She is a rare bird, with exotic plumage, and a bell-like tone to her exquisite and expressive voice. Amy Speace has three albums under her belt, plus an EP called Into the New: Alternates, Leftovers, & Orphans, that she put out at the beginning of the year. When we were in Nashville this September, Music Fog wound up with some time in the schedule, so we summoned her. I believe we actually had the audacity to call her at 8am, but she is the kind of artist who you can wake early, and won't be surly when you do. She even called her band mates to roust them, too! Alas, festival life means burning the candle at both ends!

Amy has a new tour and project, because, after all, you have to keep things interesting. It is called Decembersongs, and the idea for it was hatched back in February at Folk Alliance, in Memphis, following each artist's separate showcase. Amy thought bringing these voices and personalities together would be, as she says, "extraordinary." The equally intrepid artists are: Dan Navarro, Sally Barris, and Jon Vezner. They will hit the road for eleven shows, criss crossing the regions of the country, for a Christmas Tour. The group plans to play in-the-round, with mostly original holiday songs being performed. And of course, the Decembersongs EP will be available. All the cool kids are doing it!

Sorry to keep the drum pounding on the Christmas stuff, when we haven't even had our turkey yet. But at least it is after Halloween. Ah, but now that I think of it, maybe we should have brought you this song during that holiday! It's called "Ghost," and it will be found on Amy's next CD, which she recently finished recording. It's called Land Like a Bird, and we hear it will be out at the end of March. Here is Amy, who couldn't quite rouse the band during the early morning hours, at Americana Fest in Nashville. We'll take it any way she wants to bring it!

- Jessie Scott