“ Scroll down to find: ✧ 1. Sample Press Release ✧ 2. List of Performance Venues ✧ 3. What Presenters say about HOT SOUP! ✧ 4. Hot Soup! Concerts and Workshops ✧ 5. More great things said about HOT SOUP! ✧ 6. Hot Soup! Stage Set-up ✧ 7. Large Color Promo Photo/jpg ✧ 8. Large B&W Promo Photo/jpg f ✧ 1. Sample Press Release ~FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE HOT SOUP! PO Box 412 Columbia, MD 21045 410-381-2834 Harmonious HOT SOUP! in Concert Date: Location: Address: Phone:✧ The trio HOT SOUP! simmers with intelligent lyrics, zany humor, spirited musicality and scrumptious three-part harmony. The recipe for this delectable concoction are the blended solo talents of Sue Trainor, Christina Muir and Jennie Avila. Their recordings continue to place this nationally touring trio among the most-played artists on international acoustic radio. Washingtonian Magazine wrote, "Insiders expect the... trio Hot Soup to go far! Hot Soup's live shows "sparkle," said Sing Out! Magazine. The trio brings a rare blend of spontaneity and intimacy to their performances, often developing hilarious exchanges among themselves and with the audience. The trio's musical diversity extends to their instrumentation, including a variety of guitar stylings, harp, conga, ubang (a variety of udu), and small percussion such as kokkirico and window shutter. The focus, however, is always the sweet voices, trading lead vocals and capturing harmonies that raise goose bumps. No surprise, really. All three are talented solo performers with recordings of their own in addition to Hot Soup!, Soup Happens!, and their latest release The Way You Like It! Sue Trainor is best known for satirical humor in her adult shows and imaginative musical play in her children's performances; her children's music CD, Under Tables, Out Back Doors won the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum award. Christina Muir, the daughter of Ann Mayo Muir (of Bok, Muir &Trickett), builds on her musical heritage with her elegant vocals and lyrical instrumentation, insightful contemporary songwriting, and engaging repartee, much of which can be found on her solo CD, FEET FIRST! Jennie Avila is a prolific songwriter and has several solo CD's of original songs to her credit. With her magnetic stage presence, agile soprano, flavorful original songs, exotic birdcalls and groove-full percussion, Jennie adds to the SOUP to create an irresistible blend. "Like no one else in the business....truly unique," claimed the Boston Folk Festival. "Brimming with energy, intelligence and sweet harmonies, Hot Soup serves up a piping hot stew of original and collected...tunes like no one else in the business. As they focus on a lively give and take of lead vocals and group harmonizing, the trio keeps it's music fresh and displays its talents with varied instrumentation.... The end result is a dazzling, intimate live performance that has earned praise from audiences across New England." "Mix the tight, intricate harmonies of the Hills, Herdman, Mangsen trio with the stylistic variety of the Four Bitchin' Babes, then add the zaniness and energy of the Chenille Sisters. You've just made HOT SOUP!" Joyce Sica, Baldwins Station and Cellar Stage, Baltimore, MD. ~ PHOTO/jpg Available below ~Press materials are available at the Hot Soup website: www.hotsouptrio.comHot Soup MEDIA CONTACT: Sue Trainor, PO Box 412, Columbia, MD 21045 410-381-2834 SueTrainor@aol.com”
“ f ✧ 2. List of Performance Venues ~ ~ SOUPerb Venues ~ Hot Soup! is Served in These Fine Establishments, as well as at many House Concerts not listed here... ✧ Sundilla Concert Series, Auburn, AL Sounding Board, W. Hartford, CT First Night Dover, Dover, DE The Kennedy Center 25th Anniversary, DC Arts Festival, Washington, DC The Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, DC Crystal Lake Village, Wauchula, FL Folk Fridays (community concerts), N Miami, FL Arts and Sciences School, Tallahassee, FL South Florida Folk Festival, Broward Co., FL Tanglewood Resort, Sebring, FL The Savannah Folk Festival, Savannah, GA Charlotte’s