will be doing 20 minute long sets of holiday music. It premiers Dec 5 at 8 pm Central time (9 pm ET, 8 pm CT, 7pm MT, 6 pm PT). Featuring: Magical Strings, Heidi Muller and Bob Webb, Watch the Sky, and Curtis & Loretta. If you can't join us then, it will be available to view through New Year's! No charge, but tips are accepted. Info will be included during the video. <a contents="&nbsp;Click here to join the show!" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://vimeo.com/479388039"> Click here to join the show!</a></p>Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/64415532020-09-23T15:24:01-12:002020-09-23T15:24:01-12:00Four virtual shows coming up!<p>Hey folks, we hope you are all hanging in there, staying safe and healthy. For those of you touched by Covid-19, we send our positive and healing thoughts.</p>
<p>We've got four virtual shows coming up next week, Monday through Thursday!</p>
<p>They're all free shows, and we hope you can join us for one or more of them. Click here for all the details <a contents="http://www.curtisandloretta.com/calendar " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.curtisandloretta.com/calendar">http://www.curtisandloretta.com/calendar</a>.</p>Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/64415522020-09-23T15:20:57-12:002022-03-16T08:14:26-12:00Listen to PRX Radio with Curtis & Loretta<p>Our friend Phil Nusbaum did a nice interview with us, for PRX Radio. It's a sneak preview of the four virtual shows we're doing next week! Click on this link to listen. It's about 8 minutes long. </p>
<p><a contents="https://beta.prx.org/stories/339818" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://beta.prx.org/stories/339818">https://beta.prx.org/stories/339818</a></p>Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/63852622020-07-13T16:54:42-12:002020-07-16T07:53:40-12:00Second livestream ever!!<p>Thursday, July 16, please join us for our second livestream ever! We'll do original and traditional songs, with harmonies, folk harp, mandocello, guitars, banjo and ukulele.</p>
<p>Go to <a contents="http://www.Facebook.com/CurtisandLoretta" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.Facebook.com/CurtisandLoretta">http://www.Facebook.com/CurtisandLoretta</a>, then scroll down to the Livestream Event, with the red "live" icon. See you there!</p>
<p>8pm Eastern, 7pm Central, 6pm Mountain, 5pm Pacific.</p>
<p>Tips appreciated, but not necessary, at http://www.PayPal.Me/CurtisandLoretta, http://www.Venmo.com/CurtisandLoretta, or PO Box 18652, Minneapolis, MN 55418. We'll be online 10 minutes early, so everyone can gather and make sure they find us, before we start the music on the hour!</p>Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/63246232020-05-20T16:26:08-12:002020-07-06T16:13:53-12:00Watch our first livestream ever here!<p>You can watch our livestream from May 12 right here, at <a contents="https://www.facebook.com/loretta.simonet/videos/10216816335577580/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/loretta.simonet/videos/10216816335577580/">https://www.facebook.com/loretta.simonet/videos/10216816335577580/</a>.</p>
<p>We plan on doing another in June. We'll keep you posted!</p>Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/63086922020-05-07T17:08:55-12:002020-05-07T17:30:35-12:00FIRST LIVESTREAM EVER, MAY 12 AT 7 PM<p>Like all musicians, all of our gigs are canceled for the foreseeable future. The good news is that we're doing our first livestream ever, May 12 at 7 pm. Please join us at <a contents="http://www.Facebook.com/CurtisandLoretta" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.Facebook.com/CurtisandLoretta">http://www.Facebook.com/CurtisandLoretta</a>. We'll be doing an hour of poignant songs and fun songs, with tight harmonies, and folk harp, mandocello, guitars, banjo and ukulele. We'll be doing mostly originals, with one brand new one, "Beauty of the Song." Tune in, live from our home to yours!</p>Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/62659972020-03-29T15:19:36-12:002020-03-29T15:21:51-12:00TOUR TO EAST COAST CANCELED<p>Our tour to the East Coast has been canceled, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We had so looked forward to returning to these wonderful venues, plus performing at new ones. We'll try to re-schedule for a later date, when the world is "back to normal." These are strange times such as we've never seen before, but we are lifted up by all the acts of kindness we see everyday, as people reach out to help others through this. Stay safe and healthy, stay home if you can, and we'll see you as soon as we can!! </p>Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60963002019-09-17T12:00:00-12:002020-01-28T07:23:06-12:00We're new artists on MnSpin!<p> </p>
<p><a data-imported="1" href="https://hclib.musicat.co/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MnSpin</a>, the online music service from Hennepin County Library has just released the 2019 collection with more than 90 additional albums by local artists, growing the platform to more than 200 albums in 18 genres.</p>
<p> And we're honored to say that Curtis & Loretta's "When There's Good to Be Done" is on it !!! <a data-imported="1" href="https://www.hclib.org/about/news/2019/September/mn-spin">You can check it out here!</a></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/393132/2ba0ff60ac8cc6f501b229f11c80c75687879cf6/original/mnspinpromo-2-710x445.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NzEweDQ0NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="445" width="710" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962992019-05-20T12:00:00-12:002019-05-21T06:47:37-12:00Video of May 4 Owatonna concert
<p>The final concert of our "When There's Good to Be Done" tour throughout Minnesota, funded in part by the MN State Arts Board, was at the Owatonna Arts Center, on May 4. Here's the link to the video, which was made courtesy of Limberg Productions. Click on the link, then scroll down to the Curtis & Loretta video.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.owatonnalive.com/Arts-and-History.html" data-imported="1">http://www.owatonnalive.com/Arts-and-History.html</a></p>
<p>It was a very special afternoon, with a wonderful crowd filling the chairs. The Arts Center is located in the building that was originally the main building of the Minnesota State Public School Orphanage. We sang many of the the songs from the CD, all about real people who overcame great challenges in their lives. But absolutely the most touching were the songs I wrote about two men who grew up at the Orphanage, in the 1930s and 40s, especially because they were with us, in the audience! After the concert, Peter Razor and Harvey Ronglien spoke to the audience and answered questions. It was so very poignant to hear their stories right at the Orphanage where they grew up.</p>
<p> </p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962982019-04-08T12:00:00-12:002022-05-09T16:08:54-12:00April 11 Concert in St James changed to May 2
<p>Mother Nature has won out again! A blizzard is coming through Minnesota on Thursday, April 11, and we've had to change the date of the concert in St James to May 2. We're trusting that there won't be any more snow in May !! We're sorry for any inconvenience. The forecast sounds positively scary, even for us tough Minnesotans; up to two feet of snow in St James, and white-out driving conditions. </p>
<p>Earlier, we had to re-schedule our concert in Owatonna from March 9, to May 4, also because of extreme winter weather. These concerts in Owatonna and St James are the last in our series of "When There's Good to Be Done" concerts, with original songs and a slide show of Minnesota unsung heroes. This tour across greater Minnesota has taken us to 20 locations so far, and these will be the last two. Thank you to the Minnesota State Arts Board, for the Arts Tour Minnesota grant that has enabled this wonderful journey throughout our state over the past year! </p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962972019-04-04T12:00:00-12:002021-02-11T06:51:10-12:00A Show in our Home Town!
