CDs, Flying Squirrels and Hope

Happy Holidays to folks on my list from the greater Anchorage area. I'm also including Talkeetna folks in case you want to pass this on to Anchorage friends...

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1. Where you can buy CDs in Anchorage and the Valley
2. News flash for my sister's bakery - Orders delivered to Anchorage next Wed.
3. Concert in Hope in January
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1. Both Esther Golton CDs are available at the following stores, in case you need some last minute gift items:
  - Arctic Brewing Supply (Anchorage)
  - Metro Music and Books (Anchorage)
  - NonEssentials Gifts (Palmer)
  - Pandemonium Books (Wasilla)

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2. Sisterly News Flash: Order Flying Squirrel Bakery Cafe holiday baked delicacies to be delivered to Anchorage next Wednesday!

The Flying Squirrel is a new bakery/cafe in Talkeetna, run by my very own sister, Anita. Her food is truly delcous, and I'm not just sayin' that 'cause she's my sister. You can order a few of her specialty holiday baked goods BY THIS SUNDAY, Dec 20th, for delivery WED, DEC 23rd, to be picked up at Arctic Brewing Supply from 3 - 5pm.

Click this link or click the menu on the left, then scroll down to the bottom for an Anchorage order form with details (includes descriptions and prices) which you can bring to Arctic Brewing Supply, fax to Flying Squirrel (907-733-6886), email to info@flyingsquirrelcafe.com, or call in to Flying Squirrel (907-733-6887).  If you are interested in ordering holiday goodies, please respond before Sunday, December 20.

By the way - here's my review - the Mocha Pecan Pie is out of this world..., and the cookies, ooooohhhh the cookies! And the Stollen...yummm... and.... and... and...

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3. Heads Up: A special little concert in Hope, Saturday, January 23rd
Bowman's Bear Creek Lodge and Cafe. 8PM, Donation of your choosing.  I'm so looking forward to a night in Hope, Alaska in the quiet of mid-January. Kent and Melanie Bowman host a few concerts each winter and specifically asked me if I would perform. They have sweet cabins for rent (reservation needed so they can get the cabin warm and toasty for you!) - a lovely weekend destination. Enjoy Hope during the day, skiing or snowshoeing or whatever you enjoy, then stay the night and enjoy this intimate concert. Here's an article about Hope in winter 2009, and here is a link to the Bowman's Bear Creek Lodge website. The cafe is open 4 - 7pm for dinner on the night of the concert. More info or reservations: email: bearcreek@alaska.net phone: (907) 782-3141

As always, thank you for your support, for reading my newsletters, and for just being! Happy Solstice to you all - the days are about to get longer... woohoo!

Smiles,

Esther

On the web - www.esthergolton.com
Be my friend and/or fan on Facebook
Discover more independent acoustic music at Whole Wheat Radio

December Newsletter

Hello all!

2009 has been a good year. I toured on the East Coast during a glorious spring. I spent time at the Kerrville Festival in Texas, and in the Bay Area in California. Then I hunkered down in Talkeetna for an unusually beautiful summer/fall so I could finish and release a new CD, build an office/studio cabin at Whole Wheat Radio, and get my old property up for sale. (Missions accomplished!) I did some performing in my own amazing state, including a cherished trip with Carrie Elkin to the fly-in community of Dillingham. Now I'm longing to get on the road with music again, but still have some things to finish up before I allow myself the all-consuming task of booking tours. Stay tuned! I'll let you know when I'm heading your way...

I just googled "the perfect gift idea", and noticed that the phrase yields a total of 2,930,000 search results. If you add the word "music", you narrow it to a measly 458,000 results. Mindboggling, if you're looking for the perfect gift idea... So I'll keep it simple for you and remind you to think about just two perfect gift ideas for the holidays.

1. My new instrumental CD - Aurora Borealis: Conversations with Alaska's Northern Lights - this one has broad appeal, and certainly fits the season; it can please everyone from your 6 year old nephew to your grandmother. Think of an artist painting the Northern Lights on a musical canvas. It's relaxing and pretty, and works well for healing, massage, yoga, putting kids to sleep (I've gotten great feedback from the kids themselves on that! They say they see the Aurora shimmering underneath their eyelids...), peaceful background music, and getting work or studying accomplished. Or it's just nice to listen to, period, in an uncategorized, artistic sort of way....