Web, Rockford, IL Friendship Hall Concerts, Chicago, IL Midnight Special “Folk Stage” Concert, Chicago, IL 333 Coffeehouse, Annapolis, MD American Music Fest, Westminster, MD Art in the Park, Westminster, MD Avalon Theater (RFD), Easton, MD Black Rock Center for the Arts, Germantown, MD Cellar Stage, Baltimore, MD City of Rockville Summer Concerts, MD Columbia Festival of the Arts, MD Columbia Summer Lakefront Festival, MD First Night Annapolis, Annapolis, MD Frederick Festival of the Arts, MD Globe Theater, Berlin, MD Rams Head Tavern, Annapolis, MD Washington Folk Fest, Glen Echo, MD Boston Folk Festival, Boston, MA Steeple Coffeehouse, Southborough, MA U’n’I Coffeehouse, Springfield, MA Chautauqua Concert Series, Ocean Park, ME The Ark, Ann Arbor, MI City of Kalamazoo Family Concerts, MI Ten Pound Fiddle, E. Lansing, MI Cuyahoga Nat’l Park Concerts, Akron, OH Franklin Opera House, Franklin, NH Azalea Festival, Hamilton, NJ First Night Flemington, Flemington, NJ Folk Project Fall Festival, Stillwater, NJ Princeton Folk Society, Princeton, NJ Watchung Arts Center, Watchung, NJ Bound for Glory, Ithaca, NY Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Hillsdale, NY The Music Hall, Oswego, NY Kirkland Arts Center, Clinton, NY Night Eagle Cafe, Oxford, NY Old Songs Festival, Altamont, NY Down East Folk Society, Beaufort, NC Fiddle and Bow, Winston-Salem, NC Acoustic Brew, State College, PA Central PA Fest. of Arts, State College, PA Erie Maritime Museum, Erie, PA First Night, State College, PA Godfrey Daniels, Bethlehem, PA Longwood Gardens, Kennet Square, PA May Fair, Allentown, PA NE Reg. Folk Alliance, Formal Showcase, PA Philadelphia Folk Fest., Schwenksville, PA Columbia Coffeehouse, Columbia, SC Kerrville "New Folk" Festival, TX Birchmere, WFMA Benefit, Alexandria, VA City of Newport News Fall Festival, VA First Night Alexandria, VA First Night Williamsburg, VA N. Virginia Fine Arts Festival, Reston, VA The Prism, Charlottesville, VA Tidewater Friends of Folk, Norfolk, VA Middle Earth, Bradford, VT Augusta Heritage Festival, Elkins, WV Avalon Music and Arts Festival, Paw Paw, WV Concerts in the Park, Berkeley Springs, WV Country Roads. Folk Fest, Kearneysville, WV Grant County Arts Council, Petersburg, WV Hampshire County Arts Council, Romney, WV Morgan County Arts Council, Berkeley Springs, WV ”
“f ✧ 3. What Presenters say about HOT SOUP! ~ Presenters Love Hot Soup! ~ ✧ “Like no one else in the business.... truly unique” said The Boston Folk Festival. “Brimming with energy, intelligence and sweet harmonies, Hot Soup serves up a piping hot stew of original and collected... tunes like no one else in the business. As they focus on a lively give and take of lead vocals and group harmonizing, the trio keeps it’s music fresh and displays its talents with varied instrumentation...The end result is a dazzling, intimate live performance that has earned praise from audiences across New England.” ✧ “Their audience-engaging performances and charming musical variety make them a must-see live act.” - Taylor Guitars ✧ “I have been very remiss in writing to tell you how much fun we had at your concert in May! It was a delight to have three such talented ladies grace our stage. The audience was very enthusiastic — Thanks again for a terrific evening!” - Susan Mills, Acoustic Renaissance Concerts, Chicago ✧ “Hot Soup is a wonderful combination of musicianship, humor and genuinely nice ladies who bring happiness, laughter and great musical experience to all who are fortunate enough to hear them. Their performances here in Schroon Lake have always brought large attendance and rave reviews from everyone who attends. We can’t wait to have them back again!” - Bob Claus, Schroon Lake Arts Council, NY ✧ “The blend was smooth and velvety, the musicality unerring, and you could set your watch by the harmonies. They’re welcome on Radio From Downtown anytime.” - Van Williamson, NPR, and producer of Radio From Downtown, Avalon Theater, Easton, MD ✧ “Book ‘em. I’m glad I did! Their audience appeal is as diverse as their repertoire, extending across