Bob Wright: News

- The Shellshocked premiere went over really well and it was a treat to be there and see Emily get some recognition for all the hard work she has put into it. And a big thank you to the Princeton Environmental Film Festival for providing such a great opportunity.
- Then later that night we had a lot of fun at the Tavern. They've done a lot of structural shoring up and tightening up to the old place and it is tight as a drum and resonates like an old bass fiddle. Candlelight, wood stove, and pure acoustic sound in a wooden building built in the 19th century makes for a pretty amazing sound and experience. No electricity and a privy out back... doesn't get any better. I'll be back there on April 14 with the Risky Business Bluegrass Band... but don't wait for us, there are great acts there every Saturday (and twice St. Pat's weekend) until the end of April starting with the great maritime sounds of the Tavernacle Choir next Saturday night. Thanks to the staff and the audience for making Harbortown's life that much better.
-Into the studio on Tuesday to record the new Hazel Dickens song. Got to debut it at the show on Saturday and I am really pumped now to get it recorded. Hazel is one of my songwriting heroes and was a fearless singer; she is missed.
- Kermit got back to me and his wit is still so dry its hard to believe it comes out of a frogs mouth. April Banjo Newsletter...

- Shellshocked at the Princeton Film Festival this Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
-Tavern Concert- 7:30 and 9 p.m. Call for reservations.
- Heading into the studio in the next week or so to cut a couple of new songs and see how things go... have a lot to record but not sure how much we'll get done.

- I'm working on an interview with that greenest banjo player on the planet, Mr. Kermit. T. Frog. Look for it in the April issue of Banjo Newsletter. It'll be fun.
-This Sunday (January 15) is the nest Shanty sing at the Noble Collection. Come on out and join the fun.
- Remember! Harbortown at the Tavern on January 28th
- World premiere of Shellshocked (also January 28) at the Princeton Film Festival

Ahh... a new year begins and it promises to be a good one. Hope everybody had a fun, safe New Years Eve and are geared up and ready to make 2012 into the year of their dreams.
Signed up to go to the Richard Thompson workshops this coming July in the Catskills. The man himself will be there and I am really looking forward to sitting at the feet of a master and absorbing as much as I can.

- Thanks to those of you who have been supportive of what I do and I hope you have a great holiday season.
- Shellshocked premieres at the Princeton Film Festival on January 28th, 2012. We'll be there to see it and I hope some of you can make it too.
-There are a couple of Tavern shows listed for the new season on the calendar page... a real favorite venue of ours.
- A bunch of potential projects are in the works for next year so we are really hoping they come to fruition; I'll keep you updated on any developments.
-And as always, we are looking to play and ask that you recommend us to your favorite venue.

-Harbortown will be back for the Tavern series at Richmondtown on January 28th; check the calendar for details. Candlelight and a potbelly stove... acoustic heaven.
- Shellshocked is completed and you can check it out on IMDB. Emily Driscoll has done a great job with it so check it out.

-Wow... the year is cruising to a halt and it has been a good one. Looking forward to some recording in the next few months, some fresh gigs, and getting out to see folks and play a few songs and tunes for them.
- Had a blast at Toms River and big thanks to Karla and the staff for having us and for working hard to get the word out and provide a wonderful space for a show.
- If you'd like to see us and we haven't been to your area don't hesitate to contact your local venues and recommend us to them; always greatly appreciated!

- We love libraries for a lot of reasons, but we especially love to do shows at them. Remember, this coming Wednesday night from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. we'll be at the Toms River (New Jersey) Library and would love to see y'all there

-back from Nashville and had a great time catching up and sitting in on some songwriter song swaps.
- John Street Church has incredible acoustics; no sound system and the sound just filled the church with a richness and fullness I rarely get miced. Great audience and we had a blast
- bunch of new song ideas... got to get crackin on them and s lot that need to be recorded if we ever get our butts back into the studio... been playing some of them out for a while now and they have been well received so I have no excuses
- lookin to get back to England and Ireland if anyone has any leads they'd be appreciated

- Heading down to Nashville for IBMA week tomorrow morning with Bill; been a while and I am really looking forward to it.
- Hoping to get back into the studio soon as I have a lot of new songs and would like to get them fleshed out and see if they work or not. Some of them I have been doing out for a while so I feel pretty good about those and others are so new they still feel shrink-wrapped; takes a lot of playing them to get them in shape.
-Lots of news about oysters lately; seems like they are on everyones short list to save and I couldn't be happier. The more oysters, the cleaner the water... simple as that.

- good rehearsal last night for the sea song show on October 2; will be a lot of fun and I can't wait
- Toms River Library on the evening of 10/19 at 8 p.m. Check us out while you are checking some books out... a win-win situation
- sorry to hear about Wade Mainer... 104 years old... wow and productive until the end
- Nashville soon! Lots of good folks to shake and howdy and loads of good music
- shanty sing at the Noble collection this Sunday; always a good time and some great singers show up

-Playing with the Bad Dogz at the Bucks County Bluegrass Festival on Saturday from 6:40-8 p.m.
- Sunday is the opening for Rich Rainey's new art exhibit at the Fair Lawn, New Jersey library. We'll be picking starting at 2:30
- IBMA week in Nashville coming up. Hoping to see a lot of friends and catch up with them. Bill and I will be there on Sunday. Haven't been since the move to Nashville and I am ready!
- Had great fun picking with Allen Cohen, Vincent Cross, Gene Yellin, and Bruno Bruzzese this past weekend at Del Val Fest.
- Delaware Valley was great this year and it is a pleasure to work there with the folks I get to work with.

