NEWS

Photo by Shelly Oberman (skewed by MJ)

MARCH-MAY 2005

Hello all.  Hope you are all well and thriving.  There's so much to tell you - about my Florida tour in March/April and then our road trip to Montana via Eastern Washington and Idaho.  

The Florida trip was just as great as last year, with a few new venues.  Lots of great family time, beach time and performances.  I met lots of great folks and hope to hook up with them again next year.  Here are some photos - finally!

Then Chuck and I hopped in the wagon and drove to Montana in late April.  A big highlight of our trip was visiting with friends who we haven't seen in many years!  It was great catching up with them.  Oh yes - then I had a few shows!  First one in Spokane, WA (had some Seattle folks show up - yea!), then one in Bozeman, MT (more friends!) and THEN sort of an impromptu jazz session in Walla, Walla, WA on the way back to Seattle.  We just happened upon a tasting room where some musicians were jamming and I sat in with them for some tunes.  What a fun night that was!  Pics from that trip coming soon...

And now we're gearing up for a busy summer with lots of shows coming up - either solo performances or with ThorNton Creek.  Whoosh!  I hope I find time to paint our living room and powder room.  They are in desperate need of an update/face lift!

Well, that's the update for now - have a lovely time during this wonderful season in Seattle...  

A NEWSWORTHY NOTE FOR JANUARY 31, 2005

A local station in Seattle, The Mountain - KMTT - 103.7, played a cut from the Feel Good CD on January 31, 2005 (the Sunday Brunch show).  That was very exciting - and even more exciting to be played in between Santana with Dave Matthews and Crosby & Nash!  :)

JANUARY 2005

Well, well, where has the time gone?  The holidays were a blur of activities and shows were sparse, which was a good thing because it's the season to spend time with friends and family and give thanks for all we have.  There is much to be grateful for!

As the new year begins, so does the scheduling of shows and deciding where to spread my music around in 2005.  Florida is definitely happening again in the Spring and I'm hoping to do some shows in Montana after that and also travel to North Carolina in the Fall. 

I'm still having a really great time being a member of ThorNton Creek.  We were in the studio this month working on the makings of a new CD and we hope to release something this year.

In the meantime, I'm planning lots of shows that will include solo appearances, in women's singer-songwriter circles, with Thornton Bowman as a duo and with ThorNton Creek. 

Cheers to all for a healthy and happy 2005!

Love,
mj

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2004

Hi all and happy Autumn to you!  September was a wild and wacky month with lots of shows, out of town visitors, and our annual bike ride in the Yakima Valley.  THEN we  went to my home state of Michigan to celebrate my parent's GOLDEN Wedding Anniversary on September 25.  The party was indeed wonderful and I got to see some family friends I have not seen for 20 years!  I also had some shows while I was in town and those were very rewarding and successful.  My Father, Capt. Jim Bishop, shared the bill with me on two of them and he was very gracious in hauling his PA to the shows.  He's my hero!

Although I haven't been to Michigan since 2000, each time I go I am struck by the beauty of the area.  Crossing the Mackinac Bridge makes my heart ache and the nostalgia is very strong.  The Great Lakes majestically sweep out before you and it's hard to take your eyes off the water and its ever-changing color.  The air is always fresh and clean, the sky always blue, the surroundings very laid back.

I made it over to Mackinac Island one day (which is also very nostalgic for me!).  It was a day of strolling, shopping, nipping and noshing with my Sister Ann Marie, her Daughter Katie and our Cousin Mary Beth.  September is a great time to be on the Island because the tourist count is down considerably.  It can be incredibly busy during the summer months when getting through main street is like walking through Bumbershoot or Folklife!

In addition to savoring some lovely pasties while Up North, I also enjoyed my Mother's cooking!  Mmmm - fried white fish sandwiches and any slumgullion she happened to slap together:)  My palate was much happier than my constitution, but that's never stopped me before.

Now back home, I settle into a nesting mode for the season, sweep the dust from the ceiling corners, and give thanks for family, friends and life.

Thank you all for following me around the Country!

xoxoxo
mj

AUGUST 2004

The news, the buzz, what's been going on...  It's been a hot, dry summer in Seattle.  Not good for the garden, but good for the mood!  

We've been going non-stop with music (both MJ shows and ThorNton Creek shows) and spending time with family and friends when we get the chance.  Now it's almost time to hunker down and gather red wine for the winter. 

The CD Feel Good made its way to Whole Wheat Radio, an Alaska-based internet radio station.  They featured the disc one sunny Sunday afternoon.  That was fun!

We're looking to do a mini-tour through Michigan (MJ's home state) in late September.  While there, MJ and Chuck will be attending MJ's parent's GOLDEN wedding anniversary.  Holy moly!  That just doesn't happen much these days - it's an impressive feat!

Thanks to all who made it out to shows over the summer when it was hot and sweltering and uncomfortable to be inside.  Hope to see you (with the red wine you've gathered) real soon!

APRIL 2004

Well, well, it's April and spring has sprung and my husband Chuck has been hard at work in the garden planting veggies so as to feed us in the coming months.  Mmmmmm...

I did my Florida tour (March 10-31) and it was just wonderful!  You can go here for some great media.  All shows had great attendance with  really fun people in the audience.  Spirits were high with the sun constantly shining and big raptors flying about, a lovely breeze, and beaches everywhere!  Oh my.  My, my.  I've been asked back and so will most likely be booking another tour next spring :)  

Also had some good family time with Mom and Dad, Sis and Bro, Aunts, Uncles, Nieces, Nephews, Husband and Daughter.  Ack!  It's a crazy time of year when we all rendezvous in SW Florida, but we seem to survive it all! 

