i just had a flurry of some heavy traveling & some great musical happenings----
glasgow scotland & celtic connections: a 3 week long festival that runs from their royal concert hall to clubs & everything in between -
i got to play a night w/ beth nielsen chapman & marcus hummon, a night of danny thompson's (which had a component of a tribute to his friend john martyn) with guests luka bloom, eddi reader, martin simpson, tim & mollie o'brien,
and then 2 nights of the transatlantic sessions w/ jerry douglas & aly bain as leaders of a dream band---
then we hit the road with transatlantic--
i played manchester & gateshead-- dan tyminsky, sara watkins, cara dillon, karen mathieson--- we had a ball-- such a ball, that as soon as i could collapse back in the ussa, i did---
i had a bed-time-for-bonzo-flu all week and am only now propping myself up for the weekend of shows--
bristol paramount theater & mountain stage radio show in charleston, wv.--

also, a little bit more recording on a project i was a part of in december --- more on that at another time

we have artwork for the new record of mine: A CROOKED ROAD & things are carrying on there for its spring release --

next week the cayamo cruise - have you seen the line-up?

i am pulling my "friends" set together a little at a time--- more on that later, too

while i was in england, i contacted one of the great luthiers of our time, stefan sobell, whom i have spent much time with in the past talking about instruments & building; playing his instruments and such--- and he is now making a guitar for me (he builds guitars for martin simpson in england)--- the marriage of great english guitarist, martin, & great english luthier, stefan, has never been so obvious of how each needs the other --- i am getting a martin simpson model --- when you hear martin play you will know why

also, the new release of blue highways (celebrating 15 years of premier music from them) has a track that tim stafford & i wrote that they asked me to record with them-- the song is called Bleeding For A Little Peace Of Mind and i am very proud of the recording, the song, and these guys having me on their 15 year collection --- the record is fantastic -- check out their gospel singing on Some Day (i have never heard better, folks) and ditto with rob ickes' fire instrumental Monrobro

let everyday be valentine's day (with out the hallmark thing)

-darrell

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