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/393132/d7de9e0337cc8b532ae66167fcc5c5eaee6f3a55/original/64720.jpeg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjQweDQyNyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="427" width="640" /></p>
<p>HERE WE ARE AT UNDERGROUND MUSIC CAFE LAST TIME, BACK IN 2017</p>
<p>We'll be doing a concert April 6 at Underground Music Cafe in Falcon Heights, which is right next door to St Paul, Minnesota. It's a rare concert in our hometown. OK, technically it's not our hometown, since we live in northeast Minneapolis, but you know, St Paul and Minneapolis are joined at the hip!</p>
<p>Come on down for an evening of poignant songs, funny songs, Curtis' crazy stories, and more! The Underground also has delicious food, including soup and sandwiches, homemade pizza, desserts, coffee, tea, beer and wine.</p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962962019-03-14T12:00:00-12:002019-03-15T08:15:09-12:00Uplifting News from WTIP Radio in Grand Marais, MN
<p>Last October, we did a live radio show on WTIP in Grand Marais. We chatted about the music tour we were doing at Arrowhead Libraries, and we sang a song I'd written, "When There's Good to Be Done." It's a true story about Christy Harding, a young woman who donated a kidney to a little girl she'd never met before.</p>
<p>We got this email recently -</p>
<p>"Loretta, we learned recently that one of our listeners was so inspired by a story and song Y<span class="text_exposed_show">OU shared on our show that he actually donated a kidney to a stranger. So amazing and wonderful!! Here's the link to the interview with him; thought you'd like to hear his story:</span></p>
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<p> </p>
<p><a href="https://www.wtip.org/lutsen-resident-dave-howe-what-inspired-him-donate-kidney?fbclid=IwAR1E0SHq0RWJVpG7k8Gn5FLT_LY0K3MmaESR_T_Wm0T94qsEDXlxLwoFHvI" data-imported="1">https://www.wtip.org/lutsen-resident-dave-howe-what-inspired-him-donate-kidney?fbclid=IwAR1E0SHq0RWJVpG7k8Gn5FLT_LY0K3MmaESR_T_Wm0T94qsEDXlxLwoFHvI</a></p>
<p><img src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t4c/1/16/1f642.png?_nc_eui2=AeEb5bGqjawKT8YAh2jFKCoCgOrvuYyk8JMy9PpVMvc5YwMYloc6nvb3AqVUxS_k5b4QVBZN1SegZaUOsCwXqV0JqONETSM9fDJIYuuHf97YrA" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="16" width="16" />:) You should feel really really good about this. All the best! Annie"<br>-- <br>Annie Possis, producer, The Roadhouse</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="https://external-ort2-2.xx.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=AQAkLSBxi8WDE3Ek&w=540&h=282&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wtip.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2Froadhousealaskasign_0_1.preview_0.JPG&cfs=1&upscale=1&fallback=news_d_placeholder_publisher&_nc_eui2=AeESmIR-RfNn_TS1qTcBwMy1KazCNnKAi817DTY8AnzvIrjfRErcxmn-geXcMpcqBfybjwZ23A3RiXGtNq5_dP7NugVmcgHdczfUFB4PSAGaHA&_nc_hash=AQAwZ5iPHtLdtKdI" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="269" width="514" /></p>
<p>Lutsen resident Dave Howe, on what inspired him to donate a kidney.</p>
<div class="_6m3 _--6">
<div class="_59tj _2iau">
<div>
<div class="_6lz _6mb _1t62 ellipsis"></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p> </p>
</div>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962952019-03-06T12:00:00-12:002019-03-07T07:32:56-12:00Owatonna Concert re-scheduled for May 4
<p>The extreme winter weather continues here in Minnesota! It's been one big storm after another, and here is ANOTHER! Forecasts are for heavy snow, ice, and gusting winds this weekend. They say folks should stay home and not travel. So in the interest for everyone's safety, we're postponing our March 9 concert at the Owatonna Arts Center. It's been re-scheduled for Saturday, May 4, 2019 at 2 pm.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It will still be a "When There's Good to Be Done" show, and Peter Razor will be on hand to talk and answer questions after the show!</p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962942019-01-23T12:00:00-12:002020-01-13T09:09:05-12:00On The Road Again - Heading south!
