There is (I believe) one difference between Mudcatters and the on-line denizens of most other forums (fora?)--we all have an interest in folk music. (Yes, I know there are many kinds of folk music, and I'm not concerned with definitions, but there is an overlapping corpus of music that interests all of us.) Getting together with other Mudcatters is not simply some opportunity to say hello and shake hands with a screen name and see if a relationship develops. Instead, whenever I've met with Mudcatters, the instruments come out of their cases or the singing voices are raised, and music happens! It's about a goal oriented gathering--the making of music; very often the goal of making music together creates relationships. But I'd rather you stop talking and start singing.

--Charlie Baum