Mark Croft: News

Thanks to your votes and support I was fortunate enough to bring home two MAMA's at Saturday's Madison Area Music Awards Show for "Pop Album of the Year" (Permanent Ink) and "Pop Artist of the Year"!
I need to make sure that I take this time to thank those I missed on Saturday...

A big thanks to all the musicians that played on the record; Julia McConahay, Matt Rodgers, Bob Boyd, Kieth Pulvermacher, Tim Walen, Al Falaschi, Jon Schipper, and Courtney Larson. I also need to thank Eric Hester, Mike Zirkel, and Brandon Mason for helping me put everything together in the studio! Also a big thank you to my band including Jaye Barbeau, Dan Kennedy, and Ken Keeley. And thank you to all of you who voted and supported me this past year! I see some exciting things on the horizon and I greatly appreciate all you've done for me.

Sincerely,

Mark

There's only one week left to vote for this year's MAMA's awards as the final round of voting ends April 30th at midnight. If you haven't done so already, please go to www.themamas.org and follow the prompts to vote. More information and a list of categories I'm nominated for is located in the preceding news blog on this page. Thank you!!!!

Big thanks to all of you who voted for me in Round 1 of the Madison Area Music Awards. You're time and votes helped me get 6 nominations! Gracias! If you could please help me once again by voting in Round 2, you will find that voting is much faster and easier. Once you get in the voting system, simply click the category you want to vote in and click on your selection. I was nominated in the following categories...

1. Pop Album of the Year - Permanent Ink
2. Pop Song of the Year - "Is It Gonna Be Funky?"
3. Male Vocalist of the Year - "Permanent Ink"
4. Folk/Americana Song of the Year - "Drink It Dry"
5. Pop Artist of the Year
6. Entertainer of the Year

You can visit www.themamas.org to vote in Round 2. If you voted in Round 1, voting is free. For those of who are not yet MAMA's members, you can still join and vote in Round 2. It's only $5 and all proceeds the MAMA's foundation. Remember, you don't have to live in the Madison area to participate and vote. Round 2 voting ends April 30th and the awards show will be held Sat. May 10th, 2008. More information on the MAMA's including mission statement and history, visit www.themamas.org.

Thanks again for your time and support!

Over the past few months, we've been in talks with some big record
labels and there is definite interest being shown. So, we're looking
to make some big things happen over the coming months to help "push
things over the edge" so to speak. And winning a MAMA or two this
year would go a long ways!

Voting has started for Round 1 (nominations) for the 2007 MAMA's and
once again I am in the running for some awards. I have submitted in
a number of categories and could again use your help and your votes
this year. Round 1, the nomination round, end March 27th so you've
still got some time to vote.

Please help me out by visiting www.themamas.org and taking a few
minutes to vote in the following categories....

Album of the Year - POP category for Permanent Ink EP

Song Categories:
POP - "Is It Gonna Be Funky?"
FOLK/AMERICANA - "Drink It Dry"
MALE VOCALIST - "Permanent Ink"

Write in Votes for:
POP Artist of the Year &
"People's Choice"

Hey Folks,

I just wanted to thank you all for your support over the last year. Thanks for coming out to shows, buying CD's and supporting me in doing what I love to do. A special thanks to my friends and family, and to the fantastic musicians I've had the pleasure of sharing the stage with this year. I couldn't do it without you. 2008 is shaping up to be an even better year and I hope to continue playing and creating music for many years to come. I wish you all the best over the holidays and in 2008.

Sincerely,

Mark

Madison Musical Holiday's Vol. 1 featuring my new song "Merry Chistmas To Me" now on sale at several Madison area businesses on online. You can also preview the track right now buy visiting my
'Media' page (http://www.markcroftmusic.com/music.html).
For more information and to order online, please visit www.paradymeproductions.com.
You can also buy the disc at these Madison area locations:

Exclusive Company - State St.
B-Side Records - State St.
Paradyme Productions - West Wash
Indocara - West Wash
Capitol Kids - on the square
Mallatt's - Monroe St.
Neuhauser Pharmacy - Monroe St.
Strictly Discs - Monroe St.
Orange Tree Imports - Monroe St.
Monroe St. Bookstore - Monroe St.
MaCha - Monroe St.
Cargo Coffee - Park St.
Ground Zero - Willy St.
Mother Fool's - Willy St.
Bellini's Lounge - E. Wash
Indie Coffee - Regent St.
Greenbush Bakery - Regent St.
Ancora Coffee Fitchburg - Research Park Way

All sales go to benefit Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Dane County!

