Well, most recently, I got a shipment of great stuff from Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers, who I learned about from little john cameron here in the Mudcat. Everybody should get some of their stuff, and especially their video.
This is part of a continuing cultural journey I've been taking for about the last year and a half, exploring the rich and amazing culture of Canada. Beginning, of course with the delightful and quirky town of Orillia, Ontario, and continuing on to the maritime provinces generally, and most recently, zeroing in on Newfoundland. All of which was made possible by the Mudcat.
The culture of Newfoundland is really mind-blowing, and it seems to be a very well kept secret. The music is some of the best anywhere, the humor is incredibly subtle and elegant (except when it's goofy, but it's the best goofy humor I've ever seen).
The thing that effects me the most profoundly about it though, is a sort of gently beautiful innocence, and when poignant instead of innocent, it still has a softness and gentleness that makes me feel good every time I listen to it. Sort of like being in a womb with incredible music and brilliant humor. And of course when it's wicked, it's the best kind of wicked.
And there are an amazing number of different accents and dialects, each of which is an absolute delight to hear. Every bit as wonderful as Scottish dialects. (Although a lot of the Nfld. accents and dialects seem to be Irish in origin.) I like to listen to the afternoon Fishing Report on CBC1 out of Nfld. (From a link given to me by the Canadian Mudcatter Bardford - thanks again, Bardford! Still profoundly in your debt here.) When you listen to the fishing report, you can hear a really wonderful variety of different Nfld. accents.
And I've gotten help from several different Mudcatters with my accordion playing and my eternal quest for circus music. Skipjack K8 being the formost on my list of accordion mentors.
And I've made a ton of really wonderful friends through the Mudcat. Some of them I've spent time with in person, some I've spoken to over the phone, and some I've gotten to know through the written word.
One of the most special of these, I came to know and develop a deep friendship with just through Personal Messages and through his posts in the forum. This was LR Mole who passed away just before Christmas, and I still miss him terribly. But I still have all of the PMs we exchanged; a little over a year of them. What an incredible gift.
And I'll always cherish the time I spent in Orillia (about a month and a half) in the company of flattop, Little Hawk, and hesperis. I've never felt as at home anywhere as I did when I was there enjoying the warmth of their friendship and hospitality. (And of course, meeting and becoming friends with Mr. Fielding while there was a wonderful added bonus.)
I know there's a lot more, but I don't want to monopolize the thread any more than I have already.