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Early morning in the garden....dew on the grass...just touching base. I have been gone SOOO much this Summer..I just need to reconnect and apologize for the neglect. A breakfast of yellow pear cherry tomatoes, sweet banana peppers and red raspberries..that’ll do me!! Gather up an armful of vibrant ( !!!! just beautiful) kale…bring it in…blanche and freeze for the Winter.

Michael has been off bringing his lady love back from Arizona to start something together here in Michigan…which is great to see! They have been meandering through the west and mid-west for more than a week, taking in the sites.

ME, I have been preparing for Lithuania, talking to relatives, researching family history…trying to see if I have any relatives IN Lithuania…and working hard on learning some basics of the language. It is really fun…which came as a bit of a surprise to me, as it is a lot of work. It is nice to be enjoying it so much. But it connects me to so many people and things in my life, and to an ancient culture and heritage…MY heritage. I won’t go on, but it is exciting and humbling…and such a joy to think of being there and singing. …and meeting so many new people, and hearing so many new musicians from all over Europe1 We leave on Oct. 14…and return on Oct. 24.

And that’s about it, for now! Off to the many chores that pile up when you are gone…but it felt good to spend a few moments here with you.

We have a lot of news...but for now, this piece of BIG news. We are going to Lithuania in October to perform for a week at a wonderful singer/songwriter festival! The name, in translation, is the " This Is Me Festival". Singersongwriters from all over Europe will be there. We were chosed by the festival and the US Embassy in Lithuania, and will be travelling throughout Lithuania doing concerts.

This is not only quite an honor, it is also personally very moving for me ( David). My Father's side of the family immigrated from Lithuania in the early 1900s, and Lithuania was a real presence in my upbringing. There were 5 sisters, including my Grandmother, who came ( along with their mother...her Dad was already here working), and one street in my hometown of Branford, CT ( Lincoln Ave.) was nearly all Lithuanina families..and my relatives! It has been a lifetime desire of mine to visit there, and to be able to go and play music..for a week....well, I really can't take it in yet!

Here is a link to the festival web site. This year's festival is still being coordinated, so the site will be updated soon..and will include...Mustard's Retreat! :-)

http://www.bardai.lt/en/node/153

More news later!!

We will be Special Guests with Peter Yarrow at Wolftrap next March!! Here is the link. The Barns at Wolftrap is an AMAZING place.... and working with Peter is such an honor and privilege!
http://www.wolftrap.org/Home/Find_Performances_and_Events/Performance/1112Barns/0301show12.aspx

The Victory Music Review just reviewed our newest CD...here's the link!

www.victorymusic.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1265:mustards-retreat-living-in-the-dream&catid=82:current-month-reviews&Itemid=85

The last week of July…and how can THAT be??? I DO like getting older…in many ways J…but this time thing…always seeming to go faster…days, weekends., months……decades!!,,,,gone in a blink. Makes me think of my Dad, and how in his later years he savored each moment. There seemed to be no rush about him: he was just there in that moment and enjoying …genuinely enjoying whatever he was doing and the people he was doing it with. And when I think of it now, he was always that way…maybe I just got to the age where I could see it! J

There has been a lot to savor this Summer, from Pete Seeger’s Clearwater Festival in NY to the little gem of the Blakhawk Folk Festival in WI, a wonderful series in Montpelier OH…and old friends in Fenton, MI..but….our main summer touring is still ahead!…starting with the

Flint Folk Festival next Saturday..July29 & 30. This year they are trying something new on Friday night; a songwriters in the round. This is where magic can take place: several songwriters just being in the moment J and going wherever the music and the night leads.

http://www.flintfolkmusic.org/fest11/index.htm

810-653-7985

There is an arc of creation that goes on that includes the artists and the audience ..it is unplanned unrehearsed..spontaneous..and at its best creates something that is truly unique and memorable. Besides Michael and I, it will feature Anne Hills, Neil Woodward…and… our pal and founding partner of Mustard’s Retreat, ..and Flint native…Libby Glover! What a line up! I am thrilled…hope you can make it.

AND- the next day… a full line up of concerts..including us….( and Annie & Rod Capps!) Great pavilion at the lovely Kearsley Park…

http://www.flintfolkmusic.org/fest11/location.htm

…even better if it is raining! And- free.

And then..something we have been waiting for for a long time..National Mustard Day! At the National Mustard Museum in Middleton, WI..( just outside Madison)…..

http://mustardmuseum.com/2011-national-mustard-day/

800-438-6878

We had been told about the museum for years, and finally stopped in a couple of Summer’s ago. They knew about us as well…and…it just seemed like something that was meant to be! Sounds like a lot of fun..and ..the Museum…it is pretty amazing and fascinating…even if you aren’t into mustard. And if you are…there are more types for sale than you could ever imagine! Chocolate mustard? Yup!!

Years ago there was a wonderful festival called the Forksville Folk Festival, in central PA. Alas, it is no more. But the folks who ran it now live near Philly, and are having us in for a house concert! TUESDAY AUG. 9….

The concert is in Wallingford, PA You can email.Marianne at jacksonteam@comcast.net or call 610-462-9327. We are so pleased to be back in the Philly area. Never been to a house concert?? This IS what it is all about. Not only is it a GREAT, intimate setting for a concert. ..and for us to be able to play your requests! We actually have the opportunity and time to talk with you….which is always a frustration for us at regular concerts….there are so many people we want to talk with and too little time. And…you are likely to meet some fascinating people…thus is a wonderful community..hope you can come.

Aug. 10- Musikfest, Bethleham, PA http://www.musikfest.org/

This is a 10 day music extravaganza. The lineup is unbelievable. We play the Leiderplatz Stage at 1:30, and again at 9 PM

Aug. 12-13-14…back to Wisconsin for the Shawano Festival, one of the crown jewels of WI festivals!

http://shawanofestival.com/

It has been many years since we first played this wonderful festival. And we will be playing workshops, concerts, even MCing all weekend long.

