BRODA becomes a 5th Annual Squeaky Wheel Tour Artist
(please see "Calendar" tab for Broda's Squeaky Wheel Tour Events)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 10, 2009 (Los Angeles)
GINA for Missing Persons FOUNDation Announces
The 5th Squeaky Wheel Tour®
for the Missing
October 17-November 4, 2009
19 days, 100’s of artists in a grassroots effort to FIND missing people!
When Gina Bos disappeared from Lincoln, Nebraska in October 2000, her sister, Jannel Rap, was left with an impossible void to fill. But in Gina's honor and for her memory, Jannel used her greatest gift, music, to mobilize an international community of artists and families of missing people, generate much-needed attention, and inspire hope. In light of Jaycee Dugard’s family’s long wait, Jannel is asking how long families of the missing must wait to FIND their loved ones. The Squeaky Wheel Tour® is one antidote to help fill that impossible void. ________________________________________________
Gina Bos disappeared after a performance in Lincoln. Her car was found across the street from the pub, with the trunk open and her guitar inside. To this day, the guitar is the only evidence Gina’s family has. The family languished for six long months in an effort to get the word out about Gina as her story lacked the scandal that garners immediate attention.
This is what compels Jannel today. Without an explosive media angle, hundreds of people go missing without the valuable media attention to support the effort to find them. As a musician herself, Jannel decided to use her pulpit, the stage, to talk about her sister and others like her, and encouraged other musicians to do the same. This was the beginning of GINA for Missing Persons FOUNDation, a non-profit established by Jannel which helps artists to profile missing people at organized events, and mobilize communities to not forget.
Nine years later thousands of GINA Artists worldwide partner in creating the Squeaky Wheel Tour®. Artists volunteer their events as the platform to make some noise about a local missing person, they ask attendees to take flyers to post throughout their community. People are FOUND every year. To date since this journey began in 2001, over 450 people profiled collectively by GINA Artists, GINA Programs, Law Enforcement, families of the missing and media have been found.
GINA for Missing Persons FOUNDation Programs include: Flyer distribution, support to families of the missing in their search, web casts, web site referrals for families, GINA Concerts, GINA Singer/Songwriter Contest, The Squeaky Wheel Tour®, the Look, Listen and Pass it On DVD and more. Additionally, a TV Series, “FINDing Gina”, is being developed. A reality series about a band on the road looking for one of their members’ sisters and in the process they help other families fine their loved ones.
Please visit www.411Gina.org for complete details.
For more information and interviews, please contact:
Fazia Donnelly ginaswtpress@yahoo.com
GINA For Missing Persons FOUNDation www.411Gina.org
877-411-GINA
714-779-2754
Online music retailer Tryxo announced the line-up for its sponsored stage at Nashville's upcoming IndieGrrl Conference at the Hotel Preston. Spanning two days/nights (August 21-22), the Tryxo Entertainment Stage will feature some of today's top independent female performers as well as open mic sessions for yet undiscovered talent.
Tryxo founder and president Natalie Vandersluis will also be heading a workshop called "European Indie Music Scene" with valuable strategies for American female-based artists wishing to enter the E.U. market.
EUROPEAN INDIE MUSIC SCENE
Hosted by Tryxo's Natalie Vanderslulis
Friday, August 21st - 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Room 3 – Promo Productions Sponsored Room
Hotel Preston, Nashville
TRYXO INDIEGRRL SHOWCASES
Main Tryxo Entertainment Stage next to Exhibit Hall, Hotel Preston
Saturday, August 22, 2009
1:00 - 1:45 - Open Mic
2:00 - 2:45 - Open Mic
3:00 - 3:45 - Open Mic
4:00 - 4: 45 - Open Mic
5:00 - 5:45 - Open Mic
6:00 - 6:45 - Brooke Trout
7:00 - 7:45 - Amy Clarke
8:00 - 8:45 - Broda
9:00 - 9:45 - STARK
10:00 - 10:45 - Alyson Greenfield
11:00 - 11:45 - Hannah Miller
Tryxo is an online music store offering DRM-free digital downloads of the best independent music to music lovers worldwide. Focused on providing artists with the best retail solution in the industry, the company offers free account registration and 75% royalty on all digital music sales. Recognizing the importance of providing a compelling music shopping experience in a competitive market, Tryxo offers uniform download price of $.59, high-quality music pre-approved by its staff as well as unlimited downloads/copies of purchased music for multiple computers and music players. Tryxo will be launching online radio streams to better promote its artists to customers.
http://www.tryxo.com
Mark Twain. Charles Dickens. Dr. Seuss. All great storytellers who put their thoughts to paper. Lennon and McCartney. James Taylor. Johnny Cash. Also, great storytellers who put their pen to song. It is an art form that is sorely missed in today's music industry. The art of telling a good story. Today's damaged music environment seems to contain three minute adventures into voyeurism, booty calls and how tough it is to be rich and famous. I recently came across a refreshing exception to this rule one cold Friday evening in Martinsville, VA at the Binding Time coffee shop.