<h1>
We're on the road! Come see us in AL, IL, IN, or WI !!<br> </h1>
<p><strong>WE'VE HEADED SOUTH! - </strong>We headed down to Alabama, where there is no snow on the ground! It's going to be a balmy 45 degrees today, and we are in heaven to have escaped the windchill of Minnesota for a bit!! Come see us in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, or Wisconsin! <a href="/calendar" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">Click here for all the details!</a><br><br>P.S. Thank you to everyone who came out to the benefit concert at the Zephyr Theatre in Stillwater, MN! You were a wonderful audience, and you helped out the cause of transforming the Zephyr Depot into a beautiful performing arts center! The photo below is from the concert at The Zephyr on January 13, 2019.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/393132/af6304222a7408690251cead4198b39bd25ca00a/original/dsc-0156.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6Mjg4MHgxOTIwIl0%3D.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="1920" width="2880" /></p>
<p> </p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962932019-01-08T12:00:00-12:002019-01-09T10:40:56-12:00Zephyr Theatre in Stillwater!
<p>This coming Sunday afternoon, we'll be at The Zephyr Theatre in beautiful downtown Stillwater, MN (Loretta's hometown). It will be a benefit concert to help transform the Zephyr into an exquisite performing arts center! Here's a photo from last time we played there, in October of 2017! Come join us Sunday. <a href="/calendar" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">You can view all the details here.</a></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/393132/cba2f6915f30df5a555c2e64e113975685efda5d/original/dsc-0683.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjAwMHg0MDAwIl0%3D.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="4000" width="6000" /></p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962922018-11-30T12:00:00-12:002020-07-13T16:51:51-12:00Holiday Shows!!
<p class="p1"><strong>We've got four holiday concerts coming up, December 2018</strong></p>
<p class="p1">Dec 2 we'll be at The Landing, a "pioneer village" in Shakopee, MN. Dec 6 we're at the charming Hooper-Bowler-Hillstrom House in Belle Plaine. Dec 13 we head to "Music at the Museum" in Springfield, IL, and Dec 15 we perform at Hickory Ridge Concerts in Lewistown, IL. These are all wonderful venues.</p>
<p class="p1">Please join us if you're nearby!!</p>
<p class="p1">We'll be wearing our Victorian Christmas costumes, and doing traditional Christmas carols and songs, on Celtic harp, mandocello, mandolin, and celeste (a vintage keyboard that sounds like bells). <a href="/calendar" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">You can find all the details here!</a></p>
<p> </p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962912018-10-07T12:00:00-12:002018-10-08T08:42:27-12:00"When There's Good to Be Done Tour" kicks off!
<p class="p1"><strong>CONCERTS IN MINNESOTA THIS MONTH</strong></p>
<p class="p1"><strong>October 13 marks the beginning of our "When There's Good to Be Done" tour!!</strong></p>
<p class="p1">We kick off this tour featuring songs of Minnesota unsung heroes, in Willmar, Minnesota on Saturday, Oct 13. Willmar was the site of a historic bank strike by 8 women in 1977. They came to be known as the Willmar 8. I wrote a song about them and their fight against gender discrimination. We are honored to be singing their song this Saturday at The Barn Theatre in Willmar, along with many other songs of Minnesota unsung heroes. They're all songs from our latest CD, "When There's Good to Be Done."</p>
<p class="p1"> We are very happy to say that several of the Willmar 8 women will be onstage that evening to answer questions from the audience! This concert tour is funded in part by the Arts Tour Minnesota Grant we received in 2018. On October 23 we continue the tour for another 2 1/2 weeks, at 19 Arrowhead Library locations in northeastern Minnesota.</p>
<p class="p1">On Oct 14, we're doing a benefit for St. Anne's Mission Group in Browerville, and Oct 19 we're part of "Living Tradition: A Twin Cities Folk Showcase." It's a triple bill with Curtis & Loretta, old-time country duo The Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers, and folklorist Ellen Stekert, at The Warming House in south Minneapolis (these two concerts are not part of the Arts Tour MN Grant.) </p>
<p class="p1"><a href="/calendar" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">Check out all the details here!</a></p>
<p><a href="/calendar" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"> </a></p>
<p class="p1"> </p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962902018-09-23T12:00:00-12:002020-09-23T04:29:59-12:00Last Leg of our Western Tour, in California!