Then 2 Michigan Summer concert series we have never done before….

Aug 20, 2011

7:00 pm The Music at the Harbor Antique Boat Show

HARBOR PARK

At the Foot of Main Street

Port Sanilac, MI

http://www.portsanilac.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=81&Itemid=90

Aug 27, 2011

6:00 pm Marine City Summer Concert Series

DRAKE PARK

Downtown Marine City

Marine City, MI

http://www.marinecitymusicfestival.com/summerconcertseries.html

and to complete our tour of Michigan’s Thumb area…

on Sept. 2- 7 PM….our long time friend good George Stewart will be hosting a concert in Lexington MI..at his home..on the lake…doesn’t get much better than this!!!!

For info please email him at lexstewart@sbcglobal.net

And then the next day…still in Lexington, MI…Thumbfest!

http://www.thumbfest.org/

Downtown Lexington ( which is quaint and charming and full of great shopping opportunities)…..is taken over with performers and stages..and all of it free! Workshops, concerts..it is a great time…and again, right on Lake Huron…just beautiful.

And finally we round out our Summer as we return to the Fox Valley Folk Music and Storytelling Festival in Geneva, IL…about an hour west of Chicago.

http://www.foxvalleyfolk.com/

This is the 35^th year for this festival. More than 30 artists. It is a thrill to have been asked back to play here again.

So there you go!! We hope to see you at one of these shows..and do come up and say hello and let us know you are getting these mailings!! We always love to connect with you.

And- thank you for your continuing support..it makes it possible for us to keep at it and out there.

As always, our CDs are available at

www.mustardsretret.com

Our music player..on our web site….I haven’t update in a while…but I will get to! There always is a free song that can be downloaded that is not available on our CDs.

and we are on Facebook as well….

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=670308120&ref=ts#!/pages/Mustards-Retreat/133930669513

David & Michael

Yeow! We leave for the East Coast tomorrow..yes, we are coming and the shows are on!!

But I have loads to do before we can leave..so..sory..this will have to be super brief!!!

Our server for our web site is based in Chicago…and not functioning…..I am betting that it is the result of the latest storm. Hopefully it will be up again in the next day or so……

Since I last wrote we have done 3 shows…The Yellow Room Gang CD release at the Ark- over the top fun! And it was multi-camera recorded…so we are hopeful that we will have some great footage out of that.

The White Crow Conservatory in Saginaw, MI..we had never been here. What a great place!!!! Really- its like a little semi-hidden gem. GREAT music/instrument store..first class sound & lights..in renovated church..just a great place to play. If you can…go to a concert there. You will be supporting a great business/scene that is making a difference in the community..and will enjoy yourselves.

Then…last Saturday..we were back in Columbus OH. In an effort not to bore folks in the rest of the country, I won’t rave about the night..but it was pretty overwhelming..thank you all!

UPCOMING SHOWS!

This weekend..The Firehouse Coffeehouse in Littleton MA on Fri. Feb. 4, and the Sounding Board in West Hartford, CT. Our first time at both these places that have great reputations. IF at all possible, we’d love to see you there

http://www.fculittle.org

www.folknotes.org

Fri. Feb. 11- we are so pleased to be going back to Cincinnati..after…..20?? years??

This place, as well, has a great reputation for community…very exciting.

www.qcballadeers.org

Sat. Feb. 12- The Ark- CD Release ( though we do have them already!)- David Mosher will be playing with us…guitar, fiddle, accordion, mandolin…tremendous player..and you can hear him throughout Living in the Dream. He was invaluable in arranging the CD…some see why!!

http://www.theark.org/

Then..on Feb. 26- another first for us…The Stained Glass Coffeehouse in Deerfield, IL

www.stainedglasscoffeehouse.com

It is our only Chicago area appearance this Spring. This is a fairly new coffeehouse, and already has a great reputation. Please come and support them, and us!

New CDs! Yes…our newest, “Living in the Dream”..already getting some great reviews form fans….as is “ Live at Big Sky” from the Yellow Room Gang. Really- we think they are both pretty exceptional. I would say go to our web site to order them..and to find out more about the concerts…but…… Hopefully it will be up and running tomorrow!

Cold and sunny, here in Ann Arbor today..very nice...very Wintery! We are gearing up for our first Mustard's Retreat full show since mid- November! Hard to believe its been that long! So- we are looking forward to playing and seeing you all again. AND- the new CD...Living In The Dream...just got here yesterday :-) It is pretty exciting. We put a lot of work into it...and the people who sang and played on it did some AMAZING parts. I know I have not been able to stop listening to it....and that is a good sign!!! We think ypu will like it...a lot.

AND- the new Yellow Room Gang CD..what a blast! We are very proud of both.

So- that is about it..just wanted to quickly touch base. tomorrow...Saginaw....next Sat- Columbus, OH.....then out to New England......a trip to Cincinnati...and then our big Ark concert....on to Chicago....it promised to be a great Winter/ Spring!

I AM smiling.
I just uploaded 10 different songs to our music player…and took the previous 10 down. It took a little time, to covert into MP3s, make sure all my records were straight, upload to tracks, etc. That was what I wanted to do BEFORE writing this letter…so the songs would be up there for you when you got this.
So- I finished that..checked my emails…I already had 4 comments from people who had been listening and enjoying the songs! Just amazing…still….that we can be so connected at any hour of the day, any distance. On line communities….fascinating….and…

thank you all for being there!!
So yes..the dawn of 2011. You might ask “ And where have you been since early November??”..it was Thanksgiving, all of December, Solstice, Christmas…etc. All through that time my intentions have been the best, it was just….busy..packed. But I have a moment now, so best wishes from Michael and I..hope the holidays were good ones: they were for us.

