Welcome to
Backstage @ the Border

Valerie Landsburg is an American actress, television and film director, screenwriter, and singer-songwriter. She is best known for her portrayal of Doris Schwartz in the TV SERIES FAME where she moved deeply into the hearts of people young and old, inspiring both professional artists and artists yet to be realized. 

Val is a great friend of ours and we are honored to have her visit from Rockland Maine and play for us. She is an awesomely talented and inspirational singer and songwriter. Come and share a night of great music, great company and of course coffee and baked goodies. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPY3J30U0tM

Tret Fure began her career at the age of 16, singing in coffeehouses and campuses in the Midwest.  At 19, she moved to LA in hopes of obtaining a record deal.  Within a year she was performing as guitarist and vocalist for Spencer Davis, touring with him and penning the single for his album “Mousetrap”.  She went on to record her own album in 1973 on MCA/UNI Records, with the late Lowell George of Little Feat as her producer.  With the success of that release, she opened for such bands as Yes, Poco, and the J Geils Band. 

A prolific artists in the contemporary singer-songwriter arena, Tret Fure has released 15 albums and CDs over the course of her 48 year career. In addition to being a gifted songwriter, Fure has engineered and produced countless recordings by a variety of artists, including her own work. 

In the early 80s, Tret moved to the independent side of the industry discovering the blossoming genre known as Women’s Music.  She recorded with and produced some of the best of women’s music including the legendary “Meg & Cris at Carnegie Hall” (1983).  She worked as a duo with Cris Williamson throughout the 90s, producing, engineering and releasing 3 CDs together. 

Now after 7 acoustic releases on her own label, Tomboy girl Records, she has re-established herself in the folk world, winning the South Florida Folk Festival Singer/Songwriter Competition in 2 out of 3 categories., Best Overall and Best Up-Tempo Song. as well as the prestigious Jane Schliessman Award for Outstanding Contributions to Women’s Music. In 2009, Tret was voted “Pride In The Arts Favorite Female/Lesbian Musician”. In the same year she received the Janine C Rae Award for her work in Women’s Music. Her song “Freedom” is currently #1 on the top 10 song charts for OutVoice.net and she is the #1 folk artist for Reverbnation in Newport News, VA. In 2017, Tret took 2nd place in the Musicians United to Protect Bristol Bay songwriting contest for her song “The Fishermen of Bristol Bay”

Her acclaimed solo releases include “Tret Fure” (1973), “Terminal Hold” (1984), “Edges of the Heart” (1986), “Time Turns the Moon” (1990), “Back Home” (2001) which took both album of the year and single of the year awards for 2001 from OutVoice Top 40, “My Shoes” (2003) in which Sing Out! Magazine says "Fure's new solo venture signals her intent to do more than just move on. This album soars...She has never sounded better...This mature effort surely ranks among Fure's finest works and will be savored by old-time fans and new fans alike.”, “Anytime Anywhere”(2005) and “True Compass” (2007) both beautiful collections of songs of love and passion, “The Horizon” (2010) which was also in the top 10 of the Outvoice charts, “A Piece of the Sky” (2013) and “Rembrandt Afternoons” (2015) which proves to be her best work yet. It was chosen by the acclaimed folk music show Midnight Special as their album of the week and has been in heavy rotation on many of the folk shows around the country.  Her song “Freedom” has been arranged for chorale groups and is being performed widely around the country. 

Fure also markets of her own line of clothing named after her popular song “Tomboy girl”. In addition, while not on the road, Tret teaches guitar and songwriting individually and in workshop settings. She paints pet portraits on commission and, an accomplished cook, Fure has also published a cookbook, “Tret's Kitchen”, featuring her own recipes. Along with bridging the marketing, production, music and art worlds, Tret served for 6 years as President of Local 1000, The Traveling Musicians Association--a union geared toward helping traveling musicians find security and longevity. 

Tret is truly a Renaissance Woman!

Join Susan and Kelley for an evening singing some of their favorite songs as though they were in the living room.  April Thomson will be joining them singing on a few songs. Doug Dahl will be joining in on bass and guitar. "The Harmony is our favorite part of singing together.."  Singing along is encouraged!