Fall is creeping up on us entirely too quickly, in my opinion. However, the good news is, as Bill Watterson's inimitable Calvin would say, "The days are just packed!". And by "the days", of course, I refer to the Dusty Strings fall concert and workshop schedule. (Trust me for obscure references...)

Anyway, we have truly crammed this fall's schedule with great performers and workshops. Banjo players are particularly well represented in the concert series, with Bob Carlin and Paul Brown taking the stage in September, and Adam Granger and Alan Munde rounding out the schedule in November. We will also see the return of Liz Carroll and John Doyle in November--O frabjous day! (I'd advise getting your tickets early for that concert, as they have already started flying out the door).

I could go on and on...harp concerts galore, the return of Crookshank (our own John P's Euro-traditional folk-rock conspiracy to drive the Muggles mad) and lots of fun 1920s-30s music. But I'll let you see for yourselves. Just to tease you, here is the September concert lineup. (As usual, give us a call at 206-634-1662 or stop by the store to purchase tickets.)


Bob Carlin & Paul Brown
Thursday, September 6th, 7:30 pm, $18
Bob Carlin has performed, lectured, and taught the distinctive Southern banjo style to audiences all over the U.S., Canada, and Europe for over thirty years. His performances and teaching explore the history of the banjo and Carlin's own musical journey through West African roots and African-American banjo styles, minstrelsy of the 1840s and 1850s, Southern "old-time" banjo playing, and John Hartford's music. Paul Brown is a highly respected banjo player, fiddler and singer. He's a songster, collector and producer, and a warm and welcoming entertainer who makes his living as a radio journalist with NPR in Washington.


Magical Strings
Saturday, September 15, 7:30 p.m., $15
Philip and Pam Boulding of Magical Strings create their distinctive music with a tightly knit blend of Celtic harp and hammered dulcimer, augmented by pennywhistle, concertina, valiha (Malagasy bamboo harp) and storytelling. Since 1978, they have toured throughout the U.S., Canada, Ireland and Japan, including touring and recording with Dan Fogelberg and appearances on A Prairie Home Companion. Their '06 tour concluded with a debut performance at the Kennedy Center in D.C. The Washington Post has described their music as "warm, graceful, and sonically gorgeous."


Del Rey & Suzy Thompson
Friday, September 21, 7:30 p.m., $18
Suzy Thompson and Del Rey have been collaborating on recordings and live performances for over 20 years. Suzy plays her deep blues fiddle on almost every Del Rey CD released since 1990, and Del appears on Suzy's live Arhoolie release Stop and Listen. They share a love for Memphis Minnie and the classic blues singers, and sing wonderfully obscure 1920s numbers like Bessie and Clara Smith's Faraway Blues. Del plays guitar for Suzy's great fiddle tunes, and Suzy backs up Del on ukulele rags and deep blues numbers (and there's plenty of duet singing!).


See you soon!

Molly