It seems so long since I did my last blog on May 10, so many things have happened. But I will try to get up to date. It may take 2 or 3 blogs, but I am going to try anyway. I know that I am going to forget important things and also I am going to forget to thank some people, because I have received so much kindness in the past 5 months. My life is so blessed.
I am just after my morning swim in Florida where the temperature has been approx. 85f in the 2 weeks since I have arrived. I am now in my new little nest in Bradenton/Sarasota. Life is so good.
Anyway, I will continue with life from May 10, 2010…………………………My tour season started with my great friend Johnsmith and as usual this was a wonderful one. We had the CD release in McDermott’s Pub in Doolin. WHAT A NIGHT ! ! ! Patsy told me that it was the best music night in the pub for years. I will never forget it. I was not at my best the following days though, but enough said about that. I had 2 very special people at the night, My brother Joseph and his wife Celine attended. That meant the world to me. As of now I am getting ready to send a check for $2,200 to the Peanutbutter Foundation and have €1,700 ready for Crumlin Children’s Hospital in Dublin. I am very pleased with that.
My next tour was with Ronny Cox. What a nice man, the only problem with Ronny was that he spent most of the tour telling bad jokes, (except the last one) Hugh, our bus driver marked him out of 10 for each joke and his average was -3. We had a wonderful tour though and I am very happy to announce that Ronny is touring again next year, (see the tour schedule)
Then Brian Luke Seaward and Dan Sebranek rode into our lives. This tour was taken by my great friend Brendan (Stoney, Steamy, Rocky,Bruno) Wall. The driver, Paddy told me that this was his best tour of the year. I met up with this gang a few times and found them to be a wonderful group. Most of them were in the Caring Profession and they really knew how to enjoy themselves. I must say, Stoney does also.
Gerry Dignan from Chicago did 2 back to back tours, one taken by myself and the other taken by Stoney and as usual everyone contributed enormously and a great time was had by all.
Next up was Kate Campbell from Nashville. I felt very honoured that Kate would travel with us. Her friends and fans were delightful. Her husband Ira and booking agent Todd travelled and this was a really wonderful tour. Kate connected with our great friend P J Curtis and I am sure something will come from that. The great news is that Kate is doing two tours next year
Next up was Johnsmith for his usual July/August back to back tours. the first one was a new experience for us when we stayed in Ballina, Co. Mayo, Galway city and Doolin. Mayo is a wonderful county as is Galway, but I think Galway city is a little hectic. Staying in the city was a little crazy. It’s OK to visit there for a night, (or two) We have found a really nice hotel in a little town 15 miles from Galway city and we hope to be staying there next year. All in all though, this new itinerary will really work out well. As usual, John’s people were truly delightful and we welcomed back some second time around tourists.
Then came the 2 Daves, with their wives Liz and Doreen. They had toured with Johnsmith last year and wanted to do one with their fans and friends this year. So, of course we planned a new tour for them. They performed in Mick Finn’s in Clonakilty, the Brogue Inn in Tralee and Joseph McHugh’s in Liscannor and went down very well indeed. Stoney took this tour also and took them on a magical journey.
We had first timers Bill and Kate Isles then travelling to Cork, Kerry and Clare. this was another great tour and I am also pleased to say that they are returning next year.
Anne Feeney was due next, but as most people know by now. She could not travel, due to a very serious illness. Charlie King stepped in on her first tour and did a wonderful job, but HOW DO YOU REPLACE ANNE ? ? ? I must thank all Anne’s tourists for understanding ! ! ! It happened at such a late stage, we could not cancel. Again, thanks to Charlie and Brendan for working so hard on the first tour. I took the next tour to Dublin and Derry. Again, I know her friends missed her company on tour, but we did a lot of really nice things on this tour and it worked out well in the end.
Chuck Brodsky then came on his ASH TOUR. This was the tour to replace the April tour cancelled due to the Volcanic Ash. Thbis was one of my favourite tours of the year. I do know that Chuck really enjoyed this one, so much so, that he is SOLD OUT for his first tour next year and has only 6 places left on a second tour.
We finished our touring year with 2 Johnsmith tours and again we had a blast. They were John’s 4th and 5th tours of the year. What can I say about John ! ! ! I would not be writing this without John.
I am going to finish for the moment. I will come back later in the day to thank some people who contributed to this year’s tour and will tell you about our new project THE IRISH IMMERSION

