October 19th @ the Carleton. Last time we were there, we did two great nights and we really glad to see so many people. The Carleton is about the greatest little listening rooms I’ve played. And you can eat and drink. Well, I can’t (guitar in the way) but you can. Fabulous sound there, by the way.

October 21st @ The Marigold Theatre in Truro. There last May, sold out and had a really great time. The Aeolian Singers were in town that night, so quite the rendezvous at the hotel afterwards.

October 22nd @ King’s Theatre in Annapolis Royal. Cindy and I played there last fall, and were pleased to see so many people who drove from some of the smaller communities to see the show.  and – bonus – the next day my Karsdale neighbour told me that I looked very nice the previous evening. He’s fussy, so I was quiet pleased.

October 23rd @ The Chester Playhouse. Haven’t been there for a along time, and never with Raylene. Should be good.

After that, I head out west, and Raylene sets out on a Rankin Family tour. I call them RanFam, just to sound cool.

Cindy? Well, she’ll just have finished her new album, and will be heading out with it.  I’ve heard some tracks, and I think it’s the best I’ve heard her singing. Ever. So you know that has to be pretty darn good. Great even, although don’t tell her I said that.

So, more nudging later, but if you could pencil in the date closest to you….well, we’d really appreciate it. Even more if you came to a show….

Going back to my week in Sherbrooke teaching at the Road to Stanfest: it was a tonic. Made so by the calibre of talent this year as well as my fellow instructors – Dave Carroll, Clary Croft and J.P. Cormier. Princes and gentlemen, all.  The participants ranged in age from 20 to 70, the styles from folk to Brazilian, the ability….well, there was a range there, too.

The first question I ask is: what are songs for? The responses invariably go like this: to send a message (my thought on that one: don’t send messages in songs), to express a feeling, to tell a story. All true. In addition, of course, is the most basic. A song is to sing. But, singing does not make a song. It’s not just a matter of the human voice making musical sound. It also means using words that sing, letters that sing, phrases that sing. And taking those sounds and words, putting them together in a way that sings true, heart and mind.

Well, enough of that. Nothing more annoying than a lecture from an unreliable source. What do I know?

Look at these guitars: http://www.warrenmurfitt.com Made by Warren Murfitt….a solid addition to the ranks of remarkable guitar makers. Suffering the burden of guitaritis, I hope to have one of these soon. My brother (arguably sicker than I) has one. It’s very, very nice. And beautiful.

Speaking of beauty, it’s a good day to be out. Outdoors, I mean. So, over and out.

Here’s a link to the site:

http://museum.gov.ns.ca/sv/songwriterscamp.php

Check it out. Oh, and the food is fantastic.

Here’s the link: Greytown on CDBaby.com

Hope it gets you to the songs. And thanks.

Oh, yeah- my show is March 14th. It won’t be on the Carleton’s site yet, but will in the New Year.

Ok….question of the week: where was this taken? Let me know in “comments”…

Our man in...?