Two things that have been taking up time: the new Yellow Room Gang CD: Live at Big Sky- which is now out and available! It will be on our web site soon, but for now you can order a copy at www.yellowroomgang.com. The few who have heard it..we only just got them..have been thrilled. …as are we. I have uploaded to our player 2 of the songs Michael and I contributed..Rubiyat Blues, and Annie Bargain: the whole thing is a real treat.

Then..the new Mustard’s CD, entitled Living in the Dream! We have been mixing, tweaking, listening..and it goes to press next week. We should have it by the third week in January. It will be up on our web site soon for you to order…and if you want to order it now…just send me an email at David@mustardsretreat.com…….we will get it out ASAP…and, of course, we will sign them if you want. I also uploaded 2 songs from it…which , I think, are final mixes: Baby I’m Just Crazy About You, and Iris DeMent’s lovely Let the Mystery Be, that people have been urging us to record…here it is!!
We are REALLY excited about it. Actually, there are many songs here people have been asking for, and David Mosher’s production and all the singers and musicians..it really is a feast for the ears!

So- upcoming concerts! Time to get playing again. As always, there are more details at
www.mustardsretreat.com.

Jan. 14- will be the Yellow Room Gang’s CD release concert at the Ark, here in Ann Arbor. BIG time fun….all 8 of us are planning on being there……and..hopefully it will be filmed for..maybe..a future DVD??? http://www.theark.org/

Jan. 22…Saginaw, MI. The White Crow Conservatory
http://www.whitecrowconservatory.com/

This will be our first time here, and our first time performing in Saginaw since…`1982?? J
From all we hear, it is a great series.

Jan. 29- Columbus, OH
http://www.cfms-inc.org/
The Columbus Folk Music Society is one of the heartbeats of this community..and are as fun and engaging as..we are! Sometimes even more so!!!!

First weekend in February finds us back in New England…where we sent a lot of time this Summer. These are two big shows for us: new venues…well established and respected..who decided to take a chance ..on us!!
Friday Feb. 4..just outside Boston..The Firehouse Coffeehouse, in Littleton, MA
http://www.fculittle.org/firehousecoffeehouse.php

and..Sat. Feb. 5 The Sounding Board in W Hartford, CT
http://www.folknotes.org/

Please come if you can…support them, support us! If they go well, we may be able to come back to New England more often.

Another first…Feb. 11…back to Cincinnati for the first time in…over 20 years!
http://queencityballadeers.org/
This is another organization that has a long history and wonderful community around it: sounds just like our type of folks! Check out their web site for a podcast I did recently.

2/26- back to the Chicago area…..and so glad to be! …and our only area appearance for the first part of 2011. The Stained Glass Coffeehouse. They are fairly new on the scene ( in Chicago, I think that means anytime within the last 20 years! J They have a great tradition there).
It is really making a name for itself, and if you have not made that first appearance there…please consider doing so…they do lots of great work beyond presenting music……a place that really makes a difference….as you all do!
http://www.stainedglasscoffeehouse.com/

OK- 2011 already getting away from me! Lots to happily accomplish still this weekend. Hope to see you all soon!
David..and Michael

I just looked up at the clock..8:30..on a Friday night....and I am sitting home at my desk!?!?!?!?! :-) Yes..big smile on my face..and doing as much of the backlog of things that I can get to this evening...but..it IS strange not to be somewhere, on stage...on the road. Its not like I'm not singing, working on the new CD..practicing...writing a little....trying to get ready for tomorrow night in Lapeer, MI- our last full concert of the year! Come out...celebrate with us! We're going to have a great time!

Pretty much finished putting my my little green house!! I'll get a picture up on Facebok. Quite the project! One page of written directions and 40 pages of diagrams! Very slow, precise work...not my real strength..but went ito it knowing that..and knwing I wanted to do this right...so slowly and carefully it went..in my spare moments..and fortunately the weather has stayed nice this past month. This is like late October weather..its great..and I am grateful...and the plants are loving it now in the greenhouse. I am hoping to have spinach, chinese cabbage, and kale..and peas this Winter..I may have started too late...but....we shall see.

And- got my house painted! Pretty thrilling..went from a while that was powdering off the siding to a periwinkle...BOLD.and striking..with red shutters...and a touch of green around the door. Yeah..if you come here...you can't miss it..but the neighbors ( who have commented..all of 1 ) have liked it! I love it..and that is what is important! A neighborhood asset, I think..lifts the spirit..just like the marbles embeded in my sidewalk...little moments of art.

OK..going on too much. I have put a batch of new songs on our player..seasonal. Michael gets the short end this time, but he had not recorded many Winteryish songs. Enjoy! And have a great Thanksgving. I will be headed out to Conecticut to spend it with my Mom and sister......

It really is Home By The Morning this morning...a touch of pink and raspberry on the horizon. The sky above just lightening up..like ...approaching headlights. :-) Been a long drive back from Milwaukee. Michael slept from Milwaukee to Michigan: my turn to negtiate the " wild frontier" that is driving through Chicago ..at least late at night. It really is like some people think they are in the wild west..galloping their horses ( or Porsches)just a fast as they can, in a hurry to get..somewhere...and just weaving in and out of the tortises in their way...... And tonight's construction was pretty impressive..at one point a 4 lanes of traffic on I-94 were closed, and the entire highway of cars was driving on the shoulder of the road! Glad we were not on our way TO a show!

Began to loose it by eastern Indiana..so pulled off in the Michigan Welcome Station just over the line, crawled in the back and knew nothing more until Michael bumped into his driveway in Grass Lake. ..stepping out to a crisp, clear night You don't forget the stars out here..they are a presence, a magnificence..they anchor you and give you some internal perspective that you can't verbalize...like an inner alignment...always a surprise and a treat....

Then unpacking , repacking my van...a 30 minute ride home...then unpack again and store it all away.

