Happy Holidays to everyone! I hope the next few weeks will be a peaceful and enjoyable time for you, with lots of free time to spend with family, friends, and loved ones. I wanted to take a moment to whole heartedly thank you all for your support of my music and your attendance at my shows this past year. You make it all worth while!

I have several seasonal music opportunities to round out the year, if you’re looking for some frivolity amidst the bustle:

This Friday night, December 18th, I will be singing at Jay’s Bistro, 135 W. Oak St., Fort Collins. I usually sing on Saturday nights, so I’m looking forward to this opportunity to perform with a bigger band, including Mark Sloniker on piano, Forest Greenough on bass, and Mark Raynes on drums. We’ll mix jazz with your favorite holiday tunes. I hope you can join us – show time is 8:30-11:30 pm.

Saturday, December 19th, from 10 am-3 pm, our whole family will be performing music and leading Christmas carols for the teens at Turning Point at a farm east of Fort Collins (Severance/Windsor area). We have been doing this for many years now, providing some holiday joy to these teens who might otherwise not get a chance to celebrate. If any of you out there would like to volunteer for this event – bring food, presents, or just help in the celebration, please contact me!

Tuesday, December 22nd I return to the Harmony Grill, 1544 Oakridge Dr., Fort Collins for a solo show from 5:30-8:30 pm. This restaurant has great food and ambience, and is on the south end of town for all you South Fort Collins folks and Lovelanders. Check it out!

Thursday night, December 24th, Christmas Eve, I will participate in 2 candlelight services at Unity of Fort Collins, 1401 W. Vine Dr. at 6 and 8 pm. Soul stirring music will be provided by Mark Sloniker (piano), Cory Carroll (bass/vocals), Myles Sloniker (double bass), Gerald Gates (drums), other special guests, and me (vocals/guitar). Lynn Kendall leads the services and always provides a thought provoking and fresh view of life and spirituality! Come celebrate the season with us! Childcare is provided at the 6 pm service.

New Year’s Eve, Thursday, Dec. 31st, I’ll be singing at Jay’s Bistro with Mark Sloniker on piano and a host of other musicians. The band starts at 9 pm. Help us ring in the New Year!

Thanks again for making it a great year! Best to you and yours, Colleen

www.colleencrosson.com
www.myspace.com/colleencrosson
www.facebook.com/colleencrossonmusic
www.reverbnation.com/colleencrosson
www.twitter.com/colleensings
www.linkedin.com/colleencrosson

BBBrrrrrr! It’s a chilly one in Fort Collins, CO - but that will only encourage us to heat up the town this weekend with some awesome live music!

This Friday night, I’ll appear with my old country band, “Rounder” to support our local, community radio station KRFC! I sang with Rounder for about 12 years in the 80’s and early 90’s and it’s great to see they’re still going strong. I can’t wait to croon with them again! Put those dancin’ shoes on and come join us! See details below:

KRFC Dance Friday evening 12-4! The fundraiser continues with a dance at the Bar SS in LaPorte, Colorado. (It’s what used to be called the Swing Station). Music and dancing starts at 8pm, and the $5 door charge will be donated to KRFC. The band for the evening is "Rounder". Some very special guests who are also KRFC DJ's and local musicians who have been members of "Rounder" throughout its 25+ year history in Fort Collins will join the band for the evening's entertainment!

THEN, on Saturday and Sunday night, I’ll appear with Johnsmith for our annual 2 day extravaganza at Avo’s! I have been privileged to sing harmonies with Johnsmith for many years now, each time he comes to Fort Collins to perform. We’re on our third year of 2 consecutive (SRO!) nights of singer/songwriter bliss at Avo’s. As in the past, Mark Sloniker will be joining us on keyboard on Sunday night, adding another layer to John’s great songs. Saturday’s show starts at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday’s show a tad earlier at 7. Tickets are $17 general admission each night. Get your tix before these shows sell out! www.quantumarts.net

Hope to see you at one or more of these events! Stay warm! Colleen

www.colleencrosson.com
www.myspace.com/colleencrosson
www.facebook.com/colleencrossonmusic
www.reverbnation.com/colleencrosson
www.twitter.com/colleensings
www.linkedin.com/colleencrosson

November Greetings to everyone! Here in Colorado we are delighting in the fact that we can have record snow falls in October one week, and record high temps exactly one week later! I’ve never considered myself an extremist, but I guess I live in a state that is…..Never a dull moment!

The music biz has been a bit slow for me lately, and I could get overly concerned about that, but I instead have taken these “free” weekends (and weekdays for that matter), and turned them into marvelous opportunities to spend time with family and friends. Emma and I are going to see “the Crucible” tonight, if there are still tickets available; it’s a “Weekend for Strings” concert with Myles (he’s in it!) on Saturday afternoon, and a birthday party on Saturday night, and then I’m off to see “Wicked” in Denver on Sunday! Tuesdays are reserved for horseback riding with Jeanne in Glacier View Meadows, and I had a 3 hour lunch with some old vet hospital buddies yesterday! Lovin’ it!

I do have some great musical fun planned for these last 2 months of the year (can you believe we’re fast approaching 2010??). I’ll give you the “save the date” short version first and you can read the details for each further on. And remember, music is always a great gift for the upcoming holidays! You can purchase all my CDs from my website www.colleencrosson.com. I also offer gift certificates for guitar or voice lessons, if you’re looking for a unique gift! Happy Gratitude Month! Colleen

Saturday, Nov. 14th, 6-10 p.m. - 1st Anniversary Benefit “Duncan’s Dinner” at Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano

Sunday, Nov. 15th, 7 p.m. – Annual Gratitude Concert with “the Unitics” at Unity of Fort Collins

Friday, Nov. 20th, 8-10 p.m. – solo show at The Tap Room @ the Catalyst

Saturday, Nov. 21st – solo performance, private birthday party (always fun!)

