What are we trying to accomplish?

No matter what the original question was, I suspect we can answer it better by taking a step back.

I'm taking a step back as I figure out what I'm trying to accomplish with this site. Eventually there may be more frequent updates in a bloglike style. In the meantime, here are a few things I'm up to. There's lots of good stuff, which is why this man is still smiling.

It is better to have learned and forgotten than never to have learned at all.
- Julie Ann Sosa

Current music projects and activities

The Back Door Band
The choir of St. Andrew's Church in Lambertville
Mitchell's Famous Irish Session

Past music projects of a fairly stable nature

The Immortals (2002 - 2007) - an American ceili band with occasional blasts of cajun, country, calypso and other genres not necessarily starting with the letter C
Keltia (1997 - 2001)
Cwn Annwn (1994/5-1997)
Taproot (1994-1996)
Nassoons (1980s)

Past music collaborations of a more fleeting nature

Ten Foot Tall
The Secret Admirers
Patrick Regan
Arlon Bennett
Elevenland

Other stuff I enjoy and often recommend

Terry Pratchett (or try the annotations - spoiler alert! I haven't been this excited about an author in a long time. I find his work to be consistently thoughtful, wickedly funny, well written, fun to read, full of human insight, full of heart.
Liz Carroll and John Doyle
Cantrip
Ceird an Cheoil - a half-hour Irish TV special about the Irish bouzouki
Celtic Classic festival
Champlain Valley Folk Festival
WhiskyFest

More about music

I believe in music. This is important and I don't care if it sounds hokey. In some ancient languages, the words for breath, wind and spirit are the same. We still have echoes of it in English - respiration/inspiration. When we're at our best as musicians - this is not so much my belief as my experience - God breathes through us in the music we make. Even in some of the rude songs.

Etc.

Some items have been removed, or will soon be removed, from this site. New content should appear before long.

NJFOLK
Chemowocky
Grout writings
Bookmarks
Essential album list
Across my desk

Thanks for your visit. And in the meantime:

Be excellent to each other! - Bill S. Preston, Esq.

This page was created (and is occasionally even maintained!) by Mark Stewart.

Last updated 21 July 2010