Blackbird Project

GOAL: Increase student awareness oI and engagement with the PAC and its many activities.

STRATEGY: Create more student-to-student buzz about the PAC by involving AU students
enrolled at all campuses in selecting a singer/songwriter to launch a new (hopeIully annual)
showcase concert.

STRATEGIC OB1ECTIVE: Fill the Concert Hall with students, add several hundred students
to various PAC databases; and lastly, recover cost oI booking the artist.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION: A cross-discipline committee oI students (most likely comprised oI
PAC majors) will be Iormed by calling Ior student volunteers at the 'Welcome Back Meet &
Greets Ior departments oI dance, music and theatre in September. They will be empowered to
name the event, set an approximate date, Iinalize the process (rules), and approve initial list oI
artists Ior the competition. A student PAC staIIer will coordinate and/or implement the action
steps needed starting with creation oI survey instruments to select the winning artist. A second
student staIIer may be enlisted to coordinate all marketing and publicity.

In order to build anticipation and assure better quality selection, we will have three rounds oI
'judging: First survey will be to reduce the Iield Irom approximately 12 to 6; then 6 to 3. This
three-phase process gives more students opportunities to be involved; and as they`ll be more
Iocused with each round, getting more and more Iamiliar listening to samples and viewing
YouTube clips oI the competing artists Irom their Internet sources.

The project also takes advantage oI the social media platIorms students enjoy using, and will
create opportunities Ior the PAC to build its database oI Facebook Ians, email addresses, etc. The
word 'Blackbird is code Ior this project, which may be renamed later by the PAC student
committee. It comes Irom the name oI the artist`s agency that represents the attached artists.

BUDGET: Approximately $2,000 oI the contingency Iunds within the 'Outside
Consultants/Artist Fees will be held Ior this project. All other expenses will be 'value
engineered within the PAC staII and expense line items. Ideally, enough demand will be created
by the judging process that a modest ticket price oI $5 could be charged, thus paying Ior the
$2,000 Iee.


PRILIMINARY ARTISTS FOR CONSIDERATION:

Tyrone Wells www.tyronewells.com
Tyrone Wells is a singer/songwriter in the Iolk-pop genre Irom Spokane, Washington. His songs
have been Ieatured in television shows (Greys Anatomy, Private Practice, Rescue Me, One Tree
Hill, The Jampire Diaries) and Iilm (Everyones Hero, My Sisters Keeper).
Tyrone set a record in 2006 at the National Association Ior Campus Activities Ior most college
and university bookings in the history oI the Convention Irom a single showcase.
He was inspired by his older sisters who "brought out the music in me" but did not begin
songwriting until his move to CaliIornia. While attending Hope International University in
Southern CaliIornia Tyrone joined the band Skypark.

The Milk Carton Kids (http://themilkcartonkids.com)
Their songs betray the youth oI the members oI the band, so do the old guitars they play and old
clothing they wear. But to be sure, The Milk Carton Kids have something new to present:
harmonies & minimalist instrumentation which are a clear reIerence to times passed, but with an
eye intently on the Iuture; a perspective on coming-oI-age in the eye oI a present-day storm; and
the chronicling oI an American struggle Ior simplicity, at least musically. To present it they use
two guitars and two voices, they labor over the arrangements, they record themselves live, and
they release their music on their own label, and Ior Iree.
Kenneth Pattengale & Joey Ryan have enjoyed intently listening audiences across the country and
abroad in their respective solo careers. Their songs are written together, their history together
spans only one short year. They stand close together when they play, Iacing each other and using
microphones instead oI plugging their guitars in. And iI they looked more alike, they`d Iool you
that they were brothers.

