This is some REALLY TERRIFIC NEWS:

I’m taking off next week for a month-long tour of the western US with a BAND! You heard me. This is the first time ever that I will be on tour with band, and I’m SO EXCITED.

I’ll be on the road with two other artists from LA, JT Spangler and Aaron Beaumont, and along with our drummer friend Nick Bearden, we’ll be playing as one another’s backing band all over CA, OR, WA, ID, UT, NV, and AZ. We’ve been rehearsing and — I gotta say — everything sounds GREAT.

If you live in the west, you absolutely don’t want to miss these shows. Take a look at the calendar and make plans right now to come and see us. Then, hop on over to Facebook and let us know you’ll be there!

Rock and roll!

xo-shannon

Hi guys! It’s been a crazy-awesome summer so far. Can I tell you all about it?

LONDON, PARIS & AMSTERDAM

Immediately after finishing up my June tour, I hopped on a plane and flew to London for a combination of business and pleasure travel. The business: writing with a pop songwriting team in London for Amy Winehouse’s goddaughter, Dionne. She sounds *just* like her godmother, but she’s only 14. I think she has a bright future, and here’s hoping she records our song!

Then, it was off to France via the Chunnel and my first time ever in PARIS! I hate to break it toya, but Paris could *totally* have me. I LOVED it there. Here’s a photo from our trip!

Our last vacation stop was Amsterdam, where we got to see The National — one of my *favorite* bands — play at Paradiso. Check out my post-concert photo with the very dreamy singer, Matt Berninger….  :)

SOUTH KOREA

When I got home from Europe, I got word that my music had gone to Asia! My first-ever digital album release for South Korea hit the interwebs just a few weeks ago. And did you catch the title of said album? Here it is. Prepare yourself because it’s SO awesome. It’s called Shannon Curtis The Great. I’m not even kidding. Either we’re a little lost in translation or I’m about to start conquering the world by brute force. Either way, send your South Korean friends to these sites where they can preview and buy my record!

MY OWN FRONT YARD

Even after visiting multiple foreign countries, one of the funnest days I’ve had all summer was last weekend in my own front yard. We hosted the first-ever Front Yard Fest: The Smallest Music Festival in the World, and it was an amazing time. We had 9 different artists from all over California — singer songwriters, guitar players, pianoplayers, a 14-year-old’s garage band’s debut performance — it was SO MUCH FUN. We’re definitely going to make this a tradition. But until next year, check out some of the photos from Saturday.

I’ve got some fun news about an awesome run of western US shows — stay tuned for that! Otherwise, thanks for stopping by. I hope you’re having a great summer!

xo-shannon

I got word today from halfway across the globe that my compilation CD for South Korea has just been released! Did you catch the completely awesome title of the album? I’ll try not to let it go to my head. ;) Tell all your South Korean friends to visit any of these sites to get a little Shannon Curtis!

http://music.naver.com
http://www.melon.com
http://music.bugs.co.kr
http://www.dosirak.com
http://music.mnet.com
http://www.soribada.com
http://music.daum.net

xo-shannon

This just in: Brand-new Shannon Curtis t-shirts! This afternoon I went to observe the making of said t-shirts, and I documented the whole process for you. Enjoy:

First, we select a t-shirt. Ours, American Apparel Tri-blend Track Ts in black, unisex and women’s.

Next, we pick a paint color. So many from which to choose.

Then, we set the screen in place. Yes, that's my mug.

Action shot: Click here to watch the magic happen!

And voila! We have new t-shirts!

They’ll be available at all my live shows starting this weekend. Come get yours! Woot!

xo-shannon

Summer is just around the corner and do you know what that means? SUMMER TOUR! Yeehaw! And this summer I’ll be makin like a cowboy and riding all over the great wide western US not once, but twice! Summer Tour, Part I starts at the end of May and goes through most of June. Here is the schedule! There will still be a few more dates added, so check back often for updates! And mark your calendars!

Summer Tour, Part II is happening in August with a couple of fantastic artists, also from LA, JT Spangler and Aaron Beaumont. Stay tuned for details…  But, since June is nearly here, I’ll see ya soon! :)

xo-shannon

The tour was simply amazing — all of you who came to shows and shared your time with me made this one the best one yet. Seriously, this keeps getting better and better, and I have you to thank for that. There is so much to tell about the tour, so what I’ve done is create a list of awards for the Best Of Tour. And the winners are …!

Best view from the Jetta window:
Virginia trees a-blossoming. See cherry blossoms, example right.

Best unexpected surprise for GREAT SHOW: It’s a tie! Between Boston, Mass. and Kent, Ohio. You know, as in the original Tea Party town and the Kent State Massacre! Special thanks to the amazing and darling Leah Lou for putting together an awesome show in Kent.

Most inspiring moment: My conversation with retired military personnel, Jess and Terra, after a show in St. Louis. These gals told me about how they listened to my music while they were stationed in Iraq and how it helped ease their minds in the midst of the war. I nearly cried! Thanks for sharing, ladies.

Best show moment captured on video: The incomparable Summer Osborne and me duetting on “Why Don’t You Stay?” in St. Louis.

