KIT HOLMES: News

Hard to believe I haven't journaled in more than a year!

I promise that is about to change. Stay TUNED!

It's official! "It's A New Day", my motown-inspired gospel/feel-good song took 3rd place in the Inspirational Category of the 2007 Austin Songwriter's Group Song Contest!

This song has had a pretty exciting life of its own since I wrote it and released it in January....

What's really cool is that one of my new songs, "Baseball, Fishin', Boats and Beer" also nabbed a finalist award in the General Category.

All the contest finalists and winners were announced Sunday, June 24, 2007 at the ASG monthly meeting at Threadgill's.

Thanks to all the judges!

Got my "street cred" today with the arrival of my official membership card to The Recording Academy. (NARAS - National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences) ....that would be the folks who bring you the Grammy Awards.

Okay, it's got some ego-tickling value, I admit ('cause you gotta have production/performance/writing credits on a certain number of commercially released projects in order to be a voting member) but it's really another step up for me in my business of music...

...yeah. It rocks...

The gig last night at Whole Foods was fantastic! I hope all of you who attended had as much fun as I did!
The weather was cool, dry and perfect for an evening show.
Thanks to my bandmates Eric, Dewayne and Fito - great guys and great musicians that make show like this such a pleasure...

Hey, if you missed it, stayed tuned...there'll be lots more to come...

Songwriter buddy Joe Strouse informs me that songs from my first CD "All I Know" are currently being played on KMIL radio 1310 AM (Cameron, TX), every Wednesday from 9 - Noon, (Central Time) on "Central Texas Sounds."

Your best bet is to catch it on the internet: www.kmil.com

Thanks Joe, and thanks to Brian Smith (the DJ) at KMIL.

Now that a new album (yes, it's true!!) is finally in the works, the
first one ("All I Know") is finally available on CD Baby, ITunes and
my website...Yippeee!!! Go to www.kitholmesmusic.com... and check it
out. You'll also find some new tunes not available anywhere else.
Just go to the "music" page to listen to samples, then go to the
"buy" page to download.

In addition to all the writing and demo-ing of new songs I've been
doing lately (which is why you haven't heard much from me...) I've
joined a new musical project as keyboardist: The Duane Carter
project. Duane is a trumpet player who writes some fantastic smooth
jazz tunes. It's challenging and fun (and boy, are my jazz chops
getting a workout again!)...I'll keep you posted on those gigs, too.
(www.duanemcarter.com)

For the time being, here are a couple gigs coming up:

Thursday, April 26th, 2007
Cypress Creek Cafe -

www.cypresscreekcafe.com
George Ensle & Friends - 9-ish
On the Square
Wimberley, TX
Price: free

I'll be an "and friend" tonight playing a few of my new tunes. George
and his band will play from 8 p.m. 'til around 9 p.m. or so. Check out
www.georgeensle.com while yer at it! It'll be worth your while...

Friday, April 27th, 2007
Unity Church of San Marcos - http://www.unitychurchsanmarcos.org
New Thought Music Alliance Conference Concert - 7 p.m.
16870 N. Hwy 123
San Marcos, TX

NTMA conference attendees will be performing in this concert that's
open to the public. From folk to jazz and everything in between, this
should be an eclectic and intimate evening of inspiring music.

Thursday, May 17th, 2007
Whole Foods - Downtown
www.wholefoods.com
Concert Series - 6 to 7:30 pm
500 N. Lamar
Austin, TX
Price: Free!

Join me and friends (Eric Calistri on guitar, Dewayne Morris on Bass)
for some springtime grooves (originals and maybe a couple of covers)
and noshing on the creekside patio! This series brought to you by The
Austin Music Foundation (www.austinmusicfoundation.org) and Whole
Foods.

My good guitar buddy Eric Calistri gently nudged me to check out playing in this new jazz project. Trumpeter Duane Carter (www.myspace.com/duanemcarter) writes some great "nu-jazz" (smooth/fusion/funk tunes and along with Dewayne Morris on bass and Fito Khan on percussion we're going to get things rolling for a demo, gigs and album projects.

hip. yep.

As I write this my CD "All I Know" is finally on it's way to CD Baby and will be available (with updated graphics) within the next two weeks. It will also be available through ITunes, Amazon.com and a host of other major distribution points.

As soon as I get the word, I'll put the links on the website so you can purchase it for all those folks you know would love to hear it!

In the meantime, you can still download the album, my meditation track "Bearden Creek" and the newest groove, "It's a New Day"!!! Just go to the "Buy" page. Simple, no?

Yes, it's upon us again. The annual SXSW (that would be South by Southwest) Film, Interactive and Music Festival here in Austin. I give a warm, Texas-size welcome to the tens of thousands (seems more like millions) of musicians, "industry" folks, papparazzi, glitteratti and hairdo/fashion statements who've descended on our fair city.

