Hope you are all having some great family and fun time, if not, then you are having some well deserved quiet time.
For a couple of years I have wanted to find a way to transfer my old hi-8 films on to DVD. Well I went out and bought myself a piece of software for Xmas that allows me to transfer them, these are from my various trips and escapades over the years.. I am thrilled I can do that, I’m addicted to it!
Lots to share so keep tuned in… (particularly when you see me in a SAMBA competition!!!!) But first!
In 1998 I went to Brazil with my solo band, Rave Tesar, Joe Goldberger, David Biglin and Denny Bridges our trusted sound engineer. The shows went fantastically well, the fans were super friendly and avid fans of Renaissance (we have still never been there (YET) as a band… I have some footage to edit of these guys, we had FUN FUN FUN! I stayed on for a vacation to spend time with my friends Carlos and Luiz. While in Rio my favourite place to eat is at a very popular restaurant ‘FAZENDOLA’ in Leblon (Rio) the owner and friend Mary Lou very kindly threw a party for me.
It felt so good to relax and have fun and a few glasses of wine…I do have footage of me dancing during the evening, but not sure if I will share that LOL’s. I wasn’t expecting to ‘sing’ so luckily I wasn’t legless hahahahaha. The Brazilian band had learned our song ‘Let it Grow’ ahead of time. This song was a huge hit in Brazil in the 70′s, but that was still not enough for us to be able to tour.
I do hope you enjoy my rather relaxed and giggly interpretation of ‘Let it Grow’
It is with great excitement and pride that we are formally announcing the release of our Special Limited Edition DVD/CD set which was filmed and recorded on our recent US tour. With the exception of someone sticking a B&W camera at the back of a theater in the 70′s, this is the first time Renaissance has ever been filmed and professionally recorded in concert.
The love and energy bestowed upon us by those of you that were able to attend, reflects in our performance. It is especially exciting for us to have fans all around the world able to see and hear our wonderful new band. We now have five strong vocalists within the band, two keyboard players, an orchestral drummer/percussionist and phenomenal bass player who capture all the lush and richness of our orchestrations.
During the shooting of the backstage interview footage on the DVD we were asked ‘”what’s different about your fans today than when you started?” I answered after giggling… ha ha “they’re older!” Well for the most part we ‘have grown up’ together and truly feel a closeness that we can all share together in our music.
Well, that’s enough blabbing… let the music and show speak for itself.
We thank you for your support and friendship.
My goodness, what a day Friday, September 23rd was! We arrived at the Keswick Theatre 2 hours later than scheduled due to a tire blow-out in the middle of a torrential rain storm as we made our way up from Virginia. Notwithstanding that unexpected mess, I had a lot of fun driving everyone batty as I tried out my new IPHONE 4 and video taped our soundcheck. I guess there was no better spot to shoot from than right there on stage!
Anyway, the sound check was very exciting since we (professionals, not me) were filming it and the show; lots of action in all areas!
The show was very special as were our warm very appreciative (and loud) audience.
We are releasing a special limited edition DVD/Double CD package in November, available through our website only. Oh my oh my… just in time to tuck us under your Christmas tree. We’ll keep you posted with all the details. Time for me to get back to working on the artwork, booklet and editing. Bye for now…
On behalf of the entire band, our crew, management, and those who helped to make our recent tour such a wonderful success and experience for all, we thank each and every one of you for your devotion and support.
We recorded and filmed the Keswick Theatre performance. Being it all sounds and looks great, we will be releasing a CD and DVD available only through our website in time for the Holidays (along with some very special Renaissance goodies).
As we now move forward with our own Renaissance, it is the loyalty and love we receive from each of you that makes this all so very worthwhile.
Band, crew and equipment are neatly packed up and ready to head north today as the Turn Of The Cards and Scheherazade and Other Stories tour kicks off in Vermont Saturday. Annie, Michael, Rave, Dave, Frank, and Jason are all in fine form and spirits after a very intense schedule of rehearsals.
Everyone is looking forward to this run of shows and re-connecting with longtime friends and fans. Annie and Michael commented, “We wish that we could be playing for all our fans around the world, but we’ll be feeling their love every time we take to the stage. We’ve decided to record and film the shows so we can share the evening with everyone and will look forward many more shows in 2012″.
Ticket sales have been great, and there are a still a few of the special VIP packages left.
A limited number of Very Special Guest packages will be made available to fans already holding tickets for the upcoming September tour. This package includes the following:
Attend soundcheck with Renaissance (approximately 5-6pm on day of show, no photography or video)
Personalized autographed Very Special Guest laminate pass on lanyard
Personalized autographed official tour poster
Attend a Meet and Greet with Renaissance directly after the show, plus your photo taken with the band (bring your own camera)
Cost: $99.00 per person. Available for purchase here.
I received the news this afternoon that Betty Thatcher Newsinger died of cancer on August 15.
I remember the first time I spoke with Betty, I was looking for a writing partner and Jim McCarty suggested I call her as he wanted to write lyrics as well as the music. They had been working together for a while. After speaking we decided that I would put down a couple of songs I’d recently completed on cassette tape and send down to her.
To my amazement in the mail three days later were the lyrics that were fantastic, she just knew what lyric would work with the music. That was the beginning of a wonderful partnership that lasted over fifteen years with songs that have become classics: Ashes are Burning, Carpet of the Sun, Mother Russia, and the hit single we had in the UK Northern Lights. These and more helped in the success of Renaissance.
Although we haven’t worked together for a while we are still touring and performing these classic songs. Both Annie and I remember those early days of working together and in the studio recording our best known work.
Michael Dunford, principal songwriter and guitarist of renowned symphonic progressive rock band Renaissance, will be offering two of his guitars for auction in August 2011:
Yamaha FG-230 12-string acoustic guitar featured on every Dunford-era Renaissance studio album
Ovation Adamas 12-string acoustic-electric guitar featured on every tour since 1978
On behalf of the entire band, our crew, management, and those who helped to make our recent tour such a wonderful success and experience for all, we thank each and every one of you for your devotion and support.
