I spent a hugely enjoyable week in the Catskills region of upstate New York this month, the focal point of which was my time at Bethel Woods for the 50th anniversary of the Woodstock Festival. You can read about it on my blogsite. Hopefully the link works. Let me know if it doesn’t.
https://bangnzdrum.blogspot.com/2019/08/my-woodstock-50th-anniversary-diary.html
How were the toilets?
No portaloos nowadays Steve, but the queues haven’t shortened
Hey your blog is wonderful! Just had a quick skim through and will return later.
I spent some time in upstate NY a few years ago accompanying Mrs M on a course she was doing in Hudson. I considered a pilgrimage to Big Pink but found out Aretha was playing in NYC and skidaddled back to Manhattan!
I saw the Bill Frissell Trio at the Village Vanguard while I was in NYC. Those guys are good.
Saw Bill at the Lincoln Center doing his 60s tribute thing. Esperanza Spalding at the Village Vanguard. This was all in 2014. I actually spent a lot of time thinking “I’m a musician, why has it taken me till I’m sixty something to get to NYC?”
Properly jealous. 😡
That’s right Mousey and the main reason I go there whenever I can. Top notch musicians playing in small clubs. On some nights I have been able to catch two shows. One time I saw Chick Corea and John McLaughlin at the Blue Note then rushed a few blocks across to catch Shawn Colvin at City Winery. Another time I saw Robben Ford playing fantastic psychedelic blues at B.B. King’s (now closed) then hopped on the subway to catch the late show by Kevin Eubanks at the Blue Note.
And how was Aretha @Mousey ?
Fogerty doing Dance To The Music. Great voice, great song, could be great, but wonder how he handles the funk.
Surprisingly well. His set was way more varied musically than you might expect. Sure, he’s not Sly but he did have the great Kenny Aronoff on drums to provide some kick-ass rhythm.
Seen him a couple of time in last say 15 years. Voice was in remarkably good nick.
@Junior-Wells – Aretha was a mixed bag, in great voice, the opening song “I Say A Little Prayer” was a wondrous thing, swooping around those chord changes and time changes. But the show turned into a bit of a gospel revival meeting – more like the recent film, except with a tribute to Whitney Houston which was very boring. Also she didn’t play piano enough. So pleased I got to see her. I got one of the last seats, in the back row, surrounded by worshipping black women. At Radio City Music Hall. Praise The Lord!!
Hallelujah. You can say you saw her.
Very cool blog – cheers!
That looks a great blog Nick, I’ll be returning later to have a good read while listening to Canned Heat’s set in full from Woodstock.
Dipped briefly into your blog which is dangerously moreish. Will return there later.
Clever move to write about it here.
Lovely stuff, Mr Doona. Would have loved to have done what you did, but have the uncomfortable feeling I’d never have got off my arse…