First of all, a *huge* thank you to all our fans who came to Norman Medieval Faire this past weekend. It was an honor to share a stage with Tullamore, and to play in the same venue with Scottish Mayhem and Owain Phyfe and all the other wonderful acts that were there...but the
biggest honor was being able to greet all our fans and to make pretty music for you!!

The coming two weekends, April 8-9 and 15-16, we'll be at the LadyHawke stage at Scarborough in Waxahachie, TX. And we'll have plenty of our new bawdy CD "OFF THE BOARD!" with us! We're sharing a stage with the beautiful Iris and Rose again, and that is yet another great honor!

Our shows (at the LadyHawke Pub in Pecan Grove, over by the Joust Field) are at 12:00 Noon, 2:00 p.m., and 4:30 p.m. We will also likely busk a bit in the morning, after the Crown Meadow Country Dance (around 11:00), in front of the Pepper Lady's booth, just up from Eagles Crossing in Crown Meadow, across from the Glass Blower's.

Very much looking forward to seeing all our Texas fans and friends!

Ya'll come!

--theBruce

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!

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

We're still working on "Off The Board" our long-awaited 3rd (and BAWDY!) CD. Rowan and Bruce are putting a big effort into getting the last of the tracks recorded and we expect to release it before Christmas. So far those who have been by the house and listened to the preliminary mixes have been impressed!

Look for some more exciting news here in the next few days...something big is coming up!

We had some guests in for the 2005 BHF, lovely Amber B. came in from Cushing, and Brian I. from Duncan, OK to stay with us for the feast.

Julia, who some of you may remember having played with us on Student Day at KCRF 2004, agreed to come and play with us for the evening, and we were much elated to have a fiddler with us, again! She plays somewhat in the style of DJ, noodling a harmony behind the vocals, and is also bold enough in her playing of melody lines to improv an instrumental break now and again. Just what we like, and she has a voice as well!

We arrived for the feaste itself just a bit before 6 p.m., after having rehearsed a few numbers with Julia at home before we left. Unloaded and unpacked and immediately went back to rehearsing some more before the feaste started, missing a part of the feaste that I traditionally love to do: Playing for the patrons as they enter. Next year, yes.

Richard (Rav) was in charge of the programming and at Susi's suggestion, rather than have each band up 3 times to do one song, we had each band perform for one "remove". Afterward, during dessert, we did a 10-minute jam session, which consisted of us doing "Star of the County Down", and Kerridwynn doing "Black Velvet Band", which Amber hijacked with "Piano Man". Was great, though we coulda warned him, I guess...

Then on to the dances. After a Half-Hannikins and a Korabushka, Kimberly sang a *lovely* Greensleeves with us, and Butterfly Bill was trying to get in position to hear it better, as we had a 4-part harmony going that was a real tear-jerker...but dancers kept getting in his way. Then we did a couple of our instrumental waltzes, and they told us that was enough...I thought we were done, but with everyone standing around, I just *had* to have us do a jig set, to which those inclined danced "The Lilt".

Then, John Auld, the best King Henry VIII I've ever seen and the only king I've ever known at Muskogee, came out and wished a final "Godspeed"...and we were standing about as he left toward the curtains in the back of the Garden Room.

Every one of us in the place knew that that was his last "Godspeed" as Henry. And it set us all back.

Karen C., the GM of the Castle, came up as we were tearfully looking at each other. She had a song in mind and sang a few words of a lovely tune that neither Susi nor I had ever heard. But I had another song that was begging to get out of my brain.

All I did was say the words: "Irish Blessing", and Amber started it out in a lovely soprano. Susi blended with it and I was under 'em with Bass. Every bard, minstrel, and musician in the hall decended upon us like white on rice and stood in that circle and we sang from our collective hearts and souls. It was the first time we'd ever sung "Irish Blessing" together, out of deference to 3PG/WMT and Kathleen, who have done so much to help us get started. That's kinda their song. But *damn* did that sound good.

And a fitting tribute and well-wish to His Majesty, the only King I knew at OKRF for many years.

Julia acquitted herself well, considering it was her second time ever to play with us, and she *does* have the ear and the love for the music. I hope we can inspire her passion to play.

We had a lovely time with wonderful hugs and kisses from many, all of whom I love dearly.

And now, an announcement for those who haven't heard:

Amber has agreed to re-join Queen's Gambit. In return I must pay for her college. She accepted the "Queen's Gambit Scholarship Program" which is now soliciting donors :)

Well, after 6 weekends, we're down to the final weekend of KCRF 2005. This past weekend was a mixture of joy, as Desara rejoined us for several shows, and challenges, as Rowan lost her voice due to a cold. Not to worry, it seems to be coming back just fine, and should be at full strength for the coming weekend!

Friday night's show at the Just Off Broadway theatre was wonderful! All the people who missed it missed nearly all the musical groups from KCRF, including Tullamore and the Jolly Rogers. It was a fantastic show, and not only did Desahra join us for it, but also George and Rashelle on violins! We did several of our fast numbers, including "Ballad of St. Anne's Reel" and "Spanish Lady", and then a "Letters from Kilkelly" with twin whistles *and* twin fiddles, which resulted in an amazing sound that you just had to be there for.

Emilee Rush and Ray Cole each contributed some pictures from this year's appearances at KCRF, and they're up (and more of Ray's are coming) on our Gallery page. Enjoy!

