QTNews: Harvest Between the Veils

 

 

Howdy and Boo to you!

Here we are – somehow already perched between the veils in the Samhain time of the year where it’s All Hallow’s Eve. The harvest is in and the dark season begins, meteor leaves are falling and the first blasts of cold come wheezing in – but wasn’t it just berry-picking August last week? Time is a funny construct indeed and another one of those things made up by someone, like maps, calendars, money, laws, political parties and race. It is all made up, ostensibly to serve a purpose, but not always the highest-minded purpose we are capable of. Some of these things even betray our basic humanity so hearts hurt and suffer because of them. If those things can all be made up by humans and eventually accepted, I’d say it’s high time we got to work making up other possible futures we can believe in to include and celebrate ALL the parts. Perched between the veils we are indeed…

After two eclipses in a month, annular and a lunar, and a whole lotta shakin going on, it’s been difficult to focus on present time with all the rage and terror surrounding. Where I come from, life is sacred in all forms and with dear friends in the line of fire there, heart is filled with trepidation here. Still I feel it’s important to continue to raise these collective voices, push the art pedal to the floor and bust through the prevailing cognitive dissonance and ridiculuum that surrounds. Art saves lives everyday and is needed more than ever now. Artificial Intelligence (if that’s what you want to call it) can never replace real heart connection work. I don’t have any answers to the world’s biggest questions, but I believe the work I do is the best I have to offer.

This year I released Logodaidalia, a new book of bedtime stories to read when you wake in the morning. The book’s dreamtime metafable language encourages us to stay with our dreams a bit longer upon awakening instead of jumping out of bed to begin the day. The 52 stories are a full deck of liquid, playful narratives that zig and zog, and sound great read out loud. Click on the blue title above to order your copy online through my Bandcamp portal. Not buying online? Reply to this email for orders with me directly. See the beautiful cover created by San Marcos artist Nick Mackee below. 

Another new book I'm honoured to be a part of this year is an anthology just published by Tsunami Press called Bookstore Clerks and Significant Others. Two imaginative stories I wrote not in Logodaidalia are included and the book hits the street this week. Its online ordering portal is instantly available by clicking on the blue title above. Last year Tsunami published Ken Babbs’ Cronies, a true Merry Prankster memoir-burlesque by Intrepid Traveler himself. Babbs has been there from the beginning of the Prankster adventures. 

Tsunami Press follows that book with this collection of 28 wild-mind writers from many backgrounds. I am pickled tink to be included and I can’t wait to read the whole thing.

Books ship free to anywhere in the US and if you live around these here parts, you can pick up a copy of either book in person at Tsunami Books in Eugene. Logodaidalia is also available locally at Sundance Natural Foods. Buy extra copies for your bookloving friends. They will thank you most heartily.

A toast to the emerging season! 

Heartpeace and deep breathing to still the rampaging being I wish you all.

You corn forest pundit,

bq

QTN Summer News: OCF, Logodaidalia, gigs and hilarity!

 Howdeee folks!

Here we are mere hours away from the longest day of the year and the season is sweetly turning even as Texas is already in the 100s and Oregon is not even 70 today and the rain gushed forth in fifths and sixths. I’m just returning from this year’s Kerrville Folk Festival filled to the brim, Jim, with inspiration, songs and after spending golden time with brilliant beings, new and old and many excellent songwriters. Living in a tent for a month changes everything I’ma tell you whut.

There are a couple sections here of news to cover

A. New Logodaidalia Book

B. Upcoming concerts

C. Oregon Country Fair

A. New Logodaidalia Book – I am here to tell you this summer is looking busy with gigs and fun but the big news is the QTN book, Logodaidalia. It has just been released and is available for mail order or local delivery now. It’s a book of bedtime stories for when you get up in the morning, and I’ve heard many rave reviews already. I did a reading at Kerrville for the annual Road Dog Literary Society and folks really dug it there. Copies are $15 each postage paid. Reply to this email with your address and either use Paypal and send as a friend payment at (paypal.me/BQTN) or feel free to send an old fashioned check. Here’s the gorgeous cover:

B. Upcoming QTN concerts – Here is a rundown of what’s coming soon in the Willamette Valley of Oregon:

• Sunday, July 2, Matt the Electrician from Austin at Tsunami Books with QTN opening– Tickets $21 on sale now at the store or call 541.345.8986 to reserve. Order from Tsunami's website here.

