CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL 2009

CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL 2009

Monday, November 30, 2009

* Peace Jam Guitar Auction . December 7 - 17, 2009 *




Last September I had a wonderful opportunity to attend a gathering of amazing people from all over the world.  It was called "Connecting For Change" and it included some of the most innovative, creative, brilliant people I've ever met.   Each one with a story so powerful I felt very honored to be there and be a part of it.




I made connections with several people there that I believe will continue to unfold into interesting and fulfilling opportunities for years to come.   I also had the pleasure of reconnecting with some of the women Nobel Laureates that I had met through working with Peacejam, and also to see Dawn Engle, the founder of Peacejam (along with her husband Ivan Suvanjieff).


One of the connections I made at Connecting For Change, however, has already brought to fruition a dream that I've had for a few years now.


As I was attending a luncheon during the C4C conference, I was sitting with Lynn Twist (author of "The Soul Of Money") and I began telling her my story about having created these five guitars for "Peacejam", a wonderful organization near and dear to my heart, that puts winners of the Nobel Peace Prize together with high school aged kids and creates a most incredible opportunity for mutual inspiration.   Peacejam helps to create a basic sense of direction and purpose for the kids lucky enough to be exposed to the powerful stories and a connection to the Nobels.


So, in 2006, on their 10th Anniversary, I brought to Peacejam 5 hand painted Taylor guitars.   I ended up getting all the Nobels to sign the back of each guitar...including Archbishop Tutu and His Holiness!   After the Peacejam Anniversary Celebration there was a lot going on for the founders and staff with 10 or 11 Nobels to get back to the airport.  So I put the 5 guitars into climate controlled storage in Denver.   There they have hibernated since 2006!  Not really knowing the best way to auction them off and being very busy myself as an independent, world traveling recording artist, I just waited to connect with the right person to help.


So I tell all this to Lynn, who is smiling as I finish my tale.  She points across to the other table and says:  "Why don't you go introduce yourself to that gentleman over there?   He founded Ebay!"


So of course I did!  And it has led to a wonderful thing happening....the guitars are going up for auction on Ebay Dec 7-17th!


Please pass this along to everyone you know who may be interested.


We'd love to get the word out about the guitars....!   Here's some info on them as well as a poster showing some of the Nobels signing the guitars....which are truly collectors items--and also are very fabulous playable instruments, with the exception of the white one, painted by an amazing artist McKay Otto--he felt compelled to silence the voice of the guitar for peace.....it's an incredibly moving piece of art...as are the other 4 guitars!



Read the Peacejam Guitar Story HERE.



Friday, November 20, 2009

FALL 2009


Beth Nielsen Chapman
Back To Love
(BNC Records) 
January 25, 2010

Beth’s first mainstream pop album release in six years!



JANUARY 2010
25   .   Royal Festival Hall Glasgow


FEBRUARY 2010
03   .   Grand Opera House, Belfast 
14   .   St Albans Arena
15   .   York The Grand Opera House
17   .   Brighton Corn Exchange
18   .   Treorci Park & Dare Theatre
19   .   Salisbury City Hall
21   .   Cambridge Corn Exchange
22   .   London Cadogan Hall
23   .   Basingstoke Anvil*
26   .   Derby Assembly Hall
27   .   Birmingham Town Hall
28   .   Newcastle Tyne Theatre


MARCH 2010
1   .   Perth Concert Hall
3   .   Aberdeen Music Hall 
4   .   Inverness Eden Court Theatre
6   .   Llandudno Cymru
7   .   Manchester Bridgewater Hall
8   .   Bristol Colston Hall   
*Basingstoke on sale 25/11/2009















Also....at long last I'm happy to say that the "PeaceJam" guitars are going to be made available in the world!  To find out all about Peacejam you can check out the backstory on the Huffington Post


And then...to find out all about the story on the Peacejam guitars...look HERE


So now it's been several years since the 10 Year Anniversary and the guitars have been "hibernating" in a lovely climate controlled storage space in Denver.  Just waiting for the right situation to come along for them to be auctioned.   


In September I was singing  at a Peace Summit in Vancouver which was a gathering of many of the Nobels along with the Dalai Lama and people from all over the world.   Bob Geldof was also in town.   Here I am pictured with Michael McDonald (The Doobee Brothers)  and Paul Rogers (Bad Company) and Bob, who won a Humanitarian Award for his work with the African Children's Choir.


