After over 3 weeks on tour in the UK and Europe, we are back home in the U.S.A. With your permission I would like to keep the option of continuing to post some comments and pictures from our tour. OK, so I don't HAVE to have you your permission, but if no one is reading this, I will just commit thoughts of our tour to my personal journal. (Ooh, now that's the racy one!)
From Germany... (again)
So our last few days on tour was spent navigating from Ulm, Germany where we got to the opportunity to play for a fine, fine group of music enthusiasts "Country & Western Friends Koetz 1982." President Peter Wroblewski and VP Freiderich (sp?) A really attentive group who were very generous in listening as well as in feeding and watering us! Again, big thanks to all, especially Monica and Eberhard.
On to Switzerland...
After the much too short stay in Germany, we busted out headed for the Spring Bluegrass Festival in Willisau, Switzerland. The beautiful geography of the mountains (many snowcapped still) and lakes on our travels was a pleasure to see while driving. We passed through Liechtenstein, a country of approx. 62 square miles and stopped for a more detailed map. (the local map makers slice the pages in such a way that you can unfold just the section that your travelling is exposed and the other parts stay folded up....like origami and very functional once you figure the puzzle out.) Oh, here's an interesting point for all you hygienic freaks. Using the head (WC) I found a large mechanical gadget that closely resembled what we might call a commode. After a brief analysis, I used this then pushed a button, which started a sequence of lights that followed a mechanical series of mechanical operations where a armature came out of the back, latched on the the seat and then at the next light the seat itself started rotating under the armature, which of course was sanitizing the seat. After about an hour I came back to the van and explained everything to the boys. (Ok, it was not an hour, but I did start to push the button again before I left to see it repeat!) We saw sailboats, sailboards, folks were in gliders up in the sky and paragliding just like in some photo from Outside magazine or adventure race. Switzerland seemed to me to have such a great contrast of the historic (old) and progressive world all seemingly seamless.
When we arrived in the beautiful village of Willisau, we winded our way through small streets and homes up to the side of a hill where an old school was located. The festival was held in the fine location of this school. ("Old School" is a great thing isn't it!!??) We were met immediately by Bruno Steffan one of the organizers and bluegrass afficianado's, who made life easy for us immediately. Showing us to our dressing / rehearsal room, and taking a good share of our luggage with him. We were met soon by The President of The European Bluegrass Music Association Paolo Dettwiler, who also made us very welcome and gave us all the details about the festival. We also met Kent (??) from the Swiss Bluegrass Music Association who I think migrated back to Switzerland from Milwaukee, WI. It was obvious in a short time that these guys and their organizations had this festival nailed down! The festival was SOLD OUT! Always a sign that someone is doing something (if not everything) right! Wowee, well done!
The lineup included the Chris and Sally Jones band which included Chris and Sally, fine, fine people and as you know if you've heard them, great talents. They were joined by Jon Weisberger on bass and Ned Luberecki on banjo, both of whom were also extremely talented players, plus just fun guys to hang out and pick and talk about bluegrass and our travels together. At one point Jon and Ned had the ole ipod fired up and took us on a late night bluegrass stroll through Jimmy Martin land! Truly stunning music and talent, (Jimmy passed on while we were overseas as you likely have heard.) an pretty surely unrepeatable kind of magic in it. Also were new made friends Bill and Maggie Anderson from upstate New York (near Ithaca I think.) They do a fine job in playing and singing old style ballads and tunes. They were our companions at EWOB in Voorthuizen and helped on navigate (geogrphically and culturally) on more than one occasion. Also on the bill was a band called "The Challenge," a five piece from the Czech. Republic I thing, or is it Switzerland? They had some fine lively picking and singing in their sets.
So we seemed to run out of CD's while there in Switzerland. This was a fine, fine thing! Thank you! Danke! (etc.) After going back to our hotel, we decided to stop by the bar for a refreshment. This turned out to be more daunting than we'd anticipated. It seems that the bar downstairs had a very urban, Euro-pop-trance music clientele. Initially ignored by everyone including the bartendress we decided it's best if we just retire, until I decided to use my Mississippi charm anyway, and pushed my way to an opening of the bar/counter.... with hospitable puppy dog eyes, eye drew the attention of the hostess. Dressed in black fishnet stockings, boots up to her knees and enough mascara to qualify this as gothic mistress.... I look around, I'm the only band member there, and ask for beers to go..... Why bother asking what kind? Beers in hand, I exit to Jon's hotel room where we shared stories and of course Jimmy Martin Music. Good end to the day!
After a breakfast of breads, breads and more breads, jams and coffee of course! We hit the road after a brief photo op with the Chris and Sally Jones entourage.... and off we go back to the Netherlands. A few stops along the autobahn where we fed and watered the boys. Pitched some frisbee and I think Zack may have hit 184! Kevin Lynch recommended the van we leased for this trip but he said get the larger engine if you can! Now I know why, Kevin is probably a speed demon! (not just his mandolin)
Odoorn, NL (via Buinen)
So we make it back to the home of Ab and Joan Geerling, our fearless, fine hosts for much of our stay in the Netherlands. Again they welcomed us with good food, a great music collection, and most hospitable dispositions! Joan it turns out is quite a singer, and a big fan of Old Country music. She had us listening to a lefty Frizzel CD that in Chris's words was just "Genious!!" Which is true, what a bell tone like voice.
So, now, Monday, we get to rest and ready for our final gig in Europe at Odoorn. Turns out, Odoorn is located near an old Fire Tower, built up on one of the few hills (I'm sure man made) that exist in this part of the Netherlands. In fact, I must admit that much of the Netherlands reminded me of the Delta country where I grew up in Mississippi. Mile and mile of neatly plowed fields of dark, rich earth tilled to a fine fairtheewell. Oh and like the delta, not a hill in site as far as the eye can see. Beautuful woods and fields I must admit. So, we have a canopy and a good (if small) crowd of fans there and proceed to have a great show, again with people clapping and singing along with our songs. (Which are not normally well known!) Just a fine show, fine folks and many old friends of Roger and Lincolns earlier visits. Afterwards, the show's producers served a meal that was like many meals we had while on tour, "The Best Food Ever!" Our thanks to all the great music fans and producers! We look forward to getting a copy of the show recorded live!
LIVE MUSIC: I have a number of recordings from our shows in Europe that may be suitable for producing a "Live in Europe" CD. I've got to get time to download the songs and listen carefully, discuss with the band and figure out how to do it best. If anyone has interest in some of this music, please let me know.
After the show, we returned to Buinen (20 min.) with Joan and Ab, relaxed, communed, and more snacks, tea and coffee then, off to dreamy land. A wake up, another great breakfast and off to Amsterdam (schipol airport) to get Zack on his early flight home. At the last minute then, Roger went in and asked about returning one day early. (Chris, Lincoln and I wanted one more day~night in Amsterdam!) So, Roger flies out with Zack and the Three Musicateers head for the Hans Brinker. (A hostel in the heart of the city!)
I'm going to sign off for now before I implicate myself and others. I will come back to finish the trip report and perhaps share some few details of our experience in Amsterdam as well as more reflections of the trip from the UK and Europe in general.
Pics???? Yes, we'll get some more up soon!
Hey Pat Monahan! Thanks for the great suprize package! Man would I like to make a trip report from the Northwest now!!!!
