Newsletter Archive

HOWDY,
Hey folks. I hope everybody had a great Christmas? Things were very crazy around here. Jacob walked away with a truck load of electronic stuff, Lisa got a new job and even Holly (the dog) got a brand new comfy bed which she won't do without.

Turn Back Time (Jim, Carolyn and I) have done a few more shows in the Osprey area and the reaction has been OUTSTANDING! Our program of Florida stories and songs is coming together quite nicely. You can check out our efforts at www.reverbnation.com/turnbacktime . Turn Back Time will be performing on Febuary 26th & 27th at the Pine Castle Pioneer Days Festival. Some of the other performers are The Morse Family, Jackson Creek, Bob Rafkin and Jerry Mincey. Also Jim, Carolyn and I will be performing at the Sarasota Folk Festival on March 26th & 27th. This years headliners at this festival are Amy Carol Webb, The
Mayhaws, Brendan Nolan and Grant Peeples.

At the end of the January I will be doing a solo show in Eustis at Olivia's Restaurant and Coffee House. I will be performing songs and
telling stories. I am planning something special for this show, but I'm not gonna tell ya nothin'. So you gotta come out and say HOWDY! Coming up later in the spring and early summer Turn Back Time will make it's debut at this years Spring Frolic in Barberville. Also I will be returning to the Florida Folk Festival. I will be sending more info about these shows when they come out.

Well thats all for me and I hope you will drop by a show or two and
say HOWDY. C-YA around the campfires, James

HOWDY,

Well how's your summer coming along? Things have been very, very busy around here. The summer started off with me having a double hernia operation. WOW, I was walking pretty slowly for a while but now I am getting around alot better. I want to thank all the folks who came out to the Sloppy Pelican gig on Thursday June 24th. Paul, Leigh, Steve and I had a blast! I hope Pete Gallagher invites us back. I am proud to announce that Steve and I have finally set down scratch tracks on Cold Harbors CD. I know, I know I have talked about this before but we have
started it, REALLY!

The gigs are pilling up so here goes! It looks like I will be performing at a place called "Back Alley" in Bradenton Beach this Friday July 9th. I understand that it is on Bridge Street so if you can't find it on the net then call me and I will tell you what I know. On Friday July 16th Cold Harbor will be performing with The Human Condition at the Dunedin Brewery in Dunedin. This show will get started around 9pm. So far that is all for the month of July an now for August! WSLR www.wslr.org will be having their Birthday Bash and Jerry Garcia celebration on Sunday August 1st at Sun-n-Fun. I will be working the door with my friend Joe Jacco. Thursday August 12th I will be performing at the Songwriters night at Luv-a-Da Coffee in Bradenton then on Saturday August 14th I will be strumming some tunes at Kojaks Rib house in Palmetto. This show will get started around 7:30pm.

Well that's about it for now. I will keep you guys updated on any and all info as it comes through. If you need to contact me respond to this
e-mail and I will get it.
C-YA soon and on the radio, James

HOWDY,

Hey everybody! June hasn't started yet and things are getting crazy around here, let me tell you. First and foremost the Florida Folk Festival was postponed because of fires in the area of the park so the whole thing has been rescheduled for November 9th - the 11th. The invitation for the band and I are still open but we still have to see if everyone can make it. Stuart Hall over in the Orlando area put on a substitute FFF called the Florida Faux Festival at the Theatre Plaza on North Bumby in O-Town and it was a GREAT success. I applaud Stuarts organizational skills. He achieved this feat with only 5 days notice.

There are some shows coming up in June that I thought that you might want to know about. First on Thursday June 14th come out an celebrate my birthday as I perform at the Tre Amici Songwriters Showcase in Ybor City. Tre Amici is located at 1907 19th Street North in Ybor City, Tampa. www.yborbunker.com. 813-247-6964. I just confirmed a gig in Gulf Port at a place called "Java Nirvana" for Saturday June 23rd. I will be spending the evening jamming with my friends Steve & Leigh Humes. I will send out more info as so as I get it. James Hawkins and the Cold Harbor Band will be appearing at "Taste" in Safety Harbor Friday July 6th. Taste is located at 500 Main Street Suite E, Safety Harbor, 727-723-1116. The show will get started about 6:30pm.

