Public Gigs
| STRINGS and IVORY |
Dec. 12, 2010 |
A Celtic Christmas concert at Trowbridge Hall, Oracle Union Church, 4 - 6 PM on Sunday, Dec. 12th. |
| STRINGS and IVORY |
July 11, 2010 |
Strings and Ivory, a group with which I play Celtic/Folk music will be in concert in Oracle on July 11th (Sunday afternoon, 4-6 PM) at the Oracle Union Church (the rock church next to the Community Center). In addition to Judy Francis, Elena Martin, Nay Arner, we will be joined by "Doc" Whitmore on electric bass for some of the tunes.
Instrumentation will be fiddle, octave mandolin, electric mando-cello, Irish harp, piano, flute, and percussion. -- And best of all its FREE! Refreshments will be available afterwards in Trowbridge Hall.
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| GUTPLUCKERS |
Oct. 3rd, 2009 |
Join use at beautiful Oracle State Park on Sat. Oct 3 2009 at 1 PM for brown thorn music from the Tortolita Gutpluckers. Also I will be sitting in with my friends from InAscent (Robin and Michelle) at 11 AM on the Group Area main stage for some tunes. For more info see www.calabazas.org. |
| STRINGS and IVORY |
May 10, 2009 |
Our new group, Strings and Ivory, will be performing at Oracle State Park, Sunday night, May 10th, from 7 PM to 9 PM. Tickets are $10.00. We play a range of tunes from the Irish O'Carolan tradition, to New England contra-dance and American bluegrass. Judy Francis is on the piano, with Nay Arner on Irish harp and guitar, Shelley McGrew on cello and vocals. I will be playing both my antique fiddle and my electric Viper violin. We are very excited about our debut performance. |
| GUTPLUCKERS |
Jan. 25th, 2009 |
Diamond Jim and The Tortolita Gutpluckers will be performing at the Lariat in Catalina Sunday eveningm Jan. 25th. Reservations suggested! Music starts at 5:30 PM and goes until 7:30 PM or so. |
| BLUE PRAIRIE DOGS |
Oct. 25th, 2008 |
I will be performing with the Blue Prairie Dogs at the 9th Annual Fiesta de las Calabazas, at Oracle State Park, on Saturday, Oct. 25th, 2008, at 4:15 PM. For more info on this great band and its music please visit www.calabazas.org. Back in the late 1990's I played with the Dogs at many venues in Tucson, including the Tucson Folk Festival. Come join us as the wrap-up band for the fiesta and dig some cool western tunes. |
| BLUE PRAIRIE DOGS |
July 18th, 2008 |
Dessert in the Desert at Oracle State Park features a reunion of the Blue Prairie Dogs first album ensemble, including yours truly, "Diamond Jim". Performance is from 7:00 PM to 8:45 PM on the Kannally Ranch House lower patio. Free dessert and refreshments provided as part of the volunteer recruitment for the Fiesta de las Calabazas. |
| ORACLE BARN DANCE |
July 12th, 2008 |
The Oracle Barn Dance continues at the Oracle Community Center, 635 E. American Avenue in beatiful downtown Oracle. Its on the right as you drive through the center of town, just after the Library, and just before the Rock Church. Dancing starts at 7:30 PM, free lessons at 7 PM. Cost is only $5.00 per person. Come to listen, or come to dance to a contra-dance caller with music supplied by fiddler Diamond Jim Hewitt and friends. Featuring Judy Francis and the piano, and Jennifer Sordyl also on fiddle, we usually get a group of friends from Tucson Friends of Traditional Music to join us, as well as other local musicians. Contra-dancing is a form of English folk dancing, similar so square dancing, but less square. Or more contrary. Come and find out! DUE TO A VENUE PROBLEM, THE AUGUST 9TH BARN DANCE HAS BEEN CANCELED. |
| TUCSON FOLK FESTIVAL |
May 4th, 2008 |
I will also be playing at the Tucson Folk Festival, Sunday May 4th, at the Museum Stage downtown (behind the Tucson Museum of Art) at 12:30 with the Blue Prairie Dogs. Those of you who have not heard the BPD are missing some fine original and western music courtesy of "Cactis Dan" Oved and "Doc" Whitmore. We played together regularly about 10 years ago, and are getting together again to enjoy some tunes. Hear lots of other great local music that weekend at the Tucson Folk Festival, El Presidio Park downtown behind the old courthouse. |
| GUTPLUCKERS |
April 27, 2008 |
Diamond Jim and The Tortolita Gutpluckers will be performing at the Lariat in Catalina Sunday evening, Apr. 27 on the back patio, depending on weather. Reservations suggested! Music starts at 5:30 PM and goes until 7:30 PM or so. |
| HUGO O'CONNOR PLAY |
Feb. 29, 2008 |
