Sunday, December 30, 2018



Well there is just one more day in 2018.

Michael Hearne, Mike Roberts and I played our last show of the year  at
“Main Street Crossing” in Tomball, Texas.  The place was packed, a sold out show with a roomful of folks ready to party the night away. We even did a live recording of the show by Joshua Daugherty which was made available to purchase immediately following the concert. People were lined up to take home a copy.  We love playing at Main Street and all of the good people on the staff. It’s always a good time. Thanks Matt and thank you Joshua for a great recording!

The week before we performed for our first time at “The Four Star Concert Hall” in Brenham, TX.  Indeed it is a four star venue, 
with a great sound system, an intimate size room, with a second floor balcony overlooking the concert area and stage below. John Elford has put a lot of time and energy into renovating the old building that sits just a couple of blocks off of  the town square. He has turned it into a place for the community to come to hear music and other types of performances offered. Thanks John for inviting us. We hope to be back for another visit in 2019.

Speaking of party’s...   Monday night New Years Eve, I will be doing a solo show at Anderson Fair in Houston.  I will be there along with Ken Gaines and Wayne Wilkerson, GRAMMY winner Lynn Langham and GRAMMY nominated Doug Gill, along with Austin musician James Steinle. It will be a full evening of music, champagne and blackeyed Peas! The doors open at 7:15 and music starts at 8:45. Come on out and welcome in 2019 with us! Make your reservations now at www.andersonfair.net. 

 I do want to say thanks once again to all of you who came to one of my shows this past year, or bought a CD, or even a pound of my “Cowboy Coffee”, and those of you  who continue to support the music and what I do.  I couldn’t do it without you. I truly feel blessed for all the years as an audience you’ve given me. I am looking forward to another new year and writing some new tunes in 2019.  Onward and upward. Watch for upcoming shows in January on my show dates on www.shakerussell.com.  I will keep you posted. I hope to see you up the road soon.
Happy New Year Everyone!!      Peace,   Shake

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Merry Christmas

Tuesday Dec.11, 2018

After a great solo show last Saturday night at The Millbend Coffee House Series hosted by Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Church out in The Woodlands just a little north of Houston, I am sitting here gathering my thoughts and looking at the final days and weeks in this month and in this year...2018, and  reflecting on all that has occurred.  It has been a wild one indeed. Life happened while we were busy making other plans. I  am certain 2019 will be a better year!! But yet I am left wondering ‘How did it get so late so soon?’  I have three more shows this year:

Saturday Dec. 22 Michael Hearne and I, along with Mike Roberts, will be performing in Brenham, TX. at the 4-Star Concert Hall.  . We were supposed to play a kick-off show for this concert hall and had a scheduling conflict.  So happy we found another date.  Make your reservations NOW!  Kicky off your Christmas weekend!   https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/2501277/shake-russell-and-michael-hearne-w/mike-roberts-on-bass-moved-from-oct27th-to-dec-22nd-brenham-4-star-concert-hall      www.4starbrenham.com    It’s been a while since I’ve played in Brenham. I remember a wonderful house concert series hosted by Glen and Cheryl Ducket I performed at several times and concerts in the streets, on the square in front of the Courthouse.  Like I said, it’s been a while....playing at this venue is a wonderful way to return.  I hope to see you all out for the show. Thank you for supporting live music.  Good Tickets are still available.

On Dec. 29 we will be returning to Mainstreet Crossing in Tomball,  playing our final show of the year. It is always a great time and show at Mainstreet Crossing.  COME ON OUT and celebrate the Holidays!!! There may still have a few seats left for the event.  The ticket link is on my tour page or go to www.mainstreetcrossing.com. 

On New Year’s Eve I will be doing my annual Midnight Watch at Anderson Fair in Houston. Black eyed Peas and Champagne,  noise makers, and a little music thrown in.  Make your reservations now.

Also.....BREAKING NEWS!!!!!
Clint Black has released a new Christmas Album, The Clint Black Christmas Collection
which includes the Christmas song we wrote together, “MILK  AND COOKIES (til Santa’s gone)”.   Check it out at info@clintblack.com.  The song is part of a new Christmas musical production created by Clint that is playing around the country.  It debuted in San Diego, CA,  to rave reviews.  https://sandiegodowntownnews.com/looking-for-christmas/  Read  about the play with this link!   

Almost forgot!  Did you know you can go to www.shakerussell.com and download  CD’s from out of print CD’s.  And  new ones!  Check it out!  Or order some for Christmas presents.  Yes, that is a good stocking stuffer! 

Again I thank you all who have supported my music and have attended live shows over the past year.  We hope to see you all this year as well as 2019 as we come to a town near you.



