Peace in the New Year

Well, it's almost the night before Christmas and the house it full of anticipation! Certainly for the Holidays but also for the arrival of Baby #2. We're enjoying some down time, Pete's playing locally with some other musicians and Anne's writing some new songs. Hope you have a Happy and Peace-filled Holiday Season.

All Things Red

The phenomenal fall foliage greeted us in New England, our favorite was the Red Maple. Then a special evening in Fall River, Mass. with a talented band called Red Molly. We're so grateful to all our hosts over this month long tour, thank you for opening up your homes and hearts. Anne is growing bigger as her January due date approaches!

Friendly Avenue

North Carolina's sweet sunshine and warm communities have been such a treat in October. Feeling very at home, we've played to full houses sharing our old favorites (like Will You Walk With Me and Carry Me Over) plus a few new songs too. Thank you to our incredible host families. We've tried hush puppies and Cheerwine but decided to skip on the deep fried snickers bars at the State Fair. Anne sings with our good friends from the Prairie Home Companion Contest, Sarah and Lee.

Playing Banjo with Friends

The past month has given Pete a chance to pick a little banjo with some Colorado friends.
Cory Obert from Sweet Sunny South and old-timey musician Andrea Early

Keep the legs moving!

While on the road, we try to keep from getting too sore and stiff. Here's an action shot from the last 3000 mile tour from Colorado's Four Corners Festival to Oregon's Sisters Folk Festival!

New Mexico BUGS!!

Pete decided to make nice to this giant ant in the Albuquerque Biopark. Good thing because the giant bee was scarey....

Lander PBS and llamas

Driving to Lander was a piece of cake this time. We stopped at few playgrounds on the way, drank good coffee and played for a fun crowd in a HOT barn! The concert was filmed and will air on Wyoming PBS this fall. Leah fed llamas at our lodgings for the evening.
We like to think this fella was just heading to town for a few lbs of sugar, a gallon of lard and some new fiddle strings!

A gig in Nebraska has to include Mac's!

Our incredible hosts in McCooke, Nebraska helped us to indulge with dinner at Mac's! This drive-in eatery has been the locals' favorite for many years. Still prepared onsite, the food at Mac's was REALLY good! We had spent 14 hours on the road and still enjoyed sitting in the car that evening for some American dining.

Connecticutting Loose!

Our wonderful friends, Rani Arbo and Scott Kessel joined us for a few tunes in thier hometown of Middletown, CT at the Buttonwood Cultural Center. A great evening that brought Pete back to his heavy metal roots when Scott started drumming!

Swallow Hill May, 2010 Set List

A friend asked if we ever posted our set lists. I told him I'd put this one up!
If you can't make out the songs here's their full titles:
1st set
New Original - Untitled
If Wishes Were Horses
Will You Walk With Me
Going Across the Sea
Coming Home
My Love is There
Pick These Chains
Keep These Walls From Falling In
Tell Me Darling
Oh My Little Darling
The Wayfaring Stranger
2nd set:
Sow Em on the Mountain
This Silver Ring
Past the Point of Rescue
Can't Let you Go
The Memory of Your Smile
Someone to Save Me
Up & Down
Carry Me Over

Western Slope, Colorado

The second half of May's touring brought us into the mountains. Salida, Paonia and Gunnison came out in droves to support us!! We never got lost thanks to a new GPS from a Denver friend, and Leah stayed busy playing with kids every stop of the way. Our friend and wonderful musician, Andrea Early, joined us for some songs in beautiful Salida, CO.

Colorado - The Front Range

Snow on our way to Laramie, rain into Lyons and spring sunshine in Denver. The first weekend of our Colorado (Wyoming) tour kept us in the moment. Each show carried it's own special touch: with homebrew and wings, rain on the roof and standing room only. Thank you for the group hugs and supporting the dream! Anne, Brian Eyster and Martha Scanlan hang out at Planet Bluegrass' Wildflower Pavillion.

Merlefest and ice cream

Merlefest proved once again to be an inspiration and joy for us to be part of! We made new friends, caught up with old ones and soaked in the North Carolina kindheartedness for four wonderful days. We also bumped into the beautiful mother and daughter duet, Lee and Sarah Atkinson (standing next to Pete in the photo), we had met on a Prairie Home Companion last year. Lot's of ice cream helped to round out the weekend.

Here in California

Organic produce, surfing lessons and gifts for our two-year old manager made the last week in California dreamy! Each gig- Carmel, Fresno and Paso Robles - gave us memories of a lifetime. On our last day, as we rode the airport tram to our gate, Leah shouted, "Bye-bye California! See you in a few minutes!" Well, sorry to say we won't be back THAT soon, but, I can say we are excited to already have lots of new friends to visit when we do return.

Open Hearts in Flagstaff

Moments into the show in Flagstaff, Arizona we said to the audience...have we met you all before? What a wonderfully warm and welcoming audience on Valentine's Day. Maybe it was the local chocolates and wine that made the room so charged but after spending many a winter days up here in Wyoming it was sunshine all the way to Arizona. Our next trips take us over Teton Pass to Driggs, Idaho and then Big Sky, Montana. We feel very blessed as the days are getting longer and the sun streams into our kitchen in the mornings. Warm wishes to you too.

Gearing up for 2010

Spring is still far off here in Jackson, Wyoming. But, we're starting to feel the pull of the road. So many friends and good people to visit, many new songs to share and the general hope that spring affords are reasons enough to leave this beautiful place in the mountains.
We've been working on getting our CD out across the country on the radio waves. Be listening next month as the efforts begin to materialize! Can't wait to see you all soon...in the meantime, here are a few unique photos from our touring in 2009.