February 2016

I am writing this update on the eve of Gypsy Reel's departure for a tour in Guatemala!  It's been a mild winter here in VT and is raining at the moment, way different from last winter.  Our Thursday night session at The Killarney in Ludlow VT has been awesome and is going strong.  I have been teaching at The Connecticut Academy of Irish Music on Sundays, and I have some lovely students.  Donal Sheets will be covering my classes for me while I'm gone, and I'm sure that will be a treat for my students. After our adventures in Guatemala, where we get to play with our dear pal Marco Solo (guitar & vocals,) Gypsy Reel will be playing in Citrus Hills, FL with our other brilliant guitarist, Join Scaife from Sheffield UK for a Celtic Festival. Joyce Scaife will be calling a dance, and we will be joined by some terrific Irish dancers from the area.  That's on March 12.  We return to VT in time for St. Patrick's Week and all the festivities, including a special St.Patrick's Eve session Wed night at The Killarney, our usual St. Patrick's Day at the Sitting Bull at Okemo Mountain in the afternoon and The Killarney at night.  Friday night we do a concert at The Slate Museum in Granville NY, and Saturday afternoon we play at The Old Parish Church in Weston VT.  Some exciting news-we have two new musicians playing with Gypsy Reel regularly while our bassist Mark Harding takes some time off!  Reagh Greenleaf Jr will be joining us on bodhran and vocals, and Silas Hamilton will take over on upright bass! 

I continue teaching classes at CT Academy through May 1, then I'm planning a trip to North Carolina.  I'll be playing a House Concert and doing workshops May 7 in Durham, joined by Bob Vasile on bouzouki and Jack Herrick of The Red Clay Ramblers on bass, trumpet, and whatever else he chooses.

I'm booked at the Ludlow Farmer's Market Friday May 27-that's a first for me!  On May 28 I'm putting on a concert and workshops of one of my fave mandolin players, Will Patton, and his Ensemble, at our local Library here in Belmont VT.  Hope this will be the beginning of a series of "Musician's Choice" concerts.  Contact me here for more info or to sign up for a workshop.
 
Gypsy Reel has a couple concerts so far in June-6/11 in Brandon, and 6/17 at Jackson Gore in Ludlow. July has the band busy with outdoor concerts.  July 6-Proctorsville; July 7-Belmont; July 14-Chester; July 17-Ludlow.  Then I hope to be heading to Nova Scotia.  I'll get back to you with details.  Now back to packing!  Hope it'll be time to say Happy Spring when i return!  Thanks for your continued support.

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