Howdy Folks!

I can't believe 2008 flew by so fast and furious. What happened? We had a whirlwind of activities, shows, meeting new people, and making new friends and seeing new places!

We made three trips to Pittsburgh, PA and had a tour up in New Mexico and Colorado. We made stops In Telluride at the Sheridan Opera House, Westerland, CO, Mother Lode in Red River and Churara, CO for a house party at the Appel's beautiful home. We also made stops n Santa Fe for a concert on the Plaza, and in Albuquerque to play a house concert and playing with Michael Hearne at the Old Blinking Light. We went back to Taos in September to play my buddy Mike Hearne's BIG BARN DANCE, in Taos, N.M. Check it out! We hope to see you in Taos! Here's a look at last years Dance!





Speaking of house concerts, we played several new ones last year around the Hill Country and a new one down in League City, with Silver Shoes (John and Maureen Finnegan) opening, which was greatly successful even after Hurricane Ike, and one up at Canyon Lake hosted by Frank and Judy Golden (Olive Hill House Concert). We also played a house concert in Meyerland (Houston area) at the Connelly's home. It was their first house concert and was a huge success. The weather cooperated and the audience spilled out on the back lawn where there was a nice fire pit glowing for warmth. How could we forget playing Jewett, Texas in an old but much updated high school gym.... at the GYM JAM, home of Virginia and Larry Robertson That was a real treat playing on a stage with a basketball hoop behind us. It gave me a chance to practice my hook shot in between songs! Hello Rockets!!....Are you listening?

We will be returning to Jewett on July 4th for an encore performance! Larry says this will sell out early. We also played DOSEY DOE three different times in the Woodlands to a capacity crowd. What a great venue for live music and great food! And, don't forget the coffee! We will return there on July 3rd for another show. Mark your calendar! Make your reservations now! We also played the Kerrville Folk Festival for the first time in several years in 2008. We will be back at the festival in June this year!

We performed several times down at Anderson Fair with our good friend Tim Leatherwood and also at J. P. Hops House (who could forget Peter, Paul and Mary and Halloween). I'll never wear another dress on Halloween no matter how many compliments I get and no more Mary Kay either!

We are looking forward to playing out at Bernhardt's Winery again in May to open their "Sunset on The Porch". We played there several times last year and already a wine tasting dinner in January. Jerri and Jerry Bernhardt are our wonderful hosts and the wine is excellent, too! You could not ask for a more beautiful setting to play and a great place to give thanks.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, our good friend Wrecks Bell was hit hard and It took several months and lots of help from friends playing benefits and actually going in to paint and repair before The Old Quarter Acoustic Café could reopen. But, it did and we had a good show in January. Wrecks is so thankful for
all of his friends for helping him out in tough times!

We opened for Clint Black out at the Sam Houston Race Track in Houston....yeah, we opened for Clint! No dollars were lost at the track! Thanks, Clint for the opportunity. Clint and I also performed at a tribute ('Goodnight Neighbors') to the late Ron Stone, a dear friend who hosted THE EYES OF TEXAS, TV documentary on NBC Channel 2 in Houston for over a decade. I was asked to perform "Traveling Texas" - that was his theme. See the next photo with Shake, Governor Mark White & Clint Black