[ The Calendar and Newsletter are sponsored in part by Homestead Pickin' Parlor , Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association, Blue Wolf, Singleton Street, and Monroe Crossing ]

For some reason the last weekend snuck up on me, musically. I didn't focus on the events that were coming up and I missed a couple in my planning, thought it was a light week and weekend. However, it turned out to be four days of heavyweights. This upcoming weekend is again jam-packed with big names, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Steve Kaufman & Adam Granger, Spider John Koerner & Tony Glover, Garnet Rogers, and some stinky ol' Fish Heads from up Duluth way.

ACOUSTIC RAMBLES:

Thursday night I stopped in at Ginkgo Coffeehouse for a New York singer/songwriter, Edie Carey. I hadn't done any homework on her other than to read the blurb on Ginkgo's music calendar page. She has a beautiful voice but her "free verse" compositions didn't ring for me, no rhymes, irregular rhythmic cadence: the messages were strong, but of the angst-filled, new-love-seeking, looking-for-love's-meaning kind that I must be too old for. I left at the break, spent the drive home trying to put into words why I had no enthusiasm for the show. I find it extremely difficult to explain, even to myself. What makes one composition a SONG with melody that you want to hum, dance to, sing to and another basically a _speech_ with the tune no more important than noise in the background, a flatbed trailer to carry the speech maker around, bland, utilitarian, unexciting. I thought of Joni Mitchell. I loved her days of Woodstock, Ladies of the Canyon, Blue, Circle Game, Free Man in Paris; was left flat by her Hissing of Summer Lawns and Mingus modern jazz work; hated Dog Eat Dog. Edie Carey's show wasn't bad, just too much work for me to enjoy. I'll try her again later; maybe I'll be in a more receptive mood.

I spent too much time trying to explain my weak reaction to Edie Carey's show because neutral shows are harder for me to verbalize or intellectualize than are those I really enjoy or dislike. Maybe I need to take a class in music appreciation, something to give me a broader musical understanding and vocabulary. Currently I'm like that old cliché "I may not know art but I know what I like." For me it's "I know what I like, but I'm not sure I can tell you why."

Friday night started a three day run of things I liked unreservedly. I went, on a short notice invitation, with some friends, to the premier of the new Spider John Koerner movie, Been There... Done That. The Oak Street Cinema was slow filling but was completely packed by the movie's opening. (I heard that several hundred people were eventually turned away). Been There was a series of conversations with Koerner at various Twin Cities locales, particularly Palmer's Bar and a show with Dave Ray and Tony Glover at the Cedar Cultural Center from 2002. Interspersed with scenes of the Cities were a few of concerts back on the East Coast and a few of performances in Denmark, where Spider John lived with his Danish wife during his "retirement" in the very early 70s, shots of him at his cabin "Up North", Spider John with his inventions, friends and fellow musicians talking about him. I loved the movie, but I'm not an unbiased viewer because it contained so many shots of places where I've spent so many sweet hours - the Cedar and along the Mississippi River, so much great acoustic blues and folk. And the music was wonderful; each song was shown in it's entirety, camera at a close, steady position, occasional asides to focus on a hot instrumental break, not chopping around like modern TV concert camera work (imagine water spattering on a hot griddle, random, senseless, numbing). The film will be at Oak Street Wednesday (tonight!!!) and Thursday night, then move on to San Francisco. If you can somehow find the time to go, don't miss your chance.

Saturday afternoon I had another bluegrass lunch at the Times Bar and Restaurant. Monroe Crossing played this time and, as always, packed the place. Saturday lunch at the Times is a relaxing, cozy way to spend the early afternoon, even when the weather's nice. I don't have to say much about Monroe Crossing. Everyone reading this newsletter has heard me rave about them. They didn't disappoint.

Saturday night at the Cedar brought another New York singer/songwriter, Lucy Kaplansky, but Lucy writes SONGS. She was intensely into the music, had me (and I think everyone in the sell-out audience) hanging on every word, every note. Kaplansky is a little older, maybe late 30s, early 40s, a psychologist, new mother, so her lyrics hold a maturity and knowledge of life outside herself that spoke to me. She also sang of finding and losing love, searching for meaning, but with the experience of a wife of several years, psychology practice, parenthood, separate from her rejuvenated performance career.

