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I was Googling the internet the other day, self-indulgently checking out the other "Dave Frys" on the page - an economic adviser, some video of a day in Easton, etc. but I stumbled on Dave Fry, a folk singer in England - he has albums, plays 12 string guitar and does similar things to what I do here in the states. I wrote him and asked if he was my evil twin. Nope, but very curious, indeed. It's a big world out there......

Two very nice shows at the Pottery Barn in Newark, DE, packed with all kind of kids, moms, grandmoms and one very special grandpa, too. This was an especially friendly show, and some very nice interplay, wide eyes on the part of some small kids, too. Thanks for coming out. See you next time. Back to CT for the Labor Day weekend - Rosalie started college today and Jaimie goes back to school on Monday.

Friday brought me to the Walt Whitman Arts Center on Friday for two interesting and distinctly different sets of music. The first show was with a variety of day-cares and camps trucking on down to the center, and it was a lively and interactive show. I think we made a whole lot of noise, but then, that's art.

The second show was with a special needs boy Isaac, his mom and older brother, and a first grade girl and her mom and younger sister, both of whom spoke no English. Actually, I'm glad there were just a few folks. I invited the folks up on stage, ditched the sound system and broke out the rhythm instruments and had a good, close-up time together. Both sets were hard work, but in different ways, and it was good to have both experiences. Thanks...

It'll be a bright, sunshiny day - from the Jimmy Cliff song - in Easton for my second center city gig outside the Crayola Factory. Goddard school kids, an Easton day-care and some families from exotic places like Wisconsin, NJ and, ..gasp, CT. I broke only one string!

Good animal day, with Precious, the dog, helping out with "I Wanna be an Dog", right on cue, and the horse from the Bethlehem horse and buggy crew in the "Bear Hunt". Also live police effects for Bear Hunt as well. Nice. Off to Camden's Walt Whitman Center for two shows tomorrow.

Well, the family left Martha's Vineyard on the 1:45 ferry - home of some great clam chowder, and drove 3 hours back to home in CT. One hour to shift gears and back east to Madison, CT.

Wednesday's gig at the Madison Beach Hotel was mighty fine. I eschewed the sound system and set up on the lawn in front of the front porch. It's the best when the mikes don't get in the way. It was open to the public (good job, MBH), and it was a gathering of local families, hotel guests, some grandfolks, and some mosquitoes thrown in. The grass felt good under the feet, and we proceeded to dance and sing and shake that thang. It's always neat to see the kids wander in on these situations and get involved. Reaching out is what its all about.

The sunset was spectacular - even with no clouds.... "Hand o' God Productions", as I often say. Off to PA for a noon gig in PA.

I played my third night on the streets of E'town at the bank on Water and Main. Some kids came back from the night before, so they knew what was going on. My daughter Rosalie came over the ferry with Sam, the dog. A marvelous daughter and an awfully cute Pomeranian. In fact, I recalled the old vaudeville saying, "Never follow an animal act." Oh, well. I should work him in on the act. My wife Kim, her mom, Sunny and eventually Kim's dad, Allan showed up and got to see me work the streets for one dollar bills. .....so much for self esteem.

Some highlights for me, outside of having my family see me at work:

I patiently waited for a family to finish their ice cream on the bench I wanted to sit on, and then work with a "Gang of Roving Youths" hanging out on the bank steps. They got into it. A music teacher from a special ed school in MA and I shared some "power of music" dialogs. And numerous little kids got down and funky. I love these gigs. Vacation ends in the morning and off to Madison, CT and Easton, PA.

My second night busking on the streets of Edgartown, MA. I set up on a bench in front of a brick bank across from where I played last night. More room to dance. Nice acoustics, as well, with some benches across the way. One dad jumped in on Tutti Tah, much to the dismay of his older daughter, and nailed the whole thing. I gave him a CD for being a dad who rocks.

A very good night in a very nice town. I'm working on my savage tan, as well.

Vacation? We packed up the family, Kim, Rosalie, Jaimie and Sam, the dog, and took off for a short vacation on Chappy, Martha's Vineyard, MA with Kim's good parents, Sunny and Allan. We took the ferry - nick of time and landed on the Vineyard.

I took to the streets in Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard on Saturday night. It dawned on me that I could do what I do, even on my vacation. So I picked a spot where I saw a wonderful picker last year, outside a nice variety show, not far from several ice cream parlors. Location, location, location. It was fun to catch folks by surprise as they rounded the corner.

Dave, the aforementioned troubadour, came by later with some mouth harps and his gear, and I was ready to vacate his spot, but he was most gracious, and we jammed on some blues and country, etc. Then he played "Ripple" while I meandered on the mandolin. He's got a mean vocal trumpet as well. I hear that and watched his guitar work and I remembered his work that I saw last year. He said he played 80+ gigs last summer on that spot. What a treasure for Edgartown!

So, I had a good time and got to meet and play with a musical brother. I love surprises. Thanks, Dave, for your place in this world. A nice ending for a long day.

Quite a day for wrapping up my 25th Musikfest in Bethlehem, PA. I did two shows at Bananaplatz for kids and families. there was a hail storm during the break - its funny how you can't see the hail hit but see it bounce off the grass - looks like the ground is sprouting iceballs. It's simply gratifying to have folks come by and share their family with me and each other.

A sweet little girl came up in front of the stage immediately and started twirling to the music, simply glad to be in the music. Precious, and its too bad we loose that as we grow. And, as a performing artist, I love opening the performance to kids' interpretations. It keeps it LIVE for me.

The evening performance was with my friend Craig Thatcher and many of the friends I've developed over the years in the Lehigh Valley. Phil Stahl, Mike Dugan, Eric Steckel, Pete Fluck, Allan Gaumer, Wayde Leonard, Jake Kaligis, et al, and got to meet some folks I've heard of from afar like Mook Stanton (he did Louis Armstrong's What a Wonderful World to close out the evening., Scott Bradoka, and others. I got to play after the spectacular fireworks and did "Pay Bo Diddley " with Craig's band. Craif played some fine "swampy" slide, and Don and Wayde picked up immediately on the groove. Twas a hoot and a half, though I couldn't hear my voice or guitar. So it goes.

Things slow down a bit from here on out, but it's been a ferocious two weeks on the road. It was treat to meet so many nice folks from the ever dimmer past, but even greater to meet some new kids and adults along the way. That's the special thing for me about Musikfest. Thanks for coming up and saying hello.

I hiked down from Bethlehem again to Princeton for the YANJ Summit at the very posh Nassau Inn. got there in time for food. Phew... But it also in time to meet with more of the YA Chapters as well as some innovative folks doing arts/museum work, Reggio schooling (very cool and new stuff), and other activists in the field. The summit was elegantly conceived and wonderfully executed. Again, there's a lot of energy in this early education field, and I got new ideas to use with little kids. Thanks YANJ! Off to clean the apartment and play at Musikfest on Sunday. I hope to see you there.

I got to attend the Young Audiences / Creative Beginnings Summit in Princeton today - my first day and their second day. It's a gathering of various chapters of YA - CT, Virginia, Kansas City, etc. I partook in the drumming and storytelling workshops, lead by some fine teaching artists. Just what I needed, too. Great ideas shared by some really creative people. Boomwacker tips, too! YA of NJ is really trying to promote this early childhood arts programming, with kid-driven, teacher-involved, and artistic creativity. All good stuff. Back for the wrap up tomorrow.

Cool name for a county park in NJ.... I played for Monmouth County Parks at an arts day in the park for Asbury Park area daycares, summer camps, etc. Great counselors, too. I did the first set and I was followed by a cowboy lariat artist from NY (!!) City. Hot day to play, but it was a nice mixture of pre-schoolers and elementary kids.

I made it back to Bethlehem to hear the Open Mikers playing at Musikfest as part of Godfrey's Day at Liederplatz. I was real proud of the four acts that have improved dramatically to the point that each act was genuinely entertaining on stage at Musikfest. Incidentally, the acts involved a father/daughter duo and a father solo and daughter solo. Family! folks who have taken advantage of Godfrey's consistent stage availability for open mikes. Folks are showing up and getting better. Yes.....

Monday night was an interesting diversion at a new stage for "songwriters" at Musikfest. I'm the first to admit that I'm no great shakes as a songwriter, and that I come from another (equally valid, I might add) tradition of songster - good songs sung well. A small crowd, but akin to the early days of Musikfest at the Familianplatz site near the Tannery. I played some tunes from my friends in CT, Eric Paradine and Kent Aldrich, as well as some curious tunes.

A darling little girl came up and asked if she could sing a song with me, and, after some deliberation, we settled on 'Splish Splash'. The blue tutu was too much for me to decline so we rocked out. I gotta get me a blue tutu. These are precious moments for me, and, I think, for the audience.

The site of this stage was at the "ruins" of one of the first houses in Bethlehem, and was an unique spot I've never played in Bethlehem. I love it.

Down time til the Jersey Shore on Wednesday. Back to Bethlehem on Sunday,

Bananaplatz, Monday afternoon, was a good time. I got to break the mold a couple of times, culminating in the parents joining me and the kids for a rousing rendition of 'Splish Splash'. My friends, Terry Mutchler and Dave Reichard did the sound, and it was great to see familiar faces who make my Musikfest an annual schmooze. I added some more folkie stuff, and took some chances with some 'non-kid' stuff, but that's what MF is for.

One beautiful child hogged my personal fan on stage while she shook them eggs; she looked like a Revlon commercial - hair blowing free... - I chuckled when I thought "How dare she command my space?" Random thoughts on stage that make it fun for me.

Nap and a 9 pm show at Lyricplatz.

Saturday was the return to my old stomping grounds in Macungie, PA for at great automobile festival, this year featuring the DeSoto - big fins, jutting tail lights, lots of metal....

I arrived 45 minutes before hand for my "show" on the kids stage, when Barb said can I play the main stage, since there was a no-show for the first act. I said, "Sure". Can you do it in 15 minutes? I said, "Sure." So, I did. Actually it was interesting in that I had no time to think about it, and it was a wonderful set of music and fun. Ah yes, no time to think.

The second set was back again at the kids stage, in a new, and very nice place in the park. Several teens stopped by, and, surprisingly, hung out for the show. It's not often that they do. But, at the end, one came up and asked for "The Cat Came Back" and he went to school with my son in 1st grade, and remembered my music. This is pretty cool, in my book. This stuff happens fairly regularly.