The weekend was great!! The 40th anniversary of the Two Way Street Coffeehouse in Downer's Grove, IL...40 years..and bless the great Dave Humphries..who was there at the start and with his great crew of volunteers is still at it! The room was full and the crowd delightfully chatty..WITH us, not over us! :-) And Milwaukee was..well, I guess is was thechinically still tonight when we played..at least for the next half hour before the sun comes up...oh hey!! Just remembered!! The clocks get set back! :- Delightful.

So..Milwaukee.lots of old friends, some of whom have not seen us for 20 years or more! Did a buch of new songs, lots of requests, old song we hadn't done in years....a rousing night! Many thanks to Russ and Kathy Schultz for making this happen....again!!....the hospitality, the meals,,the sandwiches!!

Good to be out, good to be home. It is always a great feeling to crawl into your own bed at the end of a tour. Again thanks to all of you who make it possible for us to come play in your towns...we feel like the luckiest guys in the world. So good night..good morning...see you down the road!! David

I am still basking in the glow of the last two nights. The Yellow Room Gang did 2 concerts...and recorded them....at Big Sky Recording Studio here in Ann Arbor. We did live concerts..both nights...with about 40 fans in attendance each night.

I am supposed to be good with words, but this is so hard to exlain. Being a part of THIS Gang is such an amazing experience: they are all GREAT people, as well as great performers, writers, but when we get together on stage to do a show...there is MAGIC...no way else to describe it. AND..our audience.....really, YOU GUYS ROCK!!! ..as an audience, and as people as well. YOU are such a treat to play for, and just to know. A BIG thank you yet again for being there and supporting us and making it possible to do what we do. Nest time..a DVD!! Realy..the only way to capture all that magic.

We are shoting to have the CD out by Thanksgiving: we all are feeling that we got performances that we, and all of you, will be happy with..and more!

May your day be filled with little moments of wonder and joy..and may you be in a place to appreciate them!

Got up today..7:30..off to the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market. !!!!! What a delight! It is the season of abundance….and color! With all those fruits and vegetables….and art work….bread, mushrooms…flowers. You can buy organically, help your friends and neighbors and the local community by supporting the local farmers..and see people you haven’t seen in years ( I bought my sister a Christmas present: turns out the artist used to come see us play at the Win Schulers restaurant here in Ann Arbor ( or it was here)…back in the 70s!)

A little yard work, office work..then off to the Flint Folk Festival this afternoon. It is in a great park…beneath a really cool, old pavilion. A couple years ago it rained during the festival…we were all warm and cozy in there: it was so nice, it almost makes me WISH for rain just to recreate that moment…….great festival..come if you can. ..it is always a good time.

http://www.flintfolkmusic.org/fest10/index.htm

The Yellow room Gang recording session..is now sessions!! Aug. 17^th sold out so quickly..that we added another night..Aug. 18…and seats for that are nearly gone..so write me ASAP if you would like to attend. The deal is that the Gang in going to bring a pot luck dinner for everyone into the Big Sky recording studio here in Ann Arbor..just like we do for our monthly meetings…( though I am not sure yet what we will do about the ice cream!!). Then…we are doing a concert/recording..that will hopefully result in our new CD!!! And you will be a part of it!! It is a pretty cool thing, have to say. The studio is neat…and it is always interesting to see a record being made…starts/stops..retakes/mistakes! New songs/old favorites. As with any Yellow Room Gang concert…we can’t predict what any one of us will do next. It will be fun, and it will be fun to have you there. $50/person…gets you in, the dinner, a CD ( when we release it in November??) signed by all 8 of us…and your name there in the CD booklet as our way of saying thanks for being “patrons of the arts” and for being there and supporting us.

It will be a pretty exciting August for us..the beautiful Raquette Lake NY next Thursday night…followed by 2 days at Lobster Fest in Rockland ME…..and…..The Wachusett Valley Folk Festival in MA on Aug. 8

http://www.wachusettmusic.com/2010-wachusett-valley-folk-festival/

where I will be doing a special business workshop for musicians and the curious..talking about booking/management/ the artists I have worked with, and answering any questions folks might have. It is always a fun thing.

And then..Michael’s drumming workshop is quickly becoming a big hit, and the festival has asked him to do one here! He will bring some drums, percussion things…come play with Michael ( hard to resist that one!!)- whether you are a musician or again, just curious…no experience needed..AND IT WILL BE FUN!!!

Aug. 13 & 14..we will be in the UP!!!!!!! So excited…playing at the Grand Marais music festival on the shores of Lake Superior ( charming town!!!!) and then at two campgrounds in the Hiawatha national Forest..in Stonington and Christmas MI.

And- for those of you around the Harbor Springs area…we will be playing at the UU service there on Aug. 15- 11 AM J

Aug. 26…free concert in the park in Fenton. We do this pretty much every year….a great setting by the river , the waterfall, the ducks…..

And then off to the Great River Festival in La Crosse WI Aug. 128 & 29. This was the first festival we ever played outside of MI, and is still a favorite of ours, as is La Crosse. Probably a bit too early to see the eagles migrating..but we will be watching. And for you Uuers….as part of the festival, we sill be singing at the UU service on that Sunday morning, and they are going to be holding the service on the festival grounds at the UW La Crosse campus.

http://www.greatriverfolkfest.org/

Sorry to be so brief..gotta run..as usual…..lawn to cut, chores to accomplish before I get to go off and sing!! AS always,, more on our web site.

http://mustardsretreat.com

I put some new songs up on our music player last night…. And as the free download this month….ia demo for our upcoming CD of the poem Wynken, Blynken and Nod by Eugene Field. I put it to music last December at my Mom’s: I had just come up with a melody that I didn’t have any idea of where to go for lyrics. I reached for an old family book of poetry, and it opened to this poem, one of my favorites. I really like the way it works…and come to find out, not surprisingly, a number of other songwriters have done the same. My little contribution.

All the best, as always!!! Hope to see you somewhere, somehow, sometime…..sooner rather than later!

David…and Michael too!

