Happy New Year!! I can say without a doubt that 2007 was a fantastic year for Campfire Kev.  I was able to perform in LOTS of new places, I finished a new CD, and directed a play I wrote at the Fringe Festival in Scotland.  Wow!  It's a real life example that hard, hard work is often met with great reward (let that be a lesson to all you kids out there!).   As nice as it is to look back on a great year, though, it's equally exciting to look ahead.  From where I sit, 2008 promises to be another amazing year.  I hope the same is true for you . . .     SUMMER 2008   More and more hard-working public librarians are finding the motivation to get started on summer reading programs earlier and earlier in the year, and Campfire Kev's calendar is already showing signs of another great touring season.  With more states adopting the Collaborative Summer Library Program, librarians are given a great starting place to make their summer plans.  The same is true of Campfire Kev and, for the 4th year in a row, will have a BRAND NEW SHOW for this year's theme: "Catch the Reading Bug".   The new show for this year is called "BUGGIN' with Campfire Kev", and promises to be a blast!  It includes some classic bug-related sing alongs, bug magic, a sprinkling of science, and great stories from Aesop, Native America, and Africa.  And, if I can figure out how to play guitar while wearing the costume, I'm considering doing the whole show dressed as a giant cockroach!!   Of course, there are lots and lots of librarians who do not use the CSLP theme.  I'd like to remind all of you that I still have over 20 different themed shows to choose from, and am willing to write a new one for you if you can't find what you need.   Feel free to drop me an e-mail, or give me a call if you have any questions at all . . .   LET'S NOT GET AHEAD OF OURSELVES   Even though it's easy to get caught up in the frenzy of summer scheduling, it's important to remember there are still several months remaining in the academic year, and plenty of reasons to bring Campfire Kev to your school, park, or library.  Do you need a show about hibernation or Earth Day?  Kev's got them!  And just look at all these awesome opportunities to promote reading:   Read Across America, March 2 National Library Week, April 13-19 National TV Turn-off Week, April 21-27 National Children's Book Week, May 12-18   NEW FOR THIS YEAR   Amongst the many blessings in Campfire Kev's life, I can add a new one to my list this year.  I have been bestowed the honor of being included in the Kentucky Art Council's Performing Arts Directory.  The inclusion came after a legthy application and audition process, and puts me in the company of several of Kentucky's finest musicians, dancers, storytellers, and theatre artists.   One of the cool things about being a part of the PAD, too, is that grant funding is available to supplement the cost of performances by all the artists of the directory's roster.    Visit http://artscouncil.ky.gov/ataglance.htm for more information.     MORE MUSIC, PLEASE!   After the success of my first two CDs (6 national awards since 2005!), the sweet song stylings of Campfire Kev will be available again soon in a new recording with my long-time musical family, The Ballroom Roustabouts.   The Ballroom Roustabouts are a collective of talented musicians and artists formed over a decade ago by my friend and musical director, Kid Kazooey.  I've had the pleasure of performing with the Roustabouts for close to 7 years now, and to have them as the primary backing band on both of my CDs.    Our new CD, Umpteen Moons, is in the manufacturing phase now, and should be available very soon.  A five year labor of love, Umpteen Moons promises to be an amazing album full of fun and musical magic.  Watch for more news about its upcoming release!    You can listen to clips of songs, read reviews, and purchase copies of BOTH of Kev’s first two award-winning CDs by clicking on the links below, or by visiting  CD Baby.   Individual songs or entire CDs are now available for download at iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster, and many more digital distributers, too!    CAMPFIRE KEV: The Campfire Kev Show and Other Radio Favorites This creative throwback to the days of the pure Americana radio show comes complete with folk songs, pop and rock music, fake commercials, variety and science shows, and an elementary school serial drama.   CAMPFIRE KEV AND MARY LAFLEUR: The Pet Project Winner of a Parents' Choice and two Children's Music Web Awards, this album celebrates the prestigious place animals hold in the lives and lore of people all over the world, and includes folk, bluegrass, country, pop and rock songs.                              PERSONAL PRIDE   It is a great gift to live my life as Campfire Kev, and to make my living doing the things I truly love.  When I'm not on the road, I like to give back to the arts in my own community of Bardstown, KY by working with the city school system.  I teach the Gifted and Talented Drama Program in the elementary and middle schools, put on full sized stage shows in the high school, and serve as the assistant Speech Team Coach with my excellent wife, Marta, who also teaches French.    My greatest focus and love, though, is as the coach of the competetive drama team, the Bardstown High School Theatre Guild.  The Guild has had a winning reputation on the state level, literally, for decades.  I'm so proud that I've been able to add to that legacy with a good handful of trophies in the last 3 years, too, including some for last fall's production of Enigma Variations by David Ives.    We really worked hard as a team this year, and it paid off big.  We were nominated "Best Ensemble" at this year's Kentucky Theatre Association annual conference, and earned 1st Place (!) at the Kentucky High School Speech League's State Drama Festival.   In addition to our achievements as a team, many individuals shone in this year's production as well.  My talented students took 4 out of 10 spots on the state's "All Star Cast", including one who tied for "Best Overall Performance."  Pretty incredible for a school with no formal drama department.   Congratulations to the whole team for an amazing year.  Great job!!               As for the rest of you, thanks, as always, for stopping by. Hope to see you soon!!   Home | Shows | About | Photos |