I finished the evening at Dulono's catching the final set and a bit of a new bluegrass group, Drive Time. Drive Time is composed of local veterans of other local bands, Mark Regnier, guitar; Carl Blanz, mandolin; Graham Soames, banjo; Andy Thompson (brother of Matt Thompson of Monroe Crossing), bass. All sing lead and harmony. Doug Pellymounter of String Fever and Northfield filled in for Graham this night. Solid bluegrass band, getting better each time I see them.

Sunday, Easter, I was back at Ginkgo for a new (to the U.S.) singer/songwriter. David Francey has won two Juno (Canadian Grammy) awards, for his last two CDs, in the folk/traditional category, and is nominated again for his new CD, The Waking Hour. I was completely bowled over by his performance, his music. He sang in a deep baritone, a strong Scottish burr, with a guitar played by an accompanist since he only rarely plays his own guitar. His songs are about life and work and love in Canada, and he introduced each one with a long, funny, fascinating introduction explaining the history behind each song and how and why he wrote it. I haven't been so affected by a Canadian songwriter since I first discovered Gordon Lightfoot, Stan Rogers, and Loreena McKennit. Judging by the audience's response, the next time David Francey comes back to this area, he'll need a _much_ larger venue than the Ginkgo. Another show that gets my Best of the Year pick. What's that make this year already, three? four? Looks as if this is going to be an amazing music year.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Every night this week has tough choices to make. Tonight and tomorrow night (Wed, Thurs) the Spider John Koerner movie is showing at the Oak Street Cinema. Thursday evening forces a choice between Ellis at the Ginkgo and Jimmie Dale Gilmore, the space cowboy himself, at Lee's Liquor Lounge. Considering that that is the last night of the Great Minneapolis Smokeout, it might not be the best time to be in Lee's, but . . . Friday night it's Adam Granger (and friends?) at Dulono's, Jack Norton & the Mullets at 400 Bar, Phil Heywood at Ginkgo. Saturday is a killer: Hobo bluegrass lunch at the Times with Jack Norton & the Mullet River Boys, Curtis & Loretta at Bound to be Read Books, Steve Kaufman & Adam Granger at Armatage School in SW Mpls, Spider John & Tony Glover at the Cedar, Garnet Rogers at Ginkgo, and those Fabulous Fish Heads at Dulono's!!!! I'm going to at least one or two of those shows, but I'm not sure which yet. I know I will finish the evening at the DulonoDome with the Fishes, no matter where I start. Sunday super-pancake brunch with Jerry & Shirley would be just fine with a finale of Doon Ceili Band at the Cedar in the evening.

*** Sponsor event

### Weekly Feature Event

### Ellis & Kym Tuvim, Ginkgo Coffeehouse, St. Paul, MN, 3/31, 7:30 PM
### Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Lee's Liquor Lounge, Mpls, MN, 3/31, 9 PM
*** Steve Kaufman workshops. Homestead Pickin' Parlor, Richfield, MN, 3/31-4/2
*** Monroe Crossing, Community Bluegrass Concert, Elim Lutheran, Scandia, MN, 4/1, 7 PM
Adam Granger, Dulono's Pizza, Mpls, MN, 4/1, 8 PM
Eliza Bonacci, Coffee Grounds, Falcon Heights, MN, 4/1, 8 PM
Phil Heywood, Ginkgo Coffeehouse, St. Paul, MN, 4/1, 8 PM
Jack Norton & Mullet River Boys w/ Sara Softich Band, 400 Bar, Mpls, MN, 4/1, 9 PM
Blue Wolf, SEMBA Showcase Concert, John Hassler Theater, Plainview, MN, 4/2, 5 & 8 PM
Great Northern Bluegrass Fest, Rainbow Inn, Grand Rapids, MN, 4/2, 7 PM
*** Monroe Crossing, Fundraiser for E Immanuel Lutheran, Amery HS, Amery, WI, 4/2, 7 PM
Curtis & Loretta, Bound to Be Read Books, St. Paul, Mpls, MN, 4/2, 7:30 PM
*** Steve Kaufman & Adam Granger, Armatage School, Mpls, MN, 4/2, 8 PM
### The Fish Heads, Dulono's Pizza, Mpls, MN, 4/2, 8 PM
Bill Geezy and the Promise Breakers, Music Loft, Red Wing, MN, 4/2, 7:30 PM
### Garnet Rogers, Ginkgo Coffeehouse, St. Paul, MN, 4/2, 8 PM
Spider John Koerner & Tony Glover, Cedar Cultural Center, Mpls, MN, 4/2, 8 PM
Spruce Top Revue, Coffee Grounds, Falcon Heights, MN, 4/2, 7 PM
Jerry & Shirley, Bluegrass and Breakfast, Not Just A Cafe, Bayport, MN, 4/3, 9 AM
Doon Ceili Band w/ Paddy O'Brien, Cedar Cultural Center, Mpls, MN, 4/3, 7:30 PM
### Natalie MacMaster, Fitzgerald Theater, St. Paul, MN, 4/5, 7:30 PM