After a morning of splitting and stacking firewood..I came in hot and sweaty for the sun and heat..took a bath...flopped down on the couch........
Thunder. I opened my eyes to a changed world. Cloudy. wind blowing away the heat. Just a few scattered drops of rain..I headed out to enjoy the weather..pull some weeds, put away some tools....there is really nothing like the lull before a Summer thunderstorm....big and crashing and momentum...that so much larger than you feeling..
kind of like songwriting! :-) I just read a quote from Bob Dylan ...." A song is like a dream, and you try and make it real." I love that, because that is exactly the way it is.
We have 2 new free downloads up on our site, www.mustardsretreat.com. A beautiful poem by Kathleen Raine entitled " Spell of Creation". I found it in a collection at a used book store outside Ithaca, NY...and the music found me. A lot of folks have been asking for this...so here is a demo of just me and guitar. We are working towards a new CD...actually a Yellow Rom Gang CD, and a Mustard's one..so this will show up somewhere.
Then..." The Thimble Island's Ghost." Michael and I just finished this, and we are really pleased with it. As some of you know, I grew up in Branford, CT..just a little east of New Haven, on the coast of Connecticut, with Long Island Sound right there. Lamphier's Cove is a place in town, right on the water. The Thimble Islands are right off of Stony Creek...an area of town that I love and where I spent a lot of time when I was growing up..including clamming with my Dad. Sachem's Head is just east of there; part of the next town, Guilford, where a Pequot Indian chief, or Sachem, was murdered in 1637.Lindsley is an old family name: I got the George...well..from my Uncle George..who lives near Montauk Point, which is at the eastern end of Long Island.
The Captain Kidd stories, and the treasures he is supposed to have buried, exist all over the area. I had been wanting to write this song for a long while, and with the Mystic Sea Music Festival coming up, I was determined to get it done. It was a real collaboration with Michael, and we tossed it back and forth several times....hope you like it!!
We are really excited about this trip coming up....and there are more details available on our web site.
Friday, June 3- our much anticipated return to Saranac Lake, NY. A stunningly beautiful area, we used to play on a semi regular basis at Paul Smith's college here. The UU Church here was the first place to start using Simple Faith as part of their service, and had asked us a number of years ago if we could get back to the area to perform. Thanks to Linda Fahey and Bluseed Studios for making this possible.
BLUSEED STUDIOS AT SARANAC VILLAGE AT WILL ROGERS
78 Will Rogers Drive
Saranac Lake, NY
518-304-5032 ...7:30 PM

2 shows on Sat. 11:30 & 1:45 at the Green Expo as part of the Strolling of the Heifers in Brattleboro, VT http://www.strollingoftheheifers.com/v2/
A great organization, and event, supporting local farmers..lots of stuff to do, lots of music......
then
The Guthrie Center, Great Barrington, MA..8 PM
http://www.guthriecenter.org/
Arlo Guthrie's mystical, magical place tucked away in the Berkshie's.

Sunday June 6th.a special family show at 5 PM at
TEMPLE TORAT YISRAEL
330 Park Avenue
Cranston, RI
You can write Frank Prosnitz for details, FPros@aol.com...and thanks, Frank!
Then- 3 days at my Mom's in Branford!
Thursday June 10.....a show in Middletown, CT...NOTE TIME>>>7 PM*****
RUSSELL LIBRARY
123 Broad Street
Middletown, CT
860-347-4048 http://www.russelllibrary.org/

We are very excited to be doing a show here...lots of family in town!! :-) and...an old connection for me.....Suzanne Elliott who runs the series and I used to work at the Undergraduate Library in Ann Arbor in the early 70s! She wants us to bring something to her from Zingerman's..but...really....

would it last a week on the road???? :-)

then..The Mystic Sea Music Festival...Fri- Sun June 11, 12, 13
http://www.mysticseaport.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewPage&page_id=C9BE0FCF-D86E-382C-FA65352B6393646D

A grand place to visit, a great lineup of singers..a pleasure to be asked back again.

I should mention July 2- the Folk Project in Morristown, NJ....a rare appearance for us in the Garden State..and a famous room.
and
The New Bedford Summerfest..New Bedford, MA...we've raved about this festival so many times before..just come! You will be glad you did.
More info, CDs, etc, on our web site and on our Facebook page..just search Mustard's Retreat...hope to be seeing you soon! Safe travels..David & Michael

Sorry it has ben so long.....the days just fly, as we all know.

The shows...all have been great! A big highlight was our house concert at the Big Song Music House in Oxford, OH: a simply beautiful setting, inside and out, in southwestern Ohio...great audience..only one of whom had seen us before ( thanks Cindy!!).....I will be posting some pictures on our Facebook site...It is the time of the Redbuds, and the drive form I 70 , south on 127 to Oxford, OH was breathtaking...like someone had dumped buckets of raspberry paint on the trees: never seen SO many Redbuds!

Yesterday..morning walk...been on a quest for lilacs..and found one that was just blossoming for the frist timel...first one this season....took a couple minutes just to shove my face in the foliage and breath!

A lot of gardeing, wood splitting and stacking, gardeniing..you know,all the Spring stuff.it has been aching and great..and the asparagus is in :-)

Off to Lansing tonight for a show..then a week off. I ( David) am going to WV next weekend. I have been helping run a marble festival ( as in the little glass orbs) for the last.15?? years..in Cairo, WV..this year looks like the last...people moving, economy,etc..... It is one of my ..obcessions...marbles, documenting thier history, meeting the people who made ( and make) them and getting their stories...identifying what company made what marbles and when...curiously, no song yet.......but that may be coming..should be coming! Not at the point I can promise it ...yet.

Off to errands and getting ready to go to Lansing...just thought I would take a moment to write you :-)..Hope you weekend is going well.....David

I was going to headline this " Today!"...but...its 8:11 AM...today has not been yet!

