News, Gnus and knews.

Nice and warm 

We had such a great time down south in the sun we thought we would just do one more short trip. Down to Chepachet, RI this Sunday for an afternoon acoustic show in a wonderful old church. Come and join us is you can. More info on the Shady Rill gig page.

California bound 

Okay, we give up winter, you win. We need a break, if only for a long weekend. We will be doing a show at the Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center on February 28th. Details on their website. This is a return trip for us and we are really looking forward to going back to this beautiful part of the country. It's a long way from anywhere, but well worth it. Spread the word and come on out if you are in the area.

Time to settle back in. 

We had a wonderfully successful tour out to the mountain time zone and back. 6800 miles in two weeks! Man, it's a big country, and you really get to see the diversity driving across. We only hit rain one day, otherwise the weather was magnificent with sunny skies and temperatures in the 60's and 70's mostly. 

Thanks to all of our hosts along the way. There would be no way that we could pull this off without the kindness and support of friends that we have made over the years all across the country. Say hi to all of our dog buddies too.

Looking forward to the next outing; not sure when that will be yet. Keep in touch everyone.

Tom & Patti
Shady Rill

One week to go! 

Oh boy, it's almost time to pack up the old Honda and head west. We will be making our way out through the midwest and over to Ames, Lincoln and Denver before a swing up to Moose, Wyoming. Then back to Salt Lake City before heading back east with a stop in Rolla, MO. All of that in two weeks. Yowza! Really looking forward to some road time. Check out the schedule on the website and come out and see us if you can, or spread the word if you can't.

Way out west. 


Only about a month before we take off on our driving tour out to Wyoming and back. Oh, and we do get to stop and play some music along the way. Still filling in some dates so there will be some more additions. Can't wait!

And so it goes. 

We've moved on from strawberries to blueberries up north here, which means the maple trees will start turning soon. But before the snow comes we've got a little more summer to enjoy. It's been a good one so far in spite of some weather that would test anyone's mettle. Looking forward to our Western tour in October. Still a couple of open dates if you would like to play host. Keep well all.

Dog days of summer 

The heat and humidity are here. Enjoy it while you can since, at least here in Vermont, the winter will coming around soon enough.

We are putting on the finishing touches of our western tour for next October, with stops in Ames,IA, Lakewood, Co, Moose, WY, Salt Lake City, UT and and few more to come. If you would like, we would be happy come and play for you. We could help you set up a house concert, a workshop, or a school performance in your area. Just get in touch with us.

More later from the porch of #ShadyRill

Tom & Patti
Shady Rill

 

The Big Apple 

Sometimes, as a musician, you have to go with the flow. With about two days advance notice we packed up the old honda and headed down to Greenwich Village to play at an 80th birthday celebration. Leaving on a Friday evening, we stopped at some dear friends house in Waccabuc, if for no other reason than to say we have been to Waccabuc, NY. Not much time for visiting that night since we arrived late.

The next day we headed into the city a little early and drove around the almost completed 9/11 memorial site. Very impressive! The party was a blast and we made some new friends to boot.

Started out of the city and of course there were traffic events. An entire block of traffic had to back up and onto the Avenue of the Americas due to something (who knows) that was going on farther up the street. Made if back to Waccabuc with the last 15 minutes or so filling the air with the lovely sound of breaks gone bad.

Headed home at the crack of Tony Orlando the next day and got home by late morning. All in all a great trip, except for the brake repair the next day (UGH).

Love those last minute change of plans.

Oh, and you can now follow us on Twitter in your free time @shadyrillvt

Wahoo!

Spring Fling recap - Part Two 

Our last day in Maryland and the weather finally was what we were hoping for. Warmth and sunshine all around. Of course we had to leave and do some driving but it was a nice way to start the day off. One last tour of the Saint Mary's City settlement and then on the road up to Philadelphia.



That night we did a house concert at the "Beach House", that is, at the house of Bob Beach. A good time was had by all and we left with a couple of cds from Bob, who is a killer flute and mouth harp player.



Next up, North Carolina. An all too quick visit with my first Banjo teacher, Don Zepp. Don owns a wonderful music store in Wendell, NC ( Zepp Country Music). You should all go there, or at least order something online from him. He and his family are also very involved with a great organization called Human Beans that is feeding folks in need in Raleigh, NC.

That night we played to a small but delightful crowd at an Irish pub in downtown Raleigh called Tir Na Nog. Great food too, as you can see.

 
Our last stop of this quick tour was down in Kings Mountain, NC. We have made some great friends over the years in this quiet, delightful town. I won't risk offending anyone by leaving them out so we won't list them individually but rather offer our heartfelt thanks to one and all. We also got to play again in one of our favorite venues, The Little Theatre at the Joy Performance Center. What a beautiful room in a newly renovated old building in downtown Kings Mountain. Special thanks to Rick and Jerry for putting this together and to the Franks for putting us up; or is that putting up with us.



The trip home was blissfully uneventful. We stopped for the night at the halfway point at the home of Paul and Kelly Hill who run the Hill Chapel House concert series. This is quickly becoming our home away from home when we are out on the road. Thanks again guys.

So, back home in Vermont and really ready for a real spring. Anytime now!

Tom & Patti

Shady Rill tour October, 2013