August Tour begins! (and there's a lot of Ukulele in it!!!)

Upcoming Shows:

This Saturday and Sunday! Aug 3 - 4, 2013
Midwest Uke FestFolkcraft Instruments Store and Factory
Woodburn, IN

Tuesday, Aug 6, 2013 - $20 per workshop
A day of workshops in Marine City, MIMarine City, MI
Contact Tom Hoy if you'd like to attend.
(586) 747-4197  thoy999@yahoo.com
Thursday, Aug 8, 2013 - $25
A day of workshops in Findlay, OHCollege First Church of God
Findlay, OH
Contact Phyllis Schaffer if you'd like to attend. (419) 424‐0213
Friday, Aug 9, 2013 - 8pm
Taffy's of EatonEaton, OH

http://www.taffysofeaton.com/
LOVE this place!!!
Saturday, Aug 10, 2013 -
Second Saturday ClinicFolkcraft Instruments
22133 Main St.
Woodburn, IN

More Uke wondrousness! (is that a word?)

Friday, Aug 16, 2013 - 7:30 - $10.00
333 Coffeehouse351 DuBois Rd
Annapolis, MD

Saturday, Aug 17. 2013 - 7:30pm - Free
Taylors Books226 Capitol Street,
Charleston, WV
(304) 342-1461

There might be some stuff happening in central Ohio too. I'll be sure and let you know when that gets finalized.

So, I'm going to let you in on a little secret; August is the one month of the year where it's no fun to be in Chattanooga. As a result, I try and book myself out of town for as much of it as I can. Of course, I heard just yesterday that it's been reasonably mild this summer and that we can expect those mild, wonderful conditions to continue throughout the month of August. Well my loss is your gain (or something like that 'cuz I'm headed your way).

Although I have no intention of giving up the dulcimer anytime soon, and am, in fact, looking forward to playing some new clubs and festivals in the coming year. I have to say that attending last year's Midwest Uke Fest was a revelation. Richard Ash and company know how to put on a festival that is fun and informative, and even the threat of a tornado didn't stop us from having a blast whatever we were doing. I'm very excited to get back up there with Bing, Ehukai, Gerald Ross (no relation), and YOU!!!

After a week that will find me teaching some nice all-day workshops in Michigan and Northern Ohio, I'll be back at Folkcraft for the Second Saturday Clinic. I'll be teaching Uke and Maureen Sellers will be handling the Dulcimer stuff. The Second Saturday Clinic manages to cram workshops, jamming, and concerts all into a jam-packed afternoon that you can still get to and back in a single day, and all for just $20 dollars.

Finally, I'll be performing at a new (to me) coffeehouse. The 333 Coffeehouse in Annapolis, Maryland is a fun series that has, in the past, hosted some of my favorite performers. I don't know how they found me, but I'm happy to be a part of this lively concert series.

News on the new CD

Nothing too much to report here. Progress IS being made, but you gotta be in town to record so it's been catch as catch can. But, the hard work is getting done, The guest musicians are coming and going, and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I've been saying this for a while, but I'm pretty sure that when this tour ends we'll be kicking off the Kickstarter campaign.

Kickstarter, for those of you who don't know, is a "crowdfunding" site where "backers" (that's you) pledge to give some amount toward the completion of my financial goal, in exchange for some level of reward. This can be everything from a download of the album, to a physical CD, to Vinyl, T-shirts and even House Concerts. It's very Public Radio except that the pleas will come mostly via email and I won't be holding your programming hostage until I make a certain amount. Also, Kickstarter is an all or nothing thing: If I don't make my goal, nobody gets charged. This last bit is actually my favorite part—it means we're literally in this together.

This record has taken a long time to get off the ground, but that's because it is an ambitious and emotional undertaking. I'm excited for you guys to hear the results, and one of the levels on the Kickstarter campaign will be just that: the ability to hear mixes of things and the work in progress.

That's all the news I got for you, come see a show, take a workshop or just say hi.

C-ya out there.

--Br
www.butchross.com

"Now I know what a dulcimer is supposed to sound like" —Jake Shimabukuro

Spring Ohio Tour (and Indiana), plus info on how to get the NEW CD!!!

Upcoming Shows:

Wed. May 1, 2013 – 7pm. Free (eat something)
JK O'Donnell's
121 Wayne St. Fort Wayne, IN
www.jkodonnells.com
They like me, I like them; what else can I say? Oh yeah, GREAT FOOD!

Thurs. May 2, 2013 – 7pm  $20 per person
Prussia Valley Dulcimers Acoustic Music Shop
122 Main St. Waverly, OH
Workshop: Beatles tunes for Dulcimer
as I am only teaching one dulcimer workshop at COFF, this'll be another opportunity to learn some stuff.

Thurs. May 2, 2013 – 8:15 or so $8 (free to workshop attendees)
Prussia Valley Dulcimers Acoustic Music Shop
122 Main St. Waverly, OH
Mini-concert

Friday, May, 3rd Potluck and Jam @ Grandview Park – Free
We do this every year; contact Doug Snapp for more information (dmsnapp at wowway.com or phone at 313-6424). 

Friday, May 3 - 5 2013 - all day $10 to $30 depending.
Battelle-Darby Creek Metro Park - Central Ohio Folk Festival
I’ve lost count of how many years I’ve been doing this, but it’s a great festival, teaching a Uke workshop this year too!

Saturday, May 4, 2013 – 8pm (tip jar)
Taffy's of Eaton 
123 east main street Eaton, OH
My first time at this very cool and completely improbable venue just outside of Dayton, Ohio, you Cinci and Dayton folks TOTALLY need to check this place out.

Sunday, May 5, 2013 – 6pm - $3
Leo's Coffeehouse
@Zion United Church of Christ
2301 Indian Mound Ave.
Norwood, OH 45212

And a workshop at 5:30
Rock Rhythm Primer: Learn the basics of rhythm from the early days of Rock-n-Roll, some rhythms will be harder than others, but you'll be surprised by which is which.

