Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Groovy Angels
In what seems to be becoming a yearly tradition, I managed to come up with this version of "Angels we have heard on high" during soundcheck at Rock City. So when I got home, I stayed up till 4am coming up with this little audio sketch. It's really short, enjoy it while it lasts.
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
J-City, Xmas Show in Chatt' and new stuff for sale.
Dec 8, 2010 -- 8pm
The Acoustic Coffeehouse
415 W. Walnut St.
Johnson City, TN
Dec 10, 2010 -- 9pm
The Company Party,
Butch Ross' 4th annual Xmas Xtraveganza
Market Street Tavern
850 Market Street
Chattanooga, TN
Both of these shows are free.
Seasons greetings, and welcome to the most wonderful time of the year (assuming you don't work a menial retail job) This year I've got a few holiday specials I'd like to tell you about.
The Year in Review 2009
This has been available as a download for a while now, but I've decided to offer this as a limited edition jewel-cased CD. There are 100 copies, each signed and numbered by me. They'll be available online and at shows, until they sell out or the Ohio Valley Gathering (March 24th, 2011) whichever comes first, then they're gone forever. The Year in Review isn’t actually a year in review. Instead, it is a collection of live tunes, rarely performed songs and some of my best in-between song bits. Recorded over the last few years at KMW, Dulci-more, Fort New Salem, the Leo Coffeehouse, House Concerts, UK pub shows and more, it features a slew of songs that I’ve rarely performed in public. Including some that have only been played live once.
The Dulcimer Christmas Card
Okay, this is in fact three years old, but with so many new names the mailing list this year, it's worth mentioning. It's a bakers dozen of Christmas instrumentals, or at least within my loose definition a Christmas song. In addition to the mountain dulcimer, I play all the instruments including banjo, guitar, upright bass, electric dulcimer and a Hungarian zither called a Citera. This is the CD that made my parents fans of mine. The CD makes a great Pollyanna gift, as rather than coming in a jewel case, the CD doubles as a Christmas card. It opens up to read "Wishing you the happiest of Holiday Seasons and hopes for a wonderful New Year."
It is also available as a regular jewel-boxed CD and as a tab book of note-for-note transcriptions.
The Moonshiner's Atlas Book
Now this one won't be out until January, but email me if you'd like to pre-order it. Finally after several years (and countless letters to lawyers) I'm finally releasing the tab for the record that started it all. Like my other books, it will be available with and without a CD. If you've ever wanted to learn how to play, "I like singing folk songs", "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" or "Fly Around" here's your chance.
So that's it for the holiday season (barring last minute additions). I plan on sending a year in review email, but otherwise, this is the last you'll hear from me this season. Don't forget that I'll be kicking the New Year off with a bang at the Kentucky Music Winter Weekend, January 7th-9th and then back at Bing Futch's Key West Dulcimer Gathering January 28th-30th.
Take care of each other and have a safe and wonderful holiday season
C-ya out there.
--Br
www.butchross.com
The Acoustic Coffeehouse
415 W. Walnut St.
Johnson City, TN
Dec 10, 2010 -- 9pm
The Company Party,
Butch Ross' 4th annual Xmas Xtraveganza
Market Street Tavern
850 Market Street
Chattanooga, TN
Both of these shows are free.
Seasons greetings, and welcome to the most wonderful time of the year (assuming you don't work a menial retail job) This year I've got a few holiday specials I'd like to tell you about.
The Year in Review 2009
This has been available as a download for a while now, but I've decided to offer this as a limited edition jewel-cased CD. There are 100 copies, each signed and numbered by me. They'll be available online and at shows, until they sell out or the Ohio Valley Gathering (March 24th, 2011) whichever comes first, then they're gone forever. The Year in Review isn’t actually a year in review. Instead, it is a collection of live tunes, rarely performed songs and some of my best in-between song bits. Recorded over the last few years at KMW, Dulci-more, Fort New Salem, the Leo Coffeehouse, House Concerts, UK pub shows and more, it features a slew of songs that I’ve rarely performed in public. Including some that have only been played live once.
The Dulcimer Christmas Card
Okay, this is in fact three years old, but with so many new names the mailing list this year, it's worth mentioning. It's a bakers dozen of Christmas instrumentals, or at least within my loose definition a Christmas song. In addition to the mountain dulcimer, I play all the instruments including banjo, guitar, upright bass, electric dulcimer and a Hungarian zither called a Citera. This is the CD that made my parents fans of mine. The CD makes a great Pollyanna gift, as rather than coming in a jewel case, the CD doubles as a Christmas card. It opens up to read "Wishing you the happiest of Holiday Seasons and hopes for a wonderful New Year."
It is also available as a regular jewel-boxed CD and as a tab book of note-for-note transcriptions.
The Moonshiner's Atlas Book
Now this one won't be out until January, but email me if you'd like to pre-order it. Finally after several years (and countless letters to lawyers) I'm finally releasing the tab for the record that started it all. Like my other books, it will be available with and without a CD. If you've ever wanted to learn how to play, "I like singing folk songs", "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" or "Fly Around" here's your chance.
So that's it for the holiday season (barring last minute additions). I plan on sending a year in review email, but otherwise, this is the last you'll hear from me this season. Don't forget that I'll be kicking the New Year off with a bang at the Kentucky Music Winter Weekend, January 7th-9th and then back at Bing Futch's Key West Dulcimer Gathering January 28th-30th.
Take care of each other and have a safe and wonderful holiday season
C-ya out there.
--Br
www.butchross.com
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
A tune for a day
Today is November 23, and if you know history, you know an important thing happened yesterday. I couldn't find a good link to Greg Brown's excellent song about it. so I made my own. Hope you enjoy it.
UPDATE! Youtube failed, so I posted it on Facebook, go watch it HERE.
UPDATE! Youtube failed, so I posted it on Facebook, go watch it HERE.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Tour Update: Writing from the road in Pittsburgh, PA
TONIGHT!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010 - free (tip jar)
Commonplace Coffeehouse
5827 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
412-436-0908
Set: 8:00 PM
All Ages
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 - $5
The Purple Fiddle
21 East Ave (RT 32), Thomas, WV 26292
Set: 8:30 PM
All Ages
Thursday, August 26th
Meet and greet and potluck at Doug and Deena Snapp's residence. Call Doug if you're interested. 614-313-6424
Friday, August 27th
All-day Master Workshop, Home of Doug and Deena Snapp.
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT
Saturday, August 28, 2010
House Concert, home of Steve and Linda Gwinn
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT
Sunday, August 29, 2010 - $20
Dulcimer Workshop: “3 Great Tunes in A”
Guitar House Workshop
1423 Chambers Road, Columbus, OH 43212
614-488-2477 Set: 3:00 PM
All Ages
Sunday, August 29, 2010 – Free (donations accepted)
Concert Guitar House Workshop
1423 Chambers Road, Columbus, OH 43212
614-488-2477 Set: 7:00 PM
All Ages
Monday, August 30, 2010 - $6 to $10 (suggested donation).
Open Mic Feature @ Brewer's Alley
124 North Market Street, Frederick, MD 21701
301-631-0089
At some point I'm just going to have to figure out how to type and drive. I've been having some amazing experiences but little time to share them with you all (save those exhausting drives). Even now—on my supposed afternoon off—the clock is staring at me.
I'm in Pittsburgh, and like an old friend, rediscovering the quirks that made her so endearing to me (also meeting up with a couple of actual old friends as well). Fall is just beginning to fall here and after the heat sun and dirt of Philly Folk, feels like a fever has just broken. Last night, my friend and host Brad Yoder took me to the Acoustic Cafe open mic, which he said was the heart of the acoustic scene in town and MY GOD was he right. I'm proud of the scene in Chattanooga and the Tuesday night gang at the Tremont, but was astounded by the breadth and depth of the talent and the quality of the songwriting. If this had been going on when I lived there, I don't think I would have ever left.
I'd like to say that the Philadelphia Folk Festival was a dream come true. But to be honest, the idea of playing the fest seemed so unlikely that I never bothered to even fantasize about it. So to say that I'm chuffed to have done it is an extraordinary understatement. I'm doubly-thrilled that my old roommate Adam Brodsky and I got to play a “funny songs” set with Barry Rabin, Deirdre Flint and Carla Ulrich, who are some of my favorite writers and performers. Seriously go check 'em out.
But the first official day of the tour may still have been my favorite so far. I had a fun lunch and lunchtime concert with the gang at Folkcraft Dulcimers. Richard gave me a tour of the factory, and I have to say I was really impressed with how they do things there, plus I got a sneak peak at Bing Futch's new chromatic dulcimer (it's gonna rock). After that I spent a lovely afternoon with Bernice Enyeart, the quilter whom I wrote my thesis about, all this before playing a gig at J.K. O'Donnell's; an amazing (and surprisingly authentic) Irish Bar in Fort Wayne, IN.