Farther Out:

Tish Hinojosa, New Folk Collective, Friends Meeting Hall, St. Paul, MN, 4/9, 7:30 PM
Neal & Leandra, St Michael Church, St. Michael, MN, 4/9, 7:30 PM
Tangled Roots, Oak Center General Store, Oak Center, MN, 4/9, 8 PM
Phil Cunningham & Aly Bain, Cedar Cultural Center, Mpls, MN, 4/10, 7:30 PM
Clay Hess, John Garon & friends, St. George's Episcopal Church, St. Louis Park, MN, 4/15, 8 PM
Del McCoury w/ Tangled Roots, Medina Entertainment Center, Medina, MN, 4/15, 8:30 PM
David Massengill w/ Amy Martin, Friends Meeting Hall, St. Paul, MN, 4/16, 7:30 PM
Peter Ostroushko, Music Loft, Red Wing, MN, 4/16, 7:30 PM
Altan, Cedar Cultural Center, Mpls, MN, 4/17, 7:30 PM
Väsen, Cedar Cultural Center, Mpls, MN, 4/17, 7:30 PM
Fred Eaglesmith, Cedar Cultural Center, Mpls, MN, 4/17, 7:30 PM
"April in Paris" Hot Club Benefit, Dakota Jazz Club, Mpls, MN, 4/18, 7 PM
Fiamma Fumana, Cedar Cultural Center, Mpls, MN, 4/22, 8 PM
Karen Savoca and Pete Heitzman, Oak Center General Store, Oak Center, MN, 4/22, 8 PM
Cajun Hot Soles dance, Music Loft, Red Wing, MN, 4/23, 7:30 PM
Sweet Honey in the Rock, O'Shaughnessy Theater, St. Paul, MN, 4/23, 8 PM
Yonder Mountain String Band, Pantages Theater, Mpls, MN, 4/29, 8 PM
Claudia Schmidt, Friends Meeting Hall, St. Paul, MN, 4/30, 7:30 PM
Yonder Mountain String Band, Pantages Theater, Mpls, MN, 4/30, 8 PM
*** MBOTMA Educational Endowment Fundraiser, Dulono's Pizza, Mpls, MN, 5/13, 7 PM
*** MBOTMA Educational Endowment Fundraiser, Dulono's Pizza, Mpls, MN, 5/14, 6 PM
Mary Chapin Carpenter, Guthrie Theater, Mpls, MN, 5/26, 7:30 PM
Peter Rowan & Tony Rice, Cedar Cultural Center, Mpls, MN, 5/19, 7:30 PM
Bela Fleck, Fitzgerald Theater, St. Paul, MN, 5/26, 8:30 PM
*** MBOTMA Homegrown Kickoff, El Rancho Mañana, Richmond, MN, 6/3 thru 6/5
Doc Watson and David Hold, Cedar Cultural Center, Mpls, MN, 6/24, 8 PM
*** MBOTM Festival, El Rancho Mañana, Richmond, MN, 8/11 thru 8/14

and there's a WHOLE LOT more!!!! CHECK OUT THE ONLINE CALENDAR FOR DETAILS AND MORE EVENTS!

TECHNICAL REMINDERS:

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Recent Link Pal additions include:

Blue Drifters: http://www.bluedrifters.com
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Bluegrass Review: http://www.bluegrassreview.com
Chuck Millar & Sandi Scott: http://www.chuckandsandi.com

Once again, if you or your band have events that I've missed on the calendar, be sure to email me a schedule update or reminder, or enter them in the Events Submission form at the top of the Calendar. The same goes for venues. I've signed up for several venue newsletters and regularly check the calendars, if they exist, for others, but sometimes I get behind. If you know of more events, give me a holler. I hate it when I miss things.

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Keep on pickin'. I'll keep on grinnin'.