What Ho!
OWL NEWS!
The neighborhood barred owls have been a constant presence in our back yard the past few weeks, and I’ve been eagerly watching and waiting to see this year’s crop of owlets. And last night I got my first glimpse of li’l floof #1! Check out the video below—parent and baby are in silhouette, but you can hear the little one’s “feed me” screech and see it getting fed-!! I still can’t get over our luck in getting to watch the habits of wild birds of prey right here in East Nashville.
In other news from the natural world, I took off to Georgia last weekend to meet up with family and enjoy a trip to the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The weather was absurdly perfect, and there was a very impressive orchid event happening. I loved seeing all the flamboyant plantlife, but gotta admit that the big thrill for me was the amphibian display, which included Golden Poison Frogs (!!) and other stylish critters (see below).
IRELAND
I’m leaving for Ireland next week to accompany Joachim Cooder on his jam-packed tour. We’ll play a show every night for 10 days! Per usual, I’m channeling my pre-trip anxiety into making lists and ruminating on optimal gear and packing systems. (It never ends.) Tour dates are listed in the graphic below, or visit my site or Joachim’s site for ticket links.
KKRG UPDATES
Kieran and I had a great little run of shows a couple weeks ago. I’ll tell you more about it in the next KKRG News post, so if you haven’t signed up on that list yet, get on it!
HEADS UP, NORTHEAST!
Our summertime-at-the-cabin regional dates:
Bethlehem, PA: June 21
Spruce Creek, PA: TBA
Paul Smiths, NY: July 13
Cabot, VT: July 27
Saratoga Springs, NY: Aug. 2
Tompkins Corners, NY: TBA
Whately, MA: Aug. 28
If you want to be alerted as soon as new tour dates get posted, give us a follow on Bandsintown.
MISCELLANEOUS
Fabulous stringband The Onlies have a delightfully trippy new music video. // If you like that, may I interest you in my Old-Time A.I. merch? // I found this post from Ted Gioia really fascinating. Have you read it? Please share your thoughts in the comments! // If you need more owlet content in your life (and who doesn’t?), check out this livestreaming Barred Owl Cam.
Also, I want to draw your attention to a special album release that’s coming up—You’ve Been a Friend to Me. It’s a collection of recordings of Sonya Cohen Cramer singing in various musical settings. I first knew Sonya through her dad, John Cohen, and I always felt a kinship with her and her wonderful family. She died in 2015, and this album is a tribute to the music that was quietly and steadfastly woven into her multifaceted creative life. It’s coming out on May 17, and I’m looking forward to it.
And so…
Before I wander off, I’ll remind the fiddle-folk that I still have some availability for fiddle coaching in May before we leave the internet-zone for the summer.
Thanks, as always, for reading. It means a lot to me! Take care & please do keep in touch…
Tinkerty tonk,
xo rayna
Thanks Rayna. Love these. Look forward to them. Enjoy your trip abroad. Be safe.
Great recommendations! Also check it - andy cahan on bandcamp!