August, 2008

Japan
Japan has come and gone.
Prior to the tour in July my only experience of the entire continent of Asia had been getting off one plane and on another en route to Australia; One day in Kuala Lumpur with a mad driver taking me to all the places he got backhanders from when I wanted to see the Petronas Towers, and one night in Singapore- nowhere near enough.

Japan has been in my sights for several years. Many friends had toured the country and spoken very highly of the experience. So in 2006 I was due to tour with Isato Nakagawa and, for reasons I’ve lost interest in discovering, the tour didn’t happen. I’m so glad now that it didn’t! Stefan Grossman suggested I contact Tokio Uchida in Tokyo who distributes his catalogue in Asia including my DVDs. Tokio responded immediately to an email and the ball was back in the air.

From the very beginning I felt good vibes in dealing with Tokio and the closer the tour got the more excited I became. It’s a long way from Elora, ON to Tokyo but as 12 hour flights go this wasn’t the worst. Almost the first thing Tokio said on greeting me at Narita was- “the second Tokyo concert is sold out”- which is exactly what you want to hear on landing in a strange country on the other side of the planet for the first time. Fortunately the other gigs were really busy too- not huge venues but very well organised.

The tour started and finished in Tokyo and we went to Yokohama, Nagoya and Osaka in between. I gave myself the luxury of a day off in Tokyo before the concerts and so had a chance to look around what is the largest metropolitan area I’ve ever been in- the downtown area is about the size of Belgium. It is also arguably the safest megalopolis in the world. I was struck by the fact that while in most countries I’ve been to people tend to regard the inhabitants of the largest city as a bit above themselves- though I doubt it’s true I’ve heard it about Parisians, New Yorkers, folk from Sydney, LA, London etc. - I found the people in Tokyo to be the most polite and friendly I’ve met. It helps when the barman on my first night in the city chased me down the street TO RETURN A TIP!

My hosts for the 9 days, Tokio and Haruko Uchida, were just wonderful- very knowledgeable and informative though I was delighted when they couldn’t immediately remember the name of the emperor! Imagine a Londoner pointing a tourist at Buckingham Palace- “old whassername the second lives there”.

This has to have been the most documented tour I’ve ever done. Tokio had a photographer at every gig. I was snapping at anything that moved- and the bullet trains MOVE- and Haruko was often taking photos of me taking photos.

The last day was spent doing interviews with magazines to promote the tour I’d just finished! The photographer for one magazine had me sign his light case along with all the other guitarists he’d photographed. I managed to find some room in between Pat Matheny and Eric Clapton whose biography I was reading on the tour. Very thorough interviews with two very glossy publications- then the last dinner at Ukai Toriyama, easily the most spectacular restaurant I’ve ever been in. It’s an hour by train from Tokyo Shinjuku station- the busiest in the world apparently- and consists of two dozen traditional Japanese cabins set along a beautiful valley. Even if the food was ordinary (which it wasn’t) the setting would be worth the visit.

In short; Japan was one of the real highlights of my career. Huge thanks go to Tokio and Haruko, to the drivers, sound crews and to all those who came to the gigs.
I hope to return soon.
Photos!

July, 2008

NEW SOLO CD
The biggest thing to report is that the new album is now recorded and will hopefully be out in the autumn. The idea for this project came about last year when I noticed that a certain student in my class at Swannanoa was turning up every day with a different, new, high end guitar. The student turned out to be none other than Paul Heumiller whose company- Dream Guitars- has grown into one of the top dealerships for new acoustic guitars in the world.

Paul made the suggestion that I record a CD featuring some of the instruments in his inventory as a promotional tool for his shop. But the more we talked the more it made sense to have the focus be the current “golden era” of guitar building and look at having some wider distribution for the CD. A long conversation with an enthusiastic record label owner resulted in a trip to the Compass Records studio in Nashville and a week in a room with $175,000 in shiny guitars! So, there are 14 solo tracks each on a different instrument and one grand finale with the whole truckload overdubbed.