Phew! That’s a busy long weekend. And I haven’t mentioned the school program I’ve managed to squeeze in the middle (thanks Laura!) 

I am procrastinator to beat the band, especially when it comes to the day-to-day minutia of my business (like writing this email). But I don’t get to do what I do, if you don’t know about it, so eventually it gets done. I suppose that the procrastination comes from (as Bing Futch has suggested) knowing the time commitment involved. I think he's right, I am a slow writer. This email is long, (not Moby Dick, but still) and took the better part of three hours to finish.

That’s not, however, why it’s taken FOUR YEARS to complete my most recent CD (I had wanted it to be out in 2011). It’s taken so long because, as I’m fond of saying “things take the time that they take”. Add to that, life, vocal issues and the fact that this is a major work that I’ve undertaken and you start to get a vague understanding of why it’s taken so long. But I am far enough along in the process that I can start to talk about the new CD (and take pre-orders).

It’s going to be called “People, Places, Things” and it will showcase my songwriting—something that I’ve not been able to do on the last two CDs. “Moonshiner’s Atlas” was a document of my learning to play my instrument, while “Shady Grove” was an exhibit of my dulcimer explorations. But this one—for better or worse—is my voice. These songs are both new and very old, and the whole project runs a thru line from my first CD (the out-of-print “Selected Works of Friction”) to earlier this afternoon. The songs are sweet, sad and funny (like life) and while my dulcimer chops are still amply showcased, it takes a back seat to the story being told. 

Along the way I’ve rounded up some friends to help me out: vocalists, guitarists, piano, cello, drums, violin and viola all make an appearance; great friends and greater musicians who generously donated their time and talent to make this thing a reality. It’s been a huge undertaking and is by far the most ambitious work I’ve done thus far.

And it’s not just a CD, there’s a whole other EP to go with it. I’ve decided to separate out some of the loop-based tunes I do into a collection I’m calling “Gone.” If you got to see the web cast I did in February 2012, you saw a lot of that material. This EP is NOT FOR SALE, but you can get it by either pre-ordering the CD (there will be sign up sheets available at the gigs) or by contributing to my Kickstarter campaign.

What is Kickstarter you ask? Well not to be too dramatic, but it’s how we make music for a living now. Kickstarter refers to itself, as “Kickstarter is a funding platform for creative projects. Everything from films, games, and music to art, design, and technology. Kickstarter is full of ambitious, innovative, and imaginative projects that are brought to life through the direct support of others.” But I call it a bet. A bet that you people, who—though your gracious support have allowed me to have a career for the last four years—will show as much faith in me as I have in myself. Does that seem a little dramatic? Well it is. But I have gotten as far as I have because of…and solely because of…your support. Kickstarter is a bet on that premise; if I don’t make my goal (probably in the neighborhood of $4,500.00) you don’t pay a penny. It’s all or nothing, and frankly, I’m fine with that.

There are different levels of giving, with different perks at each level. These include: exclusive T-shirts, a pdf of lyrics and track notes, Vinyl (that’s right I’m making a RECORD), online access to works in progress, and THE CASSETTE: a usb jump drive housed in an old cassette case with which you will receive every record I’ve put out (including “Friction” and the two {and eventually three} Christmas CDs) as well as EVERY CD I WILL EVER RECORD FOR AS LONG AS I CHOOSE TO DO THIS (which in all probability will be until I die). Plus house concerts and whatever else I can dream up. Also, even at the lowest levels of support you will be able to download the CD on the day it’s finished; no waiting on me to mail it to you.

I do all of this because it’s how records get made these days. If we’re being honest, it’s how records have always been made, at least at this level. This just cuts out the middleman. 

The Kickstarter campaign will kick off next week, and the details will be available on my Facebook page(s) as well as this here mailing list. 

Thank you for reading this far.

Those shows again.

Wed. May 1, 2013 – 7pm Free (eat something)
JK O'Donnell's
121 Wayne St. Fort Wayne, IN
www.jkodonnells.com

Thurs. May 2, 2013 – 7pm  $20 per person
Prussia Valley Dulcimers Acoustic Music Shop
122 Main St. Waverly, OH
Workshop: Beatles tunes for Dulcimer

Thurs. May 2, 2013 – 8:15 or so $8 (free to workshop attendees)
Prussia Valley Dulcimers Acoustic Music Shop
122 Main St. Waverly, OH
Mini-concert

Friday, May, 3rd Potluck and Jam @ Grandview Park – Free
Contact Doug Snapp for more information (dmsnapp at wowway.com or phone at 313-6424).

Friday, May 3 - 5 2013 - all day $10 to $30 depending.
Central Ohio Folk Festival
Battelle-Darby Creek Metro Park
Galloway, OH

Saturday, May 4, 2013 – 8pm (tip jar)
Taffy's of Eaton
123 east main street Eaton, OH

Sunday, May 5, 2013 – 6pm - $3
Leo's Coffeehouse
@Zion United Church of Christ
2301 Indian Mound Ave.
Norwood, OH 45212

And a workshop at 5:30: Rock Rhythm Primer

C-ya out there.

-Br
www.butchross.com

A Little Christmas Tune for Y'all

So a student of mine wanted to learn this song, and I decided to make a recording of it, so that they'd have something to follow along to while they were practicing at home. But of course, I can just bang out a simple run through, I have to do a whole full-blown arrangement. So, add this one to your Xmas IPod Playlist if you want. The music is below if you want that (it borrows heavily from Bing Futch's version) and there's a "Karaoke version" (backing tracks but no dulcimer) if you want to play along as well.

Merry Christmas!!!



Download the tune here (right click or ctrl click and "save link as")
Download the Karaoke version here (right click or ctrl click and "save link as")
Download the music (as a .pdf)
Download the music (as a .tef file)

And while it's too late for the USPS to reliably get you any of my Christmas CDs in time for the holiday, you can still download them. More importantly, you can listen to both CDs online for free!

To listen to the Dulcimer Christmas Card Click here.
To listen to the Dulcimer Christmas Card 2 Click here.

