Free Won't

Interesting concept today - Free Won’t. It’s the choice to Not do something that crosses our thoughts. I heard it on a podcast I was listening to this past week. We tend to think that we are somewhat controlled by our thoughts, and we tend to react very quickly most times instead of remembering that we have a choice not only to do something, but also to Not do something. I think this is also tied up in habits. We like habits because they allow us to follow an established path, and that oftentimes is easier and takes less thought. But I’d like to propose that we have a choice in everything we do. That’s Free Will. But we also have a choice to Not do something as well, and that’s Free Won’t. If you can stop for a second to consider the outcome of your choice you can control the flow of thoughts and events that follow, and you can also set yourself free in the moment from your automatic habits. Try it!

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What have I been up to?

Tuesday’s online show was doing the music of Nanci Griffith, and it was so rewarding getting to dive into her music again. She was a fine songwriter who could express so many emotions in stories not only about other people but about herself as well. She will definitely be missed, and it was a walk down memory lane for me Tuesday over the past 35 years.

Thursday we found out that a friend of ours had tested positive for COVID, and we had spent time with her on Tuesday and Wednesday. So we had to read up on precautions for vaccinated folks who are exposed to people with breakthrough COVID. We found that we needed to wear a mask indoors for the next week and also get tested anywhere from 3-7 days after exposure, so we did a Rapid test after 5 days on Sunday, and we’ll do a PCR test today. The Rapid test was negative, so that’s good news. Our friend was pretty sick over the weekend, so we still want to take caution until we get the PCR test back just to be sure. My Saturday show I stayed away from folks and wore a mask except when I was onstage performing. We are both feeling fine.

Saturday’s show at Hoobler’s in La Veta was so enjoyable. We had a good crowd, and I did mostly songs off my albums. It was a perfect night outdoors on the beautiful stage the Jim and Peggy Hoobler built on their yard. You can see pictures of it on my Facebook and Instagram. Thanks to everyone who came out.

Sunday’s online show was also wonderful with a few new songs and our genuine  group of friends and fans. I can’t express enough how thankful I am for such warm and caring people who have joined in with me and my music.

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What am I up to this week?

My Tuesday online show 7-8:30 will be doing songs from the Everly Brothers and Buddy Holly. Don Everly passed a week ago, and so I wanted to honor the memory of Don and his brother Phil with a few of their tunes. I thought Buddy Holly would be a good compliment to their music, so we’ll combine the two for a rousing show. Come on out!

Wednesday 6-9 I’ll be at the Gold Dust Saloon in Pueblo out back on the patio. Our first outing there a couple weeks ago went very well, and I hope this week will be just as fun. Since it’s outdoors I can still maintain a good distance and safety with folks if we haven’t gotten back a negative PCR test yet. I’ll cancel if we test positive, of course. I have agreed to do the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays going forward. We’ll move them inside to the balcony as weather dictates. Of course this is all dependent on how things go with COVID.

Saturday 11-1:30 I’ll be in Westcliffe performing for the street fair in front of KLZR radio station. This was originally scheduled on Sunday at the Feed Store Amphitheater, but they moved it to be part of the party on the street with all the cars and food vendors and excitement. It should be a good time, and there’ll be seating and lots of stuff going on. Come on out if you’re in the Westcliffe area!

My Sunday online show 7-8:30 will be doing the favorites and requests that make for such a fun evening each week. I said it above, but we get such a great group of friends with so much support for each other and the music. Please tune in if you can!

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That’s it for this week. It was kind of a whirlwind with the COVID scare for us this week, and our friend is still pretty sick, so we definitely have an even better understanding of the risks that we all are still part of with this virus. Take care, my friend, and we’ll all get through this. My thoughts about Free Won’t definitely apply to how we think through this every day.