I got to record with some really phenomenal instruments- I’d have happily stolen the McGill anniversary classical and the Wingert baritone and all the others come to think of it. I’ve been scratching my head at the nature of the vintage guitar market for some time. Replacing the worn out machine heads on a pre war Martin with wonderful new Waverleys will knock thousands off the value of the instrument.

To have Paul Heumiller, one of the top guitar nuts in the world as my tech for a week was a mixed blessing; really great to have these guitars set up to me requirements, restrung, tuned and pampered at the drop of a hat but it was only for that week. It’s a bit like being bumped up to first class- great while it lasts but it’s hard to go back to steerage and smile!
Special thanks to the staff at Bosco’s brew pub for the late kitchen and to Alison and Garry from Compass for the even later feast.

DENIS FRÉCHETTE
On a sad note I got the news a week or so ago that Denis Fréchette had died suddenly at home in Joliette, Quebec. Denis was best known for his 12 years as piano player in La Bottine Souriante but also had many other projects including a jazz big band which hinted at the direction that La Bottine would take in the 90s with the addition of the brass section.
His other big musical interest was the studio he built onto his home. Studio de Chemin Quatre has been host to many of the great recordings of Quebecois music over the last number of years and increasingly has become a favoured location for musicians from all over North America to record; Patrick Street, April Verch, Bruce Molsky. I recorded my second CD there back in ’98 and Denis was a gracious host and played some great piano on some of the tracks.

He was a very sweet man who loved music and loved his two little kids. He will be sorely missed.

December, 2006

I had a couple of New England Solstice concerts with Aine Minogue and Billy Novick. Aine is a harpist and singer from Limerick who now lives in Massachusetts and Billy is a great jazz clarinet player originally from New York; not the most obvious of combinations but it worked out just fine.

I really enjoyed some gigs out in Washington State with Randal Bays. I knew of Randal’s work as a guitarist with his great backing on Martin Hayes first album but got to hear his equally fine fiddle playing last summer in Colorado. We jumped around some guitar duets and some fiddle/ guitar stuff and generally had a fine time. A special mention for Brad Inserra- chef at the Swingside Café in Freemont, Seattle for an improvised feast of chantarelles with ripeni, breast of chicken and tiramisu. Brad is a great cook, wine lover and music enthusiast and I look forward to the next extravaganza at his restaurant.

My last gig of 2006 was a 7 minute appearance at WGBH’s Christmas Celtic Sojourn at the Majestic Theatre in Boston. This year a special performance was filmed for release as a DVD and I was asked back to do a cameo. The production needed special permit to get the camera trucks parked at the theatre as this involved blocking traffic for a while and with 10 cameras dotted around the audience and stage it was really nerve wracking (mistakes and retakes are expensive in this kind setting). I decided to reward myself with a pint in the bar across the street as soon as my bit was done……forgetting that I was still in makeup. I guess pubs in the theatre district have seen stranger things…….

November, 2006

Back in January ’06 a late night blether at Celtic Connections got me invited to the Shetland Willie Johnson Guitar Festival. The festival is named in honour of one of the greatest characters in Scottish music- Peerie Willie has been a much loved fixture on the Shetland Scene for decades (“Peerie” means small in Shetland). His swing jazz style of accompaniment, developed while listening to American Forces Radio as a young man, has had a huge influence in Shetland and beyond. The festival lineup was mostly chosen by Willie and the headline artist was the great Martin Taylor who sat in on my afternoon workshop and scared me shitless.
This was the last event organised by my buddy Davy Gardiner as Shetland Arts Officer. Davy had held the position for a number of years and has worked tirelessly to promote the talents of the many great musicians on the islands. I wish him well in his next ventures.