House Concerts in NJ and MD this weekend.

Saturday, September 8 - 7pm
Juke Joint House Concert Series
Denville, NJ
Cocktails at 5, show at 7
RSVP Mike @973 328-3723, or missycat10@verizon.net

Sunday, Sept. 9 - 4pm
House Concert at the home of Gary and Toya Koch
RSVP Toya at dulcimerjoy@gmail.com

Fall has fell but I'm no less busy than I was this summer. Got fun new stuff to tell you about, but it'll have to wait until next week. Meanwhile, If yr anywhere near these two places, I'd love to see you.

C-ya out there.

--Br

www.butchross.com

Spring Tour! OH, IN, PA, KY --A new Book!-- New Album Update

 It’s taken me literally all day to get this thing written but there’s a lot to tell. I’ve been out of sight, but doing anything but relaxing. Here’s what’s inside.

1. Spring Tour

2. New Beginner Book

3. Album Update

4. Help me get on Prairie Home Companion

1. SPRING TOUR

The spring tour still has some free dates in it and I’ll be in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana for most of it. If you’re in these states and would like to me to come to your club, for a workshop or a house concert, drop me a line at butch@butchross.com

This need not be a big event; a few folks and a place to stay can very often make the whole thing worth my while. Especially, if I’m only a couple of hours away (maybe too far for you to come to me, but nothing for me to come to you)

Friday, May 4th - 5ish Free but RSVP preferred.

Festival kickoff potluck at the shelter house in McKinley Field Park,
1661 Goodale Blvd., Columbus, OH 43212 (Grandview Heights).

Not really a gig or workshop, just a potluck/jam session/hangout with dulcimer folk. It’s a lot of fun. Contact Doug Snapp for more information. dougsnapp@gmail.com or 614 313-6424

May 4-6, 2012

Central Ohio Folk Festival

Battelle-Darby Creek Park - Columbus, OH

My sixth year at this great festival!

Check website for workshop times dates and costs.

http://cfms-inc.org/

Thursday, May 10, 2012 – 7pm Free (pass the hat)

Webster’s Bookstore Cafe

133 E Beaver Ave, State College PA 16801

http://www.webstersbookstorecafe.com/

814-272-1410

My first time here, if you got peeps in the area, send ‘em my way.

Friday, May 11, 2012 – 8pm $16.50 (Reservations Recommended)

Godfrey Daniels - Possibilities of the Mountain Dulcimer.

Alf Bashore opens

7 E. 4th St. Bethlehem, PA  18015-1601  

http://www.godfreydaniels.org/

610-867-2390

Another first, one for the bucket list, tell your friends and carpool!

May 12, 2012 – EARLY SHOW! 3pm

Lili's Coffee Shop 

3138 Dobson Street

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (United States) 15219

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lili-CoffeeShop/135261526501378

412.682.3600

Co-bill w/Panther Hollow String Band (pantherhollowstringband.wordpress.com)

May 13, 2012 – 5:30pm

Dulcimer Workshop

Zion United Church of Christ

2332 Sherwood Lane, Norwood, Ohio (United States) 45212

May 13, 2012 – 7pm Leo Coffeehouse

Zion United Church of Christ

2332 Sherwood Lane, Norwood, Ohio (United States) 45212

May 16, 2012 – 7pm Free

J.K. O'Donnell's

121 W. Wayne Street

Fort Wayne, Indiana (United States) 46802

I’d say come for the food anyway, that I’ll be there is just a bonus.

May 19, 2012 – A day of FREE Dulcimer Workshops at the Intergenerational Center

214 W. Jefferson St. Berea, KY, 40403

9:30 – 11am Workshop I – Rhythms Beyond 4/4 (explore waltzes, hornpipes, jigs and more) All levels encouraged.

11-1 lunch on your own.

1 – 2pm Post lunch Q&A; ask me your dulcimer questions!

2 – 3:30pm Workshop II ­– Different levels playing together. Arrangements so folks of all levels can play the same songs together. All levels encouraged.

Contact Adrian at Madison.dulcimers@gmail.com or Nancy 859 624-2721

May 19, 2012 - 6:30pm $20 suggested donation

Richmond, KY

House Concert at the home of Tommy and Nancy Adams

Contact Nancy Adams to RSVP: 859 624-2721

THIS SHOW WILL LIKELY SELL OUT!

And still to come…

May 26, 2012 workshops and concert at The Pickin’ Porch

Wood-n-Strings Dulcimer Shop - Townsend, TN

May 27, 2012 - The Acoustic Coffeehouse in Johnson City, TN

Jun 17-24, 2012 - Kentucky Music Week in Bardstown, KY

(New location and a new hotel, PLUS Jerry Rockwell and Joellen Lapidus will be there)

2. New beginner’s book: All The Strings, All The Time

Inspired by Danny Shepherd’s excellent “Mountain Dulcimer for Children (and the young at heart),” this is a book of 21 well-known traditional tunes, arranged in order of difficulty from super easy to not-terribly-hard-at-all. It’s a simple, but thorough way to get a solid start playing the mountain dulcimer.

3. Album update:

So, it seems that I’ve been in the beginning stages of recording this record for over a year now, but finally there is some light at the end of the tunnel. Demos are beginning to get to the various musicians who will be playing on the record, and I’m working out arrangements with new instruments (bass drum, cello, Edison Wax Cylinders) as well as new techniques (like drone and noter!) that I’m really excited about. I’m sure I’ve said this before, but musically it will be closer to Moonshiner’s Atlas, with more original tunes and lots of singing (tho’ I just wrote a tune today that would be a great fit).

To fund this thing I’m planning on selling pre-release CDs like I did with Shady Grove, but I’m also kicking around the idea of a Kickstarter campaign. Kickstarter is a web site where they collect donations for various projects. Each project has a fiscal goal, and you’re not charged until the end of the donation period (usually 30 days) AND when I’ve made the stated goal. I’d love to know what y’all think about that idea.