Best,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Nanci Griffith songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Tuesday, August 31, 7-8:30 pm mountain time 

Who:  Tom Munch

What:  playing & singing

Where:  Gold Dust Saloon, 217 S Union Ave, Pueblo

When:  Wednesday, September 1, 6-9 pm

Who:  Tom Munch

What:  playing and singing for the Street Fair

Where:  on the street in front of KLZR Radio, 103 S 2nd St, Westcliffe

When:  Saturday, September 4, 11-1:30 pm

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, September 5, 7-8:30 pm mountain time 

La Veta

I’m playing a concert in La Veta Saturday night, and I wanted to tell you a little bit of my experience with this little mountain town over the past 36 years. When I first moved to southern Colorado in the Fall of 1985 I was fresh out of college in Nebraska in the past year and had lived in Dallas for 5 months trying to put together a duo with a great guitarist there that didn’t pan out. I took a temporary job selling stereo equipment for a little shop in Pueblo while I tried to get a corporate job in computers. One of my first customers was an elderly couple who were buying a new receiver to replace an old classic Sansui 4000 receiver that I still have to this day. (It had switchable mono/stereo buttons and even reversible stereo channels!) The couple lived in La Veta, and they wanted me to deliver the new receiver and hook it up for them and take away the old Sansui. So I made a trip to La Veta to see them and discover this little gem of a town. I didn’t spend much time there, but it was the first time I had gotten so close to the Spanish Peaks (Huajatolla) that I had driven by many times over the years. I was enchanted, and when my temporary job in stereo ended after the Christmas shopping season and I hadn’t gotten hired on at the corporate job I was seeking I decided to do some live music like I had done in college. One of the places I booked to play was the Cuchara Valley ski resort and the Timbers bar at Cuchara just up the road from La Veta. I began to hear stories up there from the folks of Cuchara and La Veta of the camaraderie and specialness of the place, and I was hooked. I didn’t play in the resort that much before it unfortunately closed, but I knew I wanted to play in the area more. Over the next few years I played up and down the Front Range and into the mountains with a base in Beulah until I settled in Pueblo West at a house job playing at the Pueblo West Inn for 10 years. When that ended I just had to go back up the road to La Veta.  There I became re-enchanted by the people and the creative spirit and love that they held for life and the place they lived. Over the past 20 years I have played all over La Veta and Cuchara for the wonderful folks who appreciate life, art, music and genuine living. Some of the folks are from there and some have settled there, but they all share an excitement and an authentic joy that is infectious. I love playing there! That’s where I’ll be this Saturday night at an outdoor concert at the Hoobler’s house. More below.

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What have I been up to?

My senior facilities went very well last week. It is so good to be singing for folks where you know it makes a difference to their lives.

My Tuesday online show was doing the music of John Denver, and it was so rewarding. John’s music meant so much to me as I was learning guitar and trying out my musical wings. We had a great group of friends as always.

Wednesday playing at the Gold Dust Saloon in Pueblo was a lot of fun too. I had so many local friends come out, and it was very sweet. I’ll be doing the Gold Dust on first and third Wednesdays each month for the foreseeable future.

Saturday night I played a Pueblo Arts Alliance fundraiser that was wonderful too. It was outdoors in a beautiful setting along the river with some stellar folks.

My Sunday online show was very nice too. I did a couple more John Denver tunes that I didn’t get to on Tuesday as well as songs from the Everly Brothers and Tom T. Hall who had recently passed.

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What am I up to this week?

My Tuesday online show 7-8:30 mountain time will be doing songs by Nanci Griffith. She passed last week at the age of 68, and I followed her music very closely and did a lot of her songs. She was a wonderful Texas songwriter known for songs like “Love at the Five and Dime” and her cover of Kate Wolf’s “Across the Great Divide”. I think it will be a wonderful show and I hope you’ll tune in.

Saturday 7-9 I’ll be playing the La Veta show I mentioned above at Hoobler’s outdoor concert site. Jim and Peggy Hoobler are sweet folks who have been involved in music and history for years around the area, and last year during COVID they began having outdoor socially-distanced concerts on their lawn when all the indoor venues had to close. I have played for Jim and Peggy for many private shows over the years, and I can’t wait to play at their outdoor stage. It’s the only time I’m playing in La Veta this summer, and it should be a blast. Bring a lawn chair and the beverage of your choice to their house at 707 East Virginia Street. It’s $20/person. You can call 719-989-1530 for more info. No reservations required.

My Sunday online show 7-8:30 mountain time will be the favorites and requests that are always so much fun. I love the folks who come out to share each other’s company and my music. Come on out if you can. I’m always learning new tunes and polishing up old ones.

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That’s it for this week. I have a few other fun shows coming up including playing in Westcliffe September 4th, Yellow Pine on September 9th, and a Pink House concert in Colorado Springs on September 12th. I hope a bunch of folks from the Springs area will come out to this concert. You can find more info on that at https://pinkhouseconcerts.com/gt. 

