Linda McRae: BLOG
HAPPY NEW YEAR SPECIAL OFFERS! - January 6, 2010
HAPPY NEW YEAR - Hey folks, Happy New Year and welcome to 2010! We rang in the new year in style...wow, I got to play at The Hank Williams Museum in Montgomery, AB and at Noble's on New Year's Eve. It was the most moving and memorable New Year's I've ever had! These are some of the folks that were on the bus. This was New Year's Day morning and some folks were still sleepin'! Stay tuned for more info.
NEW SHOWS ANNOUNCED - We'll be on the road a bunch again this year. I'll be playing at Smith's Olde Bar in Atlanta on Jan. 20th. I'll also be playing with the great Caroline Herring at The Crimson Moon in Dahlonega, GE on Jan. 22nd. All the dates are up on the website! Please help spread the word if you have friends in any of these places!
SPECIAL OFFER - For a limited time we are offering CD's at $10.00 including shipping! Buy 2 and we'll throw in a third for free!!
NEW MONTHLY NEWSLETTER - I am working on a monthly newsletter for everyone who is interested in seeing what I'm up to in the coming year! I'll be including some special offers each month along with tales from the road and the comings and goings of life here in Tennessee. If you're interested in receiving the newsletter, please sign up in the box provided at the top of each page.
Thanks folks, all the best and hope to see you on the road!
Lots of Love
Linda
New Old Video from my First Solo CD! - October 19, 2009
Here's a video I made with my friend Doug Thomson for my very first solo recording Flying Jenny. The song was Roll On Down and was the first single from the CD released in 1997 right after I left my other band Spirit of the West. This was so much fun to make. We were in the desert in BC Canada! Yes, I said desert! Merritt, BC in the desert, absolutely gorgeous country and hotter than the hubs of hell in the summer time, gorgeous! My friends Rob Thomson and Keith Rose both from The Hard Rock Miners are the skweegy, how the heck do you spell that word? in the video.
SERFA, Ozark Folk Center - October 18, 2009
I've just gotten home from SERFA, South Eastern Regional Folk Alliance Conference and had such a wonderful time. Stay tuned for more info, photos, videos and accounts. I made many new friends and heard so much fantastic new music. I'll be posting new stuff as I get it downloaded on my computer.
Have a great week everyone!
Satisfied, satiated and sooooo inspired! Linda
WDVX, Jonesborough, the Carter Family Fold, Camping at the Nolichucky, and Bears then I'm off to Scotland - September 9, 2009
Wow, WDVX rocks! We did a show Wed. night Writer's Block with the lovely Dennis Double and host Karen Reynolds. What a blast. These two do a great show that just happens to be on WDVX, the greatest radio station in the world! The next day we got up and did a show on the Blue Plate Special with host Matt Morlock again at WDVX! You can tune in every day at noon and listen to the show, check out http://wdvx.com, it's my fave!!!
Friday night was Jonesborough Music on the Square. Jonesborough shuts down it's main street every Friday night throughout the summer for an open-air concert. It's a gorgeous place and is the oldest town in Tennessee. Also on the bill with me was multi-instrumentalist Matt Brown, incredibly gifted player and joined me for The L&N Don't Stop Here anymore and Some of My Friends, great fun.
After that we headed to the Nolichucky Gorge Campground with our friends Randy, Deb, Loren, Denise, and all our dogs. We spent a couple of nights there by the river, drank some beers, ate some great food and shared a bunch of tunes with some friends old and new, met a woman named Ritha who played dulcimer and sang some gorgeous traditional Irish songs, lovely voice!
Every Sunday night they have a potluck there and it was insanely great! Thanks to LD and Leanne for the killer meatloaf and especially to Leanne for the lovely fiddle playing later on into the wee hours of the morning. I headed back to our campsite sometime in the and was woken up to the sounds of a momma bear chomping on the stuff in our cooler only 10 feet away! She had a baby with her as well and spent about 4 hours in the camp trying to keep him up the tree. After everyone came and checked it out figuring it was ok, James and our dog Elphie went and slept in the tent, I headed for the van and had a very restless night's sleep there! Whew, a little too close for comfort!
Saturday night, Denise and James and I headed up to the Carter Family Fold and I got to play there! I did a brand new song that Dorothy Hamm (from Euless, TX) and I wrote about Maybelle Carter. I was so freakin' nervous I hardly even remember it. The place is a shrine to the Carter Family and is wonderful. There are so many photos of A.P., Sarah, Maybelle and all the Carters including June Carter Cash and Johnny of course. Johnny did his final show there. I couldn't look around until after I played otherwise I don't think I would have been able to keep it together. In the dressing room there were hand written lyrics, letters, photographs and artifacts that were staggering! It was an incredible experience and one I'll never forget! Thanks Denise for your support and for shooting the video and thanks Dorothy for great lyrics!
BC, Guitar Classes and Artswells - August 3, 2009
We flew into Seattle and were picked up by my pal Nova Devonie at the airport. We spent the night and then boarded the Clipper for Victoria and hung out for a few days there then headed to Vancouver to spend some time with the grandkids...oh how cute they are!
Lots of shows during this month, up and down, over and under, back and forth across the border. We had a blast with friends in Oregon, two house concerts, one at our friends the Harris' in Applegate, OR. Thanks you guys for a great time and for putting on the show for us!
Next was Ellensburg, WA and another great house concert at our friends the Gunns! Great show, and had fun, thanks to all for helping us out there! I got to go swimming with McKenzie and Abby and spent some time with our friends Karen and Michael at their beautiful new home out in the woods.
Back up to Canada again for shows throughout BC and some time with friends Line and Arash in Lac La Hache, more swimming woohooo! Arash built a great float deck on the lake that has a motor on it. We motored out to the middle of the lake and went for a swim, it was fabulous! I'm so happy we got to do so much swimming this summer, it's one thing I really miss about leaving Canada.
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Wells was next for a 4-day acoustic blues, slide guitar workshop put on by the Island Mountain Arts Summer School of the Arts. The course focused on the work of blues artists Leadbelly, Bukka White, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Jesse Fuller, and Skip James as well as the work of our incredibly gifted instructor Mr. Ken Hamm.
Ken was raised in Thunder Bay and began his musical pursuits as a teenager by listening to old country and blues recordings at the local folk record store. He has become one of Canada’s foremost interpreters of traditional roots and blues music and was awarded a Juno for Best Roots & Traditional CD. He has also been nominated for Recording of the Year and nominated several times for Best Acoustic Act of the Year by the Toronto Blues Society. Hamm was also nominated three years running as Best Acoustic Blues Guitarist by North America’s "Guitar Player" magazine.
Aside from the fact that at times I felt like my left hand was about to fall off and the white cloud of moisture that formed on the front my J-45 as a result of the sweat running down my right arm (it was an unusually hot week up in Wells) the class was very enjoyable and I can’t wait to show off some of my new licks!
There were 9 students in all from all over BC and 3 of them were women, one of whom was the fabulous Melisa Devost. Luckily, the students in the class were at the same level of skill making things somewhat easier to follow along. If anyone was having trouble figuring things out, Ken would go around to each person as we were playing our “licks” and help anyone who wasn’t getting it…something that happened to each of us at one time or other during the workshop. We were all given a book of tablature as well…a huge help in remembering things upon arriving back home over a week later!
During the week we were treated to Ken’s “History of the Blues” concert in the Wells Community Hall. He has an edge to his playing that is extremely enthralling, it’s hard to sit still and not be drawn in by his energy and passion for the music. As great a performer as Ken is he is equally as great at teaching and I’d highly recommend taking one of his classes if you ever have the chance.
It’s interesting being a student as an adult. In the past 5 years I have taken classes from time to time focusing on my craft and it has been extremely rewarding. I’ve learned a great deal and am grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from such knowledgeable instructors. The rest is up to me.
Sometimes it’s difficult finding the discipline to work at one’s craft. There are always plenty of excuses and things that need to be tended to. I end up doing everything else first and then hope there’s time left for my daily practice. Lately though, I’ve started making a point of doing my practice as soon as I get up. If I miss my morning practice I try and make it up later in the day and I usually sit around with a guitar in my hands if I’m watching TV, etc.
As for songwriting, I don’t usually sit down and force myself to write. I’ve tried that and it isn’t very productive for me. I always make sure I have my trusty little notebook at hand. You never know when you’re going to overhear some pearl of wisdom while sitting at the bar or a friend’s house or be woken up in the middle of the night by a piece of brilliance that will be gone with the morning light if it’s not written down. A new exercise or scale, chord, tuning, etc. can also result in a great new melody.
Writing on a different instrument can also send creative sparks to flying. Learning the banjo has changed my life! Really and truly! The banjo has changed my style, my performances and has helped me find new-added confidence in my playing. It’s a great instrument as a solo performer as it has a built-in rhythm and easier, I have found, to play leads on. Hopefully having been a part of this guitar workshop will tip the scales on that end.