Saturday, Nov. 28th, 8:30-11:30 p.m. – Jay’s Bistro

Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 5th and 6th – concerts with Johnsmith at Avo’s!

Now for the details…

Duncan’s Dinner is a benefit for Duncan’s Place, a cat sanctuary in Loveland. Biaggi’s is located in the Promenade Shops at Centerra, Loveland, CO. I will play a set during the “social cat-tail hour” from 6-7 p.m. The celebration includes a fine Italian dinner, cocktails and ‘Italian Champagne’ toast, a silent auction, lively mystery game and a slide presentation by Founder/Director, Cathy Campbell. Tickets are $50pp or the 'Alley Cat Gang special price is 4 tickets for $180. Available on duncansplace.org or call 970-214-2233.

Our annual Gratitude concert at Unity is something Mark Sloniker and I always look forward to each year. It is one way we say thanks to our spiritual home and all the folks in our community who support our musical adventures throughout the year. Everyone is welcome! We will take a “love offering” with all proceeds donated to Unity and will share potluck apps and desserts after the show. We are sure to have several guests, including Oscar deZoto (aka Rob Wojtowick), Dr. Cory Carroll, Myles Sloniker and more.

The Tap Room is located at 3501 S. Shields St., Fort Collins. There is a $5 cover at the door. This is a great, cozy venue for intimate listening and gathering with friends. They always have a fine collection of new beers and wines to try.

Jay’s Bistro is located at 135 W. Oak St., Fort Collins. I’ll join Mark Sloniker on piano and Erik Applegate on bass. I am excited that Erik will be joining us, as it’s been some time since I’ve had the pleasure of gigging with him. Erik is one of the finest acoustic bass players around!

Quantum Arts presents Johnsmith at Avo’s for 2 nights the first weekend in December! I have been privileged to sing harmonies with Johnsmith for many years now, each time he comes to Fort Collins to perform. We’re on our third year of 2 consecutive (SRO!) nights of singer/songwriter bliss at Avo’s. As in the past, Mark Sloniker will be joining us on keyboard on Sunday night - always a special treat. Saturday’s show starts at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday’s show a tad earlier at 7. Tickets are $17 general admission each night. Get your tix before these shows sell out! www.quantumarts.net

www.colleencrosson.com
www.myspace.com/colleencrosson
www.facebook.com/colleencrossonmusic
www.reverbnation.com/colleencrosson
www.twitter.com/colleensings
www.linkedin.com/colleencrosson

Chilly greetings to you! I am ready for some warmer weather – how about you? My Dad is here visiting, and though we’ve kept quite busy with plays, music, crossword puzzles, good meals and conversation, we are hankering for some typical Colorado sunshine to fully enjoy more outdoor activities! I’ve spent the last couple of weekends attending other musicians’ shows, and now I’m ready for a few of my own! Here’s what public performances are coming right up:

Kathryn Mostow described our upcoming show so beautifully in her recent newsletter, that I have copied it here. Hope you can join us this Friday night at Avo’s, for a show chock full of talent and surprises! Avo’s is located at 605 S. Mason St. in Fort Collins.

Kathryn and Colleen's Annual Harvest Show
This Friday Oct. 16 at 8 PM
Avogadro's Number, FoCo

Colleen and I always have fun getting ready for our annual Harvest show, and this year is no exception. We like to try something new with each concert we do, and this time, we are thrilled to have several special guests sharing the night with us.

First off, we'll be joined by the talented Derf Green on percussion (Derf played in my band at the Tuna Fish and PB show in August). We'll also be graced by the harmony gifts of Our Mothers' Daughters alumna Krisann Meyer-Corcoran. Finally, we are lucky to have Bob Montgomery (also from my PB and Tuna Fish gig) sitting in with us on Hammond organ and piano.

So, what's not to like about this show, I ask you?! Come on out and treat yourself to a night of good ol' acoustic music, fried foods (Avo's secret weapon), and local brews.

Showtime is 8 PM, and there is a $10 cover. For more info: http://www.avogadros.com

We sure hope to see you there. Stay warm!

Next Saturday night, October 24th, I’ll sing “jazz, etc.” with Mark Sloniker on piano and Roger Barnhart on bass at Jay’s Bistro, 135 W. Oak St. in Fort Collins. Show time is 8:30-11:30 pm.

Thanks a bunch! Feel free to visit me on the following sites to chat, get more performance details, or to listen to music from my recordings, Colleen

www.colleencrosson.com
www.myspace.com/colleencrosson
www.facebook.com/colleencrossonmusic
www.reverbnation.com/colleencrosson
www.twitter.com/colleensings
www.linkedin.com/colleencrosson

I was on facebook yesterday and read a friend’s status that really made me chuckle:

I am reading other statuses, but your status is important to me. Please stay online and your status will be read in priority sequence. Approximate wait time 28 min...

I suppose what made it especially pertinent is that I had done (more than) my share of waiting on the phone this week trying to take care of business in several arenas, and getting similar messages each time. I thought technology was supposed to save us time, but, in the end, I’m finding it just eats more of it. Oh well, at least Carrie helped me find the humor in it all – thanks!

Mark and I have been working on getting the new CD, “Miracles” out to radio stations locally and around the country. It always helps to have fans call in and request songs from the new record, so if you have a favorite and would like to hear it over the radio airwaves, please feel free to encourage your favorite stations to play it! Locally, you can call KRFC 88.9 FM at 970-221-5065 and KUNC 91.5 FM at 1-800-443-5862 or 970-378-2579. If there is a radio station you’d like us to send a copy to, let us know. Thanks for helping us to spread the music!

