Woody Fest 2008 was about the best with the notable exception that there was a big hole there due to the absence of Bob Childers in physical form. Everyone there will tell you that Bob was most definitely present in spiritual and musical form so it may have been sad, but it was also very beautiful.

I was thrilled to be invited back to Kerrville, Tx to play the 2008 Kerrville Wine and Music Festival after 8 years of being away from the Quiet Valley Ranch. It was as sweet a homecoming as I could've hoped for and I'll be back to perform at the Kerrville Folk Festival in the summer of 2009 as well as the Rice Festival… two awesome Texas music festivals.

Michael Hearne's Big Barn Dance rolled around again and it was spectacular. The dancing and music as well as the backstage antics and after hours stuff was legendary... and the best part was it was right here in Taos. I took  in the entire weekend at both the Old Blinking Light and the big finale at the KTAO Solar Center where the dance floor was probably the fullest it has ever been. I love Michael Hearne and the Big Barn Dance!

I'm off to Colorado after writing this for a series of shows, celebrate my birthday and see some of my dearest friends and then heading back home to Taos to start working on the fall and winter repertoires for my local projects. It's been one of the best summers I've ever had and I suspect the fall and the winter are going to be pretty great, too.

My main concern this fall is the state of our nation, our economy and the warlike mentality of our leadership in Washington. Of particular concern to me are the lies and pandering that are going on in the media and in our communities during the election cycle. I've always hated the dishonesty and corruption perpetrated on the American electorate by various interests who have the money and the marketing expertise to make false assertions stick in the minds of Americans as truths... sowing doubt where there was once fact. This has become a pervasive tactic of the Republican Party and the lobbying folks that have been brought in by the Bush Administration to literally govern our country. I think the results are pretty obvious. It's an incompetent way to govern the largest economy and military in the world. I've been watching closely and scanning the news from every side and although I don't consider myself all that partisan I'm very disappointed with the efforts made by the Republican Party and the media outlets it contracts out to for it's message. We need some serious change and regardless of the criticisms (lies or otherwise, mostly lies from what I've seen) of the Obama team I don't think you could ask for a better chance to get some urgent change done in a reasonably short period of time. I feel strongly that we need to increase the Democratic majorities in the House and Senate and get Barack Obama in the White House and give it a chance. The Democrats have had the slimmest of majorities and have been blocked at almost every turn when trying to pass progressive legislation that would've done folks some good. If they finally have the ability to overcome Republican obstructionists in the Senate and the House and still blow it then we can elect someone else in four years, but I personally cannot see taking a risk on McCain/Palin and the Republican leaders in Congress with four more years of my tax dollars, my country and my life. I've seen what politicians and big corporate lobbyists can do. I would much rather see the government run by well informed/assisted community organizers, social workers, healers, peace advocates and educators. It's a dream, certainly, but I think Obama has the vision to make tough compromises without losing the vision of helping common folks… and he is as close to that element as we're likely to get in the Oval Office for a long time. Peace on you all. DonCon