Worst Day: I got stuck in amazingly horrible traffic driving from DC to NYC, my car was overheating and running out of gas, I had to pee so bad I almost peed my pants, and I missed my show in New York City. I actually did cry at that one.

Best comeback: Singing two songs on the sidewalk outside The Living Room to NY fans who stuck around until I *finally* arrived at the venue after said missed show.

Most obscure show location: Estherville, Iowa. At Iowa Lakes Community College, across the street from the local high school, which is “Home of the Midgets.” I’m not kidding. I took a photo for you:

New musical discoveries I hope you’ll see me sharing the stage with again in the near future: Summer Osborne and Jenn Cristy.

Best show performed without a microphone: The House Show in Reston, VA — because it was in a living room! (Do YOU wanna have a Shannon Curtis concert in YOUR living room? Email me … we can make that happen.)

Favorite new band that also features a girl with whom I was in high school choir: Static of the Gods, Boston, Mass.

Best new doggy and kitty friends with whom I stayed on tour: Lady! (Doggy friend.) And Oliver! (Kitty friend.)

Let’s give a round of applause to the Best of Tour! (And the crowd goes wild …) As always, that I am so grateful and utterly thrilled to have your support.

Lots of love — shannon

Great news! My new full-length, piano+vocal only CD, “I play the piano and sing love songs” is now available on iTunes AND from the fantastic Las Vegas-style merchandise display at all of my live shows out here on tour. Whether you get it on the internets or from me in person, you should get it! And enjoy. :)

xo-shannon

In just a few weeks I will be welcoming my newest baby into the world: A full-length, 11-track CD collection of love songs! It’s called “I play the piano and sing love songs”, and that’s just what it is — me, my piano, a microphone and a bunch of favorites from my previous EPs as well as a few BRAND-NEW SONGS.

I’ve been hearing from fans for some time now that they’d love a CD that captures the feeling of my solo live show, and this is it. These recordings were made with you in mind, and I hope you will love listening to it as much as I loved making it!

Want to be first in line?

This is where it gets exciting. The first 100 people to pre-order my new CD will also get an exclusive, limited-edition EP called “I play the piano and sing cover songs”. This EP features intimate piano-and-vocal recordings of the oldies cover songs I’ve performed on tour over the last year:

All The Way  (Frank Sinatra)
At Last  (Etta James)
The End Of The World  (Skeeter Davis)
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes  (The Platters)
What A Wonderful World  (Louis Armstrong)

This EP will not be sold in stores or online or at shows — the only way for you to get it is to be one of the first 100 people to pre-order my new CD! And you definitely want this — it came out GREAT.

I also have a “superfan” pre-order package, which includes a gorgeous glossy deluxe 18×24-inch poster with the “I play the piano …” photo collage — it’s suitable for framing, if that’s your thing!

All pre-orders come with a link for instant MP3 downloads of “I play the piano and sing love songs” emailed within 24 hours to your email address — this means that you will get to hear the new CD about a month before everyone else! Then, when the physical CD comes out, yours will come directly to your mailbox along with the covers EP (and poster, if you’ve ordered the poster package).

Exciting stuff, right? Let’s do this! Order yours right here, right away!

THANK YOU for your continued support and encouragement of what I do. I received a very moving email recently from a fan who expressed how my music has inspired and encouraged her — man! it was so incredibly touching to read. THAT is why I do what I do, and your support is what keeps me going. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Lots of love to you — shannon

Hello, love birds!

Are you thinking about what you’re going to do for that special someone this Valentine’s Day? Well, I have a couple ideas for ya:

• I Can Be Your Singing Valentine! Instead of jewelry or chocolates this year, how about commissioning a personalized love song for a loved one! Here’s how it works: you send me a little information — personal memories, names, or things you just want to say — and I will write a Valentine’s song for you that is unique to you and your loved one. Maybe you have some lyrics or poetry that you’d like for me to put to music — I can do that, too! I will record the song — me and my piano — and send it to you on a CD and/or an mp3 that you can give on Valentine’s Day. Or a birthday or anniversary — whatever you like! The price for a personalized love song is $300, payable through credit/debit card on PayPal. If you’re interested, email me and we can get started on your song right away.

• Send a Little — Or a Lot — Of Love! I have a super-cool, completely revamped “Shop” page on my website, with a bunch of brand-new music and merchandise packages available for Valentine’s Day. If you order any CD collection, T-shirt, or CD/poster combo package before February 5, I’ll send you a handmade Valentine’s Day card to give along with the CDs!

Let’s spread the love! xo-shannon

I knew there was a reason I moved to southern California — it’s called January. Look at how my roses are doing:

I hope you all had good holidays. I spent a goooood long time with my family in northern California, unwinding from 8 weeks on the road this fall and celebrating Christmas and the new year. And now I’m HOME! (Can you tell how thrilled I am?)

And I’m back to work. Booking a spring tour — more info to come on that very soon. And cooking up some Valentine’s inspiration for you — more info coming on that even sooner. So stay in touch. And keep warm out there.

xo-shannon