Welcome.

February now. Some days here on the pond are very cold. Some feel like spring. Great confusion when it comes to getting dressed. I have learned to layer.

Here is what's happening in my little world:

A really nice article was recently published in the Gannett papers of Westchester County. "Songwriters Who Travel Together and Play Together" was written by Brenda Velez. The article spoke about the recent Traveling Songwriter shows, our concept and goals for the future. There were a few nice pictures and some quotes. Traveling Songwriter Artie Tobia has it posted in its entirety here. The next Traveling Songwriter show will take place on February 17th (Sunday), at TURTLE BAY in New York City. Turtle Bay is located at 987 Second Avenue btw. 52 and 53rd Streets. Phone: 212-223-4224. The next day is a holiday (President's Day) so don't worry about staying out late. Along with myself, Artie Tobia and Chris Brown our special; guest at the show will be Nicole McKenna. Performing Songwriter Magazine called Nicole: "New York City's best kept secret, " and included her on one of their very respected EDITORS CHOICE TOP 12 DIY Compilation CD. I am really looking forward to hearing her sing. Future dates for the Traveling Songwriter's Show include March 5th at Union College in Schenectady, NY and our second visit to The Hudson River Museum on May 12th. More details on those dates as they develop.

On February 20th I will be in St. Augustine, Florida for a show at The Milltop Tavern and Listening Room (19 1/2 St. George Street across from the old Spanish Fort). I will be playing with Ruthie Foster and Cyd Cassone, as well as Sam Pacetti. I hope those of you in the area will come to this show. For those that don't know, Ruthie Foster and Cyd Cassone have recently been featured at The Phildelphia Folk Festival, The Winterhawk Festival and are mainstays at the legendary Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas. Ruthie was one of the Emerging Artist Showcase Most Wanted at the Falcon Ridge Folk Fest a few years back. Sam Pacetti is generally regarded as the premier fingerstyle guitarist in the country today. Sam was also one of the Emerging Artist Showcase Most Wanted at Falcon Ridge. You can hear Sam play and read more about him here . We will be getting started at 8pm.

This February date in St. Augustine, Florida leads right into The North American Folk Alliance Conference in Jacksonville, Florida.
This is a big gathering of the business of Folk music including the booking agents, radio programers, folk festival coordinators and many performing artist of all kinds of folk music and dance. I am happy to say that among other "activities", I have an opportunity to perform with some of my favorite songwriters and performers including: David Lamotte, Louise Taylor, Darryl Purpose, Christopher Williams, Annie Gallup, Tom Prasada-Rao, Rachell Bissex , Jenny Reynolds, Ruthie Foster, Small Potatoes and many others. If you are going to be there, please join us in the Fox Run Room at 11pm on Thursday Night. If you cannot, please check out some of the artist web sites. I think you might find some music you really love. It will be my first Folk Alliance Conference. My plan is to lay low and nose around on the fringes. I will let you know if that works.

*Way before all of this goes down, I will be doing the song and dance routine with my brothers and friends in The DesBerado Band at Triad in NYC on Feb. 15th. The show starts at 9 or when the lighting is correct for our costumes. As always, the Dramatic Cowboy Chris has details at DesBerardo.com.*

Yesterday I started my third CD with producer Professor Dick Neal and the great Pete Szymanski at the Hayloft in Milford, Ct. If all goes well, the CD will be out in the world by late March and plans for the next one will begin the day after. I will be the first to let you know when it is done and shrink wrapped. Until then, check this site every day.

hHere is a photo of Artie Tobia, Chris Brown and me at The Mozart Cafe in Mamroneck, NY last December:

Photo: Alexandra Nakos/The Times

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