Minstrel Report

Well, we didn't live up to the standards we set last month at the Minstrel. As well we might have expected. A high goal indeed to strive towards.

We had a somewhat abbreviated schedule in February, with a snow-out on Feb. 26, and the Valentines show (a non-Minstrel event under the auspises of Internal Affairs) on the 12th. On the two remaining shows we ran an average attendance of 74, which was pretty good considering the Feb 5 show with Archie Fisher was heavily affected by the threat of snow that never materialized. Made a modest profit of $170 for the month.

We've started to track the performers' product sales as a matter of record only, so as to gather data we can use as a selling point to performers to agree to play for us. That's made easy by the no-carbon forms that Rick has supplied, which make an extra copy of the tally easily available to me.

I attended the National Folk Alliance Convention in Memphis last month, and saw some excellent acts for the Minstrel, including Brian McNeill and Steel Wheels noted in the following paragraph. There are others with whom I'm still in negotiations.

Some bookings of note concluded over the past month:

Big Jeff (DeSmedt) to open for Orrin Star on April 2. He's been a big hit at the Valentines show.

Blue Moose and the Unbuttoned Zippers, who are currently booked for a feature in May were also booked to open for Buskin and Batteau on April 23 as a preview to their feature set.

Matching Orange, a young contradance band that also does concerts, was booked to open for Jack Williams on July 16. They will also be playing Swinging Tern the following night

The Steel Wheels, a really hot bluegrass band I saw at Folk Alliance was booked for October 1

Brian McNeill, late of the Battlefield Band booked for Oct 15. Great singer, multi-instrumentalist songwriter, and can charm the pants off a vicar. Another find at Folk Alliance, and probable Agranoff Imperative

Jez Lowe, English songwriter booked for Oct. 22

Headlong Retreat booked for Nov. 5. This is a collaboration of some folks from Left Field, some folks from WSAGNBSCALRME, and a 12-voice choral ensemble. They did an evening about a year and a half ago under the name of Saints & Strangers which included a song-cycle on a theme, with narration. There will be a similar format for this show.

The big show to watch in March will be Red Molly, who will be doing a CD Release party. Anthony DaCosta, who was scheduled to open that show has cancelled. We will do that show with no opener, to provide more time for the CD Release festivities, including cake to be provided by Red Molly.

Mike Agranoff

Program Chairman