September Song
Amazing experience at the Western Arts Alliance last week. So honored to have been selected for the Advancing Indigenous Arts Program, with all these amazing fellow native artists!!! I am inspired by each and everyone of them. This pic was taken at the Bellagio in Las Vegas on August 28th.
June News
'Love Come Down" is getting more airplay in the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands & Germany. It is getting some lovely reviews too! (Check out the press section, when you have a chance, I just posted one!)
"Love Come Down" UK & Europe Radio Airplay
As of May 14th, "Love Come Down" is starting to get airplay in the UK & Europe :
AIRPLAY LIST MAY 2018
www.baarnfm.nl The Ghost Of Emmett Till
http://www.nporadio2.nl/afslagthunderroad/playlist Mississippi River, Love Come Down
http://www.mysterytrainradio.com/ Love Come Down
http://www.celticmusicradio.net/
https://www.rte.ie/rnag/an-ghealach-ghorm/ Almost Upon A Time
https://www.radiotroubadour.com/
www.radiosummerhall.com Love Come Down
http://40upradio.nl/jandonkers/ The Ghost Of Emmett Till
http://www.drive105.co.uk/for-folks-sake Mississippi River, Love Come Down
https://www.radiosummerhall.com/ Almost Upon A Time
http://www.rte.ie/rnag/an-ghealach-ghorm/
www.Havenstad.FM Almost Upon A Time
www.americanaradio.nl The Ghost Of Emmett Till
www.rootsparadise.com The Ghost Of Emmett Till
March 2018
Very happy to announce my CD "Love Come Down" is being mastered this month! Can't wait to share it with you:)
1. LOVE COME DOWN
2. THE GHOST OF EMMETT TILL
3.
4. ALMOST UPON A TIME
5. TAMSON WEEKS
6. UNTIL THEN
PRODUCED AND MIXED BY MIKE DAVIDSON AT PLAID DOG STUDIOS,
Additional recording by Gerry Bellegarde and by Dave Minehan (Wooly Mammoth Studios); MASTERING BY IAN KENNEDY
Dedicated to the Native Arts & Cultures Foundation for their generosity.
The players: trumpet & flugelhorn: Tom Halter; violin: Kathryn Parks (1), Ian Kennedy (2,6), Mimi Rabson, drums: Steve Scully (5), bass: Tom Appleman (1,2,4,6), Ken Steiner (3); harmony vocal & guitar: Noel Paul Stookey (2); piano: Tim Ray; elec. guitar: Lance Riley (1,6); elec. guitar & ebow: Dave Minehan (3). Acoustic guitar, banjo & vocals: Thea Hopkins.
Design and recording help: Daniel Gewertz.
My endless thanks to Noel Paul Stookey for the inspired music he gifted to me on “Emmett Till.” Thanks to all my wonderful Indiegogo contributors, notably executive producers Terry Eagan, & Caroline Kurtz,
All songs written by Thea Hopkins
www.TheaHopkins.com
January 2018
Recording Update:
The new CD, "Love Come Down" is almost completed! The last two weeks has seen more work done at Gerry Bellegarde's studio. Many thanks to violinist, Mimi Rabson, for the lovely violin parts she recently added to my song, "Tamson Weeks".Yesterday we edited some of the parts and it sounds quite nice. Big thanks to Gerry B & Danny G! Yes, to teamwork:) "Love Come Down" is scheduled for a Spring arrival!
December News
Season’s Greetings!
The long awaited CD is near completion. There are just a couple more instruments to be added to the sixth and final song.
Here are all my songs, which will be on the CD :
- Love Come Down
- The Ghost of Emmett Till (harmony vocal and guitar by Noel Paul Stookey of (Peter, Paul and Mary!)
-
Mississippi River ,Mississippi - Almost Upon A Time
- Tamson Weeks (a song I wrote about my great, great, great aunt, a legendary Wampanoag Indian medicine woman)
- Until Then
So many wonderful and talented people have contributed and supported the recording. The instruments are violins, guitars, banjo, trumpet, flugelhorn, bass and, on occasion, drums.
