It's been a long time since I've written...it's been a full year with a new focus and shifting sands.  Somehow I've found myself fully immersed in Cajun music, with no going back.  The Green Mountain Playboys is comprised of me and four other Vermont locals who are obsessively learning Cajun music and songs.  We have been playing at the local dive bar regularly, generating quite the dance scene...always a party.  It's a fun journey to be on, expanding our skills as musicians, but also bringing a new wave of inspiration into our lives.  

Mayfly had an incredible trip to the Northwest in June, a lifelong dream for Julia and I.  With a few sporadic regional gigs throughout the year, we plan on taking off again for an annual 'Vacatour' this summer.  

Despite my busy music making, I have jumped back on board with the Summit School of Traditional Music and Culture as Director.  Despite my initial reluctance towards office work and coordinating events (constantly), it has been an incredibly motivated year fueled by passion and love of music.  The Summit School has managed to have great success: Winter Fest 2014 with Bruce Molsky, Spring Adult Classes, Trad Camp for Kids in July, Fall Adult Classes and a brand new after school music program that enrolled over 50 kids this fall!  I don't know how it happened, but I am happily residing in a state of wonder with a continued interest in bringing these fantastic programs to our community.  Thank you all for having faith in the Summit School and our goal to strengthen our community and bring people together through group traditional music and dance programs.

After all that has been said (written) - I sit here thinking about some creative goals for 2015.  I've been working on Christian Howes' Creative Strings Academy exercises to advance my improvisation skills for the Green Mountain Playboys band.  I'm also committed to learning more old-time tunes, just for fun.  And playing more banjo in general.  Finish some songs I've started to write on guitar, compose another a cappella choral piece, finish the American Harmony Singing Book project I've been working on for two years (a series of four books with written music and harmonies for my favorite folk songs - accompanied by CDs) and do some home recording with my new equipment.  I want to paint and knit and read as well.

But fortunately, we've got our whole lives to become great artists and musicians. 

Lastly, I have a new favorite book:  Alan Lomax, a Biography written by 

Both Wooden Dinosaur and Mayfly have new albums to share this spring.  We have been working long and hard on these, and are nearing the release dates.  We have some shows coming up and hope you can celebrate with us, check out the 'upcoming shows' page on this website to find out more...and you will be able to buy the album here on our website, or through itunes

Mayfly's album, called Sweet is the Morning, is a reflection of the past few years filled with music and adventure.  We are so excited to have had Dirk Powell's help finishing this beauty up, he was so kind to record a banjo part on a couple of tunes, and mixed and mastered it for us.  Recording Engineer Ben Rogers did a wonderful job, and picked just the right studio for us to record live in: Mountain Bliss Studios.  We are very proud of the outcome, and feel that the album reflects newfound musical maturity.  We hope you enjoy it!

Here is a note from Mike Roberts about Wooden Dinosaur's newest album, which you can buy here: www.woodendinosaur.com.bandcamp 
Wooden Dinosaur – Rhubarb Wine CD release, March 18, 2014

There is solace, contentment even, in going north. If you travel up into the hills of Vermont and New Hampshire, you’ll end up in Wooden Dinosaur’s backyard, where traditions are at once cherished, slowly fermented, and reimagined. Since 2008, Wooden Dinosaur has wandered through the back roads of the US to discover where old time fiddle music meets Dixieland, where classic country intersects with anti-folk, and psychedelic rock meets the delta blues.

Wooden Dinosaur’s 3rd album as a full band, Rhubarb Wine, sees the band retreating even further into this musical past, yet observant of the social injustices of our time. Written by guitarist and singer Michael Roberts during a year-long period while he and his wife were building their own house in southern Vermont, the stories on Rhubarb Wine explore the meaning of home, question what it means to love and be loved, and find contentment in physical labor, the natural world, and companionship.

When it came time to press record, the band chose their simplest setup to date. Most of Rhubarb Wine was recorded live in Roberts’ recently finished home with few overdubs, and the simplicity of the arrangements lets the songs speak for themselves. The result is an album that sounds immediately familiar and warm, as if you’re listening to a deep winter jam session next to a roaring fire, a glass of whiskey in hand. There is no showiness here, no big artistic statements, no cleverness, just a group of friends playing music the old fashioned way.

###

Credits:

Songs by Michael Roberts Horn Arrangements by Craig Barowsky Recorded by Ben Rogers Mastered by Jon Cohrs

Michael Roberts: guitar, vocals Katie Trautz: fiddle, vocals Jeff Murphy: upright bass, vocals Frank Roberts: drums Craig Barowsky: trumpet Ian Durling: trombone

with Mark Barowsky: clarinet, bass clarinet Chris Regan: piano, Wurlitzer, organ 

'Those who wish to sing will always find a song' - Swedish Proverb
Just a reminder that this is your last chance to sign up for American Harmony Singing class in Montpelier, Vermont.  Classes at the Summit School of Traditional Music and Culture begin this week!

