WAITSBURG - On February 11, the Touchet Valley Acoustic Music Project (TVAMP) began recording local musicians for a new album to be released on CD. This is TVAMP's fourth production, preceded by two CDs for the Blue Mountain Troublemakers and one for Switchgrass Delta.

TVAMP Project Leader Kate Hockersmith said, "We have so many wonderful local musicians in and around Waitsburg, and for years I've wanted to record local singer/songwriters.

In early February, Mike Easton of Bar Bacetto, approached Hockersmith and asked if she had plans to record, he would be happy to help. Easton studied sound engineering and worked in studios in Seattle for about ten years, while working in the restaurant industry.

Easton's offer to help Hockersmith, came at the perfect time. She had begun pre-production on an album featuring local musicians performing their original work. It only took Easton and Hockersmith a few weeks to get the project on track, recording on Sunday afternoons, primarily at the TVAMP studio in Waitsburg.

The following artists that have completed recording:

Jimmye Turner: "Sweet Appalachia" and "Green Fields"

Carrie Hendrix: "Paint Me a Picture of Jesus"

Brian Hunt: "Ladder of Tenderness" and "You and Me and Both"

Paul Gregutt: "Waiting for Waitsburg"

Mike McQuary: "God's in the Basement"

Hockersmith said recording will continue over the next few weeks. The completed CD, with influences from bluegrass, blues, rock, folk, and Americana, should be available this summer. Look for it at TVAMP, Ten Ton Coffee, at the Mythical/Movable Bluegrass Jams, and other outlets.

Proceeds from the sale of the CD will benefit Rural Youth Enrichment Services (501c3) (RYES). TVAMP is a Project of RYES.