Day off and Musikfest on Monday.

I returned to Strong House in Madison, CT for a Friday visit with my friends in this elder care facility. John, the 80-ish dancing fool wasn't there so it was fairly sedate, though some dancing occurred. One special moment when a lovely lady, who has been fairly silent up until now startled us all when she broke out singing "Daisy, Daisy", to the delight of us all. Music is magic. Catch some laundry time at home and then to the beach tonight.

Oh how I love these East Wharf gigs. Lots of familiar faces, some new ones, and great weather. One lad pick up some shakers and "religiously" played on every song. I got him up to finish the evening, ending Splish Splash. More on him in a sec. A guitarist and singer, who was watching me from nearby, came up after and asked to play a few tunes. I knew he was a player, so I said sure.... He was from Brazil and sang and played some interesting and very jazzy stuff, and was a pleasant surprise. As I sat and listened, my young rhythm friend came up and sat next to me, taking it all in. These are special moments, and do not go unnoticed by me. Making connections.... Off to PA overnight for Das Awkscht Fescht on Saturday. From 7 pm Thursday til Friday 6 pm, four gigs in 24 hours. Just in time for the mortgage.

I've been returning to Tarrytown over the last several years, and this was at the summer Rec program at the Paulding School. It was hat day so we all celebrated, as I passed out goofy hats that were passed around during the show. Goofy counselors, for sure.... The little kids usually get the message, but the older kids got into it as well. And that's the big challenge for me. Off to Madison for two gigs. Two down and two to go....

Tonight was the first of 4 gigs in 24 hours at Croton, NY on the banks of the Hudson River, for a community concert. A beautiful site overlooking the river. Lots of blankets and families - thanks to the folks who gave me a ice pop before I went on. Again, its wonderful to see kids dance, and dance with their parents. A big willow tree gave me shade for the beginning of the show, phew. Tomorrow morning in nearby Tarrytown.

I rounded the lads up for a mid-summer gig in Mays Landing, NJ - near Atlantic City. We've visited here last summer and it was a treat once again. A gym full of kids and young adults with special needs, and the very special folks who enrich their lives every day and four guys playing music. Well, all put together, we kicked up a summer storm in the gym and it was a pleasure to share the power of music with this school. Thanks for having us. Off to the backs of the Hudson River for a sunset concert in Croton, NY tomorrow. The miles roll on.

Off to the Rumson Country Club, overlooking a broad bay heading out to the Atlantic - nice digs - and a country club yacht club, entertaining the 3 through 7 year-olds. The kids were great and the counselors sluggish; it comes with the territory. A nice gig though, a funny custodian (he thought the kids were louder than his hunting rifle - he's got a point...) and another 200 miles. Thank goodness for leftist podcasts on the old Ipod. Tomorrow RockRoots returns to a special ed school in Mays Landing - this is one long drive that is worth the response.

I got a call last week for a last minute gig at the New Canaan Nature Center for Monday's show. Lots of little kids...., "my people!" We gathered inside and had a good time.

I try to stress to the counselors that they have a stake in the proceedings,; they have to loosen up themselves to help lead the way. Some counselors know this, and participate, kid-like, but it's a new thing to some teens. so it goes.... We're all learning how to deal with kids.....

Off to Bethlehem and then Rumson, NJ in the am. On the road again...

My friend Ron Anthony called me up on Sunday, and said that there was music festival at the Northford Congregational Church on Sunday. He said he was going to play, so I said I'd clean up my act (I was dancing with a new toilet and a refrigerator at home...) and come down.

Perched on a hill, the NCC is a nice brownstone church, and they had a sound system, and, I assume members of the congregation playing. Mighty fine. I walked down to the place listening to "The Wreck of the Ol' 97", and I knew this would be nice. And it was.

Ron did a nice set, as usual, and I got to play "July" again - I'm finally getting it up to snuff on the 27th day of the month. It's nice to surprise new folks, and it was a good set. The other folks played some very interesting and fun stuff, and it's great to get people together and play music. Pretty basic. ...and they fed the musicians, too.

It was nice to sit in my new home town, Northford, and take in the day, great clouds and good music. I realized I'm a Southside Northford immigrant, and Ron is part of the Northside Northford landed gentry. Oh, well.

Off to New Canaan tomorrow and PA and NJ and NY.

I parked myself on the SW corner of Easton's Square, in front of the Crayola Factory and played for the folks. Several summer camp groups stopped and we jammed. Several families, assorted local colorful folks, and a horse all joined in. A nice noon time concert, probably some pix in the local paper, and only broke one string. Thanks to all and I'll be back on August 21st for another visit. Back to CT, and a New Britain RockCats baseball game (against the Reading Phillies!)

The joint was jumping today at the Pottery Barn for Kids in Annapolis, MD. Chance of showers contributed to the big crowd, and I think we "trashed" the place, but the store folks said they're used to it, with kids everywhere. It was a good time, with plenty of bright eyes and smiles galore. A long drive, but worth it.

Tomorrow, Easton, and then home for a RockCats/Phillies game. Oh, boy.

Tuesday brought me happiness, in Milford for my annual show at Camp Happiness. Great group of kids and a great group of counselors who "get it." The Happy Shark is the fan favorite, and we proceeded to sweat, dance and sing in their new facility at the Academy. Thanks for having me back.

Yes,, today I traveled to Worlds End, and beyond, to Forksville, PA, in fact. It was the Sullivan County "Taste" gathering, with wineries, a brewery, and several top-shelf restaurants. Folks sipped and nibbled and sweated in a typically leisurely summer pace, while The Green Valley Boys took the stage, and I followed with "Folk". Low key, some rain, but good folks to nosh with.

It was all downhill from Eagles Mere to Bethlehem, but I enjoyed a rainbow over Bear Creek (you had to be there...) caught up with the storms in Allentown. A very nice trip to a beautiful part of PA, with all the touristy effects - PA thunderstorms!

But they forgot the check. I'm a nice guy, what can you say?

Home to CT and back out of town next week to Annapolis. Who books these things? Oh, yeah... me.

Another visit to the streets of Allentown, this time in the plaza next to the PP&L building, sponsored by the Downtown A'town group. Some kids, some families, biz guys and gals, some nice surprises from faces in the past - lots of that happening recently - and some folks who had no idea what was going on.

The last time I did this gig in Allentown, there was one of those defining moments. A gentleman was obviously having fun, dancing and juking. He approached the stage and we played off each other. It was fun. He then reached into the back of his pants, pulled out a toilet scrub brush, and proceeded to use it as a microphone, singing My Girl with me. Now that's theater!

So today was a relatively sedate affair, in comparison.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were spent delightfully at the HOT (Higher Order Thinking) Schools annual get-together of educators, teaching artists and other inspiring artsy folks. Great workshops, nice talks, etc. I can't, unfortunately, take these things in for the whole week, due to the necessity of gainful employment. But, this year I got to make it for the first three days.

I like catching up with my 'class' of teaching artists - Mark, Leslie, Thomsina and others. Makes me feel like I'm a CT'er. And, I got to give away CD's to educators and play two songs to kick off the Open Mike. That was fun. So, I made my appearance. and got to be creative...

Off to Bethlehem.

Who are these old people??? Actually, it was great to see some good folks from my "formative" years. I took away from this event that these folks were (and are) a remarkable group of intelligent and hip people, and I was lucky to spend those high school years with them. Folks from Alaska, Florida, Lebanon (?!), North Carolina, and, gasp, Delmar!

I played a few tunes, and touched down with some very good people. I also was reminded that I'm glad I do what I do. I gave away and sold some CD's and got gas money for the trip. things work out.... Back to Bethlehem to pick up Rosalie on Sunday. Busy week in Hartford with the Arts Council and the Hot Schools seminar. I'm looking forward to this gathering of CT artists.....

My first of four shows at East Wharf in Madison, CT was a hoot. Great turnout, and lots of familiar faces (and bigger kids). Again, its wonderful to have folks celebrate the summer, the beach and each other. I get the best seat in the house...... Off to Bethlehem with Rosalie so she can visit her friend Alice, and then off, crack o' dawn, for my 40th high school reunion near Albany. Another adventure- a stab from the past....

This was a great idea to have a concert at the Avon Senior Center - mix the summer rec kids and the seniors in a concert. Amazingly, some of the kids material is great senior stuff, too. And who doesn't love watching "today's youth" having fun. Anyway, it was a nice mix, and we spanned the generations. That's the power of music.... Got lost again in CT again though...

I've been visiting my friends at this day care in Madison for a while, and it was good to come back for a summer show. The kids gave up running through the sprinkler to sing and dance with me. That's dedication.

Tuesday found me in Trumbull, CT for my 4th (!) year for a lunchtime family concert with some new and familiar faces. It was a hot day, but we had it made in the shade up the path in the Old Mine Park. "The Bear Hunt" coulda been real today - lots of caves up the hill..... Good time, and it was nice to see parents up and dancing with the kids.

This was a very, very nice way to spend the afternoon on the Fourth of July at the Farmers' Market on the green in Madison, CT. Low key, under the old oak tree, with families, elders, etc. strolling by, sitting on the grass, singing and dancing and watching the little girls in sun dresses dancing to the music. Ah, this is summer!

One very strange event - things like this pop up during gigs from the strangest angles. We we're singing "The Cat Came Back" when a woman stormed up and emphatically shouted for me to stop the song, morally outraged that I was singing a song about harming cats. She claimed that she had lost two cats in the past and insisted that I stop immediately. I told her it was a folk song, that I didn't write it, and if she would allow me to finish the chorus. Nope. The rest of us were rather taken aback. I quickly started another song, and, when that one was done, I stated that no cats were harmed in making that song. Phew...

Anyway, it was a really great way to spend the holiday afternoon, making music in the community. I also got a free pecan pie, a loaf of superb fennel, whole-wheat Italian bread, some fresh tomatoes and enough tip money to buy a pizza for the family on the way home.

Bunch of CT gigs coming up, and I look forward to not buying as much gas.

This is the first of several gigs back in Madison, this time at the Beach Hotel overlooking the LI Sound. Beautiful night with folks enjoying the porch, outside dining and kids playing "Knights" on the beach area. The Hotel is under new management and is looking to do events like beach clambakes, family nights like tonight - open to the public. We had a small group but we kicked up the sand. I'll be back thereon Wednesday, August 20th at 7:30. Check on the time, though.

