Last winter, Sheryl, Celina and I took a cruise.  This is not something that would normally appeal to me, but I had received an email from Beth Wood, and she was announcing her selection to sail on the maiden voyage of "Cayamo – Journey Through Song."  It was a cruise ship full of songwriters.  Along with Beth, who is a refreshing new voice in American music, the boat would sway along to the music of folks like Patty Griffin, Shawn Colvin, Lyle Lovett and Emmylou Harris.  When I announced this email, we booked that cruise in a flurry of margaritas and excitement. 

So off we went…

One of our shore excursions was a zip-line, tarzan-like swing through the Jamaican jungle.  While waiting in line for our bus trip to the center of the trees, a man tapped me on the shoulder and asked if we were in the zip-line line.  I turned to affirm and saw that his companion was sporting a pair of binoculars the size of a Volkswagon Bug.  I told Sheryl to check out the guy behind her with the monster binoculars that were every bit as big as hers... "there's another bird geek behind you."  She whipped around and immediately made herself a friend.  The man was a lawyer from Texas who loved birding, who had a sister who wrote THE field guide on hummingbirds (to this revelation, Sheryl started jumping like a six year old in an ice cream shop).  I turned to Celina and said, "we're on our on.  Sheryl found a friend…"  So when Sheryl asked which artist drew him to the Cayamo cruise, he said, "Oh.  My daughter, Beth."

That's how the 2009 Bear Creek Concert season began.  Me telling Beth that her dad stole my date right out of the jungle, and by the way, how 'bout a night on the porch?

If you've never heard Beth sing, it is heavenly.  She sings of beaches and birds… lots of bird images… go figure.  But she's not the only reason to mark every third Saturday between March and October of 2009.  She is joined by easily the strongest line-up this porch has ever hosted.  It goes like this:  Bob Sima (award-winning songwriter with a voice like wild honey), Abra Moore (A GRAMMY nominated American sweetheart), Dorian Michael (A man whose guitar work will wow and charm you eternally), Smythe and Taylor (Texas folk favorites with an uplifting presence), Jean Synodinos (THE super singer extraordinaire who rips up a guitar while she's shredding the do re mi's), Kenny Edwards (American legend and pioneer of that thing we call folk-rock  via The Stone Poneys, and he did it with Linda Ronstadt…), Beth Wood (West Texas friendly with a healthy dose of gospel stylings… and a bird geek dad), Michael Fracasso (One of the very reasons Austin, Texas is on the world map of music.  A true master).

So the website is updated (http://www.bearcreekconcerts.com) and I invite you to take a preview of Bear Creek Concerts 2009.  As you know, this concert series is the flagship of the Peace from the Porch Project, and this year, the project will support animal rescue organizations, so make sure you bring pet food and supplies for the barrel this season.  We're also raising the suggested donation to $15.  I know you love and appreciate these artists more than OPEC and the airlines, so throw an extra fiver in your wallet to help keep them working and sharing with folks like us.  We can't wait to see you in March!

Peace from the Porch,

christy