Merry Christmas to All,

and a Happy New 2019 to everyone!
and may there be one day
Peace on this Earth,
Love to All.

Shake


Saturday, November 17, 2018

McGonigel's Mucky Duck

After a pretty rough summer for both Michael Hearne and me, I am way behind on my blog.  Not since July?  I'll be catching up soon because we have had a whole lot going on and all fun now that we are both healthy and playing strong again!  So, watch for it!  

Shake Russell and Michael Hearne tonight!!!! November 17th 2018, 7:30 PM.  Come hear some tunes!  One of our most favorite stages to play, a premier venue for our music!  Come early for a super meal and beverage, now serving special drinks as well as wine!  Mike Roberts is playing bass. 

Peace, Shake

Tuesday, July 3, 2018


With a few great shows under my belt and Gypsy Silver being loaded and readied for the road, we are off to northern New Mexico for a few days out of the Texas heat. Last week we began in Friday night in Dallas at UNCLE CALVIN’S COFFEEHOUSE for a sold out show and a tremendous music loving audience.

Saturday night I ventured down to Houston for a solo show at ANDERSON FAIR the, prestigious folk club and listening room. I got a chance to play a lot of songs and had many requests for songs I had to quickly rehearse in the green room. There were songs not often in our Trio show. The audience was great and into it from the beginning and even allowed a couple of false starts here and there. It was almost like playing at home in the living room except there were a bunch of people in my living room, plus a sound system.  A very fun and intimate evening of music and stories.

On Sunday Michael Hearne and I performed the the Fulshear house concert hosted by Buddy and Belinda Williams and co-hosted with Scott Witt. It was a capacity crowd with Pauline Reese opening the show and later joining us on stage for a few tunes. Even my friend Darby Douglas, you know the traffic guy from channel 11, was there with his wife and laughing at a lot of our jokes! It’s always good to see him in the audience.

Just last Saturday night we were back In Tomball,TX. at MAINSTREET CROSSING for another sold out night with everyone giving us lots and lots of love. We are truly blessed to have so many of you who still enjoy the music and continually showing your support.

We made our way back home on Sunday and and have had a few days to rest and regroup for our journey to RED RIVER, NM.  We will appear at MICHAEL MURPHEY’S AMERICAN WEST FEST. It’s held at Bradenburg Park smack dab in the center of town. Michael Hearne and Mike Roberts and I play on Saturday @1:45pm.  In the evenings on Friday and Saturday we will be playing at the legendary MOTHERLODE SALOON. Come on out and bring your dancing shoes...there will be plenty of boot scooting going on!

I hope everyone has a great and safe Forth of July.

After the Red River jaunt I’m thinking I'm taking the rest of July off. Gone fishin’!!!! or something like that.  See you back in Texas in August and September for a series of solo shows! More on that later.
 Thanks you all.

Shake

With a few great shows under my belt and Gypsy Silver being loaded and readied for the road, I am
off to northern New Mexico for a few days out of the Texas heat. Last week we began in Friday night in Dallas at UNCLE CALVIN’S COFFEEHOUSE for a sold out show and a tremendous music loving audience.

Saturday night I ventured down to Houston for a solo show at ANDERSON FAIR the, prestigious folk club and listening room. I got a chance to play a lot of songs and had many requests for songs I had to quickly rehearse in the green room. There were songs not often in our Trio show. The audience was great and into it from the beginning and even allowed a couple of false starts here and there. It was almost like playing at home in the living room except there were a bunch of people in my living room, plus a sound system.  A very fun and intimate evening of music and stories.

On Sunday Michael Hearne and I performed the the Fulshear house concert hosted by Buddy and Belinda Williams and co-hosted with Scott Witt. It was a capacity crowd with Pauline Reese opening the show and later joining us on stage for a few tunes. Even my friend Darby Douglas, you know the traffic guy from channel 11, was there with his wife and laughing at a lot of our jokes! It’s always good to see him in the audience.

Just last Saturday night we were back In Tomball,TX. at MAINSTREET CROSSING for another sold out night with everyone giving us lots and lots of love. We are truly blessed to have so many of you who still enjoy the music and continually showing your support.

We made our way back home on Sunday and and have had a few days to rest and regroup for our journey to RED RIVER, NM.  We will appear at MICHAEL MURPHEY’S AMERICAN WEST FEST. It’s held at Bradenburg Park smack dab in the center of town. Michael Hearne and Mike Roberts and I play on Saturday @1:45pm.  In the evenings on Friday and Saturday we will be playing at the legendary MOTHERLODE SALOON. Come on out and bring your dancing shoes...there will be plenty of boot scooting going on!

I hope everyone has a great and safe Forth of July.

After the Red River jaunt I’m thinking I'm taking the rest of July off. Gone fishin’!!!! or something like that.  See you back in Texas in August and September for a series of solo shows! More on that later.

