Almost Country Music

October 31st, 2008 by JudyLynn

Howdy,

I went down to East Dixfield,Maine to Larry Bisbee’s Countryfolk Music Theater on Wensday to see what projects he is now working on. Wow!!! He truely is fixing his place to look like a country village . I was very impressed. He has lots more to do but I could share in his vision while I visited with him.

One new thing he has added is “The Rockhound Cafe”.  You see, one thing he is very interested in is prescious gems and mineral rocks. Being so close to where gold was panned and rocks were mined it makes sence to me that folk driving through on Rt. 2 would be very interested to stop by and see what his place is all about.  He almost always has the coffee pot on and loves visiters. When there, you feel the pressures of life just melt away.

His writers cabin, the Pen-Aw-Tha  is taking on a new look. I can not do it justice by trying to discribe it. I do know that next summer I hope to book a 3 day period to lock myself away there and write. It is still a work in progress and in the winter months constrution comes to a halt.

Just so you (the reader) understands, this project is not a big production. It is one man with the “dream and the drive”  to get and keep youth of Maine interested in the Maine way of life and encourage them to pursue their dreams in country music. He also encourages “seasoned singers” like myself, who likes to sing but was held back by differant circumstance in life. I can say that for me, while I was there 2 years ago nearly each week-end singing , I felt more alive than I had felt for years. Altho my first love is singing for, to and about my Lord Jesus as part of the trio “Serenity,The National Hobo Gosple Singers, singing solo for fun about situations in ones life, good or bad, for entertainment is a whole new experiance. Scares the day lights out of me but sure is fun! As the name of my site suggests, I am “almost country music” but not quite. The president of the Maine Songwriters Association told me he does not know what to call my style other than good. He said it is almost country. Whatever it is, it is me.

I hope this input encourages those of you who can, to visit Larry, down there in East Dixfield. Share a cup of coffee and a song. You won’t be sorry.

JudyLynn

October 23rd, 2008 by JudyLynn

Howdy…..fall is here and time has come to get ready for the cold winter days and nights.  The time for song writers to put their mufflers on and sit with pen and paper and perhaps guitar or whatever instrument you play, and start working on new songs from the heart. I am hoping to work on a few new tunes this year. I also am hoping to learn a few licks on my banjo. I have had it for a few months now and have not had time to learn anything on it. 

One thing I hope to do at some point is get involved with the  Maine Song Writer’s Association. I think they would be helpful and encouraging. They have a lot of talented  people with them. I have heard some of them while in East Dixfield for the writers work shop. It was fun.  I do not know the last place they met for I was out of state .  One can get on line and join with them and get updates on all the things Maine song writers have to offer.

 As I have written before, I am part of  Serenity, The National Hobo Gospel Singers,that goes to Hobo gatherings across the state. We have lost many Hobo friends this year and there are many broken hearts. For  those of you who would like to know more about the Hobo family go to  Fran’sHoboPage If this does not open for you please let me know.

Have any of you reading this ever met Rik (Totum Pole) Palieri? He is not full country but more of a folk I guess you could say. He is good and travels abroad. He recently returned home from South America. Argentina! Wow is all I can say about that. He also goes to Hobo gatherings and the National Hobo Convention in Britt Iowa.

My friend Larry Bisbee from the Countryfolk Music Theater is soon heading est for the winter. Oh how I envy him. Well, not really but to be out of the cold..oh yes! He winters there and comes home with the birds.  I am planning on singing more there in East Dixfield, Maine this next year more than I had the chance to this year. I hope the gas prices continue to decrease so that traveling is not so costly. For a starving artist gasoline costs can be an issue.

Well, Sometime soon I am hopeing to put a vidio on here of my own. I do not know when however. These things do take some time.

Please let me know you read this by leaving a message. Thank you.

JudyLynn

March 9th, 2008 by JudyLynn

As I sit here with the sniffles, and coughing on occasion, I find myself wanting to pick up my guitar and singing loudly. Why is it we always want a drink of water when the well is dry? I can talk today after 3 days of not being able to, but can I sing? HHmmm….I would attempt it but I know I would just start coughing more. I have coughed so deep my ribs hurt. I won’t be yodeling for a while I know. I had just better  take care of my vocals and not abuse them at this time. Hee Hee…you got me. My yodeling is not professional yet. And it is just a simple single yodel I guess. I have not learned double or triple.I never have taken lessons for anything I do musically. I would say it is right up there with my spelling ability. Good thing this has spell check and I remember to use it from time to time. The important thing is the love that I have for music and singing and playing instruments. I am not sure yet how I feel about singing on a stage with people looking at me and listening. Sometimes I feel confident and other times not at all. I think it depends on who I am singing to or for. 

You know the audience plays a big part on a performers performance. (grin) I tell you this tho….There is very much a feeling of living when up on a stage. A feeling of vulnerability, excitement, many butterflies tickling the belly….. HOWEVER…. I get around all these mixed feelings by giving it all to my Lord. Not saying all I sing is gospel. No it isn’t. But I know He wants us to enjoy life and He expects us to have a varied selection. To bring Him honor. I do not sing trashy songs. They are not part of who I am. I do not sing many of my songs with Serenity, for they are not serene, but some are thought provoking. Then I have others that are just snappy and or fun. As I have written , Serenity is a trio which I am part of. We have been together since 1998. We are three ladies the Lord put together to sing to magnify Him but we are also three individual personalities. That being said, we each have our own style of music and singing that we should each have the privilege to tweak if that be our desire, but when we come together as Serenity then the Lord takes our differences and works them all out for his Glory. If for example, should you hear my almost country music style  and then hear Serenity, you would most definitely hear a big difference. Another example is this. I am looking forward to having a banjo. It will not be for Serenity, but rather just me. I have a bowed psaltery that some day might fit in with Serenity but it will not be for my almost country style. Not that I can see anyway.

Well, this cold has really got me today.I think I shall finish my juice and crawl back under the covers of my warm bed and try to sleep the day away. If I can not sleep I will either read a book OR write one!  Keep warm and stay healthy!!!! oh yes…If you are to warm where you live…keep cool and stay healthy!!!

March 8th, 2008 by JudyLynn

Well, it has been a few days since I have posted anything. I have been under the weather so to speak.  I could barly talk and yet last night I sang with the girls I sing with at a benifit supper. There were many singers there. Full bands such as Fishers of Men to Solo Acts such as Ginger Mae.  I am part of Serenity. Because of my condition this past few days we could only sing a few selected songs that were low and soft and slow. It went well tho.

This web site is slow in the making and I apologise for that. The one who is building it has been very busy and seems because he is doing this at no charge it is at the bottom of the list. Everything good is worth the wait so I am believing this will be a pretty good web site. (smile) If you are reading this could you write a comment to me so I know that someone is readng ? Thank you.

February 19th, 2008 by JudyLynn

This past year of 2007 I started singing in a little village known as East Dixfield, Maine. Serenity has sung there since 2003 but this was my first solo time. I was very nervous about this but eveyone made me feel very welcomed. Larry”Buck” Bisbee is director of this place and also has a writers cabin know as “Pen-Aw-Tha .” I was fortunate enough to have used this cabin and I was blessed with four new songs.

Singing has always been my therepy. Larry Bisbee encouraged me to record my songs and so I have. I have one cd with 11 songs on it. I have enough for 3 more cd’s yet to do. I am excited. Where will this take me at this time in my life? I assure you that I do not know. It is not the songs that will take me anywhere anyway. It is My Lord God who prepared my way before me.

Now you know me a little bit more than you did and perhaps as I do this I will think of more to submit. This is all for now.