May

2 - Splitsville, Fairview TX, 7pm
3 - Cowboy Club, Van Alstyne TX, 9pm
4 - Cowboy Club, Van Alstyne TX, 9pm
7 - KHYI 95.3 "Party On The Patio" 6-Pack Songwriter Challenge, Love & War In TX, Plano TX, 7:30pm
9 - Guitar Bar, Lawton OK 9pm
10 - 'Pickin' Parlor' @ Antique Archeology (from TV show American Pickers), Nashville, TN, 2:30pm
10 - Mike Schikora & Alyssa Bonagura, Douglas Corner Café, Nashville TN, 6pm
11 - Unplugged & Original, Ri'chard's Café, Whites Creek TN, 6pm
13 - The Odditorium, Asheville, NC, 9PM
15 - "LIVE FROM ASHEVILLE" on www.stageit.com, Asheville NC, 9pm
23 - Splitsville, Fairview TX, 7pm
27 - Songwriters Anonymous, Love and War in Texas, Plano TX, 7:30pm
31 - American Legion, Plano TX, 7pm

April
1 - Bottom End Radio Show on www.texasredhotradio.com, Roscoe's Smokehouse, Burleson TX, 7pm - 9pm
4 - Bottom End Radio Show on www.texasredhotradio.com, Spice Rack, Burleson TX, 7pm - 9pm
5 - American Legion, Plano TX, 7pm
8 - Songwriters Anonymous, Love And War In Texas, Plano TX, 7:30pm
9 - Main Street Tavern, Richardson TX, 8pm
11- Splitsville, Fairview TX, 7pm
12 - American Legion, Plano TX, 7pm
15 - Songwriters Anonymous, Love And War In Texas, Plano TX, 7:30pm
18 - LIVE internet radio interview, UNIR1 Country, Hadley NY,7pm(CST)-LISTEN LIVE @ http://www.unir1country.com/
19 - Splitsville, Fairview TX, 8pm
22 - Songwriters Anonymous, Love And War In Texas, Plano TX, 7:30pm
24 - Private Event, Allen TX, 6;30pm
27 - Songwriter Jam/Cook out, Lucas TX, 1pm
28 - ProJamFest, Desoto TX, 5pm
29 - Songwriters Anonymous, Love And War In Texas, Plano TX, 7:30pm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 16, 2013

Front Range Records recording artist Mike Schikora teaming up with legendary Americana Radio promoter Bill Wence for 2013 National and International promotion campaign!

           
        Bill Wence with Lisa Marie Presley, Wanda Jackson and Johnny Rivers!

Mike Schikora’s new album “Horses & Guitars” has been remastered, including two new bonus tracks, for his Americana release in January 2013! He is working with one of the most credited Americana promoters, Bill Wence of Bill Wence Promotions.

Bill specializes in national and international promotion for Americana, Country, Folk and Roots acts. With over 30 years of experience in the music/promotion business, Bill has helped recording artists get national attention by getting their songs positioned on national radio charts.

Hundreds of singles have been nationally charted for artists, including Jerry Jeff Walker, Collin Raye, Blackhawk, Randy Travis, Mark Chesnutt, Tom T. Hall and Mare Winningham.

Bill moved to Nashville in 1973 at the urging of Bobby Bare and went on the road playing piano with Tom T. Hall throughout the 70's. As a writer, Bill has had Billboard cuts by Ronnie McDowell, Cristy Lane, Bobby G. Rice, Orion and others. He had four self-penned, self-produced and self-promoted Billboard singles in 1979-80, which led people to ask, "Hey, can you do that for me?" Well, he could and he did. Bill opened up his own promotion company in 1980 charting hundreds of Billboard singles in the next two decades with acts as varied as Collin Raye, Jerry Jeff Walker, Blackhawk, Randy Travis and many others.