Blue Moon Sunday's bring me back to Bethlehem for a Vintage Open Mike, and though some of the performers weren't old, some fine old time pickin' happened. It was "Stage Name" night, so we heard from ole Sunday Shoes, Big Vein, Cracker, Too Late, Brack and Jenda, and Scatological Simmons, a old band mate of mine (Sh. Sheiks) and we recreated the "Dogs Meeting" for the uninitiated. I'm always amazed at the quality of these open mikes. Drive off to home in the morning.

We make the hike to Farmington, NJ for a girls scout camp. It's getting hot now, but the pavilion kept us cool. Long trip.

I returned to Manchester, CT for an afternoon and evening gig at two libraries in Manchester. Mostly kids stuff again, but it never grows old for me. Cheney (?!) Library and Whiten Library.

Oliver Wolcott Library - OWL - nice name for a library? Oh, yeah. This was a really fun gig for the patrons of this nice CT library. I got to stretch out my folk stuff for a change - no kids! A gentleman came up afterwards and asked if I knew Tom Druckenmiller. Boing! Small world. Tom, of course, is a LV folkie I've known for decades, fellow radio programmer, and old-timey banjoist par excellance. He's been running the Old-time Jam at Godfrey's for years, as well. Tom, Betty and son Nathan are the real deal, a family band with a great name "The Druckenmillers."

Yup. The final, last day of classes show for RR this season, at a school we've played two years ago. This time, we got four teachers up to help us with Splish Splash, and they rocked!

Off to Litchfield for a library gig tonight.

Off to Limeport and St. Joseph's church picnic. Looked like rain, but turned out nice. Its always great to play for families, kids and the old folks hanging out for the polka band after me. A couple of wise-ass senior women were a lot of fun to play with and for. This was my second visit for this nice country get-together. America!

Last morning of school, with Wayne Smith sitting in on guitar, fresh back from a cruise with one our favorite bands, the Christy Minstrels, a super-folk group from the 60's. This school had a nice tradition of sending of the "graduating" class by gathering all the classes outside their rooms while the oldest kids walk the school for the last time. Lots of cheering and hooting. A great way to send them off to middle school.

This was a great opportunity to learn about blogging and power point presentations for artists like myself. It was great! I'm going to start sending out Power Points as a marketing tool for schools. It gets the message across better than a pamphlet or CD. The blogging part was neat, too. I'm looking forward to linking it up to my website, so y'all can respond. I'm being dragged into the cyber-age.

A busy day, playing for an assembly in Paramus, NJ - up and dancing as the school year closes. Happy times!
Off to Tech 101 in Mt. Laurel....

I haven't chatted for awhile - lots of traveling and gigging....

Friday, June 13th - return to Strong House for a porch concert with the seniors. Ah, playing outdoors! I have to learn "Sam, You Made the Pants Too Long." Allan Sherman, I think.

I love this season of assemblies - most are leading up to the end, but some are lucky enough to be on the last day - Wilson Boro in Easton, on Monday. To celebrate, I brought out my purple electric guitar and we danced. It was close to 100 degrees outside, but we stayed cool in doors. A good time had by all. Thanks, folks.

Thursday evening - Tunes at Twilight - in the acoustically friendly confines of the Sun Inn Courtyard. As always, it's a balance between chaos and control. I enjoy trying to juggle material for tonight's family audience, kids, "normal" folks, dogs, C&W fanatics, old friends and Lehigh professors.

I passed out rhythm instruments early on to the kids and, at times, it got a little distracting. But, you know, it still comes down to letting the kids play as opposed to trying to get too artsy. So it goes.

It's always good to return to Bethlehem for a gig like this, check in with folks from my ample past, and get to play for a bunch of new folks, old and young. It's what I like to do. Thanks, folks.

Doubleheader tomorrow with RockRoots in NJ and then Tallarico's Chocolate for First Friday back in Bethlehem. Phew...

Toddler concert at Pottery Barn for Kids in at the Roosevelt Fields Mall... some old faces (even if they're two years old) and some new friends. Tomorrow - northside Bethlehem.

Phew... a lot of gigging and family-celebrating stuff - it happens this time of year. Schools like fun assemblies when the teachers get rammy. We help 'em out.
RockRoots has been hitting the highways recently, enjoying the new high gas prices. Middle schools in Vineland, Unionville and Stewartsville, elementary schools in Princeton Junction, Mountainside, and Stewartsville again. The middle school music teacher actually went home and got his trombone, shades and beret to sit in with us in the afternoon. Yes!

I played for a kindergarten graduation at Circle Nursery, not far from my old home in Madison. As usual, I worked up a sweat, and we celebrated in style. And, I returned to Cheston School in Easton for our annual celebration of Cougar Day. These folks are the best: tuna hoagie for lunch, two shows with kids who know the songs and are ready to boogie, teachers wearing vintage Cougar Day t-shirts (I got the newest Paw print -very stylish!) and they pay me a year ahead! Wow! I'm glad I show up!

My daughter Rosalie graduated in style, as well, from the Forman School in Litchfield this past weekend. It called for a gathering of the Wilson Frys extended families. Sister Janet, son Jaimie, Kim and her kin - parents, sister and brother and their families, and David and Susan, good friends from all the way from Emmaus! I do the cooking - I'm the butler of this situation. We all gathered at our house in Northford and carried on.

Rosalie has found a nice path in life, and has always endeared herself to her mentors, teachers and friends... and little kids, too. Especially little kids. Notice a similarity?

Rosalie sang several times at the Arts night on Friday, with a vocal quartet, and singing a song of her own (this one she wanted to, and succeeded in doing in a different and curious style - nice) with a small band behind here. She also sang in various other groups, and she took the hard part - the un-melody, something I'm not good at. (Playing solo makes it hard to do harmonies) I'm a proud papa. Yup.

Off to Long Island - crack o' dawn. On the road again....

Tucked in a gorgeous part of CT in Lyme (not your Old Lyme..), Lyme Consolidated ES put on a party for the teachers (catered, no less) while I entertained the kids. I had a posse of moms riding herd with me, so no problem. It got dark outside and poured but we were having too good of a time to notice. Anyway, the teachers got some quality time with themselves and some good food. And, I got to go get some of the leftovers, too! How cool is that?

I returned to one of my favorite K-centers in Macungie. It was a wet, wet day - outside and inside - lots of sweat. Anyway, Theo returned to take some live shots - thanks, dude, for the pix. A few weeks ago, I mentioned a teacher coming up and mentioning her son's first written sentence was, "The cat came back the very next day." Today, Mathew, the kid, came up and introduced himself to me and made that connection. So, I got him up to sing the chorus with me and he knocked it out of the park. Thanks, Mathew! A day off on Saturday (I get to see Claudia Schmidt at Godfrey's tomorrow night) and then off to Spring Gulch on Sunday.

PS I just got this email:

My name is Lori. I am the 5th grade teacher from Muhlenberg Elementary School you met a few weeks ago. I told you about my son's first sentence being "The cat came back the very next day." Yesterday you met my son Matthew at the Lower Macungie Kindergarten Center. We just wanted to thank you for acknowledging his accomplishment
and inviting him to sing on stage with you. What an awesome experience for him! You Rock!

Lori and Mathew

I came into Bethlehem a day early to meet with folks from the Lehigh University alumni magazine - seems they're doing an article on somewhat alternative LU graduates. That's me! Verna (Nick the Bass player's woman) interviewed me, and took me back to those years long ago. Theo, noble photographer and LCCC radio personality caught some good photos that will show up soon on my web site.

Another Allentown school on the south end of town - again, a neighborhood school that I visited last month. Mrs. Asbeth's third grade gave me home-made birthday cards, and I was serenaded by the 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. Lots of stairs in this place..... Then a drive back to CT.

I revisited Midway Manor - a kindercenter in Allentown - a yearly visit with the little kids, and then off to McKinley School for my first outdoor concert of the year. Simply a gorgeous day, and a great bunch of students. We raised a ruckus in the neighborhood for sure!

I traveled off to Hopewell, NJ for a private party at Brothers Moon Cafe. It was a post-christening and first communion affair, so I jammed with the kids. Struck up a good relationship with an eighteen-month old girl who showed us all how to dance. I also learned the Macarena, kinda... Grandma got to dance with all the little ones.

Back to Bethlehem. Open mike at Godfrey's on Sunday.

I returned to Godfrey's on Friday for an open house, free concert as part of the Southside's First Friday. A nice, fluid crowd of folks and kids, so the mixture of songs was appropriate. We had the first boomwhacker/banjo fusion tune in history, as well as a fine, air-boomwhacker solo rendered by a young lad. A nice evening of music with friends.

I pay my debts, you know. I finally redeemed my freebe offer to Barb Francese, who "purchased" my services at a church auction four years ago. I played at Lauren's (her granddaughter) school, Jackter IM for all the third grades and some fifth graders. Lots of kids in the music room! Lauren also treated us to some fine Irish step dancing. Mrs. Dostaler made the arrangements and it was a hoot.

Thanks to the New Haven Folk Society for a grant to help bring me up to Colchester. I plan on selling and signing some CD's to help out the ole wallet, too. Staying alive in CT.

You know, I just want to play....

Saturday morning was an interesting gig - different than any I've done. It was take your dad to school for breakfast day, with French toast stix and has browns, a tour of the school, and me. One mom showed up (dad had to work) so the sing-alongs were quite basso profundo. Lots of door prizes and stuffed animals for everyone. A good time with dad - see? He does loosen up after a while.

I returned to a cozy little school tucked away in Short Hills where RockRoots and I have played before. The tulips were out and the weather is just right. Fifth grade was at the Museum of Modern Art, so we had the place to ourselves - K - 4. It was a hoot, and the kids really sounded good when I let them sing by themselves. Its a very cool thing to hear an audience's voice on its own, and they acquitted themselves proud. A beautiful spring day in Jersey.

Tomorrow - Breakfast with Dad in Nazareth. Sounds like a whole buch of people are signed up. Oh, boy!

RockRoots did one of our more "prestigious" gigs in Trenton, at the NJ State Museum. YANJ and the museum brought us in for a 'Take your kid to work' day for state employees, as well as some city schools. What a nice mix of folks and a very nice stage with easy access and a professional stage crew. Wa-hoo!