In any case, stay tuned here. Or—if you do these things—“Like” me on Facebook, as I’ll be posting new demos there as well. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Butch-Ross/55431615966

4. Help me get on Prairie Home Companion

A fan of mine started this Facebook page, kind of an online petition; to have me on Garrison Keilor’s long running and much loved show. I think it’s a great idea, and would be a real hoot if I got to do it. Right now there are 416 “likes” which is impressive, but not nearly enough to make the folks at PHC take notice. So, if you Facebook, go here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-want-Butch-Ross-on-Prairie-Home-Companion/132568563454384  and “like” it. And Hurry! Rumor has it that Garrison may retire soon, and I don’t think I’ll be able to keep a straight face if the “News from Lake Woebegone” is read by Ryan Seacrest.

Okay that’s all the news I got. Thanks for reading this far.

C-ya Out there

-Br

Spring Thaw Fling this weekend, with DOUG BERCH!!!! and web cast is now up online

Happy Leap Day to you!

Spring Thaw Fling - with Butch Ross and Doug Berch!
Charles F. Alley Memorial Park (Geneva Hills)
2805 Old Logan Road
Lancaster, OH 43130
United States
740-243-4210
http://www.genevahills.com/directions/

Teaching two workshops
Beyond Beginner and up - I Don't Improvise, I Just Make Stuff Up: Using a series of games and exercises we'll learn how to free up inhibitions and start improvising. Make your favorite tunes better, keep yourself interested in lengthy jams and maybe eventually create your own arrangements or tunes!

Intermediate/Advanced - Contemporary Rhythm Workshop.
Ready to graduate from Bum Ditty? Learn rhythmic forms from genres such as jazz, rock and world music. learn to swing and shuffle, syncopate and and play poly-rhythms that breath new life in to old war horses.

The flyer's up on my facebook page if you need more info (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150636879369712&set=a.10150116331884712.296967.768934711&type=1&theater)

Well this has got to be fun. An chance to jam and hang out with Doug Berch is time well spent. Oh and he's pretty good on them dulcimers of his.

Also, the web cast is now available for viewing online at http://vimeo.com/37430256 in shockingly vivid HD (well, shocking to me anyway) there's a little tech glitch with the sound at 4:11 that you need to be prepared for (it's a bad cable) but overall I think Phillip Luckey did a really great job of it.

The tunes on it are ones I've been kicking around for a while, like "Brothers on a Hotel Bed" but also some old folk songs and some really old original tunes, including one i wrote for a band I was in in College. It's kind of amazing to me that with a loop pedal and a mountain dulcimer I can recreate an arrangement that two guitar and a drummer did all those years ago.

Of course, we weren't as good them. :-)

Anyway, if you want to watch it (or watch it again) it's here: http://vimeo.com/37430256

No word on when (or if) the EP will be done, but I got plenty of ideas to kick around.

So again this weekend...

Spring Thaw Fling - with Butch Ross and Doug Berch!
Charles F. Alley Memorial Park (Geneva Hills)
2805 Old Logan Road
Lancaster, OH 43130
United States
740-243-4210
http://www.genevahills.com/directions/

Oh, I just saw as I was typing this that Davy Jones died. Too bad, I liked him.

C-ya out there.

--Br
www.butchross.com

Chattanooga show this weekend with a WEBCAST, New EP preview... Plus New Video online.

Friday, Feb 24th - 8:30pm
Market Street Tavern
850 Market St.
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 634-0260
http://www.marketstreettavern.com/ (site is under construction)

I'm much later getting this out than I would have liked, but a lot of
things have come together at the last minute, and I wanted to get them
all nailed down before I announced them.

This Friday (that's tomorrow for most of you) I'll be doing something
that I haven't done in Chattanooga for quite some time...Play a show.

No bells no whistles, no scratch my back, no Christmas spectacular, no
tributes to Springsteen, or Dylan or Emmit Rhodes. Just me doing what
i do when I'm not in my hometown. I'll be previewing a bunch (if not
all) of the songs in contention for my new EP "Gone"

Oh and it's gonna be webcast. So maybe there is a bell or whistle after all.

Details to follow probably tomorrow, but the long and the short of it,
you will be able to watch on my facebook page (the band page, not the
personal page) and even if you can't make it live there will be video
posted after the fact.

But me playing to an empty room and having that broadcast across the
many tubes of the interwebs is not my idea of a good time. So, if you
can make it, I'd love to see ya there. If you're too far away, there's
always facebook.

In other news, I've posted a real simple video for the song Pole
Position from my 2009 album "A Long Way From Shady Grove" it features
the old video game Pole Position (natch), played by someone who was
way better at that game than I was. It's not a great video, but
especially useful as an office time-waster. You can watch it here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEVQn1TST7M

Okay, that's all, I'll C-ya tomorrow (one way or another).

--Br

Christmas tour starts tomorrow and free stuff for you

*Workshops Tomorrow*
Saturday, December 17th: Three workshops with Butch Ross at the Snapp's
residence (lunch provided) call: 614-313-6424 to RSVP

-10:30 am till 11:45: "Here Comes Jingle Bells" - Novice on up. This
combines a very nice version of "Jingle Bells" that moves right into "Here
Comes Santa Claus."

-1:15 to 2:30: Explore D-F#-A Tuning (1-3-5 Tuning) with Merv Rowley's
Version of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" in the D-F#-A Tuning. We'll also
work on a 1-3-5 version of Vince Guaraldi's "Christmastime is Here"--you
all know it from the Peanuts Christmas Special - Intermediate on up.

-3:00 to 4:15: Fiddle Tunes--work on two popular old time tunes -
Intermediate on up.

Workshops are $20 per workshop--$50 total if you do all three.

*Shows*
Sat. Dec 17, 2011—7pm
Columbus, OH @ Guitar House Workshop
1423 Chambers Road (Grandview Heights)
$10 Suggested donation.
CALL (614) 488-2477 TO RESERVE THIS SHOW WILL LIKELY SELL OUT!