I remember Jenn Patches use to have stickers that read “Go Home and Practice!” Good advice for everyone, no matter how good or bad you might think you are.
In my humble opinion, too much knowledge of theory can be hazardous to your songwriting and can keep you from trying things because “What are you nuts? You can’t fit that note over that chord.” If you subscribed to that avenue of thought you’d never try to fit that square chord into that round hole! If it sounds right to your ear go for it! (Don’t you hate that expression?) It’s like “you go girl”, ugh!
Wells is an incredible place and we had such a great time...we were there for almost a week finishing it off with the festival of all things art! Great festival, lots of fabulous music and folks and art and too much fun! We spent some time at a gorgeous cabin our friend Pete let us use. More swimming and too much fun, pooped, time to go home!
See you next time.
Springfield, Janesville, Forget and Alberta - July 1, 2009
I'm been one poor correspondent. We've been busy...t's been awhile since my last confession!
In April James and I got in the car and headed north. Our first stop, great singer/songwriter Ben Benford's house in Springfield, IL. Ben is fabulous, you should check out his music at http://benbenford.com . Congrats to Ben and Kari who are getting married this weekend! We're hoping to do some shows together this coming November in his area...stay tuned for news about that!
Next stop was Janesville, WI and our Porchboard patrons, Nadene, Dean and Bill. Nadene contacted me awhile ago asking me if I would endorse the Porchboard for her company Enroute Music and I'm so glad she did. It's a beautiful thing! This was my first tour using it and it's been great watching the reaction of people in audience wondering where that sound is coming from! Come to a show and check it out! We had a great dinner there and a fun jam later that night. We're also hoping to had there in November to do some shows in Janesville, can't wait for that one...thanks Nadene et al for the opportunity to play the Porchboard.
The next night we spent in Fargo, ND. Pretty uneventful really...rest and relaxation in time for a fabulous time in Forget, SK at the Happy Nun...this place rocks! The folks are fantastic, the food is better than top notch and the sound is impeccable! We had a great night, the place was packed and a good time was had by all! Can't wait to see ya'll again!
The next day we headed for Alberta and our 2 week Home Routes House Concert tour. Mitch Podolak and company have put together the tour of the century! We had such an amazing time, 12 shows in 14 days and every show was stellar, all the hosts were unbelievably great and we had a blast.
We left Alberta 2 weeks later and headed to the coast. Our car conked out in Hope!!! We managed to slink into Maple Ridge and later got the car to my step dad in Victoria and he was able to fix it for us. It was a white-knuckle drive but we made it...whew!
We left the car in Vancouver and flew home! Whew, it was a whirlwind and it's good to be back home!
See you again soon!
A New Discovery, Buddy Tabor, he's great! - April 7, 2009
My great friend Denise Williams from Hillbilly Haiku tells the story so well....here it is in her own words!"
I STRUCK GOLD....with the help of James and Linda, that is!
Oh, I know, I go off on some singer songwriter about every other week, falling hard then just as quickly moving on, fickle to the core. But then there are some that stand the test of time. My musician friends here, for exhibit number one. Well, I have found another. Another that is so good, I believe I'll be speaking the name Buddy Tabor as long as I am able to speak about music.
When James and Linda were in Indiana recently, a friend there Joe Peters, (he has a great radio show called Acoustic Blend on Purdue University's Public Radio Station, WBAA, AM 920 or streaming on the web at www.wbaa.org) gave them a copy of Buddy's CD. They enjoyed it and passed a copy to me. I put it in the player on the way home from work one day last week, and was in love by the time I hit Mt. Juliet. I got back to Linda and James, wondering WHO IS THIS GUY??? I searched on line and found a myspace page, which hadn't been accessed since January, and had just a couple comments on it from 2006 if I remember right. Nothing on Amazon, nothing on CD Baby, nothing on Village Records, a few articles but no links to purchase his music. By now, I'm having flashbacks to when I went searching on line for Doug's music! :-))
http://www.juneauempire.com/folkfestival/stories/buddytabor.shtml
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1197/is_1_50/ai_n16108375/
Linda emailed Joe who had given her the CD and he had this to say:
Good story behind that one...
My family was taking a cruise from Seward, AK down the inside passage in 2000, and we stopped in Juneau. I was pushing my father through a used bookstore in a wheel chair, and I heard this song come on that sounded like John Prine (but wasn't, I could tell), and a line about "China and Vietnam" came on, and since that's where I was living at the time, I took notice. I asked the clerk and she said, "Why that's Buddy Tabor, and you can buy his CD right there, which I did, and promptly learned 4 or 5 songs from the album, which I still play in solo sets.
Over the years, I have searched and found very little about Buddy, and certainly no website for him. Very sparse internet presence. Surprising, since everybody likes this CD. So, that's all I know. I know that he was living in Juneau at the time, but have no idea since then. Sorry...let me knw if Denise discovers anything more.
The address on the CD (copyright 1998) is:
P.O. Box 021273, Juneau,Alaska 99802.
Phone: 907-780-4492
The album was recorded in Juneau, and mastered in Whitehorse.
This prompted Linda to email Kim Beggs in Whitehorse to see if she knew of Buddy. Bullseye!
Hi Linda and Denise,
I know Buddy. yes he lives in Juneau. Actually you can hear him on the internet during the Juneau Folkfest (April 13-19) which is streamed live on the internet. He plays Wednesday, April 15 at 10 pm. for fifteen minutes only. The schedule can change some times though so check back. By the way folks, Kim Beggs is also scheduled to play on the Thursday at 9pm so you should definitely check her out too, she's great! You can check the schedule for other acts as well. Also check out Art Johns. He is a magical Indian Cowboy in his seventies. Fri at 8:45pm.
http://akfolkfest.org/35/35concerts.php
I also messaged one of the friends on his myspace page and got a reply, offering to pass my phone number to Buddy. I think I'll pass him Linda's instead, she speaks better "northern". lol
As to Buddy's music, add one more pound of grit to his voice and to my ears he's a dead ringer for a younger Guy Clark. And not just his voice, I would believe willingly that Guy wrote these songs. They are just really good stuff! And he writes many from a political viewpoint as well. You know I'm a sucker for music that matters. Dig this:
Natalee Holloway
Words & music by Buddy Tabor ©2006
We couldn’t find you in Aruba with all the tears that we wept
But it kept our minds away from the war and a trillion dollar debt
You were just a lonely high school girl about to spread her wings
When the facts aren’t fair and balanced the truth don’t mean a thing
The day you came up missing they sent the crews without delay
But they never mentioned Abramoff or the fall of Tom DeLay
Or how Jack went to the White House over 200 times
And all the bribes and money that went down, it’s bound to boggle up your mind
When the news has turned to Newspeak like in “1984”
When you wake up in this nightmare with George Orwell at your door
When the facts are all distorted and the truth becomes a lie
And the tears fall down like napalm from freedom’s bloodshot eyes
Dearest darling Natalee Holloway, I wonder if you have seen
All those flag-draped soldiers’ coffins coming from that nightmare dream
Or the tears falling down on a mother’s distressed face
Or the hole in her heart from the son she can’t replace
I wonder if your parents mind that your tragic death was used
To cover up the truth and never broadcast the real news
Stick the lies into your face, that’s bound to blind both of your eyes
While over in the war zone 50,000 souls have died
gone, i tell ya!
deeeeLOVESmusic
-- Well Dee, I think I should have you write a column here ever week to keep everyone up to speed on all the good stuff! You sure know it!
Have a great week everyone!
Linda
I STRUCK GOLD....with the help of James and Linda, that is!
Oh, I know, I go off on some singer songwriter about every other week, falling hard then just as quickly moving on, fickle to the core. But then there are some that stand the test of time. My musician friends here, for exhibit number one. Well, I have found another. Another that is so good, I believe I'll be speaking the name Buddy Tabor as long as I am able to speak about music.
When James and Linda were in Indiana recently, a friend there Joe Peters, (he has a great radio show called Acoustic Blend on Purdue University's Public Radio Station, WBAA, AM 920 or streaming on the web at www.wbaa.org) gave them a copy of Buddy's CD. They enjoyed it and passed a copy to me. I put it in the player on the way home from work one day last week, and was in love by the time I hit Mt. Juliet. I got back to Linda and James, wondering WHO IS THIS GUY??? I searched on line and found a myspace page, which hadn't been accessed since January, and had just a couple comments on it from 2006 if I remember right. Nothing on Amazon, nothing on CD Baby, nothing on Village Records, a few articles but no links to purchase his music. By now, I'm having flashbacks to when I went searching on line for Doug's music! :-))
http://www.juneauempire.com/folkfestival/stories/buddytabor.shtml
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1197/is_1_50/ai_n16108375/
Linda emailed Joe who had given her the CD and he had this to say:
Good story behind that one...
My family was taking a cruise from Seward, AK down the inside passage in 2000, and we stopped in Juneau. I was pushing my father through a used bookstore in a wheel chair, and I heard this song come on that sounded like John Prine (but wasn't, I could tell), and a line about "China and Vietnam" came on, and since that's where I was living at the time, I took notice. I asked the clerk and she said, "Why that's Buddy Tabor, and you can buy his CD right there, which I did, and promptly learned 4 or 5 songs from the album, which I still play in solo sets.