300 folks per show with some special moments. I usually ask a teacher, this time a parent, to explain improvisation, and we got the response from, we can only assume a lawyer, something ad hoc. Don't you love Latin? We usually get wing it, go with the flow, make it up... goes to show who you hang out with.

When we play Blue Suede Shoes (Elvis) I like to play with the audience - one for the money (me), two for the show (audience), three (me) and....
That's where I usually get teachers up to 'shake that thang'. As I surveyed the audience, I wondered who would be a fun substitute. What stuck out? (really, this artistic decision-making work is easy) Guys with Ties! or guys with jobs.... Anyway, the boys knocked it out of the park, and every one was connected, doubled over in laughter. Guys with Ties ROCK! ....even if it's ad hoc.

Off to Short Hills tomorrow at Pingry.

RockRoots had another 'crack 'o dawn' production in Moorestown, NJ - getting to be familiar with that area in Burlington Co. - at 8 and 9 AM. It turned out to be a gas and a half. RockRoots was their pre-testing gift from the PTO and school.

The school gave out shades (sunglasses) to everyone, including teachers and staff, with the theme Get Good Grades, something, something Shades. They prepared a Power Point show with pix of teachers, staff and kids with their shades on. Very cool.

We were "signed" by two wonderful signers. It's a wonderful to have signers for the hearing impaired, but its also wonderful to witness the artistry and craft of this trade. Its was fun to work with them, off them and for them, and it all added to the show. Thanks.

Allen Middle School was a real treat and one of the best MS's we've played.

Tuesday was a day off in PA so I thought I'd experiment with some playground recordings, so I prevailed upon Holy Infancy school down the block on 4th street. It didn't quite work with the recorder, but the possibilities are great. Anyway, we had a great time with my 1st graders (they were my PASELA preschoolers), and a bunch of other classes and teachers. I must admit that I had Sister Joyce's name wrong, but she nailed a "Super Star!" like we've never seen. Holy Infancy's gym is the ultimate echo chamber - my music is still rebounding....

I had a fascinating day in New Brunswick at an Arts/Education gathering with plenty of administrators, teaching artists, and other artsy types. We were addressed by a real, genuine knight - Sir Ken Robinson, who talked about his concepts of "Out of our Minds - Creativity" He suggested a revolution in arts education, away from the "No Child Left Behind", to a creativity-driven (and the sciences are 'creative', too), customization, as opposed to standardization.

Looks like I have some reading to do.

I also attended a great workshop on Urban SmArts - creativity in the inner city. Fabulous with great tools and philosophies. then, I did a financial workshop that gave me a headache - this is the stuff that hurts my brain - but helped me immeasurably to be more $$ literate. No small task for me.

I do these seminars cause they inspire me and let me know I'm on the right path in many ways. And, I get to see other fellow travelers and teaching artists, and take in some philosophy, as well.

My thanks to YANJ for helping make this available to me and other arts-educator explorers.

good stuff.

RockRoots played in Long Valley, NJ in a great rural section of NJ, with some fine old houses along the way. A fine drummer sat in for the first time, John Kimock, son of guitar wiz Stevie. John filled in for Kevin, and John, the young dud that he is did a fine job, and he was mobbed by a bunch of eighth grad girls at the end. Don't ya love it?

I then motored down rt 31 and 202 to Warminster for my annual Pre-K school concert/art show that brought out some familiar faces, and some new ones, too. thanks to Jane for having me back all these years, and it continues to be a real family affair - kids dancing, parents singing, and cookies, too. Drive back to Bethlehem tonight, home to CT tomorrow, and the end of a long week away.

I have a day off today, so I followed my muse down a block to Holy Infancy School on the Southside of Bethlehem. I was working on my savage April tan and playing for the kids on the play ground. We sounded great and it make me think about an idea for my next album - The Play Ground Sessions! Stay tuned!

Another three assembly day in, this time in Allentown. The upper grades had just gone through 6 days of testing, so I was the antidote for the kids and teachers. I had a special session with the fifth grade, and, since it was a small group, I decided to bag the sound system/stage deal and play unplugged. The girls were quite mellow, and the boys rather raucous.

I always enjoy Muhlenberg's kids because of their respect and their infectious laughter. Good job, Muhlenberg! Also, they get the Quietest Exit Award - unbelievable!

A fifth grade teacher came up afterwards and said that her 6 year old child had just written his first sentence, which was, "The cat came back the very next day." Hmmm. I wonder where that came from? Powerful stuff, this folk music.

Tuesday had the lads in NJ for three show for 6th, 7th and 8th grades. It's always interesting to see which group of kids is the loosest - seems 7th grade got it this time. a special needs kid, Will, came up for I Like Peanut Butter in the last session, and he knocked it out of the park; in, fact, he led the way in participating, singing and dancing. Will made my day.

I went back to my favorite elder care site, Strong House in Madison, CT to play for the group. John, as usual, got up a danced with the nurses; he's in his 90's, and has that hint of mischievousness in his eyes. Mary, a very quiet woman, short with big eyes, sang along for the first time - first time I've heard a peep out of her. Egg shakers, tambourines, dancing, singing. These folks wear me out! I'll return in June.

So, I dropped in on Mrs. Asbath's 3rd grade - seems it's the day before tests, so we're gonna loosen up. We made a whole lotta noise, apparently, cause the Principal dropped in (and he did the Happy Shark with us). Great group of kids.

Looks like I'll be back for the whole school in May. Stay tuned. Thanks, Amy.

RR in the morning in NJ, on my way home for a span. Crocus's are coming up.

Every fifth Sunday, I hold the Vintage Open Mike at Godfrey's.Well, it was packed with 25 acts signed up, with a wide variety of storytelling, banjos, pop music, blues, singer-songwriters, simply amazing. Un-vintagely, we had to knock it down to two songs.

I asked the folks to come up with some stage names for themselves and here are some good ones:White Shoes Asbath, Cold Fingers Sweeney, Sweet Rose, Big Rib Reiber, Sorry Bill, Whitehall Jerry, No Show Radcliff (he left), Suz, The Juice and the Rev, and the Phantom. Good stuff.

Mrs. Whiteshoes came up and asked if I could visit Mosser School on the morrow. Sounds like fun. 9 am.

I revisited an open mike in East Haven - I did it four years ago, now run by Juli Neal with her band JJ Diamond Band. My friend Ron Anthony was the featured act and it was good to see him play for awhile. The event was filmed by local access TV, so maybe we'll see ourselves on our own TV's. All blurry... I played Giants and the Vegetable Song. Didn't screw them up. Yay.

It was nice to play on a real stage, though it would be a spectacular venue with some stage lights and background.

I have just been asked to be listed on the CT Librarians web site as performer and resource. Check it out at www.ctlibrarians.org. On the left hand side of the page, click on the Quick Link for the Library Resource Online Catalog (http://www.ctlibrarians.org/services/pubprog.html).

Anyway, I listed last night, and got a call this morning from the Oliver Wolcott Library in Litchfield, CT (where my daughter goes to The Forman School, perfidiously) for a date in June. Things move fast in the library world.

Dave Fry's Economic Employment Indicators (DFEEIs) are up in CT. Hurray!

Long day for the lads, with two sets at 9 and 10 am, then a three hour break, and the last set at 2 pm. We need our naps! We're musicians!

Anyway, we played for 5th, 4th, then 6th grades, each interesting audiences and reactions. 6th grade got a little crazy, 5th was mellow and 4th rocked. We were there 5 years ago.

Nice tie awards to the principal and asst. principal.

Dear RockRoots:
I loved the presentation you put on. Before your show, I did not like "western" or jazz or "blues" music. Now, I listen to it everyday on my way to school. I thought Rock and Roll was just people with paint on their face. Now, I love all kinds of music, thanks to you.
Sincerely, da'Vion. 2/8/08

It was my pleasure to perform at Godfrey Daniels 32nd birthday bash on the Southside of Bethlehem, PA. I twisted the arm of my good buddy Ron Anthony in CT to make a Road Trip out of the evening, so we set off to PA about 1:30 pm. We had three hours to settle politics, the folk music scene, and the fate of the world - which we did.

Godfrey Daniels is the club I started long, long time ago, and has survived my leaving for CT seven years ago. So I can usually count on at least one gig in the spring every year. Ron and I swapped tunes to open. Lizanne Knott did a middle set, and my space/rock/folk hero Joey Mutis finished up the night in style, with Joey playing a Woody Guthrie song in F. Flag on the play!

Anyway it was fun to bring Ron back to my roots and play in the best little coffeehouse in PA once again. Home Easter morning.....

I got a great email from a lady and her family in Slovakia today, and it's a touchstone for what I do.

Letter from Slovakia -– Wednesday, March 19th, 2008

Hello Dave,

Today I received a delivery of your three CDs ordered some couple of days ago. Great - I
was amazed by the speed of the delivery (all the way from CT!) and also very happy to
have them here in Slovakia.
And as I received them, I thought I would thank you immediately. Looking up the website
again and being in a search for your e-mail, (just out of mere female curiosity), I
looked up your NEWS section. And
here I see, that “a woman from Slovakia bought my three CDs". It must be me, I have
thought. This encouraged me even more to write....

You may wonder how that happened that “a Woman from Slovakia" ordered your CDs.
Well, I have a story for you.

Long time ago, I guess it must have been in a late spring of 1991, I lived with my then 5
year-old daughter Katarina in Coopersburg, PA. She was a first grader in Lower Milford ES
and one day you happened to be in that area performing for the kids. My daughter was
taken to your concert along with her other friends and she returned home with a cassette
with recordings of some of your songs. She was so thrilled that, ever since then, this
tape has a privileged place in our collection; no one of us ever got bored by listening
to it. A year later, we left US and returned back to Slovakia and your songs were keeping
us company through all the childhood of my daughter. The songs even became a nice
recollection of time spent in PA, and something like a family treasure.

In 2000, my little son Matthias was born, and my daughter passed this tape onto him. Now,
she, as a grown up, finds a lot of pleasure in singing all about spiders, watermelons and
peanut butter again along with her little brother. Although he has never had a chance to
see your performance (video recorded or so) he really likes the tunes and learns English
words by singing the songs with lots of pleasure. The only thing is that my little son
finds the tape "too short". Another disadvantage of this tape was, that as we
travel a lot, he could not bring it along with him to play it on his Discman. So I tried
to Google up your name in hope that, somewhere I might find a possibility to buy your CD.
And, HURRAY, here comes the website with chances to buy, not one, but even three
different CDs. My son´s birthday is coming up on 28 March - and I have a great surprise
for him. Three CDs from DAVE FRY!!!! From now on he can enjoy traveling with your songs
along.

