Emily Singleton: Journal

WELCOME to my new website and to the year 2008! Last year proved to be quite eventful for us as we adjusted to life with our new baby. He is growing at an alarming rate and learning how this world works -- and we are learning how he works. In the meantime, we have played a few dates and have a few lined up for this year. Hope to see you out there sometime soon . . .

Dave, the Baby Joshua and I have been having a big time since my last entry. Included in our shenanigans was our yearly trek to the Walnut Valley Festival where Dave emceed on stage one, and all our friends went nuts over our sweet, little one. We have also spent quite a bit of time in Nashville, visiting family, attending IBMA and performing at Normandy Music Night. What a wonderful venue! This was my fourth performance there, and I enjoy it more and more every time.

Being West Virginians now, this past weekend we were honored to be asked to perform at the Sunday @ Two concerts at The Tamarack. After the show we joined in briefly at the jam session in Studio 5, where a local artisan builds dulcimers and bowed psaltries. We couldn't stay long because we had to pick up our boy from the babysitter, but really enjoyed the old-timey, mountainy sounds of the local musicians. We did take a few minutes to stop at the New River Gorge -- another must visit spot if you are ever in the southern part of West Virginia (along with The Tamarack).

WOW! It's been a long time since I last added anything to this website. BEEN REALLY BUSY. We finished our new cd and I have sent that out to radio stations across the country and overseas. We are getting some great airplay and feedback. We've performed here in our temporary home-state of WV and been on a few live radio shows.

And, oh yeah, we had a baby! Our sweet little baby boy decided to join us two months before we were expecting his arrival, so our lives were really thrown into a tailspin for a bit. But, now that he is settling into life on this planet, we are getting back on track. I am working on booking shows for the fall and next year, and will be adding dates soon.

Dave and I are off to Winfield again for another Walnut Valley Festival this week. For him, it's long hours emceeing stage one - for me, its FUN! But, this year, we get a special bonus! Two spots on stage during the NewSongs Showcase. I entered three of my songs off the upcoming cd, and two of them won. "A Little Jaded" was picked for the feelin' blue category, and "Spirit on the Prowl" was selected in the none of the above category (my favorite category, by the way). Then, a couple of weeks after that we are headed to NC with all of our friends from the Summervilla "We Got Work to Do" album for two special concerts and a private party. Check it out on our schedule page.

Due to a miscommunication on dates, we will not be able to have our duo performance at the Three Li'L Pigs BBQ restaurant in Daleville, VA during this trip to Virginia. Hopefully in the future -- I can keep my dates straight AND we can sample some great "que" next time we are through the area. We are looking forward to the Friends of the Public Library concert in Bedford on Saturday. Also, we'll be adding a big performing weekend with the Summervilla crew in North Carolina in September. I'll be posting the details soon. Dave and I were honored to be among friends and participate in the compilation gospel cd, We Got Work to Do. If you haven't heard of the Summervilla recording projects -- check them out at www.summervilla.com.

Just wanted to post a big THANKS to the Purple Fiddle and all the fine folks that shared last Sunday evening with us. What a wonderful audience -- and internationally represented with people from England, Germany and Japan as well as some "locals" from Michigan, Maryland and West VA. If you are ever in the Thomas, WV area (say within a couple-hundred miles!) -- it's worth the time to head on over and experience a magic and intimate environment for music, an eclectic selection of tasty food, great coffee and beer and a restful night at the Fiddler's Roost B&B next door to the Purple Fiddle.

We are looking forward to this weekend's recording schedule because we are having Jim Hurst back in the studio for this album. He was such a joy to work with the last time -- who could resist having him back! We spent some time last weekend rehearsing with the band - so we should be ready to go for our next "band" outing in May. In the meantime, Dave and I will be doing our first duo set in a while in our new stomping grounds of West Virginia. Check the schedule page for info -- it's up to date as of today!

I finally got to go skiing last week for the first (and possibly the last) time this year. We have been so busy travelling back to Nashville to work on the album -- I forgot that winter would be over and I would miss my chance to ski. But, thanks to Dave having a conference in Pennsylvania at a very nice ski resort, I got in a few hours on the slopes this winter. Spring-like conditions made it a little difficult for my very weak legs to stay out there too long (I need to get in shape!), but it was a beautiful sunny day, not too cold, and not too hot. Just right!

I was adding some new dates to our schedule, and thought I should write a little note for anyone visiting our site. I'm lookng out the window at the snow-covered valley and hillsides. It sure is beautiful! Dave and I have spent a weekend day at home for a change (haven't had many of those with all our trips to Nashville to record on the new album). He's been hard at work on my "honey-do" list all afternoon, and now he and the baby-cat are taking naps. But, we'll soon be hard at work practicing for next week's recording session . . . check out our new dates, hope to see you all soon!

Another year has begun. I have added a couple of dates to the calendar for this year, and will continue to add as I get my ducks in a row. Dave and I plan to do some performing in our new "home area" of West Virginia as a duo and some performing with the band in our old stomping grounds of Tennessee along with a few shows in other states. AND -- work continues on the new cd. We have many exciting special guests coming into the studio over the next couple of months including Buddy Green, Jeff Taylor, Chris Joslin and Andrea Zonn. Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and many blessings to come in the New Year!