The CD begins with a song of love and ends with one. I am very honored and touched that Noel Paul Stookey added his harmony vocals and guitar to “The Ghost of Emmett Till.” With trumpeter Tom Halter (of the Either Orchestra) and violinist Ian Kennedy, it is a magnificent rendition, produced, as all the songs will be, by Mike Davidson at Plaid Dog Studios in
Additional recording work has recently been done by Gerry Bellegarde of Belltower Studios and Dave Minehan of Woolly Mammoth Sound.
(Dave also a wonderful ebow part, to “
Your generosity and support helped bring this project to fruition. I know it has been a long haul, but the CD will be out before the last snow melts in 2018!
Happy Holidays!
October Skies
Here we are in October! Just more tune for the CD and then voila, it will be complete. Thank you for your patience and support!!!
September, September
Cooler weather is upon us finally, and I could not be happier! I can appreciate the summer months but autumn has and always will be my favorite time of year.
This September finds me pulling together a lot of loose ends. Recording for the CD is continuing this month. Everything is being gone over very carefully, one note at a time:)
August News!
The middle of August is finding me back in Dave Minehan's recording studio, Woolly Mammoth Sound, putting the finishing touches on one more tune. Today, the wonderful bass player, Ken Steiner, added some very tasty licks to, "Mississippi River, Mississppi Town".
Looking forward to doing more recording and mixing next month!
July Update!
Very excited to announce I will be working with Andre Bouchard, Walrus Arts Management & Consulting!
www.walrusarts.com
June Update!
Just returned from the great northwest. The Native Arts and Cultures Foundation Conference was an amazing experience! Still recovering from all the travel...
April Update!
After a bit of a break, I have started recording today at Woolly Mammoth Sound today! Great experience:) Two more songs to go, then the CD will be completed!
February Update: Shhh, Recording In Progress...
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! Well, it is 2017 and work is continuing on the new CD. Lots on the board for the New Year , here's to the music!
December News
November Update!
Then the west coast tour. Can't wait!
September Update!
Very happy to report that guitar tracks were recorded last week for three more songs at Plaid Dog! I will be going back into the studio next month and hope to have the CD finished by the end of the year, fingers crossed:)
I am gearing up for the new year and looking forward to heading out to the west coast in April!
July News!!!
http://us9.campaign-archive1.com/?u=4a0c1dc4839d3ed28af4f19a6&id=a28f9ecdcf&e=2863dfdb42
June News!
This has been a really hectic last few weeks, with the Indiegogo Campaign for the new CD. Whew! This is the last week of the campaign... I can't wait to start recording again!
Here is a link to the No Depression review of the March 11th Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams (opener Thea Hopkins) show at Club Passim: http://nodepression.com/live-review/their-chemistry-palpable
I am continuing to work on the tunes for the new CD. Can't wait to share them with everyone!
Continuing pre-production on the new CD. All is coming along nicely:)
Here is the link to my Oct. 1 WEMF interview!
http://citywideblackout.blogspot.com/
Wow, what an amazing summer. I am still processing everything- from playing at the Woody Guthrie Festival in OK to returning to the UK to tour!
I am fine tuning a bunch of songs and getting ready to record. Fingers crossed, I will have everything done by January 1, 2106:)
This has been a very hectic time. I have been writing and re-writing tunes for the next CD. I was hoping to have something out by June 21 but I am delaying recording until I return from England in September.
I am very excited about upcoming gigs, Woody Guthrie Fest, Outside the Box & looking forward to playing with guitarist Kenny Selcer & upright bassist Ken Steiner at Outside the Box Boston next month!
https://www.reverbnation.com/kensteiner
www.kennyselcer.com
www.woodyguthrie.com
Feb 17 - In the town of Theaville
Work on the yet to be named CD is continuing at a measured pace. We hope to have construction completed by late Spring.
Thank you for your time and have a nice day!
Jan 11 - Pre-production For The New EP!
Dec 5 - NYC Gig & New Songs
In other news... I am busy writing new songs and doing pre- production. Yay!