Over the years, I have searched and found very little about Buddy, and certainly no website for him. Very sparse internet presence. Surprising, since everybody likes this CD. So, that's all I know. I know that he was living in Juneau at the time, but have no idea since then. Sorry...let me knw if Denise discovers anything more.
The address on the CD (copyright 1998) is:
P.O. Box 021273, Juneau,Alaska 99802.
Phone: 907-780-4492
The album was recorded in Juneau, and mastered in Whitehorse.
This prompted Linda to email Kim Beggs in Whitehorse to see if she knew of Buddy. Bullseye!
Hi Linda and Denise,
I know Buddy. yes he lives in Juneau. Actually you can hear him on the internet during the Juneau Folkfest (April 13-19) which is streamed live on the internet. He plays Wednesday, April 15 at 10 pm. for fifteen minutes only. The schedule can change some times though so check back. By the way folks, Kim Beggs is also scheduled to play on the Thursday at 9pm so you should definitely check her out too, she's great! You can check the schedule for other acts as well. Also check out Art Johns. He is a magical Indian Cowboy in his seventies. Fri at 8:45pm.
http://akfolkfest.org/35/35concerts.php
I also messaged one of the friends on his myspace page and got a reply, offering to pass my phone number to Buddy. I think I'll pass him Linda's instead, she speaks better "northern". lol
As to Buddy's music, add one more pound of grit to his voice and to my ears he's a dead ringer for a younger Guy Clark. And not just his voice, I would believe willingly that Guy wrote these songs. They are just really good stuff! And he writes many from a political viewpoint as well. You know I'm a sucker for music that matters. Dig this:
Natalee Holloway
Words & music by Buddy Tabor ©2006
We couldn’t find you in Aruba with all the tears that we wept
But it kept our minds away from the war and a trillion dollar debt
You were just a lonely high school girl about to spread her wings
When the facts aren’t fair and balanced the truth don’t mean a thing
The day you came up missing they sent the crews without delay
But they never mentioned Abramoff or the fall of Tom DeLay
Or how Jack went to the White House over 200 times
And all the bribes and money that went down, it’s bound to boggle up your mind
When the news has turned to Newspeak like in “1984”
When you wake up in this nightmare with George Orwell at your door
When the facts are all distorted and the truth becomes a lie
And the tears fall down like napalm from freedom’s bloodshot eyes
Dearest darling Natalee Holloway, I wonder if you have seen
All those flag-draped soldiers’ coffins coming from that nightmare dream
Or the tears falling down on a mother’s distressed face
Or the hole in her heart from the son she can’t replace
I wonder if your parents mind that your tragic death was used
To cover up the truth and never broadcast the real news
Stick the lies into your face, that’s bound to blind both of your eyes
While over in the war zone 50,000 souls have died
gone, i tell ya!
deeeeLOVESmusic
-- Well Dee, I think I should have you write a column here ever week to keep everyone up to speed on all the good stuff! You sure know it!
Have a great week everyone!
Linda
I Got My Porchboard! - March 31, 2009
Hey folks: Can you believe it. I got my Porchboard from Nadene Isackson a couple of weeks ago. We finally got to meet at SXSW and she and Bill and Dean are awesome folks! My friend Kim Beggs bought one on the spot.
If you're a solo or duo or even in a "band I would highly recommend trying one out. It's definitely "cheaper than a side person" as Kim so wisely said when she tried it out. It's really cool and I'm getting the hang of it pretty quickly. Can't wait until I can get those polyrhythms going.
Thanks again to EnRoute Music and the Porchboard folks. Here's a video you can check out! There's also an article in this month's issue of Acoustic Guitar Magazine at
Acoustic Guitar Central: Three Rhythm Stompboxes Reviewed
If you're a solo or duo or even in a "band I would highly recommend trying one out. It's definitely "cheaper than a side person" as Kim so wisely said when she tried it out. It's really cool and I'm getting the hang of it pretty quickly. Can't wait until I can get those polyrhythms going.
Thanks again to EnRoute Music and the Porchboard folks. Here's a video you can check out! There's also an article in this month's issue of Acoustic Guitar Magazine at
Acoustic Guitar Central: Three Rhythm Stompboxes Reviewed
Jason Eklund, Phil Lee - March 31, 2009
Yesterday James and I spent the afternoon at our friends' Andy Scheinman and Lee Shropshire's place. They are both great musicians and play in a band called Shotgun Scooter...Lee plays bass and Andy is a guitarist, he's also a producer.
Mutual pal Jason Eklund is in the process of recording his new CD with Andy at the controls and they called me in to do a banjo on a great track called The Road to Ruin. Can't wait for the CD to come out. He's also just finished a book that should be out later on in the year, looking forward to that! He has a makeshift site up at http://www.myspace.com/jasoneklund.
Before heading off to Austin for SXSW a couple of weeks back my pal Denise Williams (Hillbilly Haiku House Concerts) sent me a few CD's to listen to on our drive. We loved the new one from Phil Lee and wouldn't you know it his set was right before ours at Opal Divine's Penn Field on Sunday afternoon. It's a great CD and he's a helluva performer. I highly recommend checking him out.
Cheers! all until next time.
Mutual pal Jason Eklund is in the process of recording his new CD with Andy at the controls and they called me in to do a banjo on a great track called The Road to Ruin. Can't wait for the CD to come out. He's also just finished a book that should be out later on in the year, looking forward to that! He has a makeshift site up at http://www.myspace.com/jasoneklund.
Before heading off to Austin for SXSW a couple of weeks back my pal Denise Williams (Hillbilly Haiku House Concerts) sent me a few CD's to listen to on our drive. We loved the new one from Phil Lee and wouldn't you know it his set was right before ours at Opal Divine's Penn Field on Sunday afternoon. It's a great CD and he's a helluva performer. I highly recommend checking him out.
Cheers! all until next time.
New Store Added! - March 31, 2009
We've added a little shopping area for you on the website. You'll find copies of all the CD's plus a few other ones I had recorded on. There's also some T-shirts and a one of a kind Hatch Show Print poster from the CD Release Party for Carve It To The Heart.
We've also decided to try a different look for the website. Let us know what you think!
We've also decided to try a different look for the website. Let us know what you think!
Home for a Few Days! - March 29, 2009
Hi Folks: Wow, it's been a busy year so far! We had a great tour of Europe followed by two theatre shows in Dalton, Georgia, a week in Indiana and a week in Austin at SXSW, a great night in New Orleans, a show at Lulu's in Gulf Shores and back home.
We're off to Canada in two weeks for a house concert tour in Alberta. Hope to see you out there! Stay tuned for photos of our European tour. We had a blast!
We're off to Canada in two weeks for a house concert tour in Alberta. Hope to see you out there! Stay tuned for photos of our European tour. We had a blast!
Christmas Comes Early! - November 23, 2008
Well I got the surprise of a lifetime last night! James and I had our friends Rick and Denise (Hillbilly Haiku House Concerts) over for dinner last night and low and behold they had an incredible new Hamlin dulcimer for me...an early Christmas present! Wow! This had been in the works for months and they all new about it and kept it a secret! Not only did the maker Scot Hamlin make a gorgeous, rich-toned Canadian Maple Leaf dulcimer for me but he surprised her (Sister we call each other!) with one of her own with heart-shaped sound holes in it as well...check this out! Just click on the links below...These wonderful photos were taken by Sarah Hamlin, Scot Hamlin's daughter. Check out Scot's Website at http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=173801570
and here's Sarah's http://sarahhamlinphotography.blogspot.com/
So much talent in one family!
Thanks folks, see you soon!
Linda
Hostbaby Hostbaby Hostbaby Hostbaby
So much talent in one family!
Thanks folks, see you soon!
Linda
Hostbaby Hostbaby Hostbaby Hostbaby
"This Winding Road" I have a monthly column in BC Musician Magazine - November 15, 2008
I have been asked by the powers that be at BC Musician Magazine to create a monthly column based on my experiences here in my new home of Nashville, TN. I'll be updating folks every month on the Nashville music scene from the perspective of a transplanted British Columbian musician and performing songwriter. The column will be called "This Winding Road". You can check out their site at
http://www.bcmusicianmag.com/ . Many thanks to Paul Crawford of the Penticton Art Gallery for recommending me for this column! Thanks Paul!
http://www.galleries.bc.ca/agso/ Paul is also the Artistic Director of a great festival in Wells, BC called Artswells. Check them out at http://artswells.com/. It's a fabulous festival!
http://www.bcmusicianmag.com/ . Many thanks to Paul Crawford of the Penticton Art Gallery for recommending me for this column! Thanks Paul!
http://www.galleries.bc.ca/agso/ Paul is also the Artistic Director of a great festival in Wells, BC called Artswells. Check them out at http://artswells.com/. It's a fabulous festival!