As you can see I am becoming very prolific.   Just finished Danny’s Blog yesterday and here I am off again.   I arrived home on April 9,  to prepare for my first tour of the year with Chuck Brodsky.   As most people know by now,  there is a volcano eruption in Iceland which is causing chaos throughout Europe.   Well,  because of that my first tour was cancelled.  It was a pretty traumatic time for all involved in the tour and my heart goes out to all our travellers who were looking forward to coming to Ireland.   I would like to thank Chuck for his patience and especially for his understanding of the whole situation.   We have now re-scheduled the tour for August 31,  but obviously most of the people cannot re-schedule their time off,  but we are on anyway.   Up to date we have 10 people,  so that’s good.   If anyone is interested in coming,  I can assure you it will be a very special tour.

I have been very busy since I arrived home and at the moment my daughter is home from Switzerland with her son and husband.   I spent a couple of days with them and will try try to put up a photo taken a couple of days ago at Bunratty folk park. The little one on the right is my grandaughter.   I will be telling you about her later.   Another highlight was an afternoon spent with PJ Curtis on the Burren.   We went to look for the famous Blue Gentian.   this is a wonderful flower that blooms just for 4 weeks each year.   Again,  I will try to put up another photo.  I have never seen such a vivid blue.  It’s amazing.

Well now to my Cd Release.   I can tell you firstly,  that it with much trepidation that I am doing this.   We are launching it at McDermott’s Pub in Doolin on Tuesday, May 18 and ALL ARE WELCOME.    The music will be provided by Foolin’ in Doolin,  who will be joined by Eimear and Tara Howley,  who in my opinion are two of the most talented young musicians in Ireland today.  Geraldine MacGowan will also be there and  Donogh Hennessy will also grace us with his presence,  as will Don Stiffe from Galway.  OF COURSE Johnsmith will be there and I am hoping that John Spillane can also get to Doolin for the night.   It promises to be a great night.  Patsy McDermott is making a great fuss of the whole thing.  I am very honoured that Foolin’ in Doolin,  Cyril O’Donoghue, Geraldine MacGowan, Don Stiffe and Johnsmith agreed to be part of my album and of course I am indebted to Donogh Hennessy for producing my songs on the album and also for his wonderful playing.

All proceeds from the Cd will be going to charity.   There are two charities involved.  One is Our Lady’s Hospital, Crumlin,  Dublin.   This is a children’s hospital who need funds so very badly.  My grandaughter had open heart surgery there when she was only 7 days old and now is like any other healthy 9 year old child.   They do wonderful work and I am very happy to be doing a little bit for them.   The other charity is an American based one called The Peanut Butter Foundation,  who do wonderful work for starving children especially in Malawi and Sierra Leone.   A friend of mine who toured with us a couple of times showed me a DVD of her/their work in Sierra Leone and it nearly broke my heart to see the starving children,  but this peanut butter paste that has been devised has saved countless children’s lives.   The proceeds will be divided 50/50 between the two.

I will be selling the Cd to my tour groups this year,  but would love if people from my past tours contacted me about the CD.  I am not sure how I will ship it to USA yet, but I am working on the procedure at the moment.  Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

The price in Ireland will be €15 per copy and in USA it will be $20, including post and packaging.

I am now getting ready to meet Johnsmith’s group for our tour which starts on Wednesday.   We have had a pretty worrying few days due to the ash again,  but it now seems that flights will get to Ireland,  although some of them may overfly Shannon to Dublin,  but we will get over that.   It is a very exciting time for me.  I do love this time of the year and the start of my tours.   I am indeed so lucky to be involved in all this.  I consider myself so blessed.

