Wow! It's been many months since I've reported news. I guess that my musical news is that I'm playing out more and more, trying to get better at communicating in every circumstance. I've got a regular gig at Earth & Tea Cafe in Harrisonburg--every other Friday night. And I sprinkle in some festivals and other restaurants. It's been really fun supporting some other artists by helping put on their shows and playing backup for them. So I've been playing for kids, for disabled people, for festival crowds, for contra dancers, in church, in noisy pubs and quiet listening rooms, for suffocating crowds or for an audience of one. Trying to grab attention, set a mood, make a statement, get someone to care. Wanting to reassure, to challenge, to sneak up on someone's politics, to give a new perspective. In all that, I'm learning not to take myself too seriously. People mostly want to hear a beat or a memory. It's a rare thing to have people really dig in to your songs. But it does happen, and when it does, it's a great opportunity to share ideas. News tidbits: * Got to jam with the Lotus Eaters old time band at the farmers market in the spring. * Collaborated on stage with Jonathan Reuel, Dave Landes, Jessie Trainum, Beth Nealon, Barb Graber, Mark Rallings, Alex Albrecht, Mike Williams and Sheila Newman, Jerry Holsopple and Gina Holsopple at gigs over the past year. * A bunch of us put together concerts honoring the work of Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, and Judy Collins this past year. * I won an Acoustic Challenge Night at Massanutten resort. Is there such thing as a competitive folk singer? Anyway, that's what's going on. I'm getting better. And maybe when cold weather comes I'll get back in the studio and start to work on the next album.