The Wayside announce shows

What a busy first quarter for us. Spiritual Songs by The Wayside was released digitally, through our own store, in January. The early response from people has been fantastic and our first review was a four star rave in Christianity Today! We got the physical CDs shortly after the digital release, and the 7” vinyl singles just a few weeks ago. Now the whole shebang is available, including a very limited, hand made boxed set that includes twelve photo cards backed with essays about each song and why we chose to include it, the vinyl, the CD, and an amazing box hand-decorated by Michelle. It’s all available at our own store; www.TheWaysideStore.comright now, and when you order from our store all of the funds go to support us in this work. You can stream the entire album (and so far a few thousand people have!) at our store for at least a little while longer. Just go to the site and click on the triangle button. You can hear the whole thing, and then decide if you would like to support us with a purchase. If you do, you can choose anything from a “Name Your Price” option for the digital download, to the $25 boxed set! (T-shirts and posters coming soon too.)

We are also excited to be available just about everywhere digital music is sold. From iTunes, to Amazon.com to eMusic, Zune, Rhapsody, Napster… even international digital outlets have Spiritual Songs by The Wayside. We would especially appreciate folks finding it on iTunes and writing reviews. That kind of word of mouth makes a huge difference. Each honest referral from someone who has heard the record is worth hundreds of thousands of advertising impressions. If you dig the project would you please take a minute to tell at least ten friends? Just send them to www.TheWaysideStore.comand let them decide for themselves. You can also post our NoiseTrade “widget” on your own Facebook or MySpace page, or even in emails. All people need to do is click the link and hear some tunes.

If you’re in the Nashville area you can pick up the CD or vinyl at our local East Nashville record store; THE GROOVE, (a fantastic little record store that you will certainly fall in love with,) or the Disc Exchange in Donnelson or Grimey’s on 8th Avenue. It will also be available at Ugly Mugs Coffee in East Nashville very soon.

We are so excited to get out and bring Spiritual Songs to venues around the country in the coming months. We’re confirmed for May 7^th at The Union in Naperville IL. We’ll be helping to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of The Union, one of the coolest venues in the world. We’re thrilled to be sharing the stage with Andy Osenga, Joe Pug, Keving Prchal and others. We’re also incredibly exciting to have our good friends Kenny Hutson and Jake Bradley (Over The Rhine) coming up to play this very special show with us. It’s a rare full band appearance in our old stomping grounds, and in a very intimate and comfortable venue. If you’re in the Chicago area, come on out. But definitely plan on getting your tickets ahead of time. This one might sell out!

Just announced, we are thrilled to be sharing Spiritual Songs by The Wayside at our home church in Nashville on Friday, May 14th at 7:00. Suggestion donations of $5 each will go to support our upcoming mission trip to the Czech Republic. The Village Chapel is located at 2021 21st Avenue in the Hillsoboro Village area of Nashville. Click HERE for the Facebook event.

Then of course there is our annual pilgrimage to Cornerstone Festival, where this year we are excited to be pulling together a special night at The Gallery Stage dubbed “The Other Side of Nashville.” Along with our friends Eastern Block, Kate York, Farewell Drifters and legendary alternative music pioneers The Choir. On Thursday July 1 you’ll want to park yourself at Cornerstone’s Gallery Stage for an incredible night of music.

The bottom line is that we are very excited to get out and play. We’re looking forward to booking everything from house concerts to festivals and colleges. If you would like to bring us to your neck of the woods let us know.

Thanks for reading, and for listening. Please continue to spread the word about our little record. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers, as well, that the right opportunities will present themselves and that those who need to hear this project will. This has certainly been a leap of faith for us, and I don’t think we really understood how difficult it can be to get the word out about a new independent record. We’re so happy to be on the path though.

Peace

John and Michelle