JOIN THE PORTLAND MUSIC FOUNDATION TODAY!

Membership with the Portland Music Foundation brings with it not only educational programs & services, but many perks, including local business discounts and free admission to all PMF events. Most importantly, it connects you to the music community of the greater Portland area, and shows your support for local music. Membership costs only $20 annually, and proceeds of all membership dues are used to fund all PMF activities and events.

Click here to become a PMF member.

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FREAKY BEAN COFFEE TO RELEASE “PMF MUSICIAN'S BLEND”>>>>>Now area music fans can help out their local scene just by drinking their morning cup of coffee. The Freaky Bean Coffee Company has collaborated with the Portland Music Foundation to release the PMF Musician’s Blend, a coffee blend now available in 12-ounce bags at all Freaky Bean and Maine Roasters Coffee Company locations and will be available at the end of June online at www.freakybean.com.

One dollar from the sale of each bag of PMF Musician’s Blend will go towards the Foundation’s efforts to educate area musicians on such topics as booking, press relations, publishing, recording, and legal concerns.

The blend is part of Freaky Bean’s partnership with the PMF, which also includes hosting PMF networking events at its locations and supporting area singer/songwriters by having in-store performances. The Musician’s Blend will also now be available for sale at PMF events going forward.

“When we founded Freaky Bean back in 2005, my business partner and I really wanted to create a contemporary coffee house with more of an old-school come in and hang out kind of vibe,” said Andy Kessler, Freaky Bean’s VP, Director of Creative and E-commerce. “Since music is such a vital part of our lives and our community we see this as a perfect fit and are thrilled to be able to support such an incredible organization.”

“The Freaky Bean came to us as music fans who really want to support the local scene,” said Adam Ayan the Grammy Award-winning mastering engineer of Gateway Mastering & DVD and the Portland Music Foundation’s Founder and President. “When they stepped up to the plate we immediately saw that they get what we are trying to do and really are devoted to strengthening Portland’s music scene. And we are also big fans of their coffee.”

Portland Music Foundation members will have the opportunity to perform at Freaky Bean locations when they book through the company’s music coordinator Mike Jones. Further, PMF musician members will also be able to perform at Maine Roasters Coffee Company stores in Yarmouth and Falmouth, which are wholly owned and operated by Freaky Bean.

ABOUT FREAKY BEAN
Established in 2005, Freaky Bean Coffee Company roasts all its coffees to bring out the unique flavor of all its beans and is dedicated to educating its customers about specific coffee flavor profiles. The Freaky Bean is the only coffee company in Maine to offer tastings in its specially constructed Cupping Room in the Westbrook location. The Freaky Bean is a community-oriented business that encourages customers to hang out and relax over a great cup of freshly roasted coffee or espresso based drinks. Presently operating three retail locations – 855 Main Street, Westbrook, and 360 US Route 1, Scarborough and 2 Cabela Way in Scarborough, the company will soon open another location, on Broadway in South Portland. Once opened these stores will make the Freaky Bean Maine’s largest coffee retailer/roastery.

For more information, www.freakybean.com, or email info@portlandmusicfoundation.org

WBLM & SHIPYARD RELEASE GREETINGS FROM AREA CODE 207 CD VOLUME 7

Headlining Volume 7 are previously unreleased songs by Ray Lamontagne, Rustic Overtones, Phantom Buffalo, Sara Cox, The Coming Grass, As Fast As, The Boneheads, Darien Brahms, Adam Gardner (Guster), Jon Nolan, Steve Jones and Seekonk, along with 9 others. The disc was mastered at the world famous Gateway Mastering studios in Portland by Grammy Award winning engineer Adam Ayan. The new CD will be available at all Bull Moose stores (located throughout Maine and in Portsmouth and Salem NH) and at Borders Books and Music in South Portland. It will be available on-line at www.bullmoose.com and at www.cornmealrecords.com. “I guess I say this each time we release one of these compilations, but this is the best one yet“ said Charlie Gaylord, the CD’s executive producer and principal of Cornmeal Records. “It is a testament to our local musicians and music scene that, pound for pound, we continue to be asgood as any city in the country”.

Of special note on Volume 7 are the two live tracks recorded at One City Center by Ray Lamontagne and Rustic Overtones. Lamontagne, with a solo acoustic song, is appearing on his fourth consecutive GFAC 207 CD and The Overtones recording is from their historic comeback show held on July 27, 2007 on the BLM patio, overlooking Monument Square, in front of an estimated 6,000 fans. These two tracks are not available anywhere else.

GOT THE FEVER? THE ONLY CURE IS.....

MORE PROMO!

With the return of nice weather we all find motivation we've been lacking for months. Motivation to spring clean, clean out and wash the car, get outside and exercise, walk the dog, clean the yard, set up the BBQ, open the pool, etc. If you're a musician, this is the time to push your music with ultra force. This is the time to be seen on and off stage. To be heard on and off stage. This is the time when you can walk half a block and connect with someone who might dig your band or your record.