I will write a report on our first tour and of course the CD Launch in a couple of weeks.

This is a very special blog for me as it is my announcement that I will be doing a tour with Danny Ellis, starting on August 22,  covering Kerry,  Clare,  Galway and finishing in Ennis.

I am so proud that Danny and Liz have accepted my invitation to bring their friends and fans to Ireland with me.   It will be very special to bring an Irish artist HOME and for me to show his people MY IRELAND.

Danny is a very special person who went through a horrible childhood in one of Ireland’s most infamous orphanages/correctional schools,  ARTANE.   His attitude now is astounding,  it’s so positive.  He is a shining example of how someone can conquer adversity.   I am not articulate enough to explain fully what Danny has achieved with his life.   I will try to explain anyway.

Danny left Artane in 1963 but had  music in his soul as he became a member of the famous ARTANE BOYS BAND.   He later spent many years as a session musician and singer at the famous Abbey Road recording Studies, (The  Beatles recorded there)  He also toured and played with Graham Parker and the Rumor and The Foundations,  among others.   He then wrote and recorded an album called 800 Voices about his life in Artane.   This is the most incredible piece of work I have ever heard.   I am listening to it as I write.   When I listen to it I usually don’t know whether to laugh or cry,  and usually I do both.  Danny won 2009 LYRICIST OF THE YEAR AT THE JUST PLAIN FOLKS MUSIC AWARDS IN NASHVILLE, TN for this album.

In Danny’s words,  his mother and father separated and in 1955 his mother got ill,  so all 5 children were put in different orphanages in Dublin.  In fact his twin brothers were in the same orphanage as him  and he did not learn this until the day he was leaving. (He had played with them for years,  not knowing this)  He spent 8 years in Artane,  which at that time was changing from correctional school to an orphanage,  so there was a mix of poor kids and criminal type kids,  so that led to some very difficult times for young boys.  But Danny says that music was his saving grace and this stayed with him all his life.   I will just let you see the first four lines of track number one on 800 VOICES

800 voices echo, cross the grey playground

Shouts of fights and God knows what I still can hear that sound

With their hobnail boots and rough tweeds, angry seas of brown and green

The toughest God forsaken bunch that I have ever seen

Please have a look at Danny’s web site at www.dannyellismusic.com     You will be amazed,  I was and still am.

Please contact Danny/Liz if you would like to see Ireland with him.

Well,  as you must be aware I did not do my blog on the day before I left USA.   I was just too busy.   Time went so fast it was frightening.  But I am home over 3 weeks  now and I still have not had time to draw a breath.

I should have mentioned in my last blog that I spent St. Patrick’s week with members of the Forever Friends Tour in Wonewok, WI.   I stayed in a beautiful log cabin owned by my  friends Jane and Jay Bowers.   What a wonderful time I had there.   We had 5 days of joyful singing, talking and of course laughing.

I had 2 highlights,  one was our Irish pub tour of Madison on St. Patrick’s Day in a LONDON type bus, (but this did not matter on the day) and the other was singing John Spillane’s “Your the only one for me”,  as part of a barbershop quartet.  Now that was something new for me.

I then purchased a one bedroom condo in Bradenton/Sarasota.   It is just a little one but this has been a dream come through for me.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be able to do this.  But it was a lucky thing that I was in “THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME”   and the very inexpensive property prices in Florida enabled me to buy.   You would not get a cow shed in Ireland for what I paid for my little piece of heaven in Florida.

