Sing For Your Supper

The prospect of a good meal I don't have to A. COOK B. PAY FOR C. CLEAN UP AFTER is a FANTASTIC THING! So, Cal and I have been singing for our supper around Star Valley when the opportunity arises. It's a great excuse to get together and play for a captive audience, figure out what songs work, what ones we've forgotten and which ones we should write ASAP. Meadows Ward was throwing a big birthday bash for the Relief Society and so we worked up a 45 min. set, which we know would be plenty long (especially with my son Tom demanding my attention at-mediatly ;-) I swear, kids choose the most public places to grab your sleeve and repeat "Mom, Mom, MOm, MOm MOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOM!!!!! Until you HAVE to answer if only to make it stop!) Anyhow, much to our surprise they wanted more, and would not take no for an answer. It was a kick! So we strapped on our guitars and gave the people what they wanted, and were rewarded with food galore and a standing ovation :-) I didn't have to cook dinner and Tom came home with enough balloons to take flight. Last night we hit the COFFEE CABIN down in Alpine, which I highly suggest adding to your date night schedule. It was a relaxed crowd and we sang a couple hours, then were served a three course dinner and when the Mayor asked, we pulled a couple special requests out of the archieves of our minds. It's been a long time since we've performed "Cowboys Are Dreamers and The Ride". We played until our bulging stomachs could take no more and headed for home.

Can't wait till next time . . . . . . be on the lookout for additions to our schedule. May 8th we are playing a Mothers Day Dance at the Afton Civic Center with the full band.

The Coffee Cabin

This weekend The Linfords will be singing for their supper at The Coffee Cabin in Alpine, Wyoming. It's a great little spot along the Snake River where good food and good music are plentiful. Cal and I hope to see you there. Saturday night 'round 7:00pm.

Paid In Applause

Oft times when The Linfords sing it's just for the sake of singing. Yep, we get paid for some gigs, but living in a small town there is a lot of opportunity to help someone out be it a fundraiser, a church function, a family party . . . . . you name it, we've sung at it. And if there isn't a budget for us to be paid, more than likely we'll sing for you anyway. I figure it's more than 'good karma' to share the talents God gave us, and whatever good is done in this world will come back in untold ways. This weekend we had the chance to sing for the Thayne First Ward and although we felt like we were playing the kinks out a bit, they loved the show and gave us a standing ovation!

There is a saying that "You are never a prophet in your own town", and perhaps it's true, but we have felt the love and support of our community every time we perform and not only did they have a good experience with some great music, we did too. Thanks Thayne First!

LUNA TALENT

In our travels Cal and I have become friends with a lot of talented people, and as we all grow up and expand our projects we are lucky enough to reap the privledges of our acquaintences :) One of which is Luna Talent. One of my friends from a show we did WAAY back has just started her own talent agency in the Utah area and we were thrilled to become part of her talent pool. So check us out on www.lunatalent.com and Thanks Molly!

All That Jazz

Although Classic Country and Folk music is what Cal and I most often play together, we both are involved in other projects that couldn't be further from George Strait and John Denver. Every so often Cal will head on down to the Coffee Cabin and bend his mind around some serious Jazz Chords and I just got back from one of my favorite gigs singing Jazz standards in the Lodge Dining Room in Sun Valley for Valentines Day. I love that music can always be evolving and as it does, so do we. It makes us better musicians to have such diverse music and performances in our lives. When we sit down to play together again there is a new feeling in our music that comes from venturing out into other genres. I also found that some of the songs in our set list lend themselves to the Jazz lovin' crowd as well. "You Belong To Me" was a hit with the Valentines Couples in Sun Valley and Cal has worked up a cool version of "Summertime" and I'm sure we'll be adding it to our sets this year. Hope your Valentines Day was full of great music and loved ones to share it with :-)

Introducing thelinfordband.com

Cal and I finally took the plunge and with the help of Scott from The Bad Larry's we created a website for our band. Check it out at http://www.thelinfordband.com/

Inspiration For 2010

When we heard Brandi Carlile was playing at The Mangy Moose in Jackson, of COURSE we had to go!We were not disappointed.

My favorite thing about the show is that there is a really great UP energy about it. Sure there are sad, angsty songs and plenty of drama, but the underlying feeling about everything they do is that they LOVE IT. I believe that they love playing as much as I love listening and that is what makes it for me.

I was close enough to the stage to touch her guitar.

Yes, I am one of the die-hard fans vying for prime real estate in front of the stage :)

I'm always interested in the instruments they play and equipment they run. They had a flying sound system and the mix was fantastic.

Cal and Del both stood out in the crowd a little bit :) They looked like my body guards. It was such a great night.


(I get totally nerded out when I'm really into the music ~ and after three live BC Concerts, I'm STILL into it :)

Oh, and the most enviable part of the whole night was this guy pictured in the background. He is the guitar tuner/handler :) Maybe someday we'll have one of those ;)

The Linfords ~ Thunderbolt Duo of the Year!

In case you missed it, here are our 2009 Thunderbolt Radio Music Award winners!

Song of the Year:
1. I Keep Calling – Kelly McDonald - California
2. Knocklayde Mountain - T.J. Stuart & Brenda Mulgrew - Ireland

Male Artist of the Year
1. Kelly McDonald - California
2. Rick Reiley - Oklahoma

Female Artist of the Year
1. Brianie - England
2. Brenda Mulgrew - Ireland

Duo of the Year
1. The Linfords - Wyoming
2. The Del Mars - Nebraska

Group of the Year
1. The Doo Wah Riders - California
2. The Quebe Sisters - Texas

Songwriter of the Year
1. Billy Ross - Oklahoma by way of Texas :)
2. Rick Reiley - Oklahoma

Instrumentalist of the Year
1. The Quebe Sisters - Texas
2. Johnny Main - Nebraska

Best Older Recording
1. Turn Her Down - Eben Gifford - Nebraska
2. Make Up or Break Up - Bobby Carl - Oklahoma

The Sylvia Latham Award (Best New Up &Coming Artist)
1. Brianie - England
2. The Whitlocks - Wyoming


Again, thanks for a great 2008 and 2009. This year marks our third year and it will be our best to date!
Be sure to tune in! http://www.live365.com/stations/thunderboltradio

Win A Free Linford's CD!

Cal and I started this blog to not only chronicle our musical/life journey, but to also stay connected with all of you who support us. I am starting an e-mail list this year as another way to keep everyone up to date and informed about upcoming shows, fundraisers, CD's, and projects. I promise your information will be used only to notify you of important things going on with The Linford's Music. Please e-mail me your contact information and I will add you to our list. As a little incentive and bonus, we will be drawing a name from those who sign up to win a free CD of your choice. (we have two to choose from ;)



e-mail me at; teddycunningham@hotmail.com



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