Songs of Sail was a wonderful event, and one I wasn't sure would come off after some of the sparse audiences of the past. I was talking to one of the local long-time librarians during the intermission and she said she saw relatively few local townspeople there. So thanks to all the out-of-towners, and especially Mudcatters who attended. Thanks too to Bob Webb and the Brick Store Museum. We never had to worry about sellouts before, but Saturday was close, and I think next year we'll take no chances and get our tickets early.

As a transplanted Nutmegger, I was very pleased by the strong Connecticut-based contingent on stage…Cliff Haslam, Don Sinetti, David Littlefield, and of course, Shipping News. My wife & I had the rare privilege of singing with Paula in an Irish Chorus, the Curlews, directed by Gina. (Eric was an inactive member when we were there). The Curlews begat Shipping News, and it is great to see the latter's reputation spreading beyond the New Haven County line.