Fantastic! Thank you, Dave, and we wish you many creative years ahead, so generations of
children can grow into adults, having fun and joy with your music. Thanks for keeping our
spirits young and smiling!

Mariana (me - the mom), Jaro (the dad), Katarina (the once little girl who loved you
first of us all), Matthias
(your new admirer)

I revisited one of my favorite Bethlehem schools - Wm. Penn ES. It's one of several open "pod" schools where classrooms are in ear shot of each other. Nice sense of community, and that's what we did together on Wednesday - teachers dancing with kids, kids singing with each other, and I got to watch it all from the front. It was RIF day, Reading is Fundamental, and we had a hoot. Thanks for having me back.

Ron and I trekked up to the South Green Open mike on Monday, with lots of folks showing up - some pleasant surprises. Even some James Joyce from Finnegan's Wake. I got to wind up my Celtic material, spanning several open mikes this month, with the Bonnie Black Hare. Ah, yes.

This Saturday was a Blue and Gold banquet in Jacobs Church, PA, in the rolling farmland north of Kutztown. Boy, I love this section of PA. Anyway, playing for rumblin', tumblin' stumblin' cub scouts is no easy thing (why do they call them Packs? I think I know.) A very nice time and ran into some familiar faces from Weisenberg and Northwestern Lehigh.

One very tall scout leader came over and introduced himself, and then said he saw my at his B&G dinner when he was a scout. Oooo, I'm so old.... But then, I'm still playing. Thanks.

Home to CT on the morrow.

I've had the opportunity to open for some heavy acts - Steve Martin, Ted Nugent, the Phillie Phanatic, Doctor Shock, and several times for Santa, but I got to open for E. Bunny himself - there ever elusive bunny himself. Last Saturday, I played in a pouring thunderstorm in the palmer Park Mall. And, sure enough, I finish my set, and Mr. Floppy Ears makes his entrance, and the whole audience gets up and follows him. Thank goodness I have a small ego.

We returned to a nice Catholic school Mt. Holly, NJ, Sacred Heart. We presented BlueRoots, an interactive program presenting the world of blues. We talked about the history of the blues, the format and the joy of playing the blues. A big tip o' the hat to the lads in the RockRoots band for participating in this new workshop. Lots of audience participation with kids up on stage playing rhythm instruments, teachers dancing and, I'm glad to say, some heavy educational interaction. Nice to come back to such a welcoming community. Cub scouts tomorrow.

Thursday's gig was a trek to northern CT to the small town of Goshen and a pleasant, small school in rural CT. It was a festive time, lots of movement and and overall swell time. Thanks for having me back to this precious little town. Off to PA for a gig in NJ in the morning.

Tuesday and Wednesday, the Northford boys hit the road for another open mike tour in CT. Ron Anthony, Pete Prizzi and myself went to The Space in North Haven on Tuesday - an amazing venue run by Steve of The Mighty Purple - and played. Then off to Roaring Brook's open mike on Wednesday. A really good night there. I've been playing all my Irish stuff though I have no St. Patty's gigs this year. Nice to lean on the old mandolin and hear it sing.

I just got an order from a woman in Slovakia for my three CD's. Cool!

We finally made to Colonia MS today with two lively shows. The 8th graders were particularly on today - they applauded when we came on the stage. that's a first.

I went out to pick kids for Peanut Butter, and pick one kid, who turned out to be a special needs kid. He got to shine in front of the whole school; he was so excited, he nearly jumped out of his skin. A nice moment.

Though his real birthday was earlier in the month, I managed to celebrate with some old friends and some new fans at the Scranton Library in Madison, CT. Thanks to Miss Jane, children's librarian extraordinaire, we celebrated in style in the rumpus room in the basement. A great crowd and a good time. I look forward to staring up my East Wharf concerts in Madison this summer. (Madison Beach and Recreation is looking for sponsors, so, if you have any ideas, talk to Austin Hall at B & R Dept.)

A long day of quick shows. We did four sets at a middle school in South Jersey on Wednesday. Seems that, to be able to fit in 4 lunch periods (gotta feed those kids), we had to do 35 minute sets of what is normally a 45 minute show. Phew - hard work paring down a tight show - the boys say, "Dave, don't ramble..." and I do my best. fun though... Back up 95 to CT at rush hour...

We wrapped up our training for YANJ's Creative Beginnings with a workshop on family and pre-k "art" nights, modeling kids and parents doing art together - we made magic hats - based on the story "The Magic Hat". good fun and instructive...

I returned to Weisenberg ES, near Kutztown, PA on Tuesday. I did a fabulous residency there awhile ago - some of the fourth graders were kindergarteners then. It's startling to get into sweat weather again. I brought out my purple electric guitar to lots of oohs and aahs. Nice to come back.

Day Two found me in Newark, DE for two cozy concerts at the Pottery Barn for Kids. Some familiar faces, lots of egg shakers on all parts. For the second set I broke out the heavy instruments, tambourines, bells and maracas. Even though the wee ones don't sing along, it's really cool for them to experience live music, and the egg shakers are excellent for them to participate. I love these shows -a half-hour set is as much work as anything else I do - worth the sweat!

Looks like Friday morning's show in Annapolis is going to be postponed til next Friday, February 29th (Leap Day!). Til then....

I landed at Roosevelt Fields on Long Island this morning for my first of three toddler concerts at Pottery Barns for Kids. We shook that thang! Johnnie and Natalie caught both shows, plus some familiar faces from earlier visits. I'll be back on June 4th.

Our RockRoots in Colonia was postponed due to early morning ice. So it goes... Off to Whippany in morn.

Tuesday was a great session with Creative Beginnings in Princeton. Michelle Mariglianc, dancer and movement artist, guided us with lots of movement and play, all immersing ourselves in the early-ed process. One thing stuck to me, that children express emotions and themselves first through body movement. Yup.

We do days of two shows every year at Passaic County CC's great auditorium, as the various city schools "come on down". We played for 11 schools that send classes down and they filled the place. Again, a treat, the first show mostly primary kids, and the second with mostly intermediate kids. Great to see kids and teachers "shakin' that thang". We'll be back on Thursday to do it all over again for more schools in Paterson. Yup.

Saturday took me to one of the coolest museums I've had the chance to play at - the Grounds For Sculpture, outside of Trenton, NJ. And, it was Ground Hogs Day, as well!! Two very friendly sets with families, Sophia's birthday party, little toddlers, and a whole lot of shakin' going on! A photographer for the Gardens was there, so look to their site in the future. This place has wide-open spaces with large pieces, winding paths with smaller surprises, indoor sculpture exhibits, cafe, etc., etc. Check it out. I plan to go visit in the spring with my wife, Kim. It's beautiful any time of the year. www.groundsforsculpture.org/

Sunday took me back home to CT to tote firewood, do my laundry and head up northwest to Roaring Brook Nature Center, home of the world-class folk venue, open mike haven and the loving care of Jay Kaplan. Jay and his o'possum opened the show for me, and I opened with the ever popular 5 Little Possums. Rosalie helped me out with the Happy Shark, which I learned from her. Check out the good stuff in Canton, CT. http://www.sciencecenterct.org/rbncpage/home.html

Off to PA, and listen to the Giants win the Super Bowl.

RockRoots cracked open the week at 8:30 am in South Plains, NJ at a wonderful school -stretching Catholic Schools Week into an extra day. Sister Nadine did most of the dancing, but that's okay. Extra credit for the snow squall. On to Paterson....

My third visit to St. Mikes in Limeport was a treat. I worked with the 4th grade on a song I wrote the night before. I learned that it would be Crazy Hat Day, so I penned (computered?) How Do You Like My Hat? We worked it out in a morning workshop, and then performed it in the afternoon. It came out really nice, and the 4th grade knocked it out of the park. I also did a pre K and K concert in the morning.

Such a lovely small Catholic school filled with delightful kids and teachers. I always look forward to Catholic Schools Week because of experiences like yesterday.

Monday was well spent at YANJ's headquarters near Princeton, NJ. These are training sessions in early childhood education. The morning session featured Ed Greene (www.pyramidprinciples,com) who's been doing this for a long time. Great info on the spectrum of learning abilities from 2-yr. olds through 5-yr olds. We also got to hear from two ladies who run a Pre-K center in Newark - boots on the ground, as they say.

The afternoon session was play time for the artists - Miss Tree, a wood-sculptor and teaching artist. She modeled her five-day residency, working with the kids and, importantly, the teachers. Very similar to the PASELA experience I participated in last year. All kinds of wood: blocks, twigs, bark, tree limbs, knobs, etc. The best thing to come out of the session was mixing it up with the other artists. A nice community, indeed. Oh, and they fed us!

We hit the stage in Hudson County, NJ this morning. We don't get into this area too much, though I know I pass through there all the time (ah, 95...) It was a joy to see the special-needs kids just get up and boogie. All in all, another great group of kids and teachers.

I played for an assembly and family night concert this last Friday. Albany Township (100 kids) bussed on over to Greenwich school north of Kutztown, PA. The last time I played there, there was no stage. But we did it up in style. I did pick on the dads at the family night, but how often do they get to sing and dance? Oh, well. Thems that did, did. Rock on, Dad!

What a time it was! We put in long day in Moorestown for 4th, 5th and 6th graders, crack o' dawn shows at 8:15 and 9:15 am and then a long haul til 1:45 pm. Phew. But good shows, with some very talented signers on hand, interpreting the show for hearing-impaired. We learned what "punk" is. Cool.

I'm constantly amazed by Donnie, Nick and Kevin who consistently play with great professionalism, joy and fun, regardless of the time or situation that we have to deal with. The lads continue to seize the moment and play like they mean it. And it doesn't go unnoticed, as the principal remarked, "It seems fresh each set." And it is!

RockRoots got to roll through the home of Count Basie today - Red Bank, NJ - into neighboring Fair Haven for two show with the middle school. The principal was crooning Somewhere Over the Rainbow as we entered, and it is now stuck in my mind. Thanks.... As always, the lads stepped (Donnie gets 3 hours sleep for Thursday gigs - he has a blues/jazz jam at The Raven's Nest every Wednesday, outside of Quakertown, PA). Amazing how playing music makes it all possible, even if sleep-deprived.

