How Huntsville’s popular Concerts on the Dock at Lowe Mill is changing - Matt Wake covers Lowe Mill's Fall 2022 Concerts on the Dock series featuring Startlingly Fresh artists.


He knew he was dying. This Alabama musician still finished his debut album and it’s a good one - Matt Wake covers the vinyl release of Bobby's album, Just Before I Fall


The Soldier and the Songwriter: How Music Helped a War Veteran Overcome PTSD - American Songwriter shines a light on our own Alan Little and his songwriting partner John Schmitt. Wow!


"Did This Alabama Woman Write The Song Of Our Age?" - Pulitzer Prize winner John Archibald interviews Aunt Sofonda about her social distancing song. While you're there, check out the cool video of the song.


Things to do in Huntsville, Aug. 2-8 - Matt Wake weighs in on Hunter Copeland's latest release The Boom Boom Room


30 things to know about Huntsville music, right now - Matt Wake paints the big picture of the Huntsville music scene within the context of the Sound Diplomacy music audit. SF is excited to be mentioned alongside such great acts as The Quantaphonics, Jackie Chain, G-Side, Sex Clark Five, Daikaiju and Take 6; cool clubs like Voodoo Lounge, Lone Goose Saloon, SideTracks, Straight to Ale, A.M Booth's Lumberyard, Sports Page and Copper Top; the fantastic Vertical House Records; fun radio deejays Brad Posey, Microwave Dave, Tom Patterson and Joe Orozco; concert venues Tangled String Studios, Flying Monkey Arts and Lowe Mill; instrument builders Danny Davis, Tommy Shepard and John Nickel; plus a host of other cutting edge musicians, industry pros and recording studios! Thank you, Matt Wake, for including us in such a beautiful word picture of Huntsville's sounds.


All States of the Blues spins Brandon Worthey's "Hope You'll Think Of Me" and "Oiled And Greased" on Polish Radio LUZ, 96.1 FM. Host Rafal Marczak says "Brandon's tunes are really to my liking!"


Space Cruises and Planet Tours LLC, an original radio comedy airing on WLRH 89.3 FM, features theme music and background score by Jim Cavender, Ken Sullivan and Terri Cavender of Startlingly Fresh Records.


Taran's Free Jazz Hour, plays three tracks from Duke Way's new album, Just Sayin', and calls Duke a "fantastic jazz poet!" Did we mention this show is created and broadcast in France? Way to go, Duke! Oh, and while you're listening, check out the whole show. Taran always plays cool stuff. Case in point, the Matt Wilson track starting at around 1:32:45 is similar to Duke's poetry/jazz hybrid. Duke's tunes start at 0:14:35 and 1:55:31.


Bass Musician Magazine, a free online bass magazine and social media outreach speaking directly to tech-savvy bass players, gear enthusiasts and industry professionals around the world, posted a story about John Onder's debut album, Faith, Hope, Love, Passion, & Pain. We thank you kindly, Bass Musician Magazine!


Matt Wake at al.com picks RatoBaby one of "20 up-and-coming Alabama bands and solo acts to know in 2017". Let's all follow Mr. Wake's advice and watch them this year!


Idiot Savant by RatoBaby gets a cool pick by Matt Wake at al.com. We agree. This album is cool!


"Alabama indie label releasing 3 albums, festival, customizable compilation on same day" - Thanks to Matt Wake for covering StartleFest II, and thanks to all the supporters and musicians who came to the show.


"On Huntsville singer Kat Elizabeth's creative LP, even a couch can be a musical instrument" - Matt Wake covers SF's newest recording sensation, Kat Elizabeth. Thanks, Matt!


Taran's Free Jazz Hour: "08/2015" - Taran spins rjr on his cool show in France! While you're there, check out the great artwork on the CDs he picks.


Taran's Free Jazz Hour: "04/2015" - Keith Taylor Trio makes it to Mr. Singh's show! Thanks, Taran!


Taran's Free Jazz Hour: "01/2015" - Taran plays Duke Way again, along with some other great jazz.


Taran's Free Jazz Hour: "31/2014" - Taran Singh plays two Duke Way tunes on his free jazz show in Angers, France, and says, "Duke Way is the way to go!"


Improvijazzation Nation: "Issue #148, Interview with Duke Way" - Dick Metcalf raps with Duke Way and finds out the similarities between poetry and engineering.


KAOS Free Jazz With Fred: "OCT 27TH 2014" - Fred plays "Yet Another Public Service Message" by Duke Way on his Halloween show. Be afraid!


Soundtrust: 5 things to know about Madison rock band, including their least favorite type of Facebook post - Matt Wake of al.com profiles Gabe Larose's working band


al.com: "For former NASA rocket scientist Duke Way, age 76 is the perfect time to release a debut album" - Matt Wake steps outside his comfort zone and investigates a spoken word album. He finds this one to his liking!


Valley Planet, Issue 199 "Alligator Wings - Local Musician/Poet Duke Way" - Doug Bennett says the album is "completely unlike anything you've heard recently." The Valley Planet no longer runs. Many thanks to the late Jill Wood for her support of local music over the years.


