It's (almost) Open Mic time!

Get yer red hot songs!

Hi ho,

First up: We’re entertaining the participants and staff at TLC Departure, 5124 Departure Drive, Suite 101, Raleigh, Thursday the 9th from 2-3 p.m. Please arrive no later than 1:45 to set up (indoors). It’s always a fun gig.

Check your email early this week for an updated song list. They’ll provide chairs, but bring a music stand, of course (along with your ukes, kazoos, accordions, bagpipes, etc.).

Next: Regular jam, Thursday the 16th, 7 p.m. at the church. Since it’s the day before St. Patrick’s, expect songs that fit the the theme (including, for some reason … drinking songs). And yes, Merlefest dude flat forgot that March 3rd was the 100th Anniversary of Doc Watson’s birth, so we should sing a few songs Doc covered (“Shady Grove” and “Last Thing on My Mind,” at a minimum).

Then: Pelagic Jam, Tuesday the 28th, 7 p.m. Fingers crossed for another lovely evening outside.

Open Mic Training Period

Flex them fingers and stretch them vocal chords! Our quarterly open mic is Thursday the 30th, 7 p.m. at the church. We were oversubscribed in December, as it were, and it was wonderful. It’s gratifying to evolve from the early days, when we had to beg people to perform, to now, when we have to beat y’all off with a stick!

But I’m going to ask those who want to play to let me know in advance. Everyone will get to do one song for our super-supportive audience; if we have time, we’ll let those who prepared more than one song do a second one. You can email me now or wait until closer to the event. I’ll keep a list.

As usual, collaborations are welcome and appreciated. Just make sure to notify your would-be collaborators in advance!

Speaking of Doc Watson

On Doc’s Centenary(?), a lot of his friends, fans, and collaborators performed in his honor. The Kruger Brothers, who he convinced to move to Wilkes County(!) from Switzerland, played a show in Raleigh.

The amazing Billy Strings and band also played a sold-out tribute show in Winston-Salem at the Joel Coliseum (where Wake Forest plays basketball) Friday night. His 45(!!) song set of Doc Watson originals and covers — using Doc’s arrangements — included this one, which you may not have known Doc recorded. Doc called the music he enjoyed “Traditional-Plus.” This exemplifies it.