June Carter Cash - November 14, 2008
I found this great footage on myspace of June recording one of my favourite albums of all time.
Enjoy! It's great!
Enjoy! It's great!
Johnny Cash Saying Hello To A.P. Carter driving down the same roads and places we just went! - November 9, 2008
Chattanooga, Down Home in Johnson City and The Carter Fold. - November 9, 2008
Hey Folks: My great friend Denise posted a newsletter about a few recent trips we made. Thanks Denise for such an elloquent account and for making the Carter Fold trip possible! I'll never forget it! Check out her house concert series at www.myspace.com/hillbillyhaikuhouseconcerts . Denise loves music and has introduced me to some fantastic new music!
We went to Chattanooga last Sunday with Linda and James, Linda played the Farmer's Market there. Nathan Bell and family joined us and we went back to their house afterwards. The Farmer's Market was awesome, lots of crafts, baked goods, food stands. On the way up to Nathan's we stopped and bought apples and cider from a nearby orchard. I'm on my second cup of hot cider today as I type. So good! We talked smart, and laughed too loud, and plunked around some on the Bell family's banjo and dulcimer. He saw the closet where he hangs out... {ahem} Some photos from our day: http://picasaweb.google.com/heartsabustin/LindaAtChattanoogaFarmerSMarket
This week, I took Friday off and joined Linda and James and Barbara Lamb and Luke the Intern (yeah, Linda (Sister's) got an intern!) on a road trip to East TN. At noon Linda and Barbara played the Blue Plate Special live radio show on WDVX. There was a nice crowd there and they were lovin' Linda and Babs. There were two other bands that played after and they were both excellent. We got to go in the control room and talk with my favorite DJ, Red Hickey, too! That was wicked cool. Then we all walked to a local eatery and chowed. Matt Butcher (with band) was the middle of the three bands. He was a painfully skinny youngster with some nice ink, a young Dylan vibe, good songs, tight band. He actually covered Dylan's I Shall Be Released to close his set. I shot some poor quality video on my camera, still says its not available but hopefully you can view it a bit later. Then we headed for Johnson City and The Down Home. It was a hoot to be in the musician's room there and think that Guy Clark was there just a couple weeks back. Linda and Babs and John Pennell (bass) had a rehearsal, I went and checked in to the motel. I returned in time for Barbara's opening set. Then Linda and band played a great show. I got to meet Ed Snodderly, the owner, who is a musician himself. I've been emailing with him trying to work out a house concert date since I saw him at Folk Alliance last year. He was really nice, I love it when folks turn out to be who you hoped they'd be. We talked a good while, he said he'd asked (Malcolm Holcom) about our series. :-))) As the evening drew to a close, Linda said to me, 'would you want to try to find the Carter Fold tomorrow?' I was stunned for a moment to think we might be near enough, but Ed confirmed it was maybe 30 miles or so, so we decided we had to go. Here are the photos from Friday: http://picasaweb.google.com/heartsabustin/LindaAtWDVXDownHome
I had driven separately, so after breakfast on Saturday morning Linda came with me while the others headed back to Nashville. I had written down some directions from the website and we had Linda's GPS. The website said they had music every Saturday night and the museum part was just open on Saturdays about 6, for a while before the music. We went thinking we wouldn't be able to go inside, but at least we'd be there. A slight wrong turn, quickly corrected, was the only snag on the way, we drove right to it. As we pulled in I saw there were 4 or 5 cars there. I thought maybe they were having a rehearsal or something. We walked around the outside of the buildings, there are three. The Fold is a performance facility where they have the concerts on Saturdays. There is a separate building that is one large room, that's the museum. And the original (refurbished a bit) log cabin that A.P. grew up in was moved about 3 miles to be there at the site also. It was very beautiful, surrounded by the Virginia hills in fall colors. Linda decided she was going to try to go inside and see what was going on. Good thing she's bolder than I! We walked in and there were two older couples, and two more ladies there chatting. One lady came over and greeted us, we asked if they were open and could we look around. She said, 'sure Honey, come right in!' :-))) So we did, and the whole stage area is full of artwork, photos, memorabilia, its kinda like a shrine really. It was very moving, we both went for our Kleenex. After looking around a bit, the lady that had welcomed us in was sitting on a stool at the corner of the stage and we walked over to chat with her. She told us they had recently been able to renovate with money from the State, so there were concrete floors where before had been only dirt. Linda asked how one might get to play there, and the lady said, 'Honey, you just show up with your instrument and we'll get you up for at least one.' bwah!!!! You should have heard Linda, 'are you serious???' Man, if only we'd had her banjo with us, we'd have been staying for the show that night!
Linda asked if the other buildings were open and the kind lady said she'd have one of the gentlemen open them for us. So we thanked her and Linda asked her name, she said 'Honey, I'm Rita Forrester.' We shook her hand, thanked her again, and a nice man lead us next door to the Museum. Its just one big room but there is LOTS of memorabilia inside. Lots of photos, posters, artwork, instruments, a Grammy they won, show clothes, some hand written lyrics, etc, etc, etc! So we're looking at some photos and there was one quite old, with a young woman captioned Rita. I said to Linda, does this look like the Rita we were just talking with? She agreed that indeed it did, so I asked our tour guide if it was the same. He came and took a look, and said 'yep, that's Rita years ago.' I said, 'so... is she related to the Carters?' He said, 'Honey, she's A.P.'s granddaughter! She's the one that keeps this whole thing going!' Holy KWRAP! We were just talking with Sarah and A.P.'s granddaughter!! Linda and I were just about to bust. Here we didn't think we'd even be able to go inside, and it turns out we are having our own private guided tour, and we just chatted with A.P.'s granddaughter, and all Sister has to do to play there is SHOW UP. How in the hell do I keep lucking in to this life?? Our tour guide was Blanard Collins and he was SOUTHERN with a capital SSSS. I could tell Linda had trouble understanding him sometimes because his accent was so thick. He was as nice as he could be, telling us to take all the time we wanted so we gave that Museum a thorough look and then went over to the refurbished cabin. It was all the better because we had the whole experience to ourselves - we were the only ones there! Blanard told us we could drive just over a mile up the road to the church where A.P., Sara, Janette and Joe were laid to rest. He said we could see their 'tomb rocks'. That cracked me up, couldn't figure out what he was saying at first, I've never heard them called that. The Methodist Church sat up on a bit of a hill and once we got up there the view was amazing. We paid our respects, took some more photos, and started the long drive home with hearts sooooooooooo full. Hope you enjoy my photos of the Carter Fold:
http://picasaweb.google.com/heartsabustin/MeAndSisterAtTheCarterFold
I'm so thankful for Linda and James's friendship, and will forever be grateful Linda thought of visiting The Fold. It is a forever memory, for sure.
Thanks Denise for such a stunning account, takes me right back there!
Thanks also to Randy Hixson and Debi for their hospitality and for helping bring folks down to the Down Home! Sure do appreciate all your help. Thanks also to WETS and the Johnson City Press for their continued support and the great article and announcements! Than ks also to Phil Leonard for your encouragement and offer of accoms! Hope you're feeling better! Thanks also to Steve Cook for coming out and supporting us and helping bring folks down as well. Check out the Jonesborough Music in the Square! Oh and last but not least, thank you to Ed Snodderly and the folks at the Down Home for having us play there!
