Heather Haze will be appearing with NRBK for a special "Rock Out the Vote" event in Ashburn, VA on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011 at 1:00 PM. This family-friendly, outdoor event will feature great music all day long, plus food, games and lots of fun. Organized by supporters of Valdis Ronis, local candidate for Ashburn District supervisor, its purpose is to increase voter turnout and raise awareness of the importance of local elections.
Ashburn Farm Pavilion 21400 Windmill Drive Ashburn, VA 20147
Heather Haze has teamed up with NYX Entertainment, bringing a truly state-of-the-art "New York Experience" to quality events throughout the greater D.C. area. The group showcases cutting-edge music, spun by the best DJs in the area, combined with live, world-class musicians. From weddings to mitzvahs to corporate events and beyond, NYX provides the perfect atmosphere and ambiance, whether they're playing low-key background music, or rocking the party into a frenzy all night long. The seasoned event professionals at NYX know exactly what it takes to make your event a memorable success.
Heather is delighted to work with NYX, bringing her dynamic, passionate flair to NYX events across D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Of course, she'll still be rocking stages with her own band, as well, and you never know where she might pop up next. Please visit http://HeatherHaze.com for full schedule, news, multimedia and more.
Heather's floating, Gilmour-esque ballad, Dear Al (Rise) recently received a prestigious Honorable Mention from Mike Pinder's 2010 Songwars international songwriting competition. The judges included a panel of top music industry names, including Mike Pinder, himself (formerly of the Moody Blues). The honor means the judges deemed the song "notable and deserving of praise."
Heather will be performing with the NRBK Band at the annual charity event, "Journopalooza," held at the National Press Club ballroom in Washington, D.C. on Friday, January 21, 2011. Seven bands will take the stage to compete for the title of "DC's Best Media Band". All proceeds to benefit Reporters Without Borders, CPJ Journalist Assistance Program, and The Eric Friedheim National Journalism Library. For tickets and details, please visit: http://www.journopalooza.com/
We just hit #10 on the ReverbNation Rock charts for Washington, D.C. Thank you so much for all your wonderful support! If you haven't already, please join my fans at ReverbNation, Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter, and let's see how far we can go. Thanks!
Richie Hayward, world renowned drummer for Little Feat, passed away yesterday after a year-long battle with liver cancer. A founding member of the legendary band, he was widely regarded as one of the greatest rock and roll drummers in history. Besides Little Feat, he also performed and recorded with some of the biggest names in the biz, including Eric Clapton, Warren Zevon, Travis Tritt, Robert Palmer, Tom Waits, Taj Mahal, Barbra Streisand, John Cale, Buddy Guy, Arlo Guthrie, Carly Simon, Bob Seger and others. Richie had mad creative talent behind a drum kit, and in other areas of life as well.
I first met Richie in 1999 in Gaithersburg, Maryland, when I performed with Little Feat for the first time. It was New Year's Eve, and what a night. The band was just terrific, both personally and professionally. Richie seemed warm and down-to-earth, and made me feel like a member of the band. We did two sets that night, and the band invited me to solo several times. Each time, the audience went crazy. After the show, we had plenty of time to countdown to midnight and catch the impressive fireworks. Finally, I was invited to an after-party in the band's hotel suite, where I chatted with Richie and the rest of the gang in a more casual setting. It was a truly memorable night all the way around.
I met Richie and the band again at a blues fest in St. Petersburg, Florida, some years later. Denny Jones, the band's tour manager, invited me out to the fairgrounds where I met the band before the show. Although I didn't perform with them that time, I was surprised to run into Richie at a local jam session after the show. It was really nice getting to know him outside the Little Feat circle, and he got a chance to hear me perform once again. He left a lasting impression on me as a sincerely warm and genuinely human being.
I regret not staying in better touch with the band. I occasionally corresponded with Bill Payne, but I never met Richie again. I can't say I knew him well, but from the time I spent with him I sincerely liked and respected him. He was a fantastic musician, and a wonderful man. He will certainly be missed.
Below is a video collage of one of my performances with Little Feat. In this clip, Bill Payne and I trade licks over their classic tune, Dixie Chicken. Enjoy.
Multi-instrumentalist Heather Haze blends her diverse experiences and musical talent into a habit-forming mixture of rock, funk, jazz and blues. Her energy, creativity and passion have won fans from coast to coast, and her latest album, Groovit Yourself, highlights her remarkable versatility.
