Sam Hensley: News

After several years of non-activity in the studio, and not as many years of request for my conference music, I have finally finished up my newest project, entitled, And it goes like this..., ten songs from my travels and musical en devours with Children's, Youth, and Adult Ministries. It includes Amazed, Prayer, Yahweh our Love, Jesus Kind of Way, and others. I am very excited to finally have these songs down on disc. The discs should be ready by the beginning of next month, but I am taking pre-orders now, so those folks who order now will get the first copies out of the box, and be able to parade around their neighborhoods, waving it high in the air for all to see. The cost is $12.00, which includes shipping. So if you're interested, click below on the "Add to Cart" button, which will lead you over to the Paypal, where ordering is quick and easy. I will send you a confirmation email, and will also send an email when they are here, so you'll know to keep an eye on your mailbox. As always, thanks for visiting, reading, and your support.

Going back to hometown Greensboro is always a treat, but this time was a double pack punch of fun. For two and a half days, I led music for the Episcopal Diocese of NC Spring Youth Conference at the Summit conference center, the same place I learned guitar and learned about my faith. It was truly an honor to come back this, as many young people I met when they were in sixth grade, were now graduating and moving on. It was a wonderful weekend. Then on Sunday, I had the privilege of playing in downtown Greensboro for the celebration of 200 year since the founding. And the place isn't looking too bad. With my friend Katie Wangelin, I did a chilly hour set at the new Center City Park, and my friend Jake Melnyk caught most of it on tape. If you want to check it out, head over to www.youtube.com/jakeness19. Heading out to California this weekend for a first visit with the diocesan Happening program. I'll wave to you from the plane.

Happy New Year, from your good friends in February. It's bitter cold in DC right now, but not cold enough to keep music fans from flocking in droves to a couple great shows coming up. Uber-talented singer/songwriter and friend Dave Potts will be in the DC area next week for a series of shows that are sure to dazzle. Watch for flying socks, as they will be blown off. Friday, Feb 22nd, Dave will be doing a show at St. Alban's Church in DC as a fund raiser for its hunger and homeless ministries. The show starts at 7:30pm with an opening set from your truly. Dave will then be opening for a truly wonderful Christine Lavin at the Birchmere in Alexandria the next night, Feb 23rd. Check out www.birchmere.com for more info. And then he'll wrap up his trip on Sunday with a show at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in South Alexandria at 6:00pm, as a fund raiser for their summer mission work. I will be doing an opening set there as well. So, three chances to see one of the fastest rising singer/songwriters on the national scene. Dave is not to be missed. For complete details on these shows, check out the calendar page, and for clips of Dave's music, check out www.davepotts.com. He's good folk.

On this past Saturday, Nov 3rd, my father's birthday, I had a big musical dream fufilled. My song, "Let
Her Go" was featured on the NPR radio show, "Car Talk." If you've never listened to Car Talk, every week two brothers, Tom and Ray Magliozzi(or Click and Clack, the Tap-it brothers) discuss cars, car
repair, and take calls from people asking questions about their own
cars. Twice during the show, they pause for station ID, and play a
clip from a song relating to cars. Car Talk has always been a favorite show, and after several friends had songs aired, I really hoped I
could do the same. So I wrote "Let Her Go" several months ago, about
my first car, and the metaphor of letting go of it like we must let go
of those pieces of our lives that are holding us down, even though
they may have been a wonderful, integral part of our being. I sent
them a copy, and now, several months later, my dream has been
fulfilled. Thanks to the folks at Car Talk for giving it airtime, and
thanks to all who heard it, and called or emailed to tell me so, and thanks Mom and Dad for gifting me the car so many years ago. If you would like to hear the broadcast, it is available on Itunes, and on
their website, cartalk.com, and "Let her go" is available here at
samhensley.com, under "Tunes."

So after countless tales of using CD money to pay rent and buy food, I have decided it's time to get the albums back out to the people. You can now download Run Like Water, in it's entirety, for pennies! I have partnered with Amiestreet.com to sell Run Like Water, and eventually, Beg the Sky(for you die hard Samfans.) Here's the deal, you buy credits from Amie Street, and then use them to buy the songs. The songs start out free, and then after each download, they go up in price. So right now, you can have Run Like Water, legally for less than a dollar! Even sweeter, if you recommend a song, and it makes money, you make money too(sound like a pyramid scheme, but it's legit.) So everyone wins! Hurry! Operators are standing by! Don't let the price go up any more before you get there!
http://www.amiestreet.com/samhensley

After five years and countless miles on plane, train, and automobile, I had to tearfully say goodbye to my beloved Composite Acoustic guitar. Time and temperature has taken their toll on the neck, cause warpage, many fretting problems, and with no chance of adjustment, due to the lack of a truss rod, I had to let her go. Her new owner is fixing her up, and she will now live in Florida, where hopefully the cold will never touch her again. Following in her footsteps is a new Takamine EAN10, a lovely wood(what a novel idea) guitar with great potential. The CA will be often missed, frequently remembered, and never forgotten. Godspeed old friend, Godspeed.

The Songs of Love foundation, which I have been working with for the past 4 years, has a new jukebox feature on their website, where you can hear songs of love that have been written for various children. I am honored that they have put one of my songs up for listening. So if your interested in hearing what I do with Songs of Love, click on www.songsoflove.org, and go the bottom of the page to the Jukebox link. Find "Kelsie Yates" and you'll hear some of my handiwork. I hope you enjoy!

Jake Melnyk has just finished his fourth self-released EP titled "Reaching Out," recorded here at Green Cane Studios. 5 songs, acoustic based tinged with a pop-rock sound, Jake has continued to hone his craft project after project. Jake was also the first to experience the upgraded 24 track recording system here at Green Cane, and it really shines. You can hear samples and buy his music for very little money at AmieStreet.com, a cool independent online source for music. And for more bio and calendar info, check out www.jakemelnyk.com.

