Monday 4/18/2011

This past weekend the Ashley Gang played at the Barberville Spring Frolic, we had a great time.  We  arrived Friday evening around 4:00, the advance team had already selected our site, and seeing as I don't like controversy, I went along with the plan.  We got parked and set up our home base pretty quickly.  Hung the chinese lanterns on our awning and broke out the forty seven chairs we had packed.  Cindy had prepared a gigantic batch of macaroni salad as our contribution to the pot luck dinner, it was excellent.  After dinner we played a little music and socialized.
  The weather was warm Saturday, but at least there was no rain.  We only played once on Saturday, but the set went really well.  there's nothing quite like seeing a barn full of folkies singing along with Yo Ho (The Pirate Song).
   Saturday evening some cooler weather blew in and Sunday morning was just glorious.  We had two sets to play on Sunday and we had good crowds at both of them.  They were probably hoping we'd do the Pirate Song again.  It was a great weekend with the best folks in the world.  We can't wait to do it again!
  Until next time, here's your daily dose of wisdom:
      
    "I don't like country music, but I don't mean to denigrate those who do. And for the people who like country music, denigrate means 'put down.' "

— Bob Newhart

Monday 4/11/2011

We had a rare opportunity to see one of our favorite singing songwriters Sunday evening.  Slaid Cleaves was playing in cocoa village at the Shamrock Room.  It's a small venue that seats maybe fifty, a great place to see performers up close and personal.  Slaid was accompanied by  Michael O'connor on guitar, man he had the golden touch.  Very subtle and right on the money, he added a lot without playing to much.  Slaid was just great, his writing is really top notch.  And he did a great job of playing all the songs we wanted to hear.  At one point someone requested a song he hadn't done in some time, when he flubbed the second verse the person that had requested it gave him the first line to the verse, that got him back on track.  He took it all in stride, I think he enjoyed the evening as much as we did.  He had some friends from Maine in the audience, even his grandmother was there.   It was a great evening in a great room.  I can't wait to see who will be playing there in the future.
  Until next time, here are your words of wisdom for today:

Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.  ~Confucius

Monday 4/4/2011

Happy Monday!
   I was invited to play at the Wellington Songwriters Showcase this past Sunday down south in the beautiful Village of Wellington.  The event took place in the sparkling new Wellington Amphitheater, a truly glorious venue.  My good friend Jordan Cherkinsky, Dentist by day, musical dynamo by night, was in charge of this event.  At least we let him believe that.  Another long time compadre, Pete Rimmel was running the sound, and it sounded awesome on the stage as well as out in the cheap seats.  There were seven songwriters playing seperate sets from 12:00 until 4:00, but I think it may have run a bit later than that.  I'll do my best to squeeze everyones name in here.  Mary Beth and Chris Campbell, Rick Seguso, Bobby G, Shauna Sweeney with her sister Nicolet and brother Austin, Yakkov Thompson, and me.  If I forgot a name or screwed anyones up I apologise, my brain can only handle five names at a time.  It was a great time and I enjoyed getting to meet and listen to everyone.  The Songwriter’s Showcase is a free concert series presented by WEI Network, Peter’s Livingroom, the Village of Wellington, and sponsors.  And it's free to the public.
It just doesn't get any better than that!
  Until next time, here are your daily words of wisdom:

"Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow." --Swedish proverb