22 December, 2017

QTN 2017 End of the Ear Retrospective

And now it’s winter… winter in America…

Long time no type a hello and howd'yadoon. Today the Winter Solstice and tomorrow, days begin to lengthen toward springy summeryness again. It’s been a tough zoom of a year for everyone I know in so many ways and a kind of a missing year for me as I have been less in my homebase of the northwest involved with my usual writing, performing and recording and way more involved in eldercare on a daily basis (as many others are as well). The day to day of finding the groove in caregiving is like the routine with full plates spinning on sticks that those guys used to do on Ed Sullivan. Clearly many of you won’t remember that but I betcha you know what I mean allasame…

The brianQTN.bandcamp.com page has many of my recordings available for streaming, download or to order CDs by mail and it is good for us both: I get to come sing to you wherever you are and you get to help me keep this road open and get fun music to lift your spirits whenever you need it most. The latest album, The Sound of Photosynthesis is in its second CD pressing and I’m still planning to press it into vinyl, perhaps in 2018. Been looking for an able hand to help retool my old website too. Any design folk interested?

This most propitious time of year is full of the sounds of a worldsphere mechanism resetting itself amidst onslaught, detritus and chaos. Even though it seems like sometimes a darkopolypse comes, it’s so important to remember there is still a heart beating underneath it all and stronger than ever, getting clearer each breath and day, an autonomic holding space even as it often appears to be exactly the opposite. There is an opportunity for a re-visioning here alongside the hairpin turns and chaos triage and an open elastic way of seeing as well. A practice of some kind to ground it all is essential through it. 

If I didn’t play guitar, there is no way of knowing where I’d be today. It is the way I process my day to day. Moving fingers on wound wires and wood feels mighty good. If I didn’t breathe and stretch and listen to the onlyeveryany, I’m sure everything would make way less sense than it appears to now. Perhaps it is a time of looking at old patterns and transforming them, pulling old belief system tapes and updating them on a regular basis loaded kinda process to recreate and image something untried and new, to snap out of habit and evolve into a different grace.

It was pointed out to me that this December 31 will be the only day when every adult was born in the 20th century and every child was born in the 21st. The turn of the year is a good time to check in with those we call family, by blood or by choice. As many folks drop off the sphere each year, older generations vanish and youngers too.  It’s always a good idea to tell someone you’re thinking of them. 

I can’t imagine where I would be without all your ears, support, letters, affirmation, ideas and feedback and I’m glad I don’t need to imagine it. Somehow I have been doing this musiclife for a very long time and it is a strange sustenance. A fine community too of creatives who revision each day and bring new thought and clarity into being through hand and heart made art, silliness, music, dance and bright beingness.

May your New Ear hear thrilling music unanticipated and incredible. May your close ones enjoy health, wherewithal and as many graces as an opening heart can hold. To my fellow Northwet pluviophiles, I hope to be back there soon to drink the winter skies and sea.

Yogi Berra once said “ You can observe a whole lot just by watching!” and that, my friends, is more than enough for me…

You corn forest pundit,
bq

27 September, 2017

QTN Midwest – GroveFest 2017 and Crane's Pie Pantry in October!






•*♪♫•*¨*•.♪♫ BRIAN CUTEAN *♪♫•*¨*♪♫•*
GROVEFEST 2017 and CRANE'S PIE PANTRY

•• SUNDAY OCTOBER 1 • GROVEFEST ••
GLENVIEW IL
My first set is 11:55 am on the big stage and 
at 2:45 pm in the Kennicott Courtyard.
I've played this fest since the 20th Century and it’s still big fun.
Music, crafts, food and history outdoors on a golden autumn day.
Everyone is welcome.
The Grove National Historic Landmark is at 1421 Milwaukee Ave.

Glenview, IL 60025. Phone is 847.299.6096

•• FRIDAY OCTOBER 13 • 1 – 4 pm on The Patio••
CRANE’S PIE PANTRY RESTAURANT & WINERY
FENNVILLE, MI
So glad to be able to see my Michigan family if only for a day.
I haven’t gotten to play music there for the last three years due to family emergencies. 
It is a special treat to get to visit and play these songs there and share.
Join us at Crane's – a multi-generational place to go for splendid food and fellowship. 
There is no cover and all ages are welcome.
6054 124th Avenue (M-89), Fennville, MI 49408 
cranespiepantry.com


It’s been an impossibly difficult as well as a most enlightening year.
Graces comes in many forms, even forms we don’t like or recognize.
Every day is holding space and breathing it through to clarity.

Hope to see you at this lovely 100 year old community treasure.