Olin & The Moon (https://www.Iacebook.com/olinandthemoon)
Olin & The Moon have already been making 2011 their year in the two short months its been in
existance. From a sell-out crowd opening Ior Lucero in Los Angeles earlier this month to a
January residency at the Echo that got the Los Angeles Times, NYLON, LAist and LA Weekly
talking; this is only the beginning.
Being recognized as the only unsigned band to make Music`s Rising Stars OI 2011 as chosen by
The Daily Beast, the band are ready to take the buzz they`ve been receiving in Los Angeles in
support oI their latest - 'Footsteps - released in January. It has the theme song Ior One Tree
Hills upcoming season and will be Ieatured in an episode they were recently named Clear
Channel's Artist oI the month.

Brian Wright www.brianwrightmusic.com http://www.brianwrightmusic.com
AIter spending his early twenties on the Austin/Waco/Dallas bar circuit, playing everything Irom
punk to covers, Wright Ilipped a coin to decide his Iuture home, either New York City or Los
Angeles. Today, when not touring, he resides in Los Angeles where he is a Iixture in the LA
music scene. For the last six years he has been the Iront man and lyricist Ior his band Brian
Wright and the Waco Tragedies, a band that has gathered a devoted audience across the country.
'When people ask what I sound like I usually say I`m somewhere between Woody Guthrie and
Velvet Underground, says Wright. It`s true but there is also hints oI Townes Van Zandt and Guy
Clark Iused with a bluesy slide guitar and a simple, but enchanting Paul McCartney like bass line.
'I love playing in my band, sitting in with Iellow musicians, but this album Iinally allowed me to
make the music the exact way it was in my head. The Iourteen songs on House on Fire Iurther
cement Wright`s quest to becoming a premiere singer/songwriter.

Cameron McGill & What Army
https://www.facebook.com/cameronmcgillandwhatarmy?vapp_178091127385
His Iirst album, Stories oI The KniIe and The Back (2004), describes a youth who leaves his
mountain village to become a poet. The lush instrumentation and beautiIully craIted melodies,
belie the dark nature oI the song content. Mostly Iocusing on personal admissions oI guilt and
Iailure, the album's characters struggle with coming to terms with mortality. All throughout, they
simply try to Iind a Iriend and Iall in love.
This was Iollowed by Street Ballads & Murderesques (2006), the tale oI a schoolboy totally out
oI touch with his contemporaries, who Ilees through diIIerent cities aIter his escape Irom home.
These are songs oI imminent regret, class IV rapids, European gypsies, pre-renaissance Germany,
cities with chips on their shoulder, veterans oI domestic war, handwritten letters and handmade
harmony, Ioreign wines and local girls, break-ups and breakdowns, and post-war divorcees.
From Chicago, new album out April 12
th
opened Ior Margot & The Nuclear So & So's this past
Iall and has toured with Rachel Yamagata, Tilly & The Wall, etc.


Matthew Mayfield www.matthewmayIield.com
Matthew`s career as a solo artist has evolved naturally over the past Iew years, his Ianbase
growing organically and his songwriting skills growing exponentially. But it has not just been the
quality oI Matthew`s songs that sets him apart. The proliIic musician has selI-released eight EPs
since 2008, oIIering his Ians a consistent stream oI new music. In September oI 2008, Matthew
recorded his debut solo EP, The Fire EP, Ior $1000 in a Birmingham basement. This disc
spawned 'First In Line, which appeared in the 100th episode oI Greys Anatomy. Matthew`s
second EP Iollowed in July 2009. Five Chances Remain Hers, produced by Paul Moak, which
landed another track on Greys Anatomy. The single skyrocketed to No. 1 on the iTunes
singer/songwriter chart and in December oI 2009 Matthew oIIered Ians a third EP Maybe Next
Christmas. He has toured with Pete Yorn, Needtobreathe, SwitchIoot, etc

Pete Francis of Dispatch - http://www.Iacebook.com/peteIrancismusic

New York City based singer-songwriter, Pete Francis, is set to release his new album The Movie
We Are In this May 2010. Whereas Francis` previous solo albums were largely selI-produced, he
uprooted his more traditional approach to album-making and assembled an entirely new crew
with Los Angeles based producer JeII Trott (right hand man to Sheryl Crow as writer and
guitarist).

