The Homestead Pickiin' Parlor ® has been a vital part of the Upper Midwest acoustic music scene for the past 25 years.  They serve as folk music's information central, a meeting place for fans of the music with a wide variety of Acoustic music events, an educational facility for those wanting to learn to play this music, and they offer an extensive selection of recordings, books, instruments and accessories for the 'main stream musically challenged' and have been instrumental in building the thriving folk music scene in this area throughout their quarter century of service to lovers of this music.  They remain the only music store in the Upper Midwest devoted exclusively to folk music and a 'must' on the list of hangouts for the music's fans.  The Pickin' Parlor is located at 6625 Penn Ave So in Richfield, MN and can be reached at 612-861-3308.  I'm delighted they have chosen to extend their support of the music we live by becoming a sponsor or this calendar.

Featured Items!!

These are either items which seem to fly out of the store as fast as we can get them, or they're products we think you should know about.

The Bluegrass Fakebook is a must for any fan, picker or singer of Bluegrass music. It includes Lyrics, Melody Line & Chord Progressions for 150 All-Time Favorite tunes including 50 Gospel songs. Lyrics are printed in Large, Easy-To-Read type and chord charts for Guitar, Banjo & Mandolin are included. We can't seem to have enough of these in stock.

Our price is only $14.95. 

Just a few titles included are "Amazing Grace", "Banks of the Ohio", "Cripple Creek", "Dancin' With the Angels", "Footprints in the Snow", "Good Woman's Love", "I'll Fly Away", "Life is Like a Mountain Railway", "Man of Constant Sorrow", "Old Joe Clark", "Rank Strangers to Me", "Rocky Top", "Satan's Jewel Crown", "There's More Pretty Girls Than One", "Wabash Cannonball" and many, many more. Every song in the book is a jam standard.

RISE UP SINGING, The Group Singing Songbook
conceived, developed and edited by Peter Blood and Annie Patterson

You simply can't do without this one, if you love folk music. It will become dog-eared, full of yellow sticky notes, and the most used music book you'll own. In fact, if you like to sing in groups, you should have several. Comes in either spiral binding for easy opening, or in a paperback form. (Spiral is best for people who don't want to hold it open, like guitar players. It will open flat and sit nicely on a music stand.) 

Our price $17.95.

This comprehensive collection contains words and guitar chords to nearly 1200 songs arranged in a compact, easy-to-use format. You won't find such an array of songs anywhere else:

* "Folk Revival" favorites by Baez, Seeger, Collins, Peter, Paul & Mary, Dylan, Mitchell, Taylor, Donovan & more
* Contemporary folk songs from Near, Staines, Williamson, Rogers, Bok & many more
* Broadway show tunes, Beatles' songs, Motown hits
* Hymns, spirituals and gospel standards
* Songs about peace, freedom, labor and the environment
* Ballads, cowboy songs, chanteys and blues

Tsunami Relief CD Arrives

Many of you are familiar with the acoustic music concert series put together over the last few months by St. George's Episcopal Church in St. Louis Park. They called it the "Spirited Folk Music Series". It was an exciting new venue and made for some good energy on the part of the bands participating as well as the audiences. It was such a successful series that they are already planning next year's concerts. 

When the Tsunami disaster struck Southern Asia, everyone involved in putting this concert series together felt a need to help. They responded by creating a CD featuring nine of the Midwest's Top Bluegrass and Old-Time music groups which had participated in the concert series. Bands featured include Monroe Crossing, The Platte Valley Boys, Becky Schlegel, Free Range Pickin', Jack Norton & The Mullet River Boys, Cousin Dad, Clay Hess, Tangled Roots and The Blue Drifters.

100% of the proceeds from the sale of this CD will go to support the Tsunami relief efforts of the American Refugee Committee as they help the victims rebuild shattered live and communities. The were recently named one of the top 8 charities by Money Magazine for being among the best at keeping their fund raising costs at a minimum. 93% of the donations they receive go directly into its programs. 

The artists and groups involved in this efforts have graciously donated their music, creativity and energy. The least we can do is stand with them. The need is still urgent and financial support is critical. The Friendship's Road, Minnesota to Asia compact disc allows you to support the relief efforts and enjoy your favorite performers at the same time. The Homestead Pickin' Parlor is donating what would normally be our profit to the relief effort as well. To maximize the good done by your purchase, buy them here or buy them from St. George's Church (http://www.st.georgesonline.org/), but buy them in large quantities. The price is $15.00 each.

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Carolyn Cruso Dulcimer Workshop May 7, 10 AM to 3 PM

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