Jon Eric Music

It is now the 16th of April, 2010.

Performing dates are coming in like gangbusters!

There were quite a few updates and last week-

D’ADDARIO & CO has taken me under wing and I am now SO honored and have the privilege to announce that I am now ENDORSED with their company! Special thanks to the D’Addario family which includes PLANET WAVES, EVANS,  BOWED, FRETTED STRINGS, RICO REEDS, PURESOUND SNARE WIRES, & HQ PERCUSSION

This announcement was given on AIR for KRUI FM for Little Village Live on 4/07/2010

Jon Eric -Little Village Mag Krui FM

DREW BULLMAN’S article can be found HERE (also in that write up, there are 4 youtube videos attached for those that missed the live radio show!)

Feeling the anticipation of doing a few really neat venues this year as well.

Last week I had the honor of sharing the stage with my old friend Vince Herman last Thursday (4/08/2010) and his band The Great American Taxi from Colorado! Vince has been kind enough to allow me to learn and grow as a musician forging through the hot sounds he and his band plays. For that I am so deeply grateful for any opportunity I get to sit in with those super talented fellas! Below are some pics of the show @ The Red Stone Room in Davenport, IA

The Great American Taxi

Jon Eric sitting in with The Great American Taxi

Jon Eric sitting in with The Great American Taxi

Jon Eric sitting in with The Great American Taxi

Jon Eric at The Red Stone Room sittin in with The Great American Taxi

Vince Herman playing at The Red Stone Room

The Great American Taxi w/ special guest Jon Eric (banjo)

The Great American Taxi w/ special guest Jon Eric (banjo)

Saturday 4/10/2010 I had the opportunity of sitting in with Mr. Baber’s Neighbors- The Solar String Band (MBN-TSSB) as they opened for The Nadas CD release @ The Fine Line in Minniapolis, MN (pics will be posted as I receive them. Thank you to the “Baberhood” for another night of Bluegrass BLISS!

Dates are coming in like WILD FIRE!

Below is a current schedule of dates on the books so far. PLEASE check back often cause they could change on a moment’s notice- I really do my best in keeping those updated as many of you ask when and where I will be playing next. Believe me- I am DELIGHTED to see you out and about.

I have some INCREDIBLE news- but since this is April Fool’s Day, everyone would think I am pulling their leg so I will patiently hold off and update SOON!

So for now I will let you know that next week

Stream it online wherever you are:
http://kruiradio.org/listen

SHARE AWAY!!!

With ALL the replies, I also want to mention that no matter where you are in the world you can listen to this LIVE broadcast through the web link above. If working- We will make sure to update with any rebroadcasts for those that can not listen. HUGE thanks to KRUI radio for allowing me to be a part of this home town show!

For those that wish to contribute to KRUI radio— Click HERE

The calendar can be viewed below-

Way to go Dixie Chicks! It’s about time for another tour!

A selection was used for the couples skating routine.

With USA’s own Samuelson/Bates. Awesome job in

choosing a piece of music that bends the ear!

Your fans here in America LOVED it and are so proud of you.

Check out the you tube videos circulating the web.

I always knew the world would LOVE the banjo!

Here is my BAND page for Facebook

And here is where you can find some NEW tunes (just added)-

Also the gig schedule can be found there as it was updated this week. Festival season is about to gear up!

Please feel free to share, comment, or rate with those kindred spirits you think may enjoy! Again I can not thank you enough for the whirlwind of a year this has been for me. Living the dream of a lifetime.

Banjo… who would have thought-
Darn it! My father was RIGHT! (grin)

Here’s a thought that has been in my head today:

Patience = working your whole like for that one shot in life!
Wisdom = knowing when to take that shot!
And yes you may quote me on that.

Banjositically yours,

Jon Eric

Http://www.jonericmusic.com

Enclosed are some pics from the most recent shows.

Thought since most have been keeping me busy on the road out and about- some of you can not make it so far. But rest assured we are trying to get EVERYTHING on video- or great pictures are being taken and forwarded on!

Also I wish to thank each and every one of you who voted for me during the last banjo standing contest- though I did not “win” any slot to play, I did manage to score 2 performances for next year that are great opportunities as well! It taught me so much about who my die hard fans are as well! For that I am SO VERY Grateful!

This weekend will be filled with much musical bliss as well- performing Saturday (11/21/09) with the Des Moines bluegrass super-group Mr. Baber’s Neighbors the Solar String Band once again filling in for their banjo player Paul Perkins. We will be playing at Little Big Fest @ People’s on Court along with more bands than you can count on 2 separate stages!

Then SUNDAY (11/22/09) SlewGrass will be debuting at El Bait Shop for another night of great tunes and fun! That particular show starts @ 9pm!

Here are some photos that were taken recently by great friends who forwarded them!

Jon Eric—Sitting in with both Mr. Baber’s Neighbors AND Hot Buttered Rum

@ The Iowa City Yacht Club

The bottom 5 pictures were taken this past Saturday in Pomeroy, Iowa (which is a 4 hour drive away) at a wonderful place called Byron’s! I got to sit in on a delightful show with Molly & Darren Matthews of the band Thankful Dirt! It makes me so “Thankful” to share the stage with such kindred spirits! special thank you to Darren Matthews for the use of his guitar that night during the set break “tweener”!

10/09/09-Tonight SlewGrass is playing a FREE show @ The Eagles Lodge (across from Paul’s) in Iowa City.

10/10/09- Saturday- was going to try and make the Eden Valley Bluegrass Festival.  I remember such a good time there with all the folks who came out to this event a couple of years ago when I sat in with another bluegrass band who needed a banjo to fill in.

