HEALTH ALLIANCE FOR AUSTIN MUSICIANS ISSUES CALL FOR ENTRIES IN CORPORATE BATTLE OF THE BANDS

September 3 Showdown at Antone's to Preview 3rd HAAM Benefit Day

Austin, TX -- Health Alliance for Austin Musicians is offering Austin business professionals who enjoy performing live music on the side an avenue to express their star power with its first Corporate Battle of the Bands, a fundraising contest and concert.

Deadline is Thursday, May 15, 2008, for registering a band in the Corporate Battle of the Bands. Each band must submit a Band Registration Form, a $25 registration fee payable to Austin Community Foundation/HAAM Fund and a music sample (by CD, MySpace link or a sound file to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

To qualify, bands must have no less than three and no more than 10 members, and members must be hobbyists only and residents of the Austin area. Bands can represent any musical genre and perform covers or originals.

Bands chosen for the showdown will be notified by May 31 and will donate an entry fee of $1,000. A panel of celebrity guests will judge the bands 6 p.m. to midnight on Wednesday, September 3, at Antone's, 213 W. Fifth St., and award special prizes for Best Cover Band, Best Original Band, Fan Favorite and Grand Prize Winner.

The Corporate Battle of the Bands is meant as a preview of the annual day of music and giving back that is scheduled for five weeks later, the city's 3rd HAAM Benefit Day on Tuesday, October 7. And as a reminder to the entire community to join businesses and individuals on HAAM Benefit Day to support musicians' health.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17, 2008

THE BELLEVILLE OUTFIT
TAKING MYSTIC ACOUSTIC MIX ON TOUR
OF MUSIC FESTIVALS & MORE

Sextet Also Making Time with Texas Fans After Successes During SXSW

AUSTIN, Texas -- The Belleville Outfit, whose debut album, WANDERIN,'' is drawing critical acclaim and whose live shows do the same, has dates through fall to share with audiences across the country its acoustic sound that mixes swing, gypsy, country, jazz and cross-genre roots music -- especially music festival fans hungry for a extraordinary Americana blend.

Since its February release, the new album -- with a mesmerizing sound that captures a rare trifecta of songwriting, instrumentation and vocals on cleverly arranged original songs and delightful covers -- has earned plenty of powerful compliments, climbing to #17 on the Americana radio chart and #15 on New Music Weekly''s college chart.

"One of Austin''s most exciting new ensembles, the recently transplanted sextet blends jazz, swing and newgrass into a tantalizing romp," wrote The Austin Chronicle''s Jim Caligiuri recommending The Belleville Outfit''s showcase during SXSW in March. "Their new, self-released debut, WANDERIN'', features mad ensemble play, the precocious songwriting skills of singer/guitarist Rob Teter and the dazzling talents of fiddler/vocalist Phoebe Hunt."

The rest of the band is Jonathan Konya on drums, Connor Forsyth on piano, Jeff Brown on upright bass, and Marshall Hood (nephew of the legendary instrumentalist Champ Hood) on lead guitar and harmony vocals.

Together, they create music that "isn''t simple three-chord pop," said Americana Roots. "These are ... complex tunes musically featuring some of the best playing you''re likely to hear! How they have been able to develop such a tight sound this quickly is a testament to the band''s talent. ... Whatever your favorite spice is in the Americana stew, you''re likely to find it here."

Now, The Belleville Outfit focuses on the coming months of playing at music festivals from the California woods to the Colorado mountains to the Texas Hill Country and metropolises across the country.

The Belleville Outfit upcoming shows include:
April 18, Old Settler''s Music Festival, Austin
April 19, Southwest School of Art and Craft, San Antonio
May 1, Threadgill''s World Headquarters, Austin
May 2, Rolling Oaks Bar & Grill, San Antonio
May 4, Momo''s, Austin
May 10, Saxon Pub, Austin
May 11, Gruene Hall, New Braunfels
May 16, The Crystal Bay Casino, Crystal Bay, Nev.
May 17, The Ol'' Factory, Sand City, Calif.
May 18, The Palms Playhouse, Winters, Calif.
May 22, Strawberry Music Festival, Yosemite, Calif.
May 26, Kerrville Folk Festival, Kerrville, Texas
May 29, Threadgill''s World Headquarters, Austin
June 6, Pagosa Folk & Bluegrass Festival, Pagosa Springs, Colo.
June 14, GLT Concert on The Square, Bloomington, Ill.
August 29, The Four Corners Festival, Pagosa Springs
September 19, Chattanooga Downtown, Chattanooga, Tenn.
September 26, Albino Skunk Bluegrass Festival, Greer, S.C.
October 19, Joshua Tree Roots Music Festival, Joshua Tree, Calif.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 15, 2008

Band on National Tour Ahead of June Release of BULLETPROOF

Austin, TX -- Roots rockers Reckless Kelly, whose forthcoming album presents more rock than roots this time, are scheduled for "The John Boy and Billy Big Show" morning drive-time radio program on Wednesday, April 16 -- a stop during the band's current pre-release tour ahead of June 24's BULLETPROOF (Yep Roc Records).

