Singer/Songwriter Open Mic hosted by Kiki Wow. "The Best Open Mic in the Valley" is how most people accurately describe the very popular Monday Night Open Mic Showcase hosted by the wild and crazy, Kiki Wow. Not only can your family and friends watch you from anywhere in the world via the 5 camera live webcast, but its where musicians gather to collaborate and create a grass roots scene which Kiki best describes as "Woodstock In A Coffeehouse." If you're looking for something much different from the L.A. scene, come on down and experience our living room. If you're itchin' to perform at the Woodshed, come on down.
Sign ups begin at 7pm.

Garret Swayne's busines card reads "Crafter of Song", which pretty much sums up what he's all about. An award-winning singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Garret is a troubadour for the Digital Age. Whether it be the tongue-in-cheek swagger of the world's cockiest man ("Mr. Next-Best-Thing"), the heart-wrenching regret of love lost ("Do Roses Come In Blue"), or the delightfully amusing anthem to Internet romance ("Email Female"), Garret's songs are the chronicle of his life and times. They're clever indeed, but at the same time connect very honestly from the heart. Garret also hosts the weekly MainStreet Songwriters Showcase and open mike for the songwriter community on Tuesday nights in Woodland Hills.

Also appearing tonight:

For some time, singer/songwriter CC Ballou has been known to a small cadre of fans for her beautiful, tightly written americana/folk ballads, and her downright gorgeous singing voice. About a year ago, she began singing with another vocalist, Beverly Molletti, whose voice is a natural complement to her own. They sound great in harmony, they clearly enjoy the musical interplay, and they've been singing together ever since.

Corrine May "It is and always has been about the song." That's the motto that drives Corrinne May to write the music she does. Never mind that her voice has been likened to "crystal dipped in velvet" or that an enthusiastic reviewer enthused that pop chanteuse Sarah McLachlan would "give anything to sound like this".

There is something pure and old-fashioned about Corrinne's music. Perhaps it's the almost classical feel of her piano ballads, or the way her lyrics reminds one of Joni Mitchell's lyrical honesty or the way her melodies weave within your consciousness like a tapestry. All in all, Corrinne's music is a celebration of life at it's most spiritual. Corrinne recently made the move from her native Singapore to the music hub of Los Angeles, co-wrote a song with Carole King and Carole Bayer Sager, and released a self-titled debut CD, named the "Best Contemporary Album" in the Just Plain Folks Music Awards 2003. She is currently working on her second album "Little Superhero Girl".

Born in Hollywood California, Ed started guitar playing guitar at 11 influenced by the blues, rock, country and folk music of the 60’s. Ed joined Hot Lips & Fingertips as their bass player in 1974, soon after moving to guitar. Always writing songs, he began making trips to Nashville in the 1980’s. He’d had success with Garth Brooks’ recording of "Cowboy Bill" and the Wynonna Judd/Michael English single "Healing" before finally moving there in 1995. During his six years in Nashville, he was Deana Carter's band leader and played on Kinky Friedmans #1 Independent Album, "Pearls In The Snow", Kacey Jones’ two albums including her European #1 hit, "You’re The Reason Our Kids Are Ugly" and countless other recording dates. Ed also had his songs recorded by Garth Brooks, Doug Stone, Billy Ray Cyrus, Engelbert Humperdink and the "In The Beginning" Songwriters tribute to Garth Brooks, as well as the independent recordings, "The Gram Parsons Notebook" and Darryl Purposes’ "Travelers’ Code" and "It’s No Accident" CD’s. Through the years, he’s also had many of his songs placed in movies and on television, and continues to be very active writing and producing projects back home in Los Angeles.

Joining Ed tonight will be Monty Byrom, Kathrin Shorr and Tim Burlingame. We'll also be joined by Jeff Kossack on percussion, and David Stone on the drums.

Monty Byrom had a huge impact on county music as lead singer of the MCA Nashville recording act Big House. The difference between Big House and the typical studio band prompted a Billboard magazine reviewer to gush over Big House's first single, "Cold Outside". "What a great record!" the review said. "Nothing else currently circulating sounds like this and it's a wonderful breath of fresh air." In Music Row magazine, reviewer Robert K. Oermann raved about "Cold Outside", calling it "groove heaven." He then added these telling remarks: "See these boys live and you'll walk away with a fan club application form, I guarantee. The whole room vibrates when they play."

