Making the rounds: Georgia Middleman and Ben Coulter captivate audiences

Making the rounds: Georgia Middleman and Ben Coulter captivate audiences

Day 363 - The Road to the Opry continues

Not a lot to write about tonight! I had a great birthday weekend! Tomorrow will be full steam ahead. I spent most of this weekend looking at cars with my girlfriend. Trying to figure out a way to tie it in with the Opry connection, we said we were looking for a car to drive to Nashville when we play there! Looking forward to working hard this week!

I'll be in Nashville a week from today, so this week I will try to make sure I get the most out of my trip. Time is flying by. Only 363 Days to go!

Day 363

Day 364 - "The Road to the Opry" Continues

Last night was a blast!! It's not everyday you get to perform on your birthday, but I got the privilege last night! Lakeshore Cafe was a blast! The place was full, and the crowd was energetic! I was going to try to list everybody, but I'm scared I would leave someone out. It was great to have everybody out! We had birthday cake, balloons, and everything! Thanks to my Mom, sister, girlfriend, neice, nephew, and John Patrick for the cake and balloons! Terry Swilley came out and played harmonica with me. It sure is nice to have that harmonica. It adds so much to the music. It was a great way to start off the "Road to the Opry" tour. It gives me more confidence as we take on this task. When I woke up this morning the first thing that went through my head was, "I've got 364 days to make this happen!". We've gotten lots of encouragement on this mission.

Some comments were:
"I will be cheering you on at thr Grand Ole Opry on Oct 1, 2011!"
"Good luck, Ben!! I know you can do it!"
"That would certainly be the one time in my life I would pay extra for front row tickets! Can't wait to see you there!"
"I know it's gonna happen 4 y'all!"
"that is so awesome, you have a great tallent and the opry will be lucky to have you on that stage."
"We will be there to see you play the Opry"

We've also had donations on the website! It's really gettin peoples attention, and it's only been one day! Looking forward to seeing what tomorrow brings!

Day 364

The Road to the Opry - Ben Coulter's Delta Outlaws quest to play the Grand Ole Opry in one year

Well, I woke up this morning to the BIG 30! Feels the same as 29, but nobody has asked me how old I am yet! I'm performing at the Lakeshore Cafe in Lake Village, AR tonight from 6:30-10. I hope you can make it out!

Over the past few weeks I've been thinking about where I am in my career, and where I want to be. I know that I want to "make it", but what is my definition of that. So I decided to set a goal. I've talked to my girlfriend about it, and to my bass player, Zach Gibbons. By this time next year our goal is to perform at the "Grand Ole Opry". It's not going to be just a goal we set, but a mission or a quest. Starting today we are counting down to next Oct. 1st. Today is Day 365 and tomorrow will be Day 364, and so on. We will blog everyday about the experience, and what we are doing to get closer to playing the Opry. We are going to publicize this, and let everyone know what our goal is, and that we plan on playing the Opry in the next year! I needed to have a certain goal to go after to narrow my focus. I asked myself, "where do I want to be at this time next year", and the answer was obviously, "the Opry". We know that we really don't have control over us playing in there. We have to create enough "BUZZ" to catch the Opry's attention. So that's our plan. We are gonna let the nation know about this quest, and try to blow people away when we play their venue. From now till next October we will promote our gigs as "The Road to the Opry" tour, and we be doing a nationwide tour next year! It's gonna be exciting!!

There will lots more to come in the coming days. I will set up a facebook page about it, and a separate blog about it. For the next few days I will blog about it on www.bencoulterscountrymusicdeltastyle.blogspot.com. I hope you follow this, and get behind Zach and I on the quest. For now we will call it, "The Road to the Opry" - "Ben Coulter's Delta Outlaws quest to play the Opry in one year".

Day 365 - The Road to the Opry starts tonight at the Lakeshore Cafe

Sept. 21

Well, I haven't been to steady in my blogging. Sorry about that. Hopefully I will get better at this. If I ever take the time to sit down and do this I enjoy it. It's just taking the time to do it. I will try harder.

Verse of the Day- Romans 8:1 - "There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus". What a great verse! I read Romans 8 today, and it is so good. If you haven't read that chapter in awhile, read it today. It is full of good stuff!!

Song of the Day - "One step at a time" by Mike Zito/Anders Osborne. Listen to it at www.andersosborne.com or www.mikezito.com

I turn 30 next week. That used to seem so old. Over the next week, I'm sure I'll look back and see if I'm where I thought I'd be at this age. I guess that will make for some good blogging.....

Until next time..

Inspiration

Over the last week, I've been really inspired musically. All musicians want their albums to touch people, to inspire them, and to speak to them. Well I purchased an album last week that did just that. Anders Osborne's "American Patchwork" album is an inspiring album. It's one I can't quit listening too. Everything about the album is great. The singing, the playing, the lyrics....I can't find one bad thing to say about it. Anders, one of New Orleans best, is such a soulful singer, and you can feel his passion through the songs. It's an album that makes me want to be a better singer, player, performer, and songwriter. It's the best album I've heard in YEARS. I know Anders from my time in Nashville, so it is a more personal album for me. I hope you check it out, and let the music change you! Check out Anders online at www.andersosborne.com.

Verse of the day - "O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day." Psalm 96:1-2

Song of the Day - "Echoes of my Sins" - Anders Osborne

www.bencoulteronline.com

Vision

Verse of the Day- "Where there is no vision, the people perish"- Proverb 29:18

I think this is a great verse for all of us. We must have a vision and goals of where we want to go. These visions and goals help push us to be the men and women we want to be.

Song of the Day - "The Way I Am" - Merle Haggard