Hello everyone,

I hope this note finds each of you well in every way. Thanks for stopping by the site.

The band and I are stateside once again. We are playing shows in Kansas, New Mexico, Colorado, New Jersey, and Michigan this July. We are enjoying every minute of the shows. In Wichita we had the privilege of playing 3 sold out nights at the Chamber Music Festival in the Barns at Prairie Pines. There were great folks running the shows and great folks in the audience each night.

We have a few days off before the next show and I am enjoying them with my mother in New Mexico. This state is endlessly beautiful as are the people who live here. And it is my first vacation with my mom – and we are still getting on 5 days in!:)

On July 11 the band and I are performing in Albuquerque. It is our third time playing the summer music series at the Albuquerque Biopark. We will be playing on an outdoor stage at the Rio Grande Zoo within the complex. (Those that know us well will think it fitting!:) I do love this venue - the audience is made up of singles, couples, and families. We get to sing amidst picnic baskets, kids dancing, warm breezes, cicadas in the trees, and exotic birds and animals. And we get to have a good camel ride after sound check! Where else can you do that?

There are no camels that I know of at the Colorado Irish Festival, but it is run by Pat McCullough - the marlborough man! Some of us original members of Cherish the Ladies - in days of yore - christened him that. He has that rugged American man from the West look - he is also a great presenter of Irish music in the Denver area. Patsy, Duncan, Brian and I are looking forward to sharing the stage with the great musicians he has lined up for this year's fest.

From there we head to Ocean City, NJ for an evening with the Ocean City Pops under the baton of William Schiebel. It is our first show in Ocean City and our first with the OC Pops. We look forward to it. After that show I promised myself some summer time at home in Cooley, but we were invited to play at The Great Lakes Irish Music Festival in Michigan and I could not say no to a festival in my home state. It takes place at the 5th and 3rd Ballpark in Comstock Park. Another first – performing in a ballpark. Can't wait for that one! And since we were going to be in Michigan anyway, we added a show in beautiful Traverse City. Eating cherries for days. Mmnnn... .

In August I am delighted to be going back to Butte, Montana and An Ri Ra. I won't be with the band, but will be giving workshops and presentations on Irish myth and music. It has been a long time since I've been able to share my love of the myths of Ireland with folk who love them too. And Butte holds a very special place in my heart. So off we go ...

September and October will find us touring in California, New York and Minnesota, but more about that later. My mom and I are off now to take the tramway up to the top of a mountain in Albuquerque where we will watch the sun set over the Rio Grande Valley. Lovely.

I wish you all blessed days and nights.

Slán,

Cathie