I'm always looking for new ways to present music to people. So when I met Jordan Swim from Vestals Foods and heard about his series of dinners called Food Creates Community, I was intrigued. We began discussing the possibility of joining forces and putting on an event that was more than a dinner, more than a house concert. We came up with Three Course Concert.

On Saturday, April 10 we're presenting a 5-star menu comprised of locally grown, organic produce and meats in three courses. I'll "pair" each course with a set of music. Shannon Neffendorf from Oak Cliff Coffee Roasters will provide some amazing coffee beverages.

Since we won't know the availability of certain products until later, we will announce the menu closer to the date of the event. But rest assured, it will be delicious. Check out the Vestals Foods website for examples of the wonderful dishes they've created.

Seating is limited, so please make your reservations soon. The event will be in Dallas, but we can divulge the address of the event only after you RSVP. Go here to make your reservation.

Thanks for supporting independent music and local buisnesses,

Dylan

I feel like only a few weeks ago I was sitting down to compose the 2008 year in review blog. Here we go again!

If there was a theme to my music career for 2009 it probably would be "Work Together." I did more touring with other artists this year than I ever have before, and I'm wiser and better for it. Here are some of the highlights from the last 12 months.

Folk Alliance (Feb)



Folk Alliance International is a music conference that happens in Memphis every February. The recipe goes like this: add one part industry professionals (managers, record labels, booking agents, house concert hosts) and one part artists to a downtown Memphis hotel. Shake and see what happens. The week was fruitful for me, and I'm excited to return in 2010, this time as an official showcasing artist! To learn more, visit www.folk.org.

NYC Shows: A Family Affair (Apr)


Those of you who have followed me for three years or more have no doubt heard Jeff Rogers. Jeff is a dear friend and a long-time collaborator on my music. We share a chemistry that I have yet to find with another musician. He's also an immensely talented designer, and has helped me with several posters, CD covers, etc. In April of 2009 I got the chance to play three shows with Jeff in New York City, where he and his wife Allison live. My older sister Adrienne also lives in NYC, and she and Allison were kind enough to join in on background vocals at the shows. We had a fantastic time playing and visiting, and I'm planning another run of shows up to NYC for late April 2010.

The National Nuptials Tour (June)



In June my high school buddy Brad got married in Salmon, Idaho. My other buddy Ryan got married in Austin in late May. Yet another buddy, Jon, tied the knot in early June in San Angelo, Texas. One of the great things about my job is that I can take it with me anywhere. And I mean anywhere. To attend all three weddings I planned a run of shows through Texas, Idaho, and all points in between. I saw some beautiful places (visit Idaho!), old friends, and made it back to South Carolina in time to catch my buddy Patrick's wedding in late July. This coming summer I will most likely pass through Idaho again, en route to my first tour of the west coast.

Home Sweet Home (July)



If you don't know David Ramirez, go find him and tell him I said hi. He and I share a love of house concerts, intimate gatherings in people's homes that give audiences a chance to not only listen to songs, but connect with them and with each other. We put our heads together and came up with "Home Sweet Home." In July David and I played two weeks of house concerts across the South and Midwest. It was exciting to work with hosts straight from our email lists. If you'd like to put on a concert in your home, we can help. For more information, send me an email at booking@dylansneed.com.

Ellen Cherry Tour (Aug)



My fellow Texas emigrant Ellen Cherry now makes her home in Baltimore. In August I flew to Maryland and spent a week touring with her back down to the Carolinas. Ellen is one of the hardest working songwriters I know. Check out her song "Something Insanely Clever." It's one of my favorites. The standout show of the tour in my eyes was the first: a cozy evening at El Rancho Grande (R.I.P.). The room was full, even the stairwell that faced the stage, and all were engaged in the moment. Pete, the jaded curmudgeon that owned the place, even teared up as he addressed the crowd at the end of the night: "This is what I always wanted this place to be about."

Taylor Hildebrand Tour (Sept)



I met Taylor Hildebrand when I met Mississippi, and each of these new acquaintances have always kept me on my toes and kept me laughing. When Taylor approached me about doing a tour together I had no idea what I was in for. Taylor's energy and spirit are infectious to all who spend time with him, and this makes his live performances all the more engaging. I laughed more than I had on tour in a while. I'm working on a Jackson date with Taylor for early April 2010. Look out for his upcoming solo record.

Judd & Maggie Tour (Oct)



Judd and Maggie are brother and sister. NOT boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife. Let's just get that clear. They are a very talented songwriting duo based in Nashville. In October the three of us piled in J&M's Mark III van and took off for a two week tour around the South. I was happy to watch them stuff their faces with Tex-mex and barbeque. I was even happier to play guitar on their music while they backed up my songs with bass, keys, and beautiful harmonies. Judd and I are working on some future collaborations that you'll hear about in the coming year.

Full Band Birthday Show (Dec)



In 2009 I turned 30, a momentous occasion to be sure. I decided to celebrate with a concert in Hartsville, the little town I moved to in 2008. The venue choice was easy: my beloved Midnight Rooster. I also elected to recruit a band: Jeremy Smith on bass and Boot Arreola on drums. The result was a fun-filled night of music and laughs. We reprised my musical mix-up game Sneed Libs, where the audience unwittingly rewrites a famous tune that the band then performs. All in all, a great birthday celebration and inspiration for some more full band shows in the future. Check out Jeremy's band Public Radio, and Boot's luthier business B.A. Ferguson.

December Hiatus



I decided that the birthday show would be the only show of December for me, so that I could take some time to finish writing my next record. December was a fruitful time for me, and I got at least one new tune out of it and a lot of great practice time. I've also started planning some of the nuts and bolts of the recording process: talking to producers, scouting locations, and researching fundraising options. This break was much needed, probably more than I realized when I first decided to do it. It's brought me perspective, and has shown me that just like in a piece of music, the rests can be as important as the times you're actually playing.

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2010 holds many exciting prospects for me, most of which I'm sure I can't see now. Folk Alliance, recording, the return of Alphabet Soup, and a summer tour to the west coast are just a few of the events already in the works. Happy new year to all of you. I hope to see you soon.

Thanks for continuing to support independent music,

Dylan

Yesterday I drove through the night to sleep in my own bed again. Some things are worth pulling in the driveway at 4:30 in the morning. I spent the last couple of days in eastern Tennessee with some friends I met on the road. It was the picture of fall.

The two weeks prior to my fall retreat were great fun, thanks to lots of generous house concert hosts, musician friends, audiences, and my touring partners Judd & Maggie. Please check out their music. I know you'll love it.

I want to share a few fruits of the trip with you. First, a great article about house concerts by my new friend Matt Cuthbert at AL.com. He attended my Birmingham house concert earlier this month and took a few videos, a few photos, and some copious notes. Read the article here.

Also, my new friend Jeffrey Liles filmed Judd, Maggie, and me performing some of our songs on the construction site of the Kessler Theater in Dallas, TX. The theater will open in the coming months, but in the meantime the management has filmed multiple artists from the region and beyond to help promote this cool new music venue in the Bishop Arts District of Dallas. Enjoy two of my unreleased songs below!