A few gigs coming up:

This Saturday, Sept. 19th, I’ll be at Jay’s Bistro with Mark Sloniker on piano and Marty Rein (from the Liz Barnez Band!) on bass. The band plays from 8:30-11:30 pm, with Mark doing a solo set from 6-8 pm.

Monday, Sept. 28th, Mark Sloniker and I will do a concert at Evangelical Covenant Church, 4825 S. Lemay Ave., Fort Collins, as part of their monthly “Grace Notes” concert series. This series features local artists in a relaxed, informal venue, with no admission charged and no offering requested. It is their (and our) gift to the community! Performance time is 7-8 pm. Call 970-223-6507 for more information.

Friday, Oct. 16th, Kathryn Mostow and I will do our annual “Harvest” concert at Avo’s! Stay tuned for more details on this, but mark your calendars now! Derf Green will join us on percussion and Krisann Meyer-Corcoran (Our Mothers’ Daughters) will make a guest appearance on a few tunes with her harmony vocals. Sure to be a sweet show to celebrate fall and our bountiful harvests of all kinds!

Thanks for listenin’ and supporting live, local music! Colleen

www.colleencrosson.com
www.myspace.com/colleencrosson
www.facebook.com
www.reverbnation.com
www.twitter.com
www.linkedin.com

Summer’s winding down and there’s been a noticeable chill in the early morning air– I know, since the alarm now goes off before 6 a.m. with the kids back in school. It’s a bit of a shock to the system (the alarm AND the chilly air!), but I do so like the transitional seasons, so I’m actually looking forward to more fall-ish weather. There are a few more summer musical events to celebrate, however, and here they are, in brief, with details below:

Saturday, Aug. 22nd, 4-7 pm – Larimer Dems Annual picnic with “Three of a Kind” (Colleen Crosson, Julie Hoest, Cheri Nichols)

Friday, Aug. 28, 8:00 pm – Avo’s concert on the back patio with “Three of a Kind”

Saturday, Sept. 5th, 7:30 pm – house concert with Judith Avers and Colleen Crosson

And the colorful details:

Sat, Aug 22: LARIMER DEMS ANNUAL PICNIC
Join Congresswoman Betsy Markey, Governor Bill Ritter, Colorado Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll, State Senator Bob Bacon, Representative Randy Fischer & Representative John Kefalas at the Larimer County Democratic Party's Annual Picnic!
This year we will be featuring a Colorado menu (including vegetarian options). If you've never picnicked in Dian Sparling’s backyard, you don't want to miss this opportunity! We'll hear from a variety of special guests, followed by home-grown music from dedicated Larimer Dems Cheri Nichols, Julie Hoest and Colleen Crosson, known as “Three of a Kind”. Don’t miss the fun!
Date & Time: Saturday, August 22, 4:00 - 7:00 pm
Location: Fort Collins
For more info, and to sign up: www.LarimerDems.org

Three of a Kind’s Avo’s show on Friday, August 28th, 8 pm – That’s Julie Hoest, Cheri Nichols, and me, returning for an outdoor concert of fabulous harmonies on their famous patio. It’ll have been almost a year since our last show, and we have lots of new tunes for you! Admission is $12 at the door.

Judith Avers used to live in Colorado, but now hails from West Virginia. While in CO, she created (with the help of harmonica man Dan Barerras and guitar wizard, Billy Varn) the band I Know Jack, which played all originals by Judith and were often compared to bands like "Blues Traveler" or other popular jam bands. After a fairly successful 6 year run with IKJ, 3 studio albums, hundreds of songs written, lots of crazy fun shows, a few wedding proposals, several human teeth and some solid friendships still in place, Judith decided to quit the band and explore a solo career as a singer/songwriter.

While in Colorado, Judith was fortunate enough to share the stage or appear on albums with such great talents as The Fray, Born in The Flood, Yonder Mountain String Band, Hazel Miller, Gregory Alan Isakov, Holly Near, Glen Phillips, John Sebastian, Devotchka, John Magnie from the Subdudes, Liz Barnez, and Nina Storey.

Judith’s voice is described as one that “can melt the coldest hearts and souls… able to touch your soul in such a way that you can’t forget it for weeks. The songs on her latest release “Mountain and Shore,” her second CD in 4 years, are without exception breathtaking, musically as well as textually.” Check out her website at www.judithavers.com to hear for yourself!

And something else to put on your calendars for October – Kathryn Mostow and I will be doing a show at Avo’s on Oct. 16th. I LOVE singing with Kathryn – a sweet and soulful singer and songwriter! More details in the coming weeks…

Thanks for supporting live music! Colleen

Also visit me on these music and social sites:
www.colleencrosson.com (where you can purchase the new CD, “Miracles…and other works of heart”)
www.myspace.com/colleencrosson
www.facebook.com
www.reverbnation.com
www.twitter.com
www.linkedin.com

Merry mid-summer to all! For some of us, the summer will be winding down pretty quickly here as kids return to school in 2 weeks – yikes!! Did that just fly by, or what?? I have just returned from my annual family sojourn to the Jersey shore. This year, we rented a house right on the beachfront which was absolutely delightful! While there, we celebrated my mom’s life with many friends and family from all over the eastern seaboard. It was great to gather with cousins and their families, some that I have not seen in many years. What a sweet, memory filled time it was in honoring our mom. We continue to miss her dearly…..

Now that I’m back, I have a few gigs to report –

One is this very morrow, Tuesday, Aug. 4th at the Harmony Grill, 1544 Oakridge Dr. (near the corner of Harmony and McMurray). I’ll do a solo show from 6-9 pm in the lounge. I played there for the first time a few weeks ago, and it’s a very nice room with a great menu and a wonderful in-house sound system. I hope you can make it down!

I’ll also be at Jay’s Bistro on Sat., Aug. 15th with Mark Sloniker on piano and Roger Barnhart on bass. The band plays from 8:30-11:30 pm.