Before I leave my USA time,  there are some people I have to thank.  PLEASE GOD DON’T LET ME FORGET ANYONE

Reba Haymen and Sherry Panzer for the invitation to sing at Vic’s day.   To Kate McDonnell for holding me up after the song and also for a lovely night’s stay in upstate New York.   To the mad Canadians for a lovely 4 days.   To the Wisconsin gang for a lovely night.   Linda Peterson for your wonderful southern hospitality and for introducing me to Fried Green Tomatos.   Vicki Belanoski for doing so much for me.   At this stage I have to thank Larry Walbrun and family for letting me see the PACKERS.  This was one of the greatest sporting experiences of my life.   I want to thank everyone who helped with John Spillane’s tour,  especially the people who hosted us.   I know I have left some people out,  but they know who they are anyway ??????????

Last but not least I want to thank from the bottom of my heart Jean Hewitt and of course her daughter Jan Buncik.   My trip to USA would not have been possible,  but for them.   They are wonderful friends and I look forward so much to seeing them when they return to Ireland for the Johnsmith Tour

Well,  another chapter is closed,  but I had a WONDERFUL Winter and Spring in USA and I look forward to spending many more there.   Our TOUR FAMILY is growing and growing.  It is so lovely to meet our tourists/friends in USA.   It makes me so happy and proud to see them.   A friend of mine once gave me advice that you can judge the success of your business by the amount of friends you make along your business journey.  It seems like I am a multi millionaire.

I will write another blog in a few days as I want to tell you my other exciting news.   I will be launching my new CD, (for charity) on May 18 in McDermott’s Pub in Doolin.   

Wow!   nearly time to go home.   It seems so long since my last blog on February 10.   No,  I have not become lazy about my blogs,  I just have not had time ! ! !  I will give you some idea of my time since.

I left for the Folk Alliance in Memphis, TN on February 15 and the highlight of the journey was stopping for lunch in TUPELO, MS,  which is the birthplace of Elvis Presley.   I was very surprised and delighted also when I walked into the local Tupelo foodmarket,  the music in the store was by a local Limerick group called The Cranberries,  that was great.

The Folk Alliance itself was bedlam.   Met a lot of incredible people and perhaps my highlight was seeing Michelle Shocked in concert.   She is the REAL DEAL.  True Folkie,  just as I imagined her.   She sang one of my favourite songs,  Anchorage Alaska,  which made me very happy.

I did some great business including a couple of different type ventures,  more about that later.   Saw some wonderful artists including James Keelaghan,  Grace Pettis, (she is going to be a big star)  Had a really great time there with Johnsmith,  with whom I shared a room .

Then John Spillane arrived.  He was a few days late due to visa problems.  The less said about this the better.   He did 3 showcases on Saturday night,  all within a couple of hours after CROSSING THE POND.  He is a great trouper.

Then our Magical Mystery Tour started.  We pulled out of Memphis and headed for Jackson, MS for John’s first concert,  which was in an Irish Pub.   We did not know what to expect,  but he knocked them dead.  A great start to the tour.   Then we went back to Nashville,  where we stayed with Kate Campbell for a couple of days.   What a woman !  She looked after us so well.  I cannot wait for her Irish Tour.  John did a house concert in Kari Estrin’s house.   The was a great turn-out of local musicians and writers.   We had songs from Still on the Hill,  David Llewllyn,  Buddy Mondlock,  Kate Campbell,  David Glasser and even one from myself.   A really great night.

We then headed for Columbus,OH,  which was covered in snow,  but nothing to get excited about as we now were seasoned travellers.  A little bit of snow, (8 inches) was not going to deter us.  We had wonderful hospitality from Parker McDonnell and John played a great gig in the local Arts Centre before 130 people.  He knocked them dead also.   We had friends from the Peter Pavarini Tour in attendance and we had a great night with them.

Our next stop was Columbia, MD which we reached after travelling through a snow storm somewhere in West Virginia.  We were driving at 20mph with the snow freezing on the windscreen,  for about 3 hours.  I had a great co-pilot who kept talking and laughing and singing,  so I had no time to worry about the elements outside.  The gig at Sherry Panzers house was lovely and again we met some old friends,  including members of the ISH Tour,  who were busy making plans for a Re-union Tour next year.   Reba Hayman was in attendance,  even though she was leaving to start her World Tour at 6.00am the next morning.