The rest of the week is looking to be just as cool, I'm playing the Purple Fiddle in Thomas, WV (one of my favorite places to play/be); teaching an all-day master class in Columbus; a house concert in Wellington, OH and then back to Columbus for a workshop and concert Sunday, at the Guitar House Workshop in Grandview Heights. The workshop is gonna be on “A” tunes, I'm gonna teach three tunes in A, so you'll need a capo, it'll probably be Hangman's Reel, John Brown's Dream and one of two others I'm debating. The workshop is $20 and that includes admission to the concert later. If you're just coming to the show that's going to start at 7pm, and weather permitting, we're going to be outside. John likes to make these events pay-what-you-want-donations, and that is fine by me.
Then Monday I'll be in Frederick, Maryland (not Virginia) where I'll be the featured act at the Brewer-Alley Open mic. The show starts at 7:30, I go on around 9
Finally, for those of you in NJ. I'll be returning to the Minstrel Coffeehouse, opening for the fabulous Bill Staines on Friday, Sept. 3rd. hope you can make it to that.
Okay, this was a long one, but hey, a lot has happened. Thank you to ALL of you, who came to a show, told a friend or bought a CD. It's because of you that get to do this, thank you.
C-ya out there.
--Br
www.butchross.com
"Now I know what a dulcimer is supposed to sound like" —Jake Shimabukuro
Those shows again….
TONIGHT!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010 - free (tip jar)
Commonplace Coffeehouse
5827 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
412-436-0908
Set: 8:00 PM
All Ages
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 - $5
The Purple Fiddle
21 East Ave (RT 32), Thomas, WV 26292
Set: 8:30 PM
All Ages
Thursday, August 26th
Meet and greet and potluck at Doug and Deena Snapp's residence. Call Doug if you're interested. 614-313-6424
Friday, August 27th
All-day Master Workshop, Home of Doug and Deena Snapp.
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT
Saturday, August 28, 2010
House Concert, home of Steve and Linda Gwinn
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT
Sunday, August 29, 2010 - $20
Dulcimer Workshop: “3 Great Tunes in A”
Guitar House Workshop
1423 Chambers Road, Columbus, OH 43212
614-488-2477 Set: 3:00 PM
All Ages
Sunday, August 29, 2010 – Free (donations accepted)
Concert Guitar House Workshop
1423 Chambers Road, Columbus, OH 43212
614-488-2477 Set: 7:00 PM
All Ages
Monday, August 30, 2010 - $6 to $10 (suggested donation).
Open Mic Feature @ Brewer's Alley
124 North Market Street, Frederick, MD 21701
301-631-0089
Tuesday, August 24, 2010 - free (tip jar)
Commonplace Coffeehouse
5827 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
412-436-0908
Set: 8:00 PM
All Ages
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 - $5
The Purple Fiddle
21 East Ave (RT 32), Thomas, WV 26292
Set: 8:30 PM
All Ages
Thursday, August 26th
Meet and greet and potluck at Doug and Deena Snapp's residence. Call Doug if you're interested. 614-313-6424
Friday, August 27th
All-day Master Workshop, Home of Doug and Deena Snapp.
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT
Saturday, August 28, 2010
House Concert, home of Steve and Linda Gwinn
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT
Sunday, August 29, 2010 - $20
Dulcimer Workshop: “3 Great Tunes in A”
Guitar House Workshop
1423 Chambers Road, Columbus, OH 43212
614-488-2477 Set: 3:00 PM
All Ages
Sunday, August 29, 2010 – Free (donations accepted)
Concert Guitar House Workshop
1423 Chambers Road, Columbus, OH 43212
614-488-2477 Set: 7:00 PM
All Ages
Monday, August 30, 2010 - $6 to $10 (suggested donation).
Open Mic Feature @ Brewer's Alley
124 North Market Street, Frederick, MD 21701
301-631-0089
At some point I'm just going to have to figure out how to type and drive. I've been having some amazing experiences but little time to share them with you all (save those exhausting drives). Even now—on my supposed afternoon off—the clock is staring at me.
I'm in Pittsburgh, and like an old friend, rediscovering the quirks that made her so endearing to me (also meeting up with a couple of actual old friends as well). Fall is just beginning to fall here and after the heat sun and dirt of Philly Folk, feels like a fever has just broken. Last night, my friend and host Brad Yoder took me to the Acoustic Cafe open mic, which he said was the heart of the acoustic scene in town and MY GOD was he right. I'm proud of the scene in Chattanooga and the Tuesday night gang at the Tremont, but was astounded by the breadth and depth of the talent and the quality of the songwriting. If this had been going on when I lived there, I don't think I would have ever left.
I'd like to say that the Philadelphia Folk Festival was a dream come true. But to be honest, the idea of playing the fest seemed so unlikely that I never bothered to even fantasize about it. So to say that I'm chuffed to have done it is an extraordinary understatement. I'm doubly-thrilled that my old roommate Adam Brodsky and I got to play a “funny songs” set with Barry Rabin, Deirdre Flint and Carla Ulrich, who are some of my favorite writers and performers. Seriously go check 'em out.
But the first official day of the tour may still have been my favorite so far. I had a fun lunch and lunchtime concert with the gang at Folkcraft Dulcimers. Richard gave me a tour of the factory, and I have to say I was really impressed with how they do things there, plus I got a sneak peak at Bing Futch's new chromatic dulcimer (it's gonna rock). After that I spent a lovely afternoon with Bernice Enyeart, the quilter whom I wrote my thesis about, all this before playing a gig at J.K. O'Donnell's; an amazing (and surprisingly authentic) Irish Bar in Fort Wayne, IN.
The rest of the week is looking to be just as cool, I'm playing the Purple Fiddle in Thomas, WV (one of my favorite places to play/be); teaching an all-day master class in Columbus; a house concert in Wellington, OH and then back to Columbus for a workshop and concert Sunday, at the Guitar House Workshop in Grandview Heights. The workshop is gonna be on “A” tunes, I'm gonna teach three tunes in A, so you'll need a capo, it'll probably be Hangman's Reel, John Brown's Dream and one of two others I'm debating. The workshop is $20 and that includes admission to the concert later. If you're just coming to the show that's going to start at 7pm, and weather permitting, we're going to be outside. John likes to make these events pay-what-you-want-donations, and that is fine by me.
Then Monday I'll be in Frederick, Maryland (not Virginia) where I'll be the featured act at the Brewer-Alley Open mic. The show starts at 7:30, I go on around 9
Finally, for those of you in NJ. I'll be returning to the Minstrel Coffeehouse, opening for the fabulous Bill Staines on Friday, Sept. 3rd. hope you can make it to that.
Okay, this was a long one, but hey, a lot has happened. Thank you to ALL of you, who came to a show, told a friend or bought a CD. It's because of you that get to do this, thank you.
C-ya out there.
--Br
www.butchross.com
"Now I know what a dulcimer is supposed to sound like" —Jake Shimabukuro
Those shows again….
TONIGHT!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010 - free (tip jar)
Commonplace Coffeehouse
5827 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
412-436-0908
Set: 8:00 PM
All Ages
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 - $5
The Purple Fiddle
21 East Ave (RT 32), Thomas, WV 26292
Set: 8:30 PM
All Ages
Thursday, August 26th
Meet and greet and potluck at Doug and Deena Snapp's residence. Call Doug if you're interested. 614-313-6424
Friday, August 27th
All-day Master Workshop, Home of Doug and Deena Snapp.
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT
Saturday, August 28, 2010
House Concert, home of Steve and Linda Gwinn
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT
Sunday, August 29, 2010 - $20
Dulcimer Workshop: “3 Great Tunes in A”
Guitar House Workshop
1423 Chambers Road, Columbus, OH 43212
614-488-2477 Set: 3:00 PM
All Ages
Sunday, August 29, 2010 – Free (donations accepted)
Concert Guitar House Workshop
1423 Chambers Road, Columbus, OH 43212
614-488-2477 Set: 7:00 PM
All Ages
Monday, August 30, 2010 - $6 to $10 (suggested donation).
Open Mic Feature @ Brewer's Alley
124 North Market Street, Frederick, MD 21701
301-631-0089
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Shows in PA and MD, and a return to form (temporarily).
Jun 11-12, 2010 – XFEST
An all-day event, I play Saturday at 5:40pm
Country Creek Winery
133 Cressman Road
Telford, PA 18969
All Fest Tickets ($45)
Single Day ($20.00 Friday, $30.00 Saturday)
Children Under 11 always free.
June 14, 2010 - Frederick, MD – 7:30
Songwriters' Showcases at Brewer's Alley
124 North Market Street (route 355)
Take elevator to 2nd floor
www.brewers-alley.com
Full dining available till 9 pm; limited menu thereafter; full bar
True Story.* This afternoon, had a conversation with a lawyer in a bar (that always goes well) and instead of writing this email to you all, I listened to him blather on about how he doesn’t understand technology and how it keeps him from the face-to-face communication he prefers. “I like to talk to people” he laments. I would have told him about how useful I found Twitter to be in keeping all y’all updated (sort of) while I was overseas but I didn’t really want to tell him what I do for a living because that ‘cuz that would have led to a comparison of jobs, the likely result being that at some point he would have chided me about living in a state of suspended adolescence and I would have reminded him that my job involves making things (be they CDs, Books, or experiences) and his job primarily involves taking things away from people.
