The record “Songs for Johnson Creek” was assembled by Matt Clark, executive director of the Johnson Creek Watershed Council, and features Laura Veirs and Aaron Nigel Smith, among other artists. Money from the 12-song project will initially go towards a Council project to install logs and boulders in-stream and excavate side-channel habitat in hopes of benefiting the creek’s native Chinook and coho salmon and steelhead trout.

The album features “songs for all ages,” with a healthy complement of children’s music.

Once the salmon habitat restoration is fully funded — the Council has so far raised $71,000 of the $86,000-plus required for the effort — the album proceeds will help fund an interpretive boardwalk alongside Johnson Creek.

The Johnson Creek group has received funds for the habitat restoration from Portland General Electric Co., Oregon Wildlife and the East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District.

“This is our fundraising focus right now because we still need about $20,000 to fully fund this element of the project, and it’ll start in less than two months,” said Clark.

For 13 years Tucker and I have been making records in basements. I’ve never made a record in a proper studio. I’m so excited that we get to work at his new Flora Studio for my next album!

Happy New Year, friends!

I am happy to announce that Tucker and I are expecting our second kid April 27. I can’t believe I still have three months to go!

In other big news, we are recording my next full-length record in Tucker’s studio starting March 6. We will be wrangling new friends and old into this. I’ve been writing away for quite some time. Though sometimes I feel like tearing my hair out, mostly I feel so grateful that writing and playing music is what I do for a living.

More on the record as it progresses. We hope to finish it before the baby comes (fingers quadruple crossed) and release it in late August on Raven Marching Band in North America and Bella Union everywhere else.

I’m excited to be a part of this benefit and to sing a duet with Colin Meloy. – Laura

John Wesley Harding’s Cabinet of Wonders:
- A Benefit for My Music Rx -

Tickets here!
Feb 13th, 2013
Aladdin Theater
Portland, OR
Tickets $25.00
Limited VIP Tickets and Gift Bag $75.00

featuring

k.d. lang
Carrie Brownstein
Peter Buck
Monica Drake
Sallie Ford
Ben Gibbard
Scott McCaughey
Storm Large
Colin Meloy
Eugene Mirman
Laura Veirs
Lidia Yuknavitch

with The Portland UK:
Chris Funk
Jon Neufled
Jenny Conlee
Nate Query
John Moen

Bring in the New Year with Laura Veirs and her friends at their Fifth Annual Two Beers Veirs New Year’s Celebration at the Laurelthirst Pub. The band includes Nate Query, John Moen (both Decemberists), Jon Neufeld (Jackstraw) and Annalisa Tornfelt

(Black Prairie). Expect barn-burning hoe-downs, hot Led Zeppelin jams, and Jimi Hendrix licks. Five local luminaries will join the band during their set: Luz Elena Mendoza (Y La Bamba), Garth Klippert (Old Light), Mike Coykendall and two identical secret guests. Annalisa Tornfelt’s jazz project (Virginia Brooks and the Brooks Brothers) and Mike Coykendall will play opening sets.

December 31st, 2012 8:30 pm / Laurelthirst Pub / 2958 Northeast Glisan Street  Portland, OR / $25 / 21+

Buy tickets here!