We next moved on to Hampton, VA to meet my wonderful friend Kelly Murphy.   Kelly wined and dined us so well,  but I expected this anyway.  I gained about 5 lbs. on my previous visit to her house.   John Killed them at this concert also.   I would have loved to have spent more time with Kelly,  but this is SHOWBUSINESS.

We then headed for Sumter,SC where John played in the local Opera House.  We were hosted here by my friend Linda Peterson.  We were treated like rock stars here.  Our adjoining hotel rooms were full of food hampers with copious amounts of beer and champagne also in evidence.  We did our best not to leave anything behind…………..Linda was a wonderful hostess and southern hospitality came shining through.   The gig was great also and John played before about 120 people.   Linda called me a couple of days later and told me that John was the TALK OF THE TOWN.  He will surely fill the Opera House when he returns next year.

We then left for Monroe, LA,  but stayed in Birmingham, AL on the way.   We met some friends for dinner and let’s just say that we serenaded the locals in the city centre that night.  We were sitting outside a pub with the temperature at 28f,  but we were not feeling any cold.   John played Enoch’s Irish pub the next night for what was perhaps the best gig of the tour.   the people REALLY got him there.  There was not one Irish person there,  but what an atmosphere.   Some friends, (people who toured with me) travelled from Shreeveport for the gig.  We had a really great night there.

Now on to the last leg.   Austin was next for the last 2 gigs.   the first was at Tom and Vicki Belanoski’s house.  Vicki helped greatly to organise this tour.  She worked so hard to make it work.   John finished at a church the following morning and this was a super gig also.  He finished with our Irish National Anthem,  which made me very proud.   I am also proud to say that I sang a little song at the gig.

John went home the following morning.   This was one of the most magical times of my life.  John was so gracious.  We talked,  sang and laughed through 3,500 miles and 15 states.  It looks like we will be doing something similar next year and I also hope to tour with my favourite Irish group,  Foolin in Doolin.  I am sure a lot of you will have seen them in Doolin,  while on tour with me.

I will finish here for the moment.   I will talk about my time since then on the day before I leave  the USA

Blog time again.  Time is really flying here in USA.   It is not warm in Florida,  but then again I suppose the people in DC would be very glad of temperatures of 60F to 65F.

Didn’t travel too much since my return but I am just back after spending 5 days in Pensacola with Bill and Kate Isles.   We had a really nice time there and I am so much looking forward to touring with them this Summer.  They will be touring in May and August.   Bill is a wonderful singer/songwriter and Kate and himself do a really lovely stage show.  Pensacola is a beautiful town.  I have driven past many times but it was lovely to spend some time there.  Their beaches are perhaps the best in Florida.   I visited the Naval Museum and Fort Pickins,  so I kept myself very busy there.

I have started working on booking artists for next year and I must say I am very excited by my first two projects.  I cannot name them but I can say that I am hoping to work with a singer/songwriter who I consider the best in USA.  Another project is with a nationally known bluegrass band.   We will see soon how they work out.

I am now getting ready for Folk Alliance where i hope to do a bit of business as well as enjoy 5 days of wall to wall music,  16 hours each day,  if I have the stamina to do it.   I am so much looking forward to seeing John Spillane there.  I am sure he will go down very well.  I then go on tour with him for over two weeks.   I will write about the tour in my next blog.

I am going to post a poem,  which is one of 6 that a lady Mary Beth Watt wrote.  She travelled with Gerry Dignan and was inspired to write some wonderful poems,  one of which I am going to share with you,  perhaps I will share two very different poems.