Wed. Dec 21, 2011
J.K. O'Donnell's
121 West Wayne Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802-2503
(260) 420-5563

Thurs. Dec. 22, 2011 -- 7pm
House Concert at the home of Steve and Linda Gwinn
call Linda at: 440-328-7458 to RSVP
THIS ONE TOO MAY SELL OUT!

I just wanted to drop you a quick line to remind you about the Christmas
tour, the three workshops tomorrow and to give something away.

The CDs
I've fized the webpage you can now order multiple quantities. And while it
may be unrealistic to think that you can get the card before Christmas
(ESPECIALLY in Chattanooga where the USPS has been a major let down) I will
have plenty with me at the shows.

The Free Stuff
Also remember that you can listen to the whole CD over and over again, for
free, from the website. www.butchross.com

The first one is also still up and available www.butchross.com/xmas.html

More Free Stuff
Last year I recorded an opening set I did at a local venue, I opened for a
the spoof Bluegrass band "the Cleverlys" and altho' I was sick as a dog
that evening, the audience really enjoyed it. I also had the chance to get
two good recordings both from the soundboard and out in the audience. I've
made it available on the members page (butchross.com/members.html) simply
right-click and "save as" (it's a 34MB zip file). While it doesn't contain
any rarities (like the Year in Review did) it does contain strong
performances of some of my biggest hits (and bits). I'm calking it
"Attaboy" (you'll see why).

The Track List
1. Wild Mountain Thyme/Cold Frosty Morning
2. folksongs intro
3. Folksongs
4. Sweet Spotted Pony
5. clever/stupid
6. Stairway to Pokerface
7. Pop Culture -vs- Folk Culture
8. Eleanor Rigby
9. 1952 vincent Black Lightening
10. Two good reasons to get on my mailing list
11. Cluck Ol’ Hen (or 25 or 6 to 4)

There will not be a physical copy made available, and I will not take any
money for this. I get to do what I do because of all of you out there
making it possible. This a tiny, tiny way to say thank you.

That's it for me, I hope the holidays are treating you well, and that 2012
is everything you hoped it would be (won't be for me, I'm still waiting on
that hovercar).

Merry Christmas and have a safe and happy New Year!

--Br
www.butchross.com

*Workshops Tomorrow*
Saturday, December 17th: Three workshops with Butch Ross at the Snapp's
residence (lunch provided) call: 614-313-6424 to RSVP

-10:30 am till 11:45: "Here Comes Jingle Bells" - Novice on up. This
combines a very nice version of "Jingle Bells" that moves right into "Here
Comes Santa Claus."

-1:15 to 2:30: Explore D-F#-A Tuning (1-3-5 Tuning) with Merv Rowley's
Version of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" in the D-F#-A Tuning. We'll also
work on a 1-3-5 version of Vince Guaraldi's "Christmastime is Here"--you
all know it from the Peanuts Christmas Special - Intermediate on up.

-3:00 to 4:15: Fiddle Tunes--work on two popular old time tunes -
Intermediate on up.

Workshops are $20 per workshop--$50 total if you do all three.

*Shows*
Sat. Dec 17, 2011—7pm
Columbus, OH @ Guitar House Workshop
1423 Chambers Road (Grandview Heights)
$10 Suggested donation.
CALL (614) 488-2477 TO RESERVE THIS SHOW WILL LIKELY SELL OUT!

Wed. Dec 21, 2011
J.K. O'Donnell's
121 West Wayne Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802-2503
(260) 420-5563

Thurs. Dec. 22, 2011 -- 7pm
House Concert at the home of Steve and Linda Gwinn
call Linda at: 440-328-7458 to RSVP
THIS ONE TOO MAY SELL OUT!

Christmas tour starts this weekend and there's a NEW Christmas Album

*Workshops
*Saturday, December 17th: Three workshops with Butch Ross at the Snapp's
residence (lunch provided) call: 614-313-6424 to RSVP
-10:30 am till 11:45: "Here Comes Jingle Bells" - Novice on up. This
combines a very nice version of "Jingle Bells" that moves right into "Here
Comes Santa Claus."
-1:15 to 2:30: Explore D-F#-A Tuning (1-3-5 Tuning) with Merv Rowley's
Version of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" in the D-F#-A Tuning. We'll also
work on a 1-3-5 version of Vince Guaraldi's "Christmastime is Here"--you
all know it from the Peanuts Christmas Special - Intermediate on up.
-3:00 to 4:15: Fiddle Tunes--work on two popular old time tunes -
Intermediate on up.

Workshops are $20 per workshop--$50 total if you do all three.
*
Shows*
Sat. Dec 17, 2011—7pm
Columbus, OH @ Guitar House Workshop
1423 Chambers Road (Grandview Heights)
$10 Suggested donation.

Wed. Dec 21, 2011
J.K. O'Donnell's
121 West Wayne Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802-2503
(260) 420-5563

Thurs. Dec. 22, 2011 -- 7pm
House Concert at the home of Steve and Linda Gwinn
call Linda at: 440-328-7458 to RSVP

Happy Green Monday to ya (at least for another 20 minutes) I've been out of
the loop for some time now, feverishly working away at my new Christmas
Card CD. Been meaning to do this for a while, but then computer issues kept
me from being able to record until mid November.* So once I got back on
track I put my nose to th grindstone and feverishly cranked this baby
out.** The Dulcimer Christmas Card 2 is 12 new (loosely-defined)
Christmas/Winter songs recorded for dulcimer and other instruments by yours
truly, with a little help form some of my very remarkable friends.

Here's the tracks.


1. O Come Emanuel/ Cold Frosty Morning
2. Angels We Have Heard on High (funky version)
3. Gettin' Ready for Christmas Day (Paul Simon)
4. Merry Christmas From The Family (Robert Earl Keen)
5. Good king Wenceslas (New "dance" version featuring Bing Futch)
6. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies (no really)
7. Little Jack Frost (Kate Rusby) vocals by the amazing Hayley Graham
8. Let There Be Peace on Earth
9. Judy Garland/White Christmas (Pete Chambers and Bing Crosby
respectively)
10. Christmastime is Here (Vince Guaraldi)
11. The Ballad of Larry (Jonathan Byrd)
12. Happy Xmas (War is Over) (John Lennon) featuring the Tremont
Tabernacle Choir


As before you can listen to the whole thing online, simply by going to
Butch Ross dot com. It's right there on the front page, with a little music
player so you can listen to the tracks as many times as you'd like for
free. NEW this year, is the option of downloading the songs (and liner
notes) directly from the site.