Thanks you all.

Shake

Thursday, June 14, 2018

Still Chasing The Song 

Great news!
My new CD Album “CHASING THE SONG” on Howlin’n Dog Records has been
nominated for ‘album of the year’ in the Folk/American category by “The Josie Awards.
This is an independent music awards out of Nashville.I have also been nominated as ‘male
artist of the year’ in the Folk/Americana category.Pretty cool! You never know!!

Also....
The new CD is getting a lot of spins and downloads on CD TEX
and airplay on Airplay Direct. I want also to thank Bruno Michels @ TEXAS MUSIC TIME
(produced here in central Texas)for adding “Grand Daddy’s Silver Dollar “ on this weeks
June 12 playlist at number 16.Check it out!

Upcoming Shows:
June 22 Michael Hearne and I w/Mike Roberts will be at “Uncle Calvin’s Coffeehouse” in Dallas,TX.
June 23 I will be playing a rare solo show at Anderson Fair in Houston,TX.
June 24. A return visit to an up close and personal house concert in Fullshear,TX.
and on June 30 @ Main street Crossing in Tomball, TX.

Then we head up north to Red River, N.M. July 6 and 7 for Michael Murphy’s ‘West
Fest’ up at Bitter Creek, N.M. then back down to Red River for evening shows at
The Motherlode on the 6th and 7th for a couple of double headers. So why not get
out of the Texas summer heat and come on up to Northern New Mexico for a few days.
You know some call it “the Texas Alps”.

We hope to see you out at one of these shows.and hope you all have a great and safe
4th of July!
See you soon.
Thanks
Shake

Friday, June 1, 2018

BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN
After the longest hiatus from playing music I have had in decades, and after the month of May in the hospital and outpatient care, which still continues, my doctor Matthew Robinson has given me the green light to get back to work. I've had to miss several shows in the past couple of weeks because I still wasn’t feeling well enough and didn’t feel like I had sufficient energy to play a show. Well today they took the IV picc out of my arm and lung, and I’ve traded in my electric pump and man-purse which I had to wear and carry everywhere for a dose of oral antibiotics twice a day, to get my old black ovation guitar back.  Today I am a very happy guy!

My first show back will be in Llano tomorrow night. My old friend and entrepreneur Kevin Harney (who use to manage IQUANA GRILL on Lake Travis) is now a Partner at the historic BADU1891 Restaurant and Bar in Llano,TX.  It has been closed for awhile for renovations and will have their long awaited grand opening.  For all the folks who have missed Iquana Grill Venue now have a grand 4-star hotel restaurant and bar with great food in a historic building in Llano, TX.  Michael Hearne, Mike Roberts and I play from 7 to 10pm.  So all of you in the area come on out and come hungry.  I look forward to seeing you all and playing some songs for you.

Next Thursday, June 7th we will be performing at McGonigel's Mucky Duck. We will be playing the early show, which is good for a Thursday night. The music starts at 7pm and we will be performing a ninety minute set finishing at 8:30. The Duck is my home away from home.  I love playing there.  So come out early, have some supper, hear some music, see I am still alive and well, and still get back home early.  P.S. My Doctor had one stipulation on my returning to the stage.  He said, “Shake you can play guitar
and sing, but no rapping for a couple of more weeks".  Darn it!

And finally to continue my come back and recovery, we will be at The Kerrville Folk Festival June 9. We are honored to be part of an evening paying tribute and remembering the late Ms. Bonnie Hearne. Put this on your calendar and come hear Tish Hinojosa, Michael, Mike Roberts and Me, The Bill Hearne Trio from Santa Fe, NM, Christine  Albert and Chris Gage and more surprise guests.   We will be sharing songs and stories of remembrance. We love you Bonnie and we miss your sweet presence and your sweet voice.

We hope to see you at one of these shows coming up.
Thanks,
Shake
Well here I am, it’s been a little over a week since I was released from the hospital, and I’ve been doing my outpatient treatments, going to the infusion center three times a week
for my antibiotics that are injected through an IV picc placed in my right arm into my right lung. I carry the battery operated pump and the medicine In a “fanny pack” 24/7. It’s like a man purse, very European.
One of the side effects of the meds is fatigue and still shortness of of breath, so I am not quite up to snuff and back enough to strap on my guitar and climb back on stage.Because of this I‘ve had to miss several shows here lately. Michael Hearne and Mike Roberts have been wonderful carrying on and doing great shows. We had to cancel our show at Bernhardt Winery yesterday because of the
extreme heat and being advised from my doctor and nurse not to risk the outdoor show. They said even with fans on stage blowing from all four directions couldn’t prevent the possibility of over heating and dehydration and could bring on renal failure or worse. As much as I loved the Doctors and nurses at St. David’s who took such great care of me, I have no desire to go back and spend another two weeks
with them. So, I listened and took their advice and stayed home.