Drumbeg Circle

From /Skibbereen to Drumbeg bright hues aligned our path

The deep green fields bejeweled by Erin’s spring

A countryside of sorrows awash with flames of faith

Life borne within the dauntless hearts of men

We parted from remembrance of tragedy and death

For destination lost in mists of time

We cleansed our souls of tear falls, we sang of life’s true gifts

Linked timeless hope to God’s embracing grace

The Concert

Fast by the Lakes of Killarney

In a rhododendrum dream

I saw a leprechaun kneeling

Neath a hemlock tree by a stream

He’d gathered about him an army

Of herons and songbirds and crows

When he lifted his staff to direct them

A magnificent music arose

The herons strutted a rhythm

The songbirds carried the tune

The crows provided percussion

And all of the forest was soon

Swaying, it seemed to the music

The leprechaun’s feathered band played

And me, I tried to stay hidden

Not wanting the music they made

To end that day or forever

Since I’d fallen beneath the spell

I would stay by the lake for a lifetime

Yes, deep in that forest I’d dwell

But alas, the dreamsong soon ended

Leaving me sad beyond words

Then the leprechaun turned to smile at me

And winked as he fled with the bird

Well, this is my first blog 0f 2010 and I am writing it from Sarasota. Yes back in Florida after Christmas in Ireland, with a 5 day trip to Switzerland to see my daughter and grandson thrown in also. It was a tough journey back to Ireland as the weather was terrible, both in USA and Ireland. I had to make some last minute flight changes as the airports in DC and Chicago were dodgy, so I got a flight to JFK and then onto Dublin before getting a last minute flight from Dublin to Shannon, as the roads were in a dreadful condition. It was not possible to get from the Airport to the train station.

However, I had a really lovely Christmas. I spent Christmas Day with my son Gary, his wife and my two grandchildren. It was a truly joyful time for me. It was lovely spending time with my grandchildren. I also got to Switzerland to see my daughter and her son. What a lovely time. I will never forget this trip. She lives in Klosters, which is high in the Alps and getting there was a huge challenge as my flight from Shannon to Dublin was cancelled and I had to drive from Lisdoonvarna to Limerick to get a train to Dublin. My son Gary got up a 4.00am to make sure I got there. Way above the call of duty !!! Driving in Switzerland was a dream, no problem whatsoever. They are so organised and snow tyres are also a great help.

I have tried to insert some photos of my Swiss trip, so I hope it works. It was great to meet some friends in Ireland also, but because of the weather, I did not get to see a rugby game, which was disappointing.

So it felt good to get back to some Florida sun last Saturday, January 16. I had a lot of emails to catch up on, so I did a lot of work the first few days, although I did get to Orlando to meet with my friend Damien McCarthy from Limerick. He is playing music with a wonderful fiddler, (certainly in the top 3 in Ireland) called Colin Farrell, not, not the movie star. This guy is from Manchester, England with Irish parents. If you are in Orlando, go to Downtown Disney and an Irish Pub called The Raglan Road and the guys should be playing. They do 6 nights every week, Sunday off.

I had a FIRST this week. Anyone that knows me will know that I cannot stand fish. I think I have an allergy. I always swore that I would never touch anything that comes out of the water, except MERMAIDS, and even then, above the waist ONLY. Well on Tuesday last in Sarasota I had lunch with Jan and Jean and they persuaded me to eat ALLIGATOR TAILS.

They were done in breadcrumbs and tasted like CHICKEN, but it was a ONCE OFF thing. If I want something that tastes like CHICKEN, in future, I will eat CHICKEN. But I am very proud that I can now say……..I ATE ALLIGATOR TAILS. The weather here has been nice and warm, but I have not had much time on the beach, HONESTLY !!! Work has to be done.

I went to two really nice gigs this past week. First I saw David Mallett from Maine. He is a wonderful writer and performer. He has written many wonderful songs, Like………The Garden Song, The Ballad of St. Anne’s Reel etc. His songs have been cut by Emy Lou Harris, Delores Keane, The Dubliner’s, but he is most proud of his songs cut by Liam Clancy, (who died a few weeks ago) I do hope that he may be touring with me in 2011. He is also a really nice man.

