Happy New SPPS
Over the last few months, the SPPS has gone from considering closing up shop for lack of funds, to finding more support… and NOW! a brand new website & server setup with current news, original articles, a new look, and an overall restructuring which leaves us in better shape for the future. We are still under-funded and need more monthly supporters in order to grow, but we’re not going away – at least for now.
SPPS still needs you!
If you’ve not joined us in a sustaining member, start the new year off right by joining here:
Upcoming, are some special benefits only members will enjoy…
Throw $5 a month towards the SPPS. Many folks spend that much on a cup of coffee – it can get a tape half-way-around the world for the spps – from someone’s closet to our volunteer archivists. It might go to helping a band at the IBMA get a showcase in the SPPS showcase room, or send bluegrass radio via the web to the Czech Republic or Japan (lots of SPPS listeners there!) The radio is still going! Listen in here: http://thespps.org/radio/
You can also see a list of many of the people who are responsible for the SPPS making it to 2009. If you see one of them out at a concert, be sure to say thanks!
End of Year-
If you mailed a check made out to the SPPS to 6859 W. 175th St. Tinley Park, IL 60477 before 12/31 (even if we haven’t cashed it yet) it could still be included in tax year 2008 under many circumstances (consult your tax professional)
New Digs, Blog, Web 2.0 (whatever that is!)
We’re very grateful for Chris Coyier’s hard work on the site redesign and to Sarah Hagerman for our first fantastic feature story on Two High String Band (see ) and her upcoming Uncle Earl SPPS exclusive. We have more writers joining the SPPS crew as we work towards being a relevant archival group – one foot in the past and one foot up on the future. We’re headed towards REAL podcasts, RSS feeds, and all that goodness. We’ll help you get tuned in with the new toys as we use them.
New Tapes – What a great way to celebrate all this great news (that’s what it’s all about!)
Check out the 5 new tapes here.
-An all-star tape from Renfro Valley Bluegrass Festival, 1971
-Bean Blossom 1981 – Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys (with guests),
The Goins Brothers, Mac Wiseman, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
-Tut Taylor and Norman Blake – “Solid Gold” – one of the best of the Tut Tapes!
-Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver at the Birchmere 1979
-Monroe 1963, Joe Val 1971
New Partner Bands
The SPPS is again accepting applications for Partner Bands as we’ve entered a New Year. We’re often asked the criteria, and here are the basics (with some exceptions): The band should have at least one commercial release (indy is okay!). The band should actively tour and be “more than regional.” Accomplishments, awards, and other successes by key members are taken into consideration. The band must be open to being archived/taped by the SPPS and tapers in general and be open to archived material release on the SPPS site. The band must have at least 2 live shows available to share in order to become a partner. Of course subjective criteria includes approval by the SPPS board based on musicianship, material, archive-ability, and being a ‘fit’ with the SPPS mission.
We Need you!
-Tapers, to tape and archive
-writers to interview, investigate, and opine.
-photographers to capture live events in cooperation with tapers
-Bands Venues and Events – We want to archive and promote YOU, while
you spread the good word about the SPPS
-supporters to pass on the good word about the spps and to help us pay the bills
-teachers, educators, instructors – to use SPPS material in schools
and music lessons and workshops – please tell us how you used SPPS
material for your educational endevor. We would LOVE to share any
material you would like that involves SPPS in education.
What is the SPPS?
We are a group of people who are dedicated to furthering Americana music through the enjoyment of historical live sounds. In order to know where we are headed, we need to know where we’ve been. Many of us remember “the goodle days” but we will be gone someday, too. The sounds we work to save, will stay, and tell our story to our children. We see archival as a responsibility and promotion as duty.
We wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous new year!
Your friends at the SPPS
www.thespps.org