And here are some shots of the performance with the African Children's choir....it was such fun!

I also was really thrilled to meet Sarah McLaughlin at one of the dinners I attended.  Mike McDonald and I sang "Peace" which is a song we wrote some years back...and I've just recorded for my new record.   Sarah was kind enough to come up and sing a song as well....she sang "Angel"....one of my favorites...and asked me to sing harmonies!!  That was incredible fun!

And here are some of the gorgeous children from the choir!!
Anyway....during one of the luncheons associated with the Peace Summit, I was sitting next to Lynn Twist--the author of the book "The Soul Of Money".   I was telling Lynn about the Peacejam guitars and my wanting to find some way to maximize their auctioning so that the most money could be made for Peacejam...Lynn turned to me and said,  "You should go to the next table and introduce yourself to Pierre...he started Ebay!    With that I approached the founder of Ebay, Pierre Omidy!   He was the perfect connection I was seeking for this situation.






The rest has been easy...Pierre told me about a special program they have at Ebay for not-for-profit organizations.  So all the introductions have been made and the guitars will be put up on Ebay for auction Dec 7- 17th starting at 4PM (PST)!!


eBay Giving Works . How each of us can make a difference for all of us!


WorldOfGood.com by eBay . Where your shopping shapes the world...


MicroPlace . Invest Wisely, End Poverty.


So... BE ON THE LOOKOUT!!


In other news I just finished a great fun show in Battle Creek Michigan for the Foodbank.   Bob Randels and all the good folks of Battle Creek couldn't have been more wonderful!  We had a full house and the audience was so great...it was also really special to have the whole band together again for the gig!



Don't forget!  
Coming up December 26-Jan 2 I'll be part of an amazing deeply inspiring retreat with Mary Gauthier and Darrell Scott!  


xoxo BNC

Sunday, November 15, 2009

*** ANNOUNCING * BNC * 2010 UK TOUR DATES! ***



Beth Nielsen Chapman 
&
special guest 
Marcus Hummon


JANUARY 2010
25   .   Royal Festival Hall Glasgow


FEBRUARY 2010
03   .   Grand Opera House, Belfast 
14   .   St Albans Arena
15   .   York The Grand Opera House
17   .   Brighton Corn Exchange
18   .   Treorci Park & Dare Theatre
19   .   Salisbury City Hall
21   .   Cambridge Corn Exchange
22   .   London Cadogan Hall
23   .   Basingstoke Anvil*
26   .   Derby Assembly Hall
27   .   Birmingham Town Hall
28   .   Newcastle Tyne Theatre


MARCH 2010
1   .   Perth Concert Hall
3   .   Aberdeen Music Hall 
4   .   Inverness Eden Court Theatre
6   .   Llandudno Cymru
7   .   Manchester Bridgewater Hall
8   .   Bristol Colston Hall   
*Basingstoke on sale 25/11/2009


Wednesday, November 11, 2009

I HEART Benefits Cancer Schmancer



I HEART presents a benefit for Cancer Schmancer hosted by Fran Drescher
Line-up:  Jackson Browne , The Bird and the Bee, Olivia-Newton John, Beth Nielsen Chapman, The Whispertown2000, Chris Pierce, Arrica Rose & the...'s, Charlotte Martin, Caitlin Crosby, Charlyne Yi, Mortified, and more!
Date: December 13th, 2009 7pm doors 6pm
Location: The Million Dollar Theatre - 307 S. Broadway, Los Angeles


BNC, Olivia, Richard Marx at a Benefit for HealthyChildHealtyWorld

Saturday, October 31, 2009

October 2009

We had an amazing weekend at the Stargaze 2009!  


Thank you all incredible participants...we had such a perfect combination of talent...and our drive-by-genius-songwriters Darrell Scott and Mary Gauthier blew us all away!


Darrell started us off...and set the tone for a beautiful talk on the power of creativity and the unquestionable gift we all have and how important it is for each of us to embrace our "inner permission slip".   I think he referred to it as a "get out of jail card free"!  It was so inspiring....


And then Mary Gauthier stepped into the circle with her great song and a challenge to us all to dig deep for our truth in our writing.