After Lisa, Jacob and I get back from Orlando I will be getting with my friend Eddie Kinder to start work on the next solo CD. I have about 5 or 6 new songs that have not seen the light of day that I plan on putting down on tape, so stay tuned for that. I have also been elected the new President of the Sarasota Folk Club, again! I also have a substitute to fill in for my radio show, his name is James Ross. He is a really nice guy and very excited about playing some great music at WSLR. He will be filling in for me from time to time. www.wslr.org

Coming up in the fall for "Cold Harbor" will be the Lake County Folk & Arts Festival on October 13th & 14th and Sarasota Music Festival on October 20th. Well that's about all for now. I hope to see you folks soon.

James

HOWDY,
I hope that everybody is getting ready for the big day. I think Jacob
has been ready since Halloween! I usually have the blues around this
time of year but I am definitely in the spirit. I talked mommy out of
getting Jacob an electric guitar, THANK GOD! But I am afraid that he
will be getting a drum kit, yes a drum kit. I'm telling myself over and
over that I can handle it, pray for me. My little man is singing his
heart out these days and his choice of music is COUNTRY. I have no
problem with that at all, except when I hear him singing about drinking
beer and chasing women, but isn't all country music like that?
Things with the Cold Harbor Band are coming along very well. We will
be doing our last showcase of the year at Bringe Music
www.bringmusic.com from 3pm - 4pm on December
16th at their "Saturday Afternoon Music Salon". This showcase will be
recorded "Live". We hope to be getting some good cuts to work with so
come on out if you are in the neighborhood and get your voice down on
tape. That night I will be doing a solo show at Stir the Soul in Venice,
941-484-0701. For 2007 the band and I will be very busy. Cold Harbor
will be returning to "It's a Grind" Friday February 16th. I just learned
that there will be a Cold Harbor sighting at the 2007 Will McLean
Festival in March www.willmclean.com I will
keep you guys posted when I get the info!
My solo performances are stepping up too. January 5th & the 19th I will
be back at my old haunt "Stir the Soul" 941-484-0701. January 14th I
will be back perfuming at the Sarasota Arts Day. This looks like it
gonna be a hoot. I will be performing with my good friends Jim Gromko,
and Maple Mountian Music. I don't have a time as of yet but I will let
you know soon.
WSLR 96.5 is on the internet now and if you are out of the Sarasota
area you can listen to my show. Just go to
www.wslr.org<http://www.wslr.org/ and click on "Live Broadcast" then
fallow the links. The FCC has granted WSLR permission to raise the tower
from 35ft to 135ft. Everybody at the station is very pumped about that.
This will take place after the first of the year.
Well that's about it for the newz from the homefront. So I am wishing
you a very Merry Christmas and a safe New Year. I hope to see you at at
gig somewhere. Be good and stay safe. James

December 16th, St Petersburg
    Cold Harbor will be performing at Bring Music from 3pm - 4pm. We will
be recording this showcase "Live" so come out and get your voice on tape!
For more info go to www.bringemusic.com
December 16th, Venice
     This will be my return to "Stir the Soul". Everything will get
started around 7:30 - 8pm. For more info call 941-484-0701

January 5th & 19th, Venice
     Solo at "Stir the Soul". I'll start around 7:30pm - 8pm

Febuary 14th, Sarasota
     Cold Harbor returns to "It's a Grind" in the Beneva Center Shopping
Center. Shoecase starts around 7:30 - 8pm. For further info call
941-924-7305

March 10th & 11th, Dade City
      I will be performing with Cold Harbor. Stage times TBA. For
further info go to www.willmclean.com<http://www.willmclean.com/>

I have been taking Jacob to see a lot of things this summer. We've been to Orlando for about a week then he spent about a week at a Gwiz here in Sarasota. We also made a day trip to Ft Desoto and we plan on making up to check out Jon Semmes "Singing River Tours". I had Jacob convinced to swim with the Manatees up in Chrystal River until we went to Mote Marine and actually saw one up close and turned to me and asked if that was a Manatee. When I said "yes" he said, in no uncertain terms, that he wasn't going to get in the water with that. So I guess we will have to put that off for another time.