And please mark your calendars for Three of a Kind’s Avo’s show on Friday, August 28th, 7:30 pm – That’s Julie Hoest, Cheri Nichols, and me, returning for an outdoor concert of fabulous harmonies on their famous patio. It’ll have been almost a year since our last show, and we have lots of new tunes for you! Admission is $12 at the door.

That’s all for now! Colleen

Visit me at:
www.colleencrosson.com
www.myspace.com/colleencrosson
www.facebook.com
www.reverbnation.com
www.twitter.com
www.linkedin.com

Happy Friday! Just a quick reminder of the 2 performances I have this weekend:

TONIGHT - Friday, July 10th, 8 -10 pm – I’ll do a solo show in the Tap Room @ Catalyst, 3501 S. Shields St., Fort Collins. I love this place! Dru and Cindy are doing a fine job with the music scene here and you gotta check it out! $5.00 cover at the door. I will have the new CD with me, but will probably not perform anything from it, as Mark’s the main instrumentalist on those songs – I only play guitar on one. However, you will have a chance to hear all those songs and more on….

Sunday, 7/12, 7 pm - when Mark Sloniker and I have our CD release concert at Avo’s! We’ll be on the backyard stage - an intimate setting featuring songs from our new release “Miracles…and other works of heart”. Special guests will include Cory Carroll on bass and Oscar DeZoto on drums. $10 cover at the door for the full band! This will be the only event planned for this summer where we will feature most, if not all the songs from the CD “live” on one night. Come celebrate with us if you can!

Next week’s reminders….

Tuesday, July 14th, 6-9 pm, I debut at Harmony Grill, 1544 Oakridge Dr., Fort Collins. This place has been many incarnations in recent years (Mulligans, Somi’s, the Savvoy…) and we really hope this one sticks around! You can help by coming out to enjoy live music in a relaxed and comfortable environment.

Wednesday 7/15, 6:30-8:30 pm - CSU Lagoon concert featuring Colleen Crosson and Mark Sloniker with Mark Raynes on drums and Marty Kenny on bass.
**Please note time change! I had it wrong in my last e-mail**

Saturday, July 18th, 8:30-11:30 pm – Jay’s Bistro with Mark Sloniker

Thanks, and have a great weekend, whatever your plans! Colleen

Visit me at:
www.colleencrosson.com
www.myspace.com/colleencrosson
www.facebook.com
www.reverbnation.com
www.twitter.com
www.linkedin.com

It’s me again! A REALLY short note to let you know my NEW website is up and running! You can now order the new CD “Miracles…and other works of heart” straight from the website, and also these really cool, removable/reusable stickers called DolphinFeet. Check ‘em out! www.colleencrosson.com Thanks! Colleen

Hi again – I hope I’m not overloading you with the recent barrage of e-mails! I forgot to mention one fun event, and also, I was told some folks did not get the second half of the e-mail I sent with all the Deepak Chopra info (which contained all my gigs for July!). There are a veritable slew of them, but all have their own unique twist on several different styles of music, so I’m sure you’ll find something just right for you on a day that works best in your schedule!

So, the one thing I forgot to mention was that Mark and I will perform on KRFC’s “Live @ Lunch” on Tuesday afternoon, June 30th, from noon-1 pm. We will be highlighting songs from our new CD, “Miracles…and other works of heart” (of course!). You can tune into KRFC at 88.9 FM or stream it live at www.krfcfm.org We have appeared several times on “Live @ Lunch” and always had a blast! Hope you can join us.

And here’s the rest of my July calendar (with a couple more additions) :

July 4th, Avo’s, 2-8 pm “Help a Local Hero July 4th Celebration” - A full afternoon of music with all admission proceeds being contributed to “Homes for Our Troops”. We will be specifically helping SSgt John Jones, a Fort Collins Marine who was severely injured in a mine explosion in Iraq in 2005. Help us build a home for him, his wife, Amber, and their 3 children that will accommodate his needs and enable him and his family to concentrate on recovery and their future! Admission is just $10, with an a la carte BBQ available for your dining pleasure. Mark Sloniker and I will perform from 4-5:30. Lauren Joy starts out the afternoon and Neargrass Junction closes out the evening from 6-7:30 pm. All this, and you can still get to City Park for the Fireworks that night!

Tuesday, 7/7, Oak Street Plaza, 11:30-1pm - Noon Time Notes - Colleen Crosson & Mark Sloniker. We’ll perform mostly jazz in anticipation of the upcoming Fort Collins Jazz Experience that weekend. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the tunes!

Friday, July 10th, 8-10 pm – I’ll do a solo show in the Tap Room @ Catalyst, 3501 S. Shields St., Fort Collins. I love this place! Dru and Cindy are doing a fine job with the music scene here and you gotta check it out! $5.00 cover at the door

Sunday, 7/12, 7 pm - Mark Sloniker and Colleen Crosson CD release concert at Avo’s! We’ll be on the backyard stage - an intimate setting featuring songs from our new release “Miracles…and other works of heart”! $10 at the door. This will be the only event planned for this summer where you can enjoy most, if not all the songs from the CD “live” on one night! We are bound to have some very talented and special guests….

Tuesday, July 14th, 6-9 pm, I debut at Harmony Grill, 1544 Oakridge Dr., Fort Collins. This place has been many incarnations in recent years (Mulligans, Somi’s, the Savvoy…) and we really hope this one sticks around! You can help by coming out to enjoy live music in a relaxed and comfortable environment.

Wednesday 7/15, 6:00-8:00 pm - CSU Lagoon concert featuring Colleen Crosson, Mark Sloniker and Mark Raynes (so far!).