<p>We are on the final leg of our Go West tour! We drove through beautiful mountains today in Oregon and northern California, and we are gearing up for our next gig! Wednesday, it's a noon-time concert in downtown Sacramento. Friday we're live on KKUP Radio in San Jose. Saturday we're at Fiddling Cricket Concerts in Santa Cruz, and Sunday we're on KPIG Radio in the Monterey Bay area. <a href="/calendar" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">Please check out all the details here!!</a></p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962892018-09-18T12:00:00-12:002018-09-19T05:45:40-12:00West Coast Tour Continues
<p>We've had such a wonderful time doing concerts on the West Coast. We've gotten to connect with lots of old friends (musicians and audience members), and made many new ones. After several concerts in Washington, we're in Portland, OR now. We've got a House Concert here Friday, then a concert in Ridgefield, OR (near Vancouver) on Saturday. Please come join us if you're in the area!</p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962882018-06-16T12:00:00-12:002018-06-17T01:28:05-12:00Loretta is finalist in Song Contest
<p class="p1"><strong>We are so happy to announce that I'm a finalist in the 2018 Jane Titland Memorial Song Contest at Tumbleweed Music Festival in Richland, Washington. Congratulations to all ten of the finalists, and we look forward to meeting all of you!</strong></p>
<p class="p1"><strong>The song contest will be Saturday, Sept 1 on the West Stage at 4:15 pm. We'll also be performing at the festival. We do a set on the North Stage Saturday Sept 1 at 2 pm, and a workshop with songs of unsung heroes titled "When There's Good to Be Done," in Workshop Space 2 on Sunday, Sept 2 at 11 am.</strong><strong><br></strong></p>
<p class="p1"><a href="http://www.3rfs.org/tmf.htm" data-imported="1"><strong>More info about Tumbleweed Music Festival and the Song Contest here!</strong></a></p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962872018-03-06T12:00:00-12:002018-03-07T00:19:44-12:00Two Concerts in Minnesota this weekend
<p>We've got concerts at two of our favorite venues in Minnesota this weekend!!</p>
<p>Friday, March 9 at 7:30 pm we'll be at Creek House Concerts in New Brighton. This is the "Carnegie of House Concerts!" Along with the stage in Glenn Elvig's expansive living room, there's professional sound and lighting! Glenn is doing a set, then we'll have intermission, and we do a set. Doors open at 7 pm, so you can come in, get a seat, and have some delicious goodies to eat.</p>
<p>Saturday, March 10 at 8 pm we'll be at Oak Center General Store, eleven miles southwest of Lake City. This charming venue has been going since the 1970s. There's a general store on the first floor, the concert hall upstairs, and an organic farm out back! There's always a potluck dinner here before the show.</p>
<p>All the details are <a href="/calendar" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">here!!</a></p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962862017-11-17T12:00:00-12:002017-11-18T11:08:44-12:00Curtis & Loretta awarded Arts Tour Minnesota Grant
<p class="p1">Back in July, 2017, Loretta applied for the Arts Tour Minnesota Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. We just found out we got the grant!!</p>
<p class="p1">Curtis & Loretta will do concerts at 22 locations across greater Minnesota, singing original songs of unsung Minnesota heroes from our CD, "When There's Good to Be Done." Thank you to the Arts Board, and the voters of the State of Minnesota, who voted to create the Legacy Fund for projects such as this, back in 2008.</p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962852017-10-27T12:00:00-12:002020-11-17T08:18:47-12:00Benefit for Zephyr Depot / Theatre in Stillwater, MN
<p>Come join us Sunday, Oct 29 at 2 pm. We're doing a benefit concert for the Zephyr Theatre in downtown Stillwater, MN. This very committed group of folks is raising money to buy the Zephyr Train Depot and transform it into a 330 seat professional theatre and arts center! It's $20 at the door for a very good cause.</p>
<p>Zephyr Depot / Theatre</p>
<p>601 N Main Street in Stillwater, MN.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.stillwaterzephyrtheatre.org" data-imported="1">http://www.stillwaterzephyrtheatre.org</a></p>
<p>Thanks to the Stillwater Gazette for helping us get the word out!</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/393132/c336157af88992bbdfc8471ddba3c14eb0ad9431/original/gazette-10-17-17.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTUzNngyMDQ4Il0%3D.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="2048" width="1536" /></p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962842017-02-03T12:00:00-12:002017-02-04T00:03:51-12:00No Depression reviews "When There's Good to Be Done"
<p>"When There's Good to Be Done" just got a really good review in No Depression (The Journal of Roots Music). The reviewer, Frank Gutch, wrote to me, "There is too little of this type of Modern Folk being done these days." </p>
<p>Here's the link! </p>
<p><a href="http://nodepression.com/album-review/curtis-loretta-keeping-modern-folk-tradition-alive" data-imported="1">http://nodepression.com/album-review/curtis-loretta-keeping-modern-folk-tradition-alive</a></p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962832017-01-26T12:00:00-12:002017-01-26T23:12:24-12:00Bothy Folk Club re-opens with C & L giving first concert
<p class="p1">The legendary Bothy Folk Club had monthly concerts in Mankato, Minnesota, for many, many years. We were honored to perform in this wonderful listening room several times, and we were sad when it closed down a few years ago. But the GOOD NEWS is that founder Michael Bonner has started it up again, and <strong>Curtis & Loretta will give the first concert, on Saturday, February 4.</strong> It'll be in the same place it used to be, the Eagles Club in downtown Mankato.<a href="/calendar" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"> Click here for all the details</a>. </p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962822016-12-06T12:00:00-12:002016-12-07T07:29:21-12:00Holiday gigs in Chicago-land + discounted CDs
