I want to start this newsletter off with a big THANK YOU to all my long-standing clients, all the folks who ask me to play private events, and the many new spots that have added me to their lineup of musicians.  I am so very grateful for the employment and opportunity.  I feel very lucky.  The year began pretty slowly, but right now I’m very busy with gigs.  Not sure I can do them all…hehe. 

The new expansions at On the Half Shell and Beausoleil are amazing and will make things even better for my friends there.  I’ll be continuing my Sunday brunch show at Beausoleil, including Father’s Day, June 15 – make your reservations for Dad!  The new Wednesday gig at Bin 77 will continue; though in May, rain cancelled two of those.  Not sure what hot weather will do to that patio gig, but I think we’ll continue it in some form, no matter what.  Satterfield’s Landing summer dates are here, and I’ll be on the dock two times: once with Damon King on June 7 and once with Charles Pierce on June 21 (3 – 7pm).  See the Dates page on www.kirkholder.com for all appearances, and I post ever-changing news on Facebook, daily. 

I’ll play one special event this month:  Small Town Chefs Awards presented by Country Roads Magazine to benefit Triumph Kitchen in Baton Rouge, Thursday June 26 at Louisiana Culinary Institute, 6 – 9pm.  A tasting style menu showcasing signature dishes by 2014 award-winning chefs will be presented, plus passed hors d’oeuvres by Triumph Kitchen and LCI chefs, and wine pairings!  Tickets available at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/small-town-chefs-award-dinner-tickets-11481193559

Happy Birthdays to Gerard Langlois, Mike Gremillion, and my big sis Kim Ricks. 

The official announcement will come very soon, but we have lined up this year’s Elvis and Jesse Show!  The date is August 23 and the venue will be The Pelican House in CitiPlace, Baton Rouge.  This should be a fantastic showcase for our annual fundraiser, this year dedicated to our friend Connie Mack Boykin, who passed last fall.  The charity will be www.onemanshoot.com, which was begun by the family and friends of Connie a few years back.  I have done many charity events for this group, and I’m honored to dedicate this year’s show to that fund and the memory of a dear man.  Well, I guess that was official, but I’ll make more of a hullabaloo soon…. mark that date down NOW!!!

Thank you all so much.  I hope you are having a great summer, so far….

K