Dear Friends,

I've some good news and some interesting projects I wish to share with you, things that I'm very excited about. My latest CD, "True Compass" has been nominated for Folk/Americana Album of the Year for the MAMAs (Madison Area Music Awards). MAMA, Inc. is a non-profit organization that honors the accomplishments of musicians in the Madison area and also raises awareness and funds for youth music programs. It's quite an honor and I would love to win this award. We are into round 2 of voting and the winners are announced on May 10th. You can help by voting for me! You don't need to be a Madisonian to vote or even a Wisonsinite. To submit to the MAMAs you must have a Broadjam.com membership. You merely have to go to www.broadjam.com and join. It costs you $5 to register and the money goes to Youth Music programs in Madison. Not a bad thing at all. Then you can click on the voting page for MAMAs and vote for me. Just choose the Album of the Year category and it will take you to a listing of all the types of albums to vote for. Scroll down to Folk/Americana and click on that. While you're at it, you might want to vote for Tracy Jane Comer for Instrumentalist of the Year. She is an awesome artist and a friend of mine with whom I've had the pleasure of working. I'd really appreciate this! You've helped me in the past with voting on Outvoice.net which of course you still can do!! I'm currently at #38 and would love to climb back up the charts. I appreciate the time to do this so very much. Also, with a Broadjam membership, you can purchase individual songs from my work and the works of other Madison artists, just like itunes

Another piece of news involves IMA (The Institute for the Musical Arts). IMA is currently fundraising to finish the amazing recording studio they have started. The Institute for the Musical Arts is run by June Millington and Ann Hackler and they do incredible work providing summer music camps for teenage girls. I've taught there, the work they do is phenomenal. I am offering for auction a 6 course Italian dinner for eight followed by a Love Song Concert. I've actually auctioned 3 of these over the past two years as a fund raiser for The National Women's Music Festival and have raised over $11,000 for the organization. You can find out more about the recording studio and the items that have been offered for auction, including a copy of Herbie Hancock's River: The Joni Letters autographed by Herbie AND Joni Mitchell, Dar Williams Huss and Dalton guitar, David Bowie's autographed jacket, etc. etc. Go to www.ima.org to learn more about this project or go directly to my auction item at Tret's Dinner and read all about it and bid! You should know that I do the cooking and I come to your home.

Don't forget about the upcoming cruise that is happening Jan 18-25 2009. We are cruising to the Mexican Riviera. Anyone who's been on these cruises knows how much fun we have. Most are repeat customers. So check it out on the cruise page and sign up now!

You can hear clips from the latest CD on my songs page and you can hear complete songs on my myspace page. And of course you can purchase it at www.tomboygirl.com. You can also purchase individual mp3s on itunes.

As many of you now know, the National Women's Music Festival has moved to Madison, WI. My partner, Jane, produces the festival and it will be an amazing year. I'm happy to report that I will be performing this year with the hottest band, Pamela Means, Lyndell Montgomery and JJ Jones. So register now for the festival which is happening June 19-22nd. Just go to www.WIAonline.org.

I'm hitting the road pretty hard this year so keep in touch by finding me on my concert page. And please don't forget to shop Tomboy girl.

Much love,
Tret