Nutmeg

Angie and I awoke to a rainy day in New England this morning after saying goodbye to the Nutmeg Dulcimer Festival in Hamden, CT, and many new friends, last night.

From all accounts festival organizer Sam Edelston and crew are happy with their third year and they should be. The festival was organized and relaxed with a great blend of teachers, vendors and performers.

I got to meet and hear for the the first time the faces behind the names of many players I've read about in Dulcimer Players News over the past 20 years: A.J. Bashore, Heidi & John Cerrigione, Cliff Cole, Carrie Crompton, Ron Ewing, Rudy Gabrielson, Carol Lehrman, Tom MacKenzie, David Marks, Steve Miklos, Antoinette Montague, David Neiman, Curt Osgood, Chuck Scheffreen, Susan Trump, Bob Wey and Dwain Wilder.

It was especially great to meet Carrie Crompton. I've recommended her hammer dulcimer solos books for years now. Check them out at:

http://www.carriecrompton.com/index.html

Robert Force and I were the bill for last night's closing concert. Robert is a dynamic entertainer overflowing with energy, wit and wisdom. His resume as a musician and educator speaks for itself, take a look:

http://www.robertforce.com/?page_id=3

Angie and I had hoped to take a walk and do some photography on a New England beach or two but looking out of our hotel room window right now I see it is raining buckets. I guess we'll travel down the coast today in search of sunshine and if it eludes us point the truck toward Pennslyvania where our next stop is to visit Neal and Coleen Walters, Nick and Joanie Blanton and Maddie MacNeil.

I'm going to start a new discussion in the Forum section of this website for anyone who'd like to chime in about your Nutmeg Dulcimer Festival experience. Click on over! Dan ¶ 10:21 AM