Anne & Pete Sibley Music

There and Back Again!

2011-11-27T16:42:00.001-08:00

Well, we spent Thanksgiving in sunny Florida! Heading out from Greensboro, NC last week, we stopped for a great house concert and beach day in Myrtle Beach, SC. Took Pete's pic after getting bagels in Myrtle Beach, took Anne's pic while looking out at Fort Sumter in Charleston, SC on our way to Callahan, FL where we picked a bunch that night with some bluegrass friends. We then headed off to eat turkey in Sarasota, FL. Packed up the kids this morning on our way back to Myrtle Beach, onto Greensboro and finally north to Winchester VA for a house concert on Friday, Dec 2nd!

Saying "YES!"

2011-11-18T16:35:00.000-08:00

Hi All, Pete here. I wanted to share two of my own personal "Yeses" recently. I went for a sunrise walk and I also tried surfing, well, it was more that I paddled out into the surf. Both these pics were taken while we were staying on the Outer Banks in NC. Thanks to our new and old friends!

Living the Road Song

2011-11-08T15:36:00.000-08:00

Well, two plus months on the road with our two beautiful children, hundreds of towns, 3500 miles and no end in sight.

Lots of stories including the ones behind these pics:
playing in Nashville on the street with The Foghorn String Band,
Anne with our amazing friend, Lee, whom you might have heard as part of the mother and daughter duo from Greensboro on A Prairie Home Companion with us, and our wonderful Subaru which fell apart and stayed in Kansas.

Jumping Off

2011-09-30T11:52:00.000-07:00

Dear friends: We have pulled up anchor from our sweet Wyoming home and have hit the road in a big way. A big YES to our music with a car (and now the new Van) packed with our sweet and busy kids, our instruments and full hearts. We are grateful for all the five star hosts we had in September in Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and Tennessee. Home for now is everywhere and anywhere. We are booking house concerts between gigs, so keep in touch.

"Where all is peace & joy & love"

2011-08-03T18:43:00.000-07:00

We're back!! An inspiring weekend in Colorado at Rockygrass, wonderful to sing with old friends and new. Something magical about that place and the St. Vrain river rushing through. Our son's first festival and our first road trip of the year. We're busy playing music around home here in Wyoming and we will be here when our raspberries burst!! Ate the first one today with our daughter. We're singing new songs and feeling the fires of creativity (in between diaper changes and playground visits). Lots of love from us.

Spring will come....

2011-04-03T14:23:00.001-07:00

Feels like early March in Jackson today, snowy and chilly. But our hearts are warming with thoughts of traveling this summer! We are enjoying re-energizing songs, writing new ones and listening. Pete spent a week writing songs with elementary kids and Anne's been working on a lullaby. Hope we get to see lots of you this year as we're planning on being in Colorado, the South East, Connecticut and California (with other possibilities still coming in) 'Til then our friends!

New Banjo

2011-01-28T08:33:00.001-08:00

Thanks to Dick Gilman of Fredonia, NY! Hand made, this banjo arrived at the Sibley House as a gift from Dick. We had the great pleasure of spending a morning at Dick and Carmen's home after our show at the Fredonia Opera House this Fall. Another example of how beautifully music brings us together!

Welcome, Sam!

2011-01-18T09:59:00.001-08:00

With deep love and gratitude, we want to introduce you to the newest member of the Sibley family. Our son Samuel (Sam) was born on January 6th, healthy and relaxed, and welcomed with open hearts. What a happy New Year!!

Peace in the New Year

2010-12-23T15:03:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-18T12:44:00.000-08:00

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

2010-10-24T05:41:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-04T08:27:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-09-15T10:11:00.000-07:00

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!!

2010-08-10T10:32:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-10T10:25:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-07-06T16:55:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-07-06T16:39:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-03T11:12:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-03T11:01:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-24T18:31:00.001-07:00

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

2010-05-06T12:34:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-26T09:10:00.000-07:00

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

2010-02-23T08:13:00.000-08:00

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

2010-02-09T13:45:00.000-08:00

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.

Coming Home...to Dornan's

2009-12-12T15:15:00.000-08:00

We had two sold out shows at our local acoustic listening venue. There was a sweet vibe and it felt like a grand finale homecoming to the incredible year we have had. So many people are celebrating with us and we love to share the joy. Looking back on the year that started with performing on A Prairie Home Companion and playing at MerleFest and that ended with singing at the Kennedy Center and then these packed shows at Dornan's - we feel so grateful. We are filled with so many fun memories and funny ones too. Our mailing list has expanded, sales are steady from the Internet, we are being played on new radio stations....it's been wonderful. Our Coming Home album was named one of the Top 5 Folk Albums on Cdbaby.com and our Christmas album was an editor's pick too. Thank you everyone and enjoy the sweetness of the holiday season.

A few blocks from The White House...

2009-11-28T12:16:00.000-08:00

Picture this: We're in the Nation's Capital and we're singing Will You Walk With Me and Coming Home in the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. There are more chandeliers than we can count and the place is covered in red carpet. It feels so regal. WOW! There are hundreds and hundreds of people who have never heard us before. We're pouring our hearts out and taking deep breaths to be in the present moment. There is a symphony from across the world rehearsing next door and Cate Blanchett is starring in a play when we're done. How did we find ourselves here? It feels surreal but it also feels so right and so good! What a night.

