Well the dust is still settling for me, but I can give y'all a quick update. Eammons Kitchen had a couple of enjoyable sets over the weekend, likewise I had two solo sets that went well.

I didn't catch Bola, but I heard good things about them. Likewise I heard Jim Flanagan and a Poor Man's Fortune each drew large enthusiastic crowds. I quite enjoyed the little bit of Smithfield Fair that I saw/heard; nice harmonies, great scottish tunes and songs. Top shelf bodrhan player and other instruments as well.

I quite enjoyed Mick Maloney - whose piano accordian player got so frustrated with the sound man at point in the set-up he inquired, "so when did you go deaf?" LOL - the poor bastard on the console was having a hard time - but things got smoothed out.

I have to say I was just floored by Maire Ni Chathasaigh & Chris Newman. Chris has got to be one of the finest guitar players to ever touch the instrument. Their music was varied from lovely trad tunes exquisitely arranged and performed to ragtime/jazz styles. They were truly delightful.

Brian McNeill was another festival highlight. A world class fiddler and musician - a gifted songwriter and an easy 'this is who I am' stage presence, mesmerized his audiences with a variety of tunes and songs; original and traditional.

I was unluck in getting to see Ed Miller, a Folk Legacy artist and very favorite of mine. We were scheduled against one another troughout the festival. But Ed is always loved by the NTIF crowds, and his shows were quite well attended.

But I have to tell you, that one of our very Mudcatters was a festival highlight. Seamus Kennedy was hot, and this was festival held in record breaking frigid temps (for TX, remember you northerners, we don't see freezing very often). Seamus played to nearly packed houses for every show, and he was ON. They loved him! Seamus could probably do the whole show and not play a single song and have the crowd loving it. But he treated the crowds to some great music as well. He did three shows out in the cold (enclosed) tents and one indoors to a good 400+ person audience. He sold lots of CDs and picked up lots of names for his mailing list - and probably got a few room keys as well! Seamus told each of the audiences about Mudcat, and gave them the URL. I suspect we'll have a few new faces at least peeking in. Seamus was also gracious enough, no downright generous to have me up on stage with him for a couple of songs. It certainly made my weekend.