Many wonderful things have happened in the first half of the year 2000, and most of them have to do with music. Celebrating the 15th anniversary of Sleeping Giant Records, this summer “Adirondack Green” will be available for the first time on CD! I’m very proud of this landmark album of traditional and original songs of the Adirondack Mountains. It features John Kirk, Dan Duggan, Marc Facci, the Newton Street Irregulars and most importantly, 89-year-old Adirondack fiddler Cecil Butler recorded in his kitchen in 1975.

Other highlights have been traveling to North Carolina with Dan Duggan and Peggy Eyres for concerts in New Bern and Beaufort; performing with the Newton Street Irregulars at the 1891 Fredonia Opera House (joined by friends and family - Jenny Berggren, Chris Warner, Greg Clarke, Bill Smith, John Kirk, Trish Miller, and Mark Murphy); then the Irregulars were guests at this year’s Gottagetgone (the annual festival hosted by the Capital District’s folk club Pickin’ Singin’ Gatherin’). Having Jenny sing and play flute with us was great enough, but then we headed out on a father-daughter road trip to perform for Indian Lake Central School and the Adirondack Museum. Now I’m really going to miss her when she spends July studying in Ireland. Maybe she’ll join Dan Duggan, Peggy Eyres and me for a concert or two this August. Come on out and find out! Hope to see you on the road.