Prices for the Dulcimer Christmas Card are
$12 for the card
$15 for a jewel-boxed CD
$10 for a download

And don't forget the first Christmas Card CD is still available. Check it
out here: http://butchross.com/xmas.html

Of course the Holy Holiday is rapidly bearing down upon us, and the USPS
has only promised to be less efficient than before. So, I can ONLY
guarantee pre-Xmas delivery on items ordered before December 15th.

The CDs will be available at the shows as well. Those shows and workshops
again...

*Workshops
*Saturday, December 17th: Three workshops with Butch Ross at the Snapp's
residence (lunch provided) call: 614-313-6424 to RSVP
-10:30 am till 11:45: "Here Comes Jingle Bells" - Novice on up. This
combines a very nice version of "Jingle Bells" that moves right into "Here
Comes Santa Claus."
-1:15 to 2:30: Explore D-F#-A Tuning (1-3-5 Tuning) with Merv Rowley's
Version of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" in the D-F#-A Tuning. We'll also
work on a 1-3-5 version of Vince Guaraldi's "Christmastime is Here"--you
all know it from the Peanuts Christmas Special - Intermediate on up.
-3:00 to 4:15: Fiddle Tunes--work on two popular old time tunes -
Intermediate on up.

Workshops are $20 per workshop--$50 total if you do all three.
*
Shows*
Sat. Dec 17, 2011—7pm
Columbus, OH @ Guitar House Workshop
1423 Chambers Road (Grandview Heights)
$10 Suggested donation.

Wed. Dec 21, 2011
J.K. O'Donnell's
121 West Wayne Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802-2503
(260) 420-5563

Thurs. Dec. 22, 2011 -- 7pm
House Concert at the home of Steve and Linda Gwinn
call Linda at: 440-328-7458 to RSVP

Merry Christmas, Kwanza, Chanukah, Ramadan, Life Day, Festivus or however
you choose to celebrate the winter solstice. Thank you for making 2011 a
great year for me, and please accept my best wishes for a fantastic 2012


--Br
www.butchross.com

"Now I know what a dulcimer is supposed to sound like" —Jake Shimabukuro

Amplifying the Dulcimer

A couple of years ago, I wrote and article on amplification for The Dulcimer Players News. Since there's been some talk about this on the Everythingdulcimer forum, i thought I'd repost it here: http://butchross.com/pdf/amplification.pdf

Philly house concert and NJ workshop this weekend and a new book.

April 9th, 8pm - $15
XFS House Concert
Ambler, PA
RSVP via web site
http://www.xfsmusic.org/

Sunday, April 10th - see below
Workshops at Pinelands Folk Music Center
31 White St. (in Mill Race Village)
Mt. Holly, NJ 08060
609.518.7600

12:30 to 2pm - The Right Stuff: A fun rhythm primer for beginners on up.
3pm to 4:30 - If You Like One Tune, Yu'll Like 'em Both: Learn to
recognize recurring patterns in old-time tunes and use them to help
you quickly learn new tunes.

$15 for each workshop or $25 for both.

On my way back to the great northeast for the first of two rounds in
the region. On the first round I'm flying Southwest, who have begun
offering complimentary sunblock on domestic flights (too soon?)
Anyway, this weekend, I'll be playing a house concert in Ambler, PA
for the XFS (Extreme Folk Scene) Who, I have to say, despite what
their name may imply, are really all about what folk music is really
all about. Anyway, a great bunch of folks, and Steve Quelet, a
songwriting buddy from a million years ago is opening the show. He's
great! get there early. Philly Folk, this is as close to the City of
"Yo" as I'll be for a while so make the trek (I think it's the R5).

The next day, I'm headed to NJ to Rich Carty's Pinelands Folk Music
Center. There I'll be teaching two workshops, one on rhythm, and one
on how learn old-time tunes quickly and effectively. The workshops are
$15 a piece or both for $25. Hope to see you there.

Finally, thanks to all of you who came to OVG up in Indianapolis, yes
it was cold. But it was wonderful. For me (and I've said this before)
VG is the symbolic end of winter and the beginning of the festival
season. So I'm glad it happened.

For those of you who weren't there, you might be interested to know
that I have a new book, called "The Beatletudes" it's seven of my
favorite Beatle tunes arranged for solo dulcimer, it is NOT any of the
ones on Neal Hellman's excellent Beatles book. In addition, it comes
with a CD of the tunes, But these are NOT instructional recordings,
These are full blown arrangements, including an alternate take of
"Eleanor Rigby" from the Shady Grove sessions. This is a full-on new
EP, that I will release as a solo recording, but probably only as a
fundraiser for the oft-mentioned new CD. So for right now this is the
only way to get it. It's on the merchandise page.
butchross.com/stuff.html I hope to videotape me doing these songs as
well, more on that as it develops.

That's it for now, I got more stuff in the works, but more on that
when I talk to you about my return to the Minstrel Coffeehouse in
Northern NJ in two weeks.

