Big doin’s at done gone…. for us, anyway. In February, Kim and I split a night with Joe Bellulovich and Pat Conte at Jalopy Theatre n Brooklyn, NY. The Jalopy Theatre is ably run by Lynette and Geoff Wiley and is part concert venue, part music school, part music store and repair shop, and part community center. If you live within striking distance of Brooklyn and enjoy roots music in one of its myriad forms, you really owe it to yourself to head out there for a show. Venues like this are precious and rare. This is a tune that Kim and I played at that concert, and worked up based on hearing it on the Old Hat compilation “Folks, He Sure Do Pull Some Bow.” The tune is Cabo Verdranos Peca Nove by Abrew’s Portuguese Instrumental Trio:

Since then, we’ve managed to get copies of the other 5 of their 6 total sides. Big favorites at done gone!

In April, we played a house concert at the home of Melinda and John Salmon, opening for ragtime blues guitar virtuoso Ari Eisinger. The night was a great success for all involved - I know we had a great time, and going on first meant that we could sit back, relax and enjoy Ari’s set. He really has an incredible command of the music. He’s playing a house concert in Cary, NC later this month and if you live within driving distance, I strongly recommend that you contact him via his website for details.

Later this month, the Little Brothers (that’s us!) will be playing our first genuinely local gig at Small World Coffee on Witherspoon St in Princeton, NJ on May 22 - 8:30pm. Small World is something of an institution in Princeton - as much a part of the fabric of life there as the Princeton Record Exchange. I used to play solo gigs there years ago, before kids! We’re excited to have the opportunity to play there and share some of what we do. It’s also our great pleasure to have Pat Conte along for the show as well. He and I will be playing a few duets early in the evening. Pat was down this weekend and we ended up messing around with a few tunes that we thought we might play and I thought I’d share this one with you - Goin’ Up On The Mountain from “Jackson” Joe Williams:

My pal Nate (Bayrum78 on youtube) dusted off this obscure classic from Sweet Papa Stovepipe - Mama’s Angel Child. It just doesn’t get any more deliriously nutty than this!