Tuesday, Sept. 11th with American Harmony Singing in Montpelier, Vermont.  6-7:30pm.  Sign up here: www.summit-school.org.  6-week class ending Oct. 16th.  Payment plans available...spread the word, we would love to grow our folk choir.  No experience necessary!

We will sing appalachian songs, Carter family, Gospel, Rounds, and everything in between.  The harmonies are taught by ear, word sheets provided.

What a way to kick off the summer...in Switzerland!  Purely a vacation, but I came back with tons of inspiration, ready to play, and ready for festival season.  You would think that this image would capture the highlight of my summer, but in close second was the awesome Joan Baez concert I attended when I got back, and the epic dance party in a Rutland bar which followed with Dirk Powell and her son Gabe Harris.  I am so grateful for these talented friends!

Up next is a trip to Bar Harbor to attend the Acadia Trad Camp, and teach two Swedish fiddle workshops: http://www.acadiatradschool.com
Mayfly makes another album this summer, we have some exciting news about that, so stay tuned...
Wooden Dinosaur ALSO makes an album this summer, and there's talk of a video as well...
Summit School Trad Camp in Montpelier, VT is still recruiting campers.  We'd love to make this year's camp as successful as last year: www.summit-school.org!
And I am happy to say I've been hired at Burlington City Arts as the Performing Arts Coordinator, and will be organizing the 'Festival of Fools' buskers' festival in downtown Burlington Aug. 2-4.  This event is wacky and fun-filled, with national circus arts performers and live music.  More to come...

Happy summer tunes to you!

Here are a few highlights from 2012!  So grateful for these experiences....

What an incredible weekend of tunes, dancing, learning and fun at the Summit School Winter Folk Music Festival in Montpelier, Vermont!  I was so happy to have Dirk Powell, Riley Baugus, Anna Lindblad, Ryan Drickey, Ken Perlman, Jim Prendergast, Corey Porche, Pete Sutherland, Jeremiah McLane, Tony Dimarco, and of course my bandmate Julia Wayne by my side.  Here are some highlights from the weekend including photos, videos and recordings.  Check out the new audio page on my website to hear some of these recordings.

Thank you all for your kind donations to the Summit School Folk Music Festival!  We raised over $5000, and are able to bring incredible musicians to Montpelier, Vermont for a weekend of fun filled good times.  I'm so excited to have Dirk Powell, Riley Baugus, Corey Porche, Anna Lindblad, Ryan Dricky, Pete Sutherland, Jeremiah McLane and Sarah Blair, and my bandmate Julia Wayne of Mayfly here to share tunes during the darkest days of the year.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK3KFTmr0DQ

We are thrilled to announce that we have met our kickstarter goal of $4000, and with your help we will bring a fantastic Music Festival to Montpelier, Vermont on January 18, 19, and 20! I think it's important to acknowledge that you all made this festival happen; it's what this community needs and wants. As you may have heard, there will be no 'First Night' in Montpelier this New Year's Eve, so let's fill that gap in the dead of winter with vibrant music and dance, jam sessions, workshops and special events. We can't wait!

We still have 10 days to fundraise, and our hope that by going above and beyond our goal, we can bring more diverse experiences to the festival weekend. For example, we want to bring a cajun and zydeco dance instructor into the mix for the dance parties we are planning at the Black Door Bistro.

Festival Passes are now on sale! Email us: director@summit-school.org, or, visit our website soon for details and to purchase your greatly discounted "ALL ACCESS" Festival pass. Advance discounts on individual concerts and workshops are also on sale now! We will be updating the website on a regular basis with festival info, keep your eyes on the site: www.summit-school.org

On this Thanksgiving weekend, we are thinking of you! 

Don't forget to support the summit school winter folk festival in Montpelier Vermont! We're bringing some of the performers we saw in Louisiana to Vermont, We don't have much time left to raise the funds, and we need your help..thanks so much!! Click here to donate: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1606140550/summit-school-winter-folk-music-festival-2013

Leaving Louisiana was a sad parting, we said goodbye to all our new friends and to the Cajun music community we connected with. I personally fell in love with that Louisiana spirit, it was a very special and unique place. Maybe it only exists at Blackpot, but whatever it was, it got me! We made a stop at Chattanooga TN last night and met up with Matt Downer, a fabulous fiddler. Thank you Matt and Paige for hosting, we had a blast. Chattanooga is a really cool town, with lots of funky folk art stores and eateries. We hope to visit again sometime! Now onwards to Charlottesville VA where I will stay for a few days with family. Looking forward to some down time...