Oct 29- Recording!
Here is the link: https://soundcloud.com/thea-hopkins/the-ghost-of-emmett-till
The Ghost Of Emmett Till
In the town of Money, on the Mississippi side
Sharecroppers, cotton patches, magnolia skies
Deep in this delta, more than fifty years ago
A boy was murdered down the road
CH: The ghost of Emmett Till walks across this land
Still waiting for America to take his hand
Out on the delta , there was no moonlight
When Emmett Till was taken from his bed that night
For whistling at a white girl, on a summer day
A fourteen year old black boy, would end up in a grave
CH: The ghost of Emmett Till walks across this land
Still waiting for America to take his hand
The Tallahatchie River where Emmett Till was found
Those waters are still rolling, and they feed this ground
You can get away with murder, in this country still
If the boy looks like Emmett Till
CH: The ghost of Emmett Till walks across this land
Still waiting for America to take his hand
©2014 Thea Hopkins
Sept 24 - Summer Recap, Fall Preview
I had some lovely gigs in CT and NH this summer before heading over to England. It's always wonderful to see old friends and make new friends in this big, crazy world!
My August tour of England started off in Manchester, where I had the honor of opening for David Bromberg & Larry Campbell. They were amazing! Manchester is a great town and I loved being back there. Then, off to Liverpool. I didn't think I would be excited as I was to check out Beatle's central but one picture says it all!
The next stop was Southport and a return to the Atkinson. A terrific night with the excellent Grateful Fred band & rockin' Steve Hardaker. A big thanks to Grateful Fred's for making it such a memorable gig! I have a couple of videos from the show on my website. (Thank you Jim!)
From there south to Brighton and a gig at the Brunswick with Lucas & King and the Self Help Group, all very talented musicians/writers - another great night:)
This time around we set some time aside to do some sightseeing in foggy London town. Wonderful to take a breather and feel like real tourists for a few hours. And the gig at the Green Note, where I opened for guitarist extraordinaire Brooks Williams was a real treat.
The final stop was Nottingham and the wonderful Guitar Bar:)
It was a too brief summer tour of England and I look forward to returning next year!
Fall Preview
I am writing a lot of new songs I am very excited about and look forward to sharing them with you in the New Year:))
My next local gig is at the New Moon Coffeehouse in Haverill on Oct. 18th opening for
Jon Pousette-Dart! https://www.newmooncoffeehouse.org
Thanks, thanks and more thanks for all the kind words and support the music has been receiving. It is very much appreciated.
I hope your summer was filled with wonderful adventures & wishing you a fun and happy autumn!
I hope to see you soon.
xo
Aug 4 - Manchester UK
July 7 - World Fellowship Center!
It was a fantastic gig, an audience full of appreciative people. A big thanks to to Andy & Andrea, and everyone who made it such a special evening!
March 1, 2014 - Wonderful Emerson College Event
I had a wonderful time being part of Emerson College's Civil Rights Celebration. A big thanks to Dr. Roger House for inviting me to be part of it! I have to start taking more pics!
Jan 5 2014 "FOR FOLKS SAKE" THE ALBUMS OF CHOICE OF 2013
http://live.drive105.co.uk/index.php/folk-sake
"FOR FOLKS SAKE" THE ALBUMS OF CHOICE OF 2013 (AND AS THEY SAY ON X FACTOR "IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER")!