Over the past five or six months, most music fans have been home and staying warm. It sucks, but people don't want to brave the cold for anything during the winter. They fatten up and go a bit clueless as to what’s making noise in the music scene. Some may venture out to clubs and record stores, but they’re few and far between.

Luckily, the sun is now beaming warmth upon us. Now we've reached that time of the year where people want out and "in" on everything. Have you noticed that on even the first close to nice day, weather wise, people were out to the streets as if there was a championship parade in town with free popcorn. People are buzzed about doing stuff and getting on board with things. So go get them! This is the time to hit the streets pushing your revolution. Pick a night. Grab a backpack. Stuff it with stickers, CDs and flyers for your next gig. If you have an iPod, bring that too. Get stomping. Walk around and stop by the clubs, Bull Moose, Tattoo parlors, book stores, bars, pubs, restaurants, coffee shops and any other business where music fans may be lounging.

Hang up flyers where you can promote your next show. (Just make sure you don't hang a flyer much more than a week prior to the gig. Thats a posting rule of thumb.) People who you strike up conversation with, hand them a sticker and handbill flyer. Give them something that might stay in their pocket. When they get home and clean out their pockets ... BAM, they see your name again. Get your band/album name burned into people’s heads. Give them a sticker. Even if they don’t put it in a choice place, they might stick it somewhere, anywhere. You can't beat that opportunity.

Show your face around the clubs. That’s a GREAT sign that our scene is serious; seeing musicians at clubs on any given night. Show your face even if you aren't playing that night. Let other bands and fans and clubs know you're in the mix. You're visible and you care about what’s going on even if you aren't in the middle of it that particular night.

Chat up with club door guys. They are important people to always be in the know with. Maybe you walk by the Big Easy and Uncle Eddie is there. Talk to him. Introduce yourself if you don't who the door person is. Let them know about your band. Burn your band name into people’s heads. "Hey I'm ____ from _____. We're looking forward to playing here again soon." Whatever you want. Just say something that shows your interest to the scene and their club. Also, door people are there for hours and hours, doing nothing much right? They're just there holding down the fort, but they are THE representatives of the fort. For so many of them, conversation is the backbone of their night. Plus, while you yap up with the club door folks, you will see fellow musicians and potential fans walk in and out. Let people see you and they will remember you. Build the buzz.

CDs ... yeah they aren't free to you, but why not to someone who might help you build the buzz. Hook up a door person. Smoking a cig and talking to someone outside a coffee shop or Tattplace? Give them a disc. Sure you lose a sale, but they could help you gain five new ones. They think you're cool as heck for the free disc and they will see your passion to make things happen for your music. Don't ever get scared of giving out some free discs here and there on the streets to potential fans. You can't put a price on buzz. Hey, how about hitting Amigo’s, Geno’s, Downtown Lounge, Asylum Sportsbar, Whiteheart and give the bartender a free record? Or Bull Moose or a Tattoo place or hip clothing store. Why? Well I can assure you they will probably put it on their stereo in the business that night. If not that night, soon. And you know what, if they don't play it in the business and it sits next to the CD player un-touched, I GUARANTEE it won't go un-noticed. You will surely have 2,3,4+ employees, who probably love music, look at the CD and take notice of the name on the record. That builds buzz.

How about those people you meet who are willing to hang out and chat about music? If you're at a spot smoking a cig outside of a club or hot spot and the conversation is going good, say, "Hey, can I play you like a little bit of a song or two?" If they say yes, play them a couple tunes. Well, maybe half of each song if they're cool about it. Afterwards, get some feedback. "What did you think? You like one better than the other?" Any response you walk away with is priceless. Let them know you're trying to figure out if you should add the song to your set or something and their help is going to help you make a decision. That way they feel their taste/opinion is worth a lot to you. Of course, take what they say how you want, but damn man, there’s some direct feedback big time.How about something even easier? Maybe you just want to walk Congress with a band mate or a friend. Flyer-less, no stickers. You just want to walk. Have someone in your crew wear a band shirt. So that way walking by anyone, they see your band’s name. BAM! I mean we stare at Nike, ECCO, Vans, Reebok, Red Sox and others as people walk by us every day. Why not push YOUR Nike. YOUR Reebok. Wear, or have someone wear, your shirt, push YOUR band. Even the laziest person can do that. Walking billboard. Plus hey, you are promoting your killer merch!

Lets face it, the cold, the winter should never keep you from pushing your band and your music. But if you find yourself with an itch lately, act on it. If the weather is motivating you to get out, then get out with your music. ALWAYS be ready to push your music. Unless that’s not your main goal. If not, just enjoy the weather......while we can!

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