We went to Chattanooga last Sunday with Linda and James, Linda played the Farmer's Market there. Nathan Bell and family joined us and we went back to their house afterwards. The Farmer's Market was awesome, lots of crafts, baked goods, food stands. On the way up to Nathan's we stopped and bought apples and cider from a nearby orchard. I'm on my second cup of hot cider today as I type. So good! We talked smart, and laughed too loud, and plunked around some on the Bell family's banjo and dulcimer. He saw the closet where he hangs out... {ahem} Some photos from our day: http://picasaweb.google.com/heartsabustin/LindaAtChattanoogaFarmerSMarket
This week, I took Friday off and joined Linda and James and Barbara Lamb and Luke the Intern (yeah, Linda (Sister's) got an intern!) on a road trip to East TN. At noon Linda and Barbara played the Blue Plate Special live radio show on WDVX. There was a nice crowd there and they were lovin' Linda and Babs. There were two other bands that played after and they were both excellent. We got to go in the control room and talk with my favorite DJ, Red Hickey, too! That was wicked cool. Then we all walked to a local eatery and chowed. Matt Butcher (with band) was the middle of the three bands. He was a painfully skinny youngster with some nice ink, a young Dylan vibe, good songs, tight band. He actually covered Dylan's I Shall Be Released to close his set. I shot some poor quality video on my camera, still says its not available but hopefully you can view it a bit later. Then we headed for Johnson City and The Down Home. It was a hoot to be in the musician's room there and think that Guy Clark was there just a couple weeks back. Linda and Babs and John Pennell (bass) had a rehearsal, I went and checked in to the motel. I returned in time for Barbara's opening set. Then Linda and band played a great show. I got to meet Ed Snodderly, the owner, who is a musician himself. I've been emailing with him trying to work out a house concert date since I saw him at Folk Alliance last year. He was really nice, I love it when folks turn out to be who you hoped they'd be. We talked a good while, he said he'd asked (Malcolm Holcom) about our series. :-))) As the evening drew to a close, Linda said to me, 'would you want to try to find the Carter Fold tomorrow?' I was stunned for a moment to think we might be near enough, but Ed confirmed it was maybe 30 miles or so, so we decided we had to go. Here are the photos from Friday: http://picasaweb.google.com/heartsabustin/LindaAtWDVXDownHome
I had driven separately, so after breakfast on Saturday morning Linda came with me while the others headed back to Nashville. I had written down some directions from the website and we had Linda's GPS. The website said they had music every Saturday night and the museum part was just open on Saturdays about 6, for a while before the music. We went thinking we wouldn't be able to go inside, but at least we'd be there. A slight wrong turn, quickly corrected, was the only snag on the way, we drove right to it. As we pulled in I saw there were 4 or 5 cars there. I thought maybe they were having a rehearsal or something. We walked around the outside of the buildings, there are three. The Fold is a performance facility where they have the concerts on Saturdays. There is a separate building that is one large room, that's the museum. And the original (refurbished a bit) log cabin that A.P. grew up in was moved about 3 miles to be there at the site also. It was very beautiful, surrounded by the Virginia hills in fall colors. Linda decided she was going to try to go inside and see what was going on. Good thing she's bolder than I! We walked in and there were two older couples, and two more ladies there chatting. One lady came over and greeted us, we asked if they were open and could we look around. She said, 'sure Honey, come right in!' :-))) So we did, and the whole stage area is full of artwork, photos, memorabilia, its kinda like a shrine really. It was very moving, we both went for our Kleenex. After looking around a bit, the lady that had welcomed us in was sitting on a stool at the corner of the stage and we walked over to chat with her. She told us they had recently been able to renovate with money from the State, so there were concrete floors where before had been only dirt. Linda asked how one might get to play there, and the lady said, 'Honey, you just show up with your instrument and we'll get you up for at least one.' bwah!!!! You should have heard Linda, 'are you serious???' Man, if only we'd had her banjo with us, we'd have been staying for the show that night!
Linda asked if the other buildings were open and the kind lady said she'd have one of the gentlemen open them for us. So we thanked her and Linda asked her name, she said 'Honey, I'm Rita Forrester.' We shook her hand, thanked her again, and a nice man lead us next door to the Museum. Its just one big room but there is LOTS of memorabilia inside. Lots of photos, posters, artwork, instruments, a Grammy they won, show clothes, some hand written lyrics, etc, etc, etc! So we're looking at some photos and there was one quite old, with a young woman captioned Rita. I said to Linda, does this look like the Rita we were just talking with? She agreed that indeed it did, so I asked our tour guide if it was the same. He came and took a look, and said 'yep, that's Rita years ago.' I said, 'so... is she related to the Carters?' He said, 'Honey, she's A.P.'s granddaughter! She's the one that keeps this whole thing going!' Holy KWRAP! We were just talking with Sarah and A.P.'s granddaughter!! Linda and I were just about to bust. Here we didn't think we'd even be able to go inside, and it turns out we are having our own private guided tour, and we just chatted with A.P.'s granddaughter, and all Sister has to do to play there is SHOW UP. How in the hell do I keep lucking in to this life?? Our tour guide was Blanard Collins and he was SOUTHERN with a capital SSSS. I could tell Linda had trouble understanding him sometimes because his accent was so thick. He was as nice as he could be, telling us to take all the time we wanted so we gave that Museum a thorough look and then went over to the refurbished cabin. It was all the better because we had the whole experience to ourselves - we were the only ones there! Blanard told us we could drive just over a mile up the road to the church where A.P., Sara, Janette and Joe were laid to rest. He said we could see their 'tomb rocks'. That cracked me up, couldn't figure out what he was saying at first, I've never heard them called that. The Methodist Church sat up on a bit of a hill and once we got up there the view was amazing. We paid our respects, took some more photos, and started the long drive home with hearts sooooooooooo full. Hope you enjoy my photos of the Carter Fold:
http://picasaweb.google.com/heartsabustin/MeAndSisterAtTheCarterFold
I'm so thankful for Linda and James's friendship, and will forever be grateful Linda thought of visiting The Fold. It is a forever memory, for sure.
Thanks Denise for such a stunning account, takes me right back there!
Thanks also to Randy Hixson and Debi for their hospitality and for helping bring folks down to the Down Home! Sure do appreciate all your help. Thanks also to WETS and the Johnson City Press for their continued support and the great article and announcements! Than ks also to Phil Leonard for your encouragement and offer of accoms! Hope you're feeling better! Thanks also to Steve Cook for coming out and supporting us and helping bring folks down as well. Check out the Jonesborough Music in the Square! Oh and last but not least, thank you to Ed Snodderly and the folks at the Down Home for having us play there!
Porchboard! - November 9, 2008
Hey folks: Can you believe it. I got an email from Nadene Isackson who owns The Porchboard last week. Seems I had mentioned The Porchboard in one of my postings here and she was so excited that I had mentioned it as an actual instrument that she offered to send me one as an endorsement! Thanks so much to Nadene and Bill Stephens. This is such a great instrument for solo artists and I can't wait to get mine and learn how to use it. It sounds just like a kick drum and adds a nice low end sound for solo players. Check them out at www.porchboard.com .
Berea, KY and Bloomington, IN - November 9, 2008
Whew, it's been a great month! October was one of the busiest I can remember!
We went to play The Main Street Cafe in Berea, KY and met the owner Sune, his lovely wife Barbara and their wonderful son Scotty. We had a great time at the cafe, the food is tremendous and after the show we all sat up and had a glass of wine and some great conversation. The next day Oct. 25th was James' and my first anniversary! Sune took us downtown and showed us around. We went to one of the only remaining L&N train stations left and looked around. After a day of sightseeing we took in our first contra dance that evening, complete with a live band! It was so much fun. We danced 3 full dances and then took a break, first time I ever danced with James!
Thanks so much to Sune, Barbara and Scotty for being such wonderful hosts! See you next time!
The next day we headed for Bloomington, IN and The Player's Pub. We had an afternoon brunch show with The Lopers and Jeff Foster. Dave McConnell was such a sweetheart setting up this gig as well as inviting me to a jam session where I met some fantastic writers and players. We played for a couple of hours and then had a fabulous dinner made by his wife Marcia. We've kept in touch with Dave and Eric Hicks and Joe Peters songwriters we met at Dave's jam and who have offered to help us put on some shows in the not so distant future! Great writers too, more about them in future posts.
The next night we played the Player's Pub Songwriters night which was hosted by Bobbi Lancaster and featuring Cliff Snyder, Gideon Wainwright, and Ken Tucker.
I remember remember asking someone if Cliff's songs were really short. I like his voice and songs so much they just seemed to end far too soon. Turns out he really liked my stuff as well and we're planning some shows together in the future.
Check all these fabulous writers out, they all have myspace sites.
Life is good!
We went to play The Main Street Cafe in Berea, KY and met the owner Sune, his lovely wife Barbara and their wonderful son Scotty. We had a great time at the cafe, the food is tremendous and after the show we all sat up and had a glass of wine and some great conversation. The next day Oct. 25th was James' and my first anniversary! Sune took us downtown and showed us around. We went to one of the only remaining L&N train stations left and looked around. After a day of sightseeing we took in our first contra dance that evening, complete with a live band! It was so much fun. We danced 3 full dances and then took a break, first time I ever danced with James!
Thanks so much to Sune, Barbara and Scotty for being such wonderful hosts! See you next time!
The next day we headed for Bloomington, IN and The Player's Pub. We had an afternoon brunch show with The Lopers and Jeff Foster. Dave McConnell was such a sweetheart setting up this gig as well as inviting me to a jam session where I met some fantastic writers and players. We played for a couple of hours and then had a fabulous dinner made by his wife Marcia. We've kept in touch with Dave and Eric Hicks and Joe Peters songwriters we met at Dave's jam and who have offered to help us put on some shows in the not so distant future! Great writers too, more about them in future posts.
The next night we played the Player's Pub Songwriters night which was hosted by Bobbi Lancaster and featuring Cliff Snyder, Gideon Wainwright, and Ken Tucker.
I remember remember asking someone if Cliff's songs were really short. I like his voice and songs so much they just seemed to end far too soon. Turns out he really liked my stuff as well and we're planning some shows together in the future.
Check all these fabulous writers out, they all have myspace sites.
Life is good!
Alabama, Mississippi and Americana Music Week Whew! - September 21, 2008
Hi folks: Hope you're all doing great in cyberland! James and I returned from a few shows in Alabama and Mississippi last weekend.
First stop was The Flying Monkey Arts Centre in Hunstville, Alabama. What a fantastic place this is! It's an artist co-op in an industrial/residential part of town, and reminded of a artists' squat I visited and played at in Slovenia back in 1999 with a dozen or so Vancouver bands.