Playlist: Rodney Crowell / Emmylou Harris: Open Season On My Heart (Old Yellow Moon)
Thea Hopkins: Might've Stayed in Memphis Too long (Lilac Sky) www.theahopkins.com
The High Bar Gang: Sinners You Better Get Ready (Lost & Undone, a Gospel Bluegrass Companion)
Drew Holcomb & the Neighbours: Another Man's Shoes (Good Light) http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Sam Baker: Isn't love Great (Say Grace) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u11KxmrHziA Roy Arbuckle/
Anne Tracey: How's Your Broken Heart These Days (Songs For the Soul)
The Tillers: Old Westside (Hand on the Plow)
Mary Dillon: The Banks of Claudy (North)
The Mountain Firework Company: Low (The Lonesome Losing Blues) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmzbUPtMv0g The Ronnie Greer Band: Baby Won't You Please Come Home (A Lifetime With The Blues)
Slaid Cleaves: God's Own Yodeler (Still Fighting the War)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNqTG7iL-ko
Janet Dowd: A Friend to Me (Sailing Away)http://www.janetdowd.com/
Stephen Fearing: Early Morning Rain (Between Hurricanes) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlDNo9BU2_E
Ultan Conlon: Dance to "Paper Roses" (Songs of Love So Cruel) http://ultanconlon.com/
Ruth Moody: These Wilder Things (These Wilder Things) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7pL0nWLFgw Chip Taylor: Block Out the Sirens of this Lonely World (Block out the Sirens of this Lonely World)
April Verch: Broken (Bright Like Gold) http://www.youtube.com/user/AprilVerch Kimmie Rhodes: Don't Think Twice (Covers)
Rod Picott: I Might Be Broken Now (Hang your Hopes on a Crooked Nail) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgeHWM9SCys
Mike Donaghy & Border Crossing: Peace Begins With Me (Mike Donaghy & Border Crossing) https://www.facebook.com/bordercrossingband
Nov 1 Next Stop Southport!
THEN, right after the show, we had to scurry get on the train and head to Bradford. This turned into quite an adventure involving an unneccessary stop in the town of Wigan. We finally arrived in Bradford at 9:30 PM starved and weary. After registering at the hotel, we decided we had not had enough adventure for one day, so we decided to locate a restaurant recommended to us by the hotel. This involved a circuitous route on foot through a very unlit part of Bradford. Visions of Shaun of The Dead danced in my head. Along the way we ran into a throngs ( and I mean THRONGS) of people celebrating the Rocky Horror Picture Show. We finally located the restaurant, ate some delicious Indian food, made it back to the hotel and fell fast asleep. Quite a day.Oct 20- UK Trip Part 2
Back in Manchester Daniel & I had a chance to explore the city, getting caught in a brief rainstorm that afternoon. Here an amazing rainbow pic from Manchester:
Too soon we had to leave Manchester for points north. Can't wait to return! Next stop Southport.Oct 14- UK Trip/Tour Recap Part 1
UK trip/tour recap Part 1:
On Sept 16th we left for the UK and no international trip is complete without the "have we packed everything we need? OMG what have we forgotten! where ARE the passports?" preamble. So, we go through the checklist with totally unmilitary precision for the umpteenth time and finally say "let's just go already!" and arrive at the airport two hours too early because waiting... waiting... is so much fun. (The next non-adventure, adventure involved a hard roll, dinging a tooth sending me into a major panic that the tooth is broken and the trip is ruined... the tooth was fine.)
Totally disoriented and exhausted, we arrived in Shannon Ireland at 5:00 AM, where we changed planes for Manchester UK. Going from an airbus to a two propeller 60 seat plane that has seen better days was a severe test of faith but I told myself I had not come this far to disappear into the Irish Sea.
I vaguely remember arriving at the Manchester Airport, getting on the train and arriving at Piccadilly Station in Manchester. I am very thankful for the unasked for assistance of a total stranger, "Are you lost?" and so we were able to successfully navigate, with our overloaded luggage to our first destination- the City Warehouse Apartments. To be continued...
Oct 8- A Few UK Notes
I have finally recovered from my jet lag, though I am still on London time. Which is fine with me!
It was truly an amazing trip- exciting, exhausting, inspiring, and I look forward to returning next year! I got to see quite a bit of the UK in two and a half weeks- Manchester, Blackburn, Southport, Wigan, Saltaire, Shipley, London, Brighton, Hove, Lewes & Bedford. It was a whirlwind and I met a great assortment of lovely people. Loved, loved it there.
Sept 5- Getting Ready For The UK Tour!
Well, I am finally relaxing for a bit, watching the Red Sox beat the Yankees!!!