I will be playing solo fiddle tunes in the lobby of the Berger Center for the Performing Arts, Tucson, following the debut of the play, El Capitan Colorado, about the founding of Tucson by Irishman Hugh (Hugo) O'Connor in 1775. The play includes Irish actors from Tucson's sister city of Roscommon, Ireland. |
| BLUE PRAIRIE DOGS |
Feb. 28, 2008 |
The Blue Prairie Dogs, a group in which I played extensively in the late 1990's, held a reunion concert at The Fountains at La Cholla retirement community. We are quite the bees knees with the over 80 crowd! Look for more BPD reunion gigs in 2008. |
| DIAMOND JIM with the Dixie Cats |
Feb. 24, 2008 |
I played my fourth annual gig for the Tucson Sertoma Club Silent Auction at the Savoy Opera House in Trail Dust Town. I was priviledged to sit in with some of the best jazz players in Tucson, members of (variously) the Dixie Cats and Thor Sounds, including Keith Thorson and Len Fontana. I am the token "Western" player. |
| GUTPLUCKERS |
Spring 2008 Schedule |
Diamond Jim and The Tortolita Gutpluckers will be performing at the Lariat in Catalina Sunday evening, Jan. 27 and also Feb. 24, from 5:30 to 7:30 in the dining room and/or back patio, depending on weather. We will also be performing at the Sun City Rancho Vistoso 20th Anniversary Celebration and Barbeque from 1 PM to 4 PM on Saturday, Feb. 23. |
| GUTPLUCKERS |
December Schedule |
The Tortolita Gutpluckers will be performing at the San Manuel Rotary Christmas party Thursday evening, Dec. 13, at the San Manuel Country Club, and at the Lariat in Catalina on Sunday, Dec. 30, 5:30 PM. |
| GLOW |
Oct. 27 , 2007 |
Zephyr Strings will be performing at GLOW, an art and light event at Triangle L Ranch in Oracle, 8-10 PM on Saturday, Oct. 27. For more information on GLOW, go to trianglelranch.com/glow.htm |
Fiesta de las Calabazas
Oracle State Park |
Oct. 13 , 2007 |
Zephyr Strings will be performing at 3:30 PM on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007 as part of the 8th Annual Fiesta de last Calabazas. |
| Once in a Blue Moon Concert, Oracle State Park |
June 30, 2007 |
Special fund-raiser for the Fiesta de las Calabazas, featuring Zephyr Strings with special guests, Mark-Robertson-Tessi on mandolin, and his wife, Jennifer on Irish harp. Admission, $10.00. 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM. Join is for a special "blue moon" celebration under the stars at Oracle State Park. |
| The Lariat |
June 24, 2007 |
The Tortolita Gutpluckers perform once again Sunday night at The Lariat Steakhouse
and Saloon, Catalina, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Take North
Oracle Road north from Tucson to the town of Catalina, it is
on the right just before the county line. Plan on dinner, the
food is great! |
| Standing Stones of Beara - CD Release Party at The Station in Oracle |
June 23, 2007 |
Standing Stones of Beara, my latest CD, will be available at a special price
Saturday, June 23rd at The Station from 6 – 8 PM. The Station is located on American Ave. adjacent to the Oracle Fire Department. Join us for wine, cheese, and other goodies. |
| Standing Stones of Beara - CD Release Party at Zona78! |
May 25, 2007 |
Join us at happy hour from 5 - 7 PM on Friday, May 25, at Zona78, located at River Road and Stone Ave, next to On the Border and Men's Warehouse. Standing Stones of Beara, my latest CD, will be available at a special price. Zephyr Strings will also perform some songs from the CD. |
| Tucson Folk Festival |
May 5, 2007 |
Zephyr Strings plays at 2 PM on the main stage at the Tucson Folk Festival, El Presidio Park downtown, just behind the old Courthouse. This is the second year in a row for Zephyr performing at this premier event in Tucson. Hope to see you there! |
| The Station |
March 24, 2007 |
I will be performing on solo violin for the Silent Auction at The Station in Oracle, on American Avenue next to the fire station, beginning 7 PM. Local singer/song writer Freddie Terry will also perform at 6 PM. |
| Fiesta de las Calabazas |
Oct. 28,
2006 |
Zephyr Strings
will be performing at the 2006 Fiesta de las Calabazas at
Oracle State Park on Saturday, Oct. 28th, at 11:30 AM. Zephyr
Strings is Diamond Jim plus David Liers on guitar and Jeff Whitmore
on double bass. |
| The Lariat |
last Sunday
of each month (check with the Lariat first) |
The Tortolita
Gut Pluckers play bluegrass and old-tyme, "brown thorn"
