I must formally apologize to the...2 people who read my blog, I have been awful at updating this month.  As in no updates or "hello's".  I am so sorry if you have been looking for news and what-nots to stay in the loop.  January has been quite slow and frustrating as a few gigs and deals have fallen through.  So, I'd like to shake the dust from my feet and move on with February which looks more than promising!  We have got dozens and dozens of shows rolling in, chances to revisit our favorite reliable venues and fans, and also some chances to break into new venues we've never played before!  How exciting! 
     Also, I'm going to launch a new video blog very soon, which will post not only here, but also to youtube, facebook, googleplus, and all the favorite hots-pots we find our objects of interest these days.  I hope you'll join me.  I'll be introducing some new songs, talking about my writing process, why I write, the inter workings of my faith, life, thoughts... all the juicy (okay, not too juicy- a girl needs some secrets to keep) stuff you don't know about indie artists you follow because... well, they're not famous yet. 

I promise not to abandon you like this again. 

with love,
Kelsey

     Here's a video from The District Venue in November.  We hope you all had a wonderful time celebrating the Holidays with your families.  We can't wait to get back into the swing of things with more gigs for January and plenty new opportunities to see your pretty faces in the New Year! 

     For one of our first gigs in the New Year... join us at The Establishment here in Grand Rapids, MI.  This is a new venue and we can't wait to check it out!  We've got lots of shows on the calendar for January and February, so please head on over to the Calendar page, check out the next gig in your area, and invite your friends out! 

love,
Kelsey and Derek

       Had a great weekend on the east side of the Mitten.  Friday night Derek and I were back at the District for a round of open mic battling.  We shared the stage with Laura Jean, Nights of Astoria, and Vince Dynamic.  Congratulations to Laura Jean for winning popular vote!  The District strives to be an artist Hub in the Lake Orion area partnering with musicians, artists, photographers, comedians, and now recording studios to provide quality entertainment for the public while connecting those involved in all forms of art. 
      Saturday I was a solo act heading down to Ferndale, MI to the Rust Belt Market for the first time.  If you've never been to The Rust Belt Market, you need to check it out!  This is a hub for the arts as well, attracting bands to provide entertainment while vendors sell their art to the public.  Everywhere you look there is something bright and artsy drawing your attention.  I love being surrounded in atmospheres like this, it creates the perfect foundation for music.  If you didn't get the chance to come to any shows this weekend, keep checking the calendar, there a PLENTY coming up in the month of December.  Including one this coming weekend on December 10th.  We'll be sharing the stage with Doug Mains & the City Folk and raising money for the Red Thread Movement at the Mack Ave House!  Check out the calendar for more details.

May your Christmas preparations remind you of the real reason for the season. 

Kelsey (& Derek)
    

       

FLINT COMMUNITY COOKOUT VIDEO

              Last Saturday, my family and I had the opportunity to join the Flint Community cookout for the first time.  Simply put, it was beautiful.  The weather was perfect, the food was delicious (and plentiful), and many people were given food who would have otherwise gone without.  Thank you to everyone who participated and donated services and food. 

love and cheer,
Kelsey

     We had so much fun this weekend playing at The District Venue on Friday night along with SO MANY talented bands from this great state of Michigan.  I was so excited that Derek was could be back in town to play with me again this weekend after his three month internship down in Kansas City. 
     We made a few friends during the night, Vince Dynamic (his real name is Chris) was playing solo, although he often plays with full band.  And, American Opera (his real name is John) also playing solo for the night and they both have an amazing sound you should follow the links posted (high lighted names) and listen to their tunes! 
     And OF COURSE we were impressed with SOSAVEME!  But we expected that to happen.  Their live performance just as powerful if not more than their recorded music, and the next chance you get, you NEED to find your way to their next show!
     Thank you to everyone who made it out to the show on such a busy weekend, and to any new fans who are checking out the website and music for the first time!  Your presence is much appreciated! 

With much love and cheer,
Kelsey and the tide (Derek T)

      Last Friday at the Traffic Jam event, I debuted the new song.  One of many I've been working on for whatever the next recording project will be (unsure).  But I wrote this one specifically as a response to all I've been learning about human trafficking and especially sex trafficking with my connections to The Red Thread Movement and now, Traffic Jam. Please support companies like this as much as possible, they are really doing good work, saving lives, rescuing innocent women, children, and men from slavery of all kinds. 
      This new song is called Bear Hope, and as I said, it was a response to the human trafficking crimes, but also, displays an image of God as a protector.  I think the public views the idea of God as this weak, old man, who's been around a long time, and is possibly, losing his touch.  Anyone familiar with the Biblical representation of God would disagree with this depiction.  One of my favorite images of God is as a ferocious beast who will defend the innocent and rip apart the bad guy.  So here it is: Bear Hope.

