Welcome 2011

It has been an exciting year for us, thanks to all of the friends and fans that make it possible for us to do what we love to do. You probably are mostly up to date on what we've been up to. If so, you're welcome to skip on down to the news about our upcoming schedule in January 2011. If not, here is the Reader's Digest version of our 2010.

We shipped the new CD, Turn Back A Page, to over 500 radio stations, DJs, and other airplay venues in mid-February with an "official" release date of March 2. Much to our delight, it shot to the Number 5 position on the Folk Radio Airplay Chart in March (after a slow start in February) with three songs in the Top 20. We were on that chart a total of 5 months.
The CD release concert at Whitehall's Historic Howmet Playhouse was a big success.













In May we took a tour in Europe with our friends and band mates John King and Dan Seabolt. While there we played several private parties in addition to 5 club dates and an outdoor concert in a lovely French village. We made a lot of friends and had a lot of fun sharing our music in Belgium and France.

We played a number of fun outdoor shows closer to home during the summer. In July we were please to have The Highway Song from the new CD featured on NPR's Car Talk, so it's now officially "another stupid car song". That's OK with us.

This Fall we attended the Folk Alliance Region Mid-west (FARM) conference near Chicago, and we were honored to play an Official Showcase at SERFA, the South East Regional Folk Alliance conference at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Arkansas. November brought us to Muskegon's Frauenthal Center for the Arts for A Concert With Friends, a benefit for United Way of the Lakeshore. It was a great pleasure to have Jim Hurst on the bill with us. We also had a wonderful time playing for a sold out house at the Paint Creek Folklore Society's Tin Whistle Coffee House with Kitty Donahoe, Maggie Ferguson, and others.

December brought us to Zellie's Opry House, a wonderful Roots Music venue in Howard City MI; If you haven't seen a show there you should make the effort. We were also invited to play a "Special Assignment" slot for the annual A Winter's Tune concert, where select songwriters are invited to present their brand new original Christmas songs at Grand Rapids' Wealthy Theater. Turn Back A Page has been nominated for Best Local Album and Best Traditional Album in WYCE Grand Rapids' Jammie Awards. Results will come in February. Also, the new CD is NUMBER 2 on the Year's Top Forty List on Steve Jerrett's Sunday Morning Coffee House show on KOPN, Columbia MO, and was named among the year's Top 30 Albums by Norm Mast and Al Kniola, hosts of the Back Porch program on WVPE, Southbend, Indiana.

That brings us to the present, January 2011. A trip to Livonia's Trinity House Theater is in the offing. We'll play a benefit show for Muskegon's Mission For Area People (MAP) sharing the stage with Carol Johnson and the Carl Webb Band. And we get to return for two shows at the Langeland House Bed and Breakfast for the Musical Interludes Concert Series there. You can check the schedule here or at our website or social profile for the details on all these shows and more.











Detailed Schedule for January:

Jan 8, 2011 8:00 PM Trinity House Theater
38840 6 Mile Road
Livonia, MI 48152-2605
(734) 464-6302
We're excited to have a night at Trinity House. It's a wonderful venue to play and to attend. Doors open at 7:30.
Members' tickets $12.

Jan 15, 2011 6:00 PM Orchard View Auditorium Muskegon, MI
16 North Quarterline
Muskegon, MI 42442
Tickets Call 231-760-1350
Benefit for MAP - Muskegon's Mission for Area People. Carol Johnson family show starts at 6:00. Also featuring the Carl Webb Band. Child care and activities available. Under 12 - $5. Concessions. A family-friendly event.


Jan 29, 2011 7:00 PM
Musical Interludes at the Langeland House Bed and Breakfast
1337 Peck Street - Muskegon, MI 49441 - (231) 728-9404
Comfortable house concert setting. This show fills up, so get your reservation early. $5 off ticket with non-perishable food donation. Please call for tickets & details: (231) 728-9404

Jan 30, 2011 4:00 PM Musical Interludes at the Langeland House Muskegon, MI
1337 Peck Street - Muskegon, MI 49441 - (231) 728-9404
Comfortable house concert setting. This show fills up, so get your reservation early. $5 off ticket with non-perishable food donation. Please call for tickets &details: (231) 728-9404

That's all for now. Thanks again for making 2010 a fun and rewarding year for us. Please come see us when you can.

We wish you a Happy New Year and hope that you have the 2011 of your dreams.

Ruth and Max
http://www.ruthbloomquist.com/ (visit and check the schedule any time)
http://www.myspace.com/ruthmaxbloomquist (friend us?)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ruth-and-Max-Bloomquist/101518542307?ref=mf (Like us or see what we're up to?)
http://www.reverbnation.com/ruthandmaxb (check the schedule, hear some music, sign up for the mailing list)