• Saturday June 24, QTN Wordless Guitar at 16 Tons, 2864 Willamette St. 6-8 pm in the South Eugene plaza with Market of Choice. All ages are welcome – it’s free!

• Every other Monday QTN Wordless Guitar, July 3, 17 etc before bingo at Sam Bond’s Garage, 6:30-8:30 free for all ages.

••• JULY 7-9 ~ OREGON COUNTRY FAIR •••

I’ll be playing OCF again for my 35th year accompanied by the luminous QTN Band this year featuring Jason Montgomery on bass, Michelle Alany on violin, Courtney von Drehle on accordion, Andrew Alikhanov on clarinet and Simon Lucas on drums and percussives. See the whole weekend’s line up and read all about it in this year’s Peach Pit here

QTN stage sets (others possible and guests likely):

Friday, July 7 – 1:40 pm – Blue Moon 

Saturday, July 8 – 1:40 pm – Hoarse Chorale

More on other July gigs including the annual Post OCF Scobert Park Picnic and Applegate Folk Festival and others coming soon! Stay tuned!

Your corn forest pundit,

bq

QTN Springing Forth in FIfths with shows in the Willamette Valley and slightly south

Hello to you all in these swiftly tilting of the axis times!

Even though it’s becoming warmer around here and the Boing of Spring is nearly here in the Northern Hemisphere that sure feels good, and even though nearly a third of the year has already slipped by, and the trillium in my yard have just poked their green heads out of the ground (always a good sign) and even though I’m not sure which winter projects will see the light of day in this Water Rabbit Year, thanks to the encouragement of many folks, I'm finally getting around to celebrate my newest recording with live performance in several places around the south Willamette Valley this month and next. 

And even though many folks don’t look at their email much anymore or have CD players or record players or ipods, and even though I am not a big fan of Spotify or other digital platforms that are not big fans of supporting artists who make music, this new disc is available as both a physical CD and streamable and downloadable through my Bandcamp page  It is called OsculEARiosophy (it really is not difficult to say) and there are many other recorded delights there too.

QTN LIVE IN MARCH AND APRIL

• WORDLESS GUITAR ALTERNATING MONDAYS IN MARCH AND APRIL AT SAM BOND’S GARAGE, 6:30 pm – Sam Bond’s is continuing its long tradition of Monday night pre-bingo music that Richard Crandell began and played for nearly a quarter of a century. Since he isn’t around to play live anymore, I get to play Wordless Guitar alternating weeks with the piano music of Ty Connor. This will be my first week, MARCH 20, on the day of the Vernal Boing. There is no cover and all ages are welcome. We gonna have fun.

 

 • MARCH 25 and 26, THE 46th ANNUAL SPRING FLING, Roseburg Oregon, 2 pm sets both days. Other musical guests throughout the weekend include Alice DiMicele, Jack Fallsrock and Friends, Elizabeth Cable and others. The Spring Fair is held in Douglas Hall at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. (I-5 exit 123). Fair hours are Friday 1-6,  Saturday 10-8, Sunday 11-5 and there will be artisan crafts, delicious food, live music and community! Admission is $3 and everyone is welcome.

• SATURDAY APRIL 1, THE 3 LEGGED CRANE PUB AND BREWHOUSE, 48329 E First St, Oakridge, OR 97463, 7 pm – It will be an All Fool’s Songwriting Evening in the Round with me, Peter Wilde and Tom Hughes swapping tunes. We all go back a long ways and this is going to be some big fun indeed. On the venue's website it says “All ages always welcome” and their menu features plenty of tasty choices for kids and biggerfolk too and is huge and incredible! There is no cover. See the cool poster below.

• FRIDAY APRIL 14, BRIAN QTN AT ALLUVIUM, EUGENE, 810 W. 3rd Ave., 7:30 pm – A hometown concert in a sweet community venue to celebrate OsculEARiosophy and stretch out for a longer set of new and older songs and beyond. Special guests areAmy Danziger (of Mood Area 52) accompanying me on cello and playing solo! and the one and only Peter Wilde (!!!).The poster for this one is coming soon.

All for now. It’s getting light later as the days are lengthening at last. The sound of photosynthesis is everywhere and always has been even way before there was an album by that name. Breathe deep this incredible place we call home. Even though the challenges and vexations are many, the only thing to atmosphere is sphere itself.

Your corn forest pundit,

bq