Peerie Willie

September, 2006

I had done one tour of Ireland for the Music Network organisation; back in 2001 with Donal O’Connor and John McSherry. I was delighted to be asked to do another tour this time with Triona and Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill. Their brother Michael, who along with Triona was a founder member of the legendary Bothy Band, had died suddenly in July and so the tour was emotionally charged to say the least. On the way to the first gig at Matt Molloy’s pub in Westport Co. Mayo the sister’s phones were ringing constantly with good vibes from fellow musicians. It was a great tour and I hope we get to play again.

August, 2006

This was heavy teaching month with three week-long camps back to back. Swannanoa, North Carolina followed by Goderich, Ontario followed by the Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp, Colorado- a lot of instruction for a self taught guitarist! Swannanoa was hot and sticky outside but great air conditioning inside. Goderich was hot and sticky in and outside as the air conditioning was busted and Rocky Mountain at 7,800 ft had no air to condition.

July, 2006

My sixth trip to the Chet Atkins Festival in Nashville. This has become a fixed point in my calendar and I’m very glad it has. The event, organised by Dr. Mark Pritcher, attracts visitors from all over the planet- most of whom come every year too. The Toronto Fingerstyle Guitar Society delegation mostly occupies the bar area and so we’ve become good friends over the last few years. Other regulars include Guy Van Duser, Jim and Morning Nichols, Richard Smith, Tommy Emmanuel, Stephen Bennett….

Third Trip to the Mission Folk Festival, BC. The organiser is the delightful Francis Xavier Edwards- possibly the nicest man ever to run a festival but not the most detail conscious. I flew into Vancouver Friday expecting a relaxed evening at the festival my booking being for Saturday and Sunday. My driver handed me the programme and as I browsed I noticed that a) he was driving at ferocious speed and b) I was due on the main stage in 30 minutes. Who needs contracts! It was a great weekend and I look forward to doing the festival again.

June, 2006

To Montreal and a festival appearance with Paddy Keenan. I’ve been listening to Paddy’s piping since I was 10 years old and he was in the legendary Bothy Band. I can’t actually remember where we first met as he has a habit of turning up in the most unexpected of places. He now lives in New England and our paths cross once or twice a year- always unpredictable but great fun.

Alasdair Fraser’s Valley of the Moon camp has been over subscribed for years so finally he decided to start a second week of Scottish Immersion- “The Sierra Fiddle Camp”. It went amazingly well for the first year despite hellacious heat (108F) and the final concert with the students was a treat. I taught the guitarists Gordon Duncan’s “Sleeping Tune” and it spread by osmosis to the rest of the camp so that come performance time it was performed by the entire ensemble of 200+ campers.

Tony McManus

May, 2006

Gambetta’s home town Genova, Italy is the venue for a series of concerts called the “Acoustic Night” and Men of Steel made the return visit after a two year gap. It’s always worth the trip just for the food and the fact that a good restaurant will be convinced to stay open for an entourage of hungry musicians and friends- a nice change from the usual post gig enquiry as the shutters come down “well, is there anywhere near that’s open?”
A quick trip to Torino for another MoS show and back to Canada- I always wish Italian tours were longer.

The Men of Steel continued the fun in Ontario with a number of shows- the two at Hugh’s Room in Toronto and the gig in London, ON being the standouts.

April, 2006

Had some concerts in Ontario and Quebec with Clare fiddler Maeve Donnelly. I’d met Maeve once before in Boston when she was playing with Moving Cloud and really enjoyed the chance to accompany a top notch traditional player- even if she did force me to learn The Banks Hornpipe in E flat.
We had a unique moment at the Toronto concert. I was contacted prior to the show with a heads-up that the guy at the front table was going to propose at the gig to his beloved and would I play something suitable. I played some Breton Wedding marches (with a lament on standby if she’d said no).
Thanks to Shelly Romalis for organising these gigs- more to come in March/ April ’07.

