Thanks to everyone who came out to Happy Harbor Comics Vol. 1 (12226 – Jasper Ave, Edmonton) on Friday June 4, 2010. We met new Browncoats and renewed old aquaintences. Those who chose (ok, those who didn’t fall for the bullying of our overly excited founder, Sheelagh) declared themselves Browncoats for our submission to the Browncoats: Redemption “We are Browncoats” videos.

We spent the evening watching the documentary Done the Impossible! Some had never seen it before. Others got new enjoyment from the film as they encountered familiar faces of Browncoats they’d met at San Diego Comic Con and other events over the years. We laughed. We cried. We sipped wobbly pops.

The event was free but we collected donations for the Edmonton Food Bank during the event which were dropped off at the warehouse on Monday June 7.

Please join us at Happy Harbor Comics Vol. 1 (12226 – Jasper Ave, Edmonton) for our screening of Dr. Horrible at 6:30pm on Saturday, June 19th. Again, admission will be free and we’ll be collecting food and money on behalf of the Edmonton Food Bank.

Alaskan singer-songwriter Marian Call has just announced her “49 to 50″ Tour, or “49>50,” in which she will play shows and house concerts in all fifty United States — beginning with Alaska, the 49th state, and ending with Hawai’i, the 50th. Her music has been described by fans as “funky acoustic joy jazz” — she plays eclectic, humorous and heartfelt songs that appeal to crowds of all ages and demographics. Her signature Underwood typewriter, rain stick, and kazoo can be heard in most of her local (and national) performances.

On May 20, 2010 in St. Albert, Alberta, Marian Call will play a backyard house concert beginning at 7pm for a suggested donation of $5-$10 per person. All ages are welcome to attend. Please bring a lawn chair and dress appropriately for the weather. Please email joey@cstsedmonton.org for the street address.

Marian Call is an independent singer-songwriter, and her tour venues will be decided by crowdsourced fan input via Facebook and Twitter. Fans can propose concerts in their area, and the best proposals in each state will become real shows. No booking agent, manager, or label will be involved. Call has designed a simple integrated online system for fans to submit show recommendations and house concert applications. Her “street team” volunteer promoters will also use online forums to get their own posters, web graphics, and online invitations to promote the shows. The tour is designed to be more environmentally friendly, economically friendly, fan-friendly, and sustainable than traditional band tours.

This grassroots-style tour booking is becoming more critical for musicians worldwide as the entire music industry changes. This paradigm shift will be particularly important for Alaskan musicians to navigate, as the cost of touring (and the cost of buying and selling merchandise) is considerably higher for an Alaskan artist than for one based in the contiguous United States. Hence a creative and friendly approach relying on the kindness of strangers and the devotion of local fans in each city.

Marian Call has released two studio albums and more than a dozen singles. Her third fan-funded album, Something Fierce, is scheduled for release this year. For more information or press materials, including music and photographs, visit http://mariancall.com or contact mariancall@mac.com.

Interviews always welcome.

Ni Hao Browncoats.

We have some fantastic news to share as we approach the date of our Name That Tune FUNdraiser (Sunday, May 2nd – Original Joe’s Varsity – 8404 109 St, Edmonton. 7pm – 10:30pm).

We have secured some excellent prizes to be given away and are pleased to announce that the team to raise the most cashy money for the Browncoats will be awarded with FREE tickets to the Rainmaker Rodeo concert series to either night of the team’s choice. This year the headliners include Dwight Yoakam and Adam Gregory (May 28th) and Buckcherry with Social Code (May 29th). Tickets are valued at $49.95 each (plus service charge) and we’re thrilled to be able to award this fantastic prize to our dedicated supporters. In addition to the team prize, the individual who raises the most money will be awarded with a $50 gift card to Gateway Lanes Recreation Centre. There are many more great prizes to be won for participants in the Name That Tune showdown as well as some door prizes.

We appreciate every dollar that you raise to help our cause and want to make sure your dedication and support is rewarded!

For those of you who are a bit shy on the fundraising end of things, here are a couple of tips to keep you in the running for the big prizes:

1. Start by asking family and friends for a small donation. Even $2-5 adds up quickly and makes a difference in the long run!
2. Too shy to approach people in person? Leave your sponsor sheet on the lunchroom table with a post-it asking for support and a date/time when you’ll come around to collect the money. Or pass it around with an envelope with a list of employee names. As each person receives it, they can cross their name off and pass it along to the next.
3. It helps if you know a bit about the cause, so read up on the Alberta Browncoats and the CSTS Edmonton event in case people ask you questions.
4. Ask your best friend/sister/spouse/roommate to help you solicit donations-even if they are unable to attend the event with you! They can take a copy of the sponsor sheet to work and pass it around as well.

Need a handy dandy Registration Form (pdf)?

Again, on behalf of the Alberta Browncoats Society, we thank you for your support and can’t wait to see you all out there at the Name That Tune event and the CSTS Edmonton in June.

Stay shiny!

Gather up your posse and come out to Original Joe’s Varsity (8404 109th Street, Edmonton) for a Name That Tune like no other! Have fun and help the Alberta Browncoats Society raise some much needed cashy money so we can do good deeds throughout the year!

This is what you should do:

1. Book May 2nd 2010 in your calendar.
2. Round up a few friends (2-6 people on a team – 7 would be OK too).
3. Pick an awesome team name and a team cap’n you’d follow to the end of the ‘verse.
4. Challenge each other to raise cashy money by getting friends/family/co-workers. to sponsor your team. Keep track of your donations using the handy dandy  pdf form.
5. Show up at Original Joe’s Varsity Row at 7:00 pm on May 2nd to register your team for a chance to win some excellent prizes.
6. Play Name That Tune hosted by the fabulous Tower of Song DJ crew!

Shiny prizes will be awarded for the following categories:

• Most money raised by an individual overall
• Most money raised by a team overall (Team prize)
• Most Name That Tune points earned by a team (Team prize) 1st and 2nd place prizes
• Best/most original Team name

There will be lots of opportunities for fun prizes throughout the night…
(hint: You may want to brush up on some Firefly trivia!)