What a grand weekend.  

Played Clayton NY, on Friday night in a small and dandy room pack with 500 hundred folks eager to kick off the last weekend of Summer 2009.  Funny to type a sentence that indicates that the summer is over as for me it is really just beginning.   Playing festivals, outdoor concerts and frolicking in the long warm evenings of July and August, has been such a part of my life and my commitments elsewhere meant I missed most of the frolicking season this year.  So, I was very grateful for the concert in Clayton, as it gave us a grand chance to sing with some lovely people, but even more grateful to the revelers who joined us in this years only real opportunity to dance under the Summer Moon.  A grand night for sure. I’d love to go back to Clayton.

We rolled over night to Buffalo and spent the bulk of the day around downtown.  A few of us made use of the well-equipped hotel gym and sweated away some of the sins of the night before.  The gig went amazingly well as over 5000 people paid to see the show.  I think that beats our US paid attendance record from a week or so previous at the show at Wolftrap.  Incredible attendance really, for a band without a current release, with no National US record label, publicity, radio, or video play of any kind.  Just to put it into perspective, a pop band played the same venue the previous night.  A band with all of the above, including some top ten hits and did less than half the attendance of the GBS Concert.  Thanks to all hands for such a show of support.

Rolled almost directly from the stage to Rhode Island.  The drive took almost 11 hours and I confess that I missed every kilometer of it.  I slept the entire journey.  I cannot remember the last time I honestly slept for more than 8 hours on one go.  I woke like a man ready to run a triathlon.  And Sean and me almost did just that.  We ran around the Festival grounds near Charleston clicked off about 10 k’s before finding a swimming hole, peeled of our shirts and shoes and dove in the welcome cool water.  

Hung on the bus most of the afternoon and watched The Story of Anvil.   This film is easily the best rock documentary I’ve ever seen, and will introduce you to one of the most endearing and unlikely heroes you’ll ever see on screen.  I won’t say too much about it other than to say it is a must see, regardless if you are a Heavy Metal music fan or not.

Got to see Jerry Douglas at the Festival.  For those of you who don’t know, he is the worlds best dobro player and is a superstar in the folk music world.  He may very well be the most recorded musician in history as he is reported to have played on over 1600 records, including many with the likes of Allison Krauss, Dixie Chix, and many more acts that span the music landscape.  He was incredible and is truly one of the best instrumentalists in history.  

Following a very well received set of mostly folk songs, we rolled to Pearson Airport in Toronto and dashed for the flight that is now dipping it’s nose to home.  It’s not quite supper time so I should get to do story and bed with the Prince.  

The perfect end to a great weekend.

Thanks again to all hands for making a grand time.

Cheers,
Alan