Hello friends, from San Pancho, Nayarit (Mexico) this month.
We took a break from the States to pause, reflect, and re-energize for what lies ahead. For me, music will be more important than ever. Here'a quote from the great Leonard Bernstein:
"This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before."
And here's a link for the entirity of his comments in the wake of the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963:

An Artist's Response to Violence
I'll be back home in mid-December starting with four concerts in
New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia before the holidays.
Come January, the Cape Cod Songwriters Retreats resume in year #11 along with my 17th (!) annual tour to Florida the last half of that month. I'm also reaching out to my sponsors there to see how we might incorporate local hurricane relief into our community gatherings.

October was joyous in its own ways, with a family wedding in Wisconsin (my pal Jim's oldest son), my first trip to Texas since before the pandemic (thank you Rudy York, Lesa Walker, and Unity of Dallas, Sara Hickman and the Fat Cat Lounge in Smithville, and
Joe and Bev Angel of Arhaven Concerts), and re-union with the wondrous Moab Folk Camp community in Utah.

Regarding the latter, organizer Cosy Sheridan offers a buffet of music classes (I taught songwriting and performance) and always includes an art class for those who want to step into a different medium of expression during the week. Over the years there I've taken block printing, pastel art, and this time, watercolor painting. All I know about something I don't know much about is that it's fun and freeing
(as long as I don't turn my inner critic loose).

We'll again also offer an art class at the 27th Annual SummerSongs songwriting, music, and creativity camp next July 20-26
at the Stony Point Center (NY). Come!
Imagine What Happens © 2024 David Roth www.davidrothmusic.com
There are more loving people in this world
Than those noisy ones on my TV
I must use discretion and prudence
Before I engage with that one eyed thief
The din can be deafening, the volume’s so high
Repetition starts to make it sound real
And if I am not paying attention
I start to doubt how I feel
Imagine what happens
When I’m willing to listen and hear
Imagine what happens
When kindness engages with fear
Volume doesn’t equal consensus
Shouting’s a red flag to me
A softer approach to hard subjects
May bring on the change that I wish to see
I will not chew on those soundbites
There’s more to the stories I read
And I am not buying the message
That is sponsored by power and greed
Imagine what happens
When I’m willing to listen and hear
Imagine what happens
When kindness engages with fear
Alarming and chilling, unnerving and cold
That’s the tone of these desperate days
Dis-arming and willing, human and bold
Is my tenor for turning to grace
There are more loving people in this world
Than I might be led to believe
I won’t be distracted from trusting
And move forward to give and receive
The din can be deafening, the volume’s so high
I won’t be seduced by the noise
I’m ready to act with my conscience
And remember that I make my choices
Imagine what happens
When I’m willing to listen and hear
Imagine what happens
When kindness engages with fear


DECEMBER
13 ~ Princeton, NJ ~ 8 PM Princeton Folk Music Society
* I first began playing for the PFMS 30 years ago, 1994!
14 ~ Churchville, MD ~ 7 PM True North Productions
15 ~ Clarksville, MD ~ 4 PM ~ Tim & Ellen's ~ sold out
16 ~ Chesapeake, VA ~ 7 PM concert @ Unity Renaissance

JANUARY 2025
6-10 ~ Provincetown, MA ~ Cape Cod Songwriters Retreat #1
15 ~ Chatham, MA ~ Full Moon Open Mic returns, year #20 begins!
18 ~ Jacksonville, FL ~ 7 PM ~ Lynn Shad presents...
19 ~ Jacksonville, FL ~ 10:30AM speaking @ Buckman Bridge UU
19 ~ Gainesville, FL ~ 5 PM ~ cathydew@gmail.com
21 ~ Miami, FL ~ private event
22 ~ Ormond Beach, FL ~ 7 PM concert @ UU Congregation of OB
23 ~ Del Rey Beach, FL ~ private event
24 ~ Key West, FL ~ 7:30 PM concert sponsored by Unity of the Keys
25 ~ Fort Myers, FL ~ 7 PM concert @ UU Congregation of FM
26 ~ St Petersburg, FL ~ 10:30 AM speaking @ UU St Petersburg
27 ~ Rockledge, FL ~ 7 PM concert w/the New Way POD
28 ~ Sarasota, FL ~ 7 PM ~ Unity of Sarasota Fellowship Hall
29 ~ Tampa, FL ~ SWIM UU Conference concert
31 ~ Davie, FL ~ South Florida Folk Festival
FEBRUARY 2025
1 ~ Davie, FL ~ South Florida Folk Festival
8 ~ Skokie, IL ~ 7 PM St Tim's Coffeehouse ~ w/Folkstage/WFMT
9 ~ Oak Park, IL ~ 2 PM ~ Oak Park Public Library
23 ~ Norwell, MA ~ 10 AM guest speaker ~ First Parish UU of Norwell
MARCH 2025
3-7 ~ Provincetown, MA ~ Cape Cod Songwriters Retreat #2
7 ~ Harwich, MA ~ 7:30 PM Singing Oak Concerts w/ CCSR staff*
* Sloan Wainwright, Susan Cattaneo, and Glen Roethel
APRIL 2025
5 ~ West Roxbury, MA ~ 7:30 PM Music on Centre w/Cosy Sheridan
24 ~ Mount Vernon, WA ~ 7 PM concert @ Unity Skagit Valley
25 ~ Eastsound, WA ~ 7:30 PM @ Emmanual Episcopal Church
26 ~ Seattle, WA ~ 7 PM @ Wallingford United Methodist Church
27 ~ Olympia, WA ~ 10 AM guest speaker @ Unity of Olympia
27 ~ Cloverdale, OR ~ 6 PM ~ Istanbul Rug Bazaar
28 ~ Portland, OR ~ 7:30 PM Ron & Marian present once more!
30 ~ Freeland, WA ~ 7 PM Trinity Lutheran Church annual concert

MAY 2025
4 ~ Portland, OR ~ 11 AM guest speaker @ Unity of Portland
18-31 ~ Beyond the Standing Stones Tour of Scotland ~ sold out

JULY 2025
20-26 ~ 27th Annual SummerSongs songwriting camp!
26 ~ S Windsor, CT ~ 7 PM @ Unity of Greater Hartford w/Pat Wictor

SEPTEMBER 2025
7 ~ Danbury, CT ~ Music at the Ridge
22-26 ~ Lee's Summit, MO ~ 20th Empower Music & Arts Festival
OCTOBER 2025
9-19 ~ Beyond the Tartan musical tour of Scotland - spots available!
* write admin@scotlandfolktours.com
24-31* ~ Inishfree Ireland Music Tour - Dublin, Limerick, more
* this tour goes through November 2nd - spots available!
* write barbinishfreetours@gmail.com