It's really quite something to experience. You should try it at least once in your life....really.

I witnessed a part of it perched from a tiny stage singing and playing Motown tunes with Austin Hot Trax at the Copa on Congress, as well as from the deep reaches of the Jackalope bar on 6th St. during Austin Music Foundation's party...by the by, when Guy Forsythe has a gig, make sure you catch it...

Finally, the moment you've all been waiting for: my music is now available for download and purchase directly from my website! (See the "buy" page). You can still listen to samples on the "Music" page, and open links to the lyrics. I can now post new material before it ends up on an album (Just check out "It's a New Day!....)

I haven't worked out all the kinks yet, but at least I feel like I've moved into the present technological century. E me and lemme know what you think!

The whole of the RSI (Religious Science Int'l) Minister's Conference this week was amazing. I played for so many amazing folks, sold all the CDs I had and made fantastic new friends from all over the country (and Canada!). Opening for and listening to Dr. Joan Borysenko was just one of the highlights...finding a whole new audience = priceless!

The radio gig today in little 'ol Cameron, Texas was a blast! The time just flew by. Joe, Terri, John and I did alot more talking than playing - we only did one song each during the hour! Terri and I were ready to keep playing all day.... Brad, the DJ, was warm, put everyone at ease and even played one of his original songs (...it was quite good!)... looking forward to more radio in the future...

So, I get my first shot on a radio show as a songwriter/performer!

KMIL Radio 1330 AM (Cameron, TX) has a show every Wednesday called "Central Texas Sounds"

Longtime Austin Songwriter's Group member Joe Strouse made the contact at KMIL and was good enough to share the wealth with the rest of us.

So, Joe, Terri Fann, John Greene and I will be doing the show on Valentine's Day, (that would be Wednesday, Feb. 14) from 10:05 a.m. - 11 a.m. (CST) - This is a very small station with a VERY short broadcast area, but you can still listen to the show via streaming audio on their website. www.KMIL.com.

How cool is that? Ah, technology. I'm really excited about this...and nervous, too. Gee, what should I wear?

Just got word today that the conference I'm scheduled to perform at includes some pretty notable folks...and my main time slot on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 8:45 a.m. is the opening for NY Times Bestselling author Dr. Joan Borysenko. Wow, I say (okay, I've said, "Wow!" a hundred times already...)

I'm really having a great time lately watching the universe unfold in wonderful, unexpected ways. This is one of those times - I said, "yes" to the conference without any knowledge about "who" would be there. The "what" was the draw for me...and here I go....yahoooooo!!!

A new song mine titled, "It's A New Day" has gone to new and unexpected places rather quickly. Ah, yes, timing is everything....

I wrote the song with a New Year's theme just a couple of weeks ago. I had a hunch to demo the thing and take it to a song critique on Jan. 22. where everyone seemed to get all happy-clappy with it. It's got an old-school Motown feel to it.

Two days later, one of my songwriter buddies contacted me about sending it over to some folks she shares office space with....seems they were looking for a "theme" song for their annual meeting. Well, in less than a week's time, "It's A New Day" became the soundtrack for the organization's PowerPoint presentation and I was invited (you bet I went!) to perform the song live for their annual meeting.

Thanks to Mardi Wareham and all the folks at the Austin Area Interreligious Ministries. ...check 'em out at www.aaimaustin.org.

Welcome to the new year, all!

Resolutions? Nope, I don't make them. I set intentions instead.

What's difference, you ask?
Well, I believe the word "resolution" has become synonymous with "forcing my will on something to make it so." Which, as we all know after awhile, usually results in failure.

Making conscious "intentions", however, means I choose to do a little deeper thinking about not only what I want to accomplish, by why.

For me "intention" is an internal action, "resolution" an external.

So, that being said, am I willing to share my intentions with you? Nope. 'Cuz they're internal....ha ha ha ha ha.

Actually, here's one: I will share lots of new music with you in this New Year...

Okay, here's a one more: I intend to see, and set off, more fireworks this year....

Okay, and one more: I intend to express gratitude every day.

This year is going to be soooooooo fun!!! I wish you all the best.

This past weekend I attended the annual Austin Songwriter's Group Symposium.
What a blast to be around so many talented writers and musicians. The jam sessions were amazing!

My song "Headed West" made it to the finalist round in the song contest in the Singer/Songwriter category.

Hey, I may not have won, but it was an honor just to be in the running with the other writers in this category (check out www.austinsongwritersgroup.com for the complete list of finalists and winners).

I'll get the clip on the site so you can hear it asap!

I'll be heading to Georgia at the end of this month for a couple of gigs (check the calendar page) and to do some catching up on my old stompin' grounds. Road trips are always inspiring for new tunes....

Well, it's finally here! Feel free to come on in and look around. I'll be adding new stuff on regular basis so please stop by every now and then, eh?