Next, I went to see Bill and Kate Isles in concert at New Smyrna Beach. They are doing two tours with me this year and actually have a few slots left for their May tour. They did a truly wonderful gig, so I am really looking forward to touring with them in the Summer.

I will be attending 3/4 more gigs in the next week or so. I will not be doing too much traveling before heading for the Folk Alliance in Memphis on February 15, but I will have a really long tour with John Spillane, but I am really looking forward to that. Well, that’s all for now. I will be writing another blog in a couple of weeks.

As you can see on the schedule page,  almost all the seats in High Season are sold. However Ireland is a really fun place to be in the shoulder seasons. There are many things to do in April, May, late August and September that cannot be done in June, July and early August when Ireland is teaming with tourists.

We will be attending horse racing meetings, (horse racing in Ireland is the best in the world). Many of the best arts and music festivals happen then, and Ireland’s national sports, hurling and gaelic football, are at full pace, culminating in the All-Ireland finals in September.

This is my last blog from the USA,  before I go home for Christmas.   I leave on Tuesday next and have a pretty brutal journey home.   I fly from Tampa to Chicago at 8.00am.   From Chicago to Washington DC.   Then onto New York before crossing the Atlantic to Dublin, (I arrive at 8.45am the following morning)   I then have to cross Dublin before getting a train to Limerick.   I will be lucky if my journey is completed in 30 hours.   Some of this was self inflicted but our National Airline,  Aer Lingus have been messing with Shannon  flights for the past 4/5 years,  especially in the Winter months.   When I come back on January 16,  I will be flying direct from Dublin to Orlando, Florida.

I am writing again from Sarasota,  where we are in a cold snap,  approx 10 – 15f colder than normal.  It is 62f today and it feels cold to me.  I do know that it is very cold all around the USA,  but…………………..I have been informed that there may be a White Christmas in Ireland.   I have never experienced this,  so it may be nice for the children.    It was –7c last night in some parts of Ireland,  so I am not looking forward  to the cold there.   I am looking forward to seeing my son and his family and seeing my daughter and her family in Switzerland in early January.  It will be really cold there also.

I was very fortunate a couple of weeks ago to see the great Ralph Stanley in concert at a great venue in Tampa,  called Skippers Smokehouse.   It was one of the best concerts I have ever been to.   Sometimes ,  when you see a so called LEGEND,  you can be disappointed  but not with this LEGEND.   His band were wonderful,  he can sing the highest of harmonies and plays a mean banjo also.   The crowd were also so good.   A night I will never forget.   I hope to post some photos in my next blog.   I would love to do it now,  but I am a computer idiot.

I went to Texas a week last Monday to do a tour with my buddy Butch Morgan,  who is coming to Ireland with me on August 24th., 2010.   We had a wonderful tour in East and Northeast Texas.   He played San Antonio,  Navasota and Winnsboro.   He is a really great guy,  but I was more than impressed with his songs.  He has written some great songs.  If you hear of him performing in your area,  DO NOT MISS HIM.   I am so much looking forward to touring with him.   We are more than half-way booked on his tour,  so I am very optimistic that it will be a full tour.   Our tours are filling now and it looks like 8/9 are fully booked and 3/4 more have 4/6 places left,  so I am really pleased with these figures,  so early.   I cannot leave the Texas segment of my blog without commenting on the Texas people.   I have seldom met nicer,  more hospitable people.   I think that Texas “small town people” are very special.   I also spent some time in Austin with Tom and Vicki Belanoski.   Vicki is working with me on the John Spillane Tour.   We had hoped to have finalised all dates,  but we will need a couple of more weeks.   I had a really nice time there and especially enjoyed the UT tour which I got from Tom who is a Dean of Studies, (I think) there.   It was a lovely experience to walk through the campus.   The weather in Texas was like Ireland,  cold,  windy and raining.   A lot of Northeast Texas is under floods,  so I really felt at home.

I heard some wonderful music last night in San Antonio,  Florida.   There was a family group called Jubal’s Kin performing there.   They do Old Time,  Folk,  Gospel etc., but just remember you heard about them from me.   THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE IT.   I am going to see Jack Williams tonight and I am also looking forward to that.