The newest information is that my songs are being played on Le Gato radio. Le Gato is an internet radio station at www.legatoradio.com Larry Edwards, who is the head honcho told me that I have one if not two songs in the top 10. They are voted on by the listeners. So if you get the time go to the website and check it out. There is a lot of different music on this station and like WSLR it is in it's infancy. Everyday there are new artist so you might hear someone you know.

Happy New Year to all. I hope everyone has had a wonderful Christmas. Down here at the "Hawkins Hut" things were just fine. My biggest problem was keeping Jacob busy and his mind off of Christmas and I'm here to tell you that it wasn't easy at all. Things are heating up with a gigs at Stir the Soul (Friday, Jan 20th) and one at a new place, for me anyway, in Sarasota called "It’s a Grind" (Saturday Jan 14th). I stopped in and took a look around while I was off work and it looked like a very nice place.

I must tell you about Christmas Eve. Every year Lisa, Jacob and I spend the night over at Lisa's mom's house then we would wake up in the morning to open presents and eat breakfest. This year was crazier being that Jacob is now 5 and well aware of what was about to come. By 8pm we were scraping Jacob off the ceiling every 20 minutes or so. So after putting out cookies & milk for Santa, some Reindeer food and water we had to do something to get Jacob into bed. Lisa tried to get him to go to bed but by 10pm we were getting tired and annoyed so I went to the computer and we got the answer. I logged on to www.santatracker.com This worked like a charm. He sat there with his eyes as wide as saucers at this webpage described all the stops that Santa had made so far and how long it was going to take to get to Florida. Jacob jumped down from the chair, ran into the bedroom and we didn't see him till morning. Thank God for modern technology.

How are things with you? We are getting ready for the start of Kindergarten. Lisa has been buying clothes, paper, pencils, and knapsaks. My oh my how time flies. I have an update on a couple of up coming shows. First I got an e-mail from Chuck Hardwicke about the RavineFest. He said the festival has been changed from two days to one day, Saturday, November 12th. The festival organizers actually broke even last year which was amazing considering that the Hurricane did it's level best to close it down. I will have performance times at a later date. The House Concert on October 1st is beginning to build up steam and the seats are filling up. Al Alverez contact number is 813-857-9566 or go to www.aandrproductions.com and he'll be happy to help you.

Hi folks I hope all is well with everybody? Things on this end of the world are just happening at there own chosen speed. Which means I have no idea what the heck is going on! I have been pretty successful at my effort to stop smoking, I no longer estimate the length of a trip on how many cigarettes I need. The benefit for WSLR went very well and there was a good chunk of cash raised for the station. One of the raffles was a house concert to be given, by Mindy Simmons and I, at the winners time and place of choosing. A very good friend named Lisa won and we are working on a date and time. I was told that I WILL be able to have a Florida Folk Show on WSLR 96.5. Saturday morning has been the day and time that was batted around but nothing concrete as of yet.

Lisa and I took Jacob to Busch Gardens last weekend to try and get some use out of the years pass she bought. We had the car completely packed with everything we needed and headed down the street. Jacob started raising hell about something he left behind. Jacob put up such a fuss that, for the sake of family harmony we should turn around and get whatever he wanted, after all we weren't that far down the road. When started again I learned the what the treasure was, it was 2 cassette tapes, Hank Williams and work tape I gave to him a while ago. He sang every song ALL the way up and ALL the way back. It was a very nice trip! Jacob will be starting Kindergarten next year and I'm sad and happy all at the same time. I was told that this is were things get interesting and I truly believe it. Lisa and I sat down and talked about what was going to start happening, homework, after school stuff..., and I hope that we are ready.