Take care,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Nanci Griffith songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Tuesday, August 24, 7-8:30 pm mountain time 

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing an outdoor concert at Hoobler’s in La Veta 

Where:  707 East Virginia Street, La Veta 

When:  Saturday, August 28, 7-9 pm

Details:  $20/person, bring lawn chairs, beverages, friends!

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, August 29, 7-8:30 pm mountain time 

Musical Influences

I’m returning to singer/songwriters for my online theme shows starting with John Denver this week and Nanci Griffith next week, and it has me thinking of musical influences and how they have shaped me and my music. I have so many musicians and groups I have followed over my life, and as a listener and as a musician I have appreciated them for different qualities and depth in their music. From the early standards I heard my dad play I picked up rhythms and complex chords and harmonies that shaped my ear to hear and understand subtle nuances. In the folk and folk-rock ‘60s and ‘70s music of my youth I picked up an ear for acoustic instruments and songwriting structure as well as vocal harmonies and eclectic lyrics and poetry. In the rock and roll of the ‘60s through the ‘80s I grew an appreciation for the drive and grit that makes this blues-flavored music so powerful. In the Country and Texas-songwriter music I was exposed to in the ‘80s and ‘90s I heard more detail in the use of different swing-influenced chords and personal stories. So much of this music enchants me and informs my playing style and musical choices in almost every song. I normally do a deep dive on anyone I listen to if there is depth to be had in their music. I think that’s why I can hear and play a lot of different styles. I pretty much get lost in whatever world the musician or group is creating until I can understand it from the inside out. For instance, Jen and I were watching a documentary on Fleetwood Mac and their album “Rumours” the other night, and she asked me if they were an influence on me. I told her they definitely were. I can remember listening on good headphones to the song “Landslide” and being mesmerized by the acoustic guitars dancing in both ears. Then I heard the driving lead guitar, tight and strong vocal mix, and the tom-toms beating out the rhythm and I was definitely moved and wanted to listen and to eventually play that music. That’s just one example. I could say words to that effect for just about every major act I’ve come across in my life. It’s all amazing and engaging. A friend told me that my music was bringing hope back into her life, and I really think it is this amazement I feel that drives me to play with joy and feeling, and that intensity can bring hope to everyone. I’m glad to be in the flow of it.

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What have I been up to?

My senior facilities went very well last week. Some are inside with masks and some are outside without masks and they are all trying to do right by their residents. I’m still worried that we will have to stop again as the virus worsens. This is such a tough time to live through for all involved.

My Tuesday online show doing the songs of Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt was a lot of fun. I think my audience enjoyed it as much as I did. There is such a wealth of great writing between these two guys.

The last Thursday barbecue at the Yellow Pine was a very memorable one with a packed house and lots of good friends. We had such a great season, and it looks like we’ll do it again next year. I started playing at the Yellow Pine in 2001, so this is one of my longest standing gigs, and I couldn’t enjoy it more!

Friday night I got to play a dance at the Cuchara Community Center with Dennis Mills on bass, and we had a great time! I swapped between electric and acoustic guitars as we played a huge variety of songs for the dancers. If you missed it we’ll be doing a couple dances next summer as well. Stay tuned!

My Sunday online show was a big variety of music as always. There were some great requests, and I was definitely pretty far out there on couple of them. That’s always part of the fun wondering if I’m going to pull it off. Hopefully I won’t ever crash too hard!

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What am I up to this week?

I have 7 senior facilities this week including a return back to Innovage - the first time since February of last year. I’m getting pretty good at singing through a mask. I boost the highs on the mic so that the words are still intelligible, and it all works out pretty well.

My Tuesday online show 7-8:30 mountain time is doing the songs of John Denver again. His music was the first I featured on my theme shows a year ago last July, and we only got to 20 or songs out of 65 or so that I know, so there’s plenty of good songs we haven’t even touched yet. And I don’t mind singing some of the great ones we did last time if anyone remembers what we did! John’s music was some of the first I learned when I got my first ukulele and later guitar, and his accessibility and great tunes definitely influenced me in my early days.

Wednesday night I’ll be playing live in Pueblo 6-9 at the Gold Dust Saloon on Union Avenue in Pueblo. They have a nice patio where we can enjoy each other and some good food and drink, and I hope to see bunch of the old crew from Magpies and Bistoro as well as some new faces and anyone else who’d like to come out. If all goes well we may make it a regular thing! I’d like to do some appearances at Bistoro again too, so stay tuned.

