We are now well established here in SW Virginia, the shop is going well (we were nominated for business of the year recently and have a plaque to prove it). We have lots of events, both regular and ‘one-off’ and these have helped our profile in the area a great deal.

The cabin down near Rogersville is now fully re-roofed and extended – we intend to do short-term summer rentals.

The radio show is also doing well; it is called Celtic Clanjamphry and goes out on Sunday mornings at 10 o’clock (3 pm in the UK). You can hear it on the internet live here www.wets.org and see the program page there as well.

Our first tour of Scotland was a great success and the next one takes place between June 21st and July 3^rd 2009. Get details by clicking on Scottish Tour on the home page.

No Swannanoa Gathering for us this year, but we had a great time doing a week at the John C Campbell Folk School in N Carolina in September – something we’re very excited about. Check this out here http://www.folkschool.org/. We did a ballads and stories class during Scottish Week. We also MCd and performed at Sycamore Shoals Celtic Festival again this year (just after the Scottish tour and just before John C Campbell Folk School).

As I write this we are busy in Phil Leonard’s studio in Johnson City making a new CD; the first we’ve done together (as we approach our 10^th anniversary). It’s proving very enjoyable and Phil is among the best engineers/producers I’ve ever worked with – a lovely guy. It should be finished and out by Christmas.

Wendy is combining bookstore minding with a job as events director and fund-raiser with the American Red Cross as well as teaching at UVA Wise in the evening – a busy lady indeed (and she was made a board member of the National Storytelling Network)!

We bought a second hand VW Golf diesel which should double our MPG compared to the Subaru and should last a very long time too. Almost forgot – we bought back the 1962 MGB Roadster I used to own (from Colin Stuart) and shipped it over here. It’s the oldest in America (I think).

Late news:

WETS fm received this recently –

City:
Bluff City
 
State:
Tennessee
 
“Celtic Clanjamphry is delightful! I love Jack
Beck's commentary. I would like to encourage him to play whatever he
feels like, and don't hold back on the storytelling, since that is what
makes the show so compelling. I can listen to Celtic/Gaelic music on
internet radio, but I can't get Jack Beck's insight. Play what you want
Jack, I'll walk down any road that you want to take me. Moran taing!”

Fiona Ritchie's 'Thistle and Shamrock' US wide radio show recently 
held a listener's poll of favourite shows and the one she did with Jack 
on the Scottish/Appalachian connection came out top. 
This show has been re-broadcast many times and we always get people 
commenting to us when it airs.