Hello Very Beautiful People! Happy Season of Giving Thanks! On Thanksgiving morning, as I do most days, I awoke just before sunrise & headed down to my dock where I sat quietly & played wooden flutes as the sun rose orange & red. I play to ground myself, & also play for the usual crowd... which varies...26 ducks, 8 ibis, 1 white egret, & assorted eagles & osprey which circle & seem to call to me. I think a lot... (sometimes too much) And I give thanks... HUGE thanks. I ask for strength to deal with the things in my life which are painful. I try to understand. I try to make things better. I try to make a difference. I cry. I laugh. I question & I try to think of the full parts of the cup as opposed to the not so full. Then I give thanks again. So, I must Thank All of You for the gift of friendship & support you've given me. Yes, I'm always grateful for my gift of music, but I'm also incredibly grateful that you all are so open to me sharing it with you. So picture me shaking the hand of each & every one of you! In the past months when I found myself questioning everything, dealing with sick family members, stolen credit card, dead-as-a doornail van at 4am on 4th of July & then the theft of my motorcycle while on a charity ride in NY., it was the heartfelt letters & calls from y'all that pulled me thru. I also thought a lot about my friends in Pakistan who after last year's earthquake, gave & gave even when their pockets were empty. Yes. There is good. I have Hope. ON TO THE SCOOP 1~ RECORDINGS 2~ CONCERTS 3~ NEWS 4~ GETTING OFF 5~ OTHER COOL LINKS 6~ MYSPACE.COM/ANNIEWENZ 7~ JOY & BLESSINGS & TATA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1~ RECORDINGS Last year, so many of you gave handfuls of my CD's, particularly my instrumental recording "Winds of the World" as gifts, I've decided to drop the price at CD Baby to make it more do-able. So if you're interested in giving the Gift of Music... you can do just that... (I'm also planning to have my biker song "Ride" available very soon as an individual song for internet download only- so stay tuned) CD's can be purchased... * Via my website : http://www.anniewenz.com/products.html where there are links to CD Baby for purchase of the actual CD *or for Digital Download only via iTunes, go to http://www.anniewenz.com/products.html and follow the simple links (quick/easy/cheap~ $9.99!) I finally tried this yesterday & it took minutes! If you live in SW Florida, you can purchase the CD at any of my performances (schedule below), or: *At WildChild Gallery on Pine Island Road, Matlacha, FL *At Pine Island Variety & Gift Store on Stringfellow Rd, St James City, FL *At Ada's Natural & Organic Foods~ S. Cleveland Ave. Ft Myers, FL A brief info-a-rama about the CD's... "Winds of the World"~ All instrumental w/ Indigenous/Native flutes on each song, 60 min long peaceful journey to nirvana type recording. Folks are saying they love using it for massage, yoga, dinner, romance;) "Poets Dance"~ "A Magical Musical Travelogue" songs about life, love, travel to far off places like Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Bali & Saskatoon Skies". I call this my "Story CD". "Time is Magic" ~ Full on band production, produced by Grammy winning producer Norman Blain. I have only 1 left at CD Baby & will be producing more in the next week. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2~ CONCERTS & A Special Flute Workshop~ Of course I'm always available & delighted to personalize/sign CD's at performances... Just ask me! This Tuesday, NOVEMBER 27th TARPON LODGE http://www.tarponlodge.com/home/ 6- 9:30pm Pineland FL 239 283 3999 I'm so excited about returning for the season at this peaceful & beautiful historical lodge. Reservations recommended if you're having one of their 4 star dinners. *Note they have a luscious new affordable light pub menu available in the music space! ----------------- Sun., DECEMBER 2nd, 2007 WILDCHILD