But up and about since 6AM: a weekend at home offers so many opportunities! It CAN include sleeping in...but I prefer the napping after getting things accomplished!

One of the many joys of being home on a weekend is going to the Ann Arbor Farmer's Market, and today marks the "official" opening of the season...though in truth, it does continue all Winter. Got down there at 7:45...it just felt good to be there...to see familiar faces, fresh greens, flowers, handmade rugs...a new woodworker with BEAUTIFUL cutting boards! ( They should be up on the wall as art!!!..and no,,I resisted..for today!). Bought some locally produced honey, kale....brussel sprouts and lettuce for the garden! where I am off to now...to plant, weed, upkeep and prepare..putting in a bunch of raised beds...work for the hands and the soul. Blessings to all of you thins weekend..especially those who need it

Poem 3-18-2010

What DO the birds have to discuss in this pre-dawn dark?

Catching up on the overnight news from Africa, where their cousins are now lunching…or napping? Discussing the upcoming rain, so they can plan their days? Having a party?

True, there is a faint brightening to the eastern sky, and though Winter is still in the house, its bags are packed. Hmmm…maybe this is just one big morning-ritual-bon voyage-sionara that the birds are throwing.

Ok. I know that’s not true: they do this every day…that is just an image that remained with me that I liked. Writing is kinda like dreaming…images arising and floating off , curling and changing like clouds or water…. to be morphed and recycled, as poets scramble to capture them and make them solids. Which is hard…when you are walking..in the dark..with no paper or pen or recorder……in those cases it is more like thinking them onto sticky notes and pasting them on the backs of your eyelids in hopes you can read them when you get home…..

I am out before the power walkers, before the dog-walkers, which, frankly, is amazing, because in this neighborhood it is a canine parade all day, every day…

and there is a robin…breakfasting beneath a street light…I guess it is true that the early bird…..

Up before the students heading for the bus stops…up , mostly, before the kitchen lights.

I must admit that I am mostly a morning person. I don’t think it is by choice. I DO like to sleep in and pretend that the day is just a little further away….but…all the cells in my body are already whooping it up: they are ALREADY on the move, so it is only with a casual reluctance that I hurry to catch up with them….not quite ready for that party hat….but I am smiling. Welcome to the day. David

Yes- and quite delightful to have a weekend at home! Rainy, but reasonably warm.....daffodils, crocus, tulips erupting from the ground, Of course, no flowers yet, here in Ann Arbor, but....but nice to see the new green!!

Stuff in the works: practicing, practicing, practicing!! :-) Trying to get in to record more, to mix the live recording from the Ark last month: both Michael and I think there is some real potential there.....trying to find time to work on new songs/stories...which is exciting.

Next week we play our final show at the Off The Wall Coffeehouse in Walled Lake, MI. Every thing has its time, and Off the Wall is closing its doors after this season. We, and many others, will miss it: funky and friendly...great people, great vibe..great treats! Come out if you can!!

of Spring here in the north country, and the drive through NY State was gorgeous.

Had a great time opening for Richie Havens at the Eighth Step in Schnectedy: and realy, it has been too long- nice to see so many old friends!

and we adctually got a mention in one of the most respected and read blogs in the Albany area, Greg Hayme's Nippertown. http://www.nippertown.com/2010/03/08/live-richie-havens-the-eighth-step-at-proctors-3610

"Proudly unrepentant folkies Mustard’s Retreat – the veteran duo of guitarist-bassist Michael Hough and guitarist-mandolinist David Tamulevich – opened the show with an unadorned but captivating five-song set that encompassed the poetic (the opening “When the Moon Howls and the Wolves Are Still”), humorous tall tales (“The Michigan Mosquitos”) and the anthemic (the closing “Simple Faith”)."

Then on to Schuyler Lake, a house consert put on by friends Bruce & Sue Andrews. A great pot luck proceeded (!)...and we had a great time with a feisty audience...must be Spring fever!!

A wekend off- to try and catch up with life and the changing season, try to get some more recording & writing done. ect., ect., ect.

A beautiful morning, here in Austinberg, OH. We got in last night about 11 PM..really...much better than usual! Got a good night's sleep..almost ready to roll. Don't know if we will see "Tom ( the turkey) again..but, Michael does not need to "see" to have his imagination kick into overdrive!! Just some coffee! There must be a song there!! Maybe we will write it today..

Driving across 17 to Binghampton, and up 88..one of our favorite drives. It takes a bit more time than driving on I-90..but...it is totally worth it..if you have the time! Less traffic, and just beautiful...and then beautiful again...and again: a pleasure...and something we always look forward to.

Apologies, again, about the cancellation of the New Haven gig. I reaalze, in retrospect, that I should not have canceled. I have heard from a number of you that had planned to come...and THAT is what it is all about!! It would have been a great night regardless of the turnout....which I expect would not have been so low after all.......and always worth the effort. My only excuse was there was so much on my mind...so much work pressure....had to decide- and I chose wrong........but..it was my mistake, and please accept the sincere apology. we missed the opportunity to see you all

Have great weekends!

Yeah- sorry!!!! Advance ticket sales were so low that we and the promoter decided to cancel. We are disappointed, and hope that none of you are inconvenienced: folk music is a business with low margins.....and none of us can afford to take a loss. We will still be doing Schnectedy and schuyer on Saturday and Sunday.

In the good news department, the show at the Ark went very well. Thanks to the great work of Fred Ellert,..and Rick and Jef! we have audio we are listening to...and Mike Allore and his crew were positive about the filming.......so who knows? We have heard a couple things already that seem pretty good! :-)

Yup- sorry!! The storm has proven too much: they can't even get TO the church in Baltimore- the parking lot is piled with snow.

Our regrets...and we hope to have the weekend rescheduled in Oct.

