"The songs of the season, the music for that special time of year, when families gather and when friends...chatter. When one night's oil can light the lamps for eight and when a very large man laden with a sack of gifts for the whole world can sneak in through a chimney...even if you live in a place that has none." Oh Wintersong the second annual all-ages holiday event that is tomorrow, December 6th, at The Majestic at 7pm SHARP-  and proceeds benefit the Second Harvest Foodbank, which serves more than 140,000 hungry Wisconsinites each year -- for more information on Wintersong, read this article by Isthmus. 

So come spend some time with Anna Vogelzang (the brain behind this operation), Count This Penny, PHOX, Whitney Mann, Corey Hart, Dietrich Gosser, Crane Your Swan Neck and Paul Otteson & Faux Fawn (where you will find me playing the Autoharp) tomorrow night, DOORS AT 6:30pm, this event will be starting on time at 7:00pm and last year we sold out so if you would like a seat and to not miss anything please plan to get there early.

Last night all of the musicians got together at the Phox Den for a fire, mulled wine and some music making. Paul Otteson is a musical genius who has put together a few numbers for us to sing all together -- so we learned, played and all got really excited for Friday -- so please come out and celebrate the holiday season with us!

Click here for the facebook event with a link to purchase a ticket(s) in advance.

It is always a little bit sad when Labor Day is coming, it's that feeling that summer is coming to an end, where even though I have been out of school for years, I still get that feeling that it's time to go back. Rock County Folk Symposium has changed this feeling for me, every Sunday of Labor Day weekend I get to go to Janesville, drink Furthermore beer, eat walking tacos and watch all of my friends play music until the early morning hours. This is one of my favorite events of the year, it makes me happy I have chosen the midwest as my home. If you are someone in the band and would like to use some of these images or see more (there are many more) please contact me through my contact page on my website.

About a year ago I joined up with Paul Otteson to sing harmony on a couple of songs and now a year later we are Paul Otteson & Faux Faun and this summer we have recorded one EP and yesterday we started on a full length. We will be playing a free show tonight at Tempest Oyster Bar around 9:30 for the whole night, so stop by for some oysters and music.

Last week I got the opportunity to photograph one of the most promising new movements in youth culture, Girls Rock Camp. Girls Rock Camp Madison is an intense, one week day-camp for girls ages 8-18. Campers of all skill levels learn guitar, drums, keyboards, bass and vocals, form a band, write a song and perform at the end of week for friends, family, and hundreds of screaming fans - Girls Rock Camp is great because it recognizes the potential of every young woman to be a strong, talented, creative and empowered individual while providing a safe space where all girls rock. I have been photographing their showcases for a few years now and I finally have gotten around to write a blog about it. If you would like to learn more, send your child or if you wished this was around while you were young, no worries - they have Ladies Rock Camp as well - visit their website here. 

This morning I went for a walk to find out that this lovely band was playing a free show at Context. One of my favorite things about living in Madison, Wi is the music community; people really love live music here - whether they are listening to it or playing it and it is a beautiful thing to be apart of. This group, PHOX hasn't been around very long, but they really have become known and I am eager to see where they will go with their ridiculous talents. I have seen them play countless times and I have never walked away disappointed - in one set they manage to play 10 different instruments, perfect a 6 part harmony and Monica will always warm your with her adorable banter. I highly suggest checking out their music and their woodroom sessions on YouTube and make sure to check them out live.

Anna Vogelzang and Dietrich Gosser will be hitting the road together this summer on tour, so they contacted me to get some promo images of them together. We met at Mickey's Tavern - a place where I have seen both Anna and Dietrich countless times, and spent a few hours hanging out and taking photographs.