Well, now that 1997 is here, I can look back and say that we really took off in the latter half of 1996. I must say that this success is due to the addition of The Digital Tradition and the seemingly endless efforts and knowledge of Dick Greenhaus. Thank you Dick.

I would also like the thank AskSam for the use of their tremendous software, of which the database may never have been available.

One more thank you goes out to all the people who take the time to respond to questions and requests posted to the discussion forum. There is some truly good information being passed around there, and I am glad that we could make a place for this to go down.

We have some big plans for 1997. The first of which is the launch of folkies.com, another Mudcat creation. Stay tuned to see biographies, festival listings, concert dates, historical accounts, and much more about your favorite folkies.

Also for 1997, which should help us financially to pull off our plans, is the addition of the Mudcat Record Collection. We have assembled over 500 albums from all you favorite and many unheard of Folk and Blues Labels. They will be available right online for your purchase and perusal.

To go hand and hand with the previous ideas, we intend to add streaming audio to our list of offerings. Hear sound clips or is some cases entire albums of your favorites and versions and artists you have never even heard of.

We are also going to feature up-and-coming, and unsigned musicians. It will give us all a chance to see tomorrow’s folkies as they come out of the gate.

The deal has yet to be signed, but we anticipate also to simulcast a weekly blues radio show. Radio on the net… who would have thought…

Also in response to our popularity as of late, massive upgrades are in the works. We will have new hardware and a heftier network connection to increase the reliability and enjoyment of The Mudcat Café.

Our goal for 1997 in no uncertain terms is to publish all of the Mudcat’s sections with increasing regularity. Our hope is to have a magazine’s worth of new content every month. Thanks to the nature of the net, past issues will also always be available.

Let me say that we shall never charge a cent for access to the Mudcat Café. We are planning to finance the ambitions of 1997 with our record collection, advertisement, and academic grants. We have organized as a non-profit company whose only goal is to preserve and extend the Mudcat’s existence. How can you help? (thanks for asking) Well, keep coming back for one. If you see a product advertised on the Mudcat, realize that they have given us the financing to continue through that month. If you happen to buy a product that you have seen advertised on the Mudcat, make sure you let them know that. You can help spread the word, and wield the power of the almighty dollar for the underdog for a change. You can also buy your cd’s from us. We originally decided to provide this service in response to the increasing difficulty in finding non-mainstream music. You may see the same music for sale somewhere else, and maybe even a little cheaper (we doubt it though), but know that when you buy from us, that 100% of the proceeds go to the continuance and expansion of the Mudcat Café. The addition of a new service or section, more hard to find music, new and reprinted publications, more up to date news and interviews, sheet music, instruction materials, and all around good things.

Well, once again, thank you to all the folks that put in their time creating and visiting the Mudcat Café and all of its parts. I know this has brought me closer to the things that I love, as I hope it does and continues to, for you.

Dig it.

Max D. Spiegel Publisher, The Mudcat Café