C-ya out there.
--Br
www.butchross.com

Ukulele

Some of the new tunes haven't been laying out on the dulcimer very well. This is actually been an ongoing issue since I started to play dulcimer. It's one of the reasons why there are so many covers on Moonshiner's Atlas for whatever reason it's been far easier to recreate or adapt, than it has been to create. I think this is why one song, called Weathervane has been in contention for this album since I first wrote it (which was like 2004): it's the first time that a lick on the instrument inspired lyrics (that's how I've written in the past). Anyway, although I've worked out dulcimer versions of all the tunes I'm kicking around, there are three that just don't sound right. Normally, that would just mean those songs weren't going on the record. But one of the tunes that's causing me a lot of consternation is a new one called Be Somebody (Do the work), It's what my old roommate used to call "the single" (my old roommate is also a songwriter and we used to throw a lot of ideas back and forth to each other). It's a euphemism, since realistically hoping for airplay has been a pipe dream since Clinton initiated the telecommunications act of 1997 (the so-called "information superhighway" that deregulated radio and allowed Clear Channel to buy them all). But it still means to us, that song that is gonna make you want to buy the album. On Moonshiner's it was folk songs and 52 Vincent, on Shady Grove it was Eleanor Rigby and (surprisingly) Birdwatching. A single doesn't necessarily mean the "best" song on the record, just the one that compels you to buy the record. If you think of albums as collections of songs that tell a story (and I do) the single is the sizzle to the steak.

I think that that song is Be Somebody, but it hasn't been working out as a dulcimer tune. So, as I've been talking with Folkcraft about one they're developing anyway, I figured maybe I'd try one out. I'll let you know how it goes.

Day Two.

Obviously I'm not keeping this diary as a day to day thing. In part because I'm not recording everyday. In fact I feel as though I'm still demoing...I am still demoing. It's just that the line between demo and recording is going to be ever blurring. Last time I ended up recording what I thought were demo's only to have the whole thing be done in Garageband (A recording program that comes with the Mac). To that end I bought a new Mac Mini specifically to have a dedicated computer for recording. Then my laptop bit the dust again, and it's become clear that as much as I would like to separate work and creative computers I can't do that yet. And anyway, what does that mean? Anyway, so that's been the plan, But I've been slow on getting a dedicated space together and the new computer has been a source of some consternation. The Zoom I used before and the new version of Garageband do not like to play well together, an issue that will have to be resolved before I can move forward full time, which is what I'm playing on doing come March 1st, which was yesterday...You following me?

Something that I've noticed is that the recording of this album and the writing have become inseparable. Used to be I'd write a bunch of songs on guitar, play 'em out some and then go add other instruments to it. Here I've been using the recording process on a couple of tunes, New Used Car, and Be Somebody. I spent way too much time working on the intro to Angry Anymore as I see it as the intro to the album. But it starts with this old scratchy recording, Just like Shady Grove did, just like the intro to Old Home Place on Moonshiner did (and how long did we spend on that?!?!). And just like those, I've always heard this tune coming out of an old machine, preferably from an Edison wax cylinder. The problem with this genius idea is that occasionally people will come up and tell me that they're something wrong with their CD, a woman in Florida even asked for her money back (WTF!) So now I'm actually torn between art and commerce. Maybe I should put a sticker on the front that says "the first 30 seconds of this CD is supposed to sound like shit."

Day One (or the story so far)

I just re-read Ed O'Brien's diary from recording "Kid A" and (probably just because I'm a big fan) found it fascinating reading. I said to myself, I' think I'll do the same thing once I start recording…except I already have.

It's a bit like they said in the movie Inception. You don't remember how a dream starts, only that you've been in it for a while. Same with recording for me I guess.

One of the things I find interesting is that when Radiohead was recording Kid A, they took evenings and weekends off. You know…like a job. I guess that's 'cause it is.

So here's the story so far: A few weeks ago I wrote down a bunch of tunes that I wanted to record, separated into four categories: original songs, original instrumentals, covers and traditional tunes. Right now it's heavily skewed towards originals, so I've been starting there. I spent a day (and blew my voice out) recording a bunch of the originals to have in the car with me, but thus far that hasn't quite worked out. Some of the tunes are brand new, written in the last couple of months. Well others I've been picking at for years. Some have changed meaning as the context of my life has changed…I'm not saying which ones. Got to be a bit of an enigma. I think I know how this record will start, and kinda what it will be about. But I have NO IDEA what it will sound like when it's finished. This starting set of tunes is actually pretty bluegrass-sounding, ironic since one of the reasons I put "Shady Grove" last on the last CD was to be a launching pad for something completely different. I haven't ruled out the idea of having the record remixed, perhaps as two CDs. This is the best part, when it's all possibility. The rest is actual work.

Songs so far:
Originals:
1. Where's the damned river when you need it
2. Angry Anymore
3. New, Used Car
4. Heavy Metal Farmer's Sons (aka the ballad of Travis Kilgore)
5. A Long Way from Settling Down
6. Before the Flood
7. Weathervane
8. Brown Liquor
9. Down Where the Mountain Used to Stand
10. Shenandoah
11. Be Somebody (Do the Work)
12. What Have You Learned
13. All I Need is You
14. Betty/The Path of Least Resistance
15. Weatherman/Tornado Girl

Instrumentals/Traditional or Both
1. Little Liza Jane
2. Prototype
3. Cluck O'l Hen
4. Old Aunt Jenny with her Nightcap On
5. Elzic's Farewell (Jay Ungar)

Covers
1. Brand New 1964 Dodge (Greg Brown)
2. Brothers on a Hotel Bed (Death Cab for Cutie)
3. Here Comes the Flood (Peter Gabriel)
4. Shenandoah (Anais Mitchell)
5. Beeswing (Richard Thompson)
6. Blackout (The Affordable Floors)
7. The Pig (Todd Young)
8. Walk Beside Me (Tim O'Brien)
9. Little Liza Jane (Dave Carter)
10. Birches (Bill Morrissey)

No way is this a definitive list or a double-album, I'll be sure to drop a lot of these (and add a few back too), and don't be surprised if I end up writing a few new ones as well.

writing you from Florida about shows next week.

Mon. Jan 31st, 2011 8:00pm
Luna Star Cafe
775 N. 125th St.
North Miami, Fl
305·799·7123
www.lunastarcafe.com/
Pretty sure that they're opening Monday special for this show.

Thurs Feb 3, 2011. 8:00 Concert. 7:30 doors.
House Concert at the home of Gloria Holloway
Tampa, FL (Westshore/Gandy Area)
RSVP required.
Info/RSVP, contact: Gloria Holloway
gsholloway@email.com -- tell her you're on my mailing list.
813.837.6572

The Saturday house concert in Lakeland is SOLD OUT! Thank you!!!

