Freedy Johnston

Steel Bridge Songfest 2012

freedy — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 01:21:09 +0000

Early June means staying up until 5:37 a.m. at the Holiday Motel in Sturgeon Bay and recording a song you just wrote with three people you just met; in other words, the Steel Bridge Songfest. Thursday, June 7th to Saturday, June 10th in Door County, Wisconsin. Apparently, there is research to show that the songfest is helping prevent 2012 from turning into the apocalyptic nightmare the Mayans had predicted. We thank pat mAcdonald and melaniejane and Kristy for that, as well as everything else they do to put on this week-long songwriting and performing event. It’s the finest way to start the summer. I will be playing at least a couple of gigs during those four days, and I will post that info as soon as I have it. I sure look forward to making the rock music with all my Steel Bridge friends.

St. Paul band show with Alison Scott Band

freedy — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:23:58 +0000

I’m heading up to the Twin Cities and beyond this weekend–along a route that should be a construction site for a high-speed rail line–to play music with my friends The Alison Scott Band. Friday, April 27th at the Amsterdam Bar and Hall in St. Paul. Kevin Bowe, Steve Price, Pete Anderson, James O’Neill, and Allie herself, are one heck of a band, and we will rock you.

Hobart Brothers with Lil’ Sis – April Midwest Tour

freedy — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:27:38 +0000

The Hobart Brothers with Lil’ Sis (Jon Dee Graham, Susan Cowsill, and me) are taking it on the road in April. We’ll do an acoustic trio tour across the plains in a great question-mark shaped route that features starring roles by Interstates 35, 70, 80 and 94, as well as other talented state and local highways. Austin 4/4, Dallas 4/5, K.C. 4/6, St. Louis 4/7, Chicago 4/9, Madison 4/10, O.K. City 4/13. See Shows page for details. And please check out our new release, “At Least We Have Each Other”, available on ITunes and Amazon, and in CD form at our shows.

Monday, March 26, 8 pm EDT, Stageit.com

freedy — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:16:16 +0000

Live from my illegal East Village sublet. Yes, the jig is up folks, and we’re moving on to other I’m sure equally legal pastures this week. So, I’m taking the opportunity to play a live, streaming-only, 25-minute gig through Stageit.com on Monday, March 26, at 8 pm eastern sharp. The site is free, and you buy tokens for the musicians, kind of like peanuts at the zoo. Or, you can see the gig for free if you like. Some people don’t have any money at all, let alone peanuts. But, these shows are not archived, so you’ll want to set your alarm.

SXSW 2012 Schedule

freedy — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 13:42:41 +0000

Hello Friends. SXSW 2012 is Mar. 14-17 in Austin, and I’ll be down there with my friends Susan Cowsill and Jon Dee Graham promoting our new Hobart Brothers with Lil’ Sis record, “At Least We Have Each Other”, made due to the saintly kindness of our Kickstarter donors. I will also be playing a few solo/band gigs. We hope to see you there. Here’s the marathon schedule:

Tuesday 3/13
6:25-6:45         Hobart Bros. & Lil' Sis at BMIʼs Howdy Texas Party
                         Stubbs BBQ, 801 Red River St.

Wednesday 3/14
3:00-3:25         Hobart Bros. at Guitartown/Conqueroo Kickoff Party
                         Dogwood, 715 West 6th St.
5:00-5:20         Freedy acoustic at NotSXSW 2012
                         Ameliaʼs, 2213 South 1st St.
12 mid-12:40   Freedy acoustic at SXSW showcase
                         Hilton Garden Inn, 18th Fl., 500 North IH 35

Thursday 3/15
12:00-12:20   Freedy with band at Hello Booking party
                      Continental Club, 1315 South Congress Ave.
1:30-2:30      Hobart Bros. & Lil' Sis at SXSW Ballroom G Day Stage
                      Austin Convention Ctr., 500 East Cesar Chavez St.
4:00-5:00      Hobart Bros. & Lil' Sis live TV appearance
                      KEYE TV
6:00-6:25      Freedy with band at the Ruby Stardust Lounge
                      Mariaʼs Taco Express, 2529 South Lamar Blvd.
8:00               Hobart Bros. & Lil' Sis acoustic trio
                      Grammy Museum Woody Guthrie Centennial
                      St. David's Bethell Hall, 301 E. 8th St. (2 Woody songs)
11:00-11:30   Freedy and Susan Cowsill with band
                       G&S Lounge, 2420 South 1st St.