Well I have a few new things happening over the next 2 months most the gigs are near home. May 7th and 19th I'll be back at "Stir the Soul". On May 7th I will be joined by my good friend David Buescher. David is a wonderful fiddler from the Englewood area. June 11th Mindy Simmons and I will be performing in the round at "Stir the Soul". I love playing songs with Mindy, so this will be a great night. All 3 shows at "Stir the Soul" start at 8pm. I will be performing at the McIntosh Café between Ocala and Gainesville. I think the starting time will be 7pm, but I'm not too sure. I'll post the times and directions when it gets closer. And last but not least there will be a "Cold Harbor" sighting at the Ka-Tiki on Treasure Island Thursday August 11th. Tom and I have been working very hard on the debut "Cold Harbor" CD and when this gets done I'm sure you will love it. Sadly we won't be able to make it to White Springs this year. The cash flow just isn't there. I really wanted to see Si Kahn, I think that how you spell it, but there will be other opportunities. So here is the run down;

HOWDY,
I hope all is well? I am a little closer to being back online as soon
as Lisa calls Verizon I'll be back. Not much to talk about here on the
home front. Jacob will be in his first play this friday night. He will
be "Wee Willie Winkie" and a duck in the "Little Red Hen". Last friday I
saw his costume and I can't wait to see this. I hope to get some good
pictures. Watching this little guy grow is something else. There are
reality checks everyday. This Sunday we're having his birthday party at
the house. There should be about 8 kids. It looks like it will be a real
experience:-)
Dave at Fogartyville Cafe' has been working with a new radio station
WSLR. This station will be located on the USF New College campus in
Sarasota. At first WLSR will be only able to broadcast to the Srarsota
area so it will be on the net also www.wslr.com . So on saturday April
16th at 8pm Bill Schustik, Mindy Simmons and I will be doing a fundraiser
for WSLR at the Sailing Squadron on City Island. If your in the area stop
on by.
This saturday I'll be singing at the Venice Arts & Music festival at
2pm. This is a klocal festival and my good friends Jackie Mosbey and
Mindy Simmons.will be there also. I'm really looking
forward to WillFest this year, I could use the break. I'm not going to
be on stage this year, but we will
be jamin' in the campground till the early dawn. This is festival is a
true tribal gathering.
For those of you who live close to me I'll be back at "Stir the Soul"
for two dates in March. Well thats about all for me!
I'll C-YA soon,
James

March 5th
Venice Arts & Music Festival. My statge time is for 2pm. Jackie
Mosbey and Mindy Simmons will be performing. The festival is at the
United Church of Christ 620 East Shamrock Blvd. Call me if you need
better info;941-496-8395

March 15th & 25th
"Stir the Soul" is a great place to play. The 15th is a tuesday nite
but on friday the 25th I will be playing with my good friend and Fiddler
David Buscher. both shows start at 8pm. for info call 941-484-0701.

April 16th
Bill Schustik, Mindy Simmons and I will be performing a benefit
concert for WSLR. It's on City Island just pass Mote Marine. The show
starts at 7:30 pm donate what you can.Call me and I'll tell ya more; 941-
4967-8395.

Well thats all for now, but before I forget don't forget about the Old
Tyme Music Championships, www.otmc.com or www.foff.org. C-YA around the
campfire! James

HOWDY Folks,
   Did you survive the festival. WOW, good friends, good music how could you ask for more, well maybe for a good steady breeze every now and then but that's beside the point.   To all the folks who came out to the stages to hear Tom and I THANK YOU sooooo much!   We had a blast performing and we have our fingers crossed for next year. Jacob was turned loose and didn't stop running till sunday afternoon when we packed him in the car to leave. He slept all the way back to Venice. One of the highlights of the festival wasn't just getting to hear John McCutchin (sp?) or Arlo Guthrie it was saturday in the late afternoon while Lisa, Jacob and I were heading back to Lake City. The radio was off and as we were cruising along I heard Jacob from the back seat singing the chorus line to "Swept Away" my heart melted. And all this time I had no idea that he was even paying attention.

