One of the great things about this “job” I have had for the past 14 years (yikes!) is that it is not a job at all but actually fun.  I get to arrange music for a real, live venue where performers can show their stuff in an intimate environment.  I think that you will agree that our January line-up is a fine example of this

JANUARY 9  - PHIL & GAYE JOHNSON. Long time fan favorites from Green Creek.www.radioyur.com/philngaye

JANUARY 14 – AARON BURDETT. Saluda’s homegrown singer/songwriter. www.aaronburdett.com

JANUARY 15 – UPTOWN JAZZ QUARTET. Rescheduled from a snow cancellation. www.uptownjazzquartet.com

JANUARY 16 – DEEP RIVER. Country music from Asheville. www.myspace.com/deepriver

JANUARY 21 - SHANE PRUITT BAND.  As usual, the café will be rocking as this fan favorite returns. www.theshanepruittband.com     

JANUARY 22 – TRENT WAGLER & THE STEEL WHEELS. This is the soonest that we could get them back. www.trentwagler.com

JANUARY 23 – ACME LIVING ROOM ORCHESTRA.  More jazz to warm our souls.www.NPOjazz.com

JANUARY 28 – VALORIE MILLER. “Pure Carolina, from whisper to wail”. www.valoriemiller.com 

JANUARY 30 – THE SMOKEY JOE SHOW.  Country and blues combined in a special performance.www.smokeyjoeshow.com

MOST EVERY FRIDAY – FRED WHISKIN at the piano.

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“I can’t say I was ever lost, but I was once bewildered for three days.”

                                     Daniel Boone

Now that we have survived another year of economic instability, wars, swine flu, the self-serving attitudes of some of our politicians, etc, I feel a bit like Daniel Boone.  I think that I have made it more or less successfully through 2009 (at least well enough to be able to write this newsletter) but I can’t help asking myself if I am better or worse off for the experience.  Maybe you share my sense of gratitude and wonder at still being here and happy about it.

John McCutcheon, a fabulous singer/songwriter, wrote about this ambivalence in his recent newsletter which I would like to share:

“As we turn loose of this past year and contemplate a future populated by our children and their children’s children, let us resolve to love without pretense or condition, forgive unexpectedly, be generous with our time and resources and strive to become the kind of people our grandchildren think we are.”

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It has been a fine year in many ways for the Purple Onion Café for it heralded the return of two of our favorites, Shand Howie and Jeremy Edwards.  Shand’s ready smile and Jeremy’s sublimely delicious food help Susan continue our tradition of providing healthy fine food and live music to our many wonderful friends and customers. 

I cannot end the newsletter without adding how wonderful all of the café’s staff has been.  It doesn’t matter whether they are out front dealing directly with our customers or back in the kitchen helping get the food ready, they remain focused on the satisfaction of each of you.  They are also always willing to step in and help each other as such assistance may be needed.  I applaud all of them.

Remember for 2010, “attitude is the crayon we color life with”.

Robert Seiler

Purple Onion Café

www.purpleonionsaluda.com