March, 2006

Beppe Gambetta and I had a busy day in Elizabethtown, Kentucky for the Acoustic Masters series. I think it makes for a really good evening; Scots and Irish tunes, bluegrass flatpicking, a Doc Watson song here a Genovese mazurka there….Beppe is my guest along with Bruce Molsky for a gig with the Nashville Chamber Orchestra March ’07- really looking forward to that one.
On to Lexington for the Woodsongs Old Time Radio hour- you can see our performance archived on their website www.woodsongs.com

I left the next day for a tour of Germany- my first long tour there since Brian McNeill days (1997). I was asked to do the “Irish Spring Tour” which promoter Rainer Zellner does each March. We had 18 concerts in 18 days- just like I remembered German tours! Great bunch of musicians- fiddlers Cora and Breda Smyth, bassist Paul O’Driscoll, Galway singer Mary McPartland and Michigan band Millish. One of my duties was to duet each night with the tour merchandiser- the amazing Enkh Jargal. “Epi” is a well known face in Germany and probably even better known in his native Mongolia. I am willing to bet that Jimmy Mo Mile Stor has never been rendered on acoustic guitar and morin khuur (Mongolian, horse hair, two string fiddle) but it was cooking by the end of the tour!

Enkh Jargal

February, 2006

World tour of Tennessee:

After six of Steve Kaufman Kamps it was high time to do a concert in the Palace Theatre, Maryville. It was really great to see so many familiar faces and this coming year I’m happy to say I’m back teaching at Kamp.
I’d wanted to do a solo gig in Nashville for years and so many thanks to the golden voiced Kathy Chiavola for promoting what turned out to be a joyous evening. Not quite solo- Russ Barenberg and I reprised a set of tunes from the Transatlantic Sessions gig and Kathy joined me for a song or two. I wasn’t the least bit intimidated by having genius flatpicker David Grier sitting in the front row……yeah, right…..
The following day I was summoned to a meeting with Ricky Skaggs. Ricky couldn’t make my gig (he had something called the Grand Old Opry instead) but off we went to Hendersonville and played some really nice guitars and mandolins for a while. I told him he should have a sticker on his mandolin case saying “My Other Mandolin is Also a Loar” (these are breathtakingly rare and valuable Gibson F5s from the ‘20s of which Ricky has two). I think he laughed.
Only a Scotsman would book an afternoon gig in Memphis on Superbowl Sunday but thankfully there are, in that great city, some people as uninterested in sport as I and my thanks to both of them for showing up.

January, 2006

Well this was intended to be a sort of diary and it has turned into a review of the year! My last entry was in December ’05 so as we hit December ’06 you may assume it’s been a busy year.
January was taken up with Celtic Connections and gigs with Men of Steel, Cathy Ann MacPhee, Fred Morrison, Bagad Kemper and a few others. The gig with Bagad Kemper was a real treat and possibly the loudest on stage experience of my entire life. I’ve had a big interest in Breton music for years and to be invited to guest with their top pipe band was an honour.
The festival finished with “The Transatlantic Sessions” and host Aly Bain asked if I’d sit in on that one too. “Delighted!” And a duet with Russ Barenberg turned into a full time position in the house band with Russ, Garry West, James Macintosh, Phil Cunningham, accompanying Patty Larkin, James Grant, Karen Matheson, Bruce Molsky……quite a finale

January 16, 2006

This is a long and sad ramble.

I was just about to check in for the Boston trip when I got a call with the terrible news that Gordon Duncan had been found dead that morning.
Gordon was one of the most inspirational pipers of his generation and arguably of all time. His inventive musicality and technical wizardry have left us with a body of work- original compositions and settings of traditional tunes- that will keep aspiring players busy for generations to come.
Alas, that was only one side of the coin. The other was that Gordon spent much of his life frustrated and tormented with his situation and, after pausing to draw breath, it wasn’t too much of a shock to hear that he had taken his own life.
I think about his career and I keep seeing parallels with that of another musical hero of mine- Jaco Pastorious. Both reinvented their instruments while keeping one foot in an older tradition; Jaco took the frets off his bass while playing big band jazz and Gordon was a committed pipe band player while pushing the chromatic possibilities of the Great Highland Bagpipe, producing music that would frighten the more conservative elements of the piping establishment. Both seemed to live on the edge. Both had glittering careers thwarted by addictions- Jaco with drugs, Gordon with drink- and both eventually lost the battle with the demons. One huge difference is that while Jaco’s music suffered terribly at the end of his career, Gordon had lost none of his powers as a creative artist.