I saw a poster advertising a singer by the name of Broda who was to appear there on Friday, January16. The temp never got out of the teens that day and I braved the elements to take a chance on a singer and her acoustic guitar. There was a small crowd gathered in the shop and Broada began her set at 5:30. What proceeded to happen over the next two hours was a soul riching experience in what she calls "Acoustic Americana." Broda sang songs that took you places. Suddenly, it wasn't seventeen degrees outside because you were with her at the county fair at the Battle of the Bands or walking into Hendrick's Store with her. She sang about everything from her dog to her hooptie, which by the way is for sale.
Broda is no ordinary fly by night performer. She is educated in the field of music with a degree in Music Education with a double certification in instrumental and choral tracks. She has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Governor's Mansion and the White House. She was in several bands of different styles after graduation including a southern rock and a funk band before venturing out on her own as a solo artist. I spoke to Broda after her performance that night to learn more about her musical path that she was venturing out on.
"I was trained in classical piano and it was pretty well structured, so it didn't give me the room to experiment. Being in these different bands allowed me to do that. When my last band broke up because of alot of "band drama", I decided then in the Fall of 2006 that I wanted to do this solo," she said. Broda ventured out to coffee shops and eating places and just about anywhere that would let her play her music.
"My influences range from Brahms to Bonnie Raitt to Wynonna Judd to the buttery goodness of Ella Fitzgerald. All four of those artists display so much emotion and heart in their music, that's why they have inspired me. You're right, the art of storytelling is missing today in music," said Broda.
Being with the state that the industry is in today, I asked her how it felt to be a new artists striving to get noticed. "Well, the internet is a blessing and a curse. Ten years ago you couldn't record and put out an independent release like mine but today you can. The problem is that everyone can also do it too. I mean, I even recorded a couple of tracks at home with my handheld digital recorder. I spend my time off now updating all of my online pages, MySpace, Facebook, so that I can keep my fans updated."
Broda is also involved with Indiegrrl, which is an outlet that supports women in the arts whether it's music, art, poetry, whatever form that is out there. It has allowed Broda to meet other artists and find out that there are other women artists who may be struggling with similar issues. The Indiegrrl festival is coming to Spencer, VA on May 30th to the Spencer Penn Center and is a free event that will contains lots of performers of all types of styles.
Broda has just released her first Cd entitled "Spiral Staircase" and it is well worth listening to. The lyrics definitely take you to a place where you feel like you are a part of the story that she is telling. Songs such as the touching and melodic "Hendrick's Store" to the quirky, toe tapper "Five County Fair" have you wanting to go back and listen to them over again because you don't want the escape to end. I dare anyone who listens to the title track to tell me that you cannot relate to the lyrics. My last question was my what if you were stranded on a desert island with only one cd, what would it be question. "It would have to be "No Additives" by my old funk band Grey Sky Sally. Even if I was stranded, I would still be surrounded by my dear friends."
I am glad that I braved the elements that night and got a chance to see Broda perform. She will be bringing her talent back to our area on May 30 at the Indiegrrl festival in the Spencer Penn Center in Spencer,VA from 10:00 am until 7:00pm with many other artists. I encourage everyone to come out no matter what types of music that you like and support the arts. Thanks again to Binding Time for showcasing such a great talent and to Broda for allowing me the time to talk to her. With as many budget cuts that seem to be hitting all aspects of life, it is very important to support the arts. I think we take for granted the joy that we get from books or TV or from music or movies and we need to do all we can to support these artists. I hope to see everyone in Spencer on May 30th, you will not be disappointed.
Climbing the Spiral Staircase: The Songs and Sounds of Broda
By Ronnie D. Lankford on January 28th, 2009
Kids seem to hate, at least when looking back years later, piano lessons, and they hold those lessons against parents for the rest of their lives. While other kids were doing all kinds of fun things in the afternoon - riding bikes, playing Nintendo, and committing minor felonies - you were trying to learn a passage from Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata.” But even at a young age Brenda Barringer, better known to fans of her music as Broda, was different.