They have the top floor of an old brick warehouse building with many artist studios/shops/performance spaces and a theatre as well. Great sound and really nice folks. There is a food trailer outside with fabulous food and a wonderful restaurant space set up in the loading bay. I was blown away by the this place! If you are in Huntsville you have to check it out. Saturdays are good days to visit as the shops are all open and manned by the artists so you can check them out, talk to them and take in dinner and a show in the evening. I recommend the jerk chicken and key lime ice cream, yumn! Opening for us were Dyke and Tina, funny stuff and intelligent humour, catchy songs. Flying Monkey Arts Centre....can't wait to see you all again.
Leaving Huntsville we made our way to Birmingham, AB where we stayed with our friends Charlie and Deborah Stephenson. Charlie and Deborah were wonderful hosts and have a fantastic place next to a 200 acre park. Charlie helped set up a show at Java and Jams Coffee house where I met a new myspace friend who said Minka's Kitchen from my first CD was one of his favourite songs! Yikes, that shocked the crap out of me! How cool is that. He came down with his kids and they were so charming. There was also a resident artist there who did 2 paintings of me and one of James' and my dog Elphie. Thanks Java & Jams.
We then headed for Mississippi and played a pub there. Fabulous staff, good food, nice folks. BB King played nearby, someone gave us tickets to his show, but it was over by the time I finished playing unfortunately. Headed back to Nashville after the show.
Weird thing here in Nashville, the hurricane in Texas apparently has caused a gas shortage here and nowhere else! Go figure! I think we should all take Yael Wand's example and convert diesels to vegetable oil! She recently toured 5000 miles and it cost her $35 to fill up the diesel tank when she got home! What's wrong with this picture? It makes me hopping mad!
Americana Music Week After all that we had a friend from Austin, Patterson Barrett arrive for Americana Music Week here in Nashville. It was particulary good this year and at $35.00 for 4 nights of shows featuring 70 or so bands it's a definite bargain!
Levon Helm's show at the Ryman was one of those landmark performances. I never got to see The Band and being a huge fan it was fantastic being able to see him and especially in the mother chuch The Ryman Auditorium, former home of the Grand Ole' Opry. Levon was in fine form and had some fine players with him including crack multi-instrumentalist and Americana Music Awards Lifetime Achievement for Instrumentalist, former Bob Dylan sideman Larry Campbell, members of Ollabelle, Levon's daughter Amy Helm, John Hiatt, Delbert McClinton, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Sheryl Crow and Billy Bob Thornton all showed up and played a song or two with the master. It's so great to see Levon in such fine form and having the time of his life!
The Americana Music Awards were next again with many of the above artists guesting in addition to incredible new discovery Mike Farris. He is the re-incarnation of Otis Redding and all the great gospel and soul singers of all time. Backed by a viscious horn section, keys, soulful bass, guitar, drums and a force to reckon with in background singers The McCrary Sisters. Amen!
Another special moment was seeing Steve Earle introduce Joan Baez and hearing her perform a new Tom Waits penned tune from her upcoming Steve Earle-produced CD. Her performance was stellar as was Steve's performance with his wife Alison Moorer.
Jason and the Scorchers tore the roof the Ryman after receiving the Lifetime Achievement award for Performance. Love those guys!
Buddy Miller did a fantastic show as always playing with Levon, and as band leader at the awards show performing a new tune from his upcoming CD with Robert Plant! Buddy is the musical director on the Plant/Krauss tour. He played a great show at the Mercy Lounge on Saturday night with featured vocalist Bonnie Bramlett! She gave me a spanish fan and it's hanging in my music room!
We also went to a special Six Shooter Records party hosted by Shauna and Susan de Cartier at the 2nd Fiddle on Broadway. We got to see old pals Jim Cuddy and Glen Milchum, Luke Doucet with Melissa McClelland, Justin Rutledge with David Baxter. Excellent show and it was so great to see everyone again! Six Shooter rocks! Thanks Shauna and Susan!
Wow, so much great music, I'm in heaven!
Thanks folks and see you next time! Be Happy and Well and Safe Travels!
First stop was The Flying Monkey Arts Centre in Hunstville, Alabama. What a fantastic place this is! It's an artist co-op in an industrial/residential part of town, and reminded of a artists' squat I visited and played at in Slovenia back in 1999 with a dozen or so Vancouver bands.
They have the top floor of an old brick warehouse building with many artist studios/shops/performance spaces and a theatre as well. Great sound and really nice folks. There is a food trailer outside with fabulous food and a wonderful restaurant space set up in the loading bay. I was blown away by the this place! If you are in Huntsville you have to check it out. Saturdays are good days to visit as the shops are all open and manned by the artists so you can check them out, talk to them and take in dinner and a show in the evening. I recommend the jerk chicken and key lime ice cream, yumn! Opening for us were Dyke and Tina, funny stuff and intelligent humour, catchy songs. Flying Monkey Arts Centre....can't wait to see you all again.
Leaving Huntsville we made our way to Birmingham, AB where we stayed with our friends Charlie and Deborah Stephenson. Charlie and Deborah were wonderful hosts and have a fantastic place next to a 200 acre park. Charlie helped set up a show at Java and Jams Coffee house where I met a new myspace friend who said Minka's Kitchen from my first CD was one of his favourite songs! Yikes, that shocked the crap out of me! How cool is that. He came down with his kids and they were so charming. There was also a resident artist there who did 2 paintings of me and one of James' and my dog Elphie. Thanks Java & Jams.
We then headed for Mississippi and played a pub there. Fabulous staff, good food, nice folks. BB King played nearby, someone gave us tickets to his show, but it was over by the time I finished playing unfortunately. Headed back to Nashville after the show.
Weird thing here in Nashville, the hurricane in Texas apparently has caused a gas shortage here and nowhere else! Go figure! I think we should all take Yael Wand's example and convert diesels to vegetable oil! She recently toured 5000 miles and it cost her $35 to fill up the diesel tank when she got home! What's wrong with this picture? It makes me hopping mad!
Americana Music Week After all that we had a friend from Austin, Patterson Barrett arrive for Americana Music Week here in Nashville. It was particulary good this year and at $35.00 for 4 nights of shows featuring 70 or so bands it's a definite bargain!
Levon Helm's show at the Ryman was one of those landmark performances. I never got to see The Band and being a huge fan it was fantastic being able to see him and especially in the mother chuch The Ryman Auditorium, former home of the Grand Ole' Opry. Levon was in fine form and had some fine players with him including crack multi-instrumentalist and Americana Music Awards Lifetime Achievement for Instrumentalist, former Bob Dylan sideman Larry Campbell, members of Ollabelle, Levon's daughter Amy Helm, John Hiatt, Delbert McClinton, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Sheryl Crow and Billy Bob Thornton all showed up and played a song or two with the master. It's so great to see Levon in such fine form and having the time of his life!
The Americana Music Awards were next again with many of the above artists guesting in addition to incredible new discovery Mike Farris. He is the re-incarnation of Otis Redding and all the great gospel and soul singers of all time. Backed by a viscious horn section, keys, soulful bass, guitar, drums and a force to reckon with in background singers The McCrary Sisters. Amen!
Another special moment was seeing Steve Earle introduce Joan Baez and hearing her perform a new Tom Waits penned tune from her upcoming Steve Earle-produced CD. Her performance was stellar as was Steve's performance with his wife Alison Moorer.
Jason and the Scorchers tore the roof the Ryman after receiving the Lifetime Achievement award for Performance. Love those guys!
Buddy Miller did a fantastic show as always playing with Levon, and as band leader at the awards show performing a new tune from his upcoming CD with Robert Plant! Buddy is the musical director on the Plant/Krauss tour. He played a great show at the Mercy Lounge on Saturday night with featured vocalist Bonnie Bramlett! She gave me a spanish fan and it's hanging in my music room!
We also went to a special Six Shooter Records party hosted by Shauna and Susan de Cartier at the 2nd Fiddle on Broadway. We got to see old pals Jim Cuddy and Glen Milchum, Luke Doucet with Melissa McClelland, Justin Rutledge with David Baxter. Excellent show and it was so great to see everyone again! Six Shooter rocks! Thanks Shauna and Susan!
Wow, so much great music, I'm in heaven!
Thanks folks and see you next time! Be Happy and Well and Safe Travels!
End of Tour and a Great Party Last Night! - August 30, 2008
Leaving off from my last blog...Heather and Greg's wedding was beautiful. They held it down by the water in Stanley Park and they both looked gorgeous, Iris was so gorgeous in her little white gown! Beautiful ceremony for two lovely people. Congrats Heather and Greg!
Next day we headed down south to Bellingham's Green Frog Acoustic which was a bust. Unfortunately not a lot of folks showed up due to a big acoustic music festival that was going on there but I did get to play with a really great fellow there Louis Ledford sat in and he was awesome, there were more people on stage though than in the audience but we had fun. Great place and friendly staff, go and check it out!