Gordon Duncan (1964 - 2005)

His recordings are all released by Greentrax Records and “the boss”, as Gordon referred to Ian Green, was his biggest fan. Ian also worked hard to help Gordon get his just rewards from his compositions and was rewarded with a tune in his honour- “Ian Green of Greentrax”.

My first contact with Gordon was when he asked me to play on his second album- “The Circular Breath”- but touring commitments elsewhere meant that I couldn’t do the session. Being a huge admirer of his music I was really disappointed by this and regularly reminded him to call when he made his third. We were having this conversation yet again at the Greentrax 15th anniversary concert in Edinburgh when he had a brainstorm- “what are you doing next week?” I was really excited by the possibility and after bouncing around a few dates with him; I ended up producing “Thunderstruck” (CDTRAX 241) at Dougie MacLean’s studio in Dunkeld. I’m listening to the title track now and there is something wonderfully subversive and mischievous in even trying to play ACDC on bagpipes- only Gordon would dare to pull it off! I’m very glad to have been there for the trip.
As producer my role had very little to do with getting the best out of Gordon- he knew, with minimal input from me, when he had done a good take and when an idea wasn’t happening. He had a concept of how his pipes could work with my guitar and my job was to try and realise this on record. Gordie would often record during the day and go home exhausted leaving Jamie MacLean (our wonderful engineer) and I to record the guitars, occasionally working through the night. Gordon would refine those ideas the next day and the process would continue. I am very proud of that album and finished my work on it convinced that Gordon Duncan was a genius- one example: the last track which combines a piobreachd, a drum salute and his signature tune “Andy Renwick’s Ferret” was arranged entirely in his head, exactly as recorded, before a note was played. For all the craziness in his life at that time I was struck by the intense discipline he brought to the project. On one afternoon, after a heroic lunch in the pub, he recorded three demanding solo sets one after the other, note perfect in single takes, and went home with no need to even hear the results.

The broader musical community was dumbfounded that such an artist earned a living emptying bins in Pitlochry rather than from his music but I never heard a bitter word from Gordon. He was frustrated for sure but never gave the impression either that the world owed him a career or that his job was somehow beneath him. He was always generous and helpful to younger players many of whom idolised him in return and though revered by his peers worldwide he was never cocky about his unearthly abilities, often choosing instead to thrust his pipes into some unsuspecting hands and shout encouragement from the sidelines.

Gordon was the subject of many tales (all of them true!) but I hope the stories of his mad, drink fuelled exploits are now seen in the context of a troubled, passionate soul desperately trying to get his life together.

His music and influence will be with us for a very long time- I guess we didn't convince him how much he was cherished and admired while he was here.

December 2, 2005
Announcing the arrival of Finn McManus:

Hello friends,
I mentioned in the last ramble that an addition to the family was immanent. Well, Finn Séamus McManus came roaring into the world at 6.47am on October 11th. He tipped the scales at 7lbs and is handsome in the extreme.
He was born without a hitch at home and he and his mother were looked after by the incredible Guelph midwives. The whole process, from early pregnancy, was driven by the needs of mother and baby and handled with great respect for our plans for the birth. Leslie, Michelle and Carol have our undying gratitude for their incredible work.