-Saw a preview of Shellshocked, Emily Driscoll's new documentary on oysters and it is terrific. Listen for 3 of my songs in it.
- Dan Milner's wonderful article on oysters is in this issue of Voices: The Journal of New York Folklore. Thanks to Dan for a very nice mention and description of The Oyster Aristocracy CD
- Had a nice visit with our favorite banjo booster, Nancy Nitchie, while we were on Martha's Vineyard. Subscribe to the Banjo Newsletter!

So sad to hear about the death of my friend, Liz Meyer. Liz was a great singer and songwriter and with her husband, Pieter, did a great deal to promote bluegrass music in Europe. She will be missed.

Thanks to the folks who made it out for the Waterfront Festival on Saturday!
It really means a lot when people go the extra mile to get there.

-Going to miss the next shanty sing in August... but you shouldn't. 8/21/11 from 2-5. Remember they are the third Sunday of the month at the Noble Maritime Collection. I plan to be there on 9/18/11
- Lots of new dates on the calendar so give it a read.
- Bill and I are headed to the IBMA week this year. Nashville... yeah...
- Delaware Valley Bluegrass Fest is a must see 40th anniversary show this year; miss it at your own peril. I'll be helping out again this year so say howdy if you see me

-Shanty sing today at 2
-Did some guitar work on my song Immigrant Dream for Mara Levine's new CD at Bob Harris' excellent studio this past Thursday. Bill did his usual excellent bass work for that cut and another track.
- In the planning stages for a set at the Staten Island Waterfront Festival at the ferry terminal on August 6.
-Looking forward to the Borderline Tribute to Si Kahn; playing there with Risky Business.

-Couldn't resist the headline; saw one of my songwriting heroes, Eric Andersen, a few weeks ago at R H Tugs just a few blocks from my house. Fun to see him and glad to hear that the songs still hold up.
- This Sunday (6/18/11) is the next installment of the shanty sing at the Noble Maritime Collection; 2-5 p.m. Big turnout last time and are hoping for more of the same this week.
- Raritan Festival next week (6/25) and it will be nice to sing a few songs about the bay within feet of the bay itself. Lots of other music too and all kinds of activities. If the weather is nice you have no excuses.
- IBMA retreat weekend was great! Couldn't have asked for nicer people, timelier topics, or better jamming. Felt like I'd died and gone to Lake Woebegone.
- Heading to Nashville in September for this years World Of Bluegrass week; first time in a few years so I am psyched to go. Nashville always has good music happening someplace.

-The IBMA Leadership Retreat is coming up in a week or so. Should be excellent; looking forward to learning more about Bluegrass Nation... and a jam or two!
-Art by the Ferry and the Maritime Festival were fun and Bill and I got to stretch a bit. Busy week started with the shanty sing at the Noble Collection. Next one is 6/19, 2-5.
- tentative gig at the Toms River library in October; will post details as soon as I know.
- Listen for a couple of songs from The Oyster Aristocracy in the new documentary on the oyster industry in New York by film maker and Director Emily Driscoll.

Went to the loooonnnggg awaited groundbreaking for the Staten Island Museum's new space at Snug Harbor yesterday. It is going to be fantastic when it is finished.

-Allen Cohen is promoting the first ever Staten Island Bluegrass Day and Risky Business is proud to be a part of it.
- I'll be singing Cobh of Sorrow for the AOH at the mass grave site the song is about. Looking forward to that.
- Dan Milner has written an article about oystering for "Visions: The Journal of New York Folklore" and gives a nice mention to The Oyster Aristocracy in it. Should be out in a couple of months.
- The shanty sing, a staple in Manhattan for years is moving to Staten Island! The first session is May 15th at the John Noble Museum from 2-5. Should be a lot of good times.
- Caroline Cutroneo and Jim Brennan have asked Bill and I to do some studio work for her CD in progress. About time Caroline gets the exposure she deserves.
- I'll be going to the IBMA Leadership alumni get together the first weekend in June down in Maryland. Anybody needs a ride let me know.

Too much facebook and not enough attention to the site but I plan to change that. Lots of new stuff going on so keep posted.

Lots of good things happening... Tavern show coming up... the Bluegrass series with Cross, Farrell, Cohen and Wright... Art by the Ferry... Staten Island Irish Fair... Staten Island Museums Naturefest...

Just got a call from the Tavern for a show in April. Comne on out an dsing some songs about our little island.

The Museum show went great... SRO crowd. Have a house concert coming up in a few weeks and a tentative date with Mara Levine for March.