Says Francis, 'In the past I`ve worked with acoustic guitar, bass, drums, B3 organ, but I wanted
to bring a modern electronic element into my music. The musicians that Trott assembled Ior the
recording sessions helped to create this colorIul landscape. Having worked with artists such as
Beck, Nine Inch nails, Gnarls Barkley, Willie Nelson, Queens oI the Stone Age, Dr. Dre, and
Scott Weiland, the musicians (Brian LeBarton, Justin Meldal-Johnsen, John O`Brien, Victor
Indrizzo and others) provided an extraordinary musical palette oI talent and sensibility.



Tim Brantley www.Iacebook.com/timbrantleymusicpage

His new album, Goldtop Heights, is a captivating and moving debut that heralds the arrival oI a
giIted and signiIicant new talent, one whose music Ieels Iamiliar in the best possible way, while
striking out on his own territory.

A Georgia boy who grew up in Loganville, near Decatur, Brantley played piano as a child, but
didn`t take music seriously until he was in his early 20`s. Recording on his laptop and playing the
songs he was writing Ior his Iriends, Tim saw their genuinely excited reaction. 'Two Iriends
heard the songs, and even though we were all broke, they approached me and we pooled our
money to buy a microphone and a recording console. 'I grew up with a lot oI 70`s rock, Tim
explains, 'My mom used to play Carole King all the time. I naturally gravitate to that kind oI
sound; there`s a warmth and timelessness to it that I`ve always loved.

Tim is currently on the road, honing his live show playing both acoustic and with a band. 'It`s
gaining momentum, Tim says. 'With the band, we`re getting exciting there`s a lot oI oII the
cuII stuII that`s happening on stage. Being on the road all the time is something I`ve always
wanted. Just came oII 'The Rock Boat and Iresh oII a tour with Tyrone Wells.

Tony Lucca www.tonylucca.com
Singer-songwriter Tony Lucca`s sixth studio album 'Rende:vous With the Angels, out July 13,
2010, on Rock Ridge Music (through Warner Music Group`s Alternative Distribution Alliance),
Iinds the perIormer craIting his most thoughtIul, tuneIul, and mature work yet. The album
includes appearances by Lucca`s 2009 tour mate Sara Bareilles (who duets on 'ack to Me) and
Lady Antebellum guitarist Jason 'Slim Gambill (Ieatured on the bonus track 'Nobody ut
You).
The songs on the new album, mostly penned on the road over the course oI a busy 2009 touring
schedule, demonstrate new growth and Iresh perspectives on the artist`s part.
New EP with Jay Nash and Matt Duke this Iall on Rock Ridge Music - has toured with Tyrone
Wells, Marc Anthony, Joss Stone, etc.

Vandaveer www.vandaveer.net

From DC, new album out this May with Girly Action at press - Iall tours with Joe Pug, Mark
Olson, and Peter WolI (J. Geils Band) - their last release "Divide & Conquer" got great press
including a prominent Ieature in Paste the single "A Mighty Leviathan oI Old" was worked
AAA/CMJ by Terrorbird and was in rotation on MTV Subterranean

Amber Rubarth www.amberrubarth.com

At 17 years old, prior to entering the music business she moved to Carson City, NV to begin an
apprenticeship in wood sculpture, where she used a chainsaw to create large scale custom
designed sculptures. AIter three years, she was the Iirst Iemale in the program to reach
Journeyman status, and Iollowing the advice oI the head instructor Matthew Welter, she quit the
apprenticeship to pursue her dream oI becoming a Iull-time songwriter. She taught herselI to play
and write songs. Phil Ramone in The HuIIington Post describes her style as "part oI the new old-
soul generation." AIter starting out playing at open mics, local coIIee shops and small venues,
Rubarth soon moved on to touring the U.S. and has now toured nine times throughout Europe and
one time in Japan. At her concerts, she plays a hollow body Washburn H-15 electric guitar
through a Fender Champ, as well as piano.