Tune in for a performance by Reckless Kelly -- lead singer Willy Braun, brother Cody (fiddle, mandolin, harmonica, vocals), lead guitarist David Abeyta, bassist Jimmy McFeeley and drummer Jay Nazz -- and interview with the comic hosts during the syndicated show, 6-10 a.m. Eastern time on classic rock and country music stations like 99.7 WRFX-FM The Fox out of Charlotte, N.C., where the band plays at Neighborhood Theatre on April 19. For a complete list of stations that air "The John Boy and Billy Big Show" and the path to subscribe to live Web casts, visit www.thebigshow.com.

Danville, KY ' The Danville City Commission will recognize Country Music entertainer Eddie Montgomery and his wife Tracy at the next regular meeting, on April 14, 2008, at 5:30 PM.  Mayor Hugh Coomer and the Board of Commissioners will recognize them for their charitable efforts in helping the fire department's Christmas Toy Drive the past few years.  Mayor Coomer cited the efforts of the couple, both in raising more than $20,000 over the past five years for the Toy Program, to bringing country music fans to Boyle County, where they reside.

Eddie, half of the country music duo Montgomery Gentry, has appeared in the Middle East to meet and greet American soldiers stationed overseas, and has been a strong advocate in supporting military personnel and their families.  Closer to home, he and Tracy have appeared across the state and the country in support of various groups and organizations, lending their names to various charitable enterprises.  This sense of community and local spirit also factored in Mayor Coomer's efforts to recognize the Montgomery family's efforts.

Danville Fire Department records show that nearly $4,000 a year has been raised either through events or donations made by the couple to the Christmas Toy Drive.  Their fan base has brought several truckloads of new toys given for distribution to needy children and families during the holidays.  The Boyle County couple has organized several bus events, where they displayed tour buses used by top acts including Britney Spears, Faith Hill and their own Montgomery Gentry bus.  Eddie and Tracy also spent many hours meeting and greeting their fans, some from several states away.

During those appearances, the Montgomery troop have endured freezing winds and steady rains, staying long after their scheduled appearance times to make sure fans got a chance to get a picture, an autograph, or to exchange a few words.

In addition to the proclamation Monday, the couple has expressed support for a fund-raiser on April 30 in Danville in support of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.  Baskin-Robbins will be holding a 31-cent scoop night nation wide, and will donate $100,000 to the NFFF, which assists families who have lost firefighters in the line of duty.  Local storeowners Bennie and George Thompson have welcomed Eddie and Tracy's participation in recognizing hometown heroes in the fire service.

AUSTIN SINGER-SONGWRITER PAULA NELSON
TO DRIVE IN TEXAS RACEFEST CELEBRITY CHALLENGE

AUSTIN, Texas -- Bluesy singer-songwriter, who recently released her LUCKY 13 (Pedernales Records; February 26), will again show her dead-on aim when she's behind the wheel in the first Texas Thunder & Lightning Racefest Celebrity Challenge on Saturday, April 19, at nearby Thunderhill Raceway -- and she's determined to win!

Nelson will join other local and regional celebrities -- including Texas Secretary of State Phil Wilson, Olympic gold medalist Ian Crocker, a news anchor, an actor and a DJ -- to race stock cars for 10 laps for prize money donated to charities they choose. The Celebrity Challenge roars to life just before the start of the NASCAR Texas Thunder 150 at the track, 24801 U.S. I-35 in Kyle. Event tickets are $25 for adults, $12 for children 7-12, free for those 6 and younger. Gates open at 1:30 p.m.; information: 512.262.1352, www.texasracefest.com.

Her determination to win the Celebrity Challenge aside, it is the video of Nelson karate-kicking a man offstage during one of her regular Wednesday-night gigs at Austin's Saxon Pub that's giving people pause.

 YouTube Video Clip Introduces Musician's Kick to World -Viewed more than 270,000 times at http://www.break.com/index/willie-nelsons-daughter-kicks-guy-off-stage2.html -- as well as on Defamer.com, CelebrityVideoOfTheDay.blogspot.com, YouTube and NBC-TV's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" -- the clip shows Nelson delivering a Texas-size blow to the man's innards.

Big Six-O Birthday honoree and music supporter Nancy Coplin receives a check on behalf of Health Alliance for Austin Musicians from the Texas Heritage Songwriters Association artist liaison Connie Nelson and organization executive director Suzy Gardner-Rowley as "Godfather of Austin blues" W.C. Clark looks on.

Austin, TX--The BIG SIX-O Birthday Party of longtime Austin music supporter Nancy Coplin, which featured a musical lineup that included Delbert McClinton and the Marcia Ball Band and silent and live auctions of such items as autographed music, sports, literary and TV star memorabilia, netted $35,000 for Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM).

Coplin, music booker and programmer at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and first chairman of the Austin Music Commission, was delighted by the $25,000 from ticket sales and auction proceeds from the celebration March 30 at Antone's.