Then I would have said that Woody Guthrie line “ain’t never seen an outlaw rob a family with a fountain pen” and the conversation would have been over. Him turning away as he mumbled into his scotch**
I’ve returned to an older form of email missive in honor of my old roommate, Adam Brodsky’s, writing style, because he was largely responsible for getting me into this weekend’s event: The Extreme Folk Festival. Now it’s not what you think, there’ll be no rock-climbing, extreme motocross or freestyle wheel barrowing*** nor will there being anyone warbling through “more than words”**** But there will be a bevy of genre-breaking risk-taking act that fit in between the XFS twin mission statements of “the promotion and dissemination of folk music, with a determined emphasis on that which is original, daring and extreme” and “kick ASS music.”
It will be held at the Country Creek Winery in Telford, PA, which is in southeastern Pennsylvania, somewhere in the vicinity of a much larger (and frankly not quite as cool*) folk festival I will also be attending later this year.
Again let me give big thanks to Adam for getting me into this festival, even tho’ his efforts most likely just consisted of him repeatedly saying “but he’s not like that anymore!”
Now, for those of you who have been asking me to do something in the DC area, well, this is as close as I could get on short notice. I will be performing as part of the Songwriters' Showcase at Brewer's Alley in Frederick, MD. Basically, a “songwriter’s showcase” is an open mic with a vetting process, but that means it’s pretty likely that everyone else performing that night is also very good. You get the best seats if get dinner, and there’s a suggested donation of $6 to $10 that goes to the featured performer (who is NOT me, but is very good). I will also be doing something similar at Jammin’ Java towards the end of August.
Finally, I just wanted to say thanks to all of you who supported me in the UK either by buying the live CD, downloading it, or just following the antics on facebook/twitter/website. I don’t mind repeating ad nausea what I once heard Ritchie Havens say on stage “I get to be up here, because you’re out there.” So thanks again.
C-ya out there
-Br
Those shows again
Jun 11-12, 2010 – XFEST
All day event, I play Saturday at 5:40pm
Country Creek Winery
133 Cressman Road
Telford, PA 18969
All Fest Tickets ($45)
Single Day ($20.00 Friday, $30.00 Saturday)
Children Under 11 always free.
June 14, 2010 - Frederick, MD – 7:30
Songwriters' Showcases at Brewer's Alley
124 North Market Street (route 355)
Take elevator to 2nd floor
www.brewers-alley.com
Full dining available till 9 pm; limited menu thereafter; full bar
Footnotes
*Not a word of this is true
** Actually it was Cranberry and Vodka, which says to me he probably wasn’t a very good lawyer
***God, I wish that I were making that up
****Not on my watch anyway.
An all-day event, I play Saturday at 5:40pm
Country Creek Winery
133 Cressman Road
Telford, PA 18969
All Fest Tickets ($45)
Single Day ($20.00 Friday, $30.00 Saturday)
Children Under 11 always free.
June 14, 2010 - Frederick, MD – 7:30
Songwriters' Showcases at Brewer's Alley
124 North Market Street (route 355)
Take elevator to 2nd floor
www.brewers-alley.com
Full dining available till 9 pm; limited menu thereafter; full bar
True Story.* This afternoon, had a conversation with a lawyer in a bar (that always goes well) and instead of writing this email to you all, I listened to him blather on about how he doesn’t understand technology and how it keeps him from the face-to-face communication he prefers. “I like to talk to people” he laments. I would have told him about how useful I found Twitter to be in keeping all y’all updated (sort of) while I was overseas but I didn’t really want to tell him what I do for a living because that ‘cuz that would have led to a comparison of jobs, the likely result being that at some point he would have chided me about living in a state of suspended adolescence and I would have reminded him that my job involves making things (be they CDs, Books, or experiences) and his job primarily involves taking things away from people.
Then I would have said that Woody Guthrie line “ain’t never seen an outlaw rob a family with a fountain pen” and the conversation would have been over. Him turning away as he mumbled into his scotch**
I’ve returned to an older form of email missive in honor of my old roommate, Adam Brodsky’s, writing style, because he was largely responsible for getting me into this weekend’s event: The Extreme Folk Festival. Now it’s not what you think, there’ll be no rock-climbing, extreme motocross or freestyle wheel barrowing*** nor will there being anyone warbling through “more than words”**** But there will be a bevy of genre-breaking risk-taking act that fit in between the XFS twin mission statements of “the promotion and dissemination of folk music, with a determined emphasis on that which is original, daring and extreme” and “kick ASS music.”
It will be held at the Country Creek Winery in Telford, PA, which is in southeastern Pennsylvania, somewhere in the vicinity of a much larger (and frankly not quite as cool*) folk festival I will also be attending later this year.
Again let me give big thanks to Adam for getting me into this festival, even tho’ his efforts most likely just consisted of him repeatedly saying “but he’s not like that anymore!”
Now, for those of you who have been asking me to do something in the DC area, well, this is as close as I could get on short notice. I will be performing as part of the Songwriters' Showcase at Brewer's Alley in Frederick, MD. Basically, a “songwriter’s showcase” is an open mic with a vetting process, but that means it’s pretty likely that everyone else performing that night is also very good. You get the best seats if get dinner, and there’s a suggested donation of $6 to $10 that goes to the featured performer (who is NOT me, but is very good). I will also be doing something similar at Jammin’ Java towards the end of August.
Finally, I just wanted to say thanks to all of you who supported me in the UK either by buying the live CD, downloading it, or just following the antics on facebook/twitter/website. I don’t mind repeating ad nausea what I once heard Ritchie Havens say on stage “I get to be up here, because you’re out there.” So thanks again.
C-ya out there
-Br
Those shows again
Jun 11-12, 2010 – XFEST
All day event, I play Saturday at 5:40pm
Country Creek Winery
133 Cressman Road
Telford, PA 18969
All Fest Tickets ($45)
Single Day ($20.00 Friday, $30.00 Saturday)
Children Under 11 always free.
June 14, 2010 - Frederick, MD – 7:30
Songwriters' Showcases at Brewer's Alley
124 North Market Street (route 355)
Take elevator to 2nd floor
www.brewers-alley.com
Full dining available till 9 pm; limited menu thereafter; full bar
Footnotes
*Not a word of this is true
** Actually it was Cranberry and Vodka, which says to me he probably wasn’t a very good lawyer
***God, I wish that I were making that up
****Not on my watch anyway.
Friday, May 07, 2010
Shows in ohio, new music to download, help me get to the UK, and a TON of News.
Here’s what’s up:
1. Central Ohio Folk Festival this Weekend
2. Help me get to the UK by buying new music.
3. Check out the new website
4. “Shady Grove” book available online.
5. Chattanooga Ballet dance to Butch Ross
I know I’ve said this to you before that when you don’t hear from me, it’s because I’m super stupid busy. Well April and May have been no exception to that rule. But I have LOADS of wonderful things to tell you, so kick back, get a cup of coffee and accept my apologies for how long this email is going to be.
CENTRAL OHIO FOLK FESTIVAL
Friday May 7, 2010 - Sunday May 9, 2010
Battelle-Darby Creek Metro Park Indian Ridge Area
Tickets $10 to $30 depending.
This weekend is the Central Ohio Folk Festival and it’ll be good to be back. This year’s headliners are the Yellow Room Gang (featuring Mustard’s Retreat) and the amazing James Keelaghan. In addition to myself teaching Bill Schilling, Linda Sigismondi, Joni Sines
Steven K. Smith, Steve Stapleton, Shelly Stevens and the amazing Doug Berch will all be instructors. There are some other cool things planned as well, here’s how it breaks down by day.
Friday
There will be a special potluck/jam session at McKinley Field Park, starting sometime after 5pm. basically this is an easy jam session led by me. We’ll be playing stuff I’ve taught at various festivals as well as tunes from Andy Beyer’s beginner’s packet. I wont be teaching per se, but will be there to call out chords lead jams, make sure that everyone is there to have a good time. If you came to my “Jam session survival skills” workshop in March, this’ll be a good time to put that to practice.
Tunes include: Boil Them Cabbage Down/Aunt Rhody/Shortnin' Bread/On Top of Old Smokey/Freres Jacques/Cripple Creek/Old Joe Clark/Deep Blue Sea/June Apple/Oh Susanna/Skip to My Lou/Going to Boston/Buffalo Gals/Liza Jane/Loch Lomond plus some tunes that I’ve taught at OVG and other regional festivals, old chestnuts, and your suggestions.
This is NOT the official Friday meet, greet and jam that the CMFS does at Battelle-Darby Park but a private affair contact Dough Snapp via email to dmsnapp@wowway.com or phone at 313-6424 if you’d like to attend.
