From butchross at butchross.com Fri Oct 2 14:09:34 2020 From: butchross at butchross.com (News, info and tourdates for Butch Ross) Date: Fri, 2 Oct 2020 14:09:34 -0400 Subject: [ From Butch Ross ] Upcoming online events and more. Message-ID: So this is usually the email where I begin by saying that "fall has fallen" and I'm enjoying the cooler temperatures. But, like you, I haven't really left the house all summer, so what would I be talking about? I was as bummed as you to hear about the Black Mountain festival cancelling, I love that location and that festival especially at that time of the year. But I want to applaud Chuck for taking the chance on life returning to normal and attempting a real-life event. We'll do it next year. Promise. So we're strapped (but not trapped) into our houses for a bit longer. But if we're being honest, "fall has fallen" and we would normally be getting ready to be hunker down anyway (or to make our annual pilgrimage to Florida). But there are a couple more online festivals coming up that I'm really excited about, and wanted to remind you of them. *The New Mexico Dulcimer Festival - Oct. 17th*My first memory is of standing on a picnic table in our backyard in New Mexico watching a brilliant sunset as my dad sang "hear the wind blow" to me. I think that's when orange became my favorite color, I KNOW it's the moment I became a musician. So I was excited to be invited there in 2018 and this was far before I learned what an amazing job Scott and Irma and their volunteers do. It really is the little engine that could. This year I'll be joined (virtually) by Lance Frodsham, Joshua Messick, Katie Moritz, Karen Alley and of course Scott & Irma Reeder. Because I've done a lot of online festivals this year--and because anyone can go to any festival ever now--all of the workshops I'll be teaching will be either brand new or classes I've only ever taught once or twice. Just to shake it up a little bit. In tribute, I may make a point of only eating Mexican food that weekend. But I know right now, without access to those green chilies, it won't be the same. The schedule is here https://www.nmdulcfest.com/pdfs/2020.nmdf.schedule.pdf The page to register online is here https://www.nmdulcfest.com/register.html and then there will also be an online concert as well. Registration closes October 8 *2020 VIRTUAL 32ND ANNUAL NGFDA FALL FESTIVAL - Nov. 19 - 21, 2020*Next to seeing old friends in the flesh, the best part of a dulcimer festival is getting to test drive new dulcimers. And no festival was better for that than Unicoi. I have a long history with this festival and am always thrilled and honored to be asked to be a part of it. It too is online this year. And I will be teaching a mix of new and old topics. Any repertoire classes that I've taught earlier this year (songs of the 60's, 70's etc) will have new tunes. And there are a couple of classes I've only taught a few times before...if at all. Registration closes the first week of November http://www.ngfda.com/events/2020/11/19/2020-virtual-32nd-annual-ngfda-fall-festival and finally... *The QuaranTUNE Christmas Concert - December 20, 21, and 22*Something like 45 dulcimer folk performing over three evenings (and one afternoon) of concerts. There'll be more on this one down the road, so save the date. I have to say of all of the adjustments we've had to make in the wake of this pandemic, concerts may actually be the part that's transitioned best. I mean I miss jamming with friends, looking out at a crowd of (mostly) interested faces, and hearing people laugh at my truly stupid jokes. But the online concerts I've seen and been a part of have been surprisingly more entertaining than I would have thought they could be. Even the concerts of the first QDF (which had the most technical issues) were still largely very entertaining. Plus, you can watch the concert in your PJs while eating microwave popcorn. Can't do that at a regular concert (trust me on this one). *OH NONONONONONONO WAIT!!!! One Last Thing!* Once again Bandcamp is forgoing their fees on all music sales TODAY ONLY. All my records are there available as high-quality downloads (not mp3s, unless that's what you want). All my albums start at $7 but are "pay what you want" (meaning more if you want to) plus any download of a FULL album comes with extra tracks: demos, unreleased things etc. So if you're missing any Butch Ross music, TODAY is a good day to get it. butchross.bandcamp.com Okay, really. That's it for now. Wear a mask, wash your hands, call old friends, and VOTE! C-ya in here. --Br www.butchross.com "Now I know what a dulcimer is supposed to sound like" —Jake Shimabukuro