This could be considered the "Autumn of Compilations" for yours' truly here in late 2007. I have songs featured in 4, count 'em 4, compilation
albums already out or due out this fall.

1. In September, "Is It Gonna Be Funky?" was featured on the Madison Made Music Project's Porchlight compilation CD to benefit the homeless. It features 15 of the best songs submitted by 150 Madison area artists including The Selfish Gene and Natty Nation. For more info visit www.porchlightinc.org/mmm/index.htm,

2. My in-studio performance of "Don't Speak" found its way onto "My Music; The Best of Urban Theater", brought to you by my good friends at The Urban Theater. With some of the best in-studio performances from your favorite local artists, the disc is a must-have! To get your hands on a copy of this one visit http://www.channel3000.com/sponsors/14479780/detail.html

3. Gimme some "More Barn!" This weekend, Slothtrop music officially released "More Barn," a tribute album to Mr. Neil Young. 3 years in the making, the album is finally out and available online and at Starbucks across the country. The album features my version of "Heart of Gold" recorded back in the summer of 2005. The album includes great tracks by artists like Steve Wynn, and the Silos. Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers even chipped in by writing the liner notes. All proceeds from this one go to benefit the Bridge School; Neil's Favorite charity. To get a hold of "More Barn", visit any Starbucks (and pick up a caramel macchiatto for me) or visit http://slothtrop.com/cd_barn.html.

4. Finally, Jake Johnson at Paradyme Studios here in Madison is putting the final touches on a new Christmas compilation album due out in a couple weeks. My brand new tune "Merry Christmas To Me" is featured on this one along with original holiday tunes by such Madison artists as Rob Dz and Clear Blue Betty. Proceeds will go to benefit Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Dane County. I'll have more info on where you can pick one up on this site in the coming weeks.

All in all, I've been very fortunate to be asked to participate in these projects and I'm very excited to help out the worthwhile charities each of them was created to support. Any one of these albums will make a great stocking stuffer this Holiday season!

This Saturday, Nov. 17th, I'll be performing w/ the band at the release party for "More Barn," a Neil Young tribute album to benefit the Bridge School. The show is at the High Noon Saloon (701 E. Washington in Madison) and starts @ 9pm. The Band and I will be taking the stage around 11:30pm. If you're a NY fan you won't want to miss this one. But even if you're not, the show is featuring some of the finest acts in the area with appearances by, Marcus Bouvre, Clear Blue Betty, and the German Art Students to name a few. There is even a chance that a VERY special guest will show up for this one (wink, wink). Tickets are $10 and it gets you a free download copy of "More Barn." For more information on the show and the bridge school please visit...http://slothtrop.com/cd_barn.html

I've got a very exciting show coming up this Thursday 9/20 at 10pm at the Orphuem Theatre in downtown Madison. I'll be playing the show with Madison rockers The Selfish Gene and the incomparable Natty Nation. It's all part of the Madison Made Music Project Festival to celebrate the release of their compiliation album. The album features 15 songs picked from 150 bands in the Madison area. "Is It Gonna Be Funky?" was selected to be on the CD, and I'll be playing with the full 6-piece band. There will also be a big surprise at end the of our set, with some surprise guests to help me funkify "Funky?" There is a $7 cover at the door, unless you bring some non-perishable food items which brings the cover down to $5. This will get you into any of the 5 downtown Madison venues hosting performers that night. All proceeds from CD and the shows will go to benefit the homeless through Porchlight of Dane County. To learn more about the event, visit http://www.porchlightinc.org/mmm/index.htm, and you can get a full listing of the bands and venues participating in the event. Hope to see you there!

