Redding's Got Culture

Celebrate art, culture and original music with the North State Songwriters

North State Songwriters will present a showcase of original music at Redding City Hall (777 Cypress Ave) during the city-wide Cultural Cruise on January 30th. Eight different acts will take the stage, beginning at 4 PM. 

4 Randy Corbin 4:30 Nick Ciampi 5 Pine Dogz 5:30 Still Married 6 Hal Johnson 6:30 Dan Casamajor 7 Hannah Jane Kile 7:30 Paul Howell

Randy Corbin's songs are inspired by life's experiences with an emphasis on matters of the heart. Nick Ciampi is a popular Redding music teacher and folk-rock musician.  The Pine Dogz present rocking' country blues.  Still Married country-folk tunes celebrate the landscape, the characters and the independent spirit of Far Northern California. Hal Johnson will share his folk and dirt-road country music.

Two Chico musicians are joining the line-up this year: Veteran singer-songwriter Dan Casamajor's  music is influenced by the folk-music revival, its folk-rock offshoots, the Beatles, and acoustic country styles. Award-winning Hannah Jane Kile is a sweet soulful songwriter who provides poetic messages blending original and traditional folk with individual voice and instrument. 

And JPR Radio host Paul Howell rounds out the evening with his original blues tunes.

For more information on the musicians: 

Randy Corbin: hellabassman@yahoo.com

Nick Ciampi: www.nickciampiproductions.com

The Pine Dogz: The Pine Dogz

Still Married: www.stillmarried.net

Hal Johnson

Dan Casamajor: jfcandan@yahoo.com

Hannah Jane Kile

Paul Howell:  ph8ed@sbcglobal.net

For more information on North State Songwriters, contact Erin Friedman: erin@stillmarried.net

Shasta County Tiny Desk Duet

NPR music invited artists to submit videos of their original tunes for their Tiny Desk Concert Contest. The winners will be invited to the studio for a performance on All Songs Considered.

We entered our new duet, From Here, a ballad about holding tight to love, even when holding tight is not the easiest choice.  We huddled on my not-so-tiny studio desk and did our best.

We are looking forward to performing this tune and others next Friday at Redding City Hall for the annual city-wide Cultural Cruise. Lyrics below.

From Here 

words and music  (c) Erin Friedman

Every year it seems

You need more room to breathe

But I can only get so far away

For better or for worse I said

Lock the door, go to bed

Pray when there is nothin’ left

To say

          

     Are you walking ?                 

     Are you running?                 

Wishing wings to fly you

From Here?                                 

What I’m seeing

What I’m sayin’

Looks like something worth saving

From Here

I breathe in and out

Whisper when I’d like to shout

You’re the innocent bystander of the year

If I can be forgiven

If you’ll lean in and listen,

Admit there’s something missing

From Here

From Here it looks like love

Is still holding on

Forever is worth fighting for

Together we’re Still Strong

Thanks for the Memories

In this Grateful Season, I get to count a lot of blessings -- including a friendship that began before grade school and still thrives.

In August, I spent four glorious days with my dear friend, Mary - she and I share a birthday and we celebrated 50 years of fun and friendship at her mountain home in the High Sierras. Lots of hiking, loads of laughs and a few bottles of good wine.

Fun in Heidelberg, 2013

Mary and her lab, Marco in Mammoth, 2014

Before "Valley Girls" was a thing, there was us -- loving the sun, the sand and the songs and living a charmed life in Chatsworth in  LA's San Fernando Valley. My gift to my Sweet Forever Friend was this -- The Songs the Summer Sings -- because nothing says "Thanks for all the memories" like a cheesy, 70s-style pop tune.

The Songs the Summer Sings

words and music by Erin Friedman

Tires spinnin’ on a canyon road

Valley girls head out for the coast

Sing along to the radio

Tuned to 93

Zuma 7 was the promised land

Endless Summer layin’ out on the sand

Perfect soundtrack to the perfect tan

Were The Songs the Summer Sings

CHORUS:

We knew all the words

To all The Songs the Summer Sings

California girls

With California dreams

We were wrong about a lot of things:

Fast cars, bad boys, sunscreen

But we were right about

The Songs the Summer Sings 

                               

 Goodbye to the Yellow Brick Road

Beegees, Beach Boys, and Rolling Stones

They said “It’s Only Rock and Roll”

But it was everything

It was a cruise out on Van Nuys

Tunes for scopin’ out the guys

Fire drills at the long red lights

To The Songs the Summer Sings

(chorus)

We were straight-A, honor rolls girls

But from June until September

Shed our Pleasant Valley Sunday world

Making summers to remember

(chorus)

We were wrong about Annie Green Springs

And Dittos saddleback jeans

But we were right about

The Songs the Summer Sings