Your corn forest pun-dit,
bq

15 July, 2017

QTN and Patrice Pike July 22

SATURDAY JULY 22 
ALBERTA ROSE THEATRE 
PORTLAND 8 pm 
All ages okay


Sharing the evening at this fabulous Portland theatre with the most awesomest Austin sista, the one and only PATRICE PIKE (EX-SISTER 7, LITTLE SISTER). We each do a set and tickets are on sale now for $15 in advance at albertarosetheatre.com.

01 July, 2017

It's OREGON COUNTRY FAIR TIME again!


Summery greets to you all!
It’s been another zoom of a spring. I’m just back from the annual 3 1/2 week relaxofest at the Kerrville Folk Festival, the best 12 fret program I’ve ever been to and this year was my 37th year! Lotsa guitar, late nights, that sweet Medina river, songs songs songs, and no computer for three weeks – the best retreat from this spinny whirl. Now I’m back in the cityzoom and it already feels like a dream... Whoa...

Here in Oregon now invigourated, just past another birthday and ready to spring into action and it's bout time. This weekend I play a Wordless Guitar gig out on the patio of 16 Tons in South Eugene and then it's Oregon Country Fair time again. This year's dream Qband is non pareil too: Jason Montgomery on bass, Lewi Longmire on mandolin, Michelle Alany on fiddle, Simon Lucas on drums and percussion and me, singing and playing with these great musicians. Hit the Fair link above for the whole amazing three day schedule.

I just pressed the 2nd run of my new CD The Sound of Photosynthesis. Somehow  1000 of em already sold so I had to get more made. Its been getting airplay all over the worldsphere and it’s available at my gigs in person and online at brianqtn.bandcamp.com. I hear itunes has it now too and CDBaby but if you order directly from me. you get album quality files or actual CDs and, it’s so much better. I send em out quick.

Here's my dates to fig yer raisin consciousness:

You can find me here in a wild musical spin:


••• SAT. JULY 1 – QTNSTRUMENTAL WORDLESS GUITAR •••
16 Tons in Eugene; 2864 Willamette St. on the Patio
 6 to 8 pm. Free. All ages welcome!


••• OREGON COUNTRY FAIR JULY 8, 9 & 10 •••
The QBand this year is Lewi Longmire, Jason Montgomery, 
Michelle Alany, Simon Lucas and spontenacious guests. 
We have two official sets:
FRIDAY   JULY 7   BLUE MOON 12:20 pm
SATURDAY JULY 8  COMMUNITY VILLAGE 4 pm
SUNDAY  JULY 9   SHADY GROVE 4:20 pm


More QTN this month too:
••• WEDS. JULY 12 – SCOBERT PARK, EUGENE – 6:30 pm •••
The annual post OCF exhale concert! 
Picnics, kids, dogs, families and cookies encouraged. 


••• THURS. JULY 13 – SAM BOND'S, EUGENE – 8:30 pm •••
A new version of last summer's Splendicious Songwriting 
with a set of QTN tuneage preceded by a set from
 AMY SUE BERLIN and KENDRA KINSEY of Austin

$5 for 21+ over


••• SAT. JULY 22 – ALBERTA ROSE THEATRE, PDX – 8 pm •••
Sharing the evening at this fabulous Portland theatre with the most awesomest Austin sista, the one and only PATRICE PIKE (EX-SISTER 7, LITTLE SISTER). We’re each doing a set and tickets are on sale now for $15 in advance at albertarosetheatre.com.
More on this soon.






19 May, 2017

QTN Texas Withdrawl 2017 Post Kerr Update

QTN and friends at Radio, 16 May 2017. Photo by Daisy O'Connor

THURSDAY JUNE 16 –  Linda's Fine Foods 
Wimberley, TX 6:30 to 9 pm 
A sweet treat of a place to play and eat at with delicious food and great people. Outside under the trees with a fine buncha folks 
eating a fine buncha Linda Allen's delicious food. 
500 FM 2325, Wimberley, Texas 78676 / 512.847.5464  lindasfinefoods.com

SATURDAY  JUNE 17 – QTN LIVE on KOOP Radio
QTN is guest on Rush Evans' Singer and the Song, an hourlong show beginning at 3 pm. Listen in from anywhere in the world online at koop.org

AND later that same evening...

SATURDAY JUNE 17 – HOUSE CONCERT – AUSTIN
Two QTN sets beginning early at 7:30 pm with special guests. RSVP QTNZYME@yahoo.com for address and other pertinent info. 
Seating is limited and RSVP is necessary. 
An incredible place for a special concert.

SUNDAY JUNE 18 – HOUSE CONCERT – SAN MARCOS
Potluck at 6 pm. Suggested donation $15
with special guest Ike Eichenberg and ??
Seating is limited so RSVP for info to:
trweinberg@yahoo.com or joannagel@yahoo.com
RSVP for address and other info.
A beautiful house for a concert, an awe-inspiring potluck beforehand 
and a community of creative Hill Country folk!