I had the pleasure to play for a wonderful school for the gifted in Elizabeth, NJ on Thursday. These kids (pre-K to 3rd grade) were into it, and we had a great time. Did you ever see a flamingo playing bingo? A good way to start off my '08 school season.

Nor'easter coming in on Sunday. Stay warm.

Twas a bitter cold night that brought out the CT openmikers in Middletown. Kent played his new OJ song again, Ted tinkled on the piano, Rick got mellow, Stan spanked the guitar, Train Wreck left on an airplane and Ron played C, F, G over and over again. Good though.

A three-sweat day on Monday....

The Banana Factory kicked off the day at 1:00 with a fairly loopy crowd, instigated by two loopy fans. A giggle fest, three NJ women, the big sister from Easton (I'm gonna tell..), and good families.

I then hit the stage at Godfrey's at 3 pm, no sound system, a lot of up and down and clownin' around. A very wee child to my left was full of joy, and proceeded to attack the stage. Again, a full house of kids, families and curious adults. I love it.

I had the luxury of playing the same stage later, as I sat in with my friend Joey Mutis, aka The Electric Farm. Joey and I shared a capo, several songs, and I got to see first hand Joey work his crowd. They did more singing than he did. Cool.

I followed up with two sets of my own, and these nights are special. Again, a very mixed bag o' folks, so I sprinkled in some of the kids' stuff like Shark and Peanut Butter, cause that stuff is simply great theater, regardless of audience. But I also got to stretch on some fun stuff for me from my folkie bag: Miss. John Hurt, Bo Diddley, swing, Celtic, etc. I pulled out my fabulous Waldzither again (only for special occasions), and plunked the mandolin. It's a real treat to spend two sets with friends. It's rare and wonderful, and the best way for me to celebrate the New Year! Thanks to you all.

I have a traditional visit to Culbertson ES in Newtown, PA for the last day of school before Christmas vacation. The principal, Tom Cook, insists on my assembly - actually I open for the teachers - and he told me it's been 18 years, now. Phew.... Christmas sweaters and teachers. Tis the season.

Last Friday night was a treat. The folks in Thomaston, CT had their open mike at the Thomaston Opera House. Normally, they hold it in one of the smaller rooms, but Friday night was in the Opera Hall itself. Magnificent. I asked if there were ghosts, and someone chirped up that there was one. Ooh...

Anyway, I was playing my mandolin - of course, into the sound system, when I wanted to hear the room itself, so I got up from the mike and walked to the front of the stage and continued to play. You know, that small instrument filled the hall, or the hall shrunk down to the mandolin's size. It was a powerful experience to play in that space. Wonderful!

I wrapped up my annual Daniel Boone school tour in style. I dodged the ice storm yesterday to get in both show for the Amity 2 - 5 graders, and, as the weather cleared, made it smooth sailing for today. the morning was spent at my favorite kindergarten center at Monacasy. I've been playing for these kids in this small center for years, and always features "Nice Dog", the school mascot. He was a hit again. The teachers had a feast laid out for lunch, including two chocolate/marshmallow desserts. Phew! The Center is closing down next year and I will sorely miss the place.

The afternoon was for the Amity K-2nd grade school. Opposite end of the spectrum - ~400 kids, but it lent itself to the "Dance Concert" concept. We had great time a-reeling and a-rocking!

Monocasy School also gave me a Dave Fry Daniel Boone 2007 Tour T-Shirt. How cool is that?

Since I had a down-day in Bethlehem today, I dropped in on "my kids" down the street at Holy Infancy. My PASELA kids are now 1st graders, but I've developed relations with the new Pre-K and K classes. We sang some of the old favorites, and I was serenaded by them with some of their Christmas songs. Always a delight and nice to experience their spontaneity again. Off to Amity tomorrow for a day and evening of song.

I had my first session on Tuesday with Young Audiences of NJ and its Creative Beginnings program. It's aimed at early childhood child-centered arts activities, and an emphasis on enabling teachers to use their own creative capabilities. I'll be working with other experts in the field as well as other artists, poets, musicians, theater folks, etc., similar to what I've done with PASELA. A good start.

I had the pleasure of attending and playing two songs at the Lehigh Valley Music Awards on Monday in Hellertown. I've always enjoyed checking out my fellow LV musicians and friends, recalling old barroom warstories, and listening to some new music (at least for my ears). This was the best run one of these things yet, thanks to Ian Bruce, the Meadows and Steve Walker, who managed sound for the evening.

I got to hear some new music from young(er) folks, Brittany Ann is wonderful new songwriter from Bethlehem, Dave Cahill channeled Django, good blues from Mike Dugan, a couple of crisp oldies bands, and cool Allman Bros. group The Mississippi Pig Farmers. Cool.

I was honored, along with Mike, Steve Brosky, Jake Kaligas, Tommy Zito for Twenty Years of Music to the LV. (Twenty? That's revisionist history.) I used my walker to get to the stage....

Godfrey's won Best Open Mike - along with the King of Open Mike's, Phil Stahl.

Godfrey's won the Musicians Choice - Best Venue, This one is special since it's voted on by the Lehigh Valley Musicians, all who recognize the great audience, sound and hospitality that makes Godfrey's such great play to experience live music. Thanks to you all.

Back to working on Christmas songs.... I have to relearn 'em every year.

Good to be back home. I've spend a good deal of time driving lately, but found a great podcast to keep me in a good frame of mind. Utah Phillips is now laying down ~17 minute reflections upon occasion and can be found on Itunes. Utah is one of the great voices in folk music, recognizing how important "sub-industrial" music is to our culture. Bruce comes from the union side of things, is quite the historian, and a gifted storyteller. He also speaks from the heart.

The Golden Voice of the Great Southwest, as he goes by, has been a tremendous influence in what I do, having seen him perform at Cafe Lena's, just as I was discovering this lively (and live) art in the late 60's. He began to play Godfrey's in the late 70's, along with sidekick Rosalie Sorrels, and that was a dream come true. A consummate rascal and raconteur who cared about the club and its folk music audience.

Utah has curtailed his live performances due to heart problems, but has taken upon himself to report in from Nevada City, CA, via the internet, and his sessions are pithy, funny and instructive, and its great to hear his wise words as well. Check it out. www.utahphillips.org/

A marvelous RR in NJ - no travel problems - and the music teacher Mr. Bond sat in on trumpet. He played on Charlie Stone and literally blew us, the kids and his fellow teachers out of the water. Phew! There's a a lot of music teachers who have mighty chops and often don't get to "show off" for the kids. thanks, Mr. Bond!

Of to the Lehigh Valley Music Awards in Hellertown tonight and I will catch up with some of my friends in the biz, play a song and hear some new folks as well. I'll check in tomorrow with the details.

Crack o' dawn again... 5:30 am start, but it was worth it with two energetic sets for the 5th and 6th grades at Grant School. Good show, lads. Back to CT on Wednesday.

We had the pleasure to play for the primary kids (pre-K thru 3rd grade) in Dutch Neck, NJ. It's really neat to play for relatively young kids - though they may not be able to immediately reference the styles and influences we cover, the overall message gets out: there's a lot of great music out there, and, perhaps more importantly, live music is wonderful. That's why I love playing with Don, Nick and Kevin. The lads and I love LIVE music, and it shows.

We made the front page in Roxbury, NJ recently. Cool bunch of kids singing "I Like Peanut Butter". Yes!
http://www.recordernewspapers.com/articles/2007/11/19/roxbury_register/front/doc4741dfb744 419227180959.txt

Long day, starting at 5:30 am to get to East Brunswick, but it ended up in style at one of the best open mikes in CT, Roaring Brook in Canton, CT. Run by Stan Sullivan, food by Anne Ramos, Nature Center by Jay Caplan. The Northford Boys (Pete Prizzi, Ron Anthony and myself) hit the road and we actually played one after another. I played an old Bo Carter song, former Mississippi Sheik from the 30's, "I got the Whiskey and You got the Gin", one I pulled from my Shimersville Sheiks repertoire. Eric Parradine sat in, and it was fun - I hadn't played that song this century and more. Good to catch up with my acoustic friends in CT.

We returned to our annual gig at Hammarskjold Middle School for the six grade. We've been doing it for ~ 10 years perhaps, and its always at 8:00 AM - crack o' dawn. Best set of six graders yet! Done by 10:30 - amazing.

RockRoots had the privilege to perform for the Forum School in Wycoff, NJ on Tuesday. The gym was packed with teachers and kids. Special needs kids, and that makes it special for us. The "give and take" is real and deep, and the band rises to the occasion. The Peanut Butter Kids knocked it out of the park, lots of dancing, and several memorable reactions of the teachers. Music is a powerful force for all that is good in the human condition. We felt it today.

Crack o' dawn tomorrow in East Brunswick, NJ. And the Roaring Brook Open Mike in CT at night to help me keep grounded. Another day of driving/music/driving/music/driving. It's what I do.

I trekked up to New Hampshire on Sunday for a NEFA conference, in search of gigs in the Great Northeast. Matchbook.com is the site of various artists like me looking to expand into NE. Always a mixed bag.

I met some wonderful artists, including two folks I've appreciated from afar. Bill Shontz, from the legendary family music duo Rosenshotz, a fine clarinet (etc.) player, and founder of the Children's Music Hall of Fame. It's a new site for finding folk like myself, playing for kids and families. Check it out: www.childrensmusichalloffame.com My music will be up soon.

Another fellow I enjoyed connecting with was Jeff Warner, another member of a duo Warner and Davis. A tape drifted into my hands and ears while booking Godfrey's. A wonderful folk performer for many years, and, as I found out, son of two folklorists who did alot of work in NC, and collaborated with the legendary Frank Profitt, old time banjo player and man who took it on himself to find and preserve his own family's and region's music. Frank was a banjo maker, as well, and Mike Cooney first introduced me to his fretless banjo.

Not many booking folks there, but it's the first year of the conference. Meeting fellow artists tends to make the event memorable.

Back to Newark for a Pottery Barn Toddler concert - my banjo took a header, so I got some repairs to do. These kids are dangerous! ..but lovable, too. Some familiar faces, including a mom and son who can't travel in the car without Peanut Butter in the CD player. Glad I can be there to get you through.