Saturday
Loads of workshops from not just me but Doug Berch, Andy Beyer, Gary Sager and loads of others (I forgot how may instructors there are at this thing) Plus the Saturday night concert is going to rock!
Sunday
I’m playing in the big tent from 11 to noon. Since I played just about everything I could think of in March at the COFF auction, I thought I’d make this set a little more interactive, so if you got a request, call it out, and I’ll do my best to make it happen.
HELP ME GET TO THE UK.
My UK tour is just under two weeks away and I STILL haven’t bought tickets. Plus when I get there, there will be the cost of car rental, work visas (£300). I was hoping that all this turmoil in the EU with Greece will push the Pound down against the dollar and deflate some overhead on this trip but this has not been the case (stupid resilient British economy). So I’m asking you to help me get there and back by offering
NEW MUSIC AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON MY WEB SITE.
“This Year in Review” isn’t actually a year in review. Instead it is a collection of live tunes, rarely performed songs and some of my best in-between song bits. Recorded over the last few years at KMW, Dulci-more, Fort New Salem, the Leo Coffeehouse, House Concerts, UK pub shows and more, it features a slew of songs that I’ve rarely performed in public. Including some that have only been played live once.
There’s no physical CD (tho’ I will make you one if you ask nicely and gimme $5) instead it’s a pay-what-you-want download from my website. Over an hour of words and music spread over 24 tracks. You can hear the whole thing, for free, at my website www.butchross.com Then, if you want you can make a donation in any amount, and you will be taken to a page explaining how you can download just the songs you want or get the whole CD including artwork as a single .zip file. And you can find all this at my…
REVAMPED WEB SITE.
There’s one simple reason I did this—beside the fact that it’s well overdue—which I’ll get to in a minute. But I’ve redesigned and relaunched my web site. There are still a couple of pages I need to add yet (video, tab and workshop pages) and probably a bug to two to work out. In addition to showcasing photos from Gail Lindsay and Karl Schmidt, the music player has the “A Long Way From Shady Grove” and “The Moonshiner’s Atlas” up there in its entirety. Kinda like having yr own personal Butch Ross radio station. But the reason for the redesign is that I finally made the…
“A LONG WAY FROM SHADY GROVE” BOOK AVAILABLE ONLINE
I’ve been selling this thing at shows for a couple of months, But haven’t made it available online before now. For those of you who don’t know “Shady Grove” is an 87-page book of transcriptions of every song on my latest CD. Including transcriptions of the contributions Gary Gallier, Stephen Seifert, Steve Brehm and Quintin Stephens made to the CD. Everything from Steve Brehm’s brooding guitar intro on “Goodbye Liza Jane/No Direction Home” to Quintin’s rockin’ “Dulcicaster” solo on “Pole Position” to the Hungarian Citera I play on “Shady Grove” (transcribed for mountain dulcimer of course) is written out in tablature and notation with chords and commentary. It’s all in the hear/buy section of the new web site.
And finally…
THE CHATTANOOGA BALLET DANCES TO BUTCH ROSS
A few months ago Courtney Mild of the Chattanooga Ballet asked me if she could use my version of Eleanor Rigby for a dance piece she was choreographing. Although I couldn’t for the life of me see how that was going to work, I enthusiastically gave her my blessing. Last Friday "Viso Gero" made its world premiere at the Chattanooga Ballet. Using both “Eleanor Rigby” and “Firenze” from the “Shady Grove” CD, A troupe of nine dancers performed a combination of ballet and European folk dance moves to tell a love story in 7 minutes with dance.
I honestly had no idea what to expect, nor could I even fathom how one would take my version of Eleanor Rigby (which I think is even darker and more esoteric than the original) and put movement to it. But there it was in all its glory, right between Pas De Quarte and the Dream of Don Quixote, and the results were stunning. Let me give a big public THANK YOU to Courtney Mild, the Chattanooga Ballet and all the dancers. The whole show was filmed and I am working on getting the video of that soon. I’ll post it on my site just as soon as I can.
Okay that’s a TON of stuff to tell you, so I’ll not say any more. Sorry this is so long. See you this weekend, or in the UK and GO GET THAT ALBUM!
Those shows again
Friday
Central Ohio Folk Festival Kickoff Party.
McKinley Field Park,
1661 Goodale Blvd.
Columbus, OH 43212
614-313-6424
Sat-Sun
Central Ohio Folk Festival @ Battelle-Darby Creek Metro Park
1775 Darby Creek Drive, Columbus, OH 43119
C-ya out there.
1. Central Ohio Folk Festival this Weekend
2. Help me get to the UK by buying new music.
3. Check out the new website
4. “Shady Grove” book available online.
5. Chattanooga Ballet dance to Butch Ross
I know I’ve said this to you before that when you don’t hear from me, it’s because I’m super stupid busy. Well April and May have been no exception to that rule. But I have LOADS of wonderful things to tell you, so kick back, get a cup of coffee and accept my apologies for how long this email is going to be.
CENTRAL OHIO FOLK FESTIVAL
Friday May 7, 2010 - Sunday May 9, 2010
Battelle-Darby Creek Metro Park Indian Ridge Area
Tickets $10 to $30 depending.
This weekend is the Central Ohio Folk Festival and it’ll be good to be back. This year’s headliners are the Yellow Room Gang (featuring Mustard’s Retreat) and the amazing James Keelaghan. In addition to myself teaching Bill Schilling, Linda Sigismondi, Joni Sines
Steven K. Smith, Steve Stapleton, Shelly Stevens and the amazing Doug Berch will all be instructors. There are some other cool things planned as well, here’s how it breaks down by day.
Friday
There will be a special potluck/jam session at McKinley Field Park, starting sometime after 5pm. basically this is an easy jam session led by me. We’ll be playing stuff I’ve taught at various festivals as well as tunes from Andy Beyer’s beginner’s packet. I wont be teaching per se, but will be there to call out chords lead jams, make sure that everyone is there to have a good time. If you came to my “Jam session survival skills” workshop in March, this’ll be a good time to put that to practice.
Tunes include: Boil Them Cabbage Down/Aunt Rhody/Shortnin' Bread/On Top of Old Smokey/Freres Jacques/Cripple Creek/Old Joe Clark/Deep Blue Sea/June Apple/Oh Susanna/Skip to My Lou/Going to Boston/Buffalo Gals/Liza Jane/Loch Lomond plus some tunes that I’ve taught at OVG and other regional festivals, old chestnuts, and your suggestions.
This is NOT the official Friday meet, greet and jam that the CMFS does at Battelle-Darby Park but a private affair contact Dough Snapp via email to dmsnapp@wowway.com or phone at 313-6424 if you’d like to attend.
Saturday
Loads of workshops from not just me but Doug Berch, Andy Beyer, Gary Sager and loads of others (I forgot how may instructors there are at this thing) Plus the Saturday night concert is going to rock!
Sunday
I’m playing in the big tent from 11 to noon. Since I played just about everything I could think of in March at the COFF auction, I thought I’d make this set a little more interactive, so if you got a request, call it out, and I’ll do my best to make it happen.
HELP ME GET TO THE UK.
My UK tour is just under two weeks away and I STILL haven’t bought tickets. Plus when I get there, there will be the cost of car rental, work visas (£300). I was hoping that all this turmoil in the EU with Greece will push the Pound down against the dollar and deflate some overhead on this trip but this has not been the case (stupid resilient British economy). So I’m asking you to help me get there and back by offering
NEW MUSIC AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON MY WEB SITE.
“This Year in Review” isn’t actually a year in review. Instead it is a collection of live tunes, rarely performed songs and some of my best in-between song bits. Recorded over the last few years at KMW, Dulci-more, Fort New Salem, the Leo Coffeehouse, House Concerts, UK pub shows and more, it features a slew of songs that I’ve rarely performed in public. Including some that have only been played live once.
There’s no physical CD (tho’ I will make you one if you ask nicely and gimme $5) instead it’s a pay-what-you-want download from my website. Over an hour of words and music spread over 24 tracks. You can hear the whole thing, for free, at my website www.butchross.com Then, if you want you can make a donation in any amount, and you will be taken to a page explaining how you can download just the songs you want or get the whole CD including artwork as a single .zip file. And you can find all this at my…
REVAMPED WEB SITE.
There’s one simple reason I did this—beside the fact that it’s well overdue—which I’ll get to in a minute. But I’ve redesigned and relaunched my web site. There are still a couple of pages I need to add yet (video, tab and workshop pages) and probably a bug to two to work out. In addition to showcasing photos from Gail Lindsay and Karl Schmidt, the music player has the “A Long Way From Shady Grove” and “The Moonshiner’s Atlas” up there in its entirety. Kinda like having yr own personal Butch Ross radio station. But the reason for the redesign is that I finally made the…
“A LONG WAY FROM SHADY GROVE” BOOK AVAILABLE ONLINE
I’ve been selling this thing at shows for a couple of months, But haven’t made it available online before now. For those of you who don’t know “Shady Grove” is an 87-page book of transcriptions of every song on my latest CD. Including transcriptions of the contributions Gary Gallier, Stephen Seifert, Steve Brehm and Quintin Stephens made to the CD. Everything from Steve Brehm’s brooding guitar intro on “Goodbye Liza Jane/No Direction Home” to Quintin’s rockin’ “Dulcicaster” solo on “Pole Position” to the Hungarian Citera I play on “Shady Grove” (transcribed for mountain dulcimer of course) is written out in tablature and notation with chords and commentary. It’s all in the hear/buy section of the new web site.
