Linda McRae: BLOG
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.
Tales from our Last Trip - July 7, 2008
Well hello again. I'm sitting at my desk in our house just outside of Nashville and it's a hot and humid 90 degrees, awful hot for this Canadian country girl, but it's still great.
We're getting ready for our next tour and hope to see you out west in July and August.
We had so much fun on our last trip and met a lot of terrific folks. Our first stop was in Bloomington, Indiana and we had a great night there. The staff are amazing! Thanks so much to Greg, Marcia, Adam, Nicky, Ron on sound and Sharon and Steve and the rest of you who came to the show and helped make us feel so welcome.
See ya'll again soon! Thanks also to Linda Higgenbottom and Brad Leftwich for being such great hosts and to Brad for being such a wonderful teacher.
Next stop was The Hub in Danville, really nice coffee house but not much of a listening room. Thanks so much to Melissa, Kasey and Aaron for listening and being so gracious!
See you again and hope you're having fun in Romania!.
We made it to Lexington the next day in time to stop at Stella's for lunch and it was terrific! Les Miller and his wife Ahmayne have a wonderful place there in a gorgeous old house, great food too!
We played that evening at a place called Al's Bar and were greeted by Josh and Rayna, most excellent bar staff. We got there really early and had to wait around to play for quite some time. I was a little afraid that folks might not be into my solo show as it was quite a rowdy place in the late afternoon. There was also a woman named Jody (sp?) who was celebrating her birthday and they were all having a great old time. I thought, "yikes, I'm in for a night of it".
The club's mics had gone missing which is a downer for them (hope you found them!) but turned out to our advantage. I got up and did my first couple of songs on guitar and when I switched to the banjo I mentioned that I didn't have a mic for it and that I would have to play with just the one mic and that it would be quieter than usual. Much to my amazement everyone in the room brought their chairs up on the dance floor and sat right in front of me! I was floored! Thanks so much to all the patrons at Al's Bar in Lexington for a great night.
Let's do it again soon!
We had the next night off and stayed in a campground just north of Lexington by the river, great spot.
Monday 16th we headed for Thomas, WV to the Purple Fiddle. What a fabulous place that is. Great room, weird night though. If you want to know more ask.
Cleveland was our next stop and we had a great time. Thanks to Teri Jacobs my old friend from my Spirit of the West days for showing up and bringing your friends. It was wonderful to see you. The staff at Wilberts are awesome. Thanks to Mike, Marty, Joe, Mike, Julie, Jeanie, Ray and Rockin' sound guy Jim!
We spent a couple of days in Buffalo with my old pals Jim and Lynn Whitford. Jim has played in a number of great bands including The Pine Dogs and I sang on his solo CD which was produced by Gurf Morlix. He also played on my Cryin' Out loud CD also produced by Gurf Morlix. Jim and I suffered the "infamous border story" a few years back. I wrote a song about it and we performed it at the concert we did at Marty and Susan's place. Wow, what a fun night that was. Marty is a gourmet cook and plays host to many bands coming through Buffalo. He and Susan graciously hosted a concert for us there and it was the best gig of the whole tour! Thanks to Val and Kevin from Buffalo Roots for the extra coverage. We also would like to thank everyone who came out including a visit from Gurf Morlix and Brende Fuller who drove 12 hours from Nashville. It was a heapa fun! There will be a review up shortly at www.buffaloroots.com and also some video footage on youtube as well.
Toronto's show was fun and we'd like to thank everyone at The Dakota Tavern, Darrin, Jenn, Jill, Sean and Maggie and John Borra on sound...John is a great artist as well. Check him out at www.johnborra.com. We had a few old friends show up, next time we want to see a whole lot more!
Picton, ON is a gorgeous little lakeside town, very picturesque and historic. We had a lovely time there. Thanks so much to Al and Richard for making us feel so welcome and to Washboard Hank for the referral.