I have been working around the clock literally getting everything ready for the UK trip. The idea, of course, is not to overpack and also not forget any of the essentials. Hah!
I feel very blessed that everything has come together the way it has. This will be a solo venture - the most economical way to tour at the moment. (For all you gearheads, I will be taking my new Air Voyager guitar which is amazing! And I am having a Fishman Rare Earth pick-up installed in it.) Sometimes things go the way you want them to, not always but nice when they do. Gotta be thankful when it happens:)
JUne 16 UK Dates!
I am very psyched about playing in the UK this fall! The tour starts in Southport at the Americana Festival and will head south winding down through Brighton and Lewes to London. More dates to come!
April 7 Sheffield MA Gig!
Played last night in Sheffield MA at Dewey Town Hall. Lovely gig. I highly recommend Staveleigh B & B too! 4 Stars!
www.staveleigh.com/
March 23 - Great Gig opening for Amy Helm!
Fantastic gig opening for Amy Helm at the Bull Run in Shirley last night. What a great venue, great sound. A wonderful experience.
Amy was excellent and so was her band. A real pleasure to hear her again. Ronnie Earl sat in w/them on a few tunes. She did a gorgeous rendition of Makes No Difference.
Thank you Bull Run, thank you Amy & all the folks who listened. Much appreciated:)
March 16
I have not updated my news section for awhile. It does not mean nothing has been going on, it means I have been too darn busy to do so!
Here is the update: I have been writing new songs
Following up on radio
Oh yes, following up on radio...
I think you get the idea!
Feb 17
I am very excited about doing the "On The Road To Toronto" showcase in NYC on the 19th upstairs at the Living Room. Hope to see you there!
Jan 2013 Radio Airplay!
www.Havenstad.FM
www.dollardradio.nl
www.themillertellshertale.co.uk
www.micksmithradio.co.uk/list/listshow1251a.html
www.fatea-showcase-sessions.co.uk/
www.terneuzenfm.nl
www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland
www.thecrookedroad.com
www.tunein.com/radio/Drive-FM-1053-s117018
www.dutchrootsradio.com/blueprint.htm
www.goodnoiseradio.blogspot.com
www.insurgentcountry.net/radio_evw.htm
www.peelgras.home.xs4all.nl
Dec 8- Transmission Hour!
Dec 7 -American Songwriter Magazine!
Here are the lyrics:
Sky spitting rain, crow flying by
Water rising high as cane in July
A bible storm coming, that's the word whippin' round
This Mississippi river, this Mississippi town
Pushing and pulling, that river's getting mad
Last storm took everything we had
Roaring like an engine, plowing it's way down
This Mississippi river, to this Mississippi town
My, oh my, if that levee breaks
It's gonna cause some big heartache
Water stopping tonight, at the county line
Only a fool thinks that river's changed it's mind
Learn to swim, or get to higher ground
That Mississippi river, wants this Mississppi town
My oh my, if that levee breaks
It's gonna cause some big heartache
c Theahopkins2012
Oct. 16 My First Commercial!
Here is a link to a commercial for the New England Expo50+. Don't blink or you'll miss me!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79iFrCycyds&feature=youtu.be
Preview Lilac Sky!
Mastering Is Completed - Sept 14th!
Ian Kennedy has mastered the songs for my new EP, "Lilac Sky", making them nice and radio friendly! Whoopee! This will be the order of the tunes:
1. Might've Stayed In Memphis
2. Lilac Sky
3. Do Your Best For Rock 'n Roll (Linda & Teddy Thompson)
4. Down By The Water
5. When I Find My Life (M. Faithfull)
6. Whatcha Gonna Do
The artwork will be getting done in the next few weeks.
Very psyched!!!
August 8- Recording,Reflecting, Perfecting
Yesterday Susan Cattaneo added some stunning harmony vocals to a couple of tracks. I couldn't have found a better person for the job. Susan is a musical force as a singer and a songwriter! Check out her website, if you have a chance: www.susancattaneo.com.
The CD is coming along beautifully. I thought it would be finished by now, but there are a couple more songs that need to be tweeked a bit.
