I seem to be on a roll, one of my songs that I had entered
into a competition at a new site I've joined, OurStage, was judged the best (#1) of 402 entries in an April contest to win a chance to perform at the Newport Folk Festival in 2008. So far, I've won $100 gift card but I won't know until later, when the contest ends in July, whether I've also won the performance opportunity at the festival. Still, this is the first time that anything I've written, performed and recorded was so recognized in a contest.

The song is called, "These Old Shoes". It's the title song from one of my 3 new cds. Yup, I've released three new cds simultaneously, and, at the same time. All three contain all original songs.

Each cd has songs that lean in a different direction. "Handsful O' Blues" has 11 blues and novelty songs. "These Old Shoes" holds 12 of my sillier and sweeter songs. "War Mongerin' Man", contains 13 seriously social messages.

I understand that winners of the performance spots at the event won't get paid for performing at the festival. Nor will they receive travel expenses. No matter, I'll hitchhike there if I have to. If the festival allows such, I'll busk my brains out while there to cover my expenses.

Has anyone been to this event? Can you tell me if they're busker friendly?

I don't want to put the cart before the horse. I may not be among the performers that actually win the opportunity. There are at least two and up to four possible stage spots that the competition is looking to fill. The winners will be decided by both the festival folks and the folks at Ourstage.

It sounds like a fun opportunity. If I do get this chance, I'd love to try to arrange some local performances while in the area. I've never seen that part of the country. I've never been that far east as a musical performer.

You can listen to a hifi version of These Old Shoes at my EZ Folk website. Or you can find it posted at my OurStage page: These Old Shoes.


These Old Shoes by Reggie Miles © 2008

These ol' shoes, these ol' shoes
They've carried me down many a road
These ol' shoes, these ol' shoes
They're gonna carry me home

So many places I've never seen
Never seen, never seen
I'll walk across this valley green
Then these shoes they're gonna carry me home

These ol' shoes, these ol' shoes
They've carried me down many a road
These ol' shoes, these ol' shoes
They're gonna carry me home

So many rivers I haven't crossed
Haven't crossed, haven't crossed
When I get weak and feelin' lost
These shoes are gonna carry me home

These ol' shoes, these ol' shoes
They've carried me down many a road
These ol' shoes, these ol' shoes
They're gonna carry me home

There's many a mountain I haven't climbed
Haven't climbed, haven't climbed
If I should stumble and run out of time
These shoes are gonna carry me home

So many years I have wasted
I have wasted, I have wasted
There's so much life yet to be tasted
Before these shoes carry me home

And when my life is over and done
Over and done, over and done
Just lay me to rest with these old shoes on
And then these shoes are gonna carry me home

These ol' shoes, these ol' shoes
They've carried me down many a road
These ol' shoes, these ol' shoes
They're gonna carry me home