Next stop was Portland, OR at Laurelthirst where I got to see my pal Dena and her friends and the fantastic Lisa and her Kin, well 2 of her kin, both brothers were there and they were great, doing some fabulous covers including an inspired version of the old Sonny and Cher gem Bang Bang! Great stuff. Also on the bill was Emily Herring and I really liked her. She had a dobro player with her and she yodeled, played guitar and porchboard. She has a batch of terrific songs and was a hoot! Loved her!
On to Medford and Johnny B's. This is a cool place with a great atmosphere. Reminded me of some of the old Vancouver venues, rockabilly, psychobilly, crazy stuff. Johnny is an excellent host and really knows his music! Unfortunately there was some weirdness going on amongst staff resulting in one person being let go, The Slow Poisoner started, cool stuff and great stage props. Johnny was next sans band cause they didn't show up and then I got to go on an hour past scheduled time. Not a lot of people and a little chaotic but fun.
Eugene's Cosmic Pizza was next and I got to do a show with Ian Thomas who was incredible! I'd definitely recommend checking him out. www.ianthomasmusic.com . Nice guy, extremely talented and very humble! Lots of fun!
After leaving Eugene we left for the little town of Applegate, OR where we spent a few days with James' friends Chuck, Karen, Ahleah and Dextor on their ranch. I learned how to make goat cheese and whew is it awesome! I also taught some of Ahleah's friends there, 8 - 12 year olds and they rocked! Wow, I couldn't believe how enthusiastic they were. They wrote some killer songs! Way to go kids from Applegate! Thanks to Vicki for helping to spread the word!
Then we headed to Ellensburg, WA for some time with James' friends Rich, Kim, Mckenzie, and Abby. We had so much fun and they put on a fantastic outdoor concert for us. Thank you so much to the Smiths and to Frank for generously supplying the pa and playing bass with me and also to Travis for sitting in on snare drum! We had a great time, awesome folks!
All these shows James has been reading his poem "Hope it lasts through supper" and he's been winning many new fans and making lots of great friends because of it. There's usually not a dry eye in the house. We've also just finished 2 new songs, one of which I have been playing live and is getting great reaction from the audience. The song is called "Three Midnights" and was inspired by his 21 year sobriety birthday in July of this year! Congratulations James, you're a fabulous hubby and I loves ya! The other song was inspired by a Johnny Dowd CD we listened to a lot on this tour and is called "Killing Time That Just Won't Die", it's going to be fun...James is doing the verses as speaking parts and I'm singing the chorus.
We're home now and loving being here in Tennessee. It's so nice to have our own house and we're fixing it up little by little. The grass was 4 ft high and rising when we got home though and our lawn mower was broke! We got it fixed by Alan down the road though and it looks great again.
We went to a birthday party at Red Tree Coffee last night. I did a show there last weekend and it's such a great place and it's right here in our cool little hamlet of Kingston Springs, TN. Amy and Kate own the shop and they have unbelievably great music every Friday night. I played there last night and Amy's husband Cole Bruce sat in on mandolin and guitar and was incredible. Check him out at myspace.com/colebruce . Last night was a birthday party for Katie's husband Jon Conley and wow, what an unbelievably great night! He is so talented, a fantastic singer, instrumentalist and does a wicked Willie Nelson impression! He had a host of guests including Dave Gant (keyboard player for Garth Brooks!), Garry Murray on fiddle (he's played with Dolly Parton!), Diana DeWitt who sang one of her own gorgeous songs (she was in and on Neil Young's Prairie Wind!) and Mark Stacy who did a fun song called Your Mom Put The Moves on Me, he and Stacy played together and Mark will be playing there doing his own show on Sep. 13.
I got to sit in with Jon and Dave and we did Cash on The Barrelhead and When I Stop Dreaming (someone pinch me!) by the Louvin Brothers and he got me up again later to play with him and Garry on fiddle me on banjo. We did Rollin in My Sweet Baby's arms with killer 3-part harmony. Then we did my song When I Stop Dreaming and it very near reduced me to tears, incredible magical moments!
Then Jon brought up his 9 year old daughter Savanna and they did a song she wrote that was unbelievable and wow, what a voice she had! She's already a force to be reckoned with and I predict we'll hear a lot from her in the years to come!
Next Jon brought up Cole and Amy and they did a couple of gorgeous tunes, the first one was incredible but I don't know the name of it...I'll have to ask them. Amy has one of most amazing voices I've ever heard, beautiful and subtle but she can really belt it too, she was incredible. Then up came Katie, Jon's wife and they all sang Cotton Dress, one of Cole's songs, gorgeous! That family is sooo dang talented and hey, Amy and Katie's mom's maiden name was McCrae so we all think we might be kin! Cool hah!
Anyway, if you live in the area I'd highly recommend checking it out! It's absolutely fantastic!
See you next time, and hey, go listen to some live music and have some fun!
Lots of Love, be safe, happy and well
Linda
Next day we headed down south to Bellingham's Green Frog Acoustic which was a bust. Unfortunately not a lot of folks showed up due to a big acoustic music festival that was going on there but I did get to play with a really great fellow there Louis Ledford sat in and he was awesome, there were more people on stage though than in the audience but we had fun. Great place and friendly staff, go and check it out!
Next stop was Portland, OR at Laurelthirst where I got to see my pal Dena and her friends and the fantastic Lisa and her Kin, well 2 of her kin, both brothers were there and they were great, doing some fabulous covers including an inspired version of the old Sonny and Cher gem Bang Bang! Great stuff. Also on the bill was Emily Herring and I really liked her. She had a dobro player with her and she yodeled, played guitar and porchboard. She has a batch of terrific songs and was a hoot! Loved her!
On to Medford and Johnny B's. This is a cool place with a great atmosphere. Reminded me of some of the old Vancouver venues, rockabilly, psychobilly, crazy stuff. Johnny is an excellent host and really knows his music! Unfortunately there was some weirdness going on amongst staff resulting in one person being let go, The Slow Poisoner started, cool stuff and great stage props. Johnny was next sans band cause they didn't show up and then I got to go on an hour past scheduled time. Not a lot of people and a little chaotic but fun.
Eugene's Cosmic Pizza was next and I got to do a show with Ian Thomas who was incredible! I'd definitely recommend checking him out. www.ianthomasmusic.com . Nice guy, extremely talented and very humble! Lots of fun!
After leaving Eugene we left for the little town of Applegate, OR where we spent a few days with James' friends Chuck, Karen, Ahleah and Dextor on their ranch. I learned how to make goat cheese and whew is it awesome! I also taught some of Ahleah's friends there, 8 - 12 year olds and they rocked! Wow, I couldn't believe how enthusiastic they were. They wrote some killer songs! Way to go kids from Applegate! Thanks to Vicki for helping to spread the word!
Then we headed to Ellensburg, WA for some time with James' friends Rich, Kim, Mckenzie, and Abby. We had so much fun and they put on a fantastic outdoor concert for us. Thank you so much to the Smiths and to Frank for generously supplying the pa and playing bass with me and also to Travis for sitting in on snare drum! We had a great time, awesome folks!
All these shows James has been reading his poem "Hope it lasts through supper" and he's been winning many new fans and making lots of great friends because of it. There's usually not a dry eye in the house. We've also just finished 2 new songs, one of which I have been playing live and is getting great reaction from the audience. The song is called "Three Midnights" and was inspired by his 21 year sobriety birthday in July of this year! Congratulations James, you're a fabulous hubby and I loves ya! The other song was inspired by a Johnny Dowd CD we listened to a lot on this tour and is called "Killing Time That Just Won't Die", it's going to be fun...James is doing the verses as speaking parts and I'm singing the chorus.
We're home now and loving being here in Tennessee. It's so nice to have our own house and we're fixing it up little by little. The grass was 4 ft high and rising when we got home though and our lawn mower was broke! We got it fixed by Alan down the road though and it looks great again.
We went to a birthday party at Red Tree Coffee last night. I did a show there last weekend and it's such a great place and it's right here in our cool little hamlet of Kingston Springs, TN. Amy and Kate own the shop and they have unbelievably great music every Friday night. I played there last night and Amy's husband Cole Bruce sat in on mandolin and guitar and was incredible. Check him out at myspace.com/colebruce . Last night was a birthday party for Katie's husband Jon Conley and wow, what an unbelievably great night! He is so talented, a fantastic singer, instrumentalist and does a wicked Willie Nelson impression! He had a host of guests including Dave Gant (keyboard player for Garth Brooks!), Garry Murray on fiddle (he's played with Dolly Parton!), Diana DeWitt who sang one of her own gorgeous songs (she was in and on Neil Young's Prairie Wind!) and Mark Stacy who did a fun song called Your Mom Put The Moves on Me, he and Stacy played together and Mark will be playing there doing his own show on Sep. 13.