Finn McManus

Took a bit of a break leading up to the due date- which, predictably, passed without incident (Finn was a week overdue) - and am now easing myself back into the gigs. This is the longest time I’ve spent in one country for years and it’s an odd feeling. I’m enjoying driving to gigs in Guelph and Toronto and Hamilton and……I can throw a couple of extra guitars in the car and go public with beautiful instruments that usually stay at home.
I had a great trip to Alberta for gigs in Calgary and Edmonton. I’ve performed at both Festivals and was delighted to see good crowds for the return trips. Thanks to Eamonn and Sean for a fine job in filling the Irish Centre in Calgary and to Bill Werthman for hosting a great night in Edmonton. Bill is also involved in Homefest; a festival highlighting the problem of homelessness in the city. It was good to be asked to play at this and to hear some of the stories from the streets. It’s a growing problem worldwide, made worse by our misunderstanding of how people can end up on the street. The organisers of Homefest do great work all year round and I hope to be involved in this event again.

Next up is a trip to Boston for the WGBH Christmas festival and then in January over to Scotland for Celtic Connections ’06. The festival began in 1994 and other than 1995 when I was in Canada; I’ve played at every one. This year I’m accompanying Cathy Ann MacPhee whose last album I produced, doing some work with our guitar quartet Men of Steel and guesting with the legendary Breton pipe band Bagad Kemper. Should be a great festival.

An update on the car crash: as of the last instalment, Dollar Rent a Car was looking for me to donate £5,600 for the repair bill for the rental that got sideswiped by a mad driver in California. They have reconsidered the situation; a police report entirely blaming the other unlicensed and uninsured driver plus the $159 I paid them for additional insurance. In the light of this they have upped their bill to $7,000! Bastards.

Finn’s first trip to Scotland will be in January and after that, more blether.

Thanks for stopping by

Tony

Sept 10, 2005

After a couple of days recovery from the long Australian tour it was off to the Pacific North West. Bellingham, WA was one of the highlights of the tour I did in' 98 with The Celtic Fiddle Festival and the promoter Sami Melilo has become a good friend over the years. Mine was the last show of the final series but more things are planed with a new association for the future.

Between Bellingham and Seattle there was a great gig in Vancouver at the Rogue presented, as always, by Steve Edge. This meant a surreal drive over the border where I had to explain to the Canadian official why I didn't need a Canadian visa and on the way back to a clueless US official what my class of US visa was for. Both uniforms seemed grateful for having their jobs explained to them.

I had a longer trip to the States in May with some great gigs in Wilkes-Barre, PA and Charlottesville, VA before heading up to New England. Harvey Reid is an immensely talented and busy musician (on too many instruments to mention) and how he finds time to run the Seacoast Guitar Society I'll never know. The Inn on the Blues in York Beach, Maine was full thanks to Harvey's efforts and a really memorable night ensued with my buddy David Surette joining me on mandolin for the encore.

The California stretch of the tour was nearly brought to a halt by a mad driver in Bakersfield who ignored a stop sign and ploughed into the side of my rental. She ended up in hospital overnight with neck injures and I had a fine collection of cuts and bruises and a ribcage that ached for weeks. The most serious casualties were both cars and potentially my bank balance. Free Advice: if you are going to be hit by a speeding motorist with no driving skills make sure he or she has a licence and insurance. My nemesis had neither and the rental company, despite taking $156 from me for insurance and despite the police report blaming her, would like me to pay for the damage she caused. Their bill is for $5600.

Back to The States in June for some concerts in Texas with Beppe Gambetta. In one small town I noticed a banner across the road advertising a "Texas Pride" festival. Just wondering....has anyone ever detected a lack of pride in Texas? Does this need to be encouraged? We had a fine time in Wichita Falls with Doc. Brian Hull in the promoters seat- Gambetta treated the entire audience to a post-concert demonstration of his technique for making bruschetta; I guess the next best thing to touring Italy itself is touring Texas with a culinarily inclined Italian. I gave a short introduction to Central Scottish cuisine; if it moves, fry it- if it doesn't move, fry it till it does.