2. My not-as-new but-still-awesome singer-songwriter CD - Unfinished Houses - I'd be so appreciative if you buy it for someone who would enjoy discovering new music - poetic songs arranged with mountain dulcimer, harmonies, and unusual instrumentation...

Buy-em-as-gifts-special!
Just until the end of 2009, you can buy a single copy of either CD with Free Standard Shipping (in the U.S.). And as always, you can buy a bundle of 5 for the price of 4 ($60). Or a bundle of 10 for only $110. And yes, you can mix and match a bundle; just tell me how many of each in the notes when you're checking out. I'll be packaging them and shipping them myself, so feel free to ask for special signatures. Order here.

Positive Feedback!
I'm grateful to Dulcimer Players News magazine for including "The Rarest Waltz" on their sampler CD in the latest issue. I've gotten a big response from dulcimer players discovering my music for the first time. Aurora Borealis also got a sweet write-up in Alaska Wellness Magazine. And wowee, I just now got some great feedback on Unfinished Houses from a booking agency in England, thanks to Carrie Elkin bringing a copy over to them:

Hi Esther - Carrie gave me a copy of Unfinished Houses and I just wanted to say what a remarkably accomplished record it is. I really wasn't expecting such a treasure from an Alaskan dulcimer player but that just shows how wrong you can be! I have to say that Louise made me cry but every track had something to say. We hear lots of music and it's a real pleasure to play something that has integrity as well as expert musicianship. Thank You, Bob

And Happy Holidays to All!
Let me finish up by wishing each and every one of you a wonderful holiday and Solstice season, in whatever way you choose to enjoy it. Your enthusiasm and support for my music will continue to be a cherished gift to me. Thank you thank you thank you!

Smiles,  Esther

On the web - www.esthergolton.com
Be my friend and/or fan on Facebook
Discover more independent acoustic music at Whole Wheat Radio

Talkeetna, Anchorage, Dillingham with Carrie Elkin!

Hello to all Alaskans on my list -

Well, winter is creeping in slowly this year in Talkeetna. Folks are starting to complain about the lack of snow, but meanwhile I'm surely enjoying the ease of getting around; I've been busy moving my belongings into a sweet little office-studio-cabin I had built on Whole Wheat Radio's land. (I love it! I'll post photos on Facebook soon...) I'm officially selling my E.Talkeetna property (my sweet self-built tiny cabin plus the larger structure know as the "wheat hole"). If you know anyone who might be interested in buying a place in Talkeetna, click here for the listing at McKinley Real Estate.

I have a shared "mini-tour" coming up next week that I wanted to let you all know about. It includes a long-anticipated and exciting trip to Dillingham - woohoo! I'll be collaborating with the fabulous Austin-based Carrie Elkin. She's a great singer, a very fun person, and also happens to be my good friend Danny Schmidt's honey (remember him?). So if you're in proximity to any of the shows below, please come out so Carrie and I can serenade you, and/or pass the word on to others who love live music...

If you're starting to think about Holiday gifts, please keep my new CD, Aurora Borealis: Conversations with Alaska's Northern Lights in mind. I sincerely think it's a terrific gift for for family/friends who cherish Alaska's celestial beauty, and also perfect to give to someone who enjoys music for massage, yoga, or quiet relaxation...

Well - it's time to list out the concert dates and sign off, so I can go practice harmonies for Carrie's songs.... Thanks, as always, for all your support and enthusiasm for my music!