generations. Their songs are intelligent, heartfelt and funny; their music is uniquely varied stylistically; and their harmonies are as richly textured as their accompanying instrumentation. There isn’t anybody else who connects with our audience the way Hot Soup did or who does what they do. Diverse, cross- generational and mood-altering.” - Maureen Harrigan, Black Rock Center for the Arts, MD ✧ “As comfortable as Grandma’s kitchen with an aroma of mystery and a large helping of fun. They’re bubbly – they’re Hot Soup!” - Phyllis Gaffney, Avalon Music and Arts Festival, WV ✧ “Individually, each star in this triangular constellation shines with a beautiful light in her own right.... But it is when you hear all three voices in harmony, not boring old predictable harmonies, but lovely, risky, complex and jazzy as the Andrews sisters at their best, that you taste how delicious Hot Soup really is!” - Max Ochs, 333 Coffeehouse, Annapolis, MD ✧ “Entertaining, intelligent, zany. Our audience is already asking us when they’ll return!” - Dave Humphreys, Two Way Street Coffee House, Downers Grove, IL ✧ “Most of our audience came here as an act of faith, but they left knowing that faith was justified. In fact, they were ecstatic!” - Jim Stone, Folknet, OH ✧”
“ f ✧ 4. Hot Soup! Concerts and WorkshopsMenu of Hot Soup's Concerts & Workshops✧ Hot Soup! presents: ~ A Feast of Harmony ~ ✧Sometimes called “the Andrews Sisters of the 21 Century,” Hot Soup concocts rich, intricate vocal arrangements that bring out the best in every melody and lyric. Audiences love the variety in Hot Soup’s repertoire, too - from ballads to blues and swing, from retro to funny songs – no two are alike. Add three zingy personalities plus delicious licks on guitars, harp, mountain dulcimer, conga, udu and other hand percussion, and you’ve got a blue-ribbon recipe for a spirited and SOUPerbly engaging concert performance! Hot Soup! presents: ~ Mmm Mmm… Sing! ~ ✧It’s Hot Soup served Family Style! Sometimes called “the Andrews Sisters of the 21st Century,” the Hot Soup trio concocts rich, intricate musical arrangements that bring out the best in original songs, collected songs and old family favorites. (Shh! Don’t tell the kids, but this Soup is not only yummy, it’s nutritious! The Hot Soup musicians have many years experience working in education with young people.) There’s plenty for everyone, so grab your spoons and gather ’round for some heart-warming, rib-tickling, sing-along fun. An Exploration Of ~ Harmony Singing ~ ✧Workshop, 3 – 6 hour sessions availableThis is a chance to do some dynamic group singing led by members of Hot Soup – Sue Trainor, Christina Muir, and Jennie Avila. Learn how the trio uses harmony to underline meaning and convey emotion in a song. Workshop activities will include: tuning our vocal instruments, ear training, finding and learning harmony parts, and playful experimentation with a variety of arrangement choices. Prerequisite: Participants must be able to carry a tune independently.✧Email: SueTrainor@aol.com” - Hot Soup Trio
— Menu of Hot Soups Concerts and Workshops
“f ✧ 5. More great things said about HOT SOUP! Here's a taste of what othershave to say about Hot Soup! ✧ For A "Magical Evening!" . . . Mix the tight, intricate harmonies of the Hills, Herdman, Mangsen trio with the stylistic variety of the Four Bitchin' Babes, then add the zaniness and energy of the Chenille Sisters. You've just made Hot Soup!" ~ Joyce Sica, Baldwin's Station and Cellar Stage, Baltimore, MD ✧ . . . A Blue-Ribbon Recipe . . . The vocal trio Hot Soup! blends sweet, inventive harmonies on original and collected songs in a wide variety of styles and rhythms. From ballads to blues and nostalgia to novelty tunes, Hot Soup! serves up a charming, high energy, and totally engaging performance. I had no idea how moving the concert would be. It was, in the true sense of the word, transcendent. . . . Sitting and listening to you play and sing I achieved spiritual hedonism." ~ NW, Madison, WI ✧ "Book 'em. I'm glad I did There isn't anybody else who connects with our audience