Montreal, what can I say, is one of the greatest cities in the world. We had a great time there and may just have a live recording from the brilliant sound engineer/recorder Steve Goldstein! Thank you so much to Holly, Jessica who read some incredible poems, to Moe and Claire who put us up and fed us and to Mr. Muttley and also to the fellow who played long-neck banjo after our show...sorry I've forgotten your name...you were fantastic. Can you please get in touch at 42@lindamcrae.com! Thanks.
Boston turned out to be a bit of a bust. The booker forgot we were on the bill but offered us a chance to play anyway. I didn't want to bump all the other bands back so we told him we'd take a rain-check. We want to thank the staff there so much being so kind and for feeding us, etc. Thanks also to Heloisa (wife of Mike Castanella guitar and steel with Sara Borges & the Broken Singles) for coming down and keeping us company! It was great to meet you. Can't wait to spend time with you and Mike and congrats on the baby!
Thanks so much to my hubby/manager James Whitmire for helping make my dreams come true! I've always wanted to be with someone who would come with me on the road and he and Elphie (our Brittany) were perfect touring partners! Love ya!
See you soon folks. I'll be updating this website more often. I'll try and give you play by play details from our upcoming shows.
There are some new dates up on the tour page as well.
Bye for now Linda
We're getting ready for our next tour and hope to see you out west in July and August.
We had so much fun on our last trip and met a lot of terrific folks. Our first stop was in Bloomington, Indiana and we had a great night there. The staff are amazing! Thanks so much to Greg, Marcia, Adam, Nicky, Ron on sound and Sharon and Steve and the rest of you who came to the show and helped make us feel so welcome.
See ya'll again soon! Thanks also to Linda Higgenbottom and Brad Leftwich for being such great hosts and to Brad for being such a wonderful teacher.
Next stop was The Hub in Danville, really nice coffee house but not much of a listening room. Thanks so much to Melissa, Kasey and Aaron for listening and being so gracious!
See you again and hope you're having fun in Romania!.
We made it to Lexington the next day in time to stop at Stella's for lunch and it was terrific! Les Miller and his wife Ahmayne have a wonderful place there in a gorgeous old house, great food too!
We played that evening at a place called Al's Bar and were greeted by Josh and Rayna, most excellent bar staff. We got there really early and had to wait around to play for quite some time. I was a little afraid that folks might not be into my solo show as it was quite a rowdy place in the late afternoon. There was also a woman named Jody (sp?) who was celebrating her birthday and they were all having a great old time. I thought, "yikes, I'm in for a night of it".
The club's mics had gone missing which is a downer for them (hope you found them!) but turned out to our advantage. I got up and did my first couple of songs on guitar and when I switched to the banjo I mentioned that I didn't have a mic for it and that I would have to play with just the one mic and that it would be quieter than usual. Much to my amazement everyone in the room brought their chairs up on the dance floor and sat right in front of me! I was floored! Thanks so much to all the patrons at Al's Bar in Lexington for a great night.
Let's do it again soon!
We had the next night off and stayed in a campground just north of Lexington by the river, great spot.
Monday 16th we headed for Thomas, WV to the Purple Fiddle. What a fabulous place that is. Great room, weird night though. If you want to know more ask.
Cleveland was our next stop and we had a great time. Thanks to Teri Jacobs my old friend from my Spirit of the West days for showing up and bringing your friends. It was wonderful to see you. The staff at Wilberts are awesome. Thanks to Mike, Marty, Joe, Mike, Julie, Jeanie, Ray and Rockin' sound guy Jim!
We spent a couple of days in Buffalo with my old pals Jim and Lynn Whitford. Jim has played in a number of great bands including The Pine Dogs and I sang on his solo CD which was produced by Gurf Morlix. He also played on my Cryin' Out loud CD also produced by Gurf Morlix. Jim and I suffered the "infamous border story" a few years back. I wrote a song about it and we performed it at the concert we did at Marty and Susan's place. Wow, what a fun night that was. Marty is a gourmet cook and plays host to many bands coming through Buffalo. He and Susan graciously hosted a concert for us there and it was the best gig of the whole tour! Thanks to Val and Kevin from Buffalo Roots for the extra coverage. We also would like to thank everyone who came out including a visit from Gurf Morlix and Brende Fuller who drove 12 hours from Nashville. It was a heapa fun! There will be a review up shortly at www.buffaloroots.com and also some video footage on youtube as well.
