Marita Brake: News

This is a first! I made it on to The Cabinet.com Blog,
which seems to be dedicated to all things dark and spooky.
Me? Precious little Marita!
I guess we all have a dark side! In this case it concerns a song from my second CD, GypsyMoon, "Poor Babes in the Wood", which is, I suppose a bit on the dark side. The site gives me kudos for keeping the integrity of the song true to its original story from the 15th century.
Thanks goes out to The Cabinet and all its readers.
Check it out......if you dare! Issue 8/9/07

You've been hearing a lot from me lately about the film, 10MPH, since some of my music is featured in it.
Now you can purchase the film yourself!!! It is available
at Blockbuster and Netflix.
You may view the trailer at:
http://www.myspace.com/10mphthemovie

Sing Out, one of the most revered magazines in the traditional music genre, published a very small
(you might need a magnifying glass) on the release of The Celtic Rose.
It is in their Spring 2007 issue.
Small though it may be, a great appreciation goes out to them and their publication.
Available at Borders Bookstores or by subscription.

Several Podcasts are either now or have in their archives, featured Marita's music. A few to check out would be:
www.celticmusicpodcast.com/2006_2007, www.bellobard.com. www.mefeeda.com, www.odeo.com/channel/6585, celtic mp3s, Podcast #22 at www.livejournal.com

A new year and a new effort by Marita and her collaborator, Gretchen Meyer, "I Wish You Love"
was just picked up by Brandon Hills Music Publishing.

December 16th, Marita will be performing at State Farm Insurance's Corporate Headquarters (Bloomington, Illinois) in "The Sounds Of Christmas". An extravaganza of orchestras
classic Christmas carols and pop favorites.
The tickets are free but available by lottery only.
Contact: The Music Shoppe
309-452-7436 for more details.

Marita has just released a new book of poetry, Untamed Heart, on BodyPlanet Press. No distribution deal yet, but you'll be the first to know when and where you will be able to purchase a copy.

She hasn't played the Taj Mahal yet or even with Taj Mahal but she has done some pretty high profile gigs including, a showcase at Carnegie Hall, two presidential Inaugurals, The Crystal Cathedral, Canterbury Music Festival in Canterbury, England and BBC Radio. She's dedicated Native Prairies, played the same coffeehouse Bob Dylan got his feet wet at in Minneapolis, The Coffeehouse Extempore and even perfomed at a Hobo Convention in Iowa!
And it doesn't end there.

Some of the more notable performers that Marita has performed with include
Allison Krauss (she even studied guitar with former Union Station guitarist, John Pinnel) John Hartford
(the late, great fiddle player and riverboat captain) Bela Fleck, Suzy Bogguss, the legendary Ernest Tubbs (I'm Walking The Floor Over You), the award winning author/radio host, Studs Terkel and actress Ann Jillian, just to name a few. Who will be next? Stay tuned.

New to this site, five free downloads of Marita's music are available to you.
Just press the music button, there are downloads from each of her three CDs.
See if you can find them.

In the past year Marita has been featured in numerous magazines, ezines, newspapers and web sites.
Among them, the UK's Kindred Spirit (she received more stars than Enya in their review), a glowing review in both New Age Reporter.com and at Celtic mp3.com, Rennaisance Magazine, Moonshadows Magazine and Gothic Beauty Magazine. She was even reviewed in Poland's Recenzie, New Classics-UK, Illinois Times and various wire services! The diversity in coverage reflects the global music community's accepting Marita as a true artist in her own right. Did we forget to mention Australia?

Marita's latest:
The film 10 MPH features one cut from The Celtic Rose, Marita's newest release. Track One, The Celtic Spirit, will be part of the film's soundtrack.
Of course you can give a listen at www.cd.baby.com.
In other news, this is Marita's new and official website. maritabrake.com is no longer in use.

Marita along with co-writers, Gretchen Meyer and Erik Nelson won an American Advertising Federation Award for a song they co-wrote, "Patent Leather Shoes" for Easter Seals of Greater Peoria.
Previously Marita has been nominated for "A Distinguished Alumni Award" from Illinois State University and was a recipient of the YWCA's "Woman of Distinction Award" in the arts.