Smiles,

Esther

On the web - www.esthergolton.com
Be my friend and/or fan on Facebook

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Wed. Nov 11th, 11:30-1:30, free - Supporting Carrie Elkin with harmony, flute
UAA Noon Music (not 100% confirmed)
University of Alaska Student Union Cafeteria
Anchorage, AK

Wed, Nov 11th, 7pm - Supporting Carrie Elkin with harmony, flute
Private House Concert, please email me if you are interested in attending
Anchorage, AK

Fri. Nov 13th, 8pm - Supporting Carrie Elkin with harmony, flute
Whole Wheat Radio House Concert (with live webcast!)
Birch Creek Blvd, 907-733-2452
Talkeetna, AK

Sat, Nov 14th, 2-4pm, $5 - Songwriting/Performance Workshop with Carrie Elkin
for Dillingham Arts Council, Trinity Lutheran Church
Dillingham, AK

Sat, Nov 14th, 7pm, adults $15, kids $3, seniors free
Dillingham Arts Council Concert, with Carrie Elkin opening, and harmonizing
Trinity Lutheran Church
Dillingham, AK
NOTE: we'll also be playing for the Seniors at Grandma's house on Sunday, and for kids in the elementary school on Monday morning. I'd greatly appreciate, if you know folks in Dillingham, if you you'd pass the word on about all these events.

Mon, Nov 16th, 6-8pm, $6 cover (note early dinner-time-gig.)
co-bill with Carrie Elkin (both on stage, collaborating on each other's songs)
Tap Root Cafe
Anchorage, AK

Tues, Nov 17th, 7pm - Co-bill with Carrie Elkin
Private House Concert, please email me if you are interested in attending
Anchorage, AK

Anchorage Shows Sept 23, 24

Hello Alaskan friends,

I hope you're enjoying this beautiful, golden September weather. Thanks so much to all who were part of last Saturday's CD Release birthday celebration. My new instrumental CD, Aurora Borealis: Conversations with Alaska's Northern Lights, seems to have entered the world with gentle, relaxed happy smiles, all around. I'm glad.

I'm sending this to all Alaskans on my list with the hope that those not in Anchorage might copy this notice to Anchorage folks you think would enjoy my music. Thank you for any forwards of that nature...

I have two engagements in Anchorage this coming week. Wednesday is a solo afternoon show at UAA, then Thursday evening will be a CD Release celebration at the Tap Root Cafe. During my second set at the Tap Root, pianist Dan McElrath and recorder/clarinettist Cari Sayre will join me for a repeat performance of several Aurora Borealis pieces, decorated with liberal, spacious reverb... it'll be mellowly wonderful to collaborate with Dan and Cari again. If it's my singing you'd prefer, I'll sing plenty in the opening and closing sets. See a summary of both gigs below.

Also a last-minute heads up that there is a sweet Whole Wheat Radio house concert happening this very Saturday night, the 19th, at 8PM, with Liz Malys on piano & vocals. She's bringing cellist Deborah Addie with her, and has also invited me to play flute on a couple of tunes. Liz is a wonderful emerging talent - her music is mysterious, soulful, jazzy, and creative. Her style reminds me, in a good way, of the Kate Bush music I listened to back in college. All are warmly welcome to come hear Liz in person on Birch Creek Blvd in Talkeetna, or tune in online using this easy link.

Wednesday, Sept 23, UAA Noon Music, Anchorage
11:30am - 1:30pm, Student Union Cafeteria, Free
Nice sound system, nice cafeteria. Most folks in the audience are eating and studying but anyone is welcome to drop in for a listen. This will be a solo show, but I will of course have Aurora Borealis CDs with me for sale.

Thursday, Sept 24, Tap Root Cafe, Anchorage
8 - 11PM. Aurora Borealis CD Release Party! $6 cover appreciated.
2nd set features instrumental adaptations of several pieces form the new CD, with the amazing Dan McElrath on piano and the lovely Cari Sayre on clarinet and recorder. Includes some nice sound effects - be ready to mellow out... 1st and 3rd set will have me singin' with my dulcimer. Hopefully Dan and Cari will join me on a few of those, too. See you there! Tap Root Cafe - 1330 Huffman Rd, Anchorage, (across from Wells Fargo) (907) 345-0282.

If you can't make it to these shows and would still like to get a copy of Aurora Borealis, just visit my website. You can order securely with your credit card via Paypal. You can also find a list of Alaska stores currently carrying my CDs on that page.