I apologize to those of you who turned out for the show only to find we wouldn’t be there. We will reschedule up the road. It is just taking a little longer than I had thought it might to get back
on the horse. I am improving everyday but still have a ways to go. I don’t want to bore you,with too much information , but I wanted to somewhat explain where I am with all of this.
Thanks, I really appreciate all your prayers and well wishes. I am looking forward to seeing you all and thanking you face to face. In the meantime I will keep you posted on my progress.
God Bless you all, and thanks so much for your caring and concern. Hope to see you soon.
Shake
P.S. And special Love to my precious nurse Dee,
My Clara Barton.

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

BACK FROM LOUISIANA
Last week we played “The Red Dragon “
in Baton Rouge, Jim Watson’s “The Gathering” of music lovers at The Racket Club
in Lake Charles,and at Big Rich’s Courvilles Club.  It became a supper club for the evening
for our show.  It was a wonderful way to start our trip for a stop in Beaumont and then on to
Louisiana. Thanks Big Rich for the opportunity to play at your legendary club.  Next time I'm
buying a ticket to win a gun like Hayes Carl  did .......All three shows were great listening room venues with good music loving folk running them. We had a good turnout at all three shows.
It was a great way to play in Louisiana. I met a lot of new people and I heard a bunch of stories,
even a joke about Jay’s Lounge and Cockpit. I got a few new ideas, input, and details to work into
our song, “Loser’s Gumbo”. As a result, the introduction to the song will no doubt grow a little longer.

We came back home to Texas on Saturday evening and played a private birthday party in Lago Vista out on Lake Travis on Sunday. We were celebrating Peyton's Sweeney's 70th birthday.  Many people dancing, partying, the sun was setting, the sky slowly changing colors. We were singing “Deep in the West”...together we’re one, divided we’re through.....when I look to my left and see
someone, the club's manager standing next to Michael, looming ominously, I try to wrap up the song and he is saying you have to stop because a neighbor had called and complained and threatened to call the police to shut us down. It was 6:30 pm??? Barely dark??? So, we stopped. Sorry Peyton and Maggie.  They should have told her the sound ordinance was 10:00 PM, not 6:00.  I haven’t had the police called on me since I was a teenager playing too loud in the garage.  It brought back fond memories on the drive home.

This Thursday night March 1st, Michael Hearne, Mike Roberts, and I will
be picking and singing at HILL’S CAFE on South Congress as part of a tribute to
our friend Lane Gosney who is the founder of The Bugle Boy and brings live music to the community of La Grange. We love playing The Bugle Boy. It is like a small church of music. Thanks Lane. We start at Hill’s Cafe at 7:45 pm and end at 9:00.  Come on out, have dinner, sit outside and listen to music! Experience a night of old Austin. It sounds good to me.

Saturday night March 3, I celebrate a New CD Release, ”Chasing The Song”@POOR DAVID’S
PUB in Dallas,TX. 9:30 pm
. This is my 30th release in my musical career of 45+ years!  
Special guests: Don Richmond is flying in from Alamosa to add his musical talents to this event .    And, The Bill Hearne Trio is opening at 8:30.  Doors at 7:30.  All the reserved seats in the first three rows are gone but there are plenty of general admission seats available. This will be a very special musical evening I’m looking forward to. If you live in the Dallas area, come on out. You won’t want to miss this. There will be some mighty, mighty picking going on with Michael Hearne and his Uncle Bill as well!

Hope to see you there.  Peace

Shake

Thursday, January 25, 2018

"Chasing the Song"

“CHASING THE SONG”
New CD produced with Don Richmond
On Howlin ‘Dog Records.

The new CD is ready to go.....
The new music has been mixed, mastered by Don Richmond and ready to be turned in to be manufactured.  All the artwork is done for the cover (inside and out) and the lyric booklet and
it is all looking great.  It was a design created by my old Austin friend and Grammy Winning Artist, Dick Reeves, with photography provided by another old Houston friend and award winning photographer, Michael Hart of Michael Hart Photography.  Thank you both for your magic touch. It was a blessing and what a great team.  It seems the stars were aligned for this project and all the pieces fell right into place at the right time.

Besides the presentation, I am also excited about the sound, and production , and the new songs on this CD. This is my 30th release in my long recording career.  I have made a lot of records, and
taking nothing away from previous CDs, this new CD I believe is my best yet.  I can’t wait to hear what you think about it.

We are beginning to take pre orders before our actual CD release in March. You can pre-order @shakerussell.com. Check this link for more information. 

Thanks,
Shake




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