“I begged my parents for piano lessons,” Broda told me. “And I really wanted to play piano. I was one of those odd kids that was just totally enthralled with Mozart and Beethoven…”
I sat down to talk with Broda about her music at Baine’s Books & Coffee a few days ago, right before her Friday night show. Baine’s, in fact, was the sight of Broda’s first appearance as a solo artist. But while Broda had always known that music would play an important role in her life, it would be a long journey from piano lessons to Longwood University to her first show at Baine’s.
Watching Broda on stage—just a girl and guitar absorbed in her song - it’s doubtful that anyone in the audience would picture her playing keyboards in a funk or Southern rock band. But she did. Furthermore, she played in Hep Kat, a band that played, “a little jazz, a little blues, and a little something extra.” Hep Kat also gave Broda her first glimpse at her potential as a songwriter.
“That was the first opportunity that I really had to take all those songs I’d been writing in my bedroom by myself and say, ‘Hey, what do you think about trying a little bit of my music?’…That was when I really got the bug to get out and take my songs…to the public and see what they thought of them.”
Still, Broda never planned to become a solo artist, accompanying herself on guitar and performing in coffee shops like Baine’s. She knew more about the piano and trumpet, in fact, and she had more experience playing in bands. But as often happens in bands, the members of Hep Kat were pulling one another in different directions.
“It’s at that point that I finally decided, I’ve been in all these bands, and I’m kind of tired of relying on other people to help me make it happen for myself; so I started picking up the guitar seriously, I went to the guitar shop in town and I bought a new guitar, and I started teaching myself to play, and I’ve been rolling ever since.”
Even with a guitar and a handful of songs, however, Broda—still known as Brenda at the time—decided she needed one other small item before she got a proper start: a stage name.
She admits that the story behind her stage name is a little cheesy, but it’s a good story. While on a trip with her college jazz ensemble, Brenda’s friends discovered that she had—seemingly—magical powers. When a wind storm made it impossible to fly a kite on the beach, she simply waved her hand and said, “kite you will fly.” The funny thing was, it did. Even funnier, she waved her hand a second time and said, “kite you will fall,” and it did.
Her friends, all Star Wars geeks, decided that Brenda was their very own Yoda. Borrowing the “Br” from Brenda, she became Broda. With a guitar, a stage name, and a gentle shove from proprietor Brian Baine, Broda was in business.
In 2008 Broda took another big step, recording Spiral Staircase and filling it with 17 of her own jewels.
“Probably 90 percent of my writing comes from my emotion, and I think music has always been that for me. I know my mom used to tell me, ‘I always know what kind of day you had based on what piano piece you play when you get home from school.’”
Writing from her emotions is also a very personal way of sharing with her audience.
“I had a few very difficult years around the time that I was just starting this solo career, and music has always been my outlet, and that’s pretty much where all of those serious songs came from. From actual experiences, something that just sparked that emotion for me, and I just had to let it out.”
Listening to Spiral Staircase, then, is a rich emotional experience. And while the songs are certainly personal, it’s easy enough to listen and say to yourself: “Yes, I’ve been there; I know exactly what she’s getting at.”
So what’s next for Broda? She has considered recording another CD, tentatively called The Story of Me, but recording takes time. For now, she plans to keep on keeping on, plugging her songs one at a time to dedicated fans at Baine’s, Longwood University, and the Heart of Virginia Festival.
Friends of Broda Benefit for Cancer Research Concert
By Linda Goin on September 25th, 2008
Local singer-songwriter, Broda, had initially reserved the Waterworks Theatre as a venue to hold her debut CD release party, but she decided to use the opportunity for a much more important cause. She gathered many of her talented musician and comedian friends from near and far, teamed up with the American Cancer Society and Lee National Denim Day Breast Cancer foundation, and organized an ALL DAY event to raise funds for Cancer Research. For a mere five dollar tax-deductible donation at the door, you can enjoy a full eight hours of entertainment including singer-songwriters, duos, trios, bands, and even comedians.
100 percent of the donations will be divided between The American Cancer Society and the Lee National Denim Day Breast Cancer Fundraiser. This family-friendly event features a little something for everyone with styles ranging from Jazz, Blues, Old-Time, Acoustic Americana, Folk, Acoustic Rock, and clean comedy.
Concessions will be provided by Longwood University’s honorary music fraternity for women, Sigma Alpha Iota, to raise funds for their music education endeavors, and by the Waterworks Players to raise funds for future theater performances. The performers will have CD’s and merchandise available, as well. It is a fun-filled day celebrating friends, food, music, laughter and life where everyone benefits.
Broda is relying on the community’s support to not only make this a successful fundraiser, but to provide a great audience for her talented friends who are donating their time and talents for this important cause.