If you have any highlights about the festival shoot me a message and tell me about it I'd like to hear it.   I want to ask you all a favor. I want to ask your opinion about or performances this last weekend. If you only caught one or all of our showcases I want to know what you thought. If you have constructive criticism please let me know. I promise not to send rocko or lefty out to slash your tires.

   This saturday June 5th Tom and I along with our friend Doc Lovett will be performing 3 Bob Dylan songs to benefit WMNF's building fund. We should be playing around 3:00 pm. Also on the first weekend in July I will be at the Eustis Street Grille. On friday July 2nd I'll be hosting the open mic so bring your guitar, fiddle or whatever and come on down to join the fun. The next night I will be performing solo at the Grille. Both events start at 6pm. BTW I ran into Chuck Hardwicke at the FFF and he told me that not only am I on the list for the next festival in Palatka but that they're gonna make it into a 2 day event.

Well since the Florida Folk Festival is the last big festival for the season I hope that you have a happy and safe summer. I will keep you all informed about any new gigs. Be good and stay safe.

James

Saturday, June 5th, Tampa
     "Dylan for Dollars" is a fundraiser for WMNF's building fund.
This will be held at Skipper Smokehouse in north Tampa Bay Tom & I will
be listed as Cold Harbor. Our time is about 3pm. for more info go to
www,wmnf.org or call me 941-496-8395

Saturday, June 12th, Venice
    I will be back at "Stir the Soul" in Venice doing a solo gig. I am
working on a couple of surprise guests, we'll see what happens. It
starts at around 7:30 or 8pm. or further info call 941-484-0701 or
www.stirthesoul.com

Friday & Saturday, July 2nd & 3rd, Eustis
    This will be a fun time for all. First I will be hosting the open
mic the Eustis St Grille. The open mic starts at 6pm. The next night I
will be performing solo. There will be a suggested cover of 5$. This
also starts at 6pm. For info call 352-589-8313

HOWDY,
Hey how are things on your end of the world? Things are moving right along down here in Venice. There is nothing new to report from the homefront other than a head cold that just will not go away. Jacob is growing bigger every day and Lisa is busy as hell but we will be taking
Labor Day off, pack some clothes and head on up to White Springs to meet up with all our friends. This year I will be officially performing at this years festival. I applied this year and was turned down, as usual, but my friend Tom Stephens did get accepted so I will be backing him. I don't know the schedule yet but when it does come out look for "Tom Stephens" or "Hawkins, Stephens" . I also have been in touch with Art Cummer and he has asked me, schedule permitting, if I would join him for a set so I guess we'll see what happens. On saturday June 5th I will be performing in a Bob Dylan tribute called "Dylan for Dollars" at Skippers Smokehouse in Tampa for WMNF 88.5. The money from this show will be going for the stations building fund. I have no schedule as of yet but check with www.wmnf.org they
should have a list of bands and times up soon, look for "Cold Harbor" that will be us!

Robin Leach and I will be going into the studio soon and start recording for the "Joshua Creek" CD. Robin and I have co-written a bunch of the songs including "the Ballad of Amadu Diallo" which is on the new Steve Blackwell CD. I am very excited about this project and
I hope that you folks will like it too. The material for my next solo CD is done so all I need to do is to polish up the spoken word portions and roll tape.

Well here are the gigs that I have coming up. I hope to see you at one or two.   If you have any questions about the shows e-mail me and I'll help you out anyway I can.

