The International Songwriting Competition website
has posted that winners will be annouced March 31st.

Hey y'all,
Lots of inquiry lately, but still no word on the International Songwriting Competition. Thanks for caring to ask in this busy world.
The finalists are being listened to by a whole slew
of "VIP" types, so I guess they're waiting to hear back from all the
judges.

As for the People's Voice--a completely separate contest within the contest-- I think they announce that
the same time as the ISC.
Thanks so much to all of you who voted.
I'll keep ya posted. People on my email list will get word first.
You can sign up easily from the Home Page.

Check out http://www.songwritingcompetition.com for more info on the judges, prizes, winners, rules, etc.

Be well,
Laurie

The song "Milwaukee" is an International Songwriting Competition (ISC) FINALIST!!!! There were 15,000 Songs submitted from around the world. So, pretty exciting.

Check out http://www.songwritingcompetition.com for more info on the judges, prizes, winners, rules, etc.

In addition to the regular winners who will be selected by the ISC judging panel, ISC also offers the People's Voice - where you get to be the judge and pick your favorite song.

Listen to Milwaukee [update: Oct. 2006...sorry, but we took the link to Milwaukee off; it was an unmastered MP3 version and doesn't count anymore...cause the EP will be ready around NOV. 9th!!!!)

And click here to listen to all the finalists' songs and vote.

You can vote once a day.
That's all for now...
Thanks if you take the time to vote!
LOVE,
Laurie

Hi!
Keep an eye out on GIGS; got some shows coming up in LA for the winter.
Should be confirmed and posted soon.

Best Wishes for a Happy, Healthy New Year and Happy Holidays to all.
Peace, Calm Seas and Sanity in 2006
Love,
Laurie

Show this Sunday, Oct. 9th at Hotel Cafe in Hollywood with special guests!
See GIGS page for more details.

To all the folks who came out to last night's show in Cambridge:
THANKS for making it so much fun. It was great playing again
with Woody Giessmann (after 6 years!) and Janet Robin rocked as usual.

Thanks also to those who purchased the "Limited Edition" 2-song sampler from the recent recording project in LA. We only had a handful made and you raised $110.00 for the Snow Lion Foundation; more specifically for the young girl whose education I sponsor in Nepal.
Thanks for your generosity.

'til next time,
Laurie

SEE GIGS PAGE for more info on Upcoming (AND ONLY) Show on East Coast!
Club Passim, Thursday, August 11 @ 8pm w/ special guest opener Janet Robin.

Summer 2005:
Laurie will be teaching a Music Workshop for kids ages 8-15 at Riley School's College for Kids on the beautiful coast of Rockport, Maine. The two week workshop takes place between July 11-July 21st., Monday through Thursdays 9am-3pm.
Children choose two in-depth workshops and work with professional artists and scientists. Other choices include:
Filmmmaking, Radio broadcasting, Theater, Visual Arts, Pottery, Photography, Creative Lifewriting and Environmental Science.

To register or for more information: 207-596-6405 or www.rileyschool.org.

Financial Assistance and Scholarships Available!!

Laurie's Music Workshop:
This workshop will build on each camper's own musical interests and skills to experience the thrill of creating and performing. Form your own group, Sing and write your own songs. Jam with other young musicians. Campers will experiment with and be exposed to many instruments to learn the basics of rhythm and good musicianship. Campers quickly evolve into more sensitive players, becoming participants in their own improvisational jams. Using their own instrument or experimenting with a new one, they will be encouraged to explore and discover their musical potential.
Projects and activities may include songwriting, paying as a band, independents work on specific instruments and songs,
group singing, creative writing exercises, and interacting with other workshops by providing music for plays and films.

Hey Kids, heads up now.
Gotta couple of homecoming shows in Beantown; one in June, one in August.
Check out GIGS page for details. The "One Last Folking Gig" at Club Passim is NOT my last
gig, but will be a period at the end of a long acoustic phase. It's time for a fix...
The CD is almost done and it is my best, most ROCKING, tuneful work yet. I'm truly excited to
get it out into the world. Last night, friends Kay Hanley and Michelle Lewis put down some awesome
harmony parts on a bunch of songs. Finishing touches this week and onto the MIX.
California is dandy, but looking forward to seeing hometown faces soon..in June.
Peace,
Laurie

EP project update:
Los Angeles--Drummer Fred Eltringham (The Wallflowers, Tears For Fears) came in last week for two sessions and finished all the parts for the six song EP. He rocked. Look for Fred on tour with the Wallflowers in the upcoming months.
The title for the CD is now going to be UP FROM DOWN. That's official.
Thanks for all the opinions on the song selection. In the end, producer Michael Eisenstein and I decided on the following:
"Milwaukee," "Hard," "Sorry For You," "Oblivion," "Safe" and title track "Up From Down." This will definitely be a rock record for all those folks who have longed for the days when I never brought an acoustic guitar to the gigs and hopefully satisfy the curious listeners from my recent acoustic tours who would often say "I wish I could here you in a band setting." That's not to say it won't be melodious. It will just have some meat on it. Melodious Meat.
That's all for now. Spring's a-comin'!

