Warm wishes for 2019, everyone! 

My big long term project for this year is a new solo album. I've been writing bits and pieces for it since the autumn, and now I'm trying to clear some time and space to really sink into the process over the coming months. I have a working title and a vision for the album that is slowly coming into focus, but I'm not quite ready to share that just yet. Mostly because it's still early in the process and things might change. 

But I will give you periodic updates! Possibly in video form.

In the meantime, I've got my gig calendar more or less up to date. I'm really excited for Driveway Thriftdwellers' self-titled vinyl release next weekend. This is the first time I've been on vinyl! We'll be at Anodyne Coffee in Milwaukee next Friday, January 18. Details here. 

Later in the month, The Civil Engineers will be hitting the road with Wurk for a mini-tour. Hopefully we'll fare better than the poor dude in the poster:

I also just finished a composition for Five Points Jazz Collective called Start Somewhere. Stop by the Mason Lounge on a Tuesday evening and perhaps you'll hear it! 

That's all for now. Cheerio!

Hi friends,

It's been a crazy busy summer between The Big Payback's two RESPECT shows (one was at the Majestic Theater in Madison, and a similar event is happening in Michigan this weekend), Driveway Thriftdwellers finishing up our new album, and tons of shows between all my bands. 

I'm happy to announce a solo acoustic show! I'll be providing brunch music at Porter, a unique coffee shop and restaurant in the historic train depot on West Washington Ave. Their menu looks amazing, by the way. I hope you can make it!

Kyle Rightley @ Porter
Saturday, August 25
10 am - 1 pm

What a week! My album "Making Home" won the Madison Area Music Association award for country/bluegrass album of the year! And The Civil Engineers also took home pop/R&B album of the year! Thanks for the votes! It's an honor to be part of the Madison music scene. 

Apparently, I was holding the award backwards for this picture and they had to flip the image. But don't pay too much attention to that. :)

Snow day!

Lessons are cancelled, and I'm home writing music and drinking tea. Kind of an unexpected activity for late April, but I'm rolling with it. I've gone into full-on winter mode. Snowed in, staying snug and warm.

I'm working on new music that will be playable solo as well as with my band. I'm using the dobro mostly. I'm going to work a little dobro set into my next solo gig, which by the way has just been confirmed as May 22 at the Up North Bar. More details coming soon!

I also recently wrote a song for The Civil Engineers. We're working on lyrics for it, and you'll be hearing it probably at the next show. It's sounding pretty awesome so far.

Take care and be good,
Kyle

I've got exciting news!

I'm going to be playing my solo music... with a band! Like, a real band. It's a 3-piece group I'm putting together with two friends that I've really enjoyed playing with over the last few years. Eric Shackelford (drums) plays with me every Tuesday night at the Mason Lounge with the Five Points Jazz Collective, and he also plays with local legends Aaron Williams and the Hoodoo. Lucas Koehler (bass) has played with me in both Five Points and The Big Payback, and he's been a fixture of the Madison jazz/funk scene for a while. 

We had our first rehearsal this last weekend, and I'm excited about the possibilities. Both these guys are very capable on their instruments and great listeners to boot- a combination I always look for in musicians! We'll be rooted in the kind of folk/Americana sound from my solo records, but we'll be exploring other musical territories as well. 

Right now, we're called the Kyle Rightley Band. I guess that name is pretty self-explanatory, if not a little dull. I was going to try to think of something better, but time got away from me, and now it's on the poster:
...which brings me to the gig! The (for now) Kyle Rightley Band will debut on Saturday, March 17 (St. Patrick's Day) at the Frequency. Zach Pietrini put together this bill, and he was nice enough to bring me on board. Thanks, Zach! I've also played with The Lone Canary before, and I look forward to hearing them again.

I hope to see you there!
Kyle