How you can help eTown . . and what’s up with this week’s show:

By Helen ~ November 29, 2011

Back by popular demand: Shawn Mullins and Cloud Cult! This is one of my favorite shows we’ve done, and we’re so happy to be able to share it with you this week:

Nick and I welcome back Atlanta-based singer/songwriter Shawn Mullins. He’s been on the show a number of times, and he’s a real favorite around eTown, just a great singer, songwriter and, well, guy. This appearance is one of his all-time eTown best. I always feel so lucky to get to sing with him, and I know Nick and the rest of the eTones love backing him up too. If you’re new to him, I know you’ll love him.

Also with us this week, the amazingly gifted group Cloud Cult from Minnesota. This is one of the best new bands I’ve come across in a while. Their original work is almost indescribable, but you know me, I’m going to try, right? In a word, they’re amazing. Original songs, with wide sweeping musical influences (everything from orchestral to rock) with plenty of harmonic dissonance thrown in, all surrounding themes of joy and rebirth in the face of tragedy. It’s really great stuff that you need to experience.

So there’s a lot going on in eTown this week, including an E-Chievement Award winner with a great story to tell.

In other news: I hope you had a great Thanksgiving holiday weekend. I hope you had a chance to recharge your batteries, be with family and friends, rest, relax, and enjoy great food. As we head into this NEXT holiday season, I want to let you know about a great and easy way you can help eTown:

As many of you know, eTown (a 501©3 nonprofit org) only reaches out once a year to ask for operational support and this is it. Toward this purpose, we ’ve just recently received a $50,000 matching grant from an individual donor. That’s right, eTown will receive $50K in matching funds if we can raise that much by the end of the year. We’re already 30% of the way there toward our $50,000 goal with a month to go, which is great, but we still need your help to make this happen.

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to eTown as part of your charitable giving this year; your contribution will be doubled! And you’ll help keep eTown on the air. Here’s a few options for doing so:

Donate on-line on our website: etown.org/donate

Mail a check to: eTown, Box 954, Boulder CO 80302

Donate by phone: (call Heather @ 303-443-8696 ext. 100 and she’ll be happy to help you)

You’ll be responsible for keeping great, one-of-a-kind live music performances, plus hopeful, helpful information and meaningful, respective dialogue, going out each week. And every dollar you donate will be doubled.

Thank you so much for considering this.

Talk to you soon,

Helen