Sandy--

I notice that you and Caroline are official performers this year. I hope you won't be kept so busy singing official workshops and concerts that you won't be available for song-circles. Last year's late-Saturday-night sing-around in the Dutch Barn, once it shifted into informal gear, was a memorable exchange of songs, and I remember sitting around behind the Folk Legacy sales booth with other Mudcatters, cheerfully ignoring the acts on the Main Stage and having a wonderful time making music for and with each other.

I'm certainly planning on coming this year--the only question is how many of my Silver Spring neighbors I can drag up with me.

To anyone who hasn't been to Old Songs yet--this is the one festival to go to if you can only get to one. Not only is the music great (see their website for performers), but with two decades of experience, the logistics of the festival have been thought out and planned down to the most nuanced details--for eaxmple: seating at the mainstage by chair-types. And: the provision of late-night jamming areas for those who want to jam all night and early-evening quiet zones in the campground for those who need to sleep instead.

See you there.

--Charlie Baum