Saturday, July 18th, 8:30-11:30 pm – Jay’s Bistro with Mark Sloniker

Thanks, once again, for all your support in these last few weeks, and always! Colleen

Visit me at:
www.colleencrosson.com
www.myspace.com/colleencrosson
www.facebook.com
www.reverbnation.com
www.twitter.com
www.linkedin.com

Just a short news flash - the CDs have arrived! Our friends at Savvant Music have created a link to pre-order CDs specifically for those folks going to the Deepak Chopra event this Tuesday. This will expedite things with such a large crowd, as there will be a quick “pick up” line for pre-paid orders. This site is not set up for orders to be mailed, but you can still place your order here if you are not going to the show, but are willing to pick up your order from Mark or me at our house, Jay’s Bistro, or Unity. We are in the process of getting the CD onto our websites for regular ordering with shipping options. Thanks so much for your enthusiastic support of this project! Cheers! Colleen

Here’s the link: http://savvantmusic.com/miracles.html

Hi all – I am just back from another sweet (though still steeped in sadness) visit with my Dad and brother in NJ, following the death of my Mom on June 9th. It’s a very unsettling feeling to lose a parent and I have been on a roller coaster of emotions in these past weeks. My mom was a very dear soul who loved us all so beautifully and well, and we will miss her deeply on this plane. My sister and I, along with my Dad and a dear family friend were at her bedside in her final hours. What a life-changing experience… Thanks to all who have been offering their prayers, best thoughts and wonderful service to our family during this time of transition. You are truly amazing.

Music has always been a healing force in my life, and I continued to keep most of my musical engagements while going through this process. I could be a sobbing mess beforehand, but once I started singing, something took over and the sweet memories of my Mom strengthened me and carried me through. I could feel her presence particularly at my house concert with David Roth on June 11th, at the Happy Heart Farm Solstice Celebration on June 12th, and at Unity the next morning – so soon after her passing. Thanks to those of you sharing in these events and thanks, Mom, for all that I am and continue to become because of you.

The Music News:

The new Mark Sloniker and Colleen Crosson CD “Miracles…and other works of heart” has been shipped (I think!) and should arrive on our porch sometime late this week. We could have it in time for my appearance with Mark at Jay’s Bistro this coming Saturday night, June 27th. Roger Barnhart will join us on bass for an 8:30-11:30 pm show. Come on down to hear great jazz, savor tasty food, enjoy a glass of wine, and hopefully get a peak at this new CD!

Next up!! Courtesy of BellaSpark Productions -

Mark Sloniker and Colleen Crosson to debut their new CD
"Miracles... and other works of heart"
at the Deepak Chopra event on Tues. June 30th

Mark and Colleen, two of Fort Collins' most celebrated musicians
bring their inspiring music to the community once again.
The pair will open for Deepak Chopra at the Fort Collins Lincoln Center beginning at 6:45.
Be sure to come early so you don't miss the debut of their newest creation.

From Mark: I have great respect and admiration for Deepak Chopra. I have enjoyed his books and have greatly appreciated his intellect and his insight, his humility and his humanity.

This night marks the debut of our new CD "Miracles...and other works of heart" which sort of chronicles our journey on what Carlos Casteneda called the "Paths of Heart". This is a CD of songs (68 minutes of songs) we wrote; I would call them "Heart Songs" (I will be saying more later regarding this recording...but we are very happy to have completed this CD for the June 30 celebration).

Duke Ellington once said, "Don't give me time - give me a deadline!" That quote happily applies to this occasion. This could be the event of the season.

AND coming up in the next few weeks:

July 4th, Avo’s, 2-8 pm “Help a Local Hero July 4th Celebration” - A full afternoon of music with all admission proceeds being contributed to “Homes for Our Troops”. We will be specifically helping SSgt John Jones, a Fort Collins Marine who was severely injured in a mine explosion in Iraq in 2005. Help us build a home for him, his wife, Amber, and their 3 children that will accommodate his needs and enable him and his family to concentrate on recovery and their future! Admission is just $10, with an a la carte BBQ available for your dining pleasure. Mark Sloniker and I will perform from 4-5:30. Lauren Joy starts out the afternoon and Neargrass Junction closes out the evening from 6-7:30 pm. All this, and you can still get to City Park for the Fireworks that night!

Tuesday, 7/7, Oak Street Plaza, 11:30-1pm - Noon Time Notes - Colleen Crosson & Mark Sloniker. We’ll perform mostly jazz in anticipation of the upcoming Fort Collins Jazz Experience that weekend. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the tunes!

Sunday, 7/12, 7 pm - Mark Sloniker and Colleen Crosson CD release concert at Avo’s! We’ll be on the backyard stage - an intimate setting featuring songs from our new release “Miracles…and other works of heart”! $10 at the door. This will be the only event planned for this summer where you can enjoy most, if not all the songs from the CD “live” on one night! We are bound to have some very talented and special guests….

Wednesday 7/15, 6:30 pm - CSU Lagoon concert featuring Colleen Crosson, Mark Sloniker and Mark Raynes (so far!).

Thanks, once again, for all your support in these last few weeks, and always! Colleen

Visit me at:
www.colleencrosson.com
www.myspace.com/colleencrosson
www.facebook.com
www.reverbnation.com
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Howdy All! I know my last newsletter contained LOTS of info, so I wanted to make sure you didn’t miss that I am hosting a house concert with Wind River recording artist David Roth this coming Thursday night. It’s been quite some time since we did a house concert here, and it is always a fun and intimate music experience! I have attached a flyer with more detailed information on David, who hails from Cape Cod these days. I have performed several of David’s songs through the years – “Rising in Love” is a favorite at weddings, “Earth” has been performed at many Earth Day and Hour for Peace events, “May the Light of Love” is my favorite Thanksgiving song, and “Looking in for Number One” just might top the list! I’ll be opening for David, and I hope to join him on some or all of these tunes during his set! We will attempt an outdoor potluck snack time during intermission, if the rain and the gathering mosquitoes don’t beat us out! Here are the details (and also take a look at the flyer):

Thursday, June 11th, 7:30 pm – House concert with David Roth. Reservations are required, as space is limited. Suggested donation is $15. Bring a snack item and beverage to share, if you’d like. I will e-mail all concert goers a day or two before the concert with directions, as needed.