Your continued prescence, part of the bloodflow mindkythe and musicalogica that always and evre exudes through every pore and vessel is muchly appreciated. These lives and times get stranger and more incredible with each new breathing and the dice are always rolling.

Order and stream my new album via brianQTN.bandcamp.com and listen and download from the same page. There’s plenty of old weird QTN songs along with whole albums. Order by mail with a check or money order? Yes thank you! Tell me where and how many.

I did an hour-long interview with Tom May on the River City Folk radio show from Omaha Public Radio, that aired a couple of weeks back. I just posted it in two parts so you can stream it at soundcloud.com/brianQTN.

Your corn forest pundit,

bq

09 May, 2017

QTN’s GOING THROUGH TEXAS WITHDRAWL 2017




The Q-newsletter follows these dates, figs 
and raisin consciousness
 Like to host a QTN houseconcert, 
or an evening of wordless guitar music
in May or June? Write QTNZYME (at) yahoo (dot) com. 

The post Kerr June calendar will be updated with last-minute spontenacities I’m sure.

QTN’s GOING THROUGH TEXAS WITHDRAWL 2017

FRIDAY MAY 12 - Linda Allen's Fine Foods in Wimberley with Ike Eichenberg. 6:30 to 9 pm. A sweet treat of a place to play and eat at with delicious food and great people. Sit under the trees with a fine buncha folks eating a fine buncha Linda Allen's food. 
500 FM 2325, Wimberley, Texas 78676 512.847.5464 lindasfinefoods.com

TUESDAY MAY 16 - QTN in concert at Radio Coffee and Beer with Amy Sue Berlin and Kendra Kinsey opening. Music begins at 8 pm. All ages are welcome. Don't miss this one. 4208 Manchaca Rd. Austin, TX 78704 radiocoffeeandbeer.com            Facebook Event

THURSDAY MAY 25 – JUNE 11 - The 46th Kerrville Folk Festival. I'll be out there maybe the whole time... What are you waiting for? Get your tickets, make your plans and come out to the Quiet Valley Ranch. Fall into the sky as you sing and meet a buncha extraordinary people you may be friends with for the rest of your life. The schedule and all the info is at kerrville-music.com


Brian sez:
Hello to you all in the burgeoning blossoming of this 2017 boing of Spring.  I’ve never left the Northwest this late to head to Texas and I’m soo ready for this year’s spin there. All around the hillside abode I ostensibly live at, the ground is like quicksand and mud is all around from unrelenting rains and cold. Now here I am heading to the place that’s been warmest since February and the people I get to see are resonant, creative and multifaceted.

It has been a time of many extenuating life circumstances and already quite a year, unlike any other and for everyone I know. These hearts reach for connection as the world puts on quite a show. Everything that used to be preposterous is post-posterous now and if there’s one thing certain, it is that uncertainty can be a principal activating force of the multiverse.

So I’ma heading down to the Hill Country for another round of QTN concerts, late night food, good people visits, the rivers and the rolling hills of whatever is left undeveloped of that most beloved virtual rurality. This sun, sky and southwestern birds are most welcome to these Northwet behind the ears. I am especially looking forward to bone warming heat. This winter had nearly 150 days of rain (and ice storms and cold and snow) where I live so the change is welcome.

Thirty seven years ago, two of my songs got selected for New Folk which brought me to Quiet Valley Ranch for the first time and I still look forward to it each year. The Kerrville Folk Fest has taugh me so much and it's been a part of my migratory pattern ever since. One of my favourite things ever is sleeping on the ground there when a dramatic thunderous storm comes through and shakes the earth beneath my body.

Once again, I’ve left my truck in Oregon and that means I’m on the lookout to borrow a street legal vehicle while I am in the Austin/San Marcos area for short gigs, a day or a week at a time. Of course, the endibilities are posstless and I am open to suggestions.

This year my CD, the sound of photosynthesis follows me along with a QTN colouring book  LOLOLOLOLOLO. If there ever were an appropos time for absurdity, it’s now and these days, colouring books are back in vogue I hear (they’re probably in other magazines too…).

Stream new music via brianQTN.bandcamp.com and listen and download from the same page. There’s plenty of old weird QTN songs along with whole albums. Order by mail with a check or money order? Yes thank you! Tell me where and how many.

I did an hour-long interview with Tom May on the River City Folk radio show from Omaha Public Radio, that aired a couple of weeks back. I just posted it in two parts so you can stream it at soundcloud.com/brianQTN.

If you made it this far, I thank you most heartily. How’s your popcorn?

Your corn forest pundit,
bq