COWBOYS & INDIANS MAGAZINE SPOTLIGHTS BRENN IN JANUARY ISSUE!

Michel Lohr interviews Brenn in the January 2009 issue of Cowboys & Indians. The feature also includes a review of Brenn’s latest CD, What A Man’s Got To Do, and the never-before-published lyrics of Equine, the title song of Brenn’s next studio album. Read the article starting on page 152 of Cowboys & Indians, or check it out here.

BRENN TO PERFORM BENEFIT CONCERT IN WHITEHALL, MT FOR CLAYTON FRENCH 11/21/09

On Saturday, November 21, 2009, Brenn will perform a concert to benefit cancer-stricken child Clayton French at the Whitehall High School Varsity Gym in Whitehall, Montana.

Brenn met young Clayton and his family at the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City this past July when Brenn’s son Briggs began his radiation therapy for the same type of tumor that Clayton was diagnosed with last June. The two families began talking, and Brenn decided that he wanted to do something to help, knowing all too well what the French family was going through.
"I try to do a benefit concert at least once a year for a sick child - usually in and around my home town of Hooper, Utah. As we've struggled through our own ordeal this past year with Briggs, I have been touched by the number of friends from the music industry and fans who have stepped up and helped us out. When I met Clayton and parents, I felt I just had to do something to help this wonderful family. It's a way that I can continue the fight against medulloblastoma and childhood brain tumors."

Brenn’s concert starts at 7:00 pm. His solo acoustic set will feature material from his six-album catalog, spotlight songs from his latest Red Cliffs Press CD, What A Man’s Got To Do, and showcase some compelling new music. Whitehall High School is located at 1 West Yellowstone in Whitehall. Concert admission is a minimum donation of $10.00 per person. Tickets can be obtained by calling Janet Heilig at (406) 593-2905 or Whitehall High School at (406) 287-3862. Tickets also will be available at the door.

THURSDAY AUGUST 27:
HEAR BRENN ON THE EAGLE; WATCH BRENN ON PARK CITY TV

This Thursday, August 27, just after 8:00am MDT, listen to Brenn’s brief interview with Keith Stubbs on Salt Lake City’s 101.5 “The Eagle” radio station.

Then, later in the day, watch Brenn perform live on Park City TV’s “Mountain Views” program between 6:00-7:00pm. (The show re-airs at 11:00pm as well.) Cable channel 17; Digital cable channel 102.

BRENN RETURNS TO BELLA’S AUGUST 29!

On Saturday, August 29 Brenn performs a very special show in the Ogden, Utah area when he returns to Bella’s Fresh Mexican Grill in Farr West for his second annual courtyard concert.

This extraordinary evening will be one to remember, as Brenn gives his final performance to be recorded for his upcoming LIVE album (due for release in a few months’ time). You may remember that Brenn’s first recorded performance for this project came at none other than Bella’s last September. Now here’s the chance to see, hear and be part of the final show as this full-year recording adventure comes to a close - right at Bella’s where it all began!

Tickets are $35.00 and include a Bar-b-que feast (bar-b-que ribs, smoked brisket, pulled pork, Dutch oven chicken, baked beans, country potato salad, homemade coleslaw, tossed green salad, freshly baked corn bread, fresh raspberry lemonade, and, of course, dessert) plus two hours of great music from Brenn. Dinner will be served at 6:00pm. Brenn hits the stage at 7:30pm.

For tickets, visit Bella’s Summer Concerts series online, call the restaurant at (801) 737-0557 or (801) 737-0540, or phone Anita Cottam at (801) 668-4617.

Everyone who purchases a ticket will receive (upon request the night of the show) a coupon entitling them to a $10.00 discount off their next purchase of $25.00 or more at Bella’s when they present their ticket stub from Brenn’s concert.

It’s been said by many a performer that “the show is in the audience.” We all know that an enthusiastic audience is always an important part of a good live CD. So let’s pack Bella’s for Brenn’s memorable final live recording event. Hope to see you at Bella’s and hear you on the record!

STEEL DREAMS RAFFLE TO BENEFIT BRIGGS HILL

Brad Koskovich, a horse breeder from Washoe City, Nevada, has generously donated a 3 year old Registered APHA gelding named Steel Dreams for a raffle, with all proceeds going to help Briggs Hill’s fight against cancer.

Raffle tickets are available now. The drawing for Steel Dreams will be made during Brenn’s evening show at the Sierra Valley Grange Hall in Vinton, California on Saturday, July 11 at 7:00pm. You don’t have to be present to win!

For all the details, click here.

COWBOYS RALLY TO HELP ONE OF THEIR OWN

06/14/2009 - When cowboy singer Michael Martin Murphey and cowboy poet Waddie Mitchell heard about the plight of Utah singer/songwriter Brenn Hill, whose son is battling cancer, they did what any cowboys would do: rally the rest of the family. <Read the rest of the recent Salt Lake Tribune article here.>

NOTE FROM BRENN re: BRIGGS HILL BENEFIT with MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY and WADDIE MITCHELL on TUESDAY, JUNE 16

I'm humbled by the continued support offered to my family and me by our friends from the cowboy music world. I was sitting with Briggs one Sunday afternoon a couple of months ago when Michael Martin Murphey called me on the phone to announce that he was coming to Utah to play a benefit concert for my family. A few weeks later, with the addition of Waddie Mitchell, friends from the Utah Chapter of the Western Music Association and the Cowboy Poets of Utah began planning and promoting the event.