Great News!!
Los Angeles--Pre-production has officially started for Laurie's next CD. It will be a six-song EP produced by guitarist extraordinaire Michael Eisenstein (Letters to Cleo, Our Lady Peace, Nina Gordon). Tentatively titled, "It's A Wonder,"
the recording will take place in Los Angeles over the winter months. More to come on this project in the near future!

LG's TOP 10 LA musings during the two weeks of torrential downpours.

"Well it never rains in Southern California...." Bulls%!#!.

At least in Maine I still had my green Wellies.

The earth is getting awfully wet lately; any signs of an ark on the horizon?

Oh my Lordy-Lordy, please bring us the sun and dry up the landy-landy.

My pets are getting sick of seeing me in the house.

I know it could be worse...think of the Tsunami victims or the folks up in the canyons, but still...
Can I have my money back?

When it was sunny, at least I had an excuse not to do anything.

Think of all the poor car wash owners taking a beating this week.

Finally, my convertible top gets a cleaning.

"I know Dad, it's not as bad as the freezing icy hell you have to put up with in Boston, but LA has a reputation to uphold"

FIRST AND LAST.
MY first gig as a California resident is also my last gig of the year.
With my pal Janet Robin and special guests celebrating her new CD.
Do come if you're near Hollywood, CA.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12th 8PM
HOTEL CAFE (www.hotelcafe.com)
(Go to GIGS page http://www.lauriegeltman.com/pages/gigs.html for more info)
Happy Holidays and the beat goes on....

Please Note the NEW ADDRESS for ROSEBLOOM PRODUCTIONS:

Rosebloom Productions
256 S. Robertson Blvd. #77
Beverly Hills, CA 90211-2898

Laurie Geltman merchandise purchases (checks & money orders) should also use this address.

ROCK THE FRIGGIN' VOTE Y'ALL!!!!
Don't know where? Go to http://www.mypollingplace.com
It will tell you where you're supposed to vote and what type of ballot you'll be using.
We change because we want to change and we stay the same because we are afraid to move our feet forward. We are afraid to move our feet forward because we might find we are free to fly.
Remember the Constitution which we thankfully still have to remind us what being an American really means.

Love and Peace ...
Laurie

Temporarily the CONTACT PAGE as well as NEWS....

Greetings from the West Coast!
As you all know, moving's a BIG deal, so it's no wonder I seem to have fallen off the planet.
But, alas, I am here and loving LA so far; it's very exciting.

I have a new email address for all things relating to guitar, songwriting/guitar workshops, youth pop/rock ensembles and private instruction inquiries.
It is: playguitarLA@comcast.com

PLEASE NOTE that my business address in Boston (Rosebloom Productions, PO Box 347, Allston, MA 02134) DOESN'T EXIST, but anything sent to it WILL be forwarded to California. I will post my Los Angeles contact information in the coming weeks. Fan Mail and Booking/Publicity inquiries, see CONTACT page.

Once settled in, gigs will be booked, music will be made and I'll see you at a show soon; no worries.
Rocking onward,
Laurie

IT'S OFFICIAL...I'M MOVING TO Los Angeles.
Last gig in MA. is Friday, July 16th at 8pm at CLUB PASSIM with Dan Kellar!! (and other surprise guests).
SEE GIGS PAGE for more details. It will be sad and fun and jammin'.

Note..
ROSEBLOOM PRODUCTIONS is NO LONGER at PO BOX 347 ALLSTON, MA ADDRESS.
NEW business address (in LA) will be posted on CONTACTS page as soon as I find a new webmaster.
In the meantime, look here for updates.

Any good webmasters out there want to take the role of maintenance for me?
Mostly needed is text changes right now and a few updates on homepage. Contact: RBProduct7@aol.com

That's it for now....Peace!
-laurie

Thanks to all of the folks who came to Lowell/Capo's reunion gig last Friday; what a warm reception for Daniel!!
It was a trip down memory lane for both of us (that is, trying to remember all the songs from the past 15 years....).
Not to mention all the faces from the past. I'll keep ya posted for more gigs with Daniel Kellar over the summer.

XO-LG

What is the event Laurie is playing in about...on Thursday, March 11 at Center for Cultural Exchange in Portland?

