Crossroads Music Company & Listening Room

Ultimate FingerPick and Gus Gustafson Music

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Crossroads Music Company

Update!

In its TENTH year, Crossroads shifted the focus of its existence from concerts to developing the Ultimate Finger Pick invention.  With Gus getting hired back in Winnsboro, and departing from his duties in Sulphur Springs, it was logical to continue supporting what the Winnsboro Center for the Arts [WCA] had going on the Bowery Stage [formerly the Crossroads Music Company & Listening Room Stage].

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As of October 1, 2015, Gus’ full time responsibility as Winnsboro’s Main Street Manager also included overseeing all the wonderful things happening in the Cultural Arts District, which is the same overlay downtown, and boasts the WCA as its ANCHOR for everything happening in the Cultural Arts District!  The Winnsboro Center for the Arts, with Jim Willis handling all the bookings for the Bowery Stage, is selling out performances right and left, and just hosted Judy Collins [Sweet (Suite) Judy Blue Eyes] on June 14th in little ol’ Winnsboro, Texas.  That’s right, you heard right!  Stay tuned for the next chapter as it unfolds, and help us keep live music ALIVE here in East Texas!

30 East Music Festival 2014

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It’s ALL happening on Celebration Plaza [Sulphur Springs Downtown Square]…We’ve put together a wonderful line-up, sure to quench any musical taste you may have!

 

Thursday, March 27th:

  • 6p: Amanda Goodman-Pruitt Band
  • 7p: Koe Wetzel & Kody Foster
  • 8p: Emily Elbert

 

Friday, March 28th:

  • 6p: Emily Claire Shlesinger
  • 7p: Cole Risner Band
  • 8p: Kirby Brown
  • 9p: Ryan McKenzie & Hannah Kirby, with special guest Chris Lancaster
  • 10p: Songbird Jones; Matt Jones/Justin Gresham

Saturday, March 29th:

  • 3:00p: Core of Silence [Jody Eaves & John Grimes]
  • 4:00p: TBA
  • 5:30p: Nicholas Altobelli
  • 6:30p: Dillon Chevalier & his band
  • 7:30p: Kate Hearne Band
  • 8:30p:Ducado Vega & Zenya
  • 10:00p: The Effinays

***Neil Rugg [DJ] will spin discs in-between acts, to fill the gaps during swap-outs.

The Ultimate Finger Pick!!

Except for the few Kickstarter backers that have not gotten back with their mailing addresses, we’ve sent out the first generation finger picks to all our supporters!!  Starting with the “one size fits most” mentality, we created a “medium” cot over-mold for the nail, with the ability to add expansion slits to accommodate bigger fingers.

medium prototype

TUF expansion slitIf you’d like to try these first generation units, you can still donate to the cause and get a 3-pack mailed to your doorstep…Click HERE!

 

Brad Davis loved the venue!

Grammy Award Winning Brad Davis was in the house on October 5th, and it was great…hope you were one of the lucky ones that came out in support of this awesome guitar player/singer/songwriter/Studio Musician of the Year; Texas Music Awards-2013!!

Brad was very comfortable in the listening room surroundings at Crossroads Music, inside the Winnsboro Center for the Arts!  We were fortunate to have him all day and night on that Saturday, starting off with a guitar clinic and ending with a great performance.  Brad’s son Landon made his presence known on the bass guitar, and did a wonderful job backing his dad’s new Spiritual originals, one of which Brad unveiled for the first time ever in public–“Sometimes Your World Will Break.”  Great tune!

Brad Davis promo 2013Brad Davis also has his friend Debbie Porter on stage for a couple numbers.  She was packin’ everything from mountain dulcimers to ukuleles, including a bass version!  Another East Texas rising star, Cole Risner, was Brad’s opening act, and it was the perfect fit.  Visit his website and get your hands on all his songs!  Cole has been writing some great new tunes…keep your eye on this young man!!

 

The magic returned yet again to Crossroads Music Company!