We're running a bit short on "Pawn To King Four" CDs, so be sure and get yours early this weekend. If you'd rather use a credit card, or can't make it out to KCRF, you can click the link from our Recordings or Music Samples page and get the CD directly from CDBaby.

Looking forward to a weekend or so of relaxation and visiting with family, and then comes our next performance at Boare's Head Feaste, at the Castle of Muskogee on November 19th. Looking to see you there! Contact the Castle at 918 687-3625 for tickets!

--theBruce

I've sent e-mails out to several violin instructors throughout the Tulsa area in search of a full-time fiddler. We got one response, but it didn't get us any closer.

So if you are a fiddler, or violinist that wouldn't mind being called a fiddler, and would like to audition for Queen's Gambit, drop us a line through our "contact" page. I get and respond to e-mails right away.

We're basically looking for someone who is local to the Tulsa/Muskogee or NE Oklahoma area, and who is willing and able to make weekly rehearsals, and to travel on weekends during the Spring and Fall months. We especially want someone who can play music by ear and learns quickly, and can improv around a melody line. The music and the performances are very rewarding, in terms of artistic satisfaction and good will created. Not to mention all those wonderful Renaissance Faire folke!

So please, interested fiddlers, please inquire.

Slan,

--theBruce

It seems I've neglected to post updates to this Blog!

Well, never fear, the time has come. We've enjoyed the past four weekends of the Kansas City Renaissance Festival. There's such a lovely atmosphere of acceptance among the performers and playtrons there, and our fans have welcomed our new member, Brandy, with open arms.

Now Brandy is also a part of Commedia Sans Arte, a wonderful comedy troupe out of Kansas City, and they're producing a benefit show entitled "Faire Play for Friends" for Hurricane Katrina Relief. It will take place at the Just Off Broadway Theatre in Kansas City on October 7th at 6 p.m., and will run until around 10-ish, as we all have to get up early the following morning to get to faire.

Slated to appear are Tullamore, Queens Gambit, The Lord Mayors Company, The Jolly Rogers, The Jester Rejects, Commedia Sans Arte, The Brobdingnagian Bards, and Beth Byrd (Sparrow the Mime). Seymoure will be the Master of Ceremonies.

Tickets are $15 per person, and all proceeds from the show will go to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

Hope to see everyone there!

And come see us at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival for three more weekends!

--theBruce

Greetings to all, and welcome to our new fans!

We are finally coming down the home stretch of our Spring Renaissance/Medieval Faire season. We've just finished with Excalibur and Norman Medieval Faires, then with two weekends of Scarborough Faire, a performance for Earth Day at the Norman Sierra Club, then four weekends of the Oklahoma Renaissance Faire at the Castle of Muskogee. We capped that all with a busking trip to Scarborough Faire (which shall next year be known as "Scarborough Renaissance Festival!") on our own dime, to work the streets and play with our wonderful friends from Texas for Memorial Day weekend. Now my guitar is at the Luthier's being re-fretted, because all that playing just wore the frets down to nothing!

We got back from Scarborough Tuesday afternoon, just in time to get chores (for me) and sewing (for Rowan) done. Needless to say, we're looking forward to a weekend off, something we've not had since sometime back in February!

This coming weekend, on Sunday, June 5th, we shall be providing the music for Tulsa Chautauqua's "Dinner with da Vinci" fundraiser, sponsored by the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa. The Tulsa World carried an article on this fundraiser here.
The article features a picture of Queen's Gambit in the beautiful garden of the private home where the event will be held. The fundraiser benefits the actual Chautauqua which starts June 11th on the campus of OSU Tulsa, and features several historical characters, for a "living history" segment, along with music. The article in the Tulsa World describes it much better than I can!

We'd like to encourage anyone who is able to contact the Arts and Humanities Council chairpeople at the number in the article to donate and attend the fundraiser, and of course the general public is invited to the Chautauqua at T-OSU itself at no cost. The fundraiser is $100/plate, which makes me very anxious to provide these folke with some first-class Renaissance and Celtic music!

For those who will be in the Tulsa area on the following Tuesday, June 7th, Queen's Gambit will be in concert at the Tulsa Hardesty Regional Library Auditorium at 93rd and Memorial, just off the Creek Turnpike, from 7 until 8 p.m. to help kick off the Summer Reading Program, which has the Renaissance theme this year of "Joust Read!" This is the gig we'd like to make sure all our Tulsa area fans attend, so we can "pack the house" with folke, in or out of garb, doesn't matter, we'll be happy to see what some of you look like in clothes! ;)

The Hamlet of Mid-Missouri Renaissance Festival will be our next stop after that, in Sedalia, Missouri at the State Fairgrounds, on June 11th and 12th. We're hoping for a good turnout, and anyone who comes that weekend and catches all of our shows will probably get to hear our entire (70+ song) repertoire, as I'm sure we'll be playing at least 4 shows per day, but we haven't got the schedule yet. Ya'll come to that one, those of you who don't mind a lovely drive through
the mountains. Straight North from Springfield Mo., if you're coming from Oklahoma or Arkansas, or straight out I-70 from Kansas City.

We shall also perform at a "Renaissance Faire" partially sponsored by the folke of King Arthur Faire, at the Martin Public Library on July 9th at various times during the day, more info on that as it draws closer.

So it has been a busy Spring, and we hope yours has been busy and productive as well! Thank all of you for your kind support, and we look forward to Summer and the opportunity to entertain you again!

Hope to see you all soon!
"Bruce the Bruce"