And finally…
THE CHATTANOOGA BALLET DANCES TO BUTCH ROSS
A few months ago Courtney Mild of the Chattanooga Ballet asked me if she could use my version of Eleanor Rigby for a dance piece she was choreographing. Although I couldn’t for the life of me see how that was going to work, I enthusiastically gave her my blessing. Last Friday "Viso Gero" made its world premiere at the Chattanooga Ballet. Using both “Eleanor Rigby” and “Firenze” from the “Shady Grove” CD, A troupe of nine dancers performed a combination of ballet and European folk dance moves to tell a love story in 7 minutes with dance.
I honestly had no idea what to expect, nor could I even fathom how one would take my version of Eleanor Rigby (which I think is even darker and more esoteric than the original) and put movement to it. But there it was in all its glory, right between Pas De Quarte and the Dream of Don Quixote, and the results were stunning. Let me give a big public THANK YOU to Courtney Mild, the Chattanooga Ballet and all the dancers. The whole show was filmed and I am working on getting the video of that soon. I’ll post it on my site just as soon as I can.
Okay that’s a TON of stuff to tell you, so I’ll not say any more. Sorry this is so long. See you this weekend, or in the UK and GO GET THAT ALBUM!
Those shows again
Friday
Central Ohio Folk Festival Kickoff Party.
McKinley Field Park,
1661 Goodale Blvd.
Columbus, OH 43212
614-313-6424
Sat-Sun
Central Ohio Folk Festival @ Battelle-Darby Creek Metro Park
1775 Darby Creek Drive, Columbus, OH 43119
C-ya out there.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Shows and workshops in Columbus this week...and I want to hear from you.
Friday, March 26th, 7:00 p.m.
Guitar House Workshop, 1423 Chambers Rd., Columbus, OH, 43212,
http://www.guitarhouseworkshop.com/cms/
Workshop: Jam session survival skills --Don't know the tune? Chances are good I don't either, find out what I do and how easily you can too, regardless of your playing level. $20 per person with a jam afterwards (natch) Space is limited.
Doug Snapp is handling the logistics of this. Since space is limited for the teaching session on the 26th, he asks that a firm commitment be given. Either respond to this email or call him (614 313-6424) or email dmsnapp@wowway.com to reserve your spot. Some spots have already been spoken for.
Saturday, March 27, 2010, 7pm
$5.00 suggested donation ($4 for members)
Areopagitica Book Store
3510 North High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43214
(614) 268-5094
http://www.areopagiticabookstore.com
Performing as part of the Cfms Folkside Coffeehouse Series.
This show also features an Auction to benefit the Central Ohio Folk Festival.
It's also worth mentioning that if you are a member of the Urbana, Ohio dulcimer club or the Standing Stone club in Lancaster, Ohio, I will be teaching there too, as you president for more details.
My old roommate used to write to advertise his shows then rant about whatever was bothering him that week, to was quite often brilliant funny, and almost invariably inappropriate. And as any good idea should be, I stole it from him. Some of you, I dare say are still here because of what I write, almost more so than what I play.
But today, I have no such diatribe to give you; cuz there’s too much info to give. As is too often the case, the busier I am, the less I post, so when I do rear my ugly head, I got a lot of ground to cover.
First of all thanks to all the new friends I made on last month’s run through Charleston, OVG, Ann Arbor and Johnson City. That tour may have already given me the quote of the year “That was a great show you put on, I didn’t care for the music, but it was a great show.” How can you not love that!?!?! It’s important that you not take yourself too seriously, God is going to see to that I think.
Second, if you ordered a “Long Way from Shady Grove” book, know that it’s on its way. This week, if the printer gets to me in time, or next, but soon very soon. I had then available for OVG, a small run, so that I could keep my overhead low, sell a few at OVG then send the remainder out to all of you who graciously pre-ordered. Except that the book sold WAY better than expected and now I am anxiously waiting for a second run. My Philly friends call this a “good problem” and I agree. Anyway, it’s done. And coming to you soon. I promise.
Finally, the part where I need your help.
From time to time, like every year, I like two revamp my workshops, keeps it challenging for me, and gives you all a reason to come back (tho’ some of you have told me that you learn a lot when you repeat old workshops). This year, I’m taking the advice of a very smart person who suggested that instead of guessing at what you might like to hear, I just ask you to tell me. So that is precisely what I am doing. What do I do that you want to know more about? What aspect of playing do you want to learn that is not covered by me (or others)? No idea is too dumb, no suggestion too weird, I’ll post the best ones online and we can vote on ‘em. Send an email to butch@butchross.com and put “workshop idea” in the subject line.
Along those same lines, I’m looking for tunes from the late 50’s, 60’s and 70’s that are easy to play and only require a few chords. Figure the easiest tune is “the lion sleeps tonight” (which s just one half of “cabbage” repeated endlessly) and the hardest is “The house of the rising sun,” with it’s many chords. What falls in the middle? What tunes would you like to learn from that era? Again, send an email to butch@butchross.com and include “60s and 70s” in the subject line.
Note that these songs are NOT NECESSARILY the ones I’ll be teaching at KMW this year. I prefer to let you guys in the class decide which tunes we’re going to cover this summer.
Okay, that’s it. If yr near Columbus please come see me at one of the above places and if you have a suggestion, I’d LOVE to hear from you. That’s the news, talk to you soon.
C-ya out there,
--Br
www.butchross.com
"Now I know what a dulcimer is supposed to sound like" —Jake Shimabukuro
Guitar House Workshop, 1423 Chambers Rd., Columbus, OH, 43212,
http://www.guitarhouseworkshop.com/cms/
Workshop: Jam session survival skills --Don't know the tune? Chances are good I don't either, find out what I do and how easily you can too, regardless of your playing level. $20 per person with a jam afterwards (natch) Space is limited.
Doug Snapp is handling the logistics of this. Since space is limited for the teaching session on the 26th, he asks that a firm commitment be given. Either respond to this email or call him (614 313-6424) or email dmsnapp@wowway.com to reserve your spot. Some spots have already been spoken for.
Saturday, March 27, 2010, 7pm
$5.00 suggested donation ($4 for members)
Areopagitica Book Store
3510 North High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43214
(614) 268-5094
http://www.areopagiticabookstore.com
Performing as part of the Cfms Folkside Coffeehouse Series.
This show also features an Auction to benefit the Central Ohio Folk Festival.
It's also worth mentioning that if you are a member of the Urbana, Ohio dulcimer club or the Standing Stone club in Lancaster, Ohio, I will be teaching there too, as you president for more details.
My old roommate used to write to advertise his shows then rant about whatever was bothering him that week, to was quite often brilliant funny, and almost invariably inappropriate. And as any good idea should be, I stole it from him. Some of you, I dare say are still here because of what I write, almost more so than what I play.
But today, I have no such diatribe to give you; cuz there’s too much info to give. As is too often the case, the busier I am, the less I post, so when I do rear my ugly head, I got a lot of ground to cover.
First of all thanks to all the new friends I made on last month’s run through Charleston, OVG, Ann Arbor and Johnson City. That tour may have already given me the quote of the year “That was a great show you put on, I didn’t care for the music, but it was a great show.” How can you not love that!?!?! It’s important that you not take yourself too seriously, God is going to see to that I think.
Second, if you ordered a “Long Way from Shady Grove” book, know that it’s on its way. This week, if the printer gets to me in time, or next, but soon very soon. I had then available for OVG, a small run, so that I could keep my overhead low, sell a few at OVG then send the remainder out to all of you who graciously pre-ordered. Except that the book sold WAY better than expected and now I am anxiously waiting for a second run. My Philly friends call this a “good problem” and I agree. Anyway, it’s done. And coming to you soon. I promise.
Finally, the part where I need your help.
From time to time, like every year, I like two revamp my workshops, keeps it challenging for me, and gives you all a reason to come back (tho’ some of you have told me that you learn a lot when you repeat old workshops). This year, I’m taking the advice of a very smart person who suggested that instead of guessing at what you might like to hear, I just ask you to tell me. So that is precisely what I am doing. What do I do that you want to know more about? What aspect of playing do you want to learn that is not covered by me (or others)? No idea is too dumb, no suggestion too weird, I’ll post the best ones online and we can vote on ‘em. Send an email to butch@butchross.com and put “workshop idea” in the subject line.
Along those same lines, I’m looking for tunes from the late 50’s, 60’s and 70’s that are easy to play and only require a few chords. Figure the easiest tune is “the lion sleeps tonight” (which s just one half of “cabbage” repeated endlessly) and the hardest is “The house of the rising sun,” with it’s many chords. What falls in the middle? What tunes would you like to learn from that era? Again, send an email to butch@butchross.com and include “60s and 70s” in the subject line.
