NEWS: 

Random Notes:

As you might already know, The Frank Wakefield Band encourages DAT Heads to record our shows.  We even allow studio grade mics on stage with us, which you can see in many of the band concert photos.  We require that the recordings never be sold commercially and that we get a DAT copy of the original.  There are a few other details too.  We use the recordings in the soundtracks of our movies.  The "Adventures in Bluegrass" movie series for example depends heavily on these recordings.  Although it may take a little time, we always return the original copies to the DAT Heads who recorded them as well as give credit to them in the movie productions. 

As you probably already know, this band does not try to change to fit the current trends.  It is for this reason that The Frank Wakefield Band is totally unique.  This is what draws Frank's fans to the band.  There are no other Frank Wakefields out there.  When in 1976 I first got on stage with Frank Wakefield, I knew that this guy was an original.  This band relies on the support of its fan base.  The fans help us record the video and audio that we use in our "Adventures In Bluegrass" band movies, streaming video offered free online.  They also help us with our tours, finding venues etc.  Most of all, they are our friends.  Frank and I want to take this time to thank everyone who have helped us and continue to help us with our efforts.  It is the true  empowerment of the fans of this music when they get out there and challenge the venues to book the bands that they want to see.  I remember doing this for Bill Monroe in the 1970's.  The purest form of this empowerment comes when the fans put on house  and independent hall concerts.  One house concert promoter told me that she just got "Mad as Hell and wasn't going to take it anymore".  Sounds like the movie Network!  She said that she was sick of the bands being offered by the local venues and just decided to change the situation. 

I always make the point that an intimate acoustic house concert situation with 50 people attending and a ticket price of $25 is $1,250 in ticket sales.  Some house concert promoters have a list of friends who will purchase advance tickets.  This allows the promoter to turn the house over to get 2 shows with 50 people each generating a gross of $2,500 with next to zero costs outside of the band.  Due to the cost of lodging and transportation, a night on the road either makes money or costs money.  Any band passing through town would be hard pressed not to work with this promoter, provide the show didn't present a contract conflict with another venue.  We meet the greatest people on the road.  Frank always says that we have the best and smartest fans in the world.  There are lots of these courageous people taking on risk, making shows happen, movers and shakers, who are just not going to take what is being handed to them. 

We like the flavor, the soul, the blues, the spirit that this music offers...  and with the help of our friends who feel the same about this music, we can... and do, make it work.  I just want to encourage all the people who help us.  You should know that it is working, we are not alone.  This newsletter will go out to just about 27,000 people, depending on the current status of "active" addresses.  That's 27,000 people worldwide who have requested our free newsletter. 

There are other Bluegrass  publications who make money by selling ad space.  They work hard to promote the larger form of the music and do a good job of it too.   What we see is that all across the world  people are creating their own music venue situations which will support the forms of music that they want to be exposed to.  We think that this is great thing.

Jim Moss:

The Frank Wakefield Band: FWB@candlewater.com 
   

------------------- MP3

Below is a link to mp3 files from the bands NYC show last November

which was part of the GO EAST Tour 2004.
http://www.candlewater.com/GO_EAST_2004/Baggot_Inn/Akira_Nagai/
The links are on the left side just above the pictures.  These were recorded on DAT the

stereo silver mics seen on stage with us in the pictures, by one of the many fans who
follow the band to record the shows.

-------------------

  Encore Photos...

Now here are some very cool photos. Frank made his private photo collection available for display at his the web site.  We call it Frank Wakefield's Private Photo Collection.

http://www.candlewater.com/WakefieldPhotoCollection/

Last year was a busy one with our west coast tour, then off to Sweden, Scotland and England as well more shows here in the USA.  What great bluegrass fans we met.   You can find photos from our tours at the following links: 

http://www.candlewater.com/WT2004_021/indexSweden2.html or at

these links that reside in the upper left of each page:

More Sweden Photos1

More Sweden Photos2

More Sweden Photos3

More Sweden Photos4

More Sweden Photos5

More UK Photos1

More UK Photos2

Freight & Salvage Berkeley CA USA 2004

http://www.candlewater.com/FWBFreight2004/index.html

Note: These pages are full of photos and may take a little time to download

with a 56K dial up modem.

Final Notes:

We have the last of the Grateful Dead Records stock of The Good Ol Boys

Pistol Packin Moma CD.  This CD which is out of print has Frank Wakefield,

David Nelson, Don Reno, Chubby Wise and Pat Campbell on bass.  We have them. 

For information regarding the CD email Jim Moss at:  PPM@Candlewater.com

Below:

Here is a handful of photos collected from the bands adventures over the past year or 2004. 

Included are photos of Frank Wakefield, Jim Moss, James Lewin, Curtis Wright, and many more.

More of these photos can be viewed at:

Freight & Salvage Photos 1 set 1

Freight & Salvage Photos 2 set 2

Lyons Photos 1 set 1

Lyons Photos 2 set 1

Lyons Photos 3 set 2

Lyons Photos 4 set 2

 --------------