The “Friends of Broda – Benefit for Cancer Research Concert” will begin at 2 PM on October 4th, and run until 10 PM. Slip on your denim jeans, and come enjoy a full day of performances, or arrive any time between 2 and 10 PM to catch what you can and show your support. For directions to Waterworks Theatre (near Farmville), please visit www.waterworksplayers.org, or call 434-315-3850.
PERFORMANCE DETAILS:
2:05 - 2:45 PM - ERIN WIND from Midlothian, VA - (Acoustic Rock)
2:45 - 3:25 PM - PABLO & LORI BELLE from Elam, VA - (Americana)
3:25 - 3:35 PM - JOHNNY COOK from Lunenburg, VA - (Stand-up Comedy)
3:35 - 4:15 PM - RUSSELL PERKINSON from VA Beach, VA - (Acoustic Rock)
4:15 - 4:55 PM - GIL SOMERS from Nelson Co., VA - (Acoustic Folk)
4:55 - 5:15 PM - CHRIS FOX from Greensboro, NC - (Stand-up Comedy)
5:15 - 6:15 PM - SOUTHSIDE JAZZ QUARTET from Farmville, VA - (Jazz)
6:15 - 6:45 PM - BRODA from Farmville, VA - (Acoustic-Americana)
6:45 - 7:05 PM - JOHN COOK from Lunenburg, VA - (Stand-up Comedy)
7:05 - 8:05 PM - DEJA MOO from Appomattox, VA - (Old-Time/Folk/Americana)
8:05 - 8:15 PM - CHRIS FOX from Greensboro, NC - (Stand-up Comedy)
8:15 - 8:55 PM - MATT TREACY & STUART TINSLEY from Farmville, VA - (Acoustic Rock)
9:00 - 10:00 PM - BRADFORD CARSON TRIO from Farmville, VA - (Jazz/Blues/Funk)
Singer and songwriter Brenda (Broda) was at Baine’s Books and Coffee Saturday night and performed to an appreciative audience. Her unique style - she calls it “Acoustic Americana” - and throaty voice are both easy on the ears.
Known in musical circles as just Broda, Brenda has been playing piano since she was six years old and continued in classical piano until she entered college at Longwood College in Farmville, Virginia. There, she was influenced by jazz, which combined with some country licks to finally evolve into her distinct sound. Around two years ago she lost the piano and picked up the acoustic guitar and Broda was born.
After graduation from Longwood, Broda taught music professionally and eventually opened a private music academy for students. She now plays at venues statewide and has a CD ready for release this summer.
Brenda bought her first guitar in 2006. She began to hang out at local spots featuring live music and soon began playing on Open Mike Night at Baine’s in Appomattox. It wasn’t long before she was splitting gigs with owner, Bryan Baines, until she accumulated a body of work large enough to support a solo performance. Broda says, “I’ve come a long way in a short time and just want to go further!” when asked about her plans for the future.
Her act is a combination of original material along with an assortment of well-known pieces. She opened with an interesting juxtaposition of George Gershwin’s Summertime and Van Morrison’s Moondance then segued into several original tunes. Broda’s lyrics are intensely personal and draw heavily on her life experiences but the tone is generally mellow.
*NOTE FROM BRODA: My dear friends, please note that I have not "lost" the piano. In fact, I still plays keys at most performances as well as guitar and even mandolin on occasion. Thanks.
2008 Indiegrrl Women In The Arts Conference Announces Artist Showcase Lineup
The history-making First Annual Indiegrrl Women in the Arts Conference taking place in Spencer, VA from August 21 - 24, 2008, has announced their artist showcase lineup.
In addition, the 2008 Indiegrrl Conference has scheduled numerous educational workshops and networking opportunities, and will feature two keynote speakers at their banquet - musician/actress Bonnie Bramlett and The Donnas' manager Molly Neuman at the Indiegrrl Banquet on August 21st. Banquet tickets are available to the public for $30 online until August 8th (advance tickets only). Conference day passes for access to the stages and exhibit hall are also available for $10 at the door (no advance sales).
Main sponsors for the Indiegrrl Conference are Oasis CD Manufacturing, Serge Entertainment, MPress Records, Onlinegigs, Songsalive, Rockin' Moms, Females On Fire, Spotted Kiva Productions, Music Talks Sessions, Daisy Rocks Guitars, Indie Artist Assistant, Linq Songs Publishing, Koncept Consulting, Sage Design, Bassett Printing, and more. Planned workshops and panel discussions on Friday and Saturday at The Spencer Penn Center will feature alternate guitar tunings, song writing, web design, graphic design, podcasting, booking your tour, press kits, press releases, touring on a tight budget, long term survival as an indie, balancing personal life and career, Non Profit 101, and more. The conference will also feature an Exhibit Hall featuring different industry vendors and an artist row where you can talk directly with some of the showcasing artists, along with two stages showcasing live performances in music, comedy, and spoken word. Showcasing artists are being selected now and the showcase schedule will be posted on the Indiegrrl website soon. Showcasing artists will be a combination of members from the Indiegrrl Women in the Arts organization as well as Songsalive, Females on Fire, and Rockin' Moms.