Another fun event next weekend:

Saturday, June 13th, 5:30 -11 pm - Happy Heart Farm Summer Celebration. Festivities will include a “Meet & Greet”, Farm Tour, Potluck Dinner (bring your own plates, cups, & silverware), music by Happy Heart Farm members Colleen Crosson and Kathryn Mostow, (who are delighted to be joined by Cheri Nichols!) and a bonfire. This event is free for farm members and $9 for non-members. I’d encourage all folks contemplating joining a CSA (Community Supporting Agriculture) to join us in the frivolity to see what this wonderful, loving community is all about! Happy Heart Farm is located at 2820 W. Elizabeth St., though to enter the farm, you’ll turn north on Kimball Rd. and take your first left on W. Plum St. Go thru the gate and park along the fence or where the parking guide directs.

Update on the new Mark Sloniker/Colleen Crosson CD “Miracles…and other works of heart” – the final mixes have been shipped off to Nashville for mastering and manufacturing, and we do intend to have them here by the end of June!

That’s all for now. Hope to see you soon! Best, Colleen

I know I’ve been silent for a while, and here’s why - Mark Sloniker and I have been working “feverishly” (in a good way) on our new CD, “Miracles….and other works of heart”!! Especially in these last couple of weeks, we’ve spent A LOT of time in the studio, and have had little time for much else. Our kids have been very forgiving – as I was apologizing again for being gone so much, Emma said, “It’s ok, Mom. You’ve only been talking about this CD since I was six!” (she just turned 14 last week…). And she’s right…so it’s about time these songs got recorded and released to the world! We have one more day of tracking, and then we start the mixing process on Sunday. We have a friend/producer that Mark has known since his Hollywood record label days that is flying in from Nashville tomorrow with his invaluable pair of ears to help with the mix. We’re very excited that this project is almost finished and we thank all of you who provided the encouragement we needed to get it going. I don’t know how Mark has the energy to do all his gigs AND the recording - I’ve been laying low - but I do have several public performances coming up and some fun concerts this summer, so I’ll just give you the whole line-up so far and you can mark your favorites on the calendar, eh?

Saturday, May 23rd, 8:30-11:30 pm – I’ll sing with Mark Sloniker on piano and Roger Barnhart on bass at Jay’s Bistro, 135 W. Oak St., Fort Collins. Always love my monthly performances at Jay’s. If you’ve never been, come on down and see what you’ve been missing!

Monday, May 25th, 9:30 am- noon (approximately) – I’ll sing with “Swing Essence” for the annual Houska Houska 5K (a spoof on the BolderBOULDER!). This very worthwhile event is a benefit for the Bone Marrow Donor Program and the Cancer Center at Poudre Valley Hospital. Get all the details on the “race” (no ordinary 5K, and we’re proud of it!) at www.houskaautomotive.com I think they’ll even let you just join the party afterwards (behind Houska Automotive, 899 Riverside Ave., Fort Collins, 970-482-0156) as long as you give a donation to the cause! It’s quite a hoot – lots of folks in costumes and much frivolity. Check it out!

Thursday, June 11th – House concert with Wind River recording artist David Roth (no, not David LEE Roth!). David hails from Cape Cod, MA these days and is a brilliant songwriter. His song “Rocket Science” just went up on the Space Shuttle Atlantis this week! His latest (and 10th) CD “Practice Makes Progress” was released in 2008. It’s been quite awhile since we had a house concert at our place, and we’d love to have you join us. I will do an opening set and also join David with some harmonies on my personal favorites! Call 970-493-4424 or email me at ccrosson@peakpeak.com for reservations. $15 suggested donation.

Tuesday, June 30th, 6:30 pm (or so) – Mark and I are thrilled to be opening for Deepak Chopra at the Fort Collins Lincoln Center. Chopra is one of the most dynamic and influential personalities in the spiritual and holistic health arenas, and this is his first Fort Collins appearance. He will speak on “The Nature of Consciousness”. The program will officially start at 7 pm, but Mark and I will be playing some beforehand, too. We will debut some of our songs from the new “Miracles…” CD and fully intend to have them available for sale that night, too! Tickets are $50 and $75 and are going fast. Purchase at www.lctix.com or visit www.bellaspark.com for more info.

Tuesday, July 7th, 11:30 am-1 pm – Mark Sloniker and I will do a “Noontime Notes” concert on Oak St. Plaza, Fort Collins. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy some tunes in the summer air!

Friday, July 10th, 8-10 pm – I’ll do a solo show in the Tap Room @ Catalyst, 3501 S. Shields St., Fort Collins. I love this place! Dru and Cindy are doing a fine job with the music scene here and you gotta check it out! $5.00 cover at the door

Tuesday, July 14th, 6-9 pm, I debut at Harmony Grill, 1544 Oakridge Dr., Fort Collins. This place has been many incarnations in recent years (Mulligans, Somi’s, the Savvoy…) and we really hope this one sticks around! You can help by coming out to enjoy live music in a relaxed and comfortable environment.

Wednesday, July 15th, 6-8 pm – I’ll join the Mark Sloniker Group at a “Lagoon Concert” at CSU. This is one of my favorite outdoor concert series – big green lawn, good friends, and a picnic dinner – what more could you ask for?