As I prepare to go home,  I have some wonderful memories of my trip here.   I tried to pick out a highlight,  but it was just impossible.   I have driven about 12,000 miles,  visited 27 states,  plus Canada,  so you can see that I was very busy.   I will try to relax a little more when I come back but I am not sure…………………

That’s all for now…………………………..May I wish everybody a VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND A PEACEFUL NEW YEAR

I am again writing this from Sarasota, Florida,  where the temperature is 62f and it is teaming rain, (just like Ireland)  It is not supposed to be like this,  but we have had wonderful weather here up to now.   I should not be complaining.   We even had Tornado Warnings two days ago.

To continue my USA adventure,  I stayed with my dear friends Kate Mc Donald and her husband Michael near Albany, New York and then headed for the BIG APPLE to meet my buddy Brendan (Stoney) Wall at JFK.   We stayed in New York for a couple of nights, (actually New Jersey) and met with Dave,  Dave, Liz and Doreen to work out details for a tour in 2010.  All went really well and I am really looking forward to this one.   These guys have an amazing appetite for playing music,  so this should be a great tour.

Brendan and myself then headed for Kerhonkson, New York for the NERFA convention.   This was a wonderful experience.   I met so many friends,  it was like being back in Ireland.   Brendan was really impressed though, ha, ha.   I met the following:-   (I do hope I think of everybody)

Reba Heyman,  Scott/Paula/Andy Moore,  Kevin/Lolly Bennett,  Maryl Neff, (who arrived with Enchanted Way Tours on her name badge) Karen Oliver,  Drew Nelson,  Michael Bowers, Siobhan Quinn,  Cheryl/Steve Kagan,  Sherry/Steven Panzer,  Melanie Shaffner,  Sue Shawn, Carolyn Pepler,  Alan/Judith Sherman,  Russ Tadeo and last but not least Karl Bissex and his wife Mary.

I heard some great music and I must mention a song that Karl Bissex wrote, (his first song) about his trip with us to Ireland.   I was really impressed with 3 artists in particular.   The first was Joe Crookston,  he sang one truly great song called GOOD LUCK,  BAD LUCK.   KC Clifford was also wonderful.   My favourite song of the whole weekend was a song called WHISKEY,  written and performed by RJ Cowdery.   She was really great.   If you read of her or any of the others performing near you,  I would advise you to check them out.   It was a really fantastic week-end.

Then the long drive back to Sarasota and of course the renewal of my love affair with the SUN.   It was really nice and last week.  I headed down to Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral to see the shuttle return.   It was a wonderful experience.   I was so impressed with everything about NASA.   I spent a great day at Kennedy Space Centre also.   I do hope some day to bring my Grandson there as he is so interested in the space programme.

I was hoping to get to Colorado to join up with Johnsmith but to my great disapointment,  some things happened in Sarasota that I had to attend to.   I will be leaving on Monday to go to Texas to do a mini-tour with Butch Morgan and I will be meeting with Vicki Belanowski to firm up John Spillane’s schedule,  so it is still a busy time for me.

I must also at this stage thank Jan Buncic and Jean Hewitt for hosting me here in Sarasota.   I would not have been able to do this trip without them.   Jean especially,  also keeps me busy on my days off.   She is known as MS FLORIDA FOLK and I can see why.  Jan has also shown me the way to the beach.   The beaches here are wonderful, especially Siesta and Lido.   I have actually got to finish this blog soon and I have been ordered to go to a concert near Tampa.  I do not know who is playing,  but I am sure it will be  good.

Time has really flown by since I have got over here.  I will be returning home for Christmas on December 22.   I will be spending Christmas Day with my son and his family and will be going to Switzerland to see my daughter and her family and I am looking forward so much to doing both.

I do hope I will have time to write before Christmas,  but just in case,  I wish everybody a VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS