Still in the planning stages here, but things are really getting haywire trying to sort everyone out. Just confirmed Bob Brozman today, which is a thrill. Bob and I go back quite a ways... we met in Slovakia about 7 years ago, and had a blast. We did alot of jamming and causing mischief... we played at a festival called "dobrofest" which was wild. One of the organizers walked onstage as Bob and I were playing some frenzied improv and started pouring "dobrovitchka" down our throats - the national booze, I guess... bob wisely let it trickle down his beard, but I am young and foolish. The next day I was so hungover and bed-ridden that the organizer responsible walked up to Bob and said "I'm sorry I killed Steve" very earnestly. good times. but i digress.

So, Bob and I are crossing paths at the Canmore Folk Festival in Alberta this summer. We're going to both get in a bit early and get a tune done for the tribute, hopefully at the banff centre, a great facility a few miles down the road.

Also, my pal Kelly Joe Phelps has been performing "living in a strain" at his recent shows (a sheiks tune), and sent me a really wicked version he did at home on his National guitar. He's such a wicked guitar player and singer. He'll just do a solo piece and it'll be awesome. It'll really take the sheiks in a twisted new direction.

So here's how it's looking so far:

Geoff Muldaur and the Texas Sheiks - "The World Is Goin' Wrong" (this has already been recorded in Austin, Texas)

Kelly Joe Phelps - "Living In A Strain" (I will record this in Vancouver in September)

The Carolina Chocolate Drops - "Too Long" (recording this in Ottawa)

John Hammond - "Stop and Listen Blues" (also recording this in Ottawa)

Bob Brozman (not sure which tune yet) (recording this in Canmore)

There are more great artists confirmed, but I can't let all the cats out of all the bags...

fun... the tracking will start in July, so stay tuned on how all the madness shakes down.