Saturday night I’m playing a fundraiser for the Pueblo Arts Alliance that I’m looking forward to. If you are interested in the arts in Pueblo and you’d like to come there are tickets available at puebloarts.org. It should be fun!

My Sunday online show 7-8:30 mountain time will be the favorites and requests we always enjoy. We have such a wonderful and supportive group of folks at my online shows, and if you’ve never been you will be welcomed with open arms. Feel free to message with any requests you think I could play for you, and I’ll try to work them in as I can.

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That’s it for this week. I hope you’re doing well, and I hope to see you soon.

Best always,

Tom

Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of John Denver songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Tuesday, August 17, 7-8:30 pm mountain time 

Who:  Tom Munch

What:  playing & singing

Where:  Gold Dust Saloon, 217 S Union Ave, Pueblo

When:  Wednesday, August 18, 6-9 pm

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing ands singing for the Pueblo Arts Alliance fundraiser

Where:  info at puebloarts.org

When:  Saturday, August 21, 6-8ish pm

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, August 22, 7-8:30 pm mountain time

Songwriting

I’m contemplating songwriters and songwriting this morning. It’s a work I’ve dabbled but never fully immersed myself in. I’ve written a fair number of songs, but I’ve never been able to make it a practice that I keep on a continuous basis. Songwriters seem to always be in a thoughtful observance mode. They process all they see with a filter that sculpts the world into a poetic and melodic realm that comes naturally to them. I enjoy it when I try it, and I used to keep a pen and pad by my bedside that I would write phrases and ideas with every night. Great songwriters are fans of great literature and poetry. They look for clever word usage and imagery that expresses ideas in meaningful ways. They can distill an occurrence into 3 verses and a chorus with an optional bridge that makes you feel the place and time in a very real way. One of my favorite book series that has minstrels in it talks of how these minstrels write songs that record history and make that history into legends. And of course I think there is magic in music that goes beyond the songwriters talent - introducing a timelessness and impact that is beyond the song. And so on Tuesday I will be featuring the songs of Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt - two songwriters who revered and polished the act of songwriting to a high art. I hope you can tune in and enjoy it.

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What have I been up to?

My senior facilities went pretty well last week. For one of them the performance had to be outside because they had one resident diagnosed with COVID. This virus is surely not over. I even played one facility at the last minute on Sunday morning. That was a pleasant surprise.

My Tuesday online show doing ‘30s and ‘40s music was a thrill. I’m not sure my audience was prepared to hear that kind of music, but the memories flowed, and there were several mentions of not having heard a favorite song since hearing it with a parent many, many years ago.

Thursday at the Yellow Pine Barbecue was a little different than usual. We had a lot of new folks, and I don’t think they knew that they could stay and dance and make requests. They did seem to enjoy themselves though, and we even had my good friends Matt and Deann Pujol come out for their anniversary and dance the night away.

My Sunday online show doing favorites and requests was just about perfect. There were many regulars with a good mix of new tunes and old favorites including several spontaneous requests. 

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What am I up to this week?

I have a bunch of senior facilities this week from Colorado Springs down to Walsenburg, and it’s interesting to see how each one is dealing with the prevalence of the Delta variant in our area. I’m wearing a mask at most of them even if they say I don’t have to per their policy.

My Tuesday online show 7-8:30 mountain time is doing the afore-mentioned songs of Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt. Their songs are so engaging and impactful, and I hope you’ll tune in if you can. Remember that you can always catch my show in a replay on my website or Facebook if you can’t be there live - tommunch.com/online-concerts and facebook.com/tom.munch.

Thursday 6:30-8 is the last Yellow Pine barbecue of the season. It’s always a little sad wrapping up the summer at the Yellow Pine. The nights are getting cooler, and families are getting their kids back to school, so it’s time to stop until next year. We will have one last Yellow Pine get-together on the Thursday following Labor Day in the barn though. That is always a potluck hors d’oeuvres night as a fundraiser for the local fire department that is so appreciated in the mountain community.  That’ll be on September 9th from 6:30-8.

Friday night 7-9 I’m playing a dance with Dennis Mills on bass at the Cuchara Community Center. This should be a lot of fun, and it’ll be great to play with Dennis again. We’ve only played one other gig this summer. There’s no door fee, but donations are accepted. It is put on by the Cuchara Valley Recreation Program. Everybody in the valley usually comes out to these fun dances! You’re always welcome.

