Welcome to the inaugural issue of the 2002 edition of the BlackBird Recording Electronic Newsletter!  As always, feel free to forward this newsletter if there is anyone out there who you think might like to receive a copy.  Also, if anyone wants to be removed from this mailing list, just send me an email and I’ll take you off.  

At the time of this writing there are 15 copies of the limited edition CD "More!!!" left.  I expect that they will be gone by the end of Estrella.  

The website will hopefully be updated soon.  I've done a major overhaul, so hopefully Kate will be willing to upload everything! :)  Check back over the next few weeks or so.

NEWS FROM THE RECORDING FRONT:

"Three Cheers for the Black Bard" is finished!  It is now available for $15 (US) and the posters (11X17) are available for $3.50.  The songbooks can be ordered for $3.50 and should be ready by Estrella. 

We will be having a signing/release party at Estrella this year at "Faire Ladies, Faire Lords".  It's a big red and yellow striped tent.  The Black Bard Cheerleaders won't be able to make it this time, but we'll hit them up again at May Potrero.  The release party will be sometime on Saturday (Feb 16).  We look forward to seeing you there!

Congratulations to Lord Godfrey Baldwin Maul of the household BITOW (Believers In The Old Ways) who won a free copy of "Cheers" by being on the mailing list!

NEWS FROM THE PERFORMING FRONT:

(The Lorekeeper of the Meridian Bardic College has told me that I have to write up all these events :). )  

I have only attended a single event since the last newsletter.  I attended The Feast of St. Nicholas in An Tir.  It was a wonderful feast and the folk there took care of me.  They had a separate "Tavern Area" for performing artists.  We spent some time performing and towards the end of the night had a bardic competition which was judged upon the criteria of "moving the audience". :)  We watched the impacts of the various performers on how well they got the audience involved in the performance.  It was quite fun and the evening ran very late.

I expect to make Estrella and May Potrero this year.  I may make it to other events depending on where my job takes me.  (There's even a possibility I might make another An Tirian event!)  I expect to be quite busy with work and running for office for much of the rest of the year.  In addition, we would like to ask for prayers from all of you as we have recently found out that we are expecting!  The due date is mid-September and, while we are still early in our pregnancy, we are overjoyed that the Good Lord has chosen to bless us with a baby!

Remember, if you need to get in touch with me, my permanent e-mail is:

Rathflaed@hotmail.com

Rathflaed DuNoir
The Black Bard of Meridies, MSoB
http://www.chivalry.com/blackbard/
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"Bard's Make the Best Lays", "More!!!" and "Three Cheers for the Black Bard" available at: 
BlackBird Recording
PO Box 75
Tustin, CA. 92780

Cassettes: $10.00 inc. S&H.  Songbooks: $3.50 inc. S&H Limited edition CDs ("More!!!" only,  ~ 15 left) and "Cheers" CD's are $15 inc. S&H
(CA residents please add 7.75% Sales Tax)