Ed's Journal

  November 2011
    Well, we survived the summer from Hell. I've heard people say that we have 2 seasons in Central Texas - one is summer and the other is "Thank God that's over."  The statistics were : 90 days over 100F, 180 days over 90F and about 2.5 inches of rain. With all that heat, drought, wildfires destroying hundreds of homes and Governor Perry showing just how totally unfit he is for public office, it's been a summer to remember for all the wrong reasons.
    I shouldn't complain too much, however, as I've managed to avoid much of the heat and aridity by being far away from Austin as often as possible in June and part of July. The Texas Scottish Festival was the usual endurance test in overly-hot conditions; so it's great news that it will be moving to the 1st weekend of May next year. Soon after this year's festival, it was off to Scotland to lead the annual Folksong Tour. The group comprised 32 people, a greatly mixed bunch from all over the USA, plus one "Ozzie," and I thought it was one of the most successful tours I've led over the years. We were blessed by mainly fine weather (only a couple of rainy days to remind us why Scotland is so green)...to have crystal clear views such as we had of the Cuillins in Skye and Ben Nevis was a rare treat and reminded me again that there is no more beautiful place on earth - when the weather is fine. The music was just as good as the landscape, with songs and tunes from Iain Fraser & friends, Karine Polwart, Scott Gardiner, Janet Weatherston, Brian McNeill, Jim & Susie Malcolm and Margaret Bennett - if that's not a fine line-up, I don't know one!  As always, Charles Hunter was an indispensible and entertaining guide and Ian Cowie a wonderful driver.
  (The 2012 Folksong Tour of Scotland is slated for June 10-20, with some major changes in itinerary : The plan is to have 2 nights each in Peebles (Scottish Borders); Ayrshire (for Burns country); the Isle of Mull (with a visit to Iona); Blair Atholl and Edinburgh. Updated application forms are now on the website.
    After the tour, I had a few delightful and very restful days in Amsterdam, visiting my older daughter Anna and other friends from my time living in that wonderful old city; then one night back in Edinburgh at the Balerno Folk Club, before going back across the water to my home away from home (sounds like a song?...)
    Next up was North Carolina, for the 20th successive year - Grandfather Mtn Highland Games, followed by a week of teaching at the Swannanoa Gathering Celtic Week. The Highland Games were overshadowed by the tragedy of Alex Beaton, seriously ill in a Nashville  hospital - he's been such a larger-than-life character for so many years at so many Scottish-American events, his presence was badly missed and the rest of us performers who have followed his pioneering path into playing at Highland Games had a hard time trying to fill his shoes. I join the abundance of friends and fans wishing him all the best on his long road to recovery.
    Celtic week at Warren Wilson College was wonderful...it always is; but even more so for the 20th anniversary. The amazing array of Celtic talent included Kevin Burke, Martin Hayes, Kevin Crawford, Cathie Ryan, Brian McNeill, Brian Conway, Margaret Bennett, Billy Jackson, John Skelton, Nuala Kennedy, John Doyle, David Surette, Robin Bullock....have I dropped enough names?!....and many more.
    Late summer trips included going to Canada for the Fergus Highland Games; to CA for the Pleasanton Games; to CO for the Spanish Peaks Festival; to MO for the St Louis Games; and a really enjoyable song-swap evening with Robbie O'Connell at the Cactus Cafe in Austin......now it's off on a couple of house-concert tours to Oklahoma/Arkansas and to Arizona.

**Big news!! - during the late spring and early summer, I worked with Rich Brotherton on recording a new CD, "Come awa wi Me,". It's an interesting mixture ranging from some songs I've known since the 1960's to others I'm still learning. As always, Rich is all over the recording, as musician, arranger, engineer, producer and mixer; but other usual suspects like Brian McNeill on fiddle and concertina and E.J.Jones on pipes and whistles feature prominently and did a great job. To my fatherly delight, Maggie Miller makes her recording debut singing harmony on one track, while Michelle Hedden, Jil Chambless and Scooter Muse also have cameo roles. 
   
     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 2nd 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."
 Like all other KUT shows, "Across the Water" can be heard online at KUT.org - click on Listen Live. I'm sorry; but for copyright reasons, I'm told, the show will not be archived for later listening.

    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).

   Its been brought to my attention that there are several songs I've performed that have been "captured" on video and posted on U-Tube.
"The Broom of the Cowdenknowes"(with lots of lovely pics from the Scottish Borders) is at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs71_yzkFvg 
and "A Bottle of the Best" is at :  www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ9Fj8-IXwg&NR=1
(This is listed as "funny Irish drinking song"..... however, it is about Scotch whisky and written by Jack Foley from Scotland and sung by myself - enough hints about the song's nationality, one would think....)
My favorite, however, is of Scooter Muse, Jil Chambless and I doing "The Spanish Lady" at the 2009 Austin Celtic Festival.  www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cqqr-OXxcHc&feature=related
I'm not the most adept user of U-Tube, Facebook and other social networks; but do find it frustrating that sometimes the videos and pictures put up by some well-meaning fans/friends are not of very high quality....If possible, please let me see what you wish to put up for the general public before actually doing so...thanks.

a' the best, Ed

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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)