PASELA has come out with a video on the arts/education project I just wrapped up this year. Check it out. I wasn't around for the live taping segments, but it captures the flavor of the experience. http://www.artliteracy.org/pasela-video.html

Off to CT for an Alzheimer's gig in my old hometown, Madison. These folks like to sing and dance. Why not? Little Feat did a great song - "Old Folks Boogie" says it all. The beat goes on....

I car-surfed I-95 today onto Long Island for my umpteenth toddler tour - crack o' dawn (pre-dawn, now that the clock's turned) - and arrived at Roosevelt Fields mall. I'm actually finding the right parking tower - that's spooky. A small and friendly crowd of moms and kids, and little kids, and babies, too.

I employed the hands-on route today - put the music in their hands early, and then put music on their lips later. God bless the plastic egg shakers! Very parent friendly.... And, as I moved along, I brought out the esoteric stuff. And, as I've found with my Alzheimer's friends, the hand movements makes the music immediate and sensate.

I've wondered, while I'm in my "performance" mode, whether I'm reaching the really wee kids, but today I was taken by one girl, perhaps 10 months old, who was transfixed on me and the LIVE music. She set her eyes on me and wouldn't let go. Makes me ponder the power of music....

Onto Delaware tomorrow, crack o' dawn....

Election day 2007, and the schools are closed except for the Family Services folks here in North Branford. I got to play for the pre-K up to fourth graders, and it was a mile from my house! I'm used to hopping in the car and driving for hours, but not today!

Tomorrow, Long Island and then to Delaware on Thursday, so it was good to close to home while it lasted.

We traveled up to Succasuna, NJ to play four sets in the Middle School and Elementary School - a long day. Kevin played the first two, then he set off for his evening gig in Boston (a real long day for him) and Wayne drove out for the second two.

I tailed back to Bethlehem for First Night on the Southside at my occasional haunt, Tallarico's Chocolate. It started slow, but then the chocoholics came in. Some of my wee folk fans showed up and entertained us all with singing and dancing. A good way to end up a day doing what I do best - playing music.

We were off to NJ again today for a doubleheader in Colonia and our yearly visit to Madison, NJ.

The Colonia school featured a 2nd grader dressed like Johnny Cash. As the show started up, I asked him up - he said he played guitar - and adjusted my guitar strap, cranked up the amp.... he started out on "Smoke on the Water", the band kicked in, and... it... was... great! He knocked it out of the park! I love surprises.

We have played Sabatini school every Halloween forever, and it truly is the best costumed group of kids we run into. This year, in the audience, was John Lennon and both Elvis and KISS were up on stage with us. Elvis shook that thang, and KISS sang "I Like Peanut Butter", in costume and shades, and the guy's tongue really is that long! A good way to celebrate a RockRoots Halloween.

Another great New Jersey name! We played the ES and MS today, just off Rt 78 in middle NJ. Yup; it was fun.

Both Kevin and Donnie had gigs the night before and were tuckered out, but they came through like the troopers they are.

Crack o' dawn tomorrow - yet another great Jersey name Succasunna!

This past weekend kicked off the frenzy of Halloween parties - and I love it. It's the wonderful opportunity to shuck off our every-day personae, and take a spin in another character. Why not?!

Friday night , I played at a day care facility in Orange, CT, where I played for several spider men, princesses, football players and folks decked out as parents. We raised a ruckus, for sure.

Saturday gave me two opportunities to play, one at a birthday party for Nick in Old Lyme, and for a private party for adults in Madison. It was nice to have a weekend of "local" gigs for a change.

The birthday party in Old Lyme was in a magnificent old house on the main street in this classic Shoreline town. I got to play in the front hallway - great acoustics - for a really good group of kids. One dude appointed himself as roadie, and helped me set up my stuff. Green cake with a rubber chocolate skin - good, though.

The evening performance was a great change, playing for older folks (at least, older than me...) in small sitting room. Nice folks, good food, and every Halloween gadget one has ever seen: talking mummies, ravens, skeleton pirates, etc. I was struck by the fact that older folks like to sing along, whether its "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" or my more personal favorites like "Branching Out" and "Giants". Folk music has always been a social lubricant, and its nice to see it work its magic.

Next week, more Halloween fun and a big RockRoots tour in NJ.

A long drive to Annapolis, MD, but well worth it. Lots of toddlers and moms, one dad. I was particularly amazed by several infants who were totally bug-eyed with the live music, entranced by all the sound, kids and the live music. Amazing!

Just a couple blocks from the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday at Little Silver, NJ. Again, a great name for a town. Donnie picked on the principal, the custodian, as usual, making feel oh, so welcome. Kevin was in his Fidel Castro costume (was it a costume?), Nick in his Jack Bruce outfit, and I still can't figure out what Donnie is. RockRoots rolls on!

Off to Annapolis - crack o' dawn tomorrow.

This incredible weather continues. The Saucon Valley CC hayrides were in shirt-sleeve temperatures, and we sang along to Giants, The Cat Came Back, etc. The thing I like especially about this gig is that the families are together. Let's see: three ninjas, five princesses, four Egyptians, two vampires, an assorted alien or two, Army guy, soccer dude. I love the Halloween season.

We had a good time at the Banana Factory for the families of the Red Door Center. Thanks to Karol and Kristen for putting the event together. One toddler, Brandon, had me autograph his blue guitar. Cool.

I played in the art gallery, and just behind me was a plywood box attached to the wall, oh, about as big as shoe box. The top was painted white. That was it. The price? $2000. I pointed out that my CD's seem quite a bargain. But then again, if you only sell one at $2000, that's not bad.

Hayride in Saucon Valley on Sunday!

Well, another summer day in October.... thunder showers and a very interesting sky. I was in Ironton, just off Mauch Chunk Road (one of my favorite-sounding PA names). I did an assembly in the afternoon and then a Book Fair Family concert in the pm. Again, a good time had by all.

The moment that stuck out in my mind was refreshing a connection with Matt, a new teacher at Ironton. Matt is the step-son of my very good friend, photographer of the stars, and band-mate Hub Willson. We both agreed that Hub's sonic "spider" is the signature of his true artistry; listen to "Spider on the Floor" and you'll understand.

Matt's is a story unto itself, and I've told his story to some of my friends. Matt worked for a large pharmaceutical company, well-paid, but subject to some heavy philosophical dilemmas. He, and his young family, packed it in, and decided to become an elementary teacher. A mighty decision that really impresses me. Matt - you are a super star in my book. It is about community...

We had really good show in Morris Plains, NJ this morning. Interesting layout with 3th, 4th ,5th ,6th grades on the main floor and 7th and 8th in the balcony. It's not often we play schools with that grade range in one school, but it worked for us.

Saturday was a picture-perfect fall day for this festival in CT, in my old home town of Madison. Folks were all over the place, at reptile and birds of prey demos, hay rides, food consumption, and, of course, music. It was nice to see familiar faces from my East Wharf summer concerts, and lots of toddlers playing rhythm instruments. Fresh apple cider! Tis the season.

"Let's Swim Together" was a ball on Friday night; we raised a ruckus and money for Matt's new bout with therapy. Matt's dad came up afterwards, and said that Matt's doing well, looking good and up for the new round of treatments.

I put Matt's picture on my guitar's head stock, and the whole thing was video-taped for Matt, since he's off to the hospital. We had "Shark" bracelets (ala Lance Armstrong's) and a big production of "Magic Penny" performed by all the kids for Matt's sake.

It's great to see a community come together to help out the Bell family, especially those who baked cookies, donated raffle items, hot dogs, etc. Thanks to Christine Haffling for putting it all together.

I returned to Topton School on Thursday - a day between gigs - and signed a bunch of CD's for the kids that ordered them.

It reminded me of a very funny thing that happens when I was there last month. I've taken to asking kids what their stage name is. I'm finding out that more girls have this figured out ahead of time.... One boy, Zeke, said, "I'm Z -man." That was good. But the next kid told me his real name, and I when I asked him for his stage name, he said, "Bob." A palpable silence and then the whole place went nuts... You had to be there. The only "Bob" I know would be Dylan, so it's not overused.

Off to Belvidere, NJ for a benefit concert for Matthew Bell, for whom good friends of the Bell family are sponsoring this event. Two sets this Friday at 7 pm: lots of shaking and dancing and singing. I'm really looking forward to an evening celebrating community with these folks.

What a great name for a Jersey town. I wonder if it ever made it into Dave Van Ronk's New Jersey Blues tune? Anyway it was good to get the lads out on the road again for another busy assembly season. The 3rd, 4th and 5th grade assembly really rocked - lotsa dancin' and carryin' on (educationally speaking, of course).

I had the Tuesday blues on a Wednesday - Nick corrected me - seems Columbus Day threw me off. Easily done...

I dropped in on Shirlene, who lives outside of Hellertown, PA with here husband and fan Dave, many cats and her glorious garden of dahlia's. Row and rows of knockout beautiful flowers, some ten inches across. Its a slice of heaven to see these wonderful flowers, and to witness the tremendous amount of work that goes into these tubers. She's in the midst of making arrangements and selling them to make some money for her church. One of my most favorite places on earth.

Kevin, Nick, Donnie and myself did a quick 15 minute showcase for YANJ in Hamilton, NJ this morning, introducing ourselves to a passel of 4th graders and a mess of PTA moms. It went well and it was good to see the lads again. Donnie's got his own band up and running - checkout the Don Mayer Band site: donmayerband.com/ and Kevin's off to Boston for his band's gigs this weekend.

I'm in Bethlehem for the weekend - I'm running a Vintage Open Mike at Godfrey's - it happens only on a blue moon, or the 5th Sunday of a month. We hope to see all the old open mike vets dust off their "cue-sticks" and come on out.

I had a wonderful time in Topton, PA today, back in my old haunts in the hills of Macungie, Longswamp, Mertztown, Kutztown, Siesholtzville, Rockville, Lyons. I played for the K-4th grades and we all worked up a sweat. Thanks, folks! Back to CT tomorrow morning - crack o' dawn....

I had an inspiring Saturday at an Arts Education seminar in Middletown, CT, sponsored by Young Audiences of CT, on "The Art of Inclusion". Centered on reaching children with disabilities, myself and a group of artists explored the latest in brain research in how the brain is wired in early childhood. Amazing! It seems most of the optimum windows of learning for speech, basic motor skills, vision, vocabulary, etc. happen early on, and that the arts play a great part in reinforcing them. Powerful stuff.