In October we did a great TV series on Columbus, OH called Writer's Talk. Host Doug Dangler interviewed us about songwriting..and as you can imagin, we had a lot to say!! And he had some good questins to ask! It will be up on Youtube at some point, but for now you can go to http://www.ohiochannel.org/multimedia/programs/media.cfm?file_id=123217&program_id=107792

Very exciting...Mike Allore and his students are coming the the Ark to do a multi-camera shoot of our concert!

We do intend to get a DVD out ..some day! He had done 2 shoots at the Trinity House in Livonia, so with this one we have hopes of a lot of material to choose from.

So here is a question....are there favorte songs/stories that YOU would ike to have on a DVD??? We will see what we can do about doing as many requests as we can...along with a few new things!

Lots of you had great responses to my question about it now being Feberuary...what do we say in place of " Hapy New Year"...but I must admit...this was the strangest..and the most unexpected...and the most delightful! :-) Thanks Ann & Ralph!!! Anybody else heard of this??? I did a quick Google search...and found nothing.........maybe it is a Chicago thing??

"One day in February is Hoo Dee Doo day. You go out side and yell Hoo Dee Doo and it scares winter away if enough folks do it. Unfortunately, I don't remember which day it is. Maybe it's in March. Well, I'm alot of help. not. We saw you at Phil Cooper's in December. Ann and Ralph"

January 31...how did that happen????? Someone recently told me that is is ok to
say " Happy New Year " until February...so I will say it again to all of
you....and am wondering......is there something official that you say once
February comes along?? " Happy old year" does not sound quite right. " Happy
Mid-winter?" " Jovial Winter greetings?" :-) " Happy garden catalog
time?".....if you think of anything.....

Our January was GREAT!!!! The Yellow Room Gang show at the Ark was a tremendous
time and success: we were able to fully pay off our " Happy New Day" CD (
Hey!!! didn't think of that...really!!!)....and start the saving up for a new
YRG CD that we hope and expect and pand ..AND WILL!! get put before the end of
the year...very exciting.

And speaking of new recordings....the new song up on our web site player is a
simple version of " Find A Way To Love", that so many of you have been asking
about. Hope you enjoy it!!

We also had a GREAT house concert in Detroit at Julie Beutel's series.." Live in
Julie's Living Room" ( I think I got that right!!}. A very..interactive...audience.....we
had a blast...and would recommend it as a great place to see a performer and
meet some cool people.

This month......the Mid-Winter Singing Festival in East Lansing, MI has asked us
to run an afternoon workshop. Sat. Feb. 6...
http://www.singingfestival.com
We have heard nothing but raves about this festival: people come to sing!!
there are lots of workshops to go to ( we hope you will come to ours)....and the
evening sings are legendary....this year..Joel Mabus, Susan Werner..among
others.

Then...a little trip to the East Coast...Baltimore on Friday Feb. 12
http://www.uptownconcerts.com/
a concert at Godfrey Daniels Coffeehouse in Bethlehem PA with the astounding
Buskin & Batteau on Sat. the 13
and...on Sunday the 14th...back to the land that makes ALL our songs
singalongs...even Mallon's Bridge!! :-) Ithaca NY and Bound for Glory
http://wvbr.com/bfg

And ..for all of you who cannot make it....YOU CAN LISTEN LIVE!!! Just go the
the site....follow the instructions. These shows are ALWAYS wonderful...with a
lively! and sensational audience. Tune in of you can.

Feb. 21- Northville, MI...the Parks & Rec. Department is starting a concert
series, which we will be doing. As soon as we get more details it will be on
our web site.

Feb. 27 will be our show at the Ark. We are working up a couple new things for
you...and again, always a night well spent and to be remembered.
http://www.theark.org/ Opening will be dulcimer master Butch Ross, that we have
had the pleasure of working with a couple of times at the Central Ohio Folk
festival just a heads up..we will be there agan this May....8th and 9th...with
Jan Krist, Jim Bizer and Matt Watroba of the Yellow Room Gang. We will be doing
a two day songwriting intensive! As well as contributing to the general fun
and music).

OK- that is about it for now! Hope to see you. Go to our web site
http://www.mustardsretreat.com/ for more news, upcoming shows, CDs. Find us on
Facebook!!

We are really looking forward to this year: we have lots of great shows and
festivals coming up...and...and NEWS FLASH!! The New Bedford Summerfest over
July 4th weekend... was going to be canceled..had been....... but I just found
out it is back on!! And..they have booked us again. This is a GREAT place for
music and community and seeing combinations of artists and collaborations that
you will never see anywhere else..it is thrilling.

HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON!!!
David & Michael

As Michael would say, " Don't be fooled", but...ain't Spring grand!!! :-)

First crocus here in my little yard this week, and reports of robins and red wing blackbirds...really delightful..and sun...and at least reasonably warm!

Have to say...2 weeks ago we were driving out onto the Lake Superior in Bayfield, WI....I would have gone all the way out to the Apostle Islands if we had the time..Michael was not so sure..." Take your own van!" he was heard to say a number of times. :-) But..it was pretty thrilling all the same.
Great tours...up to Brimley, MI outside of Sault St. Marie...winter was pretty toothy that weekend, but the sun was fine..as was the food and the company!
Then up to Wisonsin Rapids, WI to the McMillen Library Library...great room, great sound ( and great concert series)- and..the art by local children was amazing...walls and walls of it!!

Off to the Mustard Museum in Mt. Horeb...that has EVERYTHING Mustard, including, now, CDs by Mustard's Retreat!! Barry Levenson founder and chief Poupon was there..we had a delightful time..and..it was really fascinating...worth the visit! www.mustardmuseum.com

Then up to Hayward, WI and WOJB. They have given us air play for many years, and this was our first concert for them. Again..great town, great folks...great radio station..and great concert series.
Then off to see Bayfield, take the spin out onto Lake Superior,..we saw..a wolf!! .... not something we have EVER seen!!...not to mention many deer and a couple bald eagles.......and then to Crystal Falls, MI for our..3rd? time..old friends, concert and dance. Really, a couple of happy and magical weekends.
We do have some photos up of the Mustard's Retreat Face Book page ( www.facebook.com).