GALLERY http://www.wildchildartgallery.com/ Songwriter Sunday/Chocolate Sunday - 1-4pm Matlacha FL 239 283 6006 Join me if you can as I host nationally touring award winning artists "Jenning & Keller" at this wonderful gathering celebrating original music & art in the heart of Beautiful Matlacha. Cocolate & wine available with proceeds going to The Calusa Land Trust or BYOB, join in the BLISS! Please help SPREAD THE WORD about these gatherings at the gallery on the FIRST Sunday of each month. Also note the gallery has all sorts of great events, workshops & artist demo's every weekend, so check the website for the scoop! ----------------- Fri., DECEMBER 14th WILDCHILD GALLERY http://www.wildchildartgallery.com/ Art Night Matlacha - 2-5pm 4625 Pine Island Road NW Matlacha FL 239 283 6006 Always such a fun fun celebration! I get to twirl about this beautiful gallery playing flutes & dulcimer as the Islands celebrate ART NIGHT! ------------ TUEADAY. DECEMBER 18th TARPON LODGE 6- 9:30pm Pineland FL 239 283 3999 Pre Holiday kick back! Get away...Come on down & watch the sunset with me at this gorgeous historical lodge. Reservations encouraged if you're having a luscious dinner, or try the new pub menu! We always have a blast singing together & talking behind our neighbors backs! ------------------- MONDAY DECEMBER 31st, 2007 BROMELIAS New Years Beatles Tribute Concert Santa Elena/Monteverde Costa Rica WAHOOO! Join Me, Robert Dean (Sinead O'Connor's former guitarist & founder of "Japan") & THE MOST BRILLIANT band in Costa Rica as we join forces again for the 2nd annual New Year's Beatles Tribute Concert at Bromelias Amphetheater! Last year was so amazing, they just had to do it again! (I'm practicing my hands off!) --------------------- FRI. JANUARY 4th, 2008 MOON SHIVA http://www.moonshiva.com/ Santa Elena/Monteverde Costa Rica Price: TBA Annie Wenz & Robert Dean~ Special Holiday Season Concert! Musical Wizard Robert Dean (Sinead's former guitarist & former founder of "Japan") & I return for a special appearance/concert. Double check date & time as it's Costa Rica... they may change, but we're definitely doing a show! -------------------- SUNDAY JANUARY 13th, 2008 WILDCHILD GALLERY http://www.wildchildartgallery.com/ 4625 Pine Island Road NW Matlacha FL 239 283 6006 • Think about this as a SURPRISE GIFT! Native American Flute workshop - 10am- 12pm Price: $65 (Does not include flute, but Ray Wood flutes are available. I use Ray's gorgeous flutes for most of my recordings & performances these days!) I'll be teaching a long awaited Native American flute workshop at this beautiful gallery. I've been teaching these workshops for a few years now, & folks who've struggled with wooden flute playing for years are saying they're FINALLY playing & loving it! It CAN be done! Please call the gallery or email me if you'd like more information! annie@anniewenz.com ----------------- SAT. JANUARY 19th & 20th, 2008 MARKHAM PARK, Ft Lauderdale FL http://www.southfloridafolkfest.com/ 16th Annual South Florida Folk Festival YAAAAY! Great Lineup. Huge FUN is always had. Music, Partying, Florida Friends! Don't Miss it! My "Official Performance" is on Sunday Afternoon. Hope you can join me! ---------------------- THURS. JANUARY 24th, 2008 TARPON LODGE Sunset at the Tarpon - 6- 9:30pm Pineland FL Back Again! I Love playing at this very special historical lodge overlooking Pine Island Sound as the sun goes down. Best to call in advance for dinner reservations... or just come on down for dessert & a glass-o. ------------------- SUN. FEBRUARY 3rd, 2008 WILDCHILD GALLERY Songwriter Sunday/Chocolate Sunday - 1-4pm 4625 Pine Island Road NW Matlacha FL 239 283 6006 I'm joined by the incredibly talented Wendy Webb! We'll grace the stage & share original songs at this "Do Not Miss" special event. ------------------ FRI. FEBRUARY 8th, 2008 WILDCHILD GALLERY Art Night Matlacha - 2-5pm 4625 Pine Island Road NW