Kathrin Shorr brings to Kulak's her own unique blend of music she dubs "soulfolk". She was born in London, and grew up in Los Angeles, and tours throughout the world. She was nominated for the 1996 Artist of the Year Award by the National Academy of Songwriters. In 1998 Kathrin was chosen for ASCAP's prestigious Sammy Cahn Lyricist Award, presented at the Lincoln Center in NYC. She performed at the NXNE Music Conference in Toronto, and toured up and down the west coast in support of her record. Kathrin has showcased at the North American Folk Alliance Conferences in Memphis, Tennessee, and Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has played in Cannes, France for the MIDEM Music Festival, and was singled out of 2,500 entrees as a finalist in the Lilith Fair Talent Search in Los Angeles.

Tim Burlingame's songs about the vulnerable human condition are beginning to gather attention for their strong lyrical imagery and broad textures. His voice is simple but pure and utterly believable, housed inside songs that are rich with blooming melodies and keen lyrical hooks. In 1997, Tim was selected for ASCAP's highly-regarded Lester Sills Songwriting Workshop. A finalist in the songwriter competition at the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival in Colorado, he was also invited to perform at the High Sierra and Napa Valley music festivals. Tim has showcased at the Folk Alliance conferences in Memphis, Tennessee and Albuquerque, New Mexico, and his song "Meeting Hall" was selected for the 1998 DiscMakers compilation CD "Southern California's Heavy Hitters". He toured last year in Boston and New York, and spent 3 weeks last fall playing at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. His song "Come and Go" appears in the short film "5 Minutes" which won top honors for short film at the 2001 Houston International Film Festival. Most recently, Tim was a finalist in the Troubadour competition at the 2002 Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Colorado.

The multi-talented David Stone plays drums, sing backup vocals with the other performers, plus does his own songs on guitar, ukelele or piano. He often sings duets with his daughter. Each time he takes the stage, he suprises us with something new.

Jeff Kossack was the first L.A. guitar player for the Matthew Lee Band some 10 years ago. He followed that with a stint as Amilia K. Spicer's guitar player, as well as Earl Grey's guitar guy, and then Mark Romano's. He is expanding his musical horizons as a drummer for Severin Browne and James Coberly Smith, and was a

Saturday 5/15, 8:00pm
John McEuen and Friends Woodshed Fundraiser Benefit

A broad spectrum of music Americana - with a bit of "the old country" music thrown in for good measure - has made John McEuen known as America's instrumental poet. His musical impressions from over 30 years of worldwide travels are brought to the stage with performing expertise that sets him apart from others, and focuses on acoustic guitar, banjo, fiddle, and mandolin.

A founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in summer of ’66, after 21 years he left in the winter of ’88 to broaden his artistic pursuits. Multi-instrumentalist McEuen has since ventured into varied musical genres, taking his music and other talents to different formats including television specials, film scoring, unusual award winning CDs and concert production while keeping up an active road schedule.

McEuen onstage incorporates his vintage instruments he has taken to international venues, with instrumental wizardry that keeps the audience entranced, whether he is entertaining them live or via CD. His love for the history of acoustic music and his joy at being onstage is evident to all those who see him and hear him...there's never a dull moment when McEuen is on!

Hosted by Merrily Weeber.

Merrily Weeber brings to each of her performances a blend of class and comfort that makes a night with her an enjoyable experience. Her repertoire covers a wide variety of music from the great american song book to the current hits. She has been heard on a variety of TV shows and movies over the years.

Morgan Ames, singer/songwriter/composer/arranger and Grammy Award winning producer, Morgan has done it all in music, movies, television and commercials.

A native of Nashville, Michael Mishaw recorded with Ronnie Milsap and Pattie Loveless before moving to Los Angeles. He has performed on commercials, Good Morning America, Jay Leno, Today Show, etc., toured with Don Henley, Natalie Cole, Michael Bolton, and performed with Bobby Brown, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey. Film credits include Matrix Revolution, Amistad, Mighty Joe Young, Peanuts, etc.

Also performing will be Jeff Gafford

For the latest updates check the Calendar online. Come on down to support the musicians and the Woodshed. There's NO COVER CHARGE! But if you can't make it down, we broadcast every show over the Internet from 8:00PM til 10:00ish LIVE on your computer! We gratefully accept donations of any denomination to help keep the bills paid and the music flowing.

We're located at 5230-1/2 Laurel Canyon Blvd, North Hollywood, just north of Magnolia and the 101 Freeway. Our phone number is 818-766-9913. See you there!

Bob M