My sunflower, okra, & pumpkin patch at a farm in west Knoxville, TN. This has been my best gardening year ever!
Another favorite summer pasttime.
This November I’ll be moving down to St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. I’ve toured down there for the past 3 winters and fallen in love with the place. I’ll fly the band down there to play in the winter and then I’ll fly back to the states to tour 2-3 times a year. I’ll still be around and the band is still together, don’t worry!
I’m going to shack up on the beach and practice music every day, write songs, make art, swim in the ocean, learn new instruments, record demos on the beach, and live on island time for a while. I’ve had some bad health over the past few months and I hope to fully recooperate while lying in a hammock sipping coconut water!
Here’s another fun write-up we got this summer. Garden & Gun’s July issue has a city portrait of Knoxville, TN and gave us a little mention!
“We may not have five stellar sushi joints. But we have a really good one, and the waiter remembers your cocktail order. We also have an unpretentious, burgeoning art scene, a handful of buskers, better local radio than New York and L.A. combined, and more homegrown roots music than seems fair. Maybe because Knoxville and its surrounding hills breed musicality. Maybe because Knoxville has nurtured such greats as Dolly Parton, the Everly Brothers, and Bill Scarlett, alongside modern marvels Robinella, the Black Lillies, Christabel and the Jons, the V-Roys, and Marina Orchestra. Maybe because Knoxville is cheap enough for musicians to actually reside here, and once settled in, they rarely leave.” - Allison Glock
There’s a big picture of me (tuning my D string) in the July issue of Southern Living. Near the back, in the Tennessee Living section. Thank you sweet folks at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion for using my photograph. 
7/20 – Lowe Mill, Huntsville, AL
7/21 – Flying Monkey, Huntsville, AL
7/22 – Callaghan’s, Mobile, AL
7/23 – Three Muses, New Orleans, LA
7/24 – Banks Street Bar, New Orleans, LA
7/25 – Baytowne Wharf, Sandestin, FL
7/26 – Mockingbird, Tallahassee, FL
7/27 – Cafe Davinci, Deland, FL
7/28 – Swing dance, Orlando, FL
Hey folks. Happy summer holiday. I’ve been going swimming every day for 5 days! There are so many swimming holes, lakes, rivers, streams, and waterfalls to play in here in Tennessee. It’s great to be spending my favorite season in my hometown. My gardens are flourishing and my heart is full of happiness and contentment.
I’m really excited about this side project I’ve been working on, singing sister harmony duets with Leah Gardner (formerly of the Black Lillies and the Maid Rite String Band). Her voice and her original songs give me goose bumps. We’re going to do a recording in a couple of weeks of the songs we’ve been working on together. It’s going to be a really stripped down natural recording; we’re going to rent a little cabin by a lake and do it over a couple of days in the country… I’ll probably to a pre-order sale soon to get the funds together to make this dream a reality. My life is blessed. Thank you for listening to my music!
This Friday, 7/6, Leah Gardner and I will be performing our sister duets at Preservation Pub in Knoxville, TN. The show will get started around 10pm, $6 cover.
Much love,
Christa
Our first tour of 2012 is all about following the warmth. That’s why we’re headed down to FL, AL, & LA to soak up the sun. We’ve learned a few things about touring in the winter..
Itinerary:
1/12 – Five Spot, Atlanta, GA (w/ Hawkeye Pierce and Little Country Giants)
1/13 – Will’s Pub, Orlando, FL (w/ the Mudflappers)
1/14 – McRaney’s Tavern, Winter Park,FL
1/15 – South Florida Lindy Exchange (Soflex), Miami, FL
1/18 – Mockingbird Cafe, Tallahassee, FL
1/20 – Ella’s Folk Art Cafe, Tampa, FL
1/25 – Maison on Frenchman, New Orleans, LA
1/26 – Prytania Music & Spirits, New Orleans, LA
1/27 – Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, LA
1/28 – Docville Farm, St. Bernard Parish, LA
Love,
Christa
Our annual hometown Christmas show falls early this year, on the first Friday of December. Downtown and Market Square will be bustling and beautiful. The downtown Christmas parade starts at 7pm, our show will start at 9pm at the Square Room. We have lots of swinging Christmas tunes in store from the likes of Julie London and Louis Prima. Our friends Tracy Johnson and Ben Maney will be joining us on accordion and piano. Click here to purchase tickets online.
If you would like to buy a copy of our latest CD, “The Christmas Album,” click here and it will be shipped with love by little elves at the North Pole.
Here are the rest of our Christmas shows this season:
12/9 – Flying Monkey Arts Center, Huntsville, AL (swing dance!)
12/10 – Bluegrass Underground, McMinnville, TN
12/22 – Downhome, Johnson City, TN
12/23 – Highland Brewing Company, Asheville, NC
Happy holidays everyone!!
Love,
CB&J
It’s almost that time again! We’re two months away from our annual festival – the Hilltop Dinner & Dance! This year it will be held on Saturday, October 8, 2011 at the Mabry-Hazen House in downtown Knoxville, TN. There will be a delicious southern dinner under the stars as well as plenty of great music and dancing. We have complimentary dance lessons scheduled between each band as well as free tours of the beautiful, historic Mabry-Hazen House and free parking. There is a children’s area with games and room to frolic. Children under six do not need a ticket. There will be haybale seating but camping chairs and picnic blankets are encouraged.
2:00pm – doors open
3:oopm – Square dance caller Allison Williams
5:00pm – Ian Thomas
6:30pm – dinner
7:30pm – JP Harris & the Tough Choices
9:00pm – Christabel & the Jons
TICKETS:
$15 general admission
$50 VIP (includes dinner, drinks, & special seating)
$15 southern buffet dinner (vegetarian & carnivore options available)
beer & wine & non-alcoholic beverages available
BUY TICKETS ONLINE:
www.brownpapertickets.com/event/190687
WEB:
www.hilltopdance.com
Back from the Virgin Islands and getting ready for our first tour of the Pacific Northwest!
3/16 – Trouser Mouse Bar, Blue Springs, MO
3/17 – Great Plains Theatre, Abilene, KS
3/18 – Tuft Theater, Denver, CO
3/19 – Turn of the Century Saloon, Montrose, CO
3/20 – Oskar Blues, Lyons, CO
3/22 – Salida Cafe, Salida, CO
3/23 – Aspen Brewing Company, Aspen, CO
3/25 – Martini Tree, Taos Sky Valley, NM
3/26 – Steve’s Guitars, Carbondale, CO
3/30 – Berkeley Art House, Berkeley, CA
3/31 – Old Ironsides, Sacramento, CA
4/1 – Caspar Inn, Caspar, CA
4/2 – Cafe Flo, Chico, CA
4/3 – Sam Bonds Garage, Eugene, OR
4/6 – McMenamin’s Old St. Francis School, Bend, OR
4/7 – McMenamin’s Kennedy School, Portland, OR
4/8 – McMenamin’s Rock Creek Tavern, Hillsboro, OR
4/9 – McMenamin’s Grand Lodge, Forest Grove, OR