10/11/09- Sunday is THIS event (below) and have been gearing up for it.

THIS SUNDAY!

I am very thankful for the opportunity to share in an afternoon of music and fun doing several different styles of music that few have heard me perform.

This show is open to the public and FREE!

Hope to see you there!

~JE

After getting back to Iowa from taking a flight down to the Washington DC area. I was in for the time of my life seeing old friends and meeting some VERY talented new ones. With a flight being MUCH faster than a 1000 mile one way car trip.

I want to thank my buddy Mark Newton for the opportunity of sharing his “Homecoming Pickin’ Party” in Fredericksburg, VA. Raising money for the James Monroe High School Athletics Dept. on September 19th, 2009,  it was a bluegrass fund raising event that we all hope will continue for YEARS to come! The weather held- and everyone I chatted with had such a delightful time! The amazing volunteers and planning of this event was over12 months in the making and recording artists that came together for such a worthy cause made this such a huge success!

Also special thanks to Larry Jett (Sonrise) who invited me down to Wally Clever’s recording studio in Fredericksburg on Thursday 9/17/09. They are in the middle of recording cd #4 and tore it up in the studio! Sonrise is a southern style bluegrass/gospel band that is rock solid! Kind of ironic how I talked to the bass player Eddie Haynes about his son Justin Haynes (fiddler for 3rd Tyme Out). Saturday playing with Mark Newton on the main stage- Justin was sawin that fiddle to my “stage-left”! What an treat!

Pictures will be added soon so check back here and bookmark to your favorites!

Also a special thanks to all of the great folks at the Iowa City Fiddler’s Picnic! After just getting off the plane in Moline, IL. I zipped out to the fairgrounds and picked with some friends on Sunday afternoon. What a FUN time!

The Iowa band I have been sitting in with SLEWGRASS will be doing a concert Friday September 25th, 2009– Opening for Scott Cochran & Flannel. This will be a FREE show this Friday at Agave Tequila Bar and Grill in Coralville- show starts at 0830 pm. Bring a friend and let’s pack this place!

Here are a few pictures people took of me @ the fundraiser Grass Stock ‘09

Sponsored by World Wide Bluegrass (WWB).

I am deeply grateful to be a part of such an event!

HUGE thank you to Kaye Dickenson Hill and Selena Leonard for shooting those moments in time that we so cherish!

Just got back from this weekends’ amazing event Grass Stock ‘09.

Talk about some pickin’ ! The WWB (World Wide Bluegrass) was so kind to allow me to share the main stage with so many wonderful pickers.

Thanks to everyone who gave kind words and made it out to chat and pick with me- I live for these kind of events where music, fun, and friends gather.

Anyone with photos or video of the event feel free to forward them on to my email- JonEricMusic@Gmail.com

Would be delighted to share them with others if you allow it.

Special thanks to the WWB, Gracie Muldoon and most of all to Uncle Billy Dunbar! Uncle Billy has been nominated for IBMA DJ of the year so if you are a member – PLEASE vote for him!

HUGE and special thanks to banjoists Butch Osborne, Johnny Butten,  for the inspiring and kindred words of their amazing banjo talent!

Last but not least thanks to Roger Bush (bass) for giving me so much ear candy from his friends’ “amazing” cds.  Roger & I were chasing the sun picking and singing into the night. Sharing parts of our musical lives which allowed for inspiration beyond words! Such an honor meeting you buddy! It’s very ironic to find that one is an inspiration putting a face with some tunes I has been listening to for years! I am sure our paths will cross again real soon my friend.

NEW BAND NEWS! There is a new band I have been asked to be a part of and we already have been to several venues around town-

The band name is SLEWGRASS

Tunes can be heard here on MYSPACE!

If you have a myspace or facebook page, feel free to add us. We are looking forward to our next gig at BENT RIVER BREWERY on SEPT. 5th 2009 @ 10pm. Get there early- bring a friend or 2 for a night of Bluegrass and fun!

Anyone interested in booking the band can feel free to email me or find us through the other sites we maintain. Book it now for next years’ events cause the calander will book up fast!

ALREADY 8 tunes have been recorded in the studio and we are well on our way to getting the cd project completed!

On other GREAT NEWS Randy Kohr’s instruments have been recovered!!! That wonderful article can be read HERE

Would be delighted if you would come to this event.

For such a worthy cause!

Things have been keeping me quite busy in the last few months with

studio work, production work for “other artist’s” projects out of my home studio, editing, video shooting, teaching lessons, performing and driving to and fro.

These activities adding to the endless learning, has continued to be quite an exiting time more than ever.

To me, being so busy keeps me focused on the next set of projects.

Keep an eye out for where I will be next.

This could be any of the “sites” we all visit daily. And can change with just a phone call from someone who wants me to sit in. From Iowa City to the world- one just never knows…

Banjo is getting SO popular these days!

Even Steve Martin has been making the circuit with his playing. Hat’s off to Steve for bringing the banjo into the living rooms and even bed rooms of late night TV.  Now even playing banjo on American Idol and Ellen! I hope “The Crow” sells a ton for him! WTG you wild and crazy guy!

Bob Black and I are finally shooting on the instructional DVD together. After finding a location to shoot and scheduling. We are now knee deep in the project! This will be coming out in late summer to early fall and is going to be a really fun way to pick!

Been also working on my solo cd which will be out by mid July (crossing fingers here).

Is that enough?  Not a chance! It’s only the beginning- to something building out of the air…

Sure hope our paths cross soon!

Banjoistically yours,

Jon Eric