Thursday May 6th
I will be hosting an open mic at "Stir the Soul" coffeehouse in
Venice. This has turned into a very cool writers night but any and all
are welcome to share their music. It all gets started at 7pm and will
go to 9pm, but it can go later if the crowd is with us. "Stir the Soul"
is at 525 Venice Ave-D. The # is 941-484-0701

Friday May 7th
   This will be my first solo night at "Stir the Soul". I will be
showing off the new tunes and the old songs that you all like. Show
starts 7pm and will go to 9pm, or later if the crowd is there. "Stir
the Soul" 525 Venice Ave-D, 941-484-0701

May 28th - 30th
   My first official appearance at the Florida Folk Festival. I will
be backing up my good friend Tom Stephens. Look on the schedule for
"Tom Stephens" or "Hawkins, Stephens"

Saturday June 5th
"Dylan for Dollars"   This is a fundraiser for WMNF 88.5's new
building! I will be performing a solo slot and will be playing a few
tunes with "Cold Harbor" (the new band). This event starts at 2pm till
midnite or so. A good cause and a fun party. Contact www.wmnf.org for
info

Friday and saturday
July 2nd & 3rd
I going back to see my friends at the "Eustis St Grille" this weekend.
Friday night I will be hosting the open mic from 6pm-8pm and saturday
(at the same time) I will be performing my own music. So if you are in
the neighborhood please stop on by. For more info call 352-589-8313

Coming up in the fall I will be returning to Palatka in September for their benefit and also the Sarasota Folk Festival in October. Stay safe my friends and as always come on out and say "HOWDY".
C-YA soon
James

   HOWDY,
     I hope all is well on your end of the world, things are going just
fine over here.   I have just sent off my application for the Florida
Folk Festival today. I hope after 10 tries this will be my year, keep
your fingers crossed.   I have been at home with Jacob for 3 1/2 years
and one thing I have had fun doing is learning how to cook (well if you
call it that). So this year I have volunteered to help fix the Hawkins
family holiday feast. I have gotten the hang of baking pies but the
turkey will be a whole new ball game (keep me in your prayers)!
     Barberville was a great time and it was wonderful to see so many
friendly faces. Tom and I had a fun time performing on the stages and
jamming in the campground. I am very fortunate for all the new friends
that I have made in the last month and the e-mail list is grow all the
time. Thank you all for being there for me. In 2004 Tom and I will be
concentrating on putting together our first CD. We have about 10 or 12
songs that we have either written on our own or together, so I will keep
you posted on how things are progressing.
    So here are some new performance date coming up:

Saturday December 6th (solo)
Floral City Heritage Days
   I have not performed at this festival before but from what people
have told me it sounds like a lot of fun. Pete Henning and Pete Price
(who perform with Jon Semmes) will be there along with Mike Jurgensen.
I have a stage time of about noon.
For info call Marsha Beasley 352-726-7740.   Tom Ellis told me that the
directions are from I-75 go west on Hwy 48, till you get to Floral City
then turn right on Church Street, there should be signs everywhere.

Saturday January 10th      (solo)
Eustis St Grill, Eustis
   This is a nice place to perform and I am always happy to see all my
friends in Eustis again. This show is from 6pm - 8pm. There is food
and drink so don't worry about going hungry!   For info call Jeff @
352-357-2311

Thursday February 12th   (Hawkins/Stephens)
Ka-Tiki, Treasure Island St Petersburg
   This is Pete Gallagher's Florida Folk night. The Ka-Tiki is a Chickee
located right on the beach with a great view of the sunset. The Ka-Tiki
has a light menu and a full bar. There is an open mic at 7:30pm and
Hawkins/Stephens will be the featured act. For more info call me
941-496-8395.

Also I have been in contact with Joy Katzen-Guthrie about performing
again at her concert series. This is held at the Unity Church of Today
in north Tampa. I will have more info on this one soon. If you have any
suggestions about his list or places I should try out don't hesitate to
contact me, I'd love to hear them.

I pray that your holiday season will be a happy one. If you can make
one of these shows walk up and say "HOWDY" I'd love to see ya!
                                 James

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News

January 2011