Friday 3/16
1:30-1:50       Hobart Bros. & Lil' Sis taping at MusicFog
                      Threadgillʼs South, 301 West Riverside Dr.
3:00-5:00      Hobart Bros. set, and Sue, Jon Dee and Freedy solo sets
                      Lucyʼs Fried Chicken, 2218 College Ave.

Saturday 3/17
12:30-1:30      Freedy on panel - Not Your Fatherʼs House Concert
                       Austin Convention Center, Room 17B
3:00-3:30       Hobart Bros. & Lil' Sis at Second Motion/Blurt party
                       The Ginger Man, 301 Lavaca St.
4:00-4:30       Hobart Bros. & Lil' Sis at Dog & Duck Pub party
                       Dog & Duck Pub, 406 West 17th St.
5:35-6:05       Hobart Bros. & Lil' Sis at Killer Booking party
                       Austin Java, 1608 Barton Springs Rd.
11:00-11:40   Hobart Bros. & Lil' Sis SXSW Showcase
                       Continental Club, 1315 South Congress Ave.

Steely Dane, Maxwell’s, Sturgeon Bay

freedy — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:01:00 +0000

Well, the leaves are turning here along Lake Mendota as I practice singing Steely Dan songs for the upcoming Oct. 19th free after-work Steely Dane show in the Overture Center Lobby. We’ll be blowing your minds in two sets, from 5:30 to 7:30 or so. Arrive happy, leave happier. And then, on Friday, Oct. 21st I play with band at Maxwell’s in Hoboken, with James Mastro and The Health and Happiness Show. It’ll be a fine old-home night in the 07030, to benefit my great friend Graham Maby and his beautiful wife Mary-Beth. After Hoboken…..well, what is there, but after Hoboken we’re next seen in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. at the Holiday Music Motel for a solo acoustic show on Saturday, Nov. 5th. Always love visiting Door County, even if there was that problem with the guns and open containers last time…

Autumn in the Colonies

freedy — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 18:50:44 +0000

I am back East for a few trio gigs with my friends Jared Nickerson on bass and Dave Schramm on guitar. We just imagine that there’s a drummer onstage, and it seems to work out fine. Four of the original thirteen colonies are visited on this trip, but we wish we could play them all. We will appear from a cloud of smoke in: Wilmington, De. 9/29, New York, Ny. 9/30, South Orange, Nj. 10/1, and Norwalk, Ct. 10/2. Please check the shows page for details. The Norwalk show is a re-do of the (Irene-cancelled) 8/28 date with Marshall Crenshaw and The Bottlerockets.

Ground Zero Coffee August 31st

freedy — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 16:14:42 +0000

Dave Adler, Biff Blumfumgagnge and I will play and sing for you, without a p.a., at Ground Zero Coffee in Madison on Wednesday, August 31st, from 7:00 pm to 9. This is a free show of course, but you’ll want … Continue reading →

Dakota Jazz Club gig with band, Friday, August 12th

freedy — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:20:52 +0000

The Alison Scott band has invited me onto their bill at the Dakota in Minneapolis for a late-night musical journey. Oh, we will rock, yes we will. Check the Shows page for info.

Hitching Post, Door County July 30th

freedy — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 17:17:41 +0000

Door County in the summertime is a pretty nice hang, I’m telling ya. Why, there’s just no reason not to jump in the car on Saturday the 30th and drive right up to Valmy, just north of Sturgeon Bay, to the Hitching Post and listen to me and Jay Moran folk-duo our little hearts out. We hope to see pat mAcdonald and melaniejane, and maybe some other Steel Bridge friends too. Check the Shows page for details.