news
New: Youtube Channel
April 2008
Hey folks, there is an official Rita Hosking Youtube channel now, here's a link: Rita Hosking Youtube Channel
Complete with a couple unreleased songs and all. Hope you check it out, leave comments, enjoy the wonders of Youtube.
Also, the California Bluegrass Association asked me to write a short piece on how I, in their words, got hooked on bluegrass. So I did that, and they posted it on their website. Many thanks to the C.B.A.! Here's the link: California Bluegrass Association Hooked on Bluegrass
Thanks very much and Best to you and yours,
Rita
Silver Stream Review
February, 2008
A new review of Silver Stream by Midwest Record just in--
RITA HOSKING
RITA HOSKING/Silver Stream: Remember when you wanted to like Gillian Welch or Iris DeMent but there just wasn't something you felt you could
grab onto? Hosking takes it to the next level of the game. Maybe it's because her organic elements weren't crafted by a major label and really are organic. A rising bluegrass queen with strong folk/rock elements and an appreciation for all things country, her latest gets higher marks than the usual DIY recording because it's running on a lot more than good intentions. Loaded with verve, spirit and out of the box energy, you don't have to be a hardcore bluegrass fan to play this often and loud. A top shelf recording all the way.
Volume 31/Number 96
February 4, 2008
MIDWEST RECORD
830 W. Route 22 #144
Lake Zurich, IL., 60047
CHRIS SPECTOR, Editor and Publisher
(c)2008 Midwest Record
Well, I've never had a hard time liking Welch or Dement, but hey, I won't refuse the compliment...
Best,
Rita
Happy New Year
January 2008
Greetings all,
Here's some news since the last report--
Dan Ruby and all the nice folks at FestivalPreview.com posted an interview with me from last spring Strawberry, (along with alot of other great videos) You Tube Link Here . A little fuzzy but warm remembrance of a very memorable morning. Thank you, FestivalPreview.com!
I attended the Far West Folk Alliance for the third time, this year in Vancouver, WA. We celebrated and recognized performer Rosalie Sorrels--last year it was Utah Phillips. A few days before the conference, Bruce Utah Phillips announced his official retirement from performing. He was and will be sorely missed.
KVMR's radio program guide for January listed Top Picks of 2007, and three djs listed Silver Stream as a top pick--Eric Rice, Kim Rogers, and Dennis Brunnenmeyer. Thank you Eric, Kim and Dennis, and thank you KVMR !
The Loose Acoustic Trio kindly invited me to sing a duet of/with Ken Cooper called Me and You for their upcoming new CD. Many thanks to the Loose Acoustic Trio, and we look forward to hearing the album!
Talented artist Thom Wilder of ReFoundry made me a beautiful necklace with metal from the burned up trailer in Silver Stream. What an unexpected pleasure to meet such an interesting artist and accomplished jeweler--he makes jewelry with old metals or leathers that tell a story, that are special in some way. (And you'll have to take a look at my necklace at the next show.) I highly recommend checking him out. (See myspace link above.)
More later, hope you're all hunkered down for the winter and we'll see you soon--
Best to you and yours,
Rita
I Tunes/Digital Downloads now available, and Emerging Artist Award
September, 2007
Howdy all,
I hope all is well with you and yours. We're now on itunes and many other such places, just search for Rita Hosking... Also in the news, we won an Emerging Artist Competition at the Plymouth Bluegrassin in the Foothills festival. We weren't there to compete, just to have fun and listen to all the other wonderful bands, so it was quite a surprise and honor. Many thanks to you all who were at Plymouth!
SILVER STREAM AVAILABLE ONLINE and THANK YOU!
July 2007
Yep, Silver Stream is now available for purchase online at CD Baby-- CLICK HERE!
Not only can you buy it there, you can just listen to bits of it, or you can write a review at the bottom of the page (anyone can write a review--it's easy, simple, and you don't need to be a CD Baby shopper to do it.) I'd love some reviews, so if you're inclined, please do!
A VERY BIG THANK YOU to all of you who came and made our CD Release Party at the Palms a huge success!!!! We had an awesome night, and are so grateful for your generous support. THANK YOU!! (And look for your photo in the gallery!!??)
Take Care,
Rita
CD RELEASE, and what a great time at Strawberry!
June 2007
The new CD is finally here! Hurrah!! It made a debut at Strawberry Music Festival, and will be officially released on June 22nd at the Palms Playhouse in Winters, CA. Online purchases will be available after then, here through CD Baby. I'm really looking forward to it, and am grateful to some special DJ's who are giving folks a peek on their shows--KVMR, KDVS, KPFA, Jefferson Public Radio, and..maybe more?
Strawberry was a blast, as we expected! We played two sets, one on Friday and one at the Sunday morning gospel show by the lake--the Revival. Pictures are up in the photos section, and some nice words have been posted..here's a link to D.A.T.E. Magazine of Redding where you'll find a nice mention of our show by musician and writer Jim Dyar. Also, FestivalPreview.com was there, and has made some mentions of us in their Strawberry discussions, and will post a videotaped interview of Rita sometime soon.
Hope to see you at the CD Release show, or sometime in the near future. Thanks for visiting and Take Care,
Rita
Roots Music Report, and the new CD is off to the printers!
May 1st, 2007
Here's some great news, Are You Ready? is on its fourth week on the Roots Music Report's Bluegrass chart!
