Ian-

But thanks for the thought!

Things went well this evening at the Norway House in Victoria. It's a big square room with a high ceiling, takes a lote more volume to power without an amplified sound system than the room at Steveston Village. I found the folks there very friendly, with several already interested in C. Fox Smith.

Most of the floor singers did a couple of songs, and I was next to last so I got a good idea of how well the audience responded, and they did pick up fast on choruses; there most of been about a 100 folks in the hall. I led Mobile Bay and Old Pagoda Anchorage at full throttle, both of which benefit from a strong chorus. During the break I got rid of almost all of my CD's and have an embarrassing amount of Canadian dollars to deal with. Maybe I'll just have to come back here and spend them.

The featured artist Richard Grainger did an interesting set, some very strong songs that I was not familiar with and a couple that I'll look up when I get back to the States. I do wish he had sung more songs. I found myself growing increasingly impatient with his rambling introductions and asides. He has a lovely song with a chorus about a "flowing rolling river" which I have to learn.

Afterwards I did enjoy talking with some of the regular nautical singers who were attending, and they're all invited to sing in Maine and at the Press Room in Portsmouth, NH. Some even sail! And at least one young woman wants to follow up leads on the trail of CFS in Victoria; Danda also has some ideas that she wants to follow up as well. Folks invited us out to a neighboring bar for more singing but we sadly had to defer. We just can't do that the night before leaving.

Now it's back to packing for the morning run to the ferry.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble