#delfest 2014

So, we’ve got the coolest little bathtub for bathing Juno backstage… it’s a rubber ducky! Every adult that sees him in the tub first says, “That’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen” and then “I want an adult-sized rubber ducky bath tub!” We’ve turned every type of green room space into a baby spa and every inch of space on stage into a play area. Needless to say, life with Juno on the road fills every day with unexpected moments. Like… were you at the first show in Winston-Salem at SECCA where Juno came out for the encore and while Bela, and I sunk into the dramatic opening to "His Eye is On The Sparrow" Juno pulled the mic cable out of the mic and stuck it in his mouth? The audience gasped, and I realized I had to keep a closer eye on my baby boy! With the sound system ‘compromised’ we finished the song off mic in the middle of the stage, and it was a much better way to end the show after all.

Thanks to Ali Sperry for this photo backstage at the amazing Stuart’s Opera House in Nelsonville, OH, and for being our Juno caretaker on this last tour.  Here’s Ali playing with Juno side stage while Bela and I did our soundcheck at Jefferson Theatre in Charlottesville, VA.

We’re getting ready now to head out on five dates around the Southeast. I’m already starting to pack all the bits and pieces that add up to an embarrassing amount of stuff for caring for one little baby. And to add to the pile my Denton Bragg gourd banjo, Bela and I have been writing a few new songs and the gourd banjo just might make it out on stage.

I am also happy to announce that Bela and I will be playing DelFest at the end of May!

In addition to DelFest we also have a string of West Coast shows in May and a few in the Mid-Atlantic.   Click here for the full list of tour dates. 

Speaking of writing with Bela, we’re deep in the process of creating songs together. Yes, the music is only two banjos and some singing the whole way through. And Bela throws in some harmony here and there too, harkening back to his contribution to the power vocals in New Grass Revival.  We’re working hard to make sure every song sounds like a unique and sonically righteous blend of two banjos. Wish us luck!

Sitting on the back patio on an early spring day working through an arrangement before we head to the studio to record 

UNCLE EARL! I’ve been hoping the day would come when the core Uncle Earl band that I toured with for five years would come together and play again. Thanks to Rockgrass for instigating the reunion of Rayna Gellert, KC Groves, Kristin Andreassen and myself for the festival this summer. Currently we’re looking for rehearsal times to meet up in the same town for a few days to work up songs and revel in the old stories from the road. I’m incredibly excited to be immersed in g’earl power again! I would love to hear from you on facebook if you have any songs you’d particularly like to hear us do again.