Among our other guest teachers we had the pleasure of meeting Allison Stillman and learning about the power of essential oils in the creative process.  Deeply spiritual and yet very routed in science and brain chemistry...it all fit in perfectly with astronomy believe it or not!   Allee's teaching on the oils was very experiential...and everyone went home with their own custom blend for creativity!


And Paul Reisler, easily one of the most in demand teachers in North America...taught 2 Master classes.  He also opened up the Stargaze with one of his breathtaking performances. Just below you can see me hugging Allee...not only do I love her...but she always smells SOOOOOOO good!


Of course Rocky Alvey blew our Cosmic socks off again....delving into mind-bending astronomical stuff that just seemed to tie everything about Creativity together....plus he performed a new song for us he has written for a movie!  He's really been holding out on is kids.   He will never do another Stargaze without performing a song!  I mean...he flips a good burger...but he's got GREAT songs up his oven glove!

Gabrielle's food was once again a focal point....and it was all over way too soon!  Thank you NSAI, Doak at The Nashville Muse, The Music Row Show, and Dan Har at Music News Nashville for the help with bringing us some great songwriters this year!!


And last but not least...please consider coming to the
Costa Rica Songwriting Intensive!  And also pass this information along for us!  This is going to be such a life changing creativity growing experience!  I've already started writing songs just thinking about it!
For anyone that can come...you will be amazed at the value of what you'll come away with...all details HERE!






Happy Creating!! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxBNC

Dave Polmeroy, Craig Krampf, Bill Lloyd & Danny Flowers


I had a blast performing "Every Day People" with powerhouse band Dave Polmeroy, Craig Krampf, Bill Lloyd & Danny Flowers for the First Amendment Center Celebration of the music of 1969!

The First Amendment Center


BNC recently caught up with the legendary John Seigenthaler at the Bluebird Cafe performance for the First Amendment Center.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Songwriting INTENSIVE Workshop in ** COSTA RICA **




Join Darrell Scott, Mary Gauthier and Beth Nielsen Chapman in Costa Rica from December 26, 2009 to January 2, 2010 in SONGWRITING INTENSIVE as the class explores Songwriting, The Creative Process and Spirit.


Ring in the New Year with fellow songwriters and recommit to the writers life as the calendar moves forward another year. Look down the mountain, from 5000 feet above, at the fireworks in the valley below!  


We will have:
  • daily classes, discussions with Darrell, Mary and Beth leading the intensives
  • a nightly open mic for the class to share songs with each other
  • a community we have created to share songs, get feedback and support from each other
  • a retreat space that, we swear, encourages energy to flow
  • yoga classes included in the price
  • options for the best body/energy work we have ever had
  • 3 incredible wholesome and healthy meals per day
  • options for Wednesday outings (whitewater rafting, volcano visits, beach day, canopy adventures)
  • a final evening concert for the entire community by Mary, Beth and Darrell

Registration is now open!


To make a reservation, please contact Di Chapman at 888-767-7375 ext. 225 or email reservations@puravidaspa.com. Check out more information and learn about the beautiful resort online at PuraVidaSpa.com! Prices are all inclusive (excluding airfare)          

Tent – double: $1350 . single: $1615
Standard – double: $1420 . single: $1750
Deluxe – double: $1555 . single: $1955
Super Deluxe – double: $1710 . single: $2260
Suite – double: $1875 . single: $2600



Rates include 7 night accommodations, 3 meals per day, round-trip airport transfers, use of yoga hall and props and the Songwriting Intensive Workshop.  Gratuities not included.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Professor Sakena Yacoobi


BNC met the amazing Professor Sakena Yacoobi at the recent Peace Summit in Vancouver.  Professor Sakena is President and Executive Director of the Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL), an Afghan women-led NGO she founded in 1995. The organization was established to provide teacher training to Afghan women, to support education for boys and girls, and to provide health education to women and children. AIL is a groundbreaking, visionary organization which works at the grassroots and empowers women and communities to find ways to bring education and health services to rural and poor urban girls, women and other poor and disenfranchised Afghans. AIL was the first organization to offer human rights and leadership training to Afghan women and supported 80 underground home schools for 3000 girls in Afghanistan after the Taliban closed girls’ schools in the 1990s.  Professor Sakena is truly a remarkable woman doing remarkable things all over the world to focus attention on the urgent need for women’s rights, education and healthcare in Afghanistan and beyond.


