Hoot, I didn't mean to imply a lack of bass players at Clifftop. I did mean to imply that if you're a bass player at Clifftop, you'll find yourself fully employed.

Pete, thanks for chiming in...might be that this is a Philly phenomenon...but from all the contributions, it is definitely an American situation.

Jerry, I do know that friend and NY old-time fiddler Ambrose Verdibello was listed as playing in a band for a contra dance at NOMAD.

I also want to add that I hope I didn't come off as trying to slam the Philadelphia Folksong Society. They did hire Run of the Mill String Band for last year's (2003) Philadelphia Folk Festival which was great. I have to admit to falling out of my chair when they called, but we were delighted to be asked. We appeared in a sea of singer-songwriters and world music (we followed Xavier Rudd!), but we were real glad to be there.

-Greg