Living The Dream - Living RealityDear Friends,We're back from a week on the Outer Banks of North Carolina all tanned and feeling refreshed. We returned home late yesterday and by this morning all the pictures were off the wall, all the nick-nacks and what-nots were on the dining room table, all the furniture was in the middle of the room and covered - and now the painters are having at the living room. We've gone from "living the dream" to "living reality," all in one day. Does anyone have any painter jokes? Big news! The 37 track, two CD celebration of Jean Ritchie songs, "Dear Jean Artists Celebrate Jean Ritchie," was released yesterday on Compass Records. It is being well received and was the number one album on Folk Radio for August. Our song, "The L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore" was in the top five, and ten more songs from the CD were in the top 70. This is wonderful as it enhances Jean's iconic stature in Folk Music, and the really exciting news is that she's still around - in her 90s and mentally sharp. As the old song says, "Give me the roses while I live/Trying to cheer me on/Useless the flowers that you give/After the soul is gone." It's great she's getting to enjoy all this. Here's a link for information: www.DearJeanCD.org . Other big news at least to us! We've just confirmed the Atlanta date we mentioned last month. We'll be doing a benefit concert for The Open Door Community, a shelter for the homeless started over 30 years ago by Robin's cousin and her husband. They've dedicated their lives and their Christian ministry (they're both ordained Presbyterian ministers) to the Open Door where they take people in off the street, run a daily soup kitchen, a prison ministry and provide a free medical clinic. We are glad to finally be able to do something like this for a much needed organization. And making it even more special will be the presence of Caroline Herring who will also be doing a set of music. We love Caroline and her music and are so glad to finally be sharing a stage with her. If you're not familiar with her songs, you should be. Chet Atkins used to say, "that's my opinion and it should be yours." Here's the link to Caroline's web site:www.carolineherring.com. R and L's Listening Room for this month features Art Stamper's CD, "Goodbye Girls, I'm Going To Boston", and Tara Nevin's "Wood and Stone." Art was a terrific Old Time and Bluegrass fiddler and wrote a bunch of wonderful fiddle tunes, superbly played here. Tara is a founding member of Donna The Buffalo and released this solo project a couple of years ago. She's got some incredible original songs here and the playing, singing and production is all top notch. We've been playing each one daily and, every time through, we find something new that perks up our ears. Bumper Sticker of the Month (seen in Duck, NC): If it jiggles, cover it. Hope this finds you all well and busy. Go see some live music the next chance you get and we hope to see you at one of our stops along the way. Your pals, Robin and Linda BOOKINGS: Trish Galfano, Myriad Artists, trish@myriadartists.com, 919.967.8655 |