Iv’e bee invited back many years to this summer kids camp in Tarrytown, NY.  Lots of kids in a hot and sweaty gym, and it’s tough, but fun.  Kids at camps are freer to zone out (no TV), but, with good, involved counselors, the kids respond.  Glad to get ’em up and moving.  Tomorrow, Father Folk in Berks County.

An intesting gig in many ways.  A hot plaza in the middle of the Biznez district, in the shadow (I wish) of the PP&L Building.  I set out playing adult stuff, no kids, yet, and continued for an hour and a half.  No Kids!  Cool.  Some good friends showed up, Pat, Andy, Mike and Sybil, Larry.  Not a big crowd, but it was fun to crank it up in the center of a city.

Andy Scap saved my tush from an Allentown Parking Cop,  Let’s say I snuck out of town, just in time.  Thanks, Andy.  Off to Tarrytown tomorrow.

This was the first visit to this speciall needs school in Paramus.  This group included many wheelchairs, and one on one care.  The band and I have to find a fine line between too much talk, volume, dancing, etc. and still involve as many of the kids in as many ways as possible.  The teachers were right there, getting the kids to move, vocalize, touch, clap, dance.  The music finds a way.

The band really has to think on its feet to adapt to these conditions, and the lads are true pros.  It works, we have fun and get paid, and we bring a lot of joy to some folks who really need it in their lives.  (Not in that order…)

To Bethlehem for an Allentown gig tomorrow.

This was the 25th annual Blueberry Festival at one of the neatest places in Bethlehem.  It’s an old farm that has existed in the city limits for a long time; it was rediscovered and restored to an incredibly wonderful place.  Herb gardens, restored barn.

The connection goes way back to my friendship with Gertie Fox, a wonderful eco-activist who literally patrolled the Monocasy Creek looking for polluters,  I was asked to play for the first one, out on the stoop in some rubble, no sound, plunking out ‘Fishin’ Blues’.  Kim, my wife, was asked to investigate vintage apple varieties in order to restore the orchard.  They are fine trees now. 

A classy festival, great crafts, fine local music and great sound.  Truly a pleasure.

It was another Madison Twofer, with Strong House and the Farmers’ Market.  Four hours of practice.

Strong House is an adult daycare facility, and they bus folks off to this nice center.  They gather in the listening room, oh, 20 or so folks, and we play.  I get to do some of my kids stuff, play mandolin, fool with them, and eventually we’re all singing, banging tamborines, and often reckless dancing breaks out.  Little pay but great learning experience.

Off to the Green for the Farmers’ Market.  It’s hot but there is a big old tree covering where I sit, so we cool.  Again, lots of kids picking up the instruments, running around, families on blankets, dogs of all sizes.  It struck me, this is what a town green is all about.

One little girl showed up in a pink cape and matching pink cut-out gloves – all with her initial “I” embroidered on them.  (Isabelle, as I found out) I need a cape!

Off to Bethelehem for tomorrow’s Blueberry Festival.

Thursday is the day of my first official presentation at one of these events.  My workshop is called ” It’s All in the Song”,  and I put together a Power Point (with clicker!!) and we did exercises with The Cat Came Back, Down By the Bay, Names of the Animals, and wrote a very nice blues by us all.  “We’re HOT, and That’s Cool”. which we/I premiered at that night’s open mike.  A big hit amongst the arts/ed crowd. 

The workshop went well, and I receiver a few good comments, so we’ll see if I get any work out of this one.  I was told they gotta see your work, and the open mikes and active participation in sessions isn’t good enough.  Still feeling I’m on the outside looking in.  Keep on, though. 

I took a day off from the HOT Schools to make some money.  I had Clinton Day Care booked, but then my friends at Camp Happiness called, last minute to see if I could squeeze one in.  No problem.

The Day Care was two sets, one for the wee ones, and one for the older kids – each with its own quirks, shall we say.  The little kids were fun, a lot of the wee-wee ones just stared (that’s ok, too).  Lots of hands on rhythm instruments.

The older kids, especially the boys, have too much TV in them, so its different.  Lots of eye-to-eye, some goofing on, etc.  But boys are like those magnetic dogs, bound to jump on each other.  Such is evolution.  I was sweating when I left for Milford.

Ah, Camp Happiness.  They like me there.  and I like to be there, too.  It’s a special needs camp (not extreme as some places I play) in Milford, and these kids are sharp as are the counselors.  It’s a rare and wonderful thing when the counselors are involved in what I do.  It take us it all to a better place for all of us: I get to experiment with different ‘techniques’, the kids get to shine, and the counselors witness wonderful things with the kids.  Many, many different  ‘aha’ moments for me, the kids and staff.  Intense and gratifying making music/art together. 

I’m a lucky guy.

A full day of networking, workshops, and arts/ed co-mingling.  Morning track with Sharon, a HOT Schools teacher with a vast knowledge and many tools to intigrate the arts in the class.

The afternoon was Korean instrumentalist, and I had the opportunity to take her meditative music class, and it was wonderful.

Amongst the plethora of ideas she introduced me to, was letting the instrument ring to its fullest.  We felt the vibrations fade in our hands (ringing bowls, temple bells, rain stick, etc.).  I can see why this does work in some inner-city schools to develop meditative behavior.  We sang, played, listened.  Very nice, and I have some tools for my Loving Kindness Group in New Britain.