A full conference pass is $100 and will allow you to attend all workshops, panels, exhibit hall and both live performance stages on Friday and Saturday. Although the showcases will feature women, men are welcome to attend the conference and take part in the workshops and panels. Thursday night banquet tickets are $30. A general public one day ticket will be sold on Friday and Saturday for $10 that will allow access into the exhibit hall and the two stage areas. A food vendor will be on site at The Spencer Penn Center selling a selection of sandwiches, salads, desserts, snacks and beverages. The Dutch Inn Hotel located at 2360 Virginia Ave., Collinsville, VA 24078 is offering room discounts of $64.95 for two people and comes with a free full breakfast buffet for those attending the conference. Phone (276) 647-3721 to make your room reservations. Purchase your complete conference pass online at http://www.indiegrrl.com. The one day passes for the exhibit hall and stages will be sold at the doors on Friday and Saturday at The Spencer Penn Center.
Indiegrrl is an entity of the Indie Music For Life 501(c)3 non profit and each year donates monies specifically for the Indie Music For Life cancer research and educational cancer awareness programs.
The following artists from around the country will showcase throughout the three day conference:
Friday Theater Stage - Indiegrrl Members
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM - Comedian Shelly Ryan - Marietta, GA
2:30 PM - 3:10 PM - Katie Garibaldi - San Francisco, CA
3:20 PM - 4:00 PM - Amanda Abizaid - North Hollywood, CA
4:10 PM - 4:50 PM - Linq - Royalston, MA
5:00 PM - 5:40 PM - Genevieve - Los Angeles, CA
5:50 PM - 6:30 PM - Lisa Jane Lipkin - Millwood, NY
6:40 PM - 7:20 PM - Carey Colvin - Chester, VA
7:30 PM - 8:10 PM - Vicki Blankenship - Martinsville, VA
8:20 PM - 9:00 PM - Sonya Heller - New York, NY
9:10 PM - 10:00 PM - Ros Wilting Band - Monrovia, MD
Saturday Theater Stage - Indiegrrl Members
11:00 AM - 11:10 PM - Comedian Shelly Ryan - Atlanta, GA
11:10 AM - 11:50 AM - Melissa Bel - Ontario, Canada
12:00 PM - 12:40 PM - Terry Winchell - Water Mill, NY
12:50 PM - 1:30 PM - Sue Jeffers - Kent, OH
1:40 PM - 2:20 PM - Erin Brown - Raleigh, NC
2:30 PM - 3:10 PM - Arjuna Greist - Northhampton, MA
3:20 PM - 4:00 PM - Mary Jennings - New York, NY
4:10 PM - 4:30 PM - Roia Rafieyan - Flemington, NJ
5:00 PM - 5:40 PM - Broda - Farmville, VA
5:50 PM - 6:30 PM - Tracy Rice - Nashville, TN
6:40 PM - 7:20 PM - Vicki Genfan - Flemington, NJ
7:35 PM - 8:15 PM - Sweet Interference Band - Washington, DC
8:30 PM - 9:10 PM - Mermaids in the Basement Band - Norfolk, VA
9:25 PM - 10:05 PM - Patty Benson and Band- Greensboro, NC
Saturday Exhibit Hall Stage -Various Organizations' Artists
11:00 AM - 11:40 AM - Amanda Abizaid (Songsalive) - North Hollywood, CA
11:20 AM - 12:00 PM - Katie Garibaldi (Songsalive) - San Francisco, CA
12:10 PM - 12:50 PM - Amy Mathews ( Songsalive) - Dillon, CO
1:00 PM - 2:40 PM - Genevieve (Songsalive) - Los Angeles, CA
2:50 PM - 3:30 PM -Kim-Char Meridith (Rockin' Moms) - Naperville, IL
3:40 PM - 4:20 PM - Linq (Rockin' Moms) - Roylston, MA
4:30 PM - 5:10 PM - Debra Alt (Rockin' Moms) West Haven, CT
5:20 PM - 6:10 PM - America's Sweetheart Band (GoGirls) - New York, NY
6:20 PM - 7:00 PM - Conshafter Band (GoGirls) Richmond, VA
