Coyote Rim

May 9, 2012

The truck is packed and ready to roll, on the way to Idaho. A stop on the trip for a concert at Cafe Sage. I’ll be accompanied by Henry C. Willard on instrumental guitar and dobro. I’m looking forward to our reunion.I hope to see old friends, not so old friends, and new faces.

Also time for catching up with family, friends,visiting some favorite ‘haunts’ in Moscow and maybe even some dancin’ at John’s Alley.

wagons ho,

kelly

April 12, 2012

I’ve just completed another move - 8 times in 5 1/2 years - it’s been distracting me from the important parts of my life; music, art, time with friends, and enjoying the great outdoors. So now it is time to settle in and start playin’ some tunes. I’ll be posting some gigs soon - working on the schedule. Until then, you can find me most Sunday afternoons at the best open mic in Bend - Taylor’s Deli on Third Street from 4 - 7pm. It is a great group of musicians and really good music. Come on down!

Check the calendar here for upcoming events or check out my Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelly-L-Riley/252870341443333

Kelly

Groundhog Day, 2012

We haven’t had real winter this season. I don’t know if the groundhog seeing his shadow or not, will make much difference.  I have enjoyed the brilliant sunshine and mostly, mild temperatures, though I have concerns about water.

I do know that February means it is time for another Fossil House Concert.  I will again, be joining Dan Robinson and Robert Canon in a songwriter’s concert in Fossil, Oregon on February 19th, 2pm to 5pm, generously, hosted again, by our friend, Bob Cramer. This year the proceeds will benefit the Fossil School Foundation. All welcome, admission by donation. Please see the calendar for location details.

I’ve been playing with a jam band at Taylor’s Sausage and Deli here in Bend, Oregon, nearly every Sunday afternoon. It is hosted by Scott Fox and Maggie Jackson. They are both excellent musicians.  Jim Roy, a friend and wonderful mandolin and guitar player, Scott and Maggie, and sometimes others, generously accompany my set. It is great fun to play and listen to all the great musical talent that abounds here.

I am still enjoying my twice a month jams with the Central Oregon Bluegrass Association. They are the absolute, BEST group of people - encouraging, sharing and caring! They have become my extended family here and I appreciate all they contribute to my life.  We are all looking forward to the annual ‘High and Dry’ Bluegrass Festival that will take place August 16, 17, 18 and 19 this year. It is held at Runway Ranch, just outside of Bend - wonderful venue, camping, jams, and amazing line up of bands at a bargain price. Don’t miss it!

On February 11 from 4pm -7pm, I will be playing at the Artist’s Gallery Sunriver for their monthly, Second Saturday Reception. Leon Pantenburg will be joining me with his mandolin, fiddle and vocals. Leon accompanied me in November at the Hoedown for Hunger. We had a grand time, even though we only had time for one practice before we went on.  The Artist’s Gallery Sunriver (where I show my Fiber Art) event is open to the public. There is food, wine, great art, and this month - great, live music!  Details on the calendar page.

I am looking forward to more performances, contemplating a new album, more jams, more musicians, more music as 2012 unfolds. I hope to see you on my music road.

Kelly

October 25, 2011

It’s that time of year again - brilliant foilage on the aspen and maple trees, frost on the garden, that special quality of light and shadows ….. and HOEDOWN FOR HUNGER.  This annual extravaganza, chili feed, fundraiser is an amazing collaboration of local talent (both musicians and chefs).  There will be 25 musical performers/bands all day long from 11am to 10pm.  The selection of music is fantastic, the selection of chili is fantastic. Great people, great food, great music - a great event and all proceeds go to help provide meals to the hungry people of the community.

My time slot is 3:35pm. Under the guise of Kel’leon, I’ll be performing some originals, new and old. Leon Pantenburg will accompany me with his mandolin talents.

So come on out to the Bend Community Center (1036 NE 5th Street, Bend, Oregon)  on Saturday, November 11 for a really, good time for a really, good cause.

