It's been a long time since I've had as much fun as I did last week at McMenamins White Eagle. Not just because we raised $1,500 for Deep Roots either.

The 10-Year Anniversary Party and "Music Project Anthology" CD release was validation for why I started working on Deep Roots in 1998, and why I've continued working on the project for over ten years since.

The music was fantastic, with John Henry Bourke and Chris Kokesh contributing the first set of the night. Highlights of their performance included a spirited singing of anthology song "Breathe" (written by Nagisa Day, Deep Roots 9), and their cover version of Deb Talan's Deep Roots II gem, "Standing at the Edge of a Small Town." "Standing at the Edge" has really great lyrics written by Deep Roots alum Ken Howard (Deep Roots II), who was in attendance and as surprised as anyone to hear his words spring to life on stage nearly ten years after he'd penned them.

A fresh-off-tour Breanna Paletta (Deep Roots 4 alum) wowed the crowd with her hourlong set. Breanna is a former Deep Roots student who used Deep Roots as one of her first steps toward a music career of her own. She's volunteered her musical talents to Deep Roots every year since 2001.

Madgesdiq brought us back to Deep Roots' poetry roots with two short spoken word performances, and another Deep Roots alum, Zeke Goodrick (he performed as a student on the very first Deep Roots CD) closed out the night with a five song set of his own.

Other faces in the crowd included past student participants Tara Brammer (Deep Roots 1), Tawnya Brammer (Deep Roots II), Jesse Altig (Deep Roots 1), Lacy Kilty (Deep Roots 5), Myka Brown, Maria Dumitrescu (Deep Roots 4), Raishawn Kairuz (Deep Roots 4), Chris Williams (Deep Roots 5), Kailina Laureta (Deep Roots 5), Jon Varney (Deep Roots 8), Jenell Davis (Deep Roots 8), Rhiannon Hurlbut (Deep Roots 7), and Jeff Schnick (Deep Roots 4).

A special thanks to all who have contributed and supported our creative vision for over ten exciting years.

The "Deep Roots Music Project Anthology (1998-2007)" CD is now available at http://cdbaby.com/cd/deeproots11