Also, I just sent the new CD audio master off to the duplicators, so we're just a few weeks away to having new CD's in hand. Yeah! Here's hoping you can come to our CD release show at the Palm Playhouse in Winters, CA on June 22nd, 2007.
Thank you, Take Care, and here's to glorious Spring!
Rita
We Got News Alright
March, 2007
That's right, news news news!!!
We got booked at Spring Strawberry!!!! Yeehaw!! Friday, May 25th at 11:30am!
We will have a CD Release Show at the Palms!!!! In June, near the solstice, details t.b.a. !! Yessirree!!
I'm working hard on containing myself, and Bill Edwards is working real hard on mixing away on that new CD, mastering is late April, then off to the printers.
We are truly thankful, and a little frenzied. Thank you to all of you who have helped us get here.
I've got a Sonicbids EPK now, you can view it by clicking
here.
Love and Peace for a beautiful Spring,
Rita
Renewed and Ready
November, 2006
Greetings all, and a Happy Thanksgiving to you. We are renewed from the incredibly awesome Far-West Folk Alliance Conference we attended last weekend. To be part of such a loving and supportive community of musicians, promoters and more was an experience in and of itself. We had an awesome jam till the wee morning hours in our showcase room featuring Paul Kamm, Keith Greeninger, Al Vasquez and many a beautiful more. We also met some new friends through the all-nighter bluegrass jam down in the lobby! (Those California Bluegrass Association folks don't require sleep, I think.) Thank you, Far-West and all who participated!
We are "ready" to withdraw to our winter break of writing, recording, and general mining of the subconscience. I expect wonderful things to share at the end of it, and I hope that you and yours have a peaceful season. Don't forget to come say howdy at the myspace page (click here). Looking forward to seeing you all soon,
Rita
Fun Pictures, and ...MySpace
Late August, 2006
Our summer tours were good fun! Met lots of great folks, made lots of music. Check out some pictures in photos section. Our road manager, Julie took most of them. Thank you Julie, and thank you to Beeyo for posting them!...
Speaking of Julie, she has made a splash on the web of her own with a beautiful new site--visit by clicking JMH Architecture !
Other news, I officially jumped on the myspace bandwagon today. Heck if I know what to do with it yet, but darnit, I've got a page... 
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Check me out! They tell me now I need friends...
We're starting back at the second CD, after the summer's excitement. Looking forward to it. Hope to see you out and about! Take Care, Rita
Stories from abroad
July, 2006
Weee're back from our little Northwest road trip. Here are a couple articles from press thereabouts... Olympia and Eugene (scroll down to "Old-timey Newcomer".)
We had the pleasure of playing with two dear old friends--Jan Peters in Bellingham, and Dave Theno in Mt. Shasta. I used to play with both of them in a band with Diane Patterson, back in the ole' days in Davis. Both of those events were very special, but I must say that the Olympians won the best audience prize!
After a show in Winters this week, I'm off to a silver mining history workshop in Northern Idaho, then a Berkeley show, and then Cousin Jack (including Andy, yippee!) will fly to Wisconsin for a bluegrass festival. Busy, but exciting and fun.
May you and yours have a great summer. All the best, Rita.
Happy Warm Weather
May, 2006
We're really, actually, truly working on the second album now. Slowly but surely it should materialize before the year's out. We've got a busy spring/summer coming up--including a trip to the NW and also a festival in Wisconsin. Andy, a Minnesota native, is coming along to show us around (and also to play some rockin fiddle, of course.) Looking forward to it, and we hope to see some of you out enjoying the weather and music. Take Care, Rita
Keeping Busy
February 2006
Well, we had a great show at Amnesia in the San Francisco Bluegrass and Old Time Festival early this month. A new logo is in the making--look for it on the site soon, stickers, etc.. at gigs. While continuing the quest for the perfect studio microphone, plans for the second album are slowly coming together. Looking forward to a fun double-bill with the Mad Cow String Band on March 4th in Santa Cruz at the Cayuga Vault. They just released a great live album--click on their name to get to the site. Keeping busy, hope all is well with you and yours.
"Best New Artist" from Eric Rice
December 9th, 2005
Great news--Eric Rice of KVMR's twenty year-old Countyline Bluegrass Show has named Rita Hosking as "Best New Artist" for 2005. Thank you
Eric!
Happy Holidays
December, 2005
We had the pleasure early this month interviewed and taped for an upcoming documentary on the progressive roots of country music by Jesse and Glenda Drew. Looking forward to that one!--We'll let you know when it's available for viewing.
Also in December--early work on a second album, and of course, booking!
Song Recognized and Reviews
Late Spring 2005
Rita's song "Kitchen Table and Chairs" won "Honorable mention" (which meant second place) in the Americana category of the West Coast Songwriters International Song Contest this year.
For review of Are You Ready? by the California Bluegrass Association, click on C.B.A. Review. For a review by Rootstime of Belgium, click on Rootstime Review.
Are You Ready? available online
Spring 2005
RITA HOSKING'S DEBUT ALBUM, "ARE YOU READY?", is available for purchase online. The 13 song c.d. (12 originals and 1 Hazel Dickens tune) features Rita, Sean Feder, Bill Dakin, Joe Craven, Bill Edwards, Florie Brown, and special guest, Rob Ickes.
JUST CLICK ON THE ALBUM COVER PICTURE TO LISTEN TO SAMPLES, OR TO PURCHASE THROUGH "cd baby"!