July30 - Music At Newport Folk Fest
That is my motto for the week. The universe is always going to throw you a few curveballs from time to time- unexpected delays, unwanted expenses. Deal with it!
The last bits of recording are getting re-scheduled for a liitle later this month. In the meantime, I got to the Newport Folk Fest for one day. I heard some great stuff Amy Helm,
First Aid Kit, Alabama Shakes, Del McCoury & The Preservation Hall Jazz Band & more... Three hour traffic jam- getting out of the festival parking lot!!! Like I said, keep on truckin!
July 17-Going Back Into The Studio Next Week!
My New Gibson Guitar! May 28th
I received my Gibson Songwriter Deluxe Standard a couple of days ago! Lovely, lovely prize for winning the May/June American Songwriter Lyric Contest. Thank you American Songwriter and thank you Gibson Guitar!
May 4- Great Gig Opening For Ramblin' Jack!
Wow! What a great night opening for Ramblin'Jack Elliott! It was sold out and a very attentive audience. I will be posting some pics a little later! Ramblin' Jack is amazing.
May 1- First Place For My Song, "Chickasaw"!
April 24th
Wonderful gig last Thursday at the Worcester Art Museum. Looking forward to opening for the legendary Ramblin' Jack Elliott at the MFA next week!
April 10 Q Div!
Did some final mixing on "Lilac Sky" with Pat D at the helm. Just trying to decide between two vocal mixes. Andy Hollinger came in and added some sweet guitar lines to, "Do Your Best For Rock 'n Roll". The CD is really coming together. Slow but steady...
March 29-Boston Globe Editor's Pick!
The April 1 Roots Attached Revue Show at Arts At The Armory is an Editor's Pick in today's Boston Globe!
March 28
Back in the studio yesterday to work on some vocal tracks! Yodelay-ee-oo!
March 20- Do Your Best For Rock 'n Roll
I was back in the studio today for a couple hours. The one and only, Tim Ray, added his fantastic stylingss to a couple of tunes, "Do Your Best For Rock 'n Roll" and "Memphis". He is one of those players who takes things to another level. Amazing.
March 6 More Recording & News!
Other notes... I was fortunate enough to attend quite an event last week at the JFK Library, UMass Boston. The organization, New England PEN, awarded Chuck Berry and Leonard Cohen prizes for literary excellence in songwriting. Not only were both present to receive the awards, but Paul Simon introduced Chuck Berry! Then Elvis Costello got up to perform a Chuck Berry tune! It was not announced to the general public, prior to the event, that either Paul Simon or Elvis Costello would be in attendance. Soon after, Salman Rushdie (!) took to the stage to introduce Leonard Cohen, casually adding that there was a musician in the audience who had sold more books than any of the authors there that afternoon- Keith Richards!!! I don't think I was the only person that went into stunned mode at that point. Did I mention Shawn Colvin sang a Leonard Cohen song? At the end of event, Elvis Costello performed one more Chuck Berry tune, inviting Keith Richards up onto the stage to join him. Amazing.
Feb 24 - More Q Recording!
Spent time in the studio this week. Andy Hollinger came in and laid own a GREAT guitar track for "Down By The Water" - very clean and persuasive sound, perfect for the song!
Feb 19 -More Recording Coming Up This Week!
Spent a most enjoyable weekend rehearsing new tunes! Getting very psyched about upcoming shows. Heading back into the studio tomorrow!
Feb 9 - More Recording At Q Division!
Went back into the recording studio this weekand did final vocals for "Lilac Sky". Yay! More recording will be happening over the next month or so. I am very excited about the project. Can't say enough about Q Division, Pat Discenso & EdV. A great recording experinece!
Feb 2- Homegrown Showcase, 92.5 the River
A big thanks to Irene Collins for featuring my tune, "Jenny Danced" on her show, "Homegrown Showcase" on 92.5. the River! And thank you to Cindy Cisco for telling her about my music!
Jan 27th Recording Session!
Had a great recording session today with Mike Piehl & Paul Kochanski. January has been a busy and very productive month!