Wil Maring and Robert Bowlin perform "Mississippi Lullaby", a song written by Wil Maring and Wolfgang Gohringer. There's a guest cameo appearance by Earl the Cat in this video. In this video, Robert Bowlin plays a guitar made by Terry Whipple. See http://www.whipplecreekguitars.com . Video filmed by Phil Bankester. Thank you Phil.

Hey there,
I am getting really excited about getting in the van and covering some miles. We put a fresh round bale in the feeder for "the boys", and provisions for the other fourlegged family members are plenty. I just finished finalizing the last details for the last show on this whirlwind loop of 8 states from the southeast to the mid atlantic to the midwest and then back to So. IL.  The last show, oddly enough is the place where I started out... in historic Martinsville, IN. That's where I spent my first four years while my P's were in grad school at Indiana University. I don't remember much there except for some very foggy memories of picking gooseberries in the yard, and of our pets, indian dog Tia, and border collie Grizzley. So I am excited to go back there, to play at "Water To Wine" a concert which is presented by Ambience Photography.  Complete details on the gig list. Speaking of lists, get a load of this....

Friday, March 13,   Pegram, TN
Saturday, March 14,   Lexington, SC
Tuesday, March 17,   Wilmington, NC
Wednesday, March 18,  Ashland, VA
Thursday, March 19,   Staunton, VA
Friday, March 20,   Herndon, VA
Saturday, March 21,   Mt.Rainier, MD
Sunday, March 22,    Glen Rock, PA
Tuesday, March 24,   Wheeling, WV
Wednesday, March 25,   Martinsville, IN

this is where all Robert Bowlin and I are going to be... wow. that's alot of places. And it all starts tomorrow!!!

If you know anybody in or near these places that might like our music, please please spread the word. Especially if you know folks who like to put on shows too. And if you live in or near these places, please please come and bring a friend. I want to meet and shake hands with each and every one of my myspace friends before I cross over the River Jordan. (haha, just kiddin') No, really!! It would be great to see you and see if you really look like your profile picture (unless you put your dog up there)
Happy spring to everyone, Hugs, wil









....

Hi everybody, this is the end of the year letter I sent out to all my local IL fans, but I wanted to send it out to everybody else as well..... big apologies if you have written me recently on the myspace and I haven't been able to write you back right away. I do my best....

I hope you all had a nice holiday. These are the days of the year that are some of my favorites... The days between christmas and new years. Festive still, but quieter and unrushed. There will be hopefully some time for reflection, creativity, some old movies, a little outdoor fun since the coldest days are still yet to come. I always wish that the week between christmas and new years would last at least two weeks.

I have been thinking about how fast the time is flying by. The big decorative pumpkins on my concrete steps are now looking like deflated beachballs. Very sad and almost disgusting looking. Their removal will necessitate a big flat grain shovel. It seems like just last week that I hauled them up from my neighbor's pumpkin patch in the holler, in early October. Now in the last breath of the current year, its almost scary how much time went by in just a few blinks of an eye.
I hope this has been a good year for everyone. I sure appreciate all the folks that come out to our shows, and thanks also to all the new people who have signed up to get my silly little emails. We didn't cover quite as much ground this year as in the year before, but we did meet quite a few new friends, and sure appreciate each and every one of you. I have to apologize right here and now for being lame with answering all the email greetings within a respectable amount of time. I wish I had four of me. Then I could just sit here on the couch and write songs or paint paintings, and I could point fingers... I'd have one of me doing the myspace, youtube, and emailing and booking, another of me cleaning, renovating my old farmhouse, and another of me out there exercising the horses and clearing fencerow and running around making social calls on all my good old friends that I owe visits to. But there is only one of me, so I am left to juggle a million things, and a lot of stuff just sits on the back burner til it starts to mold or turn crusty depending on the humidity. I just want to thank all the folks that have written me, offered advice and good cheer, or even emailed me a joke, funny animal photo, or outrageous video link. Thanks for checkin' out our youtube vids, and my paintings, or putting your 2 cents worth in on the discussion board. Thanks especially to everybody who came out to the shows and hollered out a request or even took home a cd. That's so great, and I am so grateful.

The one me that does exist made the decision go into the studio this coming week and start to record some new songs. I was at a friend's house on Christmas, and in the bathroom was the Farmer's Almanac for 2008. I randomly opened to a page, and there was a table for the whole year, with the best days in each month for doing a particular activity, from fishing, to planting, to starting or ending projects. It said that December 28 and 29th were the best days this month to start a new project. Coincidentally, (though we all know there are no such things as coincidences) I had booked the first recording date for the 29th. The Farmer's almanac never lies so I feel good about this. Of course, there is no telling when it will end. I will have to consult the almanac for 2009 or 2010 for the best days to choose as a deadline.

So, that's what's happening. I want to tell everybody that we will be heading south to Florida in a couple weeks to play on a "bluegrass cruise" with 9 other bands. I will be giving a songwriter workshop and Robert will give a guitar workshop as well. This cruise will be flanked by 6 house concerts throughout Florida and Georgia, including the towns of Tampa, Ocala, Rockledge, St. Augustine, in Florida, and Gainesville and Milledgeville in Georgia. Please check out the complete details on my myspace page if you know anybody in those areas who might be interested in any of these shows. The dates run from January 15 to January 25th with possibly more coming in.

I want to wish everyone on the email list a very very happy new year- best of health and happiness, and success in everything you attempt, no matter how small.

I am looking forward to seeing you all next year somewhere down the trail. Please keep in touch.

Love, wil

hey! what did the monk say to the hotdog vendor? Make me one with everything.