<p class="p1"><strong> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/393132/59bc6726cdf59bf626f09c46cd7077528ae06b91/original/christmas-thumb.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjAweDEzNCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="134" width="200" /></strong></p>
<p class="p1"><strong>HOLIDAY SHOWS</strong></p>
<p class="p1">We're so pleased to let our Chicago area friends and fans know we'll be there soon! This Saturday night, December 10, we'll be in concert in Wheaton, at the Acorn Coffeehouse. It'll be a holiday concert with lots of Christmas carols and songs (and Victorian costumes) plus inspiring songs from our newest CD, "When There's Good to Be Done." And next Tuesday, December 13, we'll be part of the Annual Holiday Hoot on Lilli Kuzma's "Folk Festival" show on WDCB Radio. So please come out, tune in, and / or log on!! Please scroll down a bit for all the details on the performances.</p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p3"><strong>ALL CDs on SALE NOW THROUGH DEC 31 !!</strong></p>
<p class="p3">All our CDs (including "Christmastide") are on sale right now, marked down from $15 to $10. You can get one at our concert this Saturday, OR simply go to <a href="/music-store" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><span class="s1">http://www.curtisandloretta.com/music__store/</span></a> That link takes you to cdbaby, where right now they also have penny shipping, if you buy 3 or more CDs. It doesn't have to be just our CDs, you can choose from any music on that site.</p>
<p class="p4"> </p>
<p class="p5"><strong><em>CURTIS & LORETTA PERFORMANCES</em></strong></p>
<p class="p4"> </p>
<p class="p2"><strong>Saturday, December 10 at 8:00 pm</strong></p>
<p class="p3"><strong>ACORN COFFEEHOUSE</strong></p>
<p class="p3">At Burning Bush Art Gallery</p>
<p class="p3">Holiday show!!!</p>
<p class="p3">216 N Main St, Wheaton, IL 60187</p>
<p class="p3">708-705-8669</p>
<p class="p6"><a href="http://www.acorncoffeehouse.com/" data-imported="1"><span class="s2">http://www.acorncoffeehouse.com/</span></a></p>
<p class="p3"><a href="http://www.acorncoffeehouse.com/" data-imported="1">$10</a></p>
<p class="p3">Presented by Burning Bush Art Gallery and Folk-Lore Center</p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p3"><strong>Tuesday, December 13</strong></p>
<p class="p3"><strong>"FOLK FESTIVAL" SHOW ON WDCB RADIO with host Lilli Kuzma</strong></p>
<p class="p3"><strong>ANNUAL HOLIDAY HOOT</strong></p>
<p class="p3">Tune in to 90.9 FM in Glen Ellyn - Chicago, or 90.7 FM - Chicago's West Loop</p>
<p class="p6"><span class="s3">Listen on-line at <a href="http://wdcb.org/program/folk-festival%20" data-imported="1"><span class="s2">http://wdcb.org/program/folk-festival </span></a></span></p>
<p class="p3">The show is all live, with many special guests! </p>
<p class="p3">MORE INFO SOON ON WHEN WE'LL BE ON THE AIR THAT EVENING!</p>
<p class="p3">Show goes from 8 pm - 11 pm</p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962812016-09-26T12:00:00-12:002016-09-27T04:43:57-12:00We're in the news!
<p> </p>
<p>We're still on the West Coast, hanging out with friends in Portland for a few days. Last weekend we got a really nice in-depth article in "The Columbian," the Vancouver, Washington newspaper. It previewed our concert at Old Liberty Theater in nearby Ridgefield for September 24, with lots of information about our newest CD, "When There's Good to Be Done." A lot of people must have read that article, because the house was packed. It's a vintage 1940s movie theater that has been converted into a music venue by owners Don and Erleen Griswold. There's a state of the art sound system and lights, plus a coffee shop out in the front, which is open daily. </p>
<p>Here's the link to the article. Next stop is Corvallis, OR, on Friday. Sunday we'll be in Santa Cruz, doing a radio show and a concert. The next weekend it's Nevada City and Sacramento, then we head east over the mountains, back to Minnesota.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><a href="http://www.columbian.com/news/2016/sep/23/folk-duo-sings-songs-of-real-life-heroism/" data-imported="1">http://www.columbian.com/news/2016/sep/23/folk-duo-sings-songs-of-real-life-heroism/</a></span></p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962802016-09-12T12:00:00-12:002020-01-13T09:09:01-12:00Review from Portland Folk Music Society
<p>A big thank you to the Portland Folk Music Society for running a very nice review of our new CD in their newsletter this month.</p>
<p>Great timing too, since we are doing a concert at Artichoke Music in Portland this Saturday, with James Faretheewell opening!</p>
<p><a href="/calendar" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">Click here for details about the concert. </a></p>
<div><strong>The reviewer, Meryle Korn, also sent me this fantastic email - </strong></div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<div>"When There's Good to Be Done" arrived yesterday but I didn't have time to listen until this evening. I AM BLOWN AWAY! What an incredible, meaningful collection of songs! … I gotta say, lady, you just keep writing better & better! I ran the emotional spectrum while listening, ending with laugh-tears."</div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
</div>
<div>
<div><strong>ALBUM REVIEW ~ Meryle Korn </strong></div>
<div><strong>(This review is in the September / October issue of the Portland Folk Music Society newsletter)</strong></div>
<div></div>
<div><strong>Curtis & Loretta: <em>When There’s Good to Be Done</em></strong></div>
<div><strong><em> </em></strong></div>
