what’s new

It’s April, the major league baseball season has started, the college basketball men’s and women’s Final Fours (and eventual national champions) are nearly resolved, and there’s music — as well as pollen — in the air.

I’m tickled pink that y’all are enjoying my wife Kathy Acosta’s redesign of this web site. We’ve received LOTS of compliments and it looks like we’ve got a winner here. As time goes by, I hope to not only keep the site up to date but also to add new features and new images. I’d love to get a section up on here featuring a new song or two of mine that you can listen to on your computer. I’ll be looking into that.

You can read an article I wrote on my 30 years as a member of the New River Valley music “scene” in this month’s issue of the New River Voice. You can find the article here. The issue is dedicated to local music and there are a couple of other articles on that topic that are well worth reading.

Also, New River Voice editor Tim Jackson wrote a piece on Radford’s own Seka, known internationally as the “Platinum Princess Of Porn.” Turns out that I knew Seka in grade school. As I recall, we knew her as “Peaches.” I remember her chasing me around under the bleachers at the old Radford High School football stadium. I’d heard that she was from this area but I’d never come across any proof until now. It all fits — her age, where she lived in town, collecting pop bottles. Wow! I (sort of) know a legend! Check out the Seka story on the New River Voice’s website.

As always, I encourage you to check out the latest issue of my Meadow Creek Gazette newsletter (link below) and, if you like what you read, subscribe for FREE by e-mailing amosflame@aol.com with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line. Also check out the Gig Calendar; I’ve got a radio show performance coming up in May that I’m all fired up about.

— David Simpkins, 04/07/08

photos from a recent gig

David in full storyteller mode in between songs at Third Street Coffeehouse on January 25, 2008. Photos by Leigh Littleton.

the meadow creek gazette

David’s FREE twice-monthly e-mail newsletter, the Meadow Creek Gazette, is a popular, entertaining, and informative look at his gigs, his philosophies, his pet peeves, and the world of music (and anything else that strikes his fancy) in general. To start receiving the MCG, just e-mail amosflame@aol.com and write "SUBSCRIBE" in the subject line. Or you can read the current issue of the Meadow Creek Gazette online.

booking information

David Simpkins is available for clubs, festivals, house concerts, benefits, private parties — anywhere anyone might want to listen to a guy play an acoustic guitar and sing mostly original Americana music. David will be happy to perform as an opener, for multi-act bills, or for full-length four-hour solo shows. Have P.A.; will travel.

David Simpkins, 125 Polk Street, Radford VA 24141

Home phone: (540) 633-1204   Home e-mail

Work phone: (540) 231-3502   Work e-mail

biography and musical influences

David traces his musical talents back to his paternal grandfather, Hamilton Simpkins, who fronted a Bedford, Virginia string music quartet known in the late 1920s. Playing rhythm guitar in that band was eight-year-old Troy Simpkins — Ham’s son, David’s father. David was also eight years old when he got his first guitar ... Read more of David’s biography and find out more about his musical influences.

press and reviews

“David Simpkins’ Long Story Short is pure Americana, but reminiscent of Canada’s Neil Young and groups like Poco and Crazy Horse. Don’t let this sway you too much, though — Simpkins is able to blend Americana, country, folk, and even a bit of bayou blues into his songs ...” Read more reviews of ‘Long Story Short’ and other press mentions.

nightmare gigs

Over the past several hundred years (or maybe only the past thirty or so) in bands, David has played some great gigs ... and he’s played some real dogs. Want to know how bad it can get? Check out the “Nightmare Gigs” page.

links of interest

A collection of links to sites about music, songwriting, and more. Check out the “Links” page.

some fine print

The definition of Americana music used in the image at the top left of this page is from the Americanamusic.org website.