Special to The Red Rock Review

Local teen singer/songwriter Michelle Branch was to open for the Capitol Records "Girls Room Tour" on August 7th at The House of Blues in Las Vegas, but she had to cancel her show. Instead, she has been asked to open for mega-star Hanson on August 8th in Los Angeles!

This past month has been amazing for Branch, by any standard. On June 7th-9th, she was invited to perform by IAM.com at the EAT-M (Emerging Artists and Talent in Music) Conference in Las Vegas. EAT-M is an opportunity for unsigned musicians to showcase their talents to industry professionals.

This year, 180 acts from all over the United States and the world attended. Each had to submit demo tapes to a committee to be selected for this honor.

Michelle drew the worst time slot of the entire conference - she was the very first act, competing against the opening night party. But she persevered. Not only did she knock them dead in the first set, she was invited back to perform a second set on the closing night. She was amazing. She even made a music attorney in the front row cry!

After EAT-M, Michelle was asked by IAM.com, the organization that sent her to Las Vegas, to write a diary of her experience. This diary is going to appear on the IAM.com main page for musicians sometime in late July. IAM.com is an online service where musicians, actors, models and dancers can post their portfolios for people in the biz to view.

In the middle of June, Michelle appeared on local television channel 18's show "The Empty Stage," a show geared toward exposing the local talent of Sedona.

On July 2nd, Michelle turned 17. Later that week she found out that she had been selected as one in five musicians to audition for a Spike Lee directed commercial. The commercial is for IAM.com and will regularly air on MTV. They are flying her and her family to New York City, all expenses paid for four days to audition and shoot the commercial.

That same week, she got a call from her manager, Jeff Rabhan, informing her that she had been chosen out of over 900 acts to open for the band Hanson. The famous sibling group that rocked the world with their first album and its hit song "MMMBop" is now starting their U.S tour promoting their second album, "This Time Around." Michelle is going to join them for three engagements, August 8th at The Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles, California, August 10th at the Web Theatre in Phoenix, and August 12th, in San Antonio, Texas, at the Sea World U.S Map Amphitheatre.

Michelle's debut album was released June 10th! It's called "Broken Bracelet." To see what all the hype is about, buy a copy at the following locations: Sedona Books and Music and The Javalina Cantina, in Sedona. The Sassy Stamper in the Village of Oak Creek. Gopher Sounds in Flagstaff, and Sam Goody at the Fashion Square Mall in Scottsdale.

You can also purchase it by mail order at her official website (www.michellebranch.com). While at the site don't forget to sign up for her newsletter!

The last time you get to see Michelle live before she hits the big time is Thursday, August 3rd, 6 pm, at Heritage Square in downtown Flagstaff.