I’m writing today with a few bits of news before I head up East again tomorrow afternoon (Friday, July 3). First, I want to let you know that I’m a “cover girl” now. Yes, I am named on the cover of the current issue of The Alternate Root (which will be posted online on Monday, July 6), and you can see and hear me playing, singing, and talking with well-known Americana radio personality Big Kev as part of the syndicated Motel Time series that was recorded during the South by Southwest music and film festival in Austin last March. This was one of my favorite interviews ever because of Big Kev’s unique approach, with co-host “Fredo” Boenig, taping and videoing me and a slew of the top artists on the Americana scene today in their motel suite during the conference. Besides myself, there was Chuck Mead of BR59 fame, Rosie Flores, The Tejas Brothers, Audrey Auld, Dallas Wayne, Two Tons of Steel, Gurf Morlix, Seth Walker, Sunny Sweeney, Dale Watson, and Scott Miller (who’s band you may have seen as the house band on Blue Collar TV). What’s also really neat is that several of these artists are pictured in The Alternate Root playing my new vintage guitar, the sparkling 1968 Fender Kingman acoustic that I bought myself for my birthday in February. Some of Big Kev’s questions were pretty thought provoking, too, which made it an interesting Q&A. What one thing could Glenna Bell NOT do without? What was my very first job? Find the answers at http://www.thealternateroot.com . . . Voting has commenced for the annual Houston Press Music Awards, and I’m nominated for “Best Folk!” I’d certainly appreciate it if you would take a couple of minutes to vote for me at http://www.houstonpress.com. On July 26, the nominated artists in all genres will be playing showcases in a variety of restaurants and clubs in downtown Houston, which should be a lot of fun. I literally just got word from the Press that I’m scheduled to appear at Dean’s Easy Credit from 5-5:45 p.m., and I’ll post details on my Web sites ASAP for everybody in the Houston area. Dean’s is an intimate, fairly upscale bar—very nice, but very comfortable—no need to “dress up.” Just the way I like it. A couple of weeks ago, I was pleasantly surprised to get an invite from fellow Folk nominee, Lee Alexander, to do a show with him at one of Houston’s well-established music venues, Rudyards, on July 10. I’ll be going on between 9:30 and 10 p.m., and I’ll play for about forty-five minutes, then sit back and enjoy the rest of the evening’s entertainment and some of Rudyards’ good food. I’m really looking forward to this evening, and especially to hearing Lee and his band perform live for the first time. For a preview, you can listen online at http://www.myspace.com/alexanderlee. Here’s a brief excerpt from Lee’s myspace page: Lee’s new album, Mayhaw Vaudeville, is “almost entirely acoustic and saturated with a distinctively rustic Texas flavor by drawing on the grass-root forms of rag-time jazz, country swing, blues, and folk music that dominated the southern music scene in the 20’s and 30’s. Drawing from an influential palette of Elvis Costello, Ink Spots, Patty Griffin, Steve Earle, and The Beatles, Alexander’s catchy melodies and razor sharp lyrics have placed him as winner in the 2007 Independent Music Awards, a regional finalist in the 2007 Mountain Stage Newsong Folk Festival, and a semifinalist in the 2005 UK Songwriting Contest. Alexander has also been a featured artist in Performing Songwriter Magazine, the 2007 Mardi Gras Festival, and the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus 2006 Summer NAMM Showcase.” No doubt, this show will be one not to miss. I’m counting down the days already . . . Oh, and Lee and I will also be promoting the Rudz gig on one of my favorite radio shows at KPFT 90.1 FM here in Houston, “RadioActive” with Phil and Rhonda, from 2-3 p.m. on July 10. Actually, we’ll be on the air from about 2:15-2:45, and I hope that you’ll tune in at http://www.kpft.org because it’s really easy to listen online, and I’ve found that these radio shows are even better when people hear us and call in just for the heck of it! In the meantime, I’m busy packing up to fly into Newark airport tomorrow. I’ve got a weekend ahead that should prove to be another great adventure in music. I’ll be continuing my recording project with producer Big Kev, His Royal Bigness (he really is big—6’9” tall – no kidding) at WXLV studios in Pennsylvania. So far this year, we’ve recorded three of my new songs and two covers with the charming little band from the edge of NYC, the Gin Mill Kings, and on Sunday I’ll be recording with another fine band that I met in Nashville last September: Girls, Guns, and Glory. Notably, the Boston Phoenix named G3 best Local and Roots band of 2008. The song that we’ll be doing is a Merle Haggard cover that Big Kev and I rewrote as a duet. I love duets and am feeling very lucky to get to work with Ward Hayden of G3, due to his powerful, classic-sounding voice and strong songwriting talent. I spoke with Ward on the phone just yesterday, and “Triple G” has their game on for the session this weekend. This is really going to be something else—I just know it. It’s magic time! After the session, we’ll all head over to the America on Wheels Museum in Allentown, PA to perform in a lineup that is sponsored by WXLV 90.3 FM Roots radio as part of their July 4 weekend Freedom Fest. This event will be a big one in that part of the country—bands and artists are coming from all over the region to celebrate Independence, and there will be a big audience, too, with fireworks, food, fun and all that would be expected on such a weekend. I’ve been spending a lot of time up East lately, and one thing I’ve enjoyed most is the closeness of the community and getting to meet and visit with the people who love and support the flourishing music scene in that region. It will be so good to get back. Wishing you a memorable and happy Fourth of July weekend. As always. Y’all come!