Sam Hensley: News

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!

Pictures taken by Eddie Gonzales from this summer's trip to Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota have been posted. Enjoy!

Pics are now posted from an amazing show the Potter's House in DC. There are too many highlight to name, just an amazing night of community with homeless and non-homeless friends. Thanks to Mary for organizing, Chris for opening, everyone who worked in the kitchen, and who served at wait staff. You made it a great night.

Pictures from the Diocese of New Jersey Fall Youth Event have been posted. Enjoy!

I am honored to announce that "Broken," produced by Rob Seals, took top honors at the July Folkalley.com Open Mic Contest. I was awarded with a blurb on their front page, inclusion in their music stream, and a chance to compete for a slot at the Kent State folk festival in November. I am honored to have had 111 people vote for me, and I appreciate the immense support. Keep checking in to Folkalley.com for more great music!

I am honored to announce that my song "Broken" was entered in the Folk Alley Open Mic contest for July. I am competing against 9 other fine tunes, in hopes to be added to Folk Alley's playlist, and be featured on the front page. So I hope you'll check out www.folkalley.com, sign up(it takes two seconds, and vote in the contest. As always, your support means the world to me. Thanks.

I am excited to announce that I have just completed my 100th song for the Songs of Love Foundation. For the newcomers, the Songs of Love Foundation has a network of songwriters who write, record, and produce personalized, one-of-kind songs for children diagnosed with terminal or chronic diseases and disorders. I have been writing many of their country songs, and some of the Christian songs as well. The partnership has been amazing, and I am honored to be a part of something working so hard to make so many feel good in the midst of their pain. For more information on the Songs of Love foundation, please visit www.songsoflove.org.

Some exciting news to announce: Along with my musical work, as of last week, I am the new summer intern at Miriam's Kitchen in DC. Miriam's does a breakfast for roughly 200 folks each day, along with providing case management services, which I will be assisting with. There is also an after-breakfast program, where people can do art, write poetry, storytelling, etc, plus haircuts. I specialize in the "all off" cut:) For more information on this fantastic place, check out www.miriamskitchen.org.

Sorry for the infrequent news updates. But now I am writing to let you know that after the urging of
my friend Bryan McFarland, I have jumped into the world of Folkalley.com. A
grassroots effort to stream folk music to the internet masses, it's a great
site, and they also have a monthly open mic contest, which I have now entered.
My songs, "Broken" and "Hold you up" from Run Like Water has been entered, and I
am asking for a favor. If you are willing, please visit www.folkalley.com, and
click on the Open Mic link, and find me there. You can hear the songs and then,
vote your conscience, if you think it is a 5 star song, or a 1 star song, let
the world know. And if you've never heard the song, what a perfect time to hear
it! And if you're really ambitious, tell your friends, co-workers, Messenger
friends, sidewalk chalk artists, etc.
You're the best!

Two upcoming shows to tell you about. May 7th at Grace St. Luke's Church in Memphis, TN. Show starts at 7:00pm, entry is free. Then May 12th at 8:00pm at the Potter's House Coffeehouse in Washington, DC, as a benefit show for the Songs of Love foundation. $10 suggested donation.
A new photo section has been posted, entitled "Sam with Famous People." So if you are famous, and you have a picture with me(perhaps in your "pictures with unfamous people" file,) please send it on. Thanks much.

In my attempts to occupy as much of the web as possible, I have taken the plunge into myspace.com. With over 54 million people milling around in this cybercommunity, the chances of bumping into like minded souls is pretty good, and hopefully will yield some mutually beneficial results. The site is www.myspace.com/samhensley, and if you have a myspace account, well, let's be friends!

I have added a bunch of new links to new interests in the DC area, plus The Farmer's Song is now available for listening and download. Enjoy!

Some new photos up in the photos section, enjoy!

Here's welcoming you to 2006! I hope it is starting off well for you. This year promises to be full of newness, starting off with lyrics now posted to the songs in the "Music" section. Keep checking back for more frequent updates. Hello 2006!

From all one of us here at Green Cane Music, I wish you a very wonderful and joy-filled holiday season, and a great start to 2006. I also offer my most sincere and heartfelt thanks to all of you who have supported me over this year, it would be impossible to do any of this without your love and presence. Best wishes to you all!

We had the pleasure of hosting Jake Melnyk this past week at Green Cane Studios, who is recording his third CD project, entitled One Good Monday. Jake produced and tracked six new songs, with Sam running the controls and helping out on several instruments. Check out some of the work at www.myspace.com/jakemelnyk.

It's a been a good couple weeks out an about on the Episcopal circuit. A show with Anna Hutto at VTS, then to South Carolina, New Jersey, and Tennessee for some events and reunions with old friends. Photos from several of them are up in the photo area. One show this week, the final hurrah of the Steve Key writers showcase at Stella's in Old Town, Alexandria. I play at 7:30pm, free of charge.

This week brings a special treat with Anna Hutto coming to the DC area for a couple show with Sam. They will first perform as part of the Songwriters in the Round at the Westside Cafe in Frederick, MD on Thursday at 8:00pm, and then as part of the Art of Kerygma series at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, VA on Friday at 7:00pm. Both events are free and open to the public, don't miss a great opportunity to see Sam and Anna together.

Photos from Holy Trinity, Greensboro, NC trip to Glory Ridge this year are now posted in the photos section.

Pictures from Arts in Alexandria Festival and the Strings Attached Show with Anna Hutto in Durham are now posted in the Photos section. Enjoy!

Heartfelt prayers go out to everyone in the Gulf Coast who is suffering at the hands of Katrina, and especially the youth and adults in the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana, whom I have the honor of working with over the years. We are thinking about you, and hoping you are okay. To donate to relief efforts, go to www.er-d.org or www.redcross.org.