Thanks, as always, for your support and enthusiasm for my music. I couldn't do it without you...

Smiles,

Esther

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Esther Golton
Singer-songwriter-composer with Mountain Dulcimer and Flute
PO Box 812
Talkeetna, Alaska 99676
Website: www.esthergolton.com
Listen online to more independent acoustic music at www.wholewheatradio.org

"I am listening to your GORGEOUS CD! I can see the stars rising & falling... colors swelling & fading... your music is playing with the sky giving thanks. It doesn't get any better. AMAZING. Thank You Esther!" - Annie Wenz - Performing Musician

Announcing New CD! Release Party Sept 12th

Hello Folks, (including everyone in my entire mailing list) -

It was 2 years ago that I released Unfinished Houses and began to immerse myself in the life of a traveling singer-songwriter. It's been great. Thank you all for your support and enthusiasm, whether you are fan, venue, house concert host, 'WheatHead', press, radio, fellow musician, family or friend.

**** Oh My Goodness! A new CD is here !****

So, two years later, I have an exciting announcement. I have in my hands a brand new CD, ready to go out into the world. It's called Aurora Borealis: Conversations with Alaska's Northern Lights. You can listen to samples and purchase pre-release copies directly from my website.

**** It's instrumental - Flute and Mountain Dulcimer ****

The new CD explores a different genre from my previous one. It's instrumental music - all my own flute and dulcimer playing, some composed, and some improvised. I thought it would be a fun and worthwhile project to engage my flute in a "musical conversation" with the Northern Lights as I've experienced them living in Alaska. What resulted is very relaxing and pretty music suited to quiet time, massage, rest, meditation, yoga, or healing. It's a flavor of music I've always enjoyed having in my own collection... without words... simple and lovely and soothing... perfect to wind down and de-stress oneself in a busy life.

**** Cover by Japanese photographer Norio Matsumoto ****

The cover art is a photograph of the Aurora in the Alaska Range taken by Norio Matsumoto. Norio is a neat guy; he spends a month each winter camping alone on mountain glaciers in order to capture the Aurora on film. His work is stunning, and I'm thrilled to have one of his photos grace the CD. I spent a couple of years living in Japan, so it was neat to connect with him. Two tracks have Japanese titles, and there's a haiku in the liner notes, so I'm honoring that connection with Japanese-themed food at the party. (See all the party details below.)

**** Recorded at 10th Planet Studio in Fairbanks ****

As with Unfinished Houses, I had a great time recording at 10th Planet Studio in Fairbanks. They did a fantastic job again... I love Pat and Robin. I had the CD mastered again at Airshow in Colorado. And my talented sister Anita repeated an awesome job as graphic designer. I purposefully kept the final packaging light and thin for easy transport, using an "ecowallet" made from recycled cardboard.

**** CD Release Party with live webcast 7PM Sat, Sept 12th, on my birthday ****

At first I thought I couldn't really have a CD release party because of the mellow nature of the music. Then I had a light-in-the-sky moment: A relaxation party! That's what we need at the end of a long, active summer season here in Alaska. And how 'bout coinciding it with my birthday! And then I thought - oh wait. I can't play the flute and dulcimer at the same time. So I enlisted Cari Sayre, my friend and favorite local clarinet and recorder player, to help me present a short live concert of some of the compositions from the new album. Kat Strandlie will be performing a Tai Chi Improv to one of the numbers. And I'll do a few free-improvs on the flute, too, Aurora-Borealis-style...

Aurora Borealis CD Release Relaxation Birthday Party
Whole Wheat Radio, Birch Creek Rd, Talkeetna, Alaska
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Live Webcast by wholewheatradio.org

6:30PM Doors open
7:00 - 7:45pm LIVE INSTRUMENTAL CONCERT with Esther Golton, Cari Sayre and friends.
$10 suggested donation, 100% divided by performing musicians

Holy Moly! Here's all the things that'll make this fun and mellowly different from other fun house concerts:

- Free short chair-massages in the carpeted area on the side of the room

- Couches and comfie chairs and mattresses on the floor - meant for lying around and relaxing

- A Tai Chi Improv accompanying one of the live concert pieces, by Kathy Strandlie

- Japanese and Asian food potluck (contribution optional), including a creative array of sushi

- BYOB

- Esther's Birthday Cake! (Cake by Flying Squirrel Bakery-Cafe)

- If you can't be here, just relax at home and listen online! (Concert time is 11pm on the East Coast.)

