Speaking of our friends from SF:
Mudcatters out there with a taste for sea music really should pick up their album "Boldly From the Westward". It's very rare to find an album of traditional music that has 15 tracks that I don't have on other albums. Those other tracks aren't really "Blow the Man Down" common either. It sounds good too.

I had a great time personally, with some unique experiences. As the "Lead Singer" of my group, I never really get to sing Harmony- at the festival I get to play with whatever harmonies I feel like, switch 'em from verse to verse and play off of incredible voices. For me one of the best moments was at the Sat night pub sing standing between Geoff K. and David Coffin and being able to build off of what they were doing. How often does that opportunity present itself?

I took it lightly this year; I didn't sing as much, let the late night blues chapel continue with it's own momentum instead of feeling that I "had to" pitch a song in, and I don't think I ever flubbed as many songs in front of people- but I felt like I was treated even more like long lost family than usual.
And people wonder why I keep coming back.

P.S.
"I found a friend from California was parked nose to nose with me in the now nearly empty lot, and we wound up standing (that's right, never even sat down; he is a highly entertaining conversationalist) talking in the lot, leaning on my car, until four. "

Thank you, but I had to pay in Sleep dep, and I'm still not sure how I got home.