Toronto's show was fun and we'd like to thank everyone at The Dakota Tavern, Darrin, Jenn, Jill, Sean and Maggie and John Borra on sound...John is a great artist as well. Check him out at www.johnborra.com. We had a few old friends show up, next time we want to see a whole lot more!
Picton, ON is a gorgeous little lakeside town, very picturesque and historic. We had a lovely time there. Thanks so much to Al and Richard for making us feel so welcome and to Washboard Hank for the referral.
Montreal, what can I say, is one of the greatest cities in the world. We had a great time there and may just have a live recording from the brilliant sound engineer/recorder Steve Goldstein! Thank you so much to Holly, Jessica who read some incredible poems, to Moe and Claire who put us up and fed us and to Mr. Muttley and also to the fellow who played long-neck banjo after our show...sorry I've forgotten your name...you were fantastic. Can you please get in touch at 42@lindamcrae.com! Thanks.
Boston turned out to be a bit of a bust. The booker forgot we were on the bill but offered us a chance to play anyway. I didn't want to bump all the other bands back so we told him we'd take a rain-check. We want to thank the staff there so much being so kind and for feeding us, etc. Thanks also to Heloisa (wife of Mike Castanella guitar and steel with Sara Borges & the Broken Singles) for coming down and keeping us company! It was great to meet you. Can't wait to spend time with you and Mike and congrats on the baby!
Thanks so much to my hubby/manager James Whitmire for helping make my dreams come true! I've always wanted to be with someone who would come with me on the road and he and Elphie (our Brittany) were perfect touring partners! Love ya!
See you soon folks. I'll be updating this website more often. I'll try and give you play by play details from our upcoming shows.
There are some new dates up on the tour page as well.
Bye for now Linda
Back Home In Tennessee Whew! - July 3, 2008
Hey folks, we had a fantastic time and are back home now. We're busy working on the next tour and will heading out west on July 17th for shows in BC and the Pacific Northwest. I'll be back shortly with updates on how the tour went.
Thanks! See you Soon
Linda
Thanks! See you Soon
Linda
Tales from the Road - June 24, 2008
Hello Folks: We're in Toronto at the moment at my friend Paul March's place. We've had an incredible time and great shows and have met so many fantastic new friends.
I'm playing the Dakota tonight and it's James' birthday. Hope to see lots of old friends. Ran into Michael Wycraft who was holding court at a local Starbucks. If you haven't had a chance to check out his CD and posters deisigns you should. I'll be putting up links to his and more sites shortly.
I'll update this in the coming days so please stay tuned, I have so much tell you!
Cheers and thanks for reading/listening!
Linda
I'm playing the Dakota tonight and it's James' birthday. Hope to see lots of old friends. Ran into Michael Wycraft who was holding court at a local Starbucks. If you haven't had a chance to check out his CD and posters deisigns you should. I'll be putting up links to his and more sites shortly.
I'll update this in the coming days so please stay tuned, I have so much tell you!
Cheers and thanks for reading/listening!
Linda
New Site Up & Running - June 9, 2008
Hi folks! Hope you're all having a great spring. I've just set up a new website that I'll be able to update more often now. A big heart-felt thanks goes out to my friend Lynn who designed my original site and has been updating it for me for quite a few years now. She'll have more time for her own work now and I'll be able to keep you up to speed with all the goings-on in my musical journey.
Please stay tuned as I figure all this stuff out! Whew, back soon!!!
By the way, the folks here at Hostbaby are great! If you need a site, check them out, they are so accessible it's crazy....not like a lot of other sites or answering services where you can't reach a human being.
Please stay tuned as I figure all this stuff out! Whew, back soon!!!
By the way, the folks here at Hostbaby are great! If you need a site, check them out, they are so accessible it's crazy....not like a lot of other sites or answering services where you can't reach a human being.