2009 is upon us

As 2009 comes on   we are not playing much as a duo.  Our daughter Hanna has taken up the clawhammer banjo since August.  She has been impressing everybody with the tunes I have taught her so far.  Of course there are high expectations for her and she seems to be very interested in playing and jamming.  I am thrilled to have someone who I can teach the versions of the  mountain standards  that I like to play on the fiddle.  I hope we can play together often as possible and maybe eventually play for a dance or at a fiddler's convention together. 

Jenny and I are planning to again sponsor a house concert this  year.  We have set  Saturday night February 14th as the night to feature our friends  the Herald Angels .  Members are Alice Gerrard, Kay Justice and Gail Gillespie.  These three are highly respected in the field of old-time country and traditional playing and singing.   We have  been accumulating email addresses to let  folks know the details.   Let me know if you want more info.

  Instead, of our house this time we are going to use a 'sacred space' ie, the old-timey feeling Burk's Fork Church of the Bretheren .  This 100+ year old structure  has all wood interior with padded benches and twin woodstoves for heat.   It has great acoustics and should be a fine venue for listening to the music.

As for ourselves  our Gig of the Year will be as a part of the traditional stage at Merlefest in April.  We plan to include our buddy Shay Garriock on fiddle.  Shay has been someone we have worked with on many occasions for serious programs as well as for flatfooters  at the Floyd Country Store on Friday nights occasionally.  He is featured on a couple of numbers on our CD 'Never Grow Old'  on the Mountain Fever label.

  Shay and I have been working on a recording  of banjo & fiddle  duets and songs to be released by April.  We have been into the same sources for years so our playing tend to be very tight.  We intend for it to showcase some versions from Virginia old-timers that we have learned from.  Check out   macandshaycd.homestead.com  for some samples.

There will be more to say later but check our calendar and come see us.