at the Country Roads Folk Festival the way Hot Soup! did, or who does what they do. That connection was clear at the product table: Even though they weren't 'headliners' at the Festival and did not have a new CD release to pitch, Hot Soup was one of the top sellers of product -- in the company of Tom Paxton, Lowen & Navarro, and The Lynn Morris Band, among many others. I wholeheartedly recommend this trio to my fellow concert and festival presenters. Hot Soup serves it up right and they ARE hot! Diverse, cross-generational and mood-altering. ~ Maureen Harrigan, Country Roads Folk Festival, WV ✧ Soup Happens . . . comes fortified with impeccable harmonies, clever lyrical parodies, diverse instrumental accompaniment, and an uncanny knack for blending traditional and contemporary folk flavors with inventive vocal arrangements. . . . Their audience-engaging performances and charming musical variety make them a must-see live act." ~ Taylor Guitars ✧ Soup Happens -- on the Radio, Too! Three very imaginative ladies who know how to have fun -- and -- harmonies as tight as the Pyramid stones. If musical diversity is your cup of . . . soup . . . then be sure to check them out." ~ George Francis Maida, WCVE, Richmond, VA ✧ Thanks for a strong and magical evening. Would you come back again sometime?" ~ Phil Shapiro, Bound for Glory, WVBR, Ithaca, NY ✧ The new album, Soup Happens, is a delightful musical tureen, filled with tasty lyrical treats. . . . Share Hot Soup! with someone you love . . . ." ~ The Gazette, Rockville, MD ✧ Hot Soup is #@&%ing great!" ~ George Wurzbach, NY, NY ” - Various
— Hot Soup Reviews
“f ✧ 6. Hot Soup! Stage Set-up Hot Soup! ~ STAGE SET-UP ~ ✧ Sue Trainor uses a Vocal Mic, Instrument Mic for hand percussion, and her Taylor 814 guitar plugs directly into to her Fishman Blender which can be connected with by an XLR. Christina Muir uses a Vocal Mic, Instrument Mic for hand percussion, harp, dulcimer, and her Taylor 912 guitar plugs directly into to her Fishman Blender which can be connected with by an XLR. Jennie Avila uses a Vocal Mic, Instrument Mic for Conga, udu, and hand percussion, and a Direct Box for her guitar. Hot Soup Technical Rider Questions? Please contact Sue Trainor 410-381-2834, suetrainor@aol.com NOTE: Direct box, blenders and guitar cables are carried by Hot Soup. An 8-channel sound system can be provided by Hot Soup for an additional fee; the trio’s system is appropriate for rooms seating as many as 300 (auditorium style) and for small outdoor settings. Minimum requirements 3 vocal mics – we carry 2 Audio-Technica 31a condensor mics and one 41a. *no windscreens, please, unless weather conditions require their use Minimum 2 instrument mics – Shure SM-57 or better *no windscreens unless weather conditions require their use 6 mic stands; 5 with booms, 1 gooseneck preferred (for the conga). 2-3 monitors 3 XLR direct lines for guitars One tall stool with high foot rungs (for playing udu, harp, dulcimer) Technician to run sound during check and concert Monitors All trio monitors will have the same mix. Overall monitor volume is generally low. Set Up The trio performs in a “V” formation, (Sue - Christina - Jennie) with the ends slightly turned in, and positioned close together (but not so close that instruments collide). Mix *Voices should always be “in front” of instruments. *Amplification should be “invisible.” The trio wants a realistic sound – natural-sounding reverb level and comfortable volume – in both the house and the monitors. *The trio trades lead vocals frequently. They will balance their own vocal levels based on the mix they hear in the monitors. *As a listening guide, Sue usually carries the low part, Christina the middle, and Jennie the high – but there’s a lot of crossover. Requests One small table, one tall stool with foot rungs (for use playing harp and udu). We prefer to be called “Sue,” “Christina” and “Jennie” – thanks! ”
— Stage Set-up
“ photo by James Ferry” - Photos by James Ferry
— HS large Color photo/jpg
“ photo by James Ferry” - photo by James Ferry
— HS large B& W Promo/jpg