It’s getting close to the end of the year and I’m looking forward to spending the next 6 weeks or so getting “organized” and not living out of a suitcase quite as much during that time. Check my calendar though! I just updated it and I will be adding more shows for December.

I’ve already started the reflection process that happens for me around this time. What was great about the year? What did I accomplish and where did I fall short…why? Some mistakes are glaring and obvious to me. WHAT WAS I THINKING??? I have also found myself in the midst of a situation asking, “how did I get here AGAIN,” and wondering how many times I will go through “this” before I finally get the lesson. There are a few I think I got. I guess I’ll find out…

The ideal outcome is to learn from a mistake AND get inspiration for a great song out of it…

There have been accomplishments made, personally and professionally, that I’m incredibly grateful for too.

It’s all part of the human experience but I want to be conscious of moving forward emotionally, spiritually, intellectually, in my work, etc… and never use my humanity as an excuse to screw up.

I’m so grateful that it’s been a year of making music. I appreciate everyone for coming to my shows and/or making my music a part of your life in any way. You have allowed me to do what I love. I pray the same for all of you!

Hi Everyone ~ I’m so happy you stopped by my web-site. There are really cool things to share.

I’m in Grand Rapids, MI in the midst of the ARTPRIZE Festival. There are visual artists: painters, sculptors, etc., dancers, poets, musicians…showcasing their art all over downtown Grand Rapids. I can’t wait to walk around and check it all out. The weather’s perfect too. I’m staying here at The Mackinaw Harvest Music Studio where I recorded my current project, “Comin’ On Strong” (yes, still in the works) with Michael Crittenden and Doug Frasure. This place is DA BOMB!!! I’m showcasing for the festival at St. Ceclia Music Center Saturday around 5:00, with Michael and performing other shows in the area which are listed on my web-site calendar.

SO…I’ve loved Edwin McCain’s music for years and I am priviledged to be opening for him at The Square Room in Knoxville, TN on September 30th. This is going to be a great show and I couldn’t be more thrilled to be “sharing” the stage with Edwin McCain! Tickets are selling pretty quickly but are available at
http://www.thesquareroom.com/ 

The other cool news is that I will be the “featured artist” on McPherson Guitar’s web-site for the month of October. Please check it out October 1st at www.mcphersonguitars.com ! The entire experience filming the segment and the afternoon I spent with them was amazing.

Thanks for checking in with me…!

This month the documentary BEYOND THE MYTH: A Film About Pit Bulls And Breed Discrimination, is screening in Memphis and Nashville! I’ll be present and performing at both screenings.

The Nashville screening at the Belcourt Theatre will include a concert/fundraiser with other performers including Roxie Randle, The Ryan Michaels Band and Dave Cleveland. I’m really excited for people in my city, people I’ve worked side by side with rescuing, re-homing dogs, and people I’ve admired for years, to get a chance to see this film. I ESPECIALLY hope people will attend who have had reservations about dogs “commonly referred to as pit bulls”…please invite your friends to attend!!!

Both nights will be enlightening, hopefully motivating for some, AND… entertaining. This is a powerful film but each screening seems to affect people in an ultimately positive way.

The high energy music of Ryan Michaels Band (who will debut their new video, “Life is for the Living” at the screening), is definitely heartfelt and motivating; Dave Cleveland’s instrumental guitar compositions are beautiful, uplifting and faith inspired! Roxie Randle and I will be performing a song we wrote, which was inspired by BEYOND THE MYTH called “This Way,” joined by Dave Cleveland and Doug Frasure on djembe.

Please go to www.beyondthemythmovie.com to get all of the details about these screenings and others; links there so you can go ahead and get your tickets on-line!! Also, the song Doug and I wrote and produced with Scott Gerow, STRONG FOR YOU, is available for 99cents and will go toward the high expenses of screening BEYOND THE MYTH: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/strong-for-you-single/id402052106

AND, one more thing!! Check out my good friend, talented artist, Roxie Randle, on the new webisode of  Giggin’ & Grubbin’, hosted by Doug Frasure! www.giggingandgrubbing.com  Roxie and I are doing several shows together this month, including the Beyond the Myth Nashville screening.

Remember that you can purchase my songs here: http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/KimberCleveland1

I hope you have a wonderful June!!

Hope to See You Soon!!

March was an amazing month. I had such a wonderful time playing music and being a part of the Beyond the Myth movie screenings and performing for the Wolf Creek Weimaraner Rescue “Weim and Cheese”. When you’re involved in helping animals, often you see the worst part of human nature and complacency…tragedies and sadness. However…!! (and I know this is not written correctly; don’t care) You also have the priviledge of meeting the most wonderful, loving, giving and sacrificing people.
I have been blown away and humbled by the beautiful souls I have encountereed JUST THIS month!! Libby Sherrill, the producer/director of Beyond the Myth: A Film About Pit Bulls And Breed Discrimination, Amber Keirn of Wolf Creek Weimaraner Rescue and Jodi Preis of Bless The Bullys are just a few of my heroes. I met more new heroes at the Louisville screeening of Beyond the Myth. There are SO MANY unsung heroes out there silently, and sometimes not so silently(!) carrying out their “labors of love” for animals…education, transport, feeding, rescuing, re-homing, spending, spending, spending (money they don’t always have)!! So many lose countless hours of sleep, miss events – and work – because they’re stopping to get a terrified dog off of the highway. Many of their friends and family call them “crazy”. I appreciate you “crazy” people SO MUCH!!! Whether you rescue dogs, teach children to read, stand up for equal rights, feed the homeless…whatever. I admire anyone who looks beyond him or herself to help others. It’s almost NEVER “convenient”, is it? I’m always learning from you!!
On that note…April 16, I’ll be performing for an event called “Rockin’ For Rescue”! Check for details on my calendar.
So…the indie film, BEAUTIFUL NOISE is premiering at the Sarasota Film Festival April 9…this month!! I am a lead character in the film and am performing several of my original songs. Danielle White and Jay White are the other leads and will perform a few of my songs too (as well as other original songs).
There will be SIX screenings during the festival. Wow…there will be a soundtrack available soon too. You can go to www.beautifulnoisethemovie.com Looking forward to it. Many of you have let me know you plan to fly out to see it. Yikes! I’m a little scared…but we’ll have a blast!!
Will keep you posted on other screenings and the soundtrack…
Have a wonderful April!!