Songwriters

 

WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW!  Yup, it was another night of MAGIC you missed, if you chose another activity besides coming to Crossroads to witness these three wonderful singer/songwriters.  Lined up across the stage, they took turns presenting their original pieces of musical art, along with the life-experiences, moments, visions, etc, that sparked the creation of those songs.  Rather than bringing a structured song list to the table, they all allowed the songs that were played ahead of their next turn to inspire which one from their own repertoire ought to be performed next.  The magic emerged, NATURALLY!  🙂

Helene has some tunes available on itunes, including “Lucky Me,” a song about her encounter with a United States soldier in an airport.  The song has received  global attention, and drew a standing ovation from the crowd–great presentation by Helene!! She’ll be talking to folks in Nashville this upcoming week about recording her next CD–one that will reflect what she’s creating today.

Out of the three, Lisa Markley was the most “jazzy.”  Clever & witty, in both content and delivery!  Both Lisa & Helene helped us all realize how spoiled we are to have Lynn Adler in our own backyard!  Winnsboro was Blessed when Lynn Adler chose to call these Piney Woods her home, over 10 years ago they tell me…She spoke of those things in her life that inspired much of her writing–Winnsboro historical events included.

Lynn Gus Helene Lisa Songwriters in the round

 

[Top photo by Jim Willis/photo above compliments of Dave Sanders]

As “THEY” say: “You had to BE there” to truly appreciate what transpired on the Crossroads Stage last night!  Magic like that doesn’t happen while you’re listening to an artist’s CD, plain and simple…A HUGE thank you to Helene, Lisa & Lynn…CHEERS!  ~Gus

Crossroads Music Company presents Pauline Reese!

Click on Pauline’s picture, for a backstage interview and a glimpse into Pauline Reese.  Then come on out Saturday for a great show!

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Click on Pauline’s latest CD cover, “Just Getting Started” and visit her online store!Just Gettin Started CD cover Onstage3Aug2013

Photo above, compliments of Jim Willis, shows Pauline enjoying the crowd during her Crossroads performance last Saturday night, Aug. 3, 2013.  This time around, Pauline left her band at home, brought Road/Sound Manager Dave Gardner along to balance a full & rich acoustic performance–the PERFECT choice for a hot August night in Winnsboro, Texas!!  Pauline had a fair share of stories accompanying a strong variety of original songs, and she sprinkled in a few covers along the way.  We got a very sincere, authentic Pauline Reese, and she exposed a whole lot of Texan, even without the wardrobe malfunctions!  Those who were in the audience will understand the reference!  Even Dolly Parton would have been proud of Pauline’s poise 🙂

Anyway, by the time the show was over, it kinda felt like Pauline was, “Just Getting Started!”  Do yourself a favor, and visit Pauline’s website and follow her career.  Lots more to come for this very talented Texas Singer/Songwriter!!       ~Gus

Claudia Nygaard put a smile on everyone’s face!

Crossroads was very fortunate to catch Claudia Nygaard on her way through East Texas, as she headed towards Kerrville.  Claudia shared her wonderful spirit with the crowd, infusing her sharp wit in the songs she performed, and the stories she shared on how certain songs came to life.

She performed songs from her newest release, “Let The Storm Roll In,” along with tunes from her earlier CDs and even songs yet to be recorded.  The appreciative audience really didn’t want the night to end.  Claudia had to get a very early start the following morning, in order to get to Kerrville in time for an afternoon commitment.  Otherwise, I’m quite sure the music would have continued even longer!

For those of you that may have missed it, we’ve posted a couple tunes on our YouTube channel:  [Click below]

A Little Bit of TexasStormcoverwithtitlesthumb

Big Country

Emily is ALL the BUZZ as she returns to Crossroads!!

 

So, Nicholas Altobelli contacted me right after I posted the return of Emily, and locked in the spot of opening act.  This was the perfect fit for what proved to be an awesome night of music in East Texas!