Other future dates , CDs, etc on our web site, http:''www.mustardsretreat.com.

I could just write and write tonight...must be Spring!! Nice to be in touch, hope to see you all, and wishing you all the best, as always..
Yours, in community and music!! David & Michael

HI all...some exciting news!

Our new web site is up!! It is still at www.mustardsretreat.com

with many thanks to Annie & Rod Capps for making this happen. We will be keeping it much more current ( as soon as we learn how to work with it!!). Have a look..tell us what you think..what you would like to see ... and hear. We have a bunch of old photos/posters that we will be putting up as soon as Michael scans them. And the calendar will be complete for future dates in a week or so.

And- something I have been forgetting ... there are quite a few videos of us on YouTube, (!!!) thanks to the efforts of Kristine and Mike Carpenter ( who also took the photos on our newest CD “With Relish)”- thanks to them again!!!...you can either go to www.youtube.com and search Mustard’s Retreat, or go to

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mustard%27s+retreat&search_type=&aq=f

Another piece of news - we have been playing quite a few Sunday morning church services of late..in particular, at Unitarian Churches - and we are really, really enjoying it. Not only can we present our music to new people, we get to spend some time with them after the service: getting to meet new people and talk to old friends is a major joy of what we do.

A number of them are using our songs “ Gather the Family” and “ Simple Faith” as a regular part of their service. It is something we would like to do more of, so if you see we are in your area on a Saturday or Sunday night ...and think something might work at your church, or a local church, let us know and we will see if we can make it work with our schedule ... and, unfortunately, the price of gas!!

Sorry to be so brief ... but wanted you to have the news and connect with you before September slipped way. More soon!!!

David & Michael

David is the recipient of the 2008 Annual Folk Tradition in the Midwest Lifetime Achievement Award. He will be presented with the award at this year's FARM Gathering in Chicago, IL. Previous recipients of this award include Juel Ulven, Margaret Nelson, Dave Humphreys, Glen & Judi Morningstar, Stan Werbin, Rich Warren, Larry Bruner, and Art Thieme.

Summer has totally gotten away from me..or taken over my life. The promising garden and yard and now weedy expanses...lucky I have so little lawn!

The touring has been wonderful, and we have been playing every weekend. The new CD, " With Relish"...has been in our hands for about 3 weeks now, and we have gotten it out to about 100 folk radio shows around the country ( and overseas..and Canada!).....so if you have a favorite folk music show, give em a call, drop them an e-mail.....and if they don't have one, give me their address and I will be glad to send one along...and thanks for that....it really makes a difference when you get in touch with these folk DJs. It is a real labor of love for them, and they like to know that people are listening and want to know what they want to hear. They are a vital link in our community!

And the CD has been getting GREAT reviews from people!! It really is fun...and....you can get it, and our other CDs on our web site ....again. Found the link was not working there for a while. ..but it now is...... AND...as you see we have a new cool updated web site thanks to Annie Capps, a great singer/songwriter, member of the Yellow Room Gang, friend ..and ...fantastically creative graphics and everything else person!

It is hard to pick out touring highlights because every show has special things about it. Our long time friend Mike Jullien is retiring form Cascade Twp, and had us in to that beautiful park by the river that he had so much to do with creating....thanks for everything Mike!

We stopped into Traverse City to WMNC for an interview: a true community asset- what local radio should and can be! Over to the Betsie Bay Inn in Frankfort, MI...where we had some folks sail into town that night who hadn't seen us in 10 years...and came to the show because they saw a poster in town advertising our concert that night!

Next- one of the best kept little secrets in Michigan...the Evart Folk Festival. Nearly all the Yellow Room Gang was there, along with Anne Hills, Small Potatoes and David Mosher..and it was free!! Mark your calenders for the last Sat. in July 2009.

Next we did the morning service for the Unitarian Church in Muskegon. What a wonderful and moving experience! We love doing this if and when we can, so let us know if you would like to try and make this happen in your community when we are in the area. And..there was a woman in the congregation that had last seen us in ....1983? :-) We finished the tour...(after multiple stops at roadside fruit stands for blueberries and cherries ( someone told us that there are 86 varieties of sweet cherries..????...and every microclimate makes the taste different.." so stop at every stand!" she sad...we tried!)..in charming Glen Arbor, MI at a beautiful little outdoor theatre as part of the Manitou Music Festival....and that was just last weekend! I know...tough life!!! Well- Summer in northern Michigan.....AND the weather was beautiful...doesn't get much better.

August promises to be equally as great...with a trip east to the The Guthrie Center ( site of Alice's Restaurant!!)..and the Nashua River Valley Folk Festival in Lancaster, MA..just outside Boston.. ( with Richie Havens, Gandalf Murphy, Susan Werner and others...David will also be doing a special talk, Q&A with Scott Alarik of the Boston Globe on music business hows and whys and wheres,etc. at 11AM that Sat. morning at the festival..).....and an interview on WGBH radio!.......another northern Michigan trip..to the UP!! ( Saulte St. Marie...and....the Wild Blueberry Festival..in.... Paradise, MI!!!...yes...why even come home!!!).....except we are dong a special show for the UU Church in Petosky, MI on our way back. There is a great community of people there, and we are realy looking forward to this......
also .our first trip to Three Oaks MI for a concert, and to Dearborn for the Dearborn Homecoming Festival.

A lot to look forward to, and even more, the hope of seeing many of you. Come say hello, request songs, share in the community and hopefully have the time to catch up on where life has taken us since we last saw each other.

CDs can also be ordered from us by mail.....$15 each....checks made out to Mustard's Retreat.. and sent to 408 Westwood Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48103........please add $3.00 to cover packaging and postage ( that is total for the order...not per CD )....and always glad to sign them!!!
Best of the rest of the Summer to you all!! David & Michael

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