I got to sit in with Jon and Dave and we did Cash on The Barrelhead and When I Stop Dreaming (someone pinch me!) by the Louvin Brothers and he got me up again later to play with him and Garry on fiddle me on banjo. We did Rollin in My Sweet Baby's arms with killer 3-part harmony. Then we did my song When I Stop Dreaming and it very near reduced me to tears, incredible magical moments!
Then Jon brought up his 9 year old daughter Savanna and they did a song she wrote that was unbelievable and wow, what a voice she had! She's already a force to be reckoned with and I predict we'll hear a lot from her in the years to come!
Next Jon brought up Cole and Amy and they did a couple of gorgeous tunes, the first one was incredible but I don't know the name of it...I'll have to ask them. Amy has one of most amazing voices I've ever heard, beautiful and subtle but she can really belt it too, she was incredible. Then up came Katie, Jon's wife and they all sang Cotton Dress, one of Cole's songs, gorgeous! That family is sooo dang talented and hey, Amy and Katie's mom's maiden name was McCrae so we all think we might be kin! Cool hah!
Anyway, if you live in the area I'd highly recommend checking it out! It's absolutely fantastic!
See you next time, and hey, go listen to some live music and have some fun!
Lots of Love, be safe, happy and well
Linda
Tales from the Wilds of BC! - August 6, 2008
Howdy Folks! James and I are currently in Vancouver, BC at our friend John and Lynn Werner's. We've had a ridiculously great time so far.
This trip has been especially fun as we've been able to stop in and spend time with friends along the way up to Prince George.
First stop was in Ashcroft at the Ashcroft Opera House with pals Romi Mayes and Lance Loree and Dustin Bentall. The show was in the round style and we had a great time. What a bunch of terrific writers and performers. Much thanks to Martin Comtois of the opera house for continued support and great food! Thanks also to Leslie Alexander and John Ellis for such terrific accoms...what a fabulous place you have there.
Next stop was in Lac La Hache for a few days lakeside with our pals Line and Arash! Horses, dogs, canaries, food, music and that gorgeous lake, friends, conversation, campfires and awesome sleeps! Thanks Line and Arash, see you soon!
After leaving Lac La Hache we made our way up to Prince George for a show at The Artspace with our hosts Eric Thompson and Neda of Navaz fame. Beautiful music and equally beautiful folks! Thanks Jim Brinkman and all the folks in Prince George who came out to our show.
Next stop was the fantastic town of Wells and a few days teaching songwriting for Island Mountain Arts and then the Artswells Festival! This was way too much fun and there's so much to tell and so little time! I'll be back with more about that!
Today is chanteuse Heather Griffin's wedding and what a blast that will be!
More later and thanks for listening!
lots of Love
Linda
This trip has been especially fun as we've been able to stop in and spend time with friends along the way up to Prince George.
First stop was in Ashcroft at the Ashcroft Opera House with pals Romi Mayes and Lance Loree and Dustin Bentall. The show was in the round style and we had a great time. What a bunch of terrific writers and performers. Much thanks to Martin Comtois of the opera house for continued support and great food! Thanks also to Leslie Alexander and John Ellis for such terrific accoms...what a fabulous place you have there.
Next stop was in Lac La Hache for a few days lakeside with our pals Line and Arash! Horses, dogs, canaries, food, music and that gorgeous lake, friends, conversation, campfires and awesome sleeps! Thanks Line and Arash, see you soon!
After leaving Lac La Hache we made our way up to Prince George for a show at The Artspace with our hosts Eric Thompson and Neda of Navaz fame. Beautiful music and equally beautiful folks! Thanks Jim Brinkman and all the folks in Prince George who came out to our show.
Next stop was the fantastic town of Wells and a few days teaching songwriting for Island Mountain Arts and then the Artswells Festival! This was way too much fun and there's so much to tell and so little time! I'll be back with more about that!
Today is chanteuse Heather Griffin's wedding and what a blast that will be!
More later and thanks for listening!
lots of Love
Linda
Happy Anniversary! - July 11, 2008
Hey there, I forgot to mention a Happy 26th Anniversary to my mom and her husband Ray! Congratulations you two!
Love ya lots Linda and James
Love ya lots Linda and James
Mountain Top Removal - July 11, 2008
Well here I am again, bloggin' away, it's all new to me!
Do you know where 50% of our energy comes from? I for one didn't realize that 50% of that energy still comes from COAL!!
Last night my husband James and I went to local club The Basement to see a film called "Mountain Top Removal" that was being presented by Kathy Mattea and the film's director Michael O'Connell. For the past few years Kathy has been speaking out about global warming and the goings on in her West Virginia home. James and I drove through that part of the world on our last tour and it is breathtakingly beautiful. There's nothing like it in Canada where I come from and I wonder if this is going on there too.
Here's an excerpt describing the film...
Across Southern Appalachia mountaintop removal coal mining is leveling forests destroying communities and threatening water supplies so that all of us can enjoy cheap electricity. The film features interviews with coal industry officials, citizen conservation groups, scientists, physicians and coal field activists. Music from Sarah Hawker, Julie Miller, Jim Lauderdale, Tara Nevins, Donna the Buffalo and John Specker is featured in the film. Visit www.hawriverfilms.com
Kathy has recently released a new CD entitled COAL and it is stunningly beautiful. She performs songs by Hazel Dickens, Jean Ritchie, Merle Travis and others on this great CD.
Check out this NPR interview with Kathy at her website at http://www.mattea.com/KathyMatteaCoal.html During this interview she performs Lawrence Jones by Si Kahn. (From Wikpedia). In the summer of 1973, workers at the Duke Power-owned Eastover Coal Company's Brookside Mine and Prep Plant in Harlan County, Kentucky voted to join the union. Eastover management refused to sign the contract and the union went on strike. Duke Power brought in replacement non-union workers, who were attacked. Hogg, the local judge was a coal operator himself and consistently ruled for Eastover. He was accused of being paid off by the company.During much of the strike the mine workers' wives and children joined the picket lines. Many were arrested, some hit by baseball bats, shot at, and struck by cars. One striking miner, Lawrence Jones, was shot and killed by a replacement worker, Bill Bruner. Bruner served no time for the murder.
As Kathy mentioned, this is a very complex issue. There are many people who earn their living working in these mines. It reminds me of the logging issues in BC where I grew up. Friends of my parents had been loggers all their lives and any mention of conservation or alternatives to clear-cutting definitely raised people's temperatures.
There is also a book that she mentioned which deals with non-violent solutions as a way of life. It's called Non-Violent Communication - A Language of Compassion by Martial Rosenberg. http://www.cnvc.org/node/393 .
Thank you Kathy for helping to open my eyes to these issues and for all the work you are doing.
Do you know where 50% of our energy comes from? I for one didn't realize that 50% of that energy still comes from COAL!!
Last night my husband James and I went to local club The Basement to see a film called "Mountain Top Removal" that was being presented by Kathy Mattea and the film's director Michael O'Connell. For the past few years Kathy has been speaking out about global warming and the goings on in her West Virginia home. James and I drove through that part of the world on our last tour and it is breathtakingly beautiful. There's nothing like it in Canada where I come from and I wonder if this is going on there too.
Here's an excerpt describing the film...
Across Southern Appalachia mountaintop removal coal mining is leveling forests destroying communities and threatening water supplies so that all of us can enjoy cheap electricity. The film features interviews with coal industry officials, citizen conservation groups, scientists, physicians and coal field activists. Music from Sarah Hawker, Julie Miller, Jim Lauderdale, Tara Nevins, Donna the Buffalo and John Specker is featured in the film. Visit www.hawriverfilms.com
Kathy has recently released a new CD entitled COAL and it is stunningly beautiful. She performs songs by Hazel Dickens, Jean Ritchie, Merle Travis and others on this great CD.
Check out this NPR interview with Kathy at her website at http://www.mattea.com/KathyMatteaCoal.html During this interview she performs Lawrence Jones by Si Kahn. (From Wikpedia). In the summer of 1973, workers at the Duke Power-owned Eastover Coal Company's Brookside Mine and Prep Plant in Harlan County, Kentucky voted to join the union. Eastover management refused to sign the contract and the union went on strike. Duke Power brought in replacement non-union workers, who were attacked. Hogg, the local judge was a coal operator himself and consistently ruled for Eastover. He was accused of being paid off by the company.During much of the strike the mine workers' wives and children joined the picket lines. Many were arrested, some hit by baseball bats, shot at, and struck by cars. One striking miner, Lawrence Jones, was shot and killed by a replacement worker, Bill Bruner. Bruner served no time for the murder.
As Kathy mentioned, this is a very complex issue. There are many people who earn their living working in these mines. It reminds me of the logging issues in BC where I grew up. Friends of my parents had been loggers all their lives and any mention of conservation or alternatives to clear-cutting definitely raised people's temperatures.
There is also a book that she mentioned which deals with non-violent solutions as a way of life. It's called Non-Violent Communication - A Language of Compassion by Martial Rosenberg. http://www.cnvc.org/node/393 .
Thank you Kathy for helping to open my eyes to these issues and for all the work you are doing.