Wherever a man may happen to turn, whatever a man may undertake, he will always end up by returning to the path which nature has marked out for him. - Goethe

I dearly love the state of Texas, but I consider that a harmless perversion on my part, and discuss it only with consenting adults. - Molly Ivens

HIGHLIGHTS
New Web Site coming soon!
Rachel Bissex Tribute CD
Wildflower Music and Arts Festival, Richardson TX
Celebrating Songwriters Series in Marin County
California Coast Music Camp
7/27/05
Epic Arts Center with Hans York
Music That Cooks
Savasana Song Giveaway Continues

NEW WEB SITE COMING SOON!!
Stop by www.carenarmstrong.com around the first of June and you will find a whole new look! The folks at Mouse Potatoes are designing a new site as I type and it should be available for browsing very soon. There will be lots of photos, news, show info and a Picker's Corner where you guitar players out there can find charts for some of my songs. Of course you can also listen to and purchase my music!! Support the Arts! Stop by and let me know what you think!

RACHEL BISSEX TRIBUTE CD
I played a lovely evening in honor of Rachel's memory last month, and we raised some dough for her children's college fund, maybe enough to keep them in school for one day. Now, in an incredible co-op between Oasis Duplication, Tom Prasada Rao, and many others a wonderful tribute CD is being compiled so that Rachel's dream of making sure her kids could finish college can come true. ALL recording, production, manufacturing and publicity costs have been donated--it has been a true community undertaking. The result? Absolutely all funds raised will go to the scholarship fund for these two children!
Please visit www.rachelbissex.org and pre order your copy for $15.
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!

THE WILDFLOWER MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL
Dang, my boots will be happy to be back in my birth state, TEXAS. I'm delighted to have been selected from numerous entrants to play the prestigious songwriter showcase. Bring YOUR boots on down!!! Festival programming includes local, regional, and national headliner entertainment, a Singer/Songwriter Contest; the Kidz Korner, strolling entertainers, buskers and acrobats; interactive displays and exhibits, the RISD Guitar Art Auction; a Festival Marketplace; and lots of great food concessionaires.

CELEBRATING SONGWRITERS IN MARIN COUNTY
Beginning Thursday, June 2, 2005, and continuing on the first Thursday of every month, I will bring Celebrating Songwriters to Marin County's Larkspur Café Theatre. In conjunction with Murphy Productions, Celebrating Songwriters will present a choice selection of local and nationally touring singer/songwriters. Murphy Productions, formed by Erma Murphy and Daniel Patrick, began presenting high quality music, theater and dance at the historic theatre in 2004, starting with a sold-out Valentine's show featuring Maria Muldaur.

To launch the series I will be joined by Marin County's own John Haley-Walker and Christopher Smith. The format will include individual sets by each artist in the first half, with the second set being played Nashville style, in the round. Expect to be amused, moved, inspired and generally entertained by songwriters of all genres at the intimate Larkspur Café Theatre. Beer, Wine and Beverage Bar as well as a small menu including gourmet pizzas will be available. A donation of $5 will go directly to the artists.

CALIFORNIA COAST MUSIC CAMP 2005
These folks really know how to maximize their pickin' time! A solid musical week of classes, song circles, picking, dancing, PLUS they feed you 3 great meals a day so all you gotta do is pick pick pick. I will be teaching beginning guitar and finger picking for week 2 at CCMC this year, July 17th - July 23rd.

July 27 2005 GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATION!!
What better place than Strings to celebrate my Birthday??? Some of you may have attended my fun filled notoriously chocolate oriented birthday shows in years past. I have several friends (Christopher Smith, Doug Blumer, Ilene Adar, and that dang John Haley-Walker, just to name a few) coming by to sit in and share their songs, we'll sing all the old favorites as well as a few new tidbits. The folks at Strings are especially near and dear to my heart, and I have had the privilege of playing and hosting shows at this wonderful venue for over 10 years. Please mark your calendars and plan ahead because I want YOU there with me...

MUSIC THAT COOKS SERIES BEGINS IN MAY
SECOND FRIDAY OF THE MONTH
The Music That Cooks concert series began doing shows at the College Avenue Presbyterian Church in Oakland to help benefit their Friday Night Community Meal. This all-volunteer group serves between 60-100 meals every Friday to the hungry and hurting in the Community and pays for everything out of pocket. The 2nd Friday of every month will feature 3 talented songwriters playing in the round. As it is timed to coincide with the meal, and because the volunteers for the 2nd Friday meal are mostly elementary school students, this concert series will be an incredible experience. The $10 suggested cover charge (less if you have less, more if you have more) will be split between the musicians and the meal fund. It's pretty early on a Friday so you will have time to kick off your weekend and it's completely appropriate to bring children no matter what age. There will also be a small reception with coffee and cake like foodstuffs after each show to meet and greet the performers. There will be other great performers each 2nd Friday, so be sure to come back. Good things abound!
CAREN PLAYS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH 2005

SANTA BARBARA TRINITY BACKSTAGE
Located In the cozy Guild Hall of Trinity Episcopal Church at 1500 State Street, "Trinity Backstage" is booked by two veteran singer/songwriters (and my good pals) Kate Wallace and Doug Clegg. These two fine musicians have spent the last twenty years writing, recording and playing in Nashville and Boston, respectively, and now make their home in Santa Barbara. Years of experience at festivals, studios and clubs around the country means they will be able to book the very best there is in the world of acoustic singer/songwriters.

SAVASANA SONG GIVEAWAY
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS DOWNLOADED AND SHARED THIS SONG. PLEASE ENJOY AND KEEP BREATHING!
Since we chose not to include Savasana Song on the new CD, and because so many of you want a copy we decided to GIVE IT AWAY. Visit the music page and download it for FREE. Send it to your friends, and maybe especially to your enemies:

"Inhale love, exhale forgiveness
Make it my business to life in peace
I keep on breathing, keep on believing…
I will be free, I will be free"

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CHECK OUT THE WEB SITE FOR SHOW INFORMATION AND TO ORDER "THE TRUTH STAYS TRUE", "INDEPENDENT GIRL" AND "EVERY NEW DAY".