I’ve been very quiet on the Posts lately, which around here means only one thing: the studio’s been busy! Lots of good music, and I’m only finding time today to write because it’s a snow day and Concord NH’s Lynda Nelson and I had to postpone a vocal session for her third CD. This is shaping up to be a fantastic new collection of her heart-felt, straightforward acoustic-y country songs. We’re about halfway into it and already there are real winners. Listen to this! We cut basic tracks in Nashville in November, drums/bass/piano and acoustic guitar, and are working on overdubs and vocals up here, with remote contributions from famed guitarist Chris Leuzinger and backup vocalist extraordinaire Kim Parent, both of whom I’ve worked closely with since the early 90s.

The Seacoast’s Harrison Guptill is working on his 2nd CD. His is a unique, ‘Americana’ style (for lack of a better description, one that reflects his imaginative and soulful contemporary vision). A recent cut.

Portland Maine’s Stomp Rocket, a favorite on the national Contradance scene, are smoking their way through their first CD.

Bob Moore, an adept fingerpicker/songwriter from Kingston NH has started a new collection of songs, as has Newburyport’s Lee Biddle. Lee usually enlists me to play second acoustic guitar or mandolin on his country-flavored material, always an honor and lots of fun.

Looking back at the second half of last year, Hanz Araki and I recorded a bunch of songs as a duo, in a somewhat neglected ‘Irish Music Hall’ style. In the pre-war Irish-American community there was a wealth of music to be found, quite different than the ‘Celtic’ music genres that surround us these days. Here’s The Darling Girl From Clare, with Hanz on vocals/tin whistle and yours truly on my 1933 Gibson L5 and ’36 D18.

Bob McCreedy, from Detroits’ legendary Volebeats, brought in a nifty little piece called ‘Light Up the Jukebox’, which he plans to release as a vinyl ’45’!

There’s more, of course, and one new live music thing: I’ve started hosting a ‘coffeehouse’ format evening of folk music (almost) every Thursday at Newmarket NH’s Stone Church. We’re doing all kinds of Folk – the usual Celtic/Old-Time American/Maritime songs and tunes made popular at the legendary Press Room session, plus a healthy dose of 60s ‘Folk Scare’ favorites. It’s new, but promising. Stop by!