Hey everyone,

happy New Year's Eve to all of you and may 2004 bring you just what you're hoping for.

Just a few short notes. Looks like I've found a label that'll put "Hobo Dream" out in central Europe in June or July. I'll let you know as soon as this is confirmed. I'm also in touch with a few labels that might release and distribute the record in the US and possibly Scandinavia and Great Britain. Let's see how that goes.

A short-notice gig has come up. Local rock'n'roll/glam rock band mcf (www.mcf-music.de) have asked me to participate in their Unplugged Night on Monday, January 5th at the akw in Würzburg. They're good guys and I enjoy playing solo every once in a while so I gladly accepted.

Also, things are heating up with the monthly Songwriter Night that I'll be hosting at the Omnibus in Würzburg on the second Monday of every month starting in February. I'll post the dates and confirmed guests here soon.

One more project I'm currently real excited about is a tribute to Johnny Cash that my longtime friend Dennis Schütze and I will be organizing at the akw in April. I'm having a blast sifting through Johnny Cash's back catalogue and basically learning a new song of his every other day. We'll keep you posted how that goes as well.

And for those who are interested, here are my favorite records of 2003:

1. Jeff Black - Honey & Salt
2. Mack Starks - Elsewhere
3. Greg Trooper - Floating
4. Gillian Welch - Soul Journey
5. Robert Earl Keen - Farm Fresh Onions
6. John Bunzow - Darkness & Light
7. Chris Knight - The Jealous Kind
8. Lyle Lovett - My Baby Don't Tolerate
9. John Mellencamp - Trouble No More
10. Steve Conn - dto

Some more recommendations:
Duane Jarvis - Delicious
Eric Westbury - Burnt Tongues & Half Truths
Rod Picott - Stray Dogs
Hank Shizzoe & Loose Gravel feat. Sonny Landreth - In Concert
Steve Earle - Just An American Boy
Rodney Crowell - Fate's Right Hand
Joe Fournier - Whiskey Stars
Reckless Kelly - Under The Table And Above The Sun

Currently the most listened-to music at my house is the 5-cd-box set
Johnny Cash - Unearthed. Do yourself a favor and go out and get it

Take care y'all and see ya in 2004,
Markus