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Monday, January 30, 2006

What a Difference!

We got some *very* good news late last week!

On Thursday, I wrote an email to the Entertainment Director of Scarborough Renaissance Festival (its new name!) asking for passes and permission to busk for the band to visit our favorite Texas faire for their opening weekend.

A bit of backstory: A couple of weekends ago we attended and performed for the Scarborough Academy of Performing Arts (SAPA, the Scarbourough cast) Renaissance Character Camp, at a pre-civil-war fort near Mexia, Texas. The cast loved us so much that they insisted we come and visit for a weekend during the run of faire.

Well, since we're committed to performing all four weekends of OKRF in Muskogee, that would leave us with a choice of the first four weekends of Scarby. We figured that opening weekend would be best, and made our request.

On Friday, I had email from the E.D. offering a contract, once again, for the first two weekends of Scarborough! So it looks like we're hired after all, and we're just as excited as we can be. We fell in love with Scarborough years ago, and after getting hired for the first two weekends last year, we were heartbroken not to be going back.

Looks like the start of a busy season!

Speaking of which, Scarlet's Mid-Winter Renaissance Faire is now in the record books. It was an outstanding production, as all Fox Moon Productions always are! We had a great time entertaining all-full shows, and working with some other great performers!

Nothing is quite as funny at a faire closing as seeing the Bilge Pumps in Mermaid Tails. We laughed so hard we almost couldn't finish the Celtic Jam Session that we were holding near the entrance to the Hobbies, Arts and Crafts building at the OK State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City.

This was also Julia's debut with us as a full-time fiddler; she hasn't quite decided whether she's going to "officially" join the band or not, pending mundane commitments as she settles down in Oklahoma with job and the like, but we're sure hoping. Many who hadn't heard a fiddler with Queen's Gambit yet were thrilled at the lovely descants and counter melodies she adds to our songs, and here's something extra: she has a lovely voice as well, which you can look forward to hearing at Norman Medieval Faire!

Off The Board is still in production, after a major setback involving some computer files and a crashed computer. We're still plugging away at it and hope to have it out by Norman.

In one last piece of news, Bob Brinkman, the "Modern Bard" who recently reviewed our CDs, came up with an idea for a compilation CD, and teamed up with Marc Gunn of the Brobdingnagian Bards on the idea. We contributed a track to the CD, and the proceeds of all sales go to benefit Hurricane Katrina victims. You can find the CD, which includes the Bedlam Bards, Queen's Gambit, Three-Quarter Ale, Empty Hats, Dogs in Doublets and many others at http://www.celticmusic.org/The_Circle.shtml

Blessings to all and see you at Faire!

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Happy New Year!

Well, after a lovely Yule get-together and house guests, and a NYE visit to Kansas City, we're just about settled down to finishing up "Off The Board". Waiting a bit for Desahra do get over her sinus infection so we can finish the vocals, then on to the final mix.

We were a bit disappointed to learn that we won't be hired for Scarborough Renaissance Festival this year, but keep those cards-n-letters coming to the contacts at their website, and perhaps we'll get hired for next year!

The word came from Norman Medieval Faire that we're hired again this year, so everyone be sure and mark your calendars for the first weekend of April in Reaves Park in Norman!

Sooner than that, January 28-29th we've been hired for Scarlet's Mid-Winter Renaissance Faire, to be held at the State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. Please come out and support us. This will be a different (and more musician-friendly) building than the mid-summer faire, and we're really looking forward to performing. Robert and Angela always put together a first-class event, and their website is at http://www.foxmoonproductions.com.

Of course, plans are on track for us to perform at the Castle of Muskogee for our home faire, the Oklahoma Renaissance Festival. This event is the first four weekends of May, and this year for the first time, includes Memorial Day Weekend! We're hoping for record crowds in Muskogee, and look forward each year to seeing all our old friends at the Castle.

The Photo Gallery part of the website is in the process of being rebuilt. Hopefully I'll have all the albums and pictures back up by the end of the week. Keep checking :)

We're actively seeking a non-faire gig for St. Patrick's Day in March. About 90% of our repertoire is Irish music, and we'll be happy to travel anywhere in the State for a good evening of Ceol agus craic. Let us know if you can put us in touch with those responsible for hiring the music; click the "Contact" link for e-mail info.

Thanks, and we love you all!

--theBruce