Now I'm back in Seattle and am excited about doing lots of shows and at some new venues.  Please check out Folklife because in addition to me being there, a lot of my pals will be performing too!!  (Eva Tree, Joy Mills, ThorNton Creek, Reggie Garrett - and I'm sure many more that I just don't know about yet!)

Peace everyone.  Enjoy the spring and summer.

xoxo
mj

MARCH 2004

As I prepare to embark on my first solo singer-songwriter tour this month, it would be criminal to not throw out some big thanks to all the folks who have helped me on this - my journey into this crazy and wonderful world of songwriting.  Everyone's energy, guidance, encouragement, support and love has really carried me through these past five years.  Big love to you all!  

I'd like to quote a recent e-mail from my good friend Dave Menz which really sums up the business of music and songwriting and giving into your passion: "I was always amazed at how difficult it was to catch a surfable wave properly, but once you're up on the side of that glassy green wave face, it's a hoot, a fast, glorious ride. Of course, you eventually have to dump back in the water and have to work like the dickens to paddle back out through immense crashing walls of ocean trying to smash you back to the shore."

Thanks, Dave.  I couldn't have said it better myself :)

Happy Spring everyone!  See you in April!

JANUARY 2004

Hello everyone!  Boy, have I been remiss in keeping up with news!  I see Dec 2003 just flew by, but then it was Dec, and birthdays and holidays abounded (along with too much cheese and chocolate).  Hope everyone had great holidays!

My newest CD Feel Good (released last Nov) has been doing well and getting airplay at several radio stations, which is very exciting!  I've been doing lots of solo shows gearing up for my first singer-songwriter tour in Florida to promote the CD this coming March.

Life has been busy with my music and also with ThorNton Creek (my "side" band:).  Thornton Bowman is a fantastic songwriter and the entire band is just great.  I fiercely enjoy singing backup and playing mandolin and percussion.  Come check us out some time!

Stay tuned for more  news once I hit the road to the Sunshine State!  Wish me luck!

NOV 2003

I know, I know - promises, promises!  But I promise Feel Good will be released by the end of next week (that would be the week of Nov 3) so do check on back soon.  In the meantime, we've got lots of great shows coming up and we'd love to see you!  Also, as you may know, MJ has joined forces with ThorNton Creek - yahoo!  Check their schedule for shows as well!  Stay warm!

OCT 2003

Okay!  So!  The new CD Feel Good went to press on Oct 15!  I believe that means in 12 short working days, we'll have the final product in our hot little hands!  Check back or place your order right now!  (Scroll down for the order form!)

SEPT 2003

We're on the home stretch for release of the new CD.  Mastering was completed on the 12th and now it's on to duplication!  Stay tuned!

AUGUST 2003

Egads - what happened to July?  It smoldered and cooked, that's for sure!  Couldn't even update this page because my keyboard melted.  Record-breaking temps in Seattle.  But early August brings some blissfully cool weather and we're feeling less sticky.

So - July!  We had fun at the Yakima Folk Festival where the temperature never reached 90 degrees.  This festival is quaint and small and relaxing.  We saw lots of familiar musical acts and some new ones and a few Seattle fans made their way over too!  Thanks!

Other than that, we've really been cranking in the studio on CD#2, and then later in the month Chuck Perov (my lovely husband) and I enjoyed our annual trip to Vancouver B.C. and the Folk Music Festival (spectating, not performing:).  We took a few extra days and went East to the Okanogan Valley and Kelowna.  It certainly is beautiful country there and we highly recommend that road trip.  If you like visiting wineries, this region is booming.  Whoa - lots of wineries!  Here's a link if you care to explore http://www.winesnw.com/okanagan.html. 

JUNE 2003

We're rolling right along this summer.  Had lots of fun hosting the event at Cafe Gallier and we hope to do a similar function later this fall.

CD#2 is rolling right along as well.  Almost all overdubs (that's when you layer other instruments over the rhythm track [bass and drums]) are complete and we're plugging away at final vocal tracks.  We're still on track for end of August completion!
 
MAY 2003

The Folklife Festival was a blast!  Here are some pics.  If you look around a bit, you'll see some other pics from the most recent photo shoot (by Shelly Oberman) for CD #2.  I'll post more of those soon!  

Still plugging along on CD #2 and it's still pretty much all fun!  It goes by so fast - like a great bottle of red wine or a holiday batch of Wassail Ale...  Must savor!  We're still on schedule for completion by end of summer 2003:)

I just updated my "influences" page so you may want to check out my favorite artists... 

FEBRUARY 2003

Okay, here's some news: The wheels are in motion for CD #2!  

I feel just as excited this time as with Hometown Address.  It's such a very fun process - even these first "baby" stages: finding a studio (and a producer this time!!), picking out the tunes, begging musicians to play on the record:) and so on and so forth.

I'm shooting for a release date by end of summer 2003!  Check on back for updates and please let me know if there are any songs you'd like to see on this CD!  

E-mail me! mj@mjbishopband.com

DECEMBER 2002
We are pleased to announce that we are now performing with a drummer!  While we've enjoyed being drummerless since January of 2002 (you never miss what you don't have, right?), we've recently added Mark Drake to the line up and we're hoping to keep him on board for many moons.

The CD Hometown Address is one year old on 12/4/02!  Soooo... it's on sale (now and forever, thank you, amen) for ten bucks.

MAY 2002
Let's see... let' see...  OH!  As of May 2002, you should be able to plug "MJ Bishop" into the computer system at any KING COUNTY LIBRARY to find out which library is housing the CD Hometown Address.  If it happens to be the library you're standing in, well, then you get to have a listen.  They'll let you tap yer toes in the library too, if you're real quiet.