Note that these songs are NOT NECESSARILY the ones I’ll be teaching at KMW this year. I prefer to let you guys in the class decide which tunes we’re going to cover this summer.
Okay, that’s it. If yr near Columbus please come see me at one of the above places and if you have a suggestion, I’d LOVE to hear from you. That’s the news, talk to you soon.
C-ya out there,
--Br
www.butchross.com
"Now I know what a dulcimer is supposed to sound like" —Jake Shimabukuro
Monday, February 22, 2010
On the road again, and a spring thaw?
Thurs. Feb 25, 2010
7:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Unitarian Universalist Congregation
520 Kanawha Blvd,
Charleston, WV
(304) 345-5042
Thursday, February 25th
$8 suggested donation (no one turned away for lack of funds)
Feb 26, 2010 - Lexington, KY
Hilton Lexington/Downtown Hotel
The Ohio Valley Gathering
http://louisvilledulcimers.org/OhioValleyGathering.aspx
Feb 27, 2010 - 7:30
The Ark - o/f Mustard's Retreat
316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI
(734) 761-1451
$15
Feb 28, 2010 - 8pm
The Acoustic Coffeehouse
415 W. Walnut St., Johnson City, TN
http://www.acousticcoffeehouse.net
So every year on February 2nd, they drag this poor glorified rat out of the ground a 5am, and attempt to determine if he can see his shadow, if he does there's 6 more weeks of winter. Well, there is always 6 more weeks of winter; he always sees his shadow, because they put a TV camera, lights and all on him. I think he does it out of spite.
And how exactly do they know that he sees his shadow? I live in a one-room flat that's less than 300 square feet, and at least twice a day I can't find the cat.
Now this year I'm listening to NPR and they feel compelled to showcase all the other towns that have jumped on this Groundhog idea (as well as Peta's call for a robotic Groundhog, I am not making that up). Look, I grew up near Punxsutawney, in fact they were our big High School rivals (The Beavers verses the Woodchucks, there's a couple of powerhouse mascots for ya), let these people have their day, there is nothing else there.
The point of all of this (there's a point?) is that the Ohio Valley Gathering is this weekend; to me this has always symbolically signified the end of winter and the beginning of the festival season. Yeah, Phil saw his shadow, but OVG is a month early this year. I'm going to take it as a good sign,* and after some of the brutal cold we've had here in the south lately, it can't come too soon.
Charleston
Has it been a year? No, two years, since I've been here. That approximately 1 year and 46 weeks too long to play this laid-back venue in a state that I have no familial or historic connection to, yet seems to appear in a good bit of my work. Last time, I had a Peter Gabriel pop quiz. Who knows what'll happen this time.
The Ohio Valley Gathering
Like I said above, it's the official end of winter for me, and, of course, a great chance to see my friends and favorite players all at once. I get as much out of it as you guys do. This year however I can only stay for Friday and part of Saturday because I have to drive to...
Ann Arbor
This has been a long time coming. An opportunity to open for Mustard's Retreat, one of the most respected folk duos in the country, on their home turf, in one of the finest acoustic venues in the country. Hell yeah I'm excited!
Johnson City
This is getting to be like a second home for me. It's a nice stop on the way back and a chance to try out some new, or rarely played tunes, and ALL THE SHOWS ARE WEBCAST, so click your browser to acousticcoffeehouse.net this Sunday @ 8pm and listen.
And while I’m thinking about it, I'll be back in Atlanta next week. Wednesday, March 1st at Smiths Olde Bar (in the Atlanta room) hopefully you can make it out.
C-ya out there.
-Br
*Notice I'm not using declarative statements like "The worst is over" or "the thaw has begun," truly there's no better way to invoke Murphy‘s Law. God just loves irony.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thurs. Feb 25, 2010
7:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Unitarian Universalist Congregation
520 Kanawha Blvd,
Charleston, WV
(304) 345-5042
Thursday, February 25th
$8 suggested donation (no one turned away for lack of funds)
Feb 26, 2010 - Lexington, KY
Hilton Lexington/Downtown Hotel
The Ohio Valley Gathering
http://louisvilledulcimers.org/OhioValleyGathering.aspx
Feb 27, 2010 - 7:30
The Ark - o/f Mustard's Retreat
316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI
(734) 761-1451
$15
Feb 28, 2010 - 8pm
The Acoustic Coffeehouse
415 W. Walnut St., Johnson City, TN
http://www.acousticcoffeehouse.net
7:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Unitarian Universalist Congregation
520 Kanawha Blvd,
Charleston, WV
(304) 345-5042
Thursday, February 25th
$8 suggested donation (no one turned away for lack of funds)
Feb 26, 2010 - Lexington, KY
Hilton Lexington/Downtown Hotel
The Ohio Valley Gathering
http://louisvilledulcimers.org/OhioValleyGathering.aspx
Feb 27, 2010 - 7:30
The Ark - o/f Mustard's Retreat
316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI
(734) 761-1451
$15
Feb 28, 2010 - 8pm
The Acoustic Coffeehouse
415 W. Walnut St., Johnson City, TN
http://www.acousticcoffeehouse.net
So every year on February 2nd, they drag this poor glorified rat out of the ground a 5am, and attempt to determine if he can see his shadow, if he does there's 6 more weeks of winter. Well, there is always 6 more weeks of winter; he always sees his shadow, because they put a TV camera, lights and all on him. I think he does it out of spite.
And how exactly do they know that he sees his shadow? I live in a one-room flat that's less than 300 square feet, and at least twice a day I can't find the cat.
Now this year I'm listening to NPR and they feel compelled to showcase all the other towns that have jumped on this Groundhog idea (as well as Peta's call for a robotic Groundhog, I am not making that up). Look, I grew up near Punxsutawney, in fact they were our big High School rivals (The Beavers verses the Woodchucks, there's a couple of powerhouse mascots for ya), let these people have their day, there is nothing else there.
The point of all of this (there's a point?) is that the Ohio Valley Gathering is this weekend; to me this has always symbolically signified the end of winter and the beginning of the festival season. Yeah, Phil saw his shadow, but OVG is a month early this year. I'm going to take it as a good sign,* and after some of the brutal cold we've had here in the south lately, it can't come too soon.
Charleston
Has it been a year? No, two years, since I've been here. That approximately 1 year and 46 weeks too long to play this laid-back venue in a state that I have no familial or historic connection to, yet seems to appear in a good bit of my work. Last time, I had a Peter Gabriel pop quiz. Who knows what'll happen this time.
The Ohio Valley Gathering
Like I said above, it's the official end of winter for me, and, of course, a great chance to see my friends and favorite players all at once. I get as much out of it as you guys do. This year however I can only stay for Friday and part of Saturday because I have to drive to...
Ann Arbor
This has been a long time coming. An opportunity to open for Mustard's Retreat, one of the most respected folk duos in the country, on their home turf, in one of the finest acoustic venues in the country. Hell yeah I'm excited!
Johnson City
This is getting to be like a second home for me. It's a nice stop on the way back and a chance to try out some new, or rarely played tunes, and ALL THE SHOWS ARE WEBCAST, so click your browser to acousticcoffeehouse.net this Sunday @ 8pm and listen.
And while I’m thinking about it, I'll be back in Atlanta next week. Wednesday, March 1st at Smiths Olde Bar (in the Atlanta room) hopefully you can make it out.
C-ya out there.
-Br
*Notice I'm not using declarative statements like "The worst is over" or "the thaw has begun," truly there's no better way to invoke Murphy‘s Law. God just loves irony.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thurs. Feb 25, 2010
7:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Unitarian Universalist Congregation
520 Kanawha Blvd,
Charleston, WV
(304) 345-5042
Thursday, February 25th
$8 suggested donation (no one turned away for lack of funds)
Feb 26, 2010 - Lexington, KY
Hilton Lexington/Downtown Hotel
The Ohio Valley Gathering
http://louisvilledulcimers.org/OhioValleyGathering.aspx
Feb 27, 2010 - 7:30
The Ark - o/f Mustard's Retreat
316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI
(734) 761-1451
$15
Feb 28, 2010 - 8pm
The Acoustic Coffeehouse
415 W. Walnut St., Johnson City, TN
http://www.acousticcoffeehouse.net
Monday, January 04, 2010
The England and Ireland tour: part 1
A couple of things before we get going that I don’t mind telling you now (since it has a happy ending) I waited along time to commit to the Lancaster Music Festival while trying to decide what the length of this tour was going to be. If I took the gigs that left me with three weeks to fill, and by the time I was thinking about this (early August) it was by all practical booking standards too late. In order for me to be able to do this I had to accomplish three things: 1. I had to make enough money to get there (airfare, car rental, rent and bills before I left) 2. I had to make enough money to get by (food, petrol, car rental etc. etc.) 3. Finally, as I was arriving home on the 2nd of November, I would have had to have made enough money while there to be able to pay my bills here when I returned. It was a very tall order, and one that literally woke me up in the middle of the night, my stomach a knot of fear. Which is why so much of the text of this trip will involve talking about money. But the reoccurring lesson of my life these many years is that there is value in not worrying. Do what you love; the rest will work itself out.