A good day expanding my horizons.

First day of HOT Schools!  An inspiring and intellectual gathering of teaching artists, teachers, administrators, principals, etc.  We hash out what we’re trying to do as arts-educators.  Bunch of speechifying and noble talk, but its always good to keep in contact with the folks in the trenches, so to speak.  I respect a bunch of these folks – Mark, Thomasina, and many other familiar faces.  Good to be here.

I had the express pleasure to be the feature at LL’s open mike on Saturday Night.  I opened the evening with a nice 25 minute set of my good stuff.  The open mike followed with some friends I was glad to catch up with.  Maggie Spike, Dave Stever, Jim Steager, Mance, and got to hear a whole passel of new folks.

It’s great to see a community raise up folk music out of the land, both local and national and promote live acoustic music.  ….good for them.

I had actually played in that room when it was the ‘all-purpose room’ at Jaimie’s kindergarten school in 1998?  A nice symmetry.

I finished up the evening, packed up and drove back to Bethlehem.  A short drive, for once.

I headed out to the Hills of PA for two campfires at an old kids camp in the Poconos.  The camp’s been run for 50 years or so by the same family.  Lots of tradition.  Mickey, the camp director, heard of me from Sing-Out! Magazine, so he wanted to give the kids an idea of ‘Pete Seeger” campfires, and try to get across what an unamplified songfest is all about.  A tough gig on several front.

It rained so we were in some bigger pavilions, much less romantic, and acoustically challenging situations.  The first – 70 boys – and counselors.  The counselors and most of the boys got the message, but some guys were in techno-land and couldn’t relate.

The second was with 200 girls, some teens, too.  Bigger audience but more willing to interact.  I did ‘Happy Shark’ and some girls performed their version.  Very cool.  I’m glad I had spent some time in the gym to prepare for the physical strain.  A long, but quiet ride to Bethlehem through the quiet and dark road of NE PA.  good for the soul.  Zionsville tomorrow night.

I showed up late to the festivities at the East Wharf – my mistake – in Madison, where there was a nice crowd gathered for my return to the Beach Concerts, started years ago with my friend, Austin.  Nice to see old, young friends, families and grandparents to share the beach, good weather, and good times.  Food, sand, dancing and singing.  I’ll be back in three weeks, on time, this time, at 6 pm.  A special summer treat.

Cheney Hall, in Manchester, CT has started an open mike for the summer, and I took the advice of several friends to go up and play.  Trainwreck, Ron, Knott Bros., and some new faces.  We played n the basement of the hall upstairs that brings in Tom Rush, and lots of folk I know from Godfrey’s days.  I’d like to open for them, but it’s one of those reaches that has to start from playing for the people in charge.  so I did.  Strong set, strange sound.  Good to play for new folks and old friends, too.

I kicked off Kids’ Summer Library with a concert in the new and comfy Smith Library.  Grandparents, kids, families gathered for a nice evening of fun.  Highlite was “Happy Shark” amongst the cut-out sharks on the ceiling.  Cool.  I’ll open the new Atwood Library in North Branford on Wed., Aug. 4th at 6:30 pm.

Ron and I trekked up to Windsor for the new Open Mike with Danielle in charge.  Some old friends, and a quiet night.  Good for the soul, though.

Friday night was a return to Creative Practices for a set by the pool in Manchester, CT.  It’s a series of acoustic folks, and I kicked it off with a good set of adult stuff.  Good to play what I’m up on.  Small crowd – but, I’m good at that by now…..

I traveled out to Martha’s Vineyard for a family vacation, and decided to play on the streets of Edgartown.  I played on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and made some new friends, mixing it up with kids and families.  A wash-tube bass player sat in on Wednesday to make things interesting.  I made some ferry money and had a good time just playing and interacting.

I’m still amazed of people crossing the street just to avoid the connection that could happen.  None the less, a good time.  Back to CT for a gig at C4PT in Manchester on Friday.

I hustled back to PA for a fine day on the Madison Green, playing under a big tree on the lawn for kids and others.  It seemed it was Pink Day with lots of little girls dressed in pink.  Remarkable.  The Pie Lady gave me a butterscotch/pecan pie at the end of the gig, and it was a nice touch.  A superb day, beautiful weather and a great chance to play music.

Thursday night was a split bill with a solo set by me and then RockRoots doing our show at Deer Path Park north of Flemington, NJ, sponsered by the Hunterdon County arts folks.  We were the opening evening of their series in the park. 

A brisk, chilly wind was blowing across this large field, beautiful sky but an unusually cold June evening.  Hundreds of folks, a few kids and a friendly audience.  The presenters treated us well, and it was a nice change for us to play a largely adult audience.  Good stuff.  Back to Bethlehem tonight and Madison Farmers’ Market tomorrow in CT on Friday.

I traveled of to Maple Shade, NJ for the beginning of a field day at a 3/4 grade school.  The school had some glimmer of ‘no rain’, so I sped the process up with a brisk 45 minute set, getting the kids up and down, and kick started for the day.  Amazing to be done with my day before 10 am.  Good stuff, and the last school show for me this season.  A bunch of ‘You rock!’ from some 4th grade boys.  I’m just glad they recognized it.   Rock Roots family night in Deer Park, north of Flemington, NJ tomorrow.