<div>Curtis Teague and Loretta Simonet, from Minneapolis, are two of my favorite musicians, and they don’t get to the West Coast nearly often enough. Loretta is the songwriter of the duo, and she’s come up with a dozen mighty fine ones here. Well grounded in American and Celtic folk music, the tunes fit the lyrics and are at home in the tradition.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Each song is an oral history set to music. If there’s an overarching theme to the album, it is triumph over adversity. Loretta has written about people she knows and values who have had some amazingly hard times, and despite them have come through stronger. From the title song through the last cut, you’ll come through smiling. One piece of advice – don’t listen straight through; take at least a few moments to think about each song before you move on to the next.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The song <em>When There’s Good to Be Done</em> kicks off the album with the story of a Florida woman who noticed online that a 2-year-old girl in Minnesota needed a kidney transplant, and she had the correct blood type to be a donor. She volunteered, and they both came through the transplant with flying colors! <em>June on His Mind</em> and <em>I Will Get Home</em> tell the stories of two WWII veterans, one in the Pacific and one over Germany, who survived to return home to the ones they loved. <em>Where the North Wind Blows</em> and <em>Case 9164</em> tell the tales of two boys who lived in brutal conditions in orphan “asylums” but overcame their mistreatment (and that is a completely inadequate word) to become loving, caring adults. <em>What Each One Needs</em> is a song of praise to a couple who parented two autistic children and one “neuro-typical” child and gave all of them the love and help they needed to grow to be their best selves. Rounding out the album, <em>Dragonfly, The Bridge, Habibo, Give Love a Chance, On the Day They Said ‘I Do’, </em>and <em>Wilmar 8 (We Are All Equal, You Know) </em>each will warm your heart.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Loretta alternates on folk harp and guitar, while Curtis plays guitar, mandocello and banjo, and their songs are beautifully harmonized in the way two people who have sung with each other for years can shine. They are joined on various cuts by Sandy Njoes on base fiddle, Peter Ostroushko on fiddle, Sherri Leyda on pennywhistle and hand drum, Chuck Leyda on mandolin, Bobb Fantauzzo on Native American-style flute, Jacqueline Ultan on cello, and a 10-women chorus on <em>Wilmar 8. </em> </div>
<div> </div>
<div>The album is available through CD Baby: $15 plus shipping for CD, or $9.99 for download: <a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/curtisloretta" data-imported="1">http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/curtisloretta</a>7. You can get further information about the people in the songs and see their photos at the website <a href="http://www.curtisandloretta.com/" data-imported="1">www.curtisandloretta.com</a>. The albums, plus their previous releases, are also available directly from Curtis and Loretta at their live performances.</div>
<div></div>
</div>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962792016-09-06T12:00:00-12:002016-09-07T02:57:25-12:00We're in the Pacific Northwest!
<p>We had a great time performing at the Tumbleweed Music Festival in eastern Washington last weekend. We'd done several concerts for Three Rivers Folklife Society, that puts on this festival. So we saw many old friends, and made new ones too. The festival is every year on Labor Day weekend, so check it out if you're in this area!</p>
<p>Looking forward to this weekend, we kick it off with a radio show in Port Townsend. Then we do concerts in Seattle, Coyle, and Hoodsport (those last two are on the peninsula). All the details are on our calendar<a href="/calendar" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"> page right here.</a></p>
<p>We had a nice photo and write-up in this morning's Port Townsend Leader.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/393132/67b8382d5042e5140585e19353ff62ecf5018efd/original/porttownsendleader9-7-16.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTc3OXgxMzMzIl0%3D.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="1333" width="1779" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962782016-03-19T12:00:00-12:002016-03-20T02:02:20-12:00House Concert March 26 + Folk Radio Shows
<p><strong>Saturday, March 26 we're doing a house concert at a great spot, right in Golden Valley, a western suburb of Minneapolis.</strong> It's called Folk House. This series has hosted several concerts over the past couple years - Chuck and Jane's home is welcoming, comfortable, and an intimate space for a concert! Yes, the public is welcome. That includes YOU!</p>
<p><a href="/calendar" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">Click here for all the details! </a></p>
<p><strong>The new CD, "When There's Good to Be Done" is getting airplay across the U.S. Thank you, folk dj's!!!</strong></p>
<p>Here are the latest folk radio shows that have played our CD, "When There's Good to Be Done." Call your local folk show, and request it!! If they don't have a copy, they can email us at<a href="%20www.curtisandloretta.com/contact/" data-imported="1"> www.curtisandloretta.com/contact/</a> for a copy.</p>
<p>-- "Tuesday AM Mix," WFHB, Bloomington, IN</p>
<p>-- "Traditions," WFDU, Teaneck, NJ ("Special plaudit" for this new release!)</p>
<p>-- "Serendipity," CKOL, Ontario</p>
<p>-- "Off the Beaten Path," WBRS, Massachusetts</p>
<p>-- "Old Front Porch Radio Show," WXOU, Michigan</p>
<p>-- "Mostly Folk," podcast, Catskills, NY</p>
<p>-- "Music of the People," WMCB, Massachusetts</p>
<p>-- "Four Strong Winds," KVMR, California</p>
<p>-- "Midnight Special," WFMT, Chicago (also on "Rich's Picks" on this show)</p>
<p> </p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962772016-02-29T12:00:00-12:002016-03-01T08:18:43-12:00This weekend-Winter Bluegrass Weekend + Oak Center
<div>The snow is almost all melted here in Minneapolis, and spring is on the (not too distant!) horizon. We've got two great performances coming up this weekend! Friday evening we do a 35 minute set at MBOTMA's Winter Bluegrass Weekend, in Plymouth, Minnesota and Saturday evening we do a full length concert at the wonderfully intimate Oak Center General Store in southern Minnesota. We'll be doing many songs from the new CD - we'll be looking for you! <a href="/calendar" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">Click here for all the details</a> …. Curtis & Loretta</div>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962762015-12-16T12:00:00-12:002015-12-17T01:50:10-12:00HOLIDAY SHOWS this weekend in Iowa and Illinois!
