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…