BREW GIRLS 2004 Fundraiser Extravaganza
See GIGS page for the excellent line-up and location. Here's info on the benefit itself:

A benefit for:
New Girls as Grantmakers, a venture of the Maine Women

Happy New Year y'all.
Wanted to check in with anyone checking in. Since questions have been pouring in from different sources, I decided to post this here instead of sending to only my Once In A Blue Moon Newsletter recipients. [But go ahead and sign up- if you're not on it-via the link on Home page or email GeltmanRox-subscribe@yahoogroups.com]

Been getting emails asking mostly about future gigs. While shows will be posted soon enough-and I know it's been quite a long stretch-change is good. I'm filling up the proverbial well with lots of new challenges and inspirations. Staying geographically "fixed" to bring some much needed order to my life...oh the clutter of it all, and writing, writing, writing. Been doing music all the time, but in different ways. Been mentoring lots of kids on the in[put]s and out[put]s of rock and roll, music theory and how cool and cosmic it is. And playing Bluegrass with guys with names like Trapper, Dale, and Ray, but more on that down the road. Recently, I scored a short film and played all the instruments including electric bass, classical guitar, a surfy-psycho solo on my Tele, drums, percussion and keyboards. What fun. NO, it wasn't a synthesizer!

And though we haven't set a date, Daniel Kellar (violinist and former bandmate for many years) and I are planning some reunion shows in the near future. I hope, for those of you who never saw me perform before 2000 (Aug. '99 to be exact), will get a chance to hear Daniel and me playing together. I considered him as much a part of my sound as my own guitar and voice for a long time. If you're a "long timer" or have the CD No Power Steering, the tape Departure, or more recently have been a fan of the Tar Box Ramblers, then you know what a unique and amazing musician Daniel is. Okay, enough about him! :) We're both excited though, and I'll let you know the show dates asap.

That's it for now.
Peace for the New Year,
-Laurie

RADIO RADIO
Hear Laurie on WCLZ 98.9 PORTLAND, ME
"Greetings from Area Code 207" with Charlie Gaylord
Wed. October 8th at 6pm
Sun. October 12th at 11am

Boston--Just back from a private event in Wisconsin and wanted to say "Thanks Milwaukee!" for being such a fun and kind host. The Young Professionals of Milwaukee (associated with the city's Chamber of Commerce) flew me out there on MIDWEST, the only airlines that serves you warm chocolate chip cookies. Tuesday night I performed the song "Milwaukee" for 500 YPM members at the Todd Wehr Theater inside the Marcus Center for The Performing Arts. A very nice place that warranted all black and open-toe high heel shoes. Not bad for a little rock song about drinking and friendship written in Somerville, MA.
The song was used for the Milwaukee Video Project which played prior to my one song gig. For those of you who know the lyrics, the verses were NOT used on the video, just the upbeat, Clash-like chorus. [SEE at www.eCommandos.com]
However, the audience did get to hear it in full form LIVE. Once again, a cheer went out at the bittersweet line "We'll throw a party in your honor/Since you're drinkin' again" See RAMBLIN' ON PAGE for more Milwaukee insight. Anyway, Happy 2 Year Birthday to YPM. Speaking of birthdays, Happy 100th birthday to Milwaukee's other pride besides beer: Harley-Davidson! Get those ear plugs in tight, Milwaukee, here come the hogs! -LG

PSSSSSST!
Special password to save you $4.00 on EACH TICKET for Friday, May 9th, Somerville Theater Show.
Call Songstreet Productions at 617-628-3390 and say:
"SONGSTREET EMAIL" and wham, you got yourself a good deal. (Tell 'em Laurie sent ya)
Check out the GIGS page for details on this super show; a real diverse mix of singer-songwriters.
The Somerville Box Office will also honor this password.

Happy New Year to y'all and big wishes of peace, health and sanity in 2003.

FYI
The GUESTBOOK is sort of hidden on the CONTACTS PAGE. It was added after the web launch last year and maybe you didn't catch it, but say hello if you feel like it!

2002 THANKSGIVING MESSAGE:
I want to thank all those kind people who opened their homes to me while on tour in 2002.
From San Diego to Seattle,Brooklyn to Pittsburgh, and the many, MANY crash pads of the recent Midwest tour,
I couldn't do this without you all and it's a blessing to have friends all around this great land.

Special thanks to musicians along the way; Alastair Moock (Iowa), Debbie Deane (NY), Janet Robin (LA),
Bill Camplin & Lil Rev(WI), John Karr (S.F.)and Celia (Rocks!) in St. Louis for making me feel like the music world is a small,
friendly town. Many bookers and promoters go beyond the call of duty, so warm thanks to the Cunningham clan
in Cinci, Nora in Indy, Greg in Columbus, Marian in Seattle, Clay in PIttsburgh, the whole Camplin family.

Friends: Mike & Sheila, Rob & Regan, Patti & Jeff,Todd & Jodi, Karen S., Amanda, Debbie & Michael, Deb & Dave,
Annette, Biki, Paula B., Carla C., T.W., Bill & Sarah, Brenda's cousin in Burlington!!...thank you, thank you, thank you.

Have a great holiday feast!
love,
laurie