I’ve just returned from the longest tour I’ve ever done: 8 weeks in the USA, taking in the whole country in a great big circle that started and finished in Austin, Texas, via 37 of the 50 states.
What was nice this time round was the opportunity to perform in so many different settings. For example, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, I did a televised midday concert and then went round to various patient areas as part of their Music at the Bedside programme; and straight after that I did a four-day run of shows in Lincoln, Nebraska, that included an outdoor concert in a park that closed out their season and was attended by over 350 people, plus a visit with 120 nine- and ten-year-olds in a local school. I told them a bit about myself and did a couple of songs for them to sing along to, and for the rest of the hour they just bombarded me with questions – which included a query as to whether there were any kiwi birds in Cornwall!
Another new experience in Lincoln was a ‘Nine Lessons and Ballads’ church service. It was promoter Lori McAlister’s idea to put together a programme modelled after the Nine Lessons and Carols, only with songs from my repertoire (both traditional and original) and readings that echoed or developed the themes touched on in the songs. It was a beautiful evening of music and readings, and I’d love to try and do the same sort of thing elsewhere.
You can read all about my USA experience, and look at route maps and loads of photos, in the Tour Diary.
Now I’m enjoying a much-needed few days at home before I set off on my 4-week UK tour -- see dates listed on the Calendar page.
Hope to see you at a gig down the road ....