The readers of Madison's own Isthmus Magazine recently voted me "Madison Favorite Singer/Songwriter in this year's Reader's Poll. It's a great honor and I couldn't be more grateful to those of you that voted for me. Many thanks! Alas, I am sharing the honor with another incredible Madison S/S, Ms. Stephanie Rearick. My congrats most definitely go out to Stephanie, though I think I could take her in a cage match. :)
www.isthmus.com

You can now purchase "Permanent Ink" online at www.CDBaby.com/croftmark! The new EP is also available for digital download on iTunes and several other online locations. You can see a list of all the places you can get it in the "buy" section of this site!

Well, the CD release show was a great success and I had a ton of fun. Thank you to all of you who came out to show your support. I hope you're enjoying the new disc. Thank you to the Lucas Cates Band and Clear Blue Betty for putting in great performances and helping me celebrate the release. Thanks to Lonya Nenashev for running the board and making us sound so great. Thanks to everyone at the Brink Lounge for there help and hard work. Thanks to those of you who helped at the door and merch tables. And a big 'Thank You" to Eric Hester who drove to Indianapolis to pick up the CD's and for all your hard work in making the show and CD happen!

I'll have more info in the next few days on where you can get your hands on a copy of "Permanent Ink." But, as always, they will be available at my many shows this summer and in the future. Thanks again!

I'll be unveiling my new EP "Permanent Ink" Friday, June 1st at the Brink Lounge in Downtown Madison. A free copy of the disc, featuring 5 new tunes, is included with admission! The Lucas Cates Band will be opening the show w/ a surprise special guest (TBA) to close out the night. Be one of the first to get your hands on new "Permanent Ink" EP!!!

The 2007 Madison Area Music Awards are right around the corner and this year I was honored to be nominated for "Pop Artist of the Year." You can vote for me in the final round of voting starting Sunday, April 1st. I'll have more info on exactly how that works in the days ahead. Visit www.themamas.org for more info and to check out all the nominees.

I'm very excited to announce that I'll be heading back into the studio next month to finish work on a new round of songs. The "Permanent Ink" EP will feature five new songs set for release late this spring! You can get a preview of the new single "Drink It Dry" in the media section of this site. I'll be announcing a formal release date and party in the coming weeks, so keep checking back!!!

Madison Magazine is once again looking to find the best of everything in Madison, including a search for Madison's best local artist. If you feel so inclined, you can vote for me at www.madisonmagazine.com/bestofmadison/. It's quick, easy, and totally free to vote. And while you're there you can vote for all of your Madison favorites in such categories as "Best Restaurant" and "Best Hotel For Pleasure" (you know who you are). Just plop my name in the "best local artist/band" category before March 1st and you could win..........okay so you won't win anything, but you'd sure be helping me out! Also keep in mind placing you're votes for this year's Madison Area Music Awards, where I'm hoping to find a nomination or two. Voting starts in a few weeks, and I'll keep you posted. Gracias!!!

Madison's finest radio station 105.5 WMMM has released their new "Live From Studio M: Volume 6" CD. featuring some of the best national and local acts that have graced their studio in the past year. Included alongside such artists as K.T. Tunstall, Trey Anastasio, Willy Porter, The Fray and Death Cab For Cutie, is a song from my "Live From..." session in 2003 "She's a Landslide." Other local artists Lucas Cates and Mike Massey will also appear on the sixth installment of the stations annual release. For more information on how you can get your hands on a copy visit www.1055triplem.com.

Thanks to everyone who came out to support me in Chicago @ Uncommon Ground last Friday! It was great to have you all there. I'll be working on return show in Chi-town in the next few months and I'll keep you posted. Thanks again!

I've got an exciting show coming up March 3rd at the Club Tavern (www.clubtavern.com) in Middleton, WI. I'll be bringing in the full band to do a show @ w/ The Lucas Cates Band (www.lucascates.com). This is one show you will not want to miss!

I'd like to say "Thank You" to all of you who supported me this year by coming out to see me play, buying CD's, and giving overall support and assurance. I'm deeply grateful that I am able to do what I am most passionate about in life, and I realized that I wouldn't be able to do that w/out help. As special thanks to the great musicians that I had the great fortune of playing with this year, especially Ms. Julia McConahay with whom I played so many shows in '06. It was a great year with some wonderful honors and exciting performance opportunities. I'm looking forward to 2007 and anticipating great things...and maybe some new music. ;-)
Happy Holidays and Thanks Again!