<p>We're headed south (well, a little bit south of our own Minnesota!!), to do holiday shows in Iowa and Illinois this weekend. We'll be in Iowa City, Lewistown Illinois, and on Iowa Public Radio. In fact, wherever you are in the world, you can listen online Sunday, Dec 20 at approximately 3:15 pm till 3:45 pm CST, and hear us singing holiday songs on the air. Please click here for all the details!!</p>
<p>We'll be wearing Victorian Christmas costumes (yes, you can see them on the radio, if you come to the Folk Tree Holiday party at the studio in Cedar Falls!!)</p>
<p><a href="/calendar" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">http://www.curtisandloretta.com/gig/</a></p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962752015-11-17T12:00:00-12:002015-11-18T00:11:33-12:00Nice write-up in Rift Magazine!!
<p>We just got a nice write-up in Riftmagazine.com, for the Sunday CD release concert at the Cedar! You can take a look here!</p>
<p><a href="http://riftmagazine.com/event/curtis-loretta-friends-cd-release/" data-imported="1">http://riftmagazine.com/event/curtis-loretta-friends-cd-release/</a></p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962742015-11-16T12:00:00-12:002015-11-17T02:26:09-12:00CD release concerts this weekend!!!
<p>Finally, the big days are almost here! Saturday Nov 21 at 2 pm at the Owatonna Arts Center in Owatonna, Minnesota, and Sunday, Nov 22 at 7:30 pm at the Cedar in Minneapolis. We have been working diligently toward the CD release concerts since January 1 !!! First, I interviewed each person, then I wrote their song, then I got back together with them to "polish the edges," then we learned the songs, came up with arrangements for them, recorded them. And now, we get to present these songs to the world! Many of the people about whom I wrote will be at the concerts to greet the audience. </p>
<p><a href="/calendar" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">Here's where to get all the details about the concerts.</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.curtisandloretta.com/new_recording/" data-imported="1">Here's where to read all about the amazing people I wrote songs about,</a> for the CD, "When There's Good to Be Done." You can also listen to sound samples of each song.</p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962732015-11-05T12:00:00-12:002015-11-06T08:43:24-12:00CDs are here!
<p>The CDs are here! "When There's Good to Be Done" has come into the world. You can come help us celebrate its birth at one of the CD release concerts, Nov 21 at the Owatonna Arts Center in Owatonna, Minnesota, and Nov 22 at the Cedar in Minneapolis. You can get a CD at one of those concerts, order one, or get one at Homestead Pickin' Parlor or Electric Fetus. <a href="http://www.curtisandloretta.com/new_recording/" data-imported="1">Please click here for information about the concerts and the CD !!</a></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/393132/761f254f04870d44532554eff7f1a532918f40b2/original/sandy-loretta.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NDgweDY0MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="640" width="480" /></p>
<p>Loretta with Sandy Njoes, about to add bass tracks. She played a Gary Bartig Eminence bass on the recording.</p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962722015-10-22T12:00:00-12:002015-10-23T08:03:33-12:00CD about to be birthed!!
<p>Hot diggedy dog! The CD is turned into the CD replication place. Now we wait for the copies!!! When I started interviewing people in January, the actual CD seemed like a lifetime away, but it is getting so very, very close now. It is about to be born, and go out into the world. Please come join us at one of the CD release concerts. Sat, Nov 21 at 2 pm at the Owatonna Arts Center, in Owatonna, Minnesota, and Sun Nov 22 at 7:30 pm at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis. <a href="/calendar" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">Click here for all the details of these concerts!</a></p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962712015-09-16T12:00:00-12:002015-09-17T04:58:29-12:00CD morphing into existence!
<p>We're about 2/3 of the way done recording the new CD !!! We think it's sounding really good. We're recording with Armadillo Sound (Doug Lohman). We've got 99% of our instruments and vocals recorded. Now we have guest musicians coming in, including Peter Ostroushko on fiddle, Sandy Njoes on bass, Jacqueline Ultan on bowed cello, and more! For the Willmar 8 song I wrote, we have a choir of 11 women who sing the chorus, "The whole globe is watching you, it's starting now to improve. You are doing this for all of us, please don't stop keep on you must." The Willmar 8 were a group of 8 female bank employees who went out on strike in 1977, protesting gender discrimination and unfair labor practices. Read our blog to find out more! <a href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">http://ats.curtisandloretta.com/blog/</a></p>
<p>Be sure to mark your calendar for our CD release concerts - Sat Nov 21 at 2 pm at Owatonna Arts Center in Owatonna, and Sun Nov 22 at 7:30 pm at Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis. Details at <a href="/calendar" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">http://www.curtisandloretta.com/gig/</a></p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962702015-09-05T12:00:00-12:002015-09-06T08:21:11-12:00One more day at Fox Valley Folk Festival!
<p>It was a great day at Fox Valley Folk Festival today, in Geneva Illinois (40 miles west of the Chicago Loop). A lot of great performers to listen to. The festival goes on one more day. Our schedule for tomorrow is Noon at Workshop Stage 1, "Unsung Heroes" with Curtis & Loretta, Joe Crookston and Ben Bradford; 1 pm at Workshop Stage 3, for Songs of Heart and Hearth with Curtis & Loretta, Cosy Sheridan and Mustard's Retreat; 5 pm at Workshop Stage 1, "Parting Songs" with Curtis & Loretta and Mustard's Retreat.</p>
<p>More info at : <a href="http://www.foxvalleyfolk.com" data-imported="1">http://www.foxvalleyfolk.com</a></p>
<p>Here's a photo from last time we were at Fox Valley Folk Festival, giving a harp workshop in 2012.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/393132/a1834a2ee4f785e772850ff11830930880f3d19b/original/fox-valley-mrf.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjQweDQyNSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="425" width="640" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962692015-08-03T12:00:00-12:002015-08-04T06:21:38-12:00We'll be at Fox Valley Folk Festival Labor Day weekend!