I'm on my way to 2nd Annual Key West Gathering, but i wanted to remind you all that I'll be playing some other shows in Florida next week.

Monday, I'll be back in Miami at the Luna Street Cafe, this wonderful little place was recently voted best coffee house, best open mic, best beer selection and it's owned and run by a former chef. They're usually closed on Mondays, but I'm pretty sure Alexis is opening special just for me. It's that kind of place.

Thursday, I'll be making my first appearance in Tampa at the home of Gloria Holloway. She has a house concert series and has graciously offered to host me and my many dulcimers for the night. If you're in the area you should come out!

That's all for now.

C-ya out there.

-Br

Chattanooga Shows and Florida House Concerts.

*Chattanooga Shows
*Friday, Jan 21st
Tremont Tavern
Tremont and Hixon Pike
Chattanooga, TN

The Camp House
1427 Williams Street
Chattanooga, TN 37408
Phone: 423.702.8081
thecamphouse.com
Sitting in on Steve Brehm's CD release party.

House Concerts
Thurs Feb 3, 2011. 8:00 Concert. 7:30 doors.
House Concert at the home of Gloria Holloway
Tampa, FL (Westshore/Gandy Area)
RSVP required.
Info/RSVP, contact: Gloria Holloway
gsholloway at email.com -- tell her you're on my mailing list.
813.837.6572

Date: Saturday, 2/5/11
House Concert in Lakeland, Florida
Social: 6:30p Music: 7:30-9p
Phone: 863.640.1763
Email: Becky_Abel at msn.com -- tell her you're on my mailing list.
Coffee and light snacks will be served between 6:30 and 7:30.

Honestly, I need to either have someone start writing these for me, or
sending them out once a week, 'cuz suddenly there's lots to talk about. Even
if you're not in Chattanooga or Florida, please read (or skim) this as my
scatterbrain is putting all sorts of info in all sorts of places.


*Friday at the Tremont Tavern*
I've come to believe that creativity works on a bio-rhythm, and right now I
must be peaking, in the first four hours of being awake today I've come up
with about four different song/cover ideas. as well as a bunch of things I
want to try out live. The Tremont is a great opportunity to try this stuff
out. There's a lot of stuff that's gonna be on the next record that's gonna
get it's first shake this weekend. Get there early I'm gonna start around
9:30 (I was gonna say nine, and I intend to, but I was being honest).

Also, I'm still figuring out HOW I'm gonna do this, but I'm hoping to be
able to release early versions of the tunes I'm considering for the next CD.
Probably via Reverbnation. More info as it develops.

*
Saturday at the Camp House: Steve Brehm's CD release party.*
Ok this isn't my gig, I'm only sitting in on two songs, but it's an event
worth plugging. Steve Brehm is an awesome acoustic guitarist, he played on
"Shady Grove" (particularly the intro to 'Liza Jane') He's finally released
his first solo CD and has asked me to sit in with him on two songs, I'm
honored to do so. If you're around you should check it out. You can learn
more here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Steve-Brehm/178937278799725?v=info

*About The House Concerts*
I'm posting these early because both of these series have built-in audiences
and cap at about 25 people. While I'm very much looking forward to these two
shows, I'd love to see some dulcimer folks out there are well. If you've
never been to one, a house concert is one of the best ways to see live
music. It's not a noisy bar, cover charges, drink minimums and parking are
not an issue. I get to play to a friendly listening environment and you get
to actually hear what the heck it is that i do.

And I need your help part 1
Those of you with an eye for detail will notice that there is a big open
Friday night, I'd really prefer to be working that night in the St.
Petersburg/Tampa (or even Orlando). This could be anything from a small
workshop to a coffeehouse to a house concert of your own (they're not hard
to do and I can walk you through the process) just two or three people in
the right circumstance can make this worthwhile for everyone involved. If
you want to help, email me privately at butch[at]butchross[dot]com put
"Friday the 4th" in the subject line.

And I need your help part 2
I'm looking for 5 or 6 ADVANCED players (preferably with tabledit) to play
through the tabs I've done for "the Moonshiner's Atlas." I need folks to
tell me if there are mistakes, if it's playable and decipherable (i.e. can
you tell what I was attempting to do). The goal is to get the 14 songs
tabbed out in a way that is true to the CD while still staying within the
Intermediate range. Some tunes will be way beyond that, but the lion's share
will not.

I'm looking for 5 or 6 people so that each of you will only have to review
one or two tabs. If possible, I'd like to get this together this week (crazy
I know). It helps A LOT if you are familiar with the "Moonshiner's Atlas"
CD, but will make the CD available online for you to listen and compare
notes to.Update, I am still looking for folks, but it ain't gonna be done in January

If you're interested email me butch[at]butchross[dot]com and put "Moonshiner
Tab" in the subject line.

For your trouble, I'll mail you a copy of the book (and CD if necessary)
once it comes out.


Whew!!! Okay, that's all for this week.

Those shows again

Friday, Jan 21st
Tremont Tavern
Tremont and Hixon Pike
Chattanooga, TN

The Camp House
1427 Williams Street
Chattanooga, TN 37408
Phone: 423.702.8081
thecamphouse.com
Sitting in on Steve Brehm's CD release party.

House Concerts
Thurs Feb 3, 2011. 8:00 Concert. 7:30 doors.
House Concert at the home of Gloria Holloway
Tampa, FL (Westshore/Gandy Area)
RSVP required.
Info/RSVP, contact: Gloria Holloway
gsholloway at email.com -- tell her you're on my mailing list.
813.837.6572

Date: Saturday, 2/5/11
House Concert in Lakeland, Florida
Social: 6:30p Music: 7:30-9p
Phone: 863.640.1763
Email: Becky_Abel at msn.com -- tell her you're on my mailing list.
Coffee and light snacks will be served between 6:30 and 7:30.

C-ya out there.

--Br
www.butchross.com

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.

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

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.

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