As the Billboard charts became shorter and the radio stations became much more conservative, Bill started working with NPR (National Public Radio) as well as College, AAA (Album Adult Alternative) stations. Bill was one of the 30 founding members of the Americana Music Association. Some of his clients in the past decade have included James Talley, Paul Stookey, Mary Gauthier, Jonell Mosser, John Hall, The Great Divide, Red Meat, Mare Winningham, Ruthie and the Wranglers, Tom T. Hall, The Outlaws (Waylon Jennings-Jessi Colter-Tompall Glaser-Willie Nelson), Bobby Bare, The Amazing Rhythm Aces, Orleans, Michael Johnathon and The Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour.

Mike Schikora spent most of 2011 & 2012 in the studio working with country music group BAILLIE & THE BOYS! After his Nashville artist showcase in April 2011, Mike was approached by Michael Bonagura and Kathie Baillie of the country vocal group Baillie & The Boys, to record his 3rd album at their studio in Franklin, TN, just south of Nashville. An interesting side note. Mike was an intern at RCA Records when Baillie & The Boys were on RCA at the time! Mike is blown away to be working with this level of accomplished and creative artists! The album was finished July 2012 and the first single Horses & Guitars was released to country radio the following month. The successful 6 month promotion campaign resulted in 22 radio stations playing his music in MT, CO, WA, IN, TN, OK and TX. The official Americana re-release is scheduled for January 2013.

What people are saying:

“Mike Schikora is an amazing singer/ songwriter! I've worked with so many great talented artists over the years and I think Mike deserves to be recognized right up there with the best of them. Remarkably, his voice knows no boundaries yet always pure- delivered from the heart. His emotion spans the song of a nightingale to the power of a bull ride! All it takes is for you to listen and you will understand what I mean.”
Michael Bonagura
- Recording artist-Baillie & The Boys/songwriter/producer

“With all these kids sending rock music to Country stations these days it was a real pleasure getting some 5 Star Texas Ear Candy from Mike Schikora. Play it."
JB Cloud
99-7 KBCY, Abilene, Texas
- Afternoon Drive/2012 TRRMA Large Market Radio DJ Of Year/ Cumulus Abilene Webmaster

“I'm a minute and twenty five seconds into the tune "Horses and Guitars", and I am convinced it needs to be in rotation during my afternoon show. The show runs M-F from 3PM-6PM and showcases primarily Texas and Oklahoma artists and this track is going to fit in nicely with what we are playing! Keep up the good work brother!”
Brandon "Critter" Hardin
KECO 96.5FM, Elk City, OK
- Social Media Manager/ Host of Backroads M-F 3-6PM CST, Tradio M-F 10-11AM CST / Host of Saturday Tradio 8-9AM CST/ Host of the Sunday Morning Rush                           
                                        
 “Mike Schikora is straight up, got his **** together! I just finished doing my own CD then I play his and say….damn that sounds good! That boy can sing and write!”
Mark David Manders
- Texas songwriter/ Recording artist on Blind Nello Records/ Host of “Songwriters Anonymous” @ Love & War In Texas



Schikora is the real deal—a dying breed of ranchers/cowboys and a Rocky Mountain horseman. He rode his horse twice over the Continental Divide, started a Half Arabian Sport horse breeding business and continues to write songs for his publishing company, Tuck And Go Music.

He stays humble and true to his country roots with musical influences including Chet Atkins, Floyd Cramer, Boots Randolph, Billie Holiday and The Judds.

Making the rounds on the ROAD and in TEXAS MUSIC SCENE! Mike is been popping up in clubs hot on the Texas music scene known for playing host to quality songwriters in northern Texas this year. Mike is also touring combining radio tours with venue dates on the road in TX and OK as well as his much anticipated 5 week tour starting in Reno and ending in Las Vegas.  

Label: Front Range Records Fairview, TX 75069 720-837-3270 mscocowboy@yahoo.com

Radio Promotion: Bill Wence Nolensville, TN 37135 615-776-2060 billwencepro@earthlink.net www.billwencepromotions.com