Lesson 1: the airport
Because of the three weeks, the variety of shows, the ton (or tonne) of equipment I was bringing AND the merchandise, I have five bags to either check or carry on. 1. My dulcimers (three in a gig bag) 2. Clothes in a rolling case 3. Laptop bag (getting smart phone soon) 4. Pedals and such in a flight case (I was borrowing a guitar and rolling with the loop show) 5. The box of merchandise (mostly books). I had looked into shipping the books but the cost was nearly $100, I knew my second(!) bag on Delta would cost me and additional $50 (which is total BS) but also another $50 was cheaper than mail (or so I assumed) and I could be reasonably sure that it would get there.
It turns out bag number 3 is an additional $200 dollars (meaning my flight at this point was about to cost me well over $1,000) Fortunately, really fortunately, for some reason the outside check in guy was allowed to check my third bag outside. So he took the flight case and the cardboard merch box, at the inside counter (a guy tied to check me in via kiosk but that too didn’t work) The lady at the counter told me the price of the third bag, and then watched as the blood drained from my face. After a moment, she says “just take it onboard.” I point to my gig bag (which I’m wearing like a back pack and say “but I have this.” She folds my boarding pass into my passport and snaps it shut, shoving it across the counter she says. “Look, I just do it. I won’t see any of that money anyway.” I thank her profusely and spent the rest of the trip worried that I’m gonna get stop each time I board the plane. Of course, there was no need to worry, everyone assumed because I had made it that far, it was within my rights to bring as much crap as I wanted onboard.
# Is going to Amsterdam {but only for an hour} last post till the U.K.
3:58 PM Oct 8th from txt
This was the last text message I sent, I had just plopped into my seat in Detroit. I thought I only had a few minutes to get to my plane, but instead I had an hour (time change stuff and I read the ticket wrong) I found my plane, and the passengers then ran off to grab a quick bite. When I returned, there was no plane and no passengers. Well, there were three actually. Two passengers and a flight attendant all haranguing this other airline guy as to where the plan had went. By the time I got to the new gate they were already boarding, but again, no point in worrying it takes an hour to board an international flight.
# is safely in the UK, but not his luggage. Maybe the 12:30 flight.
4:14 AM Oct 9th from web
Unfortunately, the plane change in Detroit made the flight leave 30 minutes late, meaning that the connecting flight in Amsterdam was a mere 30 minutes after I arrived (thank God I did not need to recollect my luggage like they make you do in the states) I had just enough time to go from my plane to the gate where my flight was supposed to be, then back to the gate where my flight actually was, and to sign a waiver saying that I understood my luggage would not be coming off the plane when I arrived in Manchester.
I hung around the airport for an hour or so in the hopes that it would come in with the next flight from Amsterdam (it didn’t) I also discovered that I had brought the wrong phone to the UK (I have one that is unlocked for when I travel internationally) so I bought an hour of internet service and attempted to find the unlock code online. You get five tries; I failed five times, and ended up with a brick. Later Ben would loan me an old phone of his and I’d buy a Vodaphone pay-as-you go sim card.
# Playing a show in Lancaster at 8:00 PM today at Park Hotel
http://feeds.artistdata.com... 11:07 AM Oct 9th from ArtistData
Not have all my luggage turned out to be a good thing when I got on the train from Manchester airport to Lancaster. While my train car was completely empty when I had gotten on, it was completely filled at the next stop, with lots of these people going to my final destination. If I had had all my crap, people wouldn’t have been able to sit. Not cool at all on an hour and a half train ride.
I got off the train, and being unable to make the pay phone work, just started randomly walking fortunately it was in the right direction, toward the town center. I saw a pub called the John O’Gaunt that was advertising live music that afternoon, I thought, “surely these people will have Ben’s phone number and I can call him and let him know I’m here”. Turns out I didn’t have to: he was sitting at the bar.
That evening his band, The Convulsions, me and a band called Red Gap from the Isle of Mann where playing the starting evening at the Park Hotel. Ben warned me in advance that it was gonna be a thin night, and it certainly was. So much so that two songs in I unplugged and drug my seat out to the middle of the room to play totally acoustic. Despite having brought all my “kit” as the English would say. It was the first of many lessons I was about to learn about how little gear I need to do a great show.
# Playing a show in Lancaster at 8:00 PM today at various venues http://feeds.artistdata.com... 11:00 AM Oct 10th from ArtistData
Four half-hour sets along St. Georges Quay.
1:30 – 2pm Maritime Museum
3:30 – 4pm George and Dragon Pub
8.30 – 9pm Wagon & Horses
10.30 – 11pm Three Mariners
# 4 show recap: 1. Good 2. Sucked 3. Great 4. FREAKING AMAZING! Turns out I can be funny in English too. Today, just 2 shows & an after party. 4:59 AM Oct 11th from web
My day started off in the Maritime museum in a room that looked like the inside of a ship (or if you prefer, the belly of a whale) I played a totally acoustic set to a bunch of folks, kids and adults and may have even made a young dulcimer convert (I always offer to let kids try out the instrument after a set).
After that it was on to the George and Dragon where I played for old men and their dogs. Literally, just a bunch of punters there for their Saturday afternoon pint during their Saturday afternoon dog walk. Nobody clapped. The only exception was a Greek woman and her child; she was using the festival to teach her son about different forms of music. Halfway through my first song, he turns to her and in a great stage whisper says, “is this folk music”
At the time I remember thinking “That’s a good question kid”
I walked back into town to grab a bite to eat and to catch Ben’s band the Convulsions play their brand of punchy-blues, I caught him during a set break which was just enough time for him to tell me that the courier had shown up with my luggage but since he was onstage he wasn’t able to leave it with anyone at the pub. He had been ion contact with the courier (who was currently in the north of England) and he would, he swore, set this. Somewhere in the middle of this mess I found a sim card for my phone and could finally make calls and set up text to twitter to restart the updates. Ben called to meet me for dinner and we had an amazing meal at the Robert Gillow, which took me straight to 6:30 the time I was supposed to start my next set. Ben offered to buy dinner if I cabbed to the next gig and I did. Lancaster has the absolutely fastest arriving cabs in the western hemisphere; I think I was in the venue by 6:34
As I was setting up to play, a man comes up to me and says that he had seen me at the Maritime Museum and had come to see me again, bringing all his friends in the process. Then Ben showed up with my luggage (which included my CDs). Sometimes omens are good things; it was a very good show.
Then I walked down the street (far more difficult given the amount of crap I now had. Fortunately a bunch of people getting out of their car and heading to my next show offered to help me carry my stuff (how this stuff happens to me, I have no idea, that’s the value of not worrying).
I arrived in enough time to see the Keelers finish their set of Sea Chanteys reminding me how much I actually do like them and how far removed from the “maritime music” I actually was. I set up and began to play and most people quieted down to listen except for one woman at the very first table (of course) who was talking very loudly. So loudly that another patron leaned over and asked her to keep it down. Afterwards I riffed with the loud talker about how she shouldn’t feel bad I’m usually that person. This little bit of riffing had the effect of focusing the room and from that point the audience and I were hand in glove. It was a dialogue between the audience, and me. I sent out the music and they would respond in kind, both sides pushing each other higher. It's sounds silly and new-agey to say this but it was more like a dance than performance (except had I actually been dancing someone would have gotten hurt). A great show, a great audience and once again the help of a red-headed angel (thank you Nami) to help me carry my crap to the after party.
# Playing a show in Lancaster at 1:00 PM today at various http://feeds.artistdata.com... 11:02 AM Oct 11th from ArtistData
Back again at the George and Dragon at 2pm and again at the 3 Mariners at 6pm
# had a perfect day yesterday. Not one great thing, just dozens of little ones that grew into a feeling of true bliss. Thank you Lancaster. 10:21 AM Oct 12th from web
So the first part of this perfect day was the George and Dragon, which I chose to walk to (I don’t remember why I thought that was a good idea) Unlike yesterday’s apathy fest, today the room was completely full. It was a quiet and responsive audience and if I had any doubts about why they were there, the place was completely empty ten minutes after my set was over. Well empty save for one person, a professor from the local university who had lived for a time in Chattanooga (!?!?) I ended up chatting with them until it was time for my evening show. It was a great intellectual conversation about everything from Mountain Top Removal Coal mining to performance poetry. And let me clarify “intellectual” most of my friends are very smart, and we have very intelligent conversations, but this was a conversation of the depth that I had gotten used to in Grad School and not really had since. I forgot how much I missed it.
I chose to keep the second show low-key playing next to the bar and talking, not selling shtick to the audience. It went as well as I could have and I walked to (yet another) after party, realizing as I did that I was felling an emotion I hadn’t felt in long, long time; the bliss of contentment. It was as near perfect a day as I think I’ll ever see. So I mean it when I say thank you Lancaster.
