Happy New Year! For some of us, it’s a reason to purchase a new calendar. For others, it’s a renewal, regeneration, rebirth- a time for a new start. For others, it’s not much of anything…
We tried to sing, but every time we reached the chorus, we got teary and couldn’t finish… So, we did the next best thing…
Our small token gift to you….
After a week’s worth of hard work, it’s time for some fun… We’re going to Memorial Hall on Friday evening, to see Red Molly…
If you are in our area, come join us. Should be a fun time!!!
A quote from the Charlotte’s Web site…
“Friday November 4 fulfills a 5 year path of mine. Red Molly captivated my attention like the whippoorwill’s song, dancing on the laughter out of a hotel room hosting a guerrilla showcase at the N.E.R.F.A. (North East Region Folk Alliance), conference in the Berkshires in New York in November 2006. Red Molly is three strikingly beautiful women, each a master of her instrument and whose harmonies carry me away to a parlor decorated in lace at an estate in Boston and then away south to a back porch in the mountains in Appalachian country.”
Advance tickets now available at Rockford Area Arts Council, 713 E. State 815 963-6765; both Postal Shoppe locations:Edgebrook Center, 815 397-7301 and 2205 S. Perryville, 815 484-0940 and JustGoods, 201 7th St, 815 965-8903; and in Beloit: Nikki’s Cafe, 604 Pleasant, 608 207-3101; or by mail: send a check and S.A.S.E. to Charlotte’s Web P.O. Box 765 Rockford, IL 61105-0765. Please indicate artist or performance date on check.
Hi
So, last Saturday was the monthly bluegrass jam in Poplar Grove. Not a bad day, all in all. We’ve all played better, and worse. Just an even kinda day. As we got there, and found a table to have lunch at, and to put our stuff, I saw a couple behind us. They were in the process of ordering off the menu. So, always being the chatty type, I offered some choices to eat. We talked for a second, then each on to their day in The Grove. Us playing, them, hopefully, enjoying. We played an hour or so later, then had lunch, and listened to the music too. We left around 4, and the couple were still there. End of the day at the jam for us.
Flash to the grocery store the next morning… That would be Sunday… I am picking up some items as Maggie is off somewhere else, getting the things on her part of the list. A couple comes up to me, and asks if I was at the jam yesterday. Yup, it was the couple behind us, the day before. This time we had a chance to talk for a minute. Turns out, that they had never been to the jam before, and absolutely loved it. The woman was originally from the middle of Ireland, and, the jam totally reminded her of home. Going to the pubs for music and socializing is a big part of Irish life, and she told me that it really was such a touch of home that she had to tell me. Her brother lives in the USA now too, in the area, and she was going to tell him about it, so he can enjoy the live music. We talked for a couple minutes, about Ireland, live music, and some of this & that.
So… you never know how what you do affects people. You may think that something doesn’t have repercussions, good or bad, but it does. Hopefully, like this, it’s for the good. I’m glad she loved the music, and, that she will come back to the jam.
Our journey to the annual Willow Folk Festival begins tomorrow, and in preparation we decided it would be a good idea last Sunday to set up our tent in the back yard.
The tent we’d been using the past couple of years was not our favorite, and when I found a tent on clearance last November we were more than happy to dispose of the old one at our spring yard sale.
Since this one was new we figured we better make sure it’s okay before we go.
I’m sure the reason this one was left over was because it was initially expensive and big. Did I mention big?
Tents can be like purses or shoes, it’s hard to find the exact right fit for the occasion.
Yes, you mostly just sleep in them, so what’s the big deal? Well if it rains you spend more time in them then you’d like, and this is a music festival, so we have our guitars to keep in there too, and you have to move around in them with all the stuff you bring.
Well this one is plenty big, really big. Like I never have seen a tent this big. It even has a door frame. And a porch/awning thing. It took us 15 minutes just to figure out how to put the rain flap on.
Like the Taj Mahal in nylon.
The guaranteed waterproof part will come in handy though. The forecast is not too good. Rain Friday, really hot on Saturday followed by really really hot on Sunday. Oh well, the past couple of years have been cold, so it all balances out.
Well, that’s what makes for an adventure, so stay tuned for photos and stories next week.
HI
Our friend Mike, got a gig at a local farmers market, Friday afternoons. He was nice enough to offer us the chance to be the ‘break band’ while he rests. We get to play a half an hour at a stretch. It’s fun, and a nice way to get some microphone/audience practice. Maggie gets better and better, though she was good before, with the mic. I am getting used to playing acoustic with a pickup, or, plugged in. Not the same as playing on the deck or in the house with friends. It’s also good practice for the Willow folk festival, which is Aug 8th & 9th. Our annual camping trip, with music…
It’s a nice little market, where, things have to be local, as in grown/made within like 30-50 miles, I believe. Our friends, the Lombardos, are involved, along with several really nice people. It’s been fun, the 3 Fridays we have played.
Morning,
was alerted to this by net@nite. it’s a great video. If you are a John Williams fan, or just appreciate a witty mashup of his themes, you’ll like this.
Hi well, they’re coming again to Rockford. The California Guitar Trio, www.cgt.com, world renowned group will be in Rockford next Saturday evening @ the Mendelssohn club. If you are in the area, you don’t to miss them…
Hi
Been busy this week, with work & life. Like that’s outta the ordinary. We are working our way towards a new guitar. A Froggy Bottom brand. A rather high end, hand made instrument. www.froggybottomguitars.com.
So, I have to sell one out of the closet. I have had this guitar for 32 years, come Nov.
If anyone is interested in it, & you should be, ‘cuz it’s a great guitar, here is the link to the forum
Hello there.
These are our friends, Jan & Mike. They are talented musicians, who are fun to be around. Sounds kinda sophomoric, but it’s early. We all played @ a litle music festival called ‘The Who Else” music festival, near Dixon Il. A lot of fun, with some very good music. We all had a fun time.
Hi
time for bed, but I wanted to post a quick note. We had a good day. We were up early & out. We ran errands, but then on to fun.
We went to a small music festival in Nelson Il, called the “Who Else” fest. A great site, with a nice stage, good people, & a lot of fun music.
We had to leave for a party, so we played early.
This is us in the middle of our set.. Jan & Mike played too. I”ll post them tomorrow.
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