I've been having computer problems and haven't been able to post for a while but it's sorted out now. I'm more than halfway through my Scottish Folk Club tour and having a great time - meeting wonderful people and enjoying lot's of songs!   I've been longing to experience the folk clubs (after hearing so much about them on Mudcat) and this has been my big chance. So far, every club has been unique, with its own special atmosphere although all are united by a love of folk music and the audiences and organizers have been so friendly and appreciative. I didn't know how my mix of almost all traditional American, Scottish and Irish material would go over here in Scotland but it seems to be okay!   My first gig was Dalbeattie on October 16th - it was a great drive from Galston through Dumfries and Galloway. This club is run by Phyllis Martin, a traditional singer and collector of songs. In particular she sang a lovely song that she had gotten from her mom - called "The Irish Boy". The Kilmarnock Folk Weekend was 25 - 26 October and I saw Ruarigh Campbell and Angus Lyon, a lively duo (fiddle and accordion) and also the Clutha with Gordeanna McCulloch - one of my favorite singers! Next I performed at the Wee Folk Club in Edinburgh - quite small, as its name implies but a great atmosphere. The audience included some tourists who just happened to drop by and I also met Murray McCleod for the first time in person. He came all the way from Pitlochry to see me perform (and also to pick up some Oreo Cookies I'd brought over for his American wife!). Murray performs some very funny songs - had the audience cracked up with one called "The Lily of the Net" (sung, of course, to the tune of The Lily of the West). I added a couple of Spanish songs to my set for the benefit of a young man from Barcelona who had just dropped in and it went over well. A couple of days later I headed for the beautiful medieval town of Dunfermline. This turned out to be a great club - run by Gifford Lind. Lots of good singing here and I got a great audience reaction when I performed "The Trooper and the Maid" in which Dunfermline in mentioned. I met mudcatter Kenny B. there and had a chance to chat a little.   The on to the Falkirk Folk Club, which is held at the Polish Club in a beautiful, elegant old mansion. The room was packed and it was a memorable evening. Local singer/songwriter Stewart (sorry, can't remember his last name) performed a beautiful song he'd written about the 1973 coup d'etat in Chile, so I added a song by Victor Jara (Te Recuerdo Amanda) to my set. I'm glad people still remember that there was another September 11th. Halloween night was spent at Dalmellington - what a friendly club! I just had a floor spot there but the main act was a Scottish group called Appalachian Mist. Well, they were excellent - great musicianship and authentic Appalachian style singing. I felt like I was back home in Virginia! I did a couple of Appalachian songs as well during the break. That weekend I headed up to Pitlochry where Murray had arranged for an informal evening of songs around the fire at the hotel where he works. It's a beautiful place called The Pines Hotel and it looks like something out of an Agatha Christie novel.   There weren't many guests but we sat around the fire swapping songs and were joined by a local fiddler so we had some tunes as well. Murray really impressed me with his guitar playing and he's got a slew of great songs. Then it was on to the reknown Glenfarg Folk Club. The Glenfargers were in fine form although they had just come in from a weekend excursion and must have been mighty tired. I was thrilled to meet Sheila Douglas, who is well known in ballad circles as a great singer, collector and ballad scholar. Her approval of my repertoire and approach to ballad singing meant a lot and she's a delightful person. Kelso was next and I took the scenic route which went through Yarrow - of great ballad fame! This has to be some of the most beautiful scenery in Scotland but it is really remote and those roads are small and winding. We had to change the day of my Kelso gig to Thursday November 6th rather than Friday as had previously been planned, so attendance was kind of low. No matter, it turned out to be an excellent evening anyway. David Kilpatrick, who runs the club, is one of the best ballad singers I have ever come across and he treated us to some crackers. I sang some border ballads - including The Dowie Dens of Yarrow (I just couldn't resist). I was afraid it was like carrying coals to Newcastle but David said no, they almost never sing border ballads at the club so it was a nice change! Anyway that's it so far, next week I have Ballycastle (Northern Ireland) on November 10, back in Scotland at Chapleton on November 11th, then Irvine on November 12th. My last gig is Girvan on November 21st.

Still hoping to get to the Wednesday St. Andrews in the Sqare song circle in Glasgow but so far have either had something else for Wednesday or was too tired. When I'm not gigging I'm enjoying the walks and hiking trails around Ayrshire and sometimes I overdo it. Yesterday was gorgeous and we hiked the area around Loudon Hill (couldn't quite manage to climb it!). I'll probably be dropping in on the Stirling Folk Club week after next, too.


Cheers!