- Aurora Borealis CDs for sale, $15 each, 5 for $60, or 10 for $120 (thinkin' ahead for holiday gifts...)

- The best birthday present you can give Esther is to buy CD(s) for yourself or as gifts for others...Thank you!!

- Please note earlier-than-usual concert start time of 7pm.

- Have little kids? Please email or call me about possible group-babysitting...


If you're a diehard fan of my singin' music, don't worry - I'm still singing and songwriting and plan to tour again. I hope that having a new instrumental album available via the internet and gift shops will help me finance more complex recording projects that lay ahead.

If you've gotten this far down in this newsletter, thanks for reading it all. I know it was kinda long. Pheeew! I'll write again closer to September 12th with a reminder for the party and webcast. Feel free to follow some of the goings-on in my life via Facebook at http://facebook.com/esthergolton . I seem to be somewhat active there these days. Let's be "friends"! I hope as summer melds into fall, you all find spots of joy and acres of well-being and that all your troubles meander gently away...

Big Smiles,

Esther


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Esther Golton
PO Box 812
Talkeetna, Alaska 99676
Website: www.esthergolton.com

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Future Dates:

Wed, Sept 23, Anchorage, Alaska, UAA Noon Music - 11:30am
Thurs, Sept 24, Anchorage, Alaska, Taproot Cafe, 8pm
Sat, Nov 14th, Dillingham, Alaska, Dillingham Arts Council with Carrie Elkin

Hello Talkeetna folks -

Just wanted to send a quick note that I'll be playing in Talkeetna twice this coming week. Details below. Hope to see some of you at one place or the other... should be fun!

This Wednesday, July 29th - Fairview Inn with David Reynolds from Ketchikan.
8PM start, (I think). Fairview's phone is 733-2423.
David and I will trade solo sets and I'll also play flute with him. You can hear some of his music at http://www.myspace.com/davidbreynolds

This Saturday, August 1st - Twister Creek Grand Opening Day for Main Street's new brewpub!
I play from 4-5 PM. Outside if it's nice. Inside if it's drippy. Local musicians will be performing all day...

Also, don't forget the opportunity to share a night of music and laughs with Raina Rose at Whole Wheat Radio on Friday, August 7th. She's an energetic, fun performer, who, as we speak, is driving up the Alcan Highway for her tour. More info at http://wholewheatradio.org/wiki/index.php/Raina_Rose_House_Concert_2009 or call 733-2452.

Meanwhile, enjoy the spots of sunshine between the rain showers!

Esther


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Esther Golton
Alaskan Singer-songwriter with Mountain Dulcimer and Flute
PO Box 812
Talkeetna, Alaska 99676
Website: www.esthergolton.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/esthergolton
Listen online to more independent acoustic music at www.wholewheatradio.org

San Francisco Concert Sat, May 30th, 2009

Hi there...

This email is just going out to California folks on my list. Forgive me if you don't live anywhere near the Bay Area - I wasn't sure where all the city names are located!

I have one, count'em, one concert in San Francisco this coming Saturday, in the round with 4 other fabulous songwriters. Click the Brown Paper Tickets link below for details, and to buy tickets online ahead of time.

Saturday, May 30, 2009 7:30 PM

All Star Songwriter in the Round with:

DonnaLynn, Amy Meyers,
Esther Golton, Alex Walsh and
Jay Howlett

Tickets $8 -$15 Sliding Scale
at Mobu Dance Studio, 1605 Church St @ 28th St.
San Francisco, CA 94131

https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/64206

I look forward to seeing some of you there!

Esther
www.esthergolton.com