The past two nights have been some good get-togethers with some of my CT performers at two open mikes here in CT - Peaberry's in Simsbury and at the Buttonwood in Middletown. A good crowd at Peaberry's (I'll be there the first Saturday of October) and I got to meet Sour Grapes, a husband/wife quasi-jug band. The lady played a boom-pah with a crutch as its base - very cool. We had a nice discussion about the boom-pah, or devil's fiddle, as it's called back in PA. Good time had by all. The Buttonwood was a small crowd, but inhabited by some of the same folks that were at Peaberry's the night before. Do any of us have a life?

Off to the Farmers' Market on the green in Madison today. I look forward to playing more than two songs....

It was a hot and sweaty day in Kent, NY, as I helped open up this hamlet's community day on Sunday. I encountered a young blond kid who used every chance to get on mike to sing "Leaving on a Jet Plane". The power of the microphone! Back to CT.....

I've been doing some work on my computer to process some great pix passed on to me by some very creative kids. I'm in the process of putting these pictures into a workable form and will be making some of this great kids' art available. Stay tuned.

Another rousing session at one of my favorite gigs (yes, another one...) on Third Street on the SouthSide of Bethlehem - First Friday. Interpretive dance, laugh-out-loud toddlers, and mighty fine chocolate.

As I set up in the afternoon, Brian greeted me with chocolate-soaked gloves - how cool a job is that?! Well, we're in the same boat - folks who decided to work for ourselves. Yes, there are moments when we both wonder what the heck are we doing? Well, ya gotta do what ya have to do....

A wonderful moment with a dancing toddler, simply starting to dance (how come the adults aren't ?) and then bursting into laughter. It caught fire. Yes, adults, kids, and myself, couldn't help but chuckle out loud. A woman came up afterwards and said, "It's a gift from God to make children laugh."

Yes, it is. And it still is all of us, if allowed to bloom. Sometimes you have to let the children lead: dance, laugh, sing and be ourselves. I'm a lucky guy, to be able to experience it so often.

As the summer comes to a close, we did it in style at the East Wharf Gazebo in Madison. Another beautiful evening on the beach. Thanks to all who came out this summer for these wonderful family events, and to Austin Hall of the Beach and Recreation Dept. and his new daughter, Grace, who made her appearance tonight. So many familiar faces and so many Madison friends! I hope y'all can make it out to my next Madison gig on Sept. 14th on the Green for the Farmers' Market.

I'll be making up the missed August gig on Dec. 8th when I gig with Santa Claus at the Surf Club. Stay tuned!

It was my pleasure to attend for the third year Will Tressler's annual picking party in Easton, CT. On their rambling CT farm, Will, his wife Katie and his family have been throwing this hoot for 44 years, drawing pickers and grinners and folkies in a rarefied opportunity to celebrate music. Groups like the Ash Creek String Band, the Pulpit Rock Rounders, the Easton Banjo Band, the Walking Wood Mandolin Quartet and Will's own band The Jackson Pike Skifflers. Bluegrassers jamming here, Irish tin whistlers over there, .

The Tressler's barn is a great venue, stage and sound, tables and folk music in front of a listening audience. I got to play three songs early on, and then I settle in to take it all in.

Last year, Pete Seeger showed up and played; what a great surprise and I got Pete to sign my banjo. This event makes my summer and epitomizes all that's good about Connecticut folk scene, and folk music in general.

Whoda thunk... that I'd be on the Toddler Tour at Pottery Barn for Kids. Today I was in Newark, Delaware. Packed house and a great crowd. Again, I do get the best seat in the house. Moms with babies, toddlers, pre-k, grandparents. Exposure to live, acoustic music is such a great thing, regardless of age, and it's a privilege to introduce music to these new ears and minds. I come away surprisingly refreshed.

If you blinked, you missed my Musikfest appearance this year. A good, sweaty time was had by all. We passed around the fool's hats and carried on under the tent. My friends from Kentucky drove up for their annual visit (hat's off, folks), Dawn - PASELA partner was there (fellow honorary kid), and lots of friends and families from other far flung places. Seamus Kennedy knocked off a great family set before me, and stuck around for some of my set. It's a special treat to play for Irish royalty.

Several great moments - lots of kids on stage. and a banjo-failure. Hmmm.

One girl had a new Knock-knock one that I loved for some reason..
Knock, knock. Who's there? Orange. Orange who? Orange you glad I didn't say Rock and Roll? I'm still chewing on that one.

My friends, Dave and Terry did sound, and it's fun to have nice equipment to play with - first of all, I didn't have to set it up, and, second, I could concentrate on the audience. Thanks, guys...

Sunday's gig was in Westchester, PA for Moms of Multiples - twins, twins, twins everywhere, with some fraternal duos as well (brother/sister). I had the best seat in the house, watching and comparing the look-a-likes. Fascinating!

Back to CT, crack o'dawn to play at Bright Horizons day care in Orange. Again, lots of fun for all.

Truly one of the gems of CT in Old Lyme, the Florence Griswold Museum is a world-class museum of American Impressionism, where Florence had a boarding house of artists who congregated, painted out in nature and shared a new revolutionary way of painting. There's a modern museum facility, and Florence's house is chock full of the works of her boarders, including paintings in the panels of the doors and kitchen/dining room.

I played two sets under the shade of a giant tree, and we had a ball. Old Lyme was swamped with art lovers all over town and it was a hot, humid day. Ah, July!

RockRoots had the privilege and pleasure to play for the good folks, kids and teachers, near Atlantic City today. It's a time to reflect on the power of music; it's an awesome device that creates community and positive energy in our world. My thanks to the guys in the band who continue to reach out to every audience we play for.

"I love your music and I would love to meet you in real life. I have 2 CD's of yours. I have "Peanut Butter and Jelly". That one kind of got scratched because I listened to it all the time. My CD player always ran out of batteries because I had your CD in there 24/7. I also have "Shake It". That one I keep safe and I only use it when I clean my room. I don't want that one to get scratched too bad."

Nice to know my music is being used productively. I'm replacing the Peanut Butter CD for her. I've never considered myself 24/7 before. No wonder I'm tired at the end of the day.

Another beautiful day to play! This time it was in a park grove in Trumball, CT, part of a regular noon time Tuesday family concert series. Last year it was rainy, and a "select" audience showed up. Today, my goodness, we had a crowd. I did it au plen aire, a mangled French expression for "out in the air", no sound system (oops), but the kids gathered around and we had a ball. Unplugged.

Interestingly enough, I had my bag of rhythm instruments out, and I said, "Come up and pick up an instrument." Well, for the first time, a little girl went right for my 1920's mandolin. Whoa! Oh, well, that's what I said, and I should always watch what I say around kids.... But you know that.

Off to Annapolis, crack o'dawn....

We attended your concert tonight in Pen Argyl, PA and I wanted to tell you how wonderful it was to see you perform. Your enthusiasm and energy was unbelievable and you really connected with your audience. When my friends suggested we come to the concert with them, we had no idea what we were getting into... but once we got there, it was great! We are now planning to come and see you at Musikfest in August too.. and we are bringing some more people with us!

I also wanted to thank you for spending some time with us after the concert was over and singing with the kids. I must say.. you MADE their day!! Before we even left for the concert the kids were talking about it... but then it continued all night long!! As a teacher, I understand that sometimes you just want to go home... but I also understand what it is like to touch the hearts and minds of kids. Thanks again for being so wonderful to them!

Thanks for the kind words, Debbie.

Just drove back to Bethlehem, with a fabulous July sundown. I just played in Pen Argyl, PA on an old-fashioned clam-shell stage in a small town park. The old folks come and park their chairs, in the back - it's safer there. The families spread blankets and old friends come out of the woodwork.

So, there I was, mixing it up for the assembled scene, when this guy and his wife and two kids pull up on one of the benches near the front. I thought to myself - that looks like John Gorka - but nah...what's he doing in deepest, darkest Pennsylvania? So, I go on, and, as I do so often, I break a string, do a few more songs and take a break to repair the damage. (I have to say, the old guitar did remarkably well as a five string guitar...)

It was John, my old buddy and folk legend... His mom lives two blocks away, and they were in town visiting and saw my name on the park sign. I played "Branching Out" for the crowd, embarrassed him (not really). Looks like I'll have to check on if I did it right, and re-learn it from my CD.

Simply a wonderful night, playing music in a park on a Sunday with old and new friends.

Busy week ahead in CT, MD, NJ and CT.

I just spent two intense and exciting days in Philly as part of an artistic/musical panel for PennPAT, a wonderful Pennsylvania resource for touring aritists (one I was lucky enough to be part of when I lived there). The panel listened to ~75 acts, reviewed promo, and decided on who would be added to the state roster. Classical, folk, jazz, world, and many interesting niches therein.

The panel included Larry Ridley, who toured on bass with Monk for 10 years (imagine how he hears music?!), Gabrielle Goodman, jazz vocalist from MA, Anthony Kelley, Duke professor of composition, and Vanessa Whang, arts consultant and musician from NYC. It was really neat to discuss musical excellence amongst these folks. It's nice to be invited up to the White Tower every once in a while.

Thanks to PennPAT and Katie West for putting us to work - and feeding us. The chocolate brownies were really, really good!

I traveled to Port Chester for a recreation dept. gig in the Kings St. Park. Great kids and fun counselors. It's so important that the counselors participate and have fun. Often, the teens don't loosen up, and the little kids see that and react similarly. These counselors had it down, and a party happened.

I then headed back to Madison for a return trip to Strong House - an elder facility I've been to a couple of times. I took my bag o' shakers - a trick I picked up from my toddlers' experience - and it was was really good. It kept the folks in the game, and we had a hoot! Looks like I'll be back regularly, and they're working on a grant for music and Alzheimer's, so I hope to expand my understanding of this powerful thing called music. Always curious.....

After playing Saucon Valley Country Club on the Fourth, I passed by the Sleepy Hollow Graveyard and on to Croton on Hudson for a day camp gig. Hot and sweaty!

Saturday was a delightful day performing along the Susquehanna River in Harrisburg. As folks strolled up and down this riverside park. I performed at the Children's Stage and got to hear a wonderful African-American storyteller, Mr. Jojo, from Philadelphia, playing an African "harp" and spinning tales from the Georgia South Sea Islands and other locales. Good stuff! Back home to CT....

Interesting day on the road.... Having played twice on Thursday in the Lehigh Va