Vance, Roscoe and Harvey

Vance Gilbert brought his Standard poodle, Roscoe by the station today. The dog started to sneeze during one song, but I don’t think you could hear it on the air. I have to tell you something about Vance. His records just don’t do him justice. A studio gig doesn’t do it either. Put him on a stage and his energy consumes the whole room. He’s got more power than a record or a studio can hold. Come see him at the Colonial Theater or anywhere U.S.A. and see for yourself. He and his voice tower over an audience. Believe me, I am not saying this to sell tickets to The Folk Show Folk Show, although if it helps, I guess that’s okay. Read his blog and the response he’s gotten from new fans. (www.vancegilbert.com) Fans complain to him that his records don’t have the same acoustic sound as his shows. To those fans he says, “come and see a show!” It was a joy to have him stop by with a preview of his new album, which he’s hoping listeners might help him name. The record will be a collection of original songs that could have been written by someone else like Richard Thompson or Tom Waitts, perhaps. He has invited you to suggest titles for the new record which will also include a contribution by Lori McKenna on vocals. If you have any thoughts, you can leave them here or go to his blog and drop them there.
I just learned that my old neighbor and Cape Breton style fiddler Harvey Tolman won the NH Folk Heritage Award. He’ll be honored on April 24th at ceremonies in Keene along with Ken Burns, Drika Overton, Pheobe Ann Neiswenter, The Bloomfield Family and Marilyn Ziffrin. Congratulations to the recipients of the Governor’s Arts Awards!