Next up, Manchester and the world.
Lesson 1: the airport
Because of the three weeks, the variety of shows, the ton (or tonne) of equipment I was bringing AND the merchandise, I have five bags to either check or carry on. 1. My dulcimers (three in a gig bag) 2. Clothes in a rolling case 3. Laptop bag (getting smart phone soon) 4. Pedals and such in a flight case (I was borrowing a guitar and rolling with the loop show) 5. The box of merchandise (mostly books). I had looked into shipping the books but the cost was nearly $100, I knew my second(!) bag on Delta would cost me and additional $50 (which is total BS) but also another $50 was cheaper than mail (or so I assumed) and I could be reasonably sure that it would get there.
It turns out bag number 3 is an additional $200 dollars (meaning my flight at this point was about to cost me well over $1,000) Fortunately, really fortunately, for some reason the outside check in guy was allowed to check my third bag outside. So he took the flight case and the cardboard merch box, at the inside counter (a guy tied to check me in via kiosk but that too didn’t work) The lady at the counter told me the price of the third bag, and then watched as the blood drained from my face. After a moment, she says “just take it onboard.” I point to my gig bag (which I’m wearing like a back pack and say “but I have this.” She folds my boarding pass into my passport and snaps it shut, shoving it across the counter she says. “Look, I just do it. I won’t see any of that money anyway.” I thank her profusely and spent the rest of the trip worried that I’m gonna get stop each time I board the plane. Of course, there was no need to worry, everyone assumed because I had made it that far, it was within my rights to bring as much crap as I wanted onboard.
# Is going to Amsterdam {but only for an hour} last post till the U.K.
3:58 PM Oct 8th from txt
This was the last text message I sent, I had just plopped into my seat in Detroit. I thought I only had a few minutes to get to my plane, but instead I had an hour (time change stuff and I read the ticket wrong) I found my plane, and the passengers then ran off to grab a quick bite. When I returned, there was no plane and no passengers. Well, there were three actually. Two passengers and a flight attendant all haranguing this other airline guy as to where the plan had went. By the time I got to the new gate they were already boarding, but again, no point in worrying it takes an hour to board an international flight.
# is safely in the UK, but not his luggage. Maybe the 12:30 flight.
4:14 AM Oct 9th from web
Unfortunately, the plane change in Detroit made the flight leave 30 minutes late, meaning that the connecting flight in Amsterdam was a mere 30 minutes after I arrived (thank God I did not need to recollect my luggage like they make you do in the states) I had just enough time to go from my plane to the gate where my flight was supposed to be, then back to the gate where my flight actually was, and to sign a waiver saying that I understood my luggage would not be coming off the plane when I arrived in Manchester.
I hung around the airport for an hour or so in the hopes that it would come in with the next flight from Amsterdam (it didn’t) I also discovered that I had brought the wrong phone to the UK (I have one that is unlocked for when I travel internationally) so I bought an hour of internet service and attempted to find the unlock code online. You get five tries; I failed five times, and ended up with a brick. Later Ben would loan me an old phone of his and I’d buy a Vodaphone pay-as-you go sim card.
# Playing a show in Lancaster at 8:00 PM today at Park Hotel
http://feeds.artistdata.com... 11:07 AM Oct 9th from ArtistData
Not have all my luggage turned out to be a good thing when I got on the train from Manchester airport to Lancaster. While my train car was completely empty when I had gotten on, it was completely filled at the next stop, with lots of these people going to my final destination. If I had had all my crap, people wouldn’t have been able to sit. Not cool at all on an hour and a half train ride.
I got off the train, and being unable to make the pay phone work, just started randomly walking fortunately it was in the right direction, toward the town center. I saw a pub called the John O’Gaunt that was advertising live music that afternoon, I thought, “surely these people will have Ben’s phone number and I can call him and let him know I’m here”. Turns out I didn’t have to: he was sitting at the bar.
That evening his band, The Convulsions, me and a band called Red Gap from the Isle of Mann where playing the starting evening at the Park Hotel. Ben warned me in advance that it was gonna be a thin night, and it certainly was. So much so that two songs in I unplugged and drug my seat out to the middle of the room to play totally acoustic. Despite having brought all my “kit” as the English would say. It was the first of many lessons I was about to learn about how little gear I need to do a great show.
# Playing a show in Lancaster at 8:00 PM today at various venues http://feeds.artistdata.com... 11:00 AM Oct 10th from ArtistData
Four half-hour sets along St. Georges Quay.
1:30 – 2pm Maritime Museum
3:30 – 4pm George and Dragon Pub
8.30 – 9pm Wagon & Horses
10.30 – 11pm Three Mariners
# 4 show recap: 1. Good 2. Sucked 3. Great 4. FREAKING AMAZING! Turns out I can be funny in English too. Today, just 2 shows & an after party. 4:59 AM Oct 11th from web
My day started off in the Maritime museum in a room that looked like the inside of a ship (or if you prefer, the belly of a whale) I played a totally acoustic set to a bunch of folks, kids and adults and may have even made a young dulcimer convert (I always offer to let kids try out the instrument after a set).
After that it was on to the George and Dragon where I played for old men and their dogs. Literally, just a bunch of punters there for their Saturday afternoon pint during their Saturday afternoon dog walk. Nobody clapped. The only exception was a Greek woman and her child; she was using the festival to teach her son about different forms of music. Halfway through my first song, he turns to her and in a great stage whisper says, “is this folk music”
At the time I remember thinking “That’s a good question kid”
I walked back into town to grab a bite to eat and to catch Ben’s band the Convulsions play their brand of punchy-blues, I caught him during a set break which was just enough time for him to tell me that the courier had shown up with my luggage but since he was onstage he wasn’t able to leave it with anyone at the pub. He had been ion contact with the courier (who was currently in the north of England) and he would, he swore, set this. Somewhere in the middle of this mess I found a sim card for my phone and could finally make calls and set up text to twitter to restart the updates. Ben called to meet me for dinner and we had an amazing meal at the Robert Gillow, which took me straight to 6:30 the time I was supposed to start my next set. Ben offered to buy dinner if I cabbed to the next gig and I did. Lancaster has the absolutely fastest arriving cabs in the western hemisphere; I think I was in the venue by 6:34
As I was setting up to play, a man comes up to me and says that he had seen me at the Maritime Museum and had come to see me again, bringing all his friends in the process. Then Ben showed up with my luggage (which included my CDs). Sometimes omens are good things; it was a very good show.
Then I walked down the street (far more difficult given the amount of crap I now had. Fortunately a bunch of people getting out of their car and heading to my next show offered to help me carry my stuff (how this stuff happens to me, I have no idea, that’s the value of not worrying).
I arrived in enough time to see the Keelers finish their set of Sea Chanteys reminding me how much I actually do like them and how far removed from the “maritime music” I actually was. I set up and began to play and most people quieted down to listen except for one woman at the very first table (of course) who was talking very loudly. So loudly that another patron leaned over and asked her to keep it down. Afterwards I riffed with the loud talker about how she shouldn’t feel bad I’m usually that person. This little bit of riffing had the effect of focusing the room and from that point the audience and I were hand in glove. It was a dialogue between the audience, and me. I sent out the music and they would respond in kind, both sides pushing each other higher. It's sounds silly and new-agey to say this but it was more like a dance than performance (except had I actually been dancing someone would have gotten hurt). A great show, a great audience and once again the help of a red-headed angel (thank you Nami) to help me carry my crap to the after party.
# Playing a show in Lancaster at 1:00 PM today at various http://feeds.artistdata.com... 11:02 AM Oct 11th from ArtistData
Back again at the George and Dragon at 2pm and again at the 3 Mariners at 6pm
# had a perfect day yesterday. Not one great thing, just dozens of little ones that grew into a feeling of true bliss. Thank you Lancaster. 10:21 AM Oct 12th from web
So the first part of this perfect day was the George and Dragon, which I chose to walk to (I don’t remember why I thought that was a good idea) Unlike yesterday’s apathy fest, today the room was completely full. It was a quiet and responsive audience and if I had any doubts about why they were there, the place was completely empty ten minutes after my set was over. Well empty save for one person, a professor from the local university who had lived for a time in Chattanooga (!?!?) I ended up chatting with them until it was time for my evening show. It was a great intellectual conversation about everything from Mountain Top Removal Coal mining to performance poetry. And let me clarify “intellectual” most of my friends are very smart, and we have very intelligent conversations, but this was a conversation of the depth that I had gotten used to in Grad School and not really had since. I forgot how much I missed it.
I chose to keep the second show low-key playing next to the bar and talking, not selling shtick to the audience. It went as well as I could have and I walked to (yet another) after party, realizing as I did that I was felling an emotion I hadn’t felt in long, long time; the bliss of contentment. It was as near perfect a day as I think I’ll ever see. So I mean it when I say thank you Lancaster.
Next up, Manchester and the world.
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