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When we lived in the Pacific Northwest in the 1990's, the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival was always worth an annual drive north from the Emerald City.
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How lucky I am to be returning on tour in Washington and Oregon this very month to catch a glimpse of these beautiful flowers - and you, former neighbors - for the first time in four years. And right after that to my native Midwest for three appearances to cap off the month.
It feels great to be playing music to live people once more.
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I resist any temptation to turn on the news this week (or as fellow Chicagoan John Prine wrote, "Blow Up Your TV"). Whoever coined the term "media circus" understood this, and I saw enough Barnum & Bailey (and Bozo's Circus, for that matter) when I was a kid to last a lifetime. I don't find any politicians (except CA Congresswoman Katie Porter) speaking to me in a way that earns my interest. When these elected officials act on gun control, for example, they'll have my attention once more.
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It goes beyond disappointment to outright tragedy that our "leaders" continue to be so unmoved to take action where it counts rather than where their votes are counted. Shame-full.
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Instead, tonight we watched a Stevie Wonder interview done by Anderson Cooper in 2016. The occasion for the conversation was the sudden passing of Prince that April, and to hear this brilliant artist talk about another such artist with reverence was inspiring and moving. One thing Mr. Wonder said was that Prince was free, and that one of the things he modeled was the idea that we "don't allow fear to put our dreams asleep".
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And speaking of dreams awakened, how about the 25th Anniversary of SummerSongs (week-long songwriting and creativity camp) July 23-29, 2023 in Stony Point, NY.
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Here's a flyer with more information about
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This year's all-levels courses with our world-class instructors include
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• The Rhythm of Rebellion
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• The Marriage of Music and Meaning
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• The Devil's in the Details
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• Harmony Singing and Folksong Repertoire
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• Guitar Techniques for Singers
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• Sing Heart, Body, and Soul
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• Playing in the Sandbox of Writing Forms
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• Grain of Salt Feedback for Works in Progress
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• Songwriting with a Light Touch (Humor)
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• Playing Well Together/Slow Jam Circle
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• Drawing Inspiration for Songwriting (Art class!)
It's going to be epic.
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For those of you more local to me (Cape Cod), don't forget the first-ever Full Moon Open Mic at the Snow Library (tho we're in our 18th year of gathering) right here in my current hometown of Orleans, MA
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Saturday April 15th ~ 1-3 PM
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It's free, and you can come play a song, tell a story, recite a poem, or just simply take in the beauty and courage of our neighbors and visitors and their artistic expressions!
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22 ~ Eugene, OR ~ 7:30 PM ~ Mike Meyer Presents...
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13-23 ~ Scotland ~ group music tour #3 ~ full
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11 ~ Charlottesville, VA ~ 7 PM ~ Focus Music Presents...
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12 ~ Charlottesville, VA ~ 10:30 AM Unity of Charlottesville
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12 ~ Gaithersburg, MD ~ 7 PM ~ tba
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When streams are ripe and swelled with rain
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June, she'll change her tune
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In restless walks she'll prowl the night
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And give no warning to her flight
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The Autumn winds blow chilly and cold
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