Ukulele Bob's 2011/2012 Music Newsletter

2011 was a fulfilling and wonderful year musically for yours truly. Not only have I been playing more than ever, but I am also seeing musical friends’ endeavors pay new dividends for them (and sometimes thus for me), and that’s icing on the cake. In 2011, I:

1. Started playing farmers markets in central Contra Costa County. These are perfect gigs – low-pressure, good chances to try new approaches without fear and generally during the day. My next two are Tuesday, Jan. 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kaiser Medical Center, Walnut Creek, CA, and Saturday, Jan. 7, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pinole Farmers Market, Fernandez and Pear, Pinole, CA.
2. Played more open mics, at Armando’s in Martinez, First Street Café in Benicia, and Panama Red Coffeehouse in Vallejo. Thanks to Debbie Kuhl Wendt, Finding Fable and Kevin Radley for making these happen! My next will be at First Street Cafe, 440 First St., Benicia, CA, at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7.
3. Played a lot with Awed Ducks. We continue to practice regularly and during the past year played open mics, the Give A Dam Martinez Beaver Festival, and the Berkeley Old Time Music Convention Band Contest. We’re getting good audience response. We have a 30-minute featured slot at the Panama Red Coffeehouse at the Ferry Terminal in Vallejo at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29. Thanks to Ducks Jim Brunelle, John Gallagher and Peter Sproul for  this Big Fun! 
4. Continued to play fairly regularly with my “new” Berkeley music mates Dale Zola and Bill Devore, in BBZ. We love getting together and hope to play our first open mic in 2012. Thanks to Dale and Bill for this new music outlet! 
5. Played flute and tinwhistle in an irish ballads session with Barry Melton, Kevin Fagan and Jay Johnson at Lefty O’Doul’s in San Francisco, Looks like we’ll do another in January. Thanks, guys, and thanks, Lee Housekeeper! 

 2012 goals: 

1. Celebrate Bev’s and my 50th wedding anniversary in June. Thanks to her for all her patience with my music pursuits (and other quirks)! 
2. Get my long-delayed first album of original songs done. 
3. Publish a short book of collected poems. 
4. Attend the Wintergrass Festival in Bellevue, WA, in February for what I believe is the 12th out of the past 13 years. 

If you're on Facebook, check my page (Robert Loomis) for news of music activity and for my weekly Tuneweek column. Here are two links to some of the music I've made:

http://www.myspace.com/307057832

http://www.youtube.com/user/ukebob?feature=guide

I hope to put up some new material during 2012, so stay tuned! Have a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year!