What can I say that hasn’t already been said??  Emily Elbert just keeps getting better, as she continues to spread the LOVE all around the world, including Winnsboro, Texas!!  You say you’d like some clever, percussive, acoustic guitar work??  Maybe some Jimi Hendrix, or Allman Brothers, or Stevie Wonder, or Willie Nelson, or Bill Withers, or even Michael Jackson?  Not a problem, and Emily puts her own signature stamp on ALL of them!  Then there’s her cleverly crafted originals, with plenty of depth and weight for even the deepest thinkers of our time!  What else do you want?  Well, Saturday night you got it all; Emily shared songs from her third CD, “Alive, in Love,” which followed her second release,  “Proof.”  Roland Elbert [Dad] accompanied Emily on keyboards, which was the perfect fit for the tunes they performed together–there was MAGIC in the listening room on this Saturday night in April!

What is that you say??!!  You MISSED this INCREDIBLE show, in this wonderful, intimate listening room know as Crossroads Music Company, inside the Winnsboro Center for the Arts??  I no longer know how to respond to these missed opportunities.

 

Emily shot used for KETR interview

Emily Elbert’s interview aired last week on KETR’s Notably Texan radio program, hosted by Matt Meinke!  It’s worth the listen [click on Emily’s interview]  Nicholas Altobelli came into Winnsboro from Dallas, to open for Emily, and the music of BOTH these fine artists aired during the Notably Texan broadcast.

NicholasAltobelli

Janet Robin Rocks the House!!

How do you describe Janet Robin?  “Energized” is a word that comes to mind.  “Accomplished” is another good word, especially when describing her guitar playing!  Pure ENTERTAINMENT sums up the whole package, when you combine that energy with her room-illuminating smile & presence, singer/songwriting delivery, and awesome guitar-playing skills.  What a wonderful talent showed up in Winnsboro, Texas last night!!

Janet Robin hails from Los Angeles, California, and is very popular in Europe as well as the United States.  If you missed the show and would like to learn more, click the link and visit her website.  You may pre-order her next CD, to help bring it press, while checking out her impressive credentials and accomplishments!  In the meantime, check out a few pictures from last night’s Crossroads’ performance, compliments of Wildernest’s Jim Willis.

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Those in attendance were treated to an opening performance from Winnsboro’s own rising star–17 year old Tyler Lenius.  I, too, was invited to participate a few times during the evening, which was truly awesome!  Let’s find a way to bring Janet Robin back…I believe she enjoyed our down-home East Texas flavored hospitality!  Maybe a future Wildernest MusicFest?  Your comments are always welcome.  ~Gus Gustafson

7th Anniversary Concert Hit the Spot!

Kate, Lynn, Lindy and Warren

Adler & Hearne, with Special guests Kate & Warren

Two very significant shows for December!  One has come and gone, but will NOT be forgotten–The 7th Anniversary of Crossroads Music Company & Listening Room!  Suffice it to say that they ALL continue to evolve & grow as musicians/singers/songwriters, and East Texas is fortunate to have access to this extremely talented family and their entertaining skills!  However, we get them less and less as the National touring dates increase in number.  This includes Warren Jackson Hearne & The Le Leek Electrique Band, and their touring, and NOW Kate Hearne increasing her appearances…rumor has it that during the Wildernest MusicFest in October, Kate & Vanessa Peters worked out some tour dates for EUROPE in the Spring!!!  Just plain KEWL, that’s all I can say about that!

I’ll have more to say about where Crossroads is heading, after I blog about the Historic SEVEN concert on December 29, 2012.  This is a show you do NOT want to miss.

Also, keep an eye aimed at the new Crossroads Music Company website.  January marks the opening of the Crossroads store, which will include available music from the performers that have taken the Crossroads’ stage over the last seven years.  There will also be merchandise for sale, and more concert ticket sales will be made available online as well.  2013 will hopefully see the remodeling of 204 Market Street, and maybe some extra cool Wildernest events!  ~Gus