Around the ol' Home Place

2009-11-20T05:21:00.000-08:00

It always feels good to go home. The deep woods, the twisting roads, so many memories. The Sibley clan so warm and welcoming and good humored. We played in two new places and were pleasantly relieved with the turnouts for our shows in West Hartford and in Ridgefield. Last year our friend and musician Rani Arbo gave us a great list of good Folk venues in Connecticut and these were two of the best! Long running concert series and nice listening venues. Family members were spotted around in the audiences but many new faces taking in our brand of folk, our personal songs, our connection with the land from Connecticut to Wyoming. Listening to our stories of how we met and how we took a wild ride to this music. We hear Winter calling back in Wyoming but it feels good to be home for a visit.

The Kindness of Strangers (Pacific NW continued...)

2009-10-28T05:14:00.001-07:00

Hello friends!
October flew by as we traveled around and enjoyed Washington and Oregon then headed home by plane and by car. We were reminded once again at the amazing joys that come from doing what we do. Granted it isn't always easy being away from home so much but the experiences are one of a kind. Pete says we get to see the best in people, the generosity and warmth of a community, every time we play. Every time we say yes to something (like staying with a family who just days before were strangers to us) we open ourselves to their generosity and care and good company. Thanks to all our hosts (old and new friends) and for all the meals, the clean beds and the extra special care. We loved Seattle's Phinney Ridge neighborhood, Bainbridge Island's quiet charm, Portland's fun audience (and our favorite new market New Seasons!), and the packed house tucked in amidst the tree farm in Chehalis. We have come back to Wyoming with lots of pictures and memories and a bellies full of apples. Most of all the beautiful feeling that comes from being on the receiving end of the kindness of strangers. Here we are in Washngton with our friends, Liz and Ryan.

Small Towns / Big Hearts

2009-09-29T19:23:00.001-07:00

St. Maries, Idaho and Cashmere, Washington. We were shown the greatest hospitality and Leah had some great babysitters too! The apples were fresh picked from the tree by our fly rod making, banjo picking host. That was hard to top until we arrived in Leavenworth, Washington (which happens to be a Bavarian Village?!) and our host was a guitar collecting, wine making, recording engineer. The food, the wine, the company and the music has been a balm as we were feeling pangs of road weariness. We are exploring the Northwest and soaking in the sights of the water now. The shows have been just perfect with great turnouts and those amazing pauses in between the last note and the clapping...

Thanks to Cathy Britschgi LaPlante for taking these videos at the St Maries concert: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh58Ixn3ob4, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYmDl3C2Ezk

Four Corners Festival Bliss

2009-09-12T18:46:00.000-07:00

Wow. Another grand year in Pagosa Springs at the Four Corners Folk Festival. Each year seems to top the one before. The setting is amazing, the hospitality is top notch and the music - oh the music - is just total bliss. From the pizazz of The Wiyos to the nostalgic sound of The Quebe Sisters to the class of The Greencards to the spirit of Sara Watkins (wait, we haven't even gotten to the MVP's like Darrell Scott and Tim O'Brien) - I just can't fit in all the music here that soothed our souls. We're just so glad we got to be a part of it. Thanks to Casey Driessen and the Wiyos for sitting in Friday evening (wow!) and to Bryn Davies, Carol Young and Shannon Whitworth for creating a Sunday afternoon "angel band" with Anne. We feel at home in Pagosa now and everyone treats us like family. Love to you all!

Targhee Bluegrass Camp

2009-08-25T06:56:00.000-07:00

What an inspiring week at the Targhee Bluegrass Camp: The music, the mountains, and the people. We led some vocal workshops, performed with the other instructors (thank you Casey Driessen, Tony Trischka, Brian Wicklund, Tyler Grant, Eric Thorin and Ben Winship - you guys are amazing!) and had our musical batteries recharged. The night we returned home from Targhee, Anne began working on a new song.

The Targhee Bluegrass Festival was wonderful too. We enjoyed our set on Sunday and our local musical guest, Thomas Sneed (who brings the sunshine with him wherever he goes). Leah happily played in the rain (and slipped in the mud) in her ladybug raingear with her Grandma, Aunts, Uncles and cousins.

August is flying by and the weather is trying to fast forward to Fall but we're enjoying every minute of it (or resting when things are quiet).

The Beautiful NorthWest

2009-08-13T06:31:00.000-07:00

Just returned home from a sweet homecoming at the Bluewaters Bluegrass Festival. This is a well kept secret outside of the NorthWest! Folks listened in this grove of trees like they were in an outdoor cathedral. We discovered the beautiful spots in Spokane along the riverfront and Leah loved the 100-year-old Carousel. We loved the Huckleberries Natural Food Store and all the home cooked meals. Last stop was beautiful Coeur D'Alene in the Idaho Panhandle and we had the most loving Grandma to take care of our daughter while we played for 250 people in the community church. What continues to bring joy to us at these events are the hosts - they are kind, hardworking people who love music so much. There is also all the fans in attendance, they seem grateful and excited to listen. Summer is so abundant!

Summer Update

2009-08-03T12:58:00.001-07:00

Hello friends!

Pete and I are still celebrating the "Prairie Home Companion" event and our "Coming Home" CD release everyday with fan e-mails and people approaching us at concerts. Thank you for your excitement - it is very inspiring! We’d love your continued feedback on the new album. How does it compare to our previous albums? Which are your favorite songs?

Pete and I had a bustling July, and August is proving to be very much the same! Last month we had the good fortune to perform at the Big Horn and Beartrap music festivals in Wyoming, followed by RockyGrass and Fiddles, Vittles & Vino in Colorado. This weekend we’re headed off to Spokane, WA for the Blue Waters Bluegrass Festival. Later this month is our home-turf favorite, Targhee Bluegrass Festival in Alta, WY. Come join us at Blue Waters and/or Targhee! Please sign up for our newsletter, too, so we can keep you posted on events upcoming.

Happy summertime to all!
Anne