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.