Hey everybody! There are lots of cool things coming up this summer, and I wanted to make sure you’re in the loop.
This coming Friday, we will be celebrating freedom at The Third Door off the square in Marietta. The square fireworks start at dusk, and the patio at Third Door is one of the best spots to catch the show, so get there early, grab a seat, and settle in for a great 4th. They’re throwing an all-day celebration with back-to-back live music from 2 – 11:30 PM along with their new summer cocktail & food menus to keep the party going. My band will be playing as soon as the fireworks end (9:30ish). Rideshare is suggested as parking on the square will be limited. Get there early to make sure you get a spot, and keep in mind The Third Door does not serve food so you may want to check out one of the restaurants on the square. There are new ones! And also there is now a Jeni’s, and there’s probably already a line for Friday lol. So get there early, walk around and check out the new stuff, and end your party with us!! This lineup features Mike Martin on the guitar, Jason Shewmake on the bass, and Dwayne Jones on the drums. Doors open at 1.
Friday, July 11th, the trio (Mandi, Jason Shewmake, Edgar Clark Jr.) returns to Rootstock in Woodstock. Right in the heart of downtown Woodstock, Rootstock has been hosting local original music since 2017, and has a locally sourced gourmet menu. This is a great place to take a date or treat yourself while supporting local artistry. Plus they have an entire menu of Old Fashioned’s. What could possibly go wrong? Music is from 7 – 10.
Saturday, July 12th, the trio will be at my local watering hole, Winston’s on Sandy Plains in Marietta. I’ve been coming here since I moved to the area in 2004 and my family just keeps growing. This place is always entertaining. And they have delicious late night bar food. Plus, we’ve been trying out some new stuff lately. Bring yourself, bring your appetite, bring your energy, and bring your dancing shoes. No really, please wear shoes. Music is from 8 – 11.
We will also be at Winston’s 8/23 and 9/13. We try to do this thing once a month to keep you on your toes. Tell your friends, tell yo mom an’ ’em. Let’s make this thing a regular party.
Yes!! Doc’s Annual Luau is happening again! There will as always be a pig roast, live music, DJ Rick Joyner, a raffle and giveaways! Let’s get lei’d!!!!!! I’ll be playing r&b and blues from 6 – 9. This place also has yummy late night food (check the specials, order a level down on the buffalo tenders – they are HOT!, and don’t sleep on the brownie bites… yeah, I might eat here a lot…) and a loyal crowd. My other family in GA…. I’m honored to still play here after all these years. I think I started playing here in 2006. And I may never stop. Good tunes, good food, mean drinks, and never a dull moment. Plus we’re making money for the Bassett Hound Rescue of GA. So…. YEAH.
Thursday, July 31st I’ll be playing a new venue in Eatonton, GA called Barrel 118. This is all new to all of us, so more details to follow, but if you’re in the area, keep an eye on this because I have a feeling I’ll be playing here more often. It’s an event venue but also has a Happy Hour in the Backstage Lounge. New. Birth. Starting fresh. These are awesome things. And I love journeys.
And, finally, the event we’ve been waiting for since last fall, I will be pairing up with the Couldn’t Be Happiers in Winston-Salem, NC. These are new friends of mine (through a grade school friend) whom I played with in 2023 and their songwriting is phenomenal and their energy is contagious. I’ll let the writeup speak for itself. The Ramkat is very pleased to welcome Couldn’t Be Happiers back to Gas Hill Drinking Room on August 7, 2025, with special guests Mandi Strachota! Doors at 7 PM, show at 8 PM. Tickets are on sale NOW at TheRamkat.com! What’s in a name? For Couldn’t Be Happiers, the whole damn thing. This folk-rock/Americana duo enjoys every moment onstage together, and it’s pretty contagious. Described by Doug Davis of Flytrap Studios as “Violent Femmes meets Johnny and June,” this songwriting duo puts on a live show that all but dares you not to enjoy yourself. Their original repertoire includes stories about the obsessive drive of a Bigfoot hunter, the misadventures of a plastic bag, and the end of the world from global warming. Their homespun harmonies and powerful vocals will take you from church to holler to Opry and back. And well, y’all already know about me. This will be my first time at the Ramkat and IT LOOKS AWESOME. Check it out here: https://www.theramkat.com/
Saturday, 8/9, I’ll be singing a full set of Black Sabbath songs for A Rippin’ Productions’s 11th anniversary party at Boggs Social & Supply. It’s gonna be a HIGH ENERGY night, and I’m really not sure I need to say much more than you can see on the poster. Join me for this adventure, please. I am wildly excited about this out of my comfort zone endeavor. The music is just so damn good. You bastards! Doors at 7:30 and even I don’t know what time we start. Guess you’ll have to have extra fun.
I will be returning to Ott Farms & Vineyard in Elijay on Saturday, 8/16. The last time I played there, my boyfriend, excuse me, fiance, proposed to me. Yes, it’s that gorgeous up there. Come hang with me as I play songs from every genre and decade (well, not EVERY) in the GA mountains, with a gorgeous view and tasty local wine, and often super cute doggos will help you enjoy the tunes. Music? Mountains? Wine? Dogs? No wonder love is in the air… Music is from 1:30 – 5:30.
Friday, 8/29, the trio will be returning to Fat Matt’s Rib Shack in Atlanta. This place has been housing the blues since 1990. It’s famous for a reason. The bbq is delicious, and old school blues is served up to you five nights a week. It’s an intimate space, so expect to make friends. Music is from 7 – 10,
And finally…
That’s all for now!
Save the date:
10/11 Oakhurst Porchfest
10/22 Awendaw Green Barn Jam, Awendaw SC
11/16 Jazz’d Savannah, GA
2/22/26 WRFG Community Sessions
Remember, #SUPPORTLOCALMUSIC #SUPPORTLIVEMUSIC
It is YOU who keep us going!!! Come to our shows, listen to us on streaming platforms, buy merchandise, tell your friends, share our events… You mean more to us than you know, and we definitely notice!! You guys ROCK!!!
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