Ed's Journal

  September 2012
  Late June, I got back from another VERY successful Folksong Tour of Scotland. As always, it is no easy task to re-adapt to Austin in summer after the pleasure of being in the cool (sometimes rainy, sometimes crystal clear; but never hot) weather of Scotland....and as always, I feel like part of me is still over there on the golf course, hiking the Border hills or sitting in on an Edinburgh pub session.
    This year's group was wonderfully varied with folks from CA to NJ, TX to IL; but who all got along famously as we toured the country, entertained by our trusty guide Charles Hunter and taken care of by driver Ian Cowie. Our evening performers included Iain Fraser, John Nicol, Ian Anderson & Gordon Kelly; Charlie Milne & George Archibald; Margaret Bennett; Pete Clark; Jim & Susie Malcolm; Janet Weatherston and Scott Gardiner - a braw collection of singers and musicians.
     The tour featured 2 nights each in Peebles, Troon, Isle of Mull, Blair Atholl and Edinburgh. This was the first time we'd gone to the southwest to spend a day and a half visiting places associated with Robert Burns and hearing his songs sung "on location"....and it was such a successful venture, we plan to do so again in 2013. The dates for next year will be June 2-12. This year's tour was sold out before Christmas; so if you are interested in joining us in 2013, please let me know in fall.

    After being in the hameland most of June, it was off to N.Carolina for 2-3 weeks in July -  my 21st year performing at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games up in the Blueridge Mountains and teaching at the Swannanoa Gathering Celtic Week at Warren Wilson College. This year, however, I also taught at the Traditional Song Week, filling in for Jean Redpath, who unfortunately had to call off - big shoes to fill!

    August has been far too quiet gig-wise; but time to plan for next year, to have a week's vacation on the beach in Florida and to witness the strange customs of my daughter Maggie beginning her senior year at High School. September, however, will see me on the road every weekend - to California, Tulsa OK, St Louis and Pittsburgh.
   
     I hope you've made Sunday evenings a regular listening time for "Across the Water"  It's from 6-8pm Sundays (Central Time) and can be heard live anywhere on the web at KUT.org (click on Listen Live).
"Across the Water" features the folk music of Scotland, Ireland and England along with its connections to music in this country. We passed our 3rd anniversary in March, and it's always heart-warming to receive so many calls from listeners welcoming a mainly Celtic show, not to mention the great financial support during our twice-yearly membership drive.    The show often has themes, from "the Irish Experience in America," and "The songs of Ewan MacColl," to "songs about birds" or "Transatlantic Connections - song versions from both sides of the ocean."
      Every other Sunday, I'll continue to host Folkways from 2-4pm, alternating weeks with Kim Simpson. The request line is 512-471 2345.

    ** Please remember to support your local non-commercial radio station. You will not hear folk music on commercial stations; only on GOOD, non-commercial radio which is not consumed by the need to keep shareholders happy by playing lowest-common-denominator music.  You can also help with promotion by requesting your local station to play tracks by performers you like (hint hint, nudge nudge).

 
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CD ORDERING
There is a order form in this web site for ordering all 9 CD's by mail using a check, money order or credit card.  CD's, however, are  available from CDBaby.com
    For ordering other peoples' CD's, if you don't like I-Tunes, I would recommend going to the websites of Greentrax Records, Compass Records or Coda Music (in Edinburgh)