Blog for Romi Mayes

JANUARY 2010

2010-03-01T23:31:46-05:00

First off, Happy New Year to everybody! 2009 was quite a notable year in music. Springsteen released 'Working On A Dream", Metallica was inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame, Iron Maiden released their 'Flight 666' documentary, Michael Jackson and Vic Chesnutt died, and Faith No More reformed for a tour.
Meanwhile, a little closer to home I had the greatest year with the release of "Achin In Yer Bones". Three U.S. tours, two European tours, two Canadian tours, ten festivals, and well over 200 shows. I was honoured to have 3 nominations for album and songwriter of the year in Canadian music awards, two of which I was so humbled to take home at The WCMAs in September. That was a great weekend where I also got to perform with one of my all time favourite bands from Saskatoon, The Sheepdogs.
I had the greatest opportunity of having The Weber Brothers back me up for 6 months of the year. We toured the globe and they are some of the most talented musicians anyone can have on stage with them. I presently have the honour of having Jason Nowicki (of The Perpetrators fame) officially join the band this winter, along with rock steady and true champion of music David Landreth on the bass. The newest addition to the band's line up is Canada's own Ryan Voth, an off the charts solid heartbeat of a drummer who we are all really excited to hit the stage and the road with.

There's a lot to look forward to for 2010. The new band line up and I will be touring South of the border down the midwest to Texas and then Western Canada in the spring. We will also be heading back over the pond to Europe in May (Germany, Holland, UK and Sweden). I am also presently working with Anagram Pictures to write the soundtrack to a movie they are working on. More info on that coming soon.

As I hunker down for my three months off this winter, I'll be doing more writing (and sleeping... OKAY, OKAY... and some festive drinkin) trying to rest up and gear up for another great year of music, touring, new friends, reuniting with old friends, and all around givin'er.

Thank you so much to everyone that is reading this, cuz that means you give a shit to some capacity and have helped support what I do along the way and I absolutely couldn't do all this without you. Hope to see you out there again in 2010!

SEPTEMBER 2008 - new album info

2008-10-29T02:25:40-04:00

SEPTEMBER 2008: Summer's gone. Just like that. What another ride. Highlights were the Edmonton Folk Festival (Luke Doucet slayed) and Woody Guthrie Folk Fest in Oklahoma was another blast. They know how to have a party over there. I was in Europe and Texas (2 of my favourite stomping grounds) and I finally made it out West this summer as well. It was a gooder and now I'm sportin a big hoody and gettin back into the groove of autumn.

I have a couple Alberta and BC dates at the end of this month, and then I head back to Italy in October... not a bad deal I figure. By the time I get back from Italy it's 'go time' and Gurf and I finally get back into the studio to record a follow up album to 'Sweet Somethin' Steady'. Really really stoked on that. By the time it's released in spring of 2009 it will have been almost 3 years since 'Sweet Somethin Steady' was released. I couldn't have dreamed up the great response to that album... I can't begin to thank you all for a kick ass few years performing that album North, South, East and West.

The touring schedule is coming together for the new album release so check in once in a while to see when we're comin yer way. I'll have a new back up band (The Romi Mayes Band) and we're really looking forward to touring the album next year in Western Canada in March, Europe in April, Eastern Canada and Eastern U.S. in May/June... and then the summer festival season 2009 kicks off and the band and I will be covering some large ground over July and August.
Please stay tuned for more new album info... It should be available in Canada March 2009.

Thanks so much for giving a shit thus far... it's truly incredible... I can't do any of this without you guys...
Romi Mayes

ROMI MAYES ALBUM FUNDRAISER - INFO and DONATION OPTION

2008-10-29T02:21:48-04:00

As most of you know, independent musicians do not have the backing of a major label to fund their albums and tours. Romi Mayes has been devoted to being a Canadian independent musician from day one.

As she prepares to record a long anticipated follow up to her award winning, internationally acclaimed CD 'Sweet Somethin Steady', she hopes that the support and love of her friends, families, and fans can come together in the form of donation to offset the costs of recording and manufacturing the next Gurf Morlix produced album that is to be recorded this November. The release date is set for March 2009.

DECEMBER 13, 2008 @
Times Change(d) High and Lonesome Club
Opening set by Robert Allan Wrigley
followed by Romi Mayes and special guests
$12.00

For those of you out of town or unable to make it, there is an album fundraiser donation page on Mayes' website. Whether you donate $5, $50, or $500 this really will be an album that will be all of yours, and one that we, along with Romi, can all share. Romi intends to have every name that donated thanked and mentioned in the cd insert of the album.
http://www.romimayes.com/donation.html

Romi will be personally writing and thanking every donation.
Your generosity is endlessly appreciated.

CD RELEASE TOUR ANNOUNCEMENT: THE WEBER BROTHERS BACK UP ROMI MAYES

2008-10-29T02:20:51-04:00

In March of 2009 Romi Mayes intends to release a long anticipated follow up to 2006's, Gurf Morlix produced, 'Sweet Somethin Steady'. Gurf will come to Winnipeg again this November to produce the album.

There will be extensive CD release touring for 7 months to promote the album. February: the US mid-west to Texas; March: Saskatchewan, Alberta, and BC; April: European release and tour; May to June: Ontario, Quebec, New York, Vermont, West Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota; July and August: various summer festivals in canada and the u.s

Romi has hired great friends and fellow road hogs THE WEBER BROTHERS to be her back up band for the duration of the cd release touring. THE WEBER BROTHERS are some of the finest musicians across the continent who cut their teeth as Ronnie Hawkins' (The Hawk) back up band before their 20th birthdays. They still back up Ronnie and can definitely be found touring the world under their own name but for 7 months in the new year, they can be found raising the bar as The Romi Mayes Band.

Tour dates are being posted as they come in... so check Mayes' website or myspace to see when when The Romi Mayes Band is playing a town near you.