Friday, August 28th, 7:30 pm – “Three of a Kind” (Julie Hoest, Cheri Nichols, and me) returns to Avo’s (605 S. Mason St., Fort Collins) for an outdoor concert on their famous patio. It’ll have been almost a year since our last show, so don’t miss it! $12 at the door.

Well, I hope my taking you through August doesn’t make you feel like summer is already over! Sometimes it moves that fast. But really, it hasn’t even begun yet, so relax, kick off your shoes, take a deep breath, and enjoy the music!

Colleen
www.colleencrosson.com
Also visit me on myspace, facebook, reverbnation, linkedin. and twitter! I am becoming quite the computer girl…..

Hi all – here’s what’s “on tap” for me musically in the next couple of weeks:

Tomorrow, Saturday, April 11th, I’ll be back at Jay’s Bistro singing jazz with Mark Sloniker on piano and acoustic bass player Roger Barnhart. *Please note the change in performance time: We’ll start at 8:00 pm and end at10:30 pm, so Jay’s staff has plenty of time to set up for their magnificent Easter Brunch on Sunday! Mark plays a solo set from 6-8 pm.

Saturday, April 18th, 7-9 pm, I’ll do a solo show in the Taproom @ the Catalyst, 3501 S. Shields St. (just north of Horsetooth Rd.), in Fort Collins. This is a cozy venue that has reopened after a (very short) closure, and the new management is even more dedicated to featuring a plethora of talented local musicians for your listening pleasure. The one change is that the musicians now count solely on your generous donations to support their shows, so there is a cover charge. The suggested cover this night will be $5. I hope you find this a reasonable cost for a relaxing night out, listening to fine folk music.

Have a great weekend and for those who are visited by the Easter Bunny, I hope he is good to you!

www.colleencrosson.com
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Greetings on this snowy afternoon! For all those looking for some kind of adventure tonight, I have a last minute suggestion! I will be joining Mark Sloniker tonight at Jay’s Bistro, since his originally scheduled guest musician will not be venturing up from south Denver in this weather. We will be joined by Roger Barnhart on bass, and play from 8:30-11:30 pm.

While I’m here, I’ll remind you about Mark’s and my concert at Unity of Fort Collins tomorrow night, Sunday, April 5th. We’ll be featuring some of the songs we are in the process of recording, with a new CD scheduled for release early summer! Admission is on a love offering basis, with proceeds benefiting Unity, as well as the aforementioned recording project. We’ll start at 7 pm, do about an hour and a half show and then convene in the Rumi Room for potluck appetizers and desserts. You can still be in bed by 9:30, if you so choose!

Hope to see you sometime this weekend! Cheers! Colleen

www.colleencrosson.com
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Hi everyone – For those of you who got an e-mail from “me” earlier today, I trust you realize that was really from Mark, who inadvertently sent out HIS music news under MY alias. He has certainly had his share of e-mail mistakes lately…. We could normally blame it on lack of sleep; however I would think he’d feel well rested, as we are just back from an awesome spring break with the family in Grants Pass, OR, where my sister recently moved. She now lives on an organic medicinal herb farm, where we fell asleep every night to a chorus of frogs that was both soothing and magical, and slept in late while the early morning mists cleared into mostly sunny days. We also spent some time on the OR coast and in the CA Redwoods – spectacular scenery! I brought back lots of ocean rocks (distributing them amongst ALL our carry-ons!) – the colors and shapes are amazing! I incidentally also celebrated my 50th birthday while there! At least I am feeling fully rejuvenated and ready for:

My “Bloom” spring concert this Friday night, March 27th, with Kathryn Mostow at Avo’s, 605 S. Mason St., Fort Collins. We are excited that Cheri Nichols will be joining us for some 3 part harmony sprinkled liberally throughout the night! She is an awesome vocalist and adds a delightful, new dimension to Kathryn’s and my songs. I hope you can join us for this very special show. The show starts at 8 pm and tickets are just $10 at the door. For those arriving early, you will be treated to the T Band Bluegrass Show, from 5:30-7:30!

Also on the horizon:

Sunday, April 5th, 7 pm – Mark Sloniker and I will be having our semi-annual concert at Unity of Fort Collins, 1401 W. Vine Dr. We usually do this one around Valentine’s Day, but February just got away from us somehow, so we thought April would be a fine month to celebrate, too! Admission is on a love offering basis, with half the proceeds going to our Unity, and the other half to Mark’s and my “Heartsongs” CD project, which is well underway now, thanks to your continuous encouragement! We are thrilled to be sharing these songs with you, with the finished recording scheduled for a June release date. We intend to have several guests joining us – they just don’t know it yet! And, as usual, we will share some potluck munchies afterwards, so bring an appetizer or dessert to share, if you please.

Saturday, April 11th, I’ll be back at Jay’s Bistro singing jazz with Mark Sloniker on piano and an acoustic bass player TBA. Showtime is 8:30-11:30 pm, with Mark doing a solo set from 6-8 pm.

Saturday, April 18th, 7-9 pm, I’ll do a solo show in the Taproom @ the Catalyst, 3501 S. Shields St. (just north of Horsetooth Rd.), in Fort Collins. Those of us who had enjoyed this cozy venue are happy to report it has reopened after a (very short) closure, and is even more dedicated to featuring a plethora of talented local musicians for your listening pleasure. The one change is that the musicians now count solely on your generous donations to support their shows, so there is now a cover charge. The suggested cover this night will be $5. I hope you find this reasonable for a relaxing night out, listening to fine folk songs.

I guess that’s all I’ll report for now. Stay tuned for the weather report, and intend that it doesn’t get in the way of our upcoming musical fun! Thanks a bunch! Colleen

www.colleencrosson.com
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Well, hello there! Remember me? I do believe it’s been well over a month since I sent out an update on my whereabouts! There hasn’t been that much gigging going on in the public sector, though I did spend the majority of last month gearing up for a private engagement where Mark and I (along with 4 other hep jazz cats) shared the bill with “KC and the Sunshine Band”. What a hoot! KC is still “struttin’ his stuff” and singin’ the hits, though his accompanying dancers are almost a third his age now!