My Sunday online show 7-8:30 mountain time will be playing favorites and requests as usual. These are always fun nights with friends from all over the country and sometimes world, and I truly enjoy them!

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I mentioned possibly playing at the Gold Dust Saloon in Pueblo, and several people responded that they’d love to do it.  I’m scheduled to play there on Wednesday, August 18th, from 6-9. If it goes well we’ll set up a regular schedule.

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That’s it for this week. This summer is waning quickly, and I’m enjoying it immensely and hoping the virus doesn’t slow us down a lot. 

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Tuesday, August 10, 7-8:30 pm mountain time 

Who:  Tom Munch

What:  playing & singing at the barbeque

Where:  Yellow Pine Guest Ranch, Cuchara.  719-742-3528

When:  Thursday, August 12, 6:30-8:00 pm

Who:  Tom Munch and Dennis Mills

What:  playing for a dance put on by the Cuchara Valley Recreation Program

Where:  Cuchara Community Center, Cuchara

When:  Friday, August 13, 7-9 pm

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, August 15, 7-8:30 pm mountain time

Awareness

 I have a big topic in mind this morning - awareness. What does that mean? Well, it’s pretty broad. I usually use it in a more spiritual sense, but it doesn’t have to be that big. It can be as simple as the awareness of where you are standing or sitting and what is around you as you read this. I believe it is the key to our whole existence. Who you are and what you are currently doing is pretty much all there is. Being aware of this and how it relates you to others around you and where you are in the world determines what you will do today and what will result from that. I ask this of myself every day. Who am I? Where am I? What am going to do with that? In any situation there is always an overview that keeps me on center. To me this is what awareness is all about. When I see someone who is floundering I usually think that they just need some awareness. I also think this when I see someone mistreating someone else or lying or manipulating someone else. It just takes slowing down long enough to look at our situation and think of where we can do the most good for ourselves and others. That is one of my core beliefs. Does that sound true for you?

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What have I been up to?

My senior facilities last week were very fulfilling. I had one that had to cancel an online show because of an outbreak. That troubles me. I don’t know when we’ll be truly through with this virus. I recorded a show for them that they can show to individual residents.

My Tuesday night online show playing traveling songs was a lot of fun. It’s hard to believe that there are so many songs about traveling from so many different genres.

Thursday at the Yellow Pine Barbecue was full of good friends - some who are headed back home after their summer vacation at their mountain cabins. It was great to see them one last time and wish them safe travels.

My Sunday online show quite unexpectedly turned into a lot of ‘70s folk-rock songs. It was fun!

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What am I up to this week?

I have half a dozen senior facilities once again that I am looking forward to playing for. With the new recommendations for indoor mask wearing I will need to communicate with each to see how things have changed for each facility.

My Tuesday online show 7-8:30 mountain time will feature ‘30s and ‘40s standards. I’ve only done this style of music a couple times, and I always forget how much I love this music that I grew up with. I think we’ll really enjoy it!

Thursday 7:30-8 is the Yellow Pine Barbecue once again. We only have two more weeks - this one and next, and I hope folks will come out for some great barbecue and music in the old barn. They only have a few openings, and I’d love to see anyone who was hoping to come out this summer who hasn’t been yet. The number to call is 719-742-3528 by Tuesday morning for booking each week.

My Sunday online show 7-8:30 mountain time will feature favorites and requests as always. I’m finally getting time to catch up on some of the requests I’ve had over the last couple months as things slow just a little. I so love the folks we’ve gathered around us for these online shows. And if you haven’t attended you’re missing a wonderful evening of friendship and music.

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Possible Pueblo performances 

I recently talked to the Gold Dust Saloon on Union about doing some regular performances there like I used to do at Magpies. We would start outside and then hopefully move into the balcony over the main room inside as the weather cools. Do you Pueblo folks like the food and atmosphere at the Gold Dust enough to make it a regular place for us? Please let me know. I would start pretty quickly.

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That’s it for this week. I hope you’re able to approach each situation you’re in this week with the awareness you deserve. This life can be beautiful if we let it.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of ‘30s and ’40s Standards songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Tuesday, August 3, 7-8:30 pm mountain time 

Who:  Tom Munch

What:  playing & singing at the barbeque

Where:  Yellow Pine Guest Ranch, Cuchara.  719-742-3528

When:  Thursday, August 5, 6:30-8:00 pm

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, August 8, 7-8:30 pm mountain time