just got the keys to my new studio!

Rehearsal Studio Keys

spending most of my time in here until the new album comes out. gearing up for some live stage shows! now for the shows to be booked somehow. come on universe! i’m making my call out into the world. i’ll be rehearsing nonstop for a national tour or something similar. i’m not picky either. just like to be around good music that changes people’s lives for the better.

 

marc

took a trip recently.

baggage

brought some music gear with me.

 

left this lovely note for whoever searched my bag.

gentle tsa letter

 

but unfortunately it didn’t work and they damaged one of my pedals in flight. sigh.

tsa notice

 

well hopefully they’ll pay for the damages. we will see in “up to 6 months time” once they’re done filing and processing my claim. woo hoo.

 

-marc

i’ve been away from this journal for awhile now. moved the band to asheville north carolina and soon after ended up with a lot on my plate (everything vegan of course). started working with a new drummer, integrating into this town, and creating a new tour strategy. it’s been a productive winter though and i think it’s time to start paying attention to my thoughts again. haha.

i came up with this really awesome tour strategy recently. imagine asheville (my home base) as the center of a flower petal.

petals

as a touring musician, it’s always been hard booking shows on mondays, tuesdays and wednesdays. so i figure, why not get rid of them for now? each petal will represent a weekend route for touring. friday, saturday and sunday. monday morning back in asheville. simple as that.

so yeah, see ya soon eastern united states. come spring and summer, we all shall blossom.

 

-marc

The search is over! To All My Dear Friends has found a new drummer!

It was a long road with many dead ends. But in the end, aka the beginning, we found a very talented person. Introducing, for your future live enjoyment, Dup Crosson.

dup

Rather than give you Marc’s opinion on him, let’s quote Dup directly when asked for some back history for this exciting news update:

“I started playing drums at 11. Lived in Asheville since ’03 on and off (I’m a vet!) and Saint Solitude’s been around since I got restless in 2006. Touring and recording has taken over my life since I graduated from college, both as a means of travel and a method to satiate my curiosity- let alone the music, which I have to make to stay sane.

I don’t have a smart phone. And I haven’t been in a Wal-Mart in 7 years.”

Sounds like he will fit in just fine here, don’t you think? Come show Dup your support at his first TAMDF performance on Tuesday January 31st in Asheville, North Carolina at BoBo Gallery. There will be many more shows posted in the near future on the Tour Page. That’s right! Touring is starting back up in the Eastern United States. Woo hoo!

moving-map

To All My Dear Friends is moving! It’s been a great many years based out of Gainesville, Florida but the time has come to move on. Gainesville is an amazing place to start a band. In case you haven’t noticed though, it’s surrounded by water.

waves

So the move is on for a more central location in the Eastern United States. Asheville, North Carolina is now the new home for TAMDF. Yay! And Gainesville, don’t you worry. The main reason for the move is to increase touring capabilities. For all you music lovers, there will be lots of shows happening in the near future. So no worries about TAMDF being away for very long.

With this move, Marc will be looking for a new drummer. Do you think you have what it takes? Or perhaps you know someone who does? All around the website you will see this graphic.

click-drums2

The National Tour is in full swing! To All My Dear Friends has been on the road for an entire month now and yet we’ve barely scratched the surface of places to perform. This current tour is weaving all throughout the Eastern United States. Check out Marc’s journal to keep up on where he’s been and check out the Tour page to see where he’s going.

Do you want To All My Dear Friends to play in your town?
Click here for contact information

Audiences around the country are responding greatly to the lush violin and melodic guitar sounds of To All My Dear Friends. It’s a tour in motion.

Seriously! The title says it all. Transparent Voyages will be available worldwide this Friday March 18th. Plus if you happen to be in Gainesville, Florida on Friday:

Come out to our Album Release Party at The Atlantic!
Check out the details here on Facebook

And for everyone else, don’t you worry. You have two options:

1) Buy the album online from Amazon, iTunes, CD Baby, emusic, etc.
2) Come see us live at one of the many shows happening around the country. Check out the details on the Tour page, updated daily with new locations. To All My Dear Friends will be traveling all through the Eastern United States over the next few months!

transparent-voyages-small

Wow. Can you believe it? We did it! Here is the thank you letter from Marc on Kickstarter.com:

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

A few months ago a friend of mine told me about a unique website. He said that people go to this website to donate money for artists in need. I should check it out he said. Yeah sure… I’ll look into it, maybe.

In the last two years of performing my music live, I’ve seen the goodness in people. These people come up to me after shows speaking of the strong emotions they experienced through my performance. Tears in their eyes, they try to explain their feelings. These people show me their goodness, through love & support.

Thank you to every person that pledged. Thank you to every person that posted this fundraiser on your Facebook & Twitter feeds. Thank you to every person who forwarded an email to a friend.

I want you all to know that this is only the beginning of To All My Dear Friends. And you, with all your love & support, were part of it.

Sincerely with all my heart,
-Marc Hennessey

p.s. See you soon on tour!