So, it’s a new month, spring is in sight (if not already here, with these crazy warm temps!) and I do have some fun events to tell you about.

Coming up this very Saturday night, March 7th, at 7:30 pm, I will be sharing an opening set with Kathryn Mostow, as part of the Greyrock Commons House Concert Series. Headlining the night will be Rebecca Folsom. Rebecca has been writing and performing professionally for over 10 years, and has played on BBC television/radio, at Red Rocks Amphitheater in CO, The Bluebird and Opryland in Nashville, TN, Kerrville Folks Festival, TX, and Rocky Mountain Folks Festival, CO. A true renaissance woman, she has released 6 CD’s, 2 books of poetry, and numerous paintings of fine art. She currently lives in both Boulder, CO and Nashville, TN. For more information, directions, and reservations please contact kathryn@butterflysound.com or call 970-484-1544 and leave a message with the number of people to attend. Suggested Donation: $10 – $15/person.

You will have another chance to see Kathryn and me again, headlining our own concert at Avogadro’s Number (Avo’s) on Friday, March 27th, at 8 pm. We are SO looking forward to doing this concert together, as it’s been about a year since our last concert. Tickets are $10. We will have new songs to share and mellifluous harmonies to spare!

Saturday, March 14th I’ll sing jazz with Mark Sloniker on piano and Roger Barnhart on bass at Jay’s Bistro. The band plays from 8:30-11:30 pm. Jay has been cookin’ up some fine specials and tantalizing treats for the lounge, for a truly affordable night out.

I am delighted to report that Catalyst Coffee has reopened under new ownership/management, and will be showcasing its “Tap Room” with special events and live music galore! I will be booking some dates there soon and will keep you posted.

Enjoy the spring weather and see you soon! Colleen

www.colleencrosson.com
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Always ready to see the blessing in every circumstance, since I haven’t had any gigs these past 2 weekends, I’ve had the opportunity and pleasure to be in the listening audience at a house concert both weekends. The first was with Kathryn Mostow and Justin Roth and was a real treat! I did sing a few songs with Kathryn, renewing the joy I feel when I sing with her. It had been awhile (she’s been on the pregnancy and birthing circuit ), but she’s back in the singing saddle now and we have planned a concert together at Avo’s for Friday, March 27th, which I am wholeheartedly looking forward to. I’ll be reminding you of that date in the weeks ahead, but feel free to put it on your calendars!

The other concert was with Krisann Meyer Corcoran (from Our Mothers’ Daughters) and Jeff Hoffman (Mountain Music). What an enjoyable night! I miss singing with Kris, too - she’s written some really great songs lately and accompanies herself admirably on her awesome, custom made K2 guitar. I’m trying to come up with some good reasons to have our friend Karen make one for me, too….

So, what musical adventures are out there for me to enjoy this coming weekend? You can send me your suggestions. In the meantime, there are 2 things right around the corner I thought I’d tell you about:

Tomorrow (Thursday), Mark Sloniker and I will be on KRFC’s “Interfaith Dialogue” with host Richard Thompson, from 6-6:30 pm MST. We actually taped the interview (on music and spirituality) live at our home studio a couple of weeks ago, as Mark’s and my schedules conflicted with the actual showtime. You can listen in at 88.9 FM or on the web at www.krfcfm.org . It’s a great discussion, and Mark and our son, Myles, also laid down a jazzy version of Amazing Grace for the show’s lead-in!

Saturday, Jan. 31st, from 9 am - 3 pm, Mark and I will again be facilitating our “Write With Your Heart” Playshop at Unity of Fort Collins, 1401 W. Vine Dr. We’ll be communing with the muse in a simple, sweet day of community, creating space for inner exploration through music, journaling, art, and meditation. Bring a potluck dish to share. Pre-registration is highly encouraged - call 970-493-4424 for more info on what the format will be and what to bring.

On Sunday, I’m off to the Jersey shore for a few days with my folks – always a joy!

Coming up in February:

Thursday, Feb. 12th, 7 pm - Symphony Soiree with Mark Sloniker on piano and Colleen Crosson on vocals at the home of Joe and Sherrie Frye. Proceeds benefit the Fort Collins Symphony. Call the Symphony office 970.482-4823 to reserve tickets or e-mail pnewman@fcsymphony.org

Saturday, Feb. 14th, (Valentine’s Day!) 8:30-11:30 pm – I’ll sing your favorite love songs at Jay’s Bistro with Mark Sloniker on piano.

Hope to see you somewhere, sometime! Colleen

www.colleencrosson.com
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“The Holidays” are supposedly over, but I always resist taking down the tree and other decorations – I so love the sparkle and lights and bright colors. It brings me peace to sit quietly and stare. So our tree still stands, with presents still under it that beg to be put away, and I still turn on the outside lights at night. Maybe next week…..

Though I’m back to a full teaching schedule this week, my public performances are few and far between so far.

This Saturday night, January 10th, I’ll sing with Mark Sloniker (piano) and Roger Barnhart (bass) at Jay’s Bistro, 135 W. Oak St., Ft. Collins. The band plays from 8:30 -11:30 pm.

For those that like to plan ahead, I’ll be back at Jay’s on Valentine’s Day, Sat., Feb. 14th, crooning love songs in various styles from several different eras. Treat your sweetie to a night on the town at Fort Collins’ favorite special occasion restaurant!

I think that’s it so far….I guess I’ll spend those other weekend nights working on our taxes…

Happy New Year everyone! Colleen

www.colleencrosson.com
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