     John Sinkevics from the Grand Rapids Press not only invited me to come play on his local spins segment on the Tony Gates show on 1340 AM WJRW, but also printed this wonderful review this week with a nice plug for the show TONIGHT!                                                                                                                                                "Dozens of CDs cross my desk each week, many of them from local and regional artists.

So when Kelsey Rottiers & the Rising Tide's full-length debut album came in earlier this year, I almost didn't give it a listen because Rottiers at that time was living in Davison, outside of Flint.

Recorded in Ortonville, this wasn't exactly a West Michigan artist, so it didn't really fit my Local Spins model. But I sampled it anyway, and boy, was I glad I did.

Rottiers' striking, distinctive voice carried the day and her insightful songs were catchy and powerful. And in researching her background, I discovered that she had not long ago left Grand Rapids after graduating from Cornerstone University.

It was a Local Spin after all.

Now, Rottiers – who submitted a song to the 2011 ArtPrize competition and recently performed during St. Cecilia Music Center's music showcase – has returned to reside in Grand Rapids. She's pursuing her musical interests full-time and already is at work on songs for a follow-up album.

On Wednesday, as part of my regular Local Spins Live segment, Rottiers stopped by the studios of News Talk 1340 AM (WJRW) during The Tony Gates Show to talk about her music and perform a song, “Red Wonder Boots,” from her debut album. You can watch the video here at “Sound Check.”

Also, fans can catch her in concert this week when she performs at 7:37 p.m. Friday at Cornerstone's Gordan Hall as part of a benefit for Traffic Jam, an organization that fights human trafficking, a shocking crisis that deserves more attention. She'll perform along with Doug Mains & the City Folk and Jessa Anderson.

It's one of two local Traffic Jam concerts; the other takes place at 6 p.m. Friday at the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center on S. Division Avenue, with several bands performing. Hundreds of bands in 30 different countries are joining the cause and donations will be accepted.

For more information about Rottiers and to download her music, visit her website, kelseyrottiers.com."


Kelsey Rottiers, "Red Wonder Boots" Grand Rapids singer-songwriter Kelsey Rottiers performs "Red Wonder Boots" live as part of John Sinkevics' Local Spins Live segment of The Tony Gates Show on News Talk 1340 AM (WJRW) on Nov. 9, 2011. Watch video

E-mail John Sinkevics: jsinkevics@grpress.com

     Jeff (far right) and Tracy Cram (far left) I have known since I was probably the age of their daughter, Payton Cram (the little girl in the middle of the picture) was when she died of Cancer (12).  Payton Cram was always a bright and fun loving girl in my family's church.  When a child dies, we're left speechless with doubts and fears screaming at the cruelness of God. 
     In her last year, Payton went to the American Girl Place in Chicago, she was greated by the staff who made sure she and her family had the best treatment and got whatever they wanted.  She got to meet Mark Schultz and he wrote, "He Is" about Payton's story along with another family's story of a mom battling cancer.  She kept a blog about her experience and would not stop talking about her faith in Jesus.  At her funeral there were around 300 people there and I was so blessed by the stories they told about her last days, I felt like I had to put them in a song. 
     In Walking Payton Home, I really just stitched those stories together with a melody and let it be.  There was one that didn't find it's way into the song, but it so struck me that I have to tell you about it.  As she was passing, she looked up and introduced herself to someone that no one else could see as if she were introducing herself to the angel that ushered into the Lord's arms.  The picture was taken moments later and when her parents posted it on their facebook page, it was titled, "Walking Payton Home". 

Walking Payton Home
© Kelsey Rottiers, 2009
Verse 1
Payton looked into her mother’s blue eyes
Keep my doll, tell her not to cry
I told her that I had to go away
Verse 2
Wake up Paige I wanna tell her I love her
I need one more talk with my baby sister
I want her to know it’ll be okay
Chorus
Oh, it’s time
Oh, when I close my eyes
I don’t want you to cry
Verse 3
Sunday Service on the morning after
They played her song it was empty without her
hmmmm
Verse 4
Paige looked into her Father’s blue eyes
tugged on his hand Daddy why are you cryin
Payton’s singing with Jesus today
Chorus 2
Oh you tried,
Oh
Oh you tried,
Oh when your eyes
Oh you tried
Oh Just close your eyes
it’s okay to cry.