Whew, what a long summer. And it's not even over. I have been out on the road a good bit, and haven't had a chance to update the calendar page. But fear not! I will be coming this week. I will also be posting pics from the past week adventures in mission work in NC. I still have open dates for the fall, so if you're looking to host a concert for your church/ group/circus team, please do contact me.

Just a words of thanks to all those who made this last I-85 trip so wonderful, especially the old friends I had not seen in many years. It was wonderful to play for you all, and I hope we can get together again real soon.

So this entry is all about the band. Last year, I started going to an traditional irish session in Falls Church, VA. Every Monday night, about 15 or so musician gather around tables, drink some Guinness, and play and sing traditional irish music. This became a wonderful outlet, and a chance to play music with others, which is a great aside from the solo gig. From this session, a few of us decided to try and do something a little smaller, with the possibility of getting out and playing local pubs and establishments. Thus formed the Dirty Pints, with myself on guitar and vocals; Alan Carrick, professional irishman, on whistle and vocals; and Marc Cheek, Pentagon guy, on fiddle and vocals. After about a month of practice, we landed a great gig out in Portland, OR, at Kells Irish St. Paddy's day festival, one of the biggest on the west coast. So over the March weekend, we travelled out, playing 8 shows in 4 days. Since then, the band has picked up some steam, playing around the DC area, and landing some private gigs as well. We're looking to make a return trip to Portland, OR, and perhaps a trip through NC at some point in the fall. We have our own website with music and such, check out www.thedirtypints.com. Slainte!

Wow, it's been a long time(not since I rock and rolled, that was yesterday,) since I wrote about the travels and tales of Sam Hensley. It's been a great couple months, not without it's struggles, not without it's joys. Where to start? I guess it'd be fun to recap the Winter/Spring. Started the year with a 5th year leading music at the Winterlight conference at Kanuga conference center in NC. Got to play with some great musicians, meet some wonderful young people. The stage was again full with the sounds of guitars and drums(not necessarily playing in perfect rhythm all the time, but really, who's in sync all the time, besides Justin Timberlake?) Took some travels around the east coast, a wonderful concert with Anna Hutto and old friend David Bryan in NJ in January, a couple of events with the Diocese of Washington with the great Paul Canady, and a semi-annual trip out to Memphis for a meal at Huey's, and Happening weekend. While it was "happening," Happening is an Episcopal spiritual renewel conference for high schoolers. Don't want any confusion. A great spirit out there in West Tennessee. Also in the spring were events in Louisiana, SC, another NJ trip, a concert at the Province III synod meeting in WV, and a concert at Trinity Cathedral in Columbia, SC. A lot of traveling, a lot of friends, a lot of broken strings. And that's the solo side. See above to read about the band...

Pictures from New Orleans, Gravitt, and the VTS May fair with the Dirty Pints have been posted. Enjoy!

Sam and his new Irish band, The Dirty Pints, will be heading out to Portland, OR this week to play a number of show in celebration of St. Patrick's Day. Head over to www.thedirtypints.com, and check the calendar for times and locations. And if you have friends out west, please let them know that a good time is heading their way. Cheers, and have a great, safe St. Patrick's Day!

Thanks to the miracle of modern YouTube, Kep Short from the Diocese of New Jersey has pieced together some short clips from the Anna Hutto/David Bryan/Sam Hensley concert in January. To see it, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbBjAwMrtFw. Enjoy, and if that gets you excited, the trio will be playing again March 4th in Alexandria, VA. See Calendar for more info.

The New Year has barely taken it's first steps, and it's already off to the races. Between the travels for work, the recording for Songs of Love, Erin and I will be spending a good bit of time this winter/spring figuring out where we will be relocating to come May. She will be finishing her studies at VTS, and we're looking to head back south into NC territory once again. We're pretty excited. In other news, my new irish band, The Dirty Pints, has started booking into some clubs and festivals this year, including playing a three-day St. Patrick's Day festival in Portland, OR. Again, very excited. Check out our site over at myspace.com/thedirtypints for sound clips and shows. Thanks for stopping in!

Yes ladies and gentleman, I have finally gotten down to putting ink to paper again, and have written a new tune. "Let Her Go" is the title, and it speak to the fact that sometimes, we have to let things in our lives go, no matter how great the ride was. Better news, I have recorded said tune, played all the instruments(does Sam play banjo??) mixed and mastered it here at Green Cane Studios. Even better still, it's online for your listening pleasure. Check out http://www.folkalley.com/openmic/song.php?id=2631 or www.myspace.com/samhensley and take a listen. And if you have any feedback, I'd love to hear it. Thanks.

Kudos to Anna Hutto for being selected as December's spotlight artist on Folkalley.com. Anna will have a space on the homepage, and her song, "Hide me Away" will be featured as one of four open mic tunes on Folkalley's December podcast. I was honored to have co-produced, engineer, mixed, and played on Anna's record, "Welcome Here" in 2005.

Pictures from the Diocese of Washington National Cathedral Lock-in are posted. We had over 400 people attend this annual gala in our nation's capital, and what a great time. I took some video from underneath the pulpit, because hey, how often are you under there? Check that out over at myspace.com/samhensley. Enjoy the visual fiesta!

Aside from playing the Episcopal Conference circuit, I have been busy playing with my traditional Irish group, the Dirty Pints(catchy, yes?) Like any other aspiring band, we have set up a myspace page with some clips from our practice sessions. Check it out at www.myspace.com/thedirtypints. We are booking dates for the late fall and winter, so if an Irish band is something you've always wanted at an event, take a look into us.
Cheers!