Notes from the Farm / Erik & John

Erik and John had a busy December recording their first duo CD, Notes from the Farm. Recorded in three afternoons in Erik's living room and mixed in John's dining room it's a homegrown 15 track, 24 tune collection of fiddle and guitar or mandolin duets. Along with a number of new, and old, original tunes the duo decided to record a few traditional numbers as well, some very common and some more obscure. 

Here's a list of the tunes on the CD:

1. Sheehan’s (trad.) / Cold Market Morning (Goodin) (3:00)         
2. The Rights of Man / Coleraine / Grace Hay’s Delight (trad.) (3:07)
3. Coleman’s March (trad.) (2:27)
4. Grape-vine Twist (trad.) (1:40)
5. Kitchen Waltz (Goodin) (2:19)
6. Ain’t Broke / Two Days to Maine (Goodin) (2:16)
7. The Junquill: Air Moderato (James Oswald) (1:40)
8. The Junquill: Giga Vivace (James Oswald) (0:52)
9. The New Henrietta (Goodin) / Kohlrabi Stomp (Sessions) (2:10)
10. Aubrey & Andrew’s Wedding (Goodin) (2:41)
11. Young Terence MacDonough / Planxty Irwin (Turlough O’Carolan) (2:56)
12. Splinters on the Banister / Revelry Reel (Sessions) (2:21)
13. Chief O’Neill’s Favorite (trad.) / Carolan’s Draught (Turlough O’Carolan) (3:07)
14. The Road to Lisdoonvarna / Irishman’s Heart to the Ladies (trad.) (2:07)
15. King’s Landing (Goodin) (2:12)

Pat and Patrice are driving down to Decorah next Sat., the 21st, to help Erik and John celebrate by playing a short concert, followed by a full contra dance with Robin Nelson calling. The event is being held at the Elks in Decorah and the concert starts at 7:00 with the dance beginning at 8:00.

In addition to having Notes from the Farm for sale all three Contratopia CDs will be available along with John's recently released Mandolin Tunes CD. There will probably be a few copies of the Contratopia Tunebook for sale as well.

After making a splash in Decorah on the 21st the whole band will reconvene at Tapestry Folkdance Center in Minneapolis for a contra dance on Jan. 28, where we will reconnect with our touring buddy Ted Hodapp. This promises to be a special night of fun and frolic, not to be missed if you are near the Twin Cities!

Three weeks after that the fun will continue, this time at the Armory in Northfield where the band will once again play for the annual Winter Stomp! More news to follow...