Improvijazzation Nation "Issue 141 Reviews" - Dick Metcalf reviews Duke Way's Alligator Wings and gives it the "PICK" of the issue for "best spoken-word jazz!"


Valley Planet, Issue 188 "Newt Johnson and Jim Cavender of Rolling Jazz Revue" - Jim discusses cattle prods in VP's interview with Newt Johnson and Jim Cavender. The Valley Planet no longer runs. Many thanks to the late Jill Wood for her support of local music over the years.


Improvijazzation Nation "Issue 141 Reviews" - Scroll way down to see Dick Metcalf's review of Keith Taylor Trio's latest CD. He says it's "a sure winner for jazz lovers of all stripes & persuasions." SF is full of both stripes and persuasions.


Talkin' The Blues "Ivy Joe Milan" Nov. 9, 2013 on WLRH - Microwave Dave Gallaher calls Ivy's album "modern soul music that harkens back to the 60's and 70's for most of its inspiration and yet is, as the label says, startlingly fresh."


Improvijazzation Nation "Issue 143 Interview with the Keith Taylor Trio" - Dick Metcalf interviews the Keith Taylor Trio.


Improvijazzation Nation "Issue 141 Interview with Ivy Joe Milan" - Dick Metcalf raps with Ivy Joe about music, life in Huntsville, Alabama, songwriting and following your dreams.


Background bar music no more: 'Home Brewed' show spotlighting Huntsville songwriters and their music - Matt Wake of al.com delves into the songwriting process with four Huntsville musicians, Alan Little, Dave Gallaher, and two Startlingly Fresh artists, Charlie Howell and Jim Cavender. SF would love to work with Alan and Dave in the future, if they ever find themselves between record deals!


17 Huntsville-area entertainment headlines I'd like to write in 2014 - Matt Wake of al.com is hoping for a vinyl companion album to Jane DeNeefe's book, "Rocket City Rock and Soul". Okay, Matt, we're thinking about it! Vinyl would definitely be the appropriate format for such a release!


Improvijazzation Nation "Issue 139 Reviews" - Dick Metcalf has some nice words to say about Ivy Joe Milan's latest album! He reminisces a bit about his former Huntsville life, too.


14 up-and-coming North Alabama bands, solo acts poised to make noise in 2014 - Congratulations to all 14 acts picked by Matt Wake of al.com! We're especially proud of Startlingly Fresh's own Ivy Joe Milan for making the list. Much love!


Ivy Joe Milan: Key '60s Huntsville music scene figure celebrating new LP with upcoming show - Matt Wake of al.com has outdone himself on this story - read it!


9 Huntsville-area musicians reveal 'secret weapons' behind their signature sounds - Matt Wake of al.com interviewed Startlingly Fresh's Hugh Messenger about his big red Hammond organ and Jim Cavender about his Fostex digital recorder. This may sound like gear talk, but it really is interesting!


Improvijazzation Nation "Issue 135 Reviews" - Dick Metcalf reviews (and likes!) Rolling Jazz Revue's rjr album. The rjr review is almost at the bottom of the page. Should we take this time to study the differences between "review" and "revue"?


"Alabama Shakes, Civil Wars, more: Top 10 songs of 2013 (so far) from North Alabama artists" - Matt Wake of al.com includes a song by our very own Dawn Osborne Band. Congratulations to Dawn, Newt, Andrew and Aaron!


Improvijazzation Nation "Issue 133 Reviews" - Dick Metcalf reviews Trio El Camino debut album - and he likes it! We know that shouldn't surprise us, but we're delighted!


"Startlingly Fresh Records label releasing multiple albums from Huntsville acts at StartleFest concert" - Thanks to Matt Wake of al.com for covering this event in such wonderful detail! The Startlingly Fresh staff had a blast talking to him at Olde Towne Coffee Shoppe.


"The Dawn Osborne Band, a Huntsville live music favorite for years, finally releasing debut studio album" - Startlingly Fresh Records couldn't be prouder of this release. Matt Wake of al.com sits down and talks with Dawn and the boys. You'll want to read the article for the details. And they look good in the pictures, too!


"StartleFest" - Thanks to Jane DeNeefe for covering StartleFest in Valley Planet! The Valley Planet no longer runs. Many thanks to the late Jill Wood for her support of local music over the years.


"Startlingly Fresh Records producer Jim Cavender breaks down Huntsville label's six upcoming releases" - Matt Wake of al.com gets Jim to provide an overview of the mid-2013 SF output.


"True Stories About Alabama: Ivy Joe and the Snowballs Integrate Huntsville" - Jane DeNeefe delves into the intersection of soul music and the Civil Rights Movement in Huntsville, through the history of SF's own Ivy Joe Milan. Tommy Graham, who recorded organ on Ivy Joe's Been Down Low album, is mentioned as well as Chris Couchois and Billy Brown, who (along with Tommy) back up Ivy Joe on the Bookaroo CD. Nice article, Janie!

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