Dang, another amazing couple of weeks spent in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
For the last 7 years I have been making the annual trek from Columbus, OH to Lyons, CO. I just point the car west and stay on Interstate 70 for 1300 miles or so!
I have been playing at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park for about 5 years now. A gig that I look forward to playing every year. I never thought that I would enjoy it so much but I love driving up into the mountains and playing for the folks who come out and listen. It's a very interesting gig that brings out entire families from all over the country. We chat after the show and find all kinds of similarities in our differences.
Then to Song School. Ahhhhhhh… it's a deep breath that I need avery year. A chance to make new friends and catch up with peers and learn from heroes in a setting that is supportive and inspiring. I got the chance to share some insight of my own at an instructor this year. My class was "Making Music Work For You." How to be relevant as an artist full-time or part-time. It was a awesome discussion with folks who are at various levels of playing and their desire to play more. I also did some individual mentoring!
Folks Festival
Following the 4 day song school was the 25th anniversary of this formidable festival. Wow. Highlights for me include Mary Gauthier, Kasey Chambers, Sufjan Stevens, Session Americana, Martin Sexton, Shawn Colvin and Mary Chapin Carpenter, Jason Isbell, The Waifs, Richard Thompson, and closing out the weekend was Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. I even had the chance to perform on Sunday during the festival in the The Wildflower Pavilion with one of my favorites - Christopher Smith.
For the last 7 years I have been making the annual trek from Columbus, OH to Lyons, CO. I just point the car west and stay on Interstate 70 for 1300 miles or so!
I have been playing at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park for about 5 years now. A gig that I look forward to playing every year. I never thought that I would enjoy it so much but I love driving up into the mountains and playing for the folks who come out and listen. It's a very interesting gig that brings out entire families from all over the country. We chat after the show and find all kinds of similarities in our differences.
Then to Song School. Ahhhhhhh… it's a deep breath that I need avery year. A chance to make new friends and catch up with peers and learn from heroes in a setting that is supportive and inspiring. I got the chance to share some insight of my own at an instructor this year. My class was "Making Music Work For You." How to be relevant as an artist full-time or part-time. It was a awesome discussion with folks who are at various levels of playing and their desire to play more. I also did some individual mentoring!
Folks Festival
Following the 4 day song school was the 25th anniversary of this formidable festival. Wow. Highlights for me include Mary Gauthier, Kasey Chambers, Sufjan Stevens, Session Americana, Martin Sexton, Shawn Colvin and Mary Chapin Carpenter, Jason Isbell, The Waifs, Richard Thompson, and closing out the weekend was Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. I even had the chance to perform on Sunday during the festival in the The Wildflower Pavilion with one of my favorites - Christopher Smith.
HOME
The trek home always gives me time to reflect on this amazing community of music makers that I am lucky enough to be a part of and glad to know that so many of them are my friends. I am GRATEFUL!