To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=115465
7 messages

Any folks on the Eastern Shore of Va.?

21 Oct 08 - 05:11 PM (#2472160)
Subject: Any folks on the Eastern Shore of Va.?
From: Bruce MacNeill

Hi. Originally from Massachusetts but having moved around a lot in my ex-job, I recently retired to Willis Wharf on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. I now have time to re-learn guitar and the songs I used to know. I found Mudcat while looking for some lyrics a few weeks ago and love the site for all the accumulated knowledge you've saved over the past ten years. I'm just learning my way around down here and it's more of a Country music area I think but I've been wondering if there are any folk oriented places here. I've seen mention of Richmond in some threads but that's a fair hike from here. Is anyone familiar with any folk activities around here? I think there's a festival sometime in the summer but I missed it. Any information gratefully accepted. Thanks, Bruce


22 Oct 08 - 04:49 PM (#2473092)
Subject: RE: Any folks on the Eastern Shore of Va.?
From: Bruce MacNeill

I'll refresh this once and if I still don't get anything I'll assume the answer is no.


22 Oct 08 - 05:31 PM (#2473156)
Subject: RE: Any folks on the Eastern Shore of Va.?
From: GUEST,Ken Brock

I'm in the Hampton Roads area. Check out www.tffm.org for concerts in Virginia Beach, just down Hwy 13 a bit.

Also listen to 89.5 FM Sunday evenings for bluegrass and folk content.


22 Oct 08 - 06:02 PM (#2473177)
Subject: RE: Any folks on the Eastern Shore of Va.?
From: Arkie

It has been a while since I have spent time in eastern Virginia but Bob Zentz is based in the Norfolk area and there have been some festivals in Norfolk and Portsmouth. You would have to cross a long bridge but that's what it is there for. I remember the days of the ferry and made the crossing and back just for the ride before it closed. There are also some things in Washington which is a far piece too. But then everything is a far piece from the Eastern Shore. I had given thought to retiring there myself. Maybe you can start up something.


22 Oct 08 - 06:09 PM (#2473181)
Subject: RE: Any folks on the Eastern Shore of Va.?
From: Severn

See the Lisa Null & Judy Cook concert thread for word on the Richmond Folklore Society concerts. A bit of a drive, but worth it.

Capri Uni is a catter from that area.


22 Oct 08 - 07:01 PM (#2473210)
Subject: RE: Any folks on the Eastern Shore of Va.?
From: Bruce MacNeill

Thanks to those that did respond. I was hoping to find some people here to play with. I have always liked to find people who knew more than I so I could learn from them. I'll keep looking around here. My son and Daughter-in-law work in Richmond and I know there's a lot over there. The cheap golf was over here. Besides, my wife has a good job at the hospital here. Someone has to support me in the manner I wish to become acoustomed to and let me fantasize a music career. I learned finger-picking from a guy I met in Antarctica and spent my time in Vietnam sitting around playing guitars and singing anti-war songs. It's hell being stuck in the 60's but what can you do? I loved the music.

Thanks
Bruce


07 Dec 09 - 11:05 AM (#2782913)
Subject: RE: Any folks on the Eastern Shore of Va.?
From: Bruce MacNeill

Just an update. It took a year but I found the Folk (or at least Folk revival) folks around here. There's a restaurant called "The Great Machipongo Clam Shack" in Nassawadox, Virginia which is a couple of miles south of me and they have open mics weekly, Thursdays now. Apparently they have had one the first Wednesday of each month for a couple of years.

I went to November's just as an audience member and it was just like being back in a coffee shop in Boston in the early '60's except with a beer license and food. They have a small stage with room for no more than 2 and a PA system. The performers included singer/guitar players, some doing original material most doing covers, a poet, I guess they sometimes have a comedian. To me it was great.

I went with guitar in hand last Thursday. Since there had been an open mic Wednesday though, I became the opening and closing act. No one else showed up. I played for almost 2 hours less a couple of breaks. The patrons took it OK although to fill the time I did every song I know plus some jazz and a little classical. It was much better than my first attempt last spring, which was sort of a disaster due to a host band that insisted on playing along with me although they'd never heard me play before. I'll go back to this one.

If the question comes up again, yes there is music on the Virginia Eastern Shore and we know where it is now.

Incidentally, thanks to those here who offered me support a year ago when I started thinking about performing this late in life.