Friday's snow and traffic made traveling slow. We left 2 extra hours for travel, but an accident on the turnpike and then another in Farmington (which meant we had to turn around and find another route into the town) consumed most of our extra time. We had a nice crowd at the Latte Landing, a newly refurbished student space with coffee and pastries, computers to surf on, and really comfortable looking chairs. Shannon runs the booking, and she was grateful for the chance to be involved with the U Maine community. We have a cousin who attends U Maine Farmington. He came to the show and also spoke highly of the sense of community he feels in this university of about 2,000 students.

On Saturday we traveled to East Sangerville, near Dover-Foxcroft ME through snow covered small towns by winding rivers. There was a beautiful glowing orange sunset at the end of the drive. The sign on the Grange door said "Sold Out" as we arrived. (Cool) The Grange was refurbished by a group of citizens who have turned it into a meeting place and successful performance space which sells out many concerts. (They also have yummy desserts pictured on the right.) The crowd was very tuned to the music- very appreciative and attentive. They also loved to sing, and there wasn't a voice unheard on "Shenendoah, "Wade in the Water" and "Down by the Riverside". We got two encores, and we thank the volunteers and listeners for a spectacular night.

We drove back to seattle on Sunday. The scenery along Canadian rt 99 and US rt 5 is spectacular- mountains looming over the farms in the valley. We were so excited to see bald eagles- they were just sitting in trees by the highway- we saw a total of 10 and I took this photo of three of them (not National Geographic quality I know, but we were on the side of the highway). We figure there was a "run" of fish nearby that brought all the eagles out. We had a fun trip to the Northwest.  

We traveled to NY and had a fun show at the Postcrypt Coffeehouse. We caught up with some old and new friends there: our friends Amy, Joe and Mark have been to so many shows, but we always love to see them. Our "new" friends Lene and David saw us at the South Florida Folk fest and flew up to NY for the show (well, they also visited their daughter in the City).

We had a spectacular show at the CT Audubon Society. We had a full house, great sound, and a very warm audience.

Sunday we traveled to Saratoga Springs and met some cool people at our show at Skidmore College. We decided collectively that almonds are the best nuts- and we discussed lots of other important issues...They invited us back later this spring. We drove back to Boston in the cold night and arrived home around 2:00am. This week we return to Seattle- where we will see friends, and hopefully catch a few glimpses of Mt Rainier.  

We played at the Driftwood Coffeehouse in Liberty Hall in the town of Marstons Mills. The Driftwood is a small one room theater like room with a a kitchen on the side. Ken organizes the Driftwood Coffeehouse, his own shows, and mentors other musicians. We've come to know some people like this- people who love folk and acoustic music so much that they volunteer their time and effort. I am so grateful for these people. Ken has a new dog, Charlie, who was found by the side of the road around Christmas time. Ken said Charlie was the best Christmas present ever. Charlie loves to romp and did not want to sit still for pictures.

The show went very well. The resonant hall augmented the sound without much extra amplification. This was a show where the crowd really listened. We never take this for granted. The turnout was very good- luckily the inaugural night of XFL football did not seem to dissuade people from venturing to see some live music. Rich, who opened the show, played my favorite Woody Guthrie tune "Deportee" and a wonderful song by James Keelaghan "Cold Missouri Waters". "Cold Mo", as James calls it, has been getting lots of airplay on folk stations and by other musicians. I think James' song will become a folk classic before long.

Photos by Michael Halle
 

We went cross country skiing on the Appalachian trail the next morning. Its incredible how the colors change in the winter: with a coating of white snow: brown turns to gold, green to emerald, gray to silver. We poked around the town of Norwich. People were browsing at the bookstore and “Dan and Whits”, a general store with just about everything: groceries, toys, clothes, hardware, books, boots…

We shared the show at the Daily Grind Coffeehouse in North Andover with a father son duo, the MacVitties. They harmonized well and we enjoyed hearing them. Michael Calienes, our bass player augmented some of the songs, and the packed house at the Daily Grind made for a wonderful show. Thanks to all who came out!

We played at the Blackthorne Tavern on Superbowl Sunday-luckily we played in the morning, and not during the actual game! Some people traveled down for New Hampshire to hear us, and the usually quiet Sunday brunch was quite busy. Happy Super Bowl, for those who celebrate…

We played "United" and "Clearwater" at the finals, because those were the two songs selected by the preliminary judges. We did not win the contest- but we weren't all that disappointed. The folks who did win were deserving- and I could have picked several other songwriters who would have also been deserving. Art is so subjective. We did sell out of our albums "Wood and Stone" and got to talk to a lot of people who enjoyed our music. (You can see some of the mail we received from Florida.) We also got to hear a lot of music. Meredith found some percussionists to jam with, and played onstage with Billy Jonas- a wonderful childrens performer - for a song.

The final performer was Melanie- a star when folk was really big in the 60s. She played with her son, who was a fabulous guitarist, and, of course the crowd loved her. Other acts I enjoyed were "One Drum" a world beat band, Billy Jonas, Jack Williams, and a lot of the finalists in the songwriting contest.

I also enjoyed seeing the different vegetaion and birds. I encountered a peacock on the festival grounds, and saw some cool roots that grow up out of the ground (pictured) forming a small mountain range.

We went to a beach in Norfolk before returning to Boston on Sunday. It was a beautiful mild day for a walk.

Tomorrow (Friday Jan 12) we leave for the South Florida Folk Festival, where we will perform "United" and "Clearwater" in the finals. I think song "contests" are a stretch- there are so many different approaches to music and song, but I am looking forward to Fort Lauderdale and hearing some live music.

First Night was packed- lots of people came to events all day long. We saw gymnastics, juggling, Celtic music, magic, dance and other music. Then we played two shows at the Mathewson Street Church in their sancutary. We enjoyed seeing so many old friends and making new ones.

Its incredible how many memories come back when we visit Providence- after fourteen years there you really get to know a place, and the people.

  (Photos by Michael Halle)

Fredonia has a cute downtown with the oldest running Grange Hall in the US, and an ornate old-style opera house. The opera house was almost demolished, but a group of volunteer citizens got together and refurbished the site (Dick and Carmen spearheaded the group) and now it is quite a place.

  (Photos by Chris)

On Saturday night, we played at the Emerson Coffeehouse in a Unitarian Church in Melrose MA. Melrose is a neighborhood with tree lined streets (Somerville is fine, but we could use a few more trees!). The room that the coffeehouse was in had incredible acoustics- the flute resonated beautifully, and the crowd was warm and enthusiastic.