The benefit concert is scheduled for this coming Tuesday, June 16th, and will be held at the Roy High School Auditorium, 2150 W 4800 S in Roy, Utah. There are a variety of ticket packages available. Tickets can be purchased at the Intermountain Farmers Association store on 12th street in Ogden, at Smith & Edwards in Ogden, Dallas Green Farm Service in West Haven, at A.A. Callister in Salt Lake City, and at the Rockin' HH Ranch store in Farr West. Or, tickets can be reserved by calling 801-731-7604.

This is a great opportunity to see two American Legends: singer/songwriter Michael Martin Murphey and cowboy poet Waddie Mitchell. All of the proceeds from the concert will go to Team Briggs Inc. and donations are tax deductible.

Again, the Hill family thanks you for your continued prayers and support. We feel so blessed to have so many that care so deeply about us as we battle with our son in his fight against cancer.

God Bless,

Brenn

To download the benefit poster
click here

Let us know what you'd like to see on Brenn's Facebook page. Be sure to visit the page often as it will be updated and expanded regularly.

HOWDY FROM HOOPER (by way of Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City)!

As you all probably know by now, my family has been engaged in a very intense battle these past few months. Our three-year-old son Briggs has just finished his third round of Chemotherapy and is undergoing a stem-cell harvest as I write. He will get a short break at home and then be admitted in a week or so for the final phase of treatment: three more rounds of high-dose chemotherapy with a stem-cell rescue/transplant.

Needless to say, we are very preoccupied giving care to our young son and sorting through the tough decisions that must be made daily on his behalf.

We have not been alone in this battle and I write to you today to offer thanks for the prayers and support you have contributed to me and my family. Over the past two months, benefit concerts have been held at the Elko Gathering in Elko, Nevada and at the Olde Town Pickin' Parlor in Arvada, Colorado. The proceeds from these events have helped significantly with the costs associated with our son's care. Spearheaded by Ian Tyson and Jon Chandler, many notable and talented friends donated time and effort to help make these events a success. These efforts have insured that the chances at a full and complete remission are much greater for our son.

We look forward to resuming our lives once we are safely through this ordeal. I have plans to record new music this year as well as release a collection of live recordings that feature me, my guitar, and some of your favorite Brenn tunes. The album will be appropriately titled, "LIVE."

Thank you again for all of your support and for continuing to listen to my music and come to my shows. We feel blessed to have so many friends to carry us through this crisis situation.

God Bless,

Brenn, Sylina, Quayden, Briggs, and soon-to-be little sister Hill

BRENN REFLECTS ON ELKO BENEFIT FOR BRIGGS HILL

1/31/09 Early yesterday afternoon I rounded up the Hooper Boys and drove to Elko, Nevada for the big benefit concert for Briggs organized by Ian Tyson. I knew it would be something special, but I had no idea...

It was a star-studded cast of the best of the Cowboy Music Firmament. Ol' Ian really outdid himself. It included names like Tom Russell, RW Hampton, Mike Beck, Dave Stamey, Wylie Gustafson, Sourdough Slim, Corb Lund, Michael Martin Murphey, Don Edwards, and Ian himself. The old G Three Bar Theater never sounded better. Everyone gave their get-well wish for Briggs during their set and thanked the packed house for supporting the cause. When it was over, Ross Knox asked me to come up and say a few words.

It was hard to sum up just what it meant to me and my little family. I sat and thought about Little Briggs and his Mommy carryin' on the fight at home. He's too young to understand how sick he is, much less the honor and significance of what was done for him last night. I remembered going to Elko twenty years ago with my Mom and Dad for the first time. I thought about the first time I ever walked onto the stage of the G Three Bar. Over the years there's been a few benefit concerts during The Gathering for the likes of Larry McWhorter and Joel Nelson. I haven't contributed a tenth of what those guys have to the traditions and lore of the cowboy legacy. But I realized last night that my peers and mentors are more like an extended arm of my family, all of whom have stopped in recent weeks and months to ponder the life-changing events we have faced. All the sudden it was clear that Briggs is more than just my son. Briggs is the son of one of our own and we have to come together to help mend a broken fence. And I don't recall exactly what I said last night through the hard, dry lump inside my throat, but nothing I could have said would have appropriately matched the gratitude I felt for the love and support shown to me and my family.

It was a night I'll never forget. And thanks again to everyone who made it possible.

MESSAGE FROM BRENN RE BRIGGS HILL

To All My Valued Friends,

On November 11th, 2008, my son Briggs was diagnosed with brain and spinal cancer. On the 12th of November, he had a massive brain tumor removed. It was located just behind the brain stem and extended into the right lobe. After 32 days in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City, he began chemotherapy treatments. He will, most likely, have five rounds of intense chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.

As you can imagine, this has been a very trying time for me and my family. We have been blessed with family and friends that have surrounded us with love and support. We were fortunate enough to be able to bring Briggs home just in time for Christmas.

The team of doctors that attend to our son are some of the finest in the world. They are comprised of Neuro-Surgeons and Oncologists that specialize in Pediatric Brain Cancer. We are in good hands.

I would humbly ask each of you to keep my son, Briggs, and our family in your thoughts and prayers. We have endured the unimaginable but have a long road ahead of us.

Our Faith has carried us through some very hard times these past two months.

I thank you again for your support of me and my music. God has given me much to write about and I hope that I will one day be able to share much of this experience with you through lyrics and melody.

We try to post daily updates at www.carepages.com. Sign in and look for Briggs Hill. We have also launched a website where we hope to add new information as Briggs' story continues. It is www.teambriggs.org.

Happy New Year and God Bless,

Brenn