<p>It's official - we'll be performing once again at Fox Valley Folk Festival just west of Chicago on Labor Day weekend! It's the 39th year for the biggest folk festival in Illinois! We were last there in 2012, and we're really excited to be returning. We'll be in amazing "folk" company - this year's line-up includes Sparky and Rhonda Rucker, Claudia Schmidt, Joe Crookston, Mustard's Retreat, Andrew Calhoun, Cosy Sheridan and many more. The stage schedule will be on their website when it's a bit closer. <a href="http://www.foxvalleyfolk.com" data-imported="1">http://www.foxvalleyfolk.com</a></p>
<p> </p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962682015-07-28T12:00:00-12:002015-07-29T04:08:14-12:00Heading to Hayward, Wisconsin this Saturday!
<p>We're heading to northern Wisconsin, to play at the Farmstead Creamery and Cafe on Saturday. It'll be our first time ever there, and it looks like a great place! It's part of their Summer Concert Series, and they'll have wood fired pizza available! Yes, it's an actual farm, and it's right outside of Hayward. The owner, Laura Berlage is a great harp player (we've seen her perform with our friend Tom Draughn, from Ashland, Wisconsin.) Laura often performs there too. Here's the whole schedule for the summer!</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/393132/55ed26c28dcffb91b36c012039bfcc189fbf453b/original/summerfun2015.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTI3NXgxNjUwIl0%3D.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="1650" width="1275" /></p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962672015-07-18T12:00:00-12:002015-07-19T00:45:47-12:00Lester Schrenk's documentary on TV again!
<p>"Mortal Enemies," the documentary about WWII POW Lester Schrenk will be shown again on Minnesota Public Television July 19 and July 26! I've written a song about Lester's story of enduring 2 POW camps and the German Death March. My song, titled "I Will Get Home," will be on our upcoming CD to be realeased in November. The song is NOT part of this documentary. The program was made in 2012 by Denmark Television. It deals particularly with Lester seeking out and meeting the German pilot who shot him down in 1944. He has forgiven him, and they are good friends now. This documentary captures the moment of their meeting each other for the first time, in 2012. And if you didn't read the Pioneer Press' front page article about Lester on Memorial Day weekend, here's the link.<a href="http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_28172819/minnesotan-les-schrenk-survived-wwii-now-he-knows" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#000000"><br></span></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_28172819/minnesotan-les-schrenk-survived-wwii-now-he-knows" data-imported="1">http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_28172819/minnesotan-les-schrenk-survived-wwii-now-he-knows</a></p>
<p>Here's the schedule for "Mortal Enemies"</p>
<div><strong><em>tpt </em>MN - The Minnesota Channel</strong></div>
<div>Showing statewide on all 6 PBS stations in Minnesota</div>
<div>Channel 2.2 by antenna in the Twin Cities; check listing for local cable</div>
<div></div>
<blockquote>
<div><strong>Sun Jul 19th @ 9:30 pm</strong></div>
<div><strong> </strong></div>
<div><strong>Sun Jul 26th @ 3:30 am</strong></div>
<div><strong> </strong></div>
<div><strong>Sun Jul 26th @ 9:30 am</strong></div>
<div><strong> </strong></div>
<div><strong>Sun Jul 26th @ 3:30 pm</strong></div>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962662015-07-08T12:00:00-12:002015-07-08T22:12:36-12:00Heading to South Dakota!
<p>Hey Folks, we are heading out to South Dakota this weekend to perform at the Brookings Summer Arts Festival. This has become a real tradition for us. We've been there every year for at least 25 years. I've got to check old calendars - it could be even longer. It's an amazing festival, with hundreds of top notch juried artists, 3 stages of entertainment, and of course lots of food, an antiques area (Curtis' favorite!), and more! </p>
<p>There's an area of the festival that has early American, Rendezvous traders, so we dress the part! Saturday we'll be on the West Stage at 5 pm, Sunday on the Children's Stage at 10:30 am. The rest of the time, we "minstrel" through the park. </p>
<p>Here's the link to our <a href="/calendar" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">Calendar</a> with the details! </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/393132/2a8ecccadfabf06a29a2c8bedc58287a4a4831c8/original/rendezvous.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NDk5eDY0MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="640" width="499" /></p>
<p> </p>
Curtis & Lorettatag:curtisandloretta.com,2005:Post/60962652015-07-05T12:00:00-12:002020-01-13T09:08:56-12:00New Curtis & Loretta website launched!
<p>Here it is folks, same address, but brand spanking new website for Curtis & Loretta. Feel free to browse around. Be sure to check out our <a href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">NEW BLOG HERE</a> with details of how the Minnesota State Arts Board grant / CD project is coming along! You can also take a look at our photo gallery, with photos we've been squirreling away for years - photos from concerts, tours, even one from when I was in a 9th grade talent show - it's the one at the very bottom, black and white of course! If you click the forward arrow on the first photo, it will automatically start a slide show for you, of all the photos. You can pause them if you want to stop and look at one for longer. </p>
<p><br> I'd like to thank our friend Bob Waltz for teaching me how to tackle this website project! Up till now, all I've ever done myself is update the concert schedule. But with Bob's help, I've learned how to do a DIY website. Well OK, I'm still learning!! </p>
<p>Let us know what you think! Leave a comment or a question! Just click on Read More directly below this, to open a comment window.</p>
Curtis & Loretta