Learn more by visiting Creating Hope International.


  




Tuesday, October 13, 2009

2009 Stargaze Weekend Schedule

Friday, October 16


5:00 - 9:00pm   
Registration, cookout, songswap, howdy & shake.  If you would like an adult beverage with your cookout fare, you are welcome to bring your own!


Saturday, October 17

9:00am - 9:15am  
   Bagels & Coffee
9:30am
   Introductions followed by "Lift Off" Master Class with Beth
12:30pm
   Lunch by Gabrielle
1:30pm
   "Melody" Master Class with Paul Reisler
3:00pm
   "Sand and Stars" with Rocky Alvey
3:30pm
   "Harmony & Chord Structure" with Paul Reisler
5:00pm
   Song Critiques with Beth and Paul
   "Tone Essence" in the Star Chamber with Allison Stillman
6:00pm - 7:30pm
   Dinner Break.  Out to eat or bring yours back to enjoy at the observatory.
   * Critiques will resume at 6:30pm.
7:30pm - 9:45pm
   Great Bid Ol' Song Swap & Fire Pit!

Sunday, October 18

9:00am - 9:15am
   Bagels and Coffee
9:30am - 10:45am
   Finding Your Voice with Beth
   Creativity and the 10 Senses
10:45am - 12:15pm
   Allison Stillman
12:15pm
   Lunch by Gabrielle
1:15pm
   Drive by GENIUS - songwriter Darrell Scott
2:00pm
   Drive by GENIUS - songwriter Mary Gauthier
2:45pm
   "A Sense of Balance" with Rocky Alvey
3:15pm
   "The Essence of Balance in The Chaos of Creativity" with Beth
3:45pm
   "Balancing Essence" with Allison
4:00pm - 4:15pm
   Tea Time
4:15pm 
   Critiques with Beth and Paul
6:30pm
   Go Forth and Create!


**  We will have guitars and keyboards set up at the workshop.  If you would like to bring your own guitar, feel free to do so!




Tuesday, October 6, 2009

THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC! Hyde Park, London




BNC recently performed at the
  Thank You For The Music tribute to ABBA

in London's Hyde Park with Kylie Minogue, Tim Rice, Siobhan McCarthy, Elaine Page, Siobhan again, and Lulu!  British Royalty!!

Friday, October 2, 2009

African Childrens Choir

Night before last was a blast!  Singing for the African Children's Choir was just amazing.  

Pictured here clockwise from upper left, BNC with:  Ray Barnett (founder, African Children's Choir), the kids!, Bob Geldof (who won an award for service), Sir Ken Robinson with daughter, and Matthieu Ricard!

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Michael McDonald, Bob Geldof and Archbishop Desmond Tutu



Bob Geldof was honored with Archbishop Tutu at the Vancouver fundraiser where Michael McDonald, Sarah McLaughlin and BNC performed.  The Malaika Award was presented to Bob for his dedication and commitment to serve the children of Africa.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Sarah McLaughlin, Michael McDonald and Archbishop Desmond Tutu



BNC was so happy to meet and sing with Sarah McLaughlin at a fundraising party in Vancouver honoring Archbishop Desmond Tutu....they sang "Angel" together....


She performed with Michael McDonald at the same gala event....pictured below. 




( L to R,  Dr. Robert Sherman, BNC, Sarah, Amy McDonald, Mike McDonald )

Sunday, September 27, 2009

African Childrens Choir 25th Anniversary Gala

The internationally acclaimed African Children’s Choir is celebrating their 25th Anniversary on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at the Fairmont Hotel in Vancouver, BC. The Gala will feature performances by the African Children’s Choir with friends Beth Nielson Chapman, Paul Rodgers, and Michael McDonald. Sir Bob Geldof will be presented with the prestigious Malaika Award – Malaika meaning “Angel” in Swahili – for his dedicated and extraordinary commitment to Africa.



The African Children’s Choir has been helping Africa’s most vulnerable children for 25 years this month. Their purpose: to raise awareness of the plight of the orphaned and abandoned, but also show the beauty, dignity, and potential of each African child. With a focus on education, the Choir is currently caring for several thousand underprivileged children throughout Africa. These are children who could have lost all hope, but have overcome their circumstances and now are making a positive impact on society by being a voice for millions of children suffering in Africa.