I found Mudcat thi first day I went online last November, and now that access is improved visit almost daily. I confess to lurking for the most part, waiting to see where the threads are going.

The database is amazing. I have filled in gaps, missing verses, etc. in stuff I have been playing and singing for 30 years. And if you "stump the Database", all of you are out there... sort of a real time folk process. There is a sense of community.

This discussion format with traceable threads is much easier (and less time consuming) than either of the discussion lists (FIDDLE-L and IRTrad)to which I subscribe.

My "real" name is Chris Siegel. (the Barstow is my middle name) Main interests are Celtic fiddle tunes, but my song bag has folk, swing, chanteys, some good old R+B, R+R, and unaccompanied bawdy ditties.

Bert sums it up. "I came for the database and stayed for the people."

Chris