Kelly

August 5, 2011
I’m a little more settled into my surroundings and have my first ‘real gig’ coming up at the end of the month. (see the calendar for details) I’ll be playing solo at the River Rim Coffeehouse in Bend. It will be a great venue for introducing some new material and playing some old favorites. The atmosphere is personal and cozy, the people friendly. River Rim Coffeehouse specializes in good times, quality entertainment, and great food and beverages. It is a family friendly neighborhood cafe located in Southwest Bend in the Brookswood Plaza. 19570 Amber Meadow Drive Suite 190 http://riverrimcoffeehouse.com/ check out their website, here’s how you get there:http://riverrimcoffeehouse.com/?page_id=57
So come on out for an enjoyable evening and help me continue to ’settle in’ to my new home town.
Slainte,
Kelly

(541) 728-0095

July 25, 2011

So it took a while. If you read the last entry - way back in October 2010, you’ll see that I made the decision then to leave Fossil. Selling a house these days takes some time but it finally happened. With bittersweet feelings I left the sleepy little hamlet of Fossil in June and moved back to the outskirts of the big city of Bend, Oregon to an area called, Tumalo. It’s a little removed from the major hustle bustle of the city but still a HUGE change for me after Fossil. I miss the landscape, the rimrock, the circle of friends, the favorite hikes and motorcycle rides.  Most of all, I miss the sense of place. I’m in that transitional phase again. Moving is such an upheavel. It takes time and care and a little rehab to make a new place ‘home’. It’s a wound - needing to heal.  Part of my ‘therapy’ has been re-joining the Central Oregon Bluegrass Association. I jammed with them some when I lived here a few years ago. They are the nicest bunch of people - really helping me feel like I belong. I’ll be attending and playing a tweener slot at their High and Dry Bluegrass Festival on August 19 - 21.  It is the bargain of the century for music events.

So it is time to look forward -  embrace what I have here. The music and art community, the access to great outdoor activities and a selection of good food, being with the love in my life, the sense of adventure exploring new places and the view of Mt. Bachelor from my deck. (There’s also a prime, sunset view of Mt. Jefferson while sitting on the toilet. I’m thinking there is a song there - somewhere).

Life goes on, change is constant, good things come and go and come again.

slainte,

Kelly

October 18, 2010

24 degrees here this morning in Fossil, Oregon - fall is here with the brilliant light,  color of leaves and long shadows. I’ve been contemplating a major change in my living situation. The music has been simmering on the back burner. Last week I had the opportunity to play with friends at the Central Oregon Bluegrass jam in Bend. It was great to be back with the group and reinforces my decision that it is time to leave Fossil and find a better balance between my alone time, sharing time with kindred spirits and the love in my life. Leaving a sense of place is difficult. The landscape here in the John Day River basin is very much a part of me.  I can’t quite see around this next bend but I will embrace the idea that good things can come wherever I am. There are places, people, ideas, niches, beauty and stories to be found everywhere. The exploration of a new place brings excitement and growth. The old places won’t be that far away. The road is open - time to turn up the heat on that back burner.

Kelly

The next music event:

Come on out to the Bend Community Center on November 6, 2010 for an entire day of music at the annual HOEDOWN FOR HUNGER Benefit. Twenty-one bands/acts will be performing from 1pm to 10pm. There is an amazing amount of musical talent in central Oregon and many of those folks will be up on the stage, generously donating their gifts for all to enjoy.  My time slot is 5pm but plan on coming for the whole event. Dinner is included in the admission.

July 14, 2010

An update to the Idaho trip on July 31. Henry and I will also be performing at the Moscow Farmer’s Market July 31 from 11:45am to 1pm. That should get us warmed up nicely for Saturday night at Sage. (see calendar)

July 8, 2010

Summer finally arrived with the 4th of July. It was the big Bluegrass Festival weekend here in Fossil, Oregon. Great bands, well attended, and big change in population for this sleepy, little town.  I hosted a great jam session with friends from Bend and here in Fossil. Despite being rained ‘out’ of the garden and into the house - we had a wonderful time. Good tunes - good people! Thanks everyone for coming.

The best thing about the festival is to walk around town when all the scheduled performances are done for the day.  Floating on the still, dark air you can hear notes from banjos, guitars, harps, dobros and fiddles drifting from backyards, campers, porches and open windows. The stars are out. The town is quiet. The music permeates the night.

I don’t like to toot my own horn but for those of you that are interested - I did win the song writing contest again this year. One of the criteria for the contest is that the lyrics must have something to do with this area, a person or event that takes place here.  Since I am captured by this sense of place, the lyrics flowed quite readily from thought to music . The song is entitled, ‘Calling Me Home’ . It was inspired by me moving here to Fossil last summer for the second time. I indeed feel a connection to this place and the people here.

I have some upcoming performances here in Oregon and also a reunion with the Zugunrue band in Idaho. We’ll be playing at Sage Bakery in Lewiston on July 31st. Check the calendar page for the details. I hope to see you there or here.

Slainte,

Kelly

June 20, 2010

Summer Solstice tomorrow - I’m anticipating the return of the sun in celebration of the longest day of the year. Here in north central Oregon, we’ve been having very April-like showers, thunder storms, mudslides, the John Day above flood stage and SLUGS in my pea patch. It’s a bit too lush and green, a bit too much of that coastal feel.

But then…..the good list……. - a plethora of wildflowers in the canyons, deserts, fields and mountains, the John Day flowing above flood stage,  gin and tonic parties in a thunder storm and all that GREEN.

Summer is just around the corner, time to get out and play some tunes.  Check the calendar for upcoming events. I’ll be headed up to Idaho the end of July for a performance at Sage Bakery in Lewiston. I always look forward to playing for the ‘home’ crowd.

See you on the road.

Slainte,

Kelly

January 7, 2010

I’ll soon be ‘gettin’ outta Dodge’ , escaping Fossil for a bit, on a road trip to Idaho. Whenever I schedule time in Moscow, along with visits to family and friends, I hope for a little tune-time with Henry, Doug and other music pals.  This morning I sent the e-mail announcing my upcoming appearance and now, just a few hours later - my drummer friend, Bennett,  has lined up a Saturday night gig for us.  It is an honor and a privilege for me to have musical friends and supporters in several communities. It is a good reminder how we are so easily, and happily connected by music.

I’ll be in the talented company of Doug Park (bass/mandolin), Paul Anders (mando, fiddle, harp, banjo), Bennett Barr (djembe) and hopefully, Henry C. Willard (electric lead guitar, dobro). At this writing, Henry has not confirmed but then, it has only been a few hours since this event transpired.

So please come on out for another Zugunrue and friends music night. We’ll be performing at The Red Door (215 Main Street, Moscow, Idaho) on Saturday, January 16 at 9:30pm.  (yes, it’s late, Take a Nap, and get on down there!)

I’m anticipating another wonderful reunion.  Thanks Bennett, for jumpin’ on this one.

Slainte,

Kelly

December 1, 2009

Today the fog hangs like blankets on the bluffs above my little town of Fossil, Oregon.  It is winter creeping in -  cold and gray slipping silently under the covers to chill to the bone.  What better time to embrace the opportunity for live music to warm the soul.  I am hosting the first (of many, I hope) house concerts. The idea of house concerts appeals to me as a musician and as a listener. From the coziness of  ‘ ‘The Attic’ in Moscow, Idaho, to the Richmond Ghost town Church,  to the backyard of a guestranch, to a suburban living room in the city of Bend - the concept is the same. The performer and the audience share the intimacy of a smaller space. There is a sense of ease, a sense of belonging.  As a mucisian I am close enough to hear the voices, see the tears, watch the faces for expressions that the words and the stories become too familiar.  There are moments of understanding and reflection. There are moments when the pain, the joy and the words are spread around the room with a sense of knowing. Most of all there are moments, inspired by the music and the sense of place, that will help take the chill out of winter. So don your mittens, mufflers, and wooly warmers and come join us for an evening of music and good cheer.

The Gypsy Road - near Mitchell, Oregon

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