Matlacha FL 239 283 6006 I twirl about this beautiful gallery playing flutes & dulcimer as the Islands celebrate ART NIGHT! ---------------- 3~ NEWS I FINALLY recorded my biker tune "Ride"! Yaaay & YaaaaY. It was such an amazing experience! It was produced by Ben Wisch, most known for winning a grammy for producing Mark Cohn's brilliant song "Walking in Memphis". I was accompanied by buddy the amazingly talented Walter Parks, who's Richie Havens full time guitarist. When Walter's not playing with Richie, he plays with the rockin/bluesy/swampy trio "Swamp Cabbage" (do check them out!) http://www.swampcabbage.com/HONK.html I'll be pitching the song to Harley for compilation consideration as well as pitching myself with Swamp Cabbage to Harley for performance at events! (wish us luck!) That much fun just should be illegal! Stay Tuned! ----------- As a result of 3 motorcycles being stolen, 3 children were adopted due to all of the press we received. Yaaaay! At that "price", I'd do it again in a heartbeat! I also just found & finally replaced My Sweet Ride with a Purple & Red 06 Heritage Softail Classic! It sure is a "Throbbin Hunk o Love & Chrome" (yes- that's a line from my new song "no Ride") with 12,000 fewer miles & Reinhart pipes. (after all, it's all about percussion;) ---------- While in the studio, I also recorded guitar/vocal versions of my songs "Life in Harlan" & "Promised Land" to pitch to other recording artists, so wish me luck. Special thanks to songwriter extraordinaire Darrel Scott for his wonderfully kind words, input & hand in "Harlan"! ---------- Super Extra Special THANKS to WMNF Tampa Radio Pubah Randy Wynne; Women's show hosts Mary Glenney & Arlene Engelhardt & the whole WMNF & Skippers community for such a warm & wonderful welcome & reception at my 1st performance at Skippers. (as well as y'all who came out in kind droves to be supportive) I had an absolute BLAST! You're all THE BEST! ---------- 4~ GETTING OFF There's a link at the bottom of this note if you'd like to be removed. If it doesn't work, email me & I'll see to it! ------------- 5~ OTHER COOL LINKS Author Robert Macomber http://www.robertmacomber.com/ Author Randy Wayne White (I'm LOVING his new book "Hunters Moon) http://rwwhite.com/ Songwriter Performer & Good Buddy Sam Lardner http://www.samlardner.com/ ~~~~ And don't please don't forget my 3 amazing sponsors (whom I TOTALLY ADORE!): Rocky Mountain Slides http://www.rockymountainslides.com/ Elixir Guitar Strings http://locator.elixirstrings.com/locator/elixir/StartLoc.jsp Island Flutes http://www.islandflutes.com/ And for those of you who love to travel... I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this lovely family farm/cabinas just a wee walk outside the cloud forest of Monteverde/Santa Elena Costa Rica. (write & tell Raina & Leo I sent you!) Cabinas Valle Campanas http://www.vallecampanas.com/ ------------ 6~ MYSPACE.COM/ANNIEWENZ Yes... I have a "MY Space" page... I don't "live there", but I visit... so feel free to do the same. Note- I post my schedule only at my website. It's easier. My goal is still to have a gazillion friends by the time I die, so there are enough people to pick me up & dip me in chocolate... ---------------- 7~ JOY & BLESSINGS & TATA Well... That's all I can think of now, so I won't bore you with any other news... I wish you all a healthy & peaceful & happy Holiday Season...wherever you are in the world. Special thoughts & blessings to my friends working so hard towards peace in Pakistan & India. May we all continue to move closer together to each other in celebrating the many things we have in common. Peace, Pura Vida, Oneh, Namaste, Nasdorovia, Assalam-O- Alaikum Annie http://www.anniewenz.com http://www.musicforyoga.org http://www.musicformassage.org http://www.myspace.com/anniewenz Performing Artist/ Songpoet/ RN/ Educator Player of Indigenous Flutes & Percussion Guitar, Piano... Harleys... & LIFE!