music the last Sunday of each month (more or less) at The Lariat Steakhouse
and Saloon, Catalina, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Take North
Oracle Road north from Tucson to the town of Catalina, it is
on the right just before the county line. Plan on dinner, the
food is great! |
| The Station, Dawn Avery |
July 5,
2006 |
Diamond Jim
and Friends will perform with renowned New York cellist, Dawn
Avery, at The Station in Oracle (located on American Ave. next
to the Fire Station). Concert starts at 7 PM, tickets are $7
at the door. Joining us are Shelley McGrew, also on cello, and
Freddie Terry on vocals and guitar. |
| Oracle State Park, Moonlight Concert |
June 11,
2006 |
Diamond Jim
and Friends will perform at Oracle State Park, Sunday
evening, for a moonlight concert, beginning at 7:30 PM. This
concert is a fundraiser for the Fiesta de las Calabazas. Tickets
are $10.00, available at Oracle Start Park gift shop, The Station
(Farmers Market location), and The Winding Rose. Call 520-896-2425
for more info. Special guests include David Liers and Jeff Whitmore
(with Jim, forms the band Zephyr Strings), and the Shadow Mountain
Bluegrass Band, featuring Bill and Lynn Breen, Ray Peterson,
and Ric Volante. |
| Tucson Folk Festival |
May 7, 2006 |
Zephyr Strings
has been selected to play at the Tucson Folk Festival,
Plaza Stage, Sunday at 3:30 PM. This will be the first appearance
at this festival for our group, consisting of Diamond Jim, David
Liers, and Jeff Whitmore. Diamond Jim has played the Tucson
Folk Festival a number of times in the past as part of the groups
Blue Prairie Dogs (with Jeff); Sal Valdivia; Terry Pollock and
Thunderhead North. |
| Orange Cat |
April 28, 2006 |
Zephyr Strings will be
performing at the Orange Cat Multimedia Show at the Ogama
Gallery, Adams and Stone, in Tucson, at 7 PM. |
| Oro Valley Arts Festival |
April 8 and 9, 2006 |
Oro Valley Arts Festival
- Riverfront Park, 551 W. Lambert Ln, Oro Valley, AZ. Barn
Jazz Ensemble with Diamond Jim, Mark Robertson-Tessi, Evan
Dain, and Slim Edelman play three 30 minute acoustics sets each
day, Saturday 2 PM, 3:30 PM and 4:15 PM and Sunday 11:30 AM,
and 12:15 PM and 1 PM. Free admission. |
| Rancho Linda Vista |
March 18, 2006 |
Jim will be joining renowned
New York Cellist, Dawn Avery for a concert at the Rancho
Linda Vista Art Liftoff fundraising event. Music starts
at 6 PM at the ranch, located on Linda Vista Road in Oracle. |
| The Lariat |
Feb. 26 , 2006 |
The Tortolita Gut Pluckers
play bluegrass and old-tyme, "brown thorn" music at
The Lariat Steakhouse and Saloon, Catalina, Sunday around
5 PM to 7 PM. Take North Oracle Road north from Tucson to the
town of Catalina, it is on the right just before the county
line. |
| The Lariat |
Jan. 8, 2006 |
The Tortolita Gut Pluckers
play bluegrass and old-tyme, "brown thorn" music at
The Lariat Steakhouse and Saloon, Catalina, Sunday around
5 PM to 7 PM. Take North Oracle Road north from Tucson to the
town of Catalina, it is on the right just before the county
line. |
| Skeen |
Jan. 1, 2006 |
Zephyr Strings (Jim, David
Liers, Jeff Whitmore) perform down on the San Pedro River at
the Skeen's party, 1 PM - 3 PM. |
| Oracle State Park |
December 3, 2005 |
Oracle State Park, Holiday
Gift Fair. 5 PM - 7
PM. Click
here for directions and park information. |
Need A Band? Something Different?
We can put together bands in the styles of bluegrass, folk, blues,
Americana, 30's swing and standards, and just generally really nice
sounding music for your party or event. Check out the Clips page
for samples. Prices start at $150 plus $100.00 per additional
musician, Oracle and Tucson area, for a one to three set performance.
Bands range from solo to 5 persons. We do weddings and other special
occasions, songs by request if we know them or can learn them in
time for your gig.
Policy on playing for "benefits" - We often get
approached by local nonprofit groups to play for free for benefits
or fundraisers. It seems the kind of music we perform is in demand
at these kind of events. While we are happy to do benefits once
or twice per year, we must limit the number that we do in a given
time, otherwise the band would always play for free! We believe
and we hope you agree that good musicians deserve to be paid! We
are willing to work with your nonprofit organization at fundraisers
to come up with a suitable arrangement for compensation.
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