Tony with Andre Marchand, Joliette, QC

July and August were similarly frantic: festivals in Winnipeg, Nashville, Jolliette Quebec, Indianapolis, Edmonton, Fergus Ontario and Ottawa. It was great to get back to Jolliette where I recorded "Pourquoi Quebec" back in '98. I enjoyed hearing the new line-up of La Bottine Souriante in the town where it all started but I missed the charisma of Yves Lambert and the compositions of Michel Bordeleau. Great to hear Le Vent Du Nord and to jam with Michel and Andre Marchand again- great little festival.

The schedule is slowing down now in advance of the next life adventure which is parenthood. By the time of the next update we should have a new addition to family. Wish us luck! Cheers,Tony


May 1, 2005

Well, dear readers, welcome to the first entry in a series of regular updates as to what I’ve been up to. Since the new website went live a couple of months ago we’ve received lots of positive feedback about the new design. Please keep it coming, along with any ideas you have for improvements to the site.

January was pretty much given over to the massive Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow. The festival started in 1994 with what seemed at the time to be a huge programme of artists. Ten years later it’s much bigger and takes in several venues throughout the city including the Tron Theatre, Glasgow Cathedral, The Barrowlands, the Piping Centre as well as The Royal Concert Hall where it all started. For me this year was as frantic as any I can recall with my own concert in the Cathedral with the wonderful West Ocean String Quartet and Alain Genty plus shows with Karen Matheson, guitarists John Doyle and Anna Massie, Old Time guru Bruce Molsky and finally Dougie MacLean’s massive finale production “Rural Image”- featuring 16 musicians 4 dancers and a wee grey Ferguson tractor (check out www.dougiemaclean.com for details. Celtic Connections also has a wonderful late evening programme at the festival club where many of the artists perform in a more spontaneous setting then the formal concerts. I was asked to sit in with Mozaik for their club set- having stood in for Dónal Lunny on the band’s US tour last year it was great to stand beside him and add to the wall of strings. At the end of the festival I even managed to record a song at Capercaillie’s studio in Glasgow with Karen Matheson for a long planned album of duets (possible release date 2008!).

Next up was a short tour of Germany. In the last few years I have been asked to perform at a few guitar festivals in Germany, mostly run by the great fingerstylist Peter Finger and after a few years absence from the country I am really enjoying my trips there.

From Berlin I headed over to France for the Bordeaux Guitar Festival where I shared a concert with Richard Smith and Jason Carter. The headline artist the following evening was the French classical guitarist Valérie Duchâteau whose performance was spellbinding. I’m hoping to do more festival in serious wine regions of the world- there’s already a great festival in Soave, Italy. Anyone wishing to start the Champagne Guitar Festival has my full support!

A quick trip to California for the Chico Festival with Men of Steel topped off the month of February.

The whole of March and the first half of April I spent touring Australia with Alain Genty. We had a heavy schedule for most of the seven week trek but managed to find time to check out kangaroos in Moriac, Victoria; koalas and dingoes in the National Zoo in Canberra, quolls and potoroos (a marsupial not a chemical loo) on Bruny Island, Tasmania courtesy of Brendan Schmitt- the Sultan of Bruny. Highlights: Eric Bibb’s set with Michael Jerome Brown at the Blue Mountains Festival; being forced by my friend Greg Watson to pose for a photo with a carpet python he calls a pet; flying over the Great Barrier Reef; the view of Sydney Harbour from Blues Point; sharing a stage with André Marchand, Grey Larsen, Alain Genty, David Milligan, Simon Thoumire, Angus Grant, Luke Plumb, Mike Doolin and Nancy Conescu playing “The Orange Tree” (from André and Grey’s classic album). This was my seventh trip to Australia and the longest yet. It’s a great country to visit and to work in and over the years I’ve made many friends all over the vast island. I managed to catch up with most of them- thanks to all who made the tour go so smoothly.

See you down the road somewhere.

Tony