A Songwriter's Uniform
Johnny Cash wrote an entire song about his iconic wardrobe:
Ah, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day
And tell the world that everything's okay
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back
Til things are brighter, I'
Raina Rose
A Singer-Songwriter's Guide to Throwing a Great House Concert
I’ve talked about house concerts quite a bit in this column. I believe they are the modern singer-songwriter’s saving grace. You can’t beat a venue where the audience is on your side from the get-go and most of the door money goes into your tour kitty. Of
Making Music at the Farmers Market
Pioneer Square was where we used to go when we skipped class during high school. It’s a big brick square where a wide range of Portland residents gather to have lunch, converse, and people-watch. But today, I lugged my speaker, microphone, merch, and guitar to a little tent in
No Place Special in Mashpee, MA
My last two posts have been about house concerts. In case you are new to this column, I want to reiterate that house concerts are the bread and butter of the modern troubadour. They’re a truly intimate way to experience independent musicians in a warm environment. I have known
For Love, Music, and Kickball: High Sierra Festival
In 2006, I was in the first year of my road-dogging, still fresh-faced, energetic, and full of my signature hopeful positivity.
I had made a record with my dear friend Jim Brunberg, the owner of Mississippi Studios in Portland, who’s also a member of the band Box Set. It
Kerrville Folk Festival: Songwriter Heaven
In my last column, I mentioned that the Kerrville Folk Festival is the main reason that I expatriated from Portland, OR and have found myself living in a 1972 ranch house in South Austin with a husband, two kids, and a dog. I thought I’d follow up with the