A fan sent me this, and it made me laugh. I have to give it to everyone for thanksgiving. I am thankful for everybody. Thanks for writing me, all your sweet comments on my page, thanks for listening to my tunes, and watching those videos over and over, and especially thanks for buying a cd. hugs, wil

here goes:

At a southern university, students in the psychology program were attending their first class on emotional extremes. "Just to establish some parameters," said the professor to the student from Arkansas, "what is the opposite of joy?"
"Sadness," said the student.
"And the opposite of depression?" he asked of the young lady from Oklahoma.
"Elation," she said.
"And you sir," he said to the young man from Texas, "what about the opposite of woe?"
The Texan replied, "Sir, I believe that would be 'giddy up' ."

The 31st Annual Uncle Dave Macon Days Festival was held July 11 - 13, 2008 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

In the Guitar category, flatpicker Robert Bowlin (Bill Monroe, Osbourne Brothers, Kathy Mattea bands) of Illinois took first place. His current CD is "Six String Soliloquy", and it was released on FGM Records in 2007. He was also profiled in Volume 11, Issue 4 of Flatpicking Guitar Magazine, and is featured on the Flatpicking 2007 sampler. In second place was 21 year old Josh Philpott out of Tennessee, and in third place was Matthew Wingate out of Alabama. Matthew has played with The Greencards and The Lovell Sisters, and he is a Merlefest guitar champion.

Robert Bowlin also took first place in the Mandolin category, third place in Contest Fiddle and second place in the Traditional Fiddle category.

Wil Maring, Robert's duo partner, took first place in the Blues Singing w/Acoustic Instruments category.

 

I posted a bulletin on this, but then realized in the 10 zillion bulletins that get posted, it might get lost in the shuffle, so I'll blog this info too...

I just wanted to spread the word about an intensive songwriting class I'll be doing as part of the "acoustic music camp" in Dallas TX area next month, August 7-9 . I did it last year, and it was a blast- a small class, so everyone gets personalized help. The "camp" itself is great, cause you can study from the greats on all different stringed instruments, plus songwriting from me.
There will be lots of jamming, group meals, and just a really fun time.

The website to find out about signing up is: www.acousticmusiccamp. com.

Folks have been curious about it, so here are some details:

"This workshop is designed to help songwriters of all levels focus on the creative process of songwriting, learning to avoid creative "ruts", create awareness, and find inspiration in everyday life.

A few of of the topics that will be covered include:
* How to find inspiration for song ideas, and how to keep the creativity flowing. Develop "songwriter awareness" 24/7.

* Learn the foundations and tools for capturing ideas, and organizational hints to keep those ideas from becoming lost.

* Take part in daily songwriting exercises to get the creative juices flowing.

* One-on-one help and critique for your own work- be prepared to bring unfinished songs and work to finish them. Be prepared to start and finish at least one song from scratch.

* Be prepared to analyze a couple of your favorite songs by other writers, for the whole class.

* Tips on musical arrangement and performance.

* Informal question and answer sessions."


Hope to see a few of you there!!

I get a lot of nice mail, and this was no exception:

" WOW!! What a great 2 hours spent listening to you (Wil and Roberto) at the Nature Center in Peoria.

Everyone was enthralled by the content and the flow of this musical event. Characteristically your delivery of the lyrics were inspiring and the audience was spellbound.

I especially enjoyed the comments by Robert concerning the song Bill Monore had written but not recorded.

Anyone who missed this, will surely need to obtain your schedule and experience this moment of musical gratification!

If one cannot attend a performance, I suggest they download your site, and purchase some of your CDs.

Until the next time,
T J Meyer"

Saturday, March 8th, 2008
7:00 PM
Forest Park Nature Center Concert Series      
5809 N Forest Park Drive
Peoria Heights, Illinois
Cost: $7 adult, $6 child

Sunday, March 9, 2008
3:00 PM
Chicago Acoustic Underground House Concert     
RSVP at 847-902-9864 for address
Chicago (Armitage), Illinois
Cost: Suggested donation of $15

Monday, March 10, 2008
5:30 PM
Robert Bowlin Guitar Workshop at Old Town School of Folk Music
4544 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, Illinois 60625
Cost: $25 per student for the workshop.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008
6:00 PM
Different Strummer Music Store     
4544 N Lincoln Ave,Chicago, IL
Chicago, Illinois 60625
Cost: Free. Wil Maring and Robert Bowlin in concert at the Different Strummer Music Store. Part of the Old Town School of Folk Music.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008
8:00 PM
White Gull Inn
4225 Main Street
Fish Creek, WI
Cost: $15. Optional pre-concert dinner.

Thursday, March 13, 2008
7:00 PM
Traditions Show Lounge at Ramada Inn Stevens Point (formerly the Country Springs Hotel)
1501 N. Point Drive,
Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Cost:$5

Friday, March 14, 2008
8:00 PM
Sly Dog House Concerts
Middleton, WI    
Cost: Suggested donation of $15. E-mail bdavis@starkhomes.com or call at 608-577-8788 to RSVP and get directions.

Saturday, March 15, 2008
7:00 PM
Bluff View House Concert     
N7916 Bluff View ct
Holmen, Wisconsin
Cost: Suggested donation of $15 . See http://www.myspace.com/bluffview
or RSVP at 608.526.9051

Sunday, March 16, 2008
7:00 PM
Maring Miller Gallery at Old West Amana Church    
611 F Street
West Amana, Iowa
Cost: $10- $15 suggested donation
Description: Concert at 7 PM, $10 - $15 suggested donation, Wil Maring and Robert Bowlin, Michelle Maring Miller's art gallery at the church