http://oldtownschool.org/connect/ontheroad Dispatches from the road from our wayfaring travelers. Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:33:22 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en On two days notice, Juha Reunanen filled his photography studio with 30 guests for a Thursday night concert of an unknown American band Abbey, Dvorak, Maddox and Tyler. Auli Lehto-Tähtinen did an enormous amount of legwork in order to produce Finland's 2009 Rootsinpyhtaa Bluegrass Festival, including making a cheese cake ... http://oldtownschool.org/connect/ontheroad/2009/06/18/why-abbey-dvorak-maddox-and-tyler/ After spending a weekend packed with Americana, I was eager to learn more of Finnish traditional folk music, particularly fiddling. What I didn't realize at the time is that my quest would reach much further into the past. Some of the best bluegrass-style pickers played with the Mappets, a band ... http://oldtownschool.org/connect/ontheroad/2009/06/17/a-quest-for-ancient-finnish-folk-music/ It's been a week now since I left Banff, and two days since I've been home in Chicago. In between I jumped back into the rock world, playing 3 shows with Joe Lally in Toronto, Ottowa and Montreal. Then 2 days off and home. It's been a hard adjustment, ... http://oldtownschool.org/connect/ontheroad/2009/06/14/back-home/ Finns hold back until they can give you a genuine response. Being from God fearing, Southern Illinois stock, I was prepared for the reserved part, but I was genuinely surprised and constantly charmed by how genuine Finns can be. It might take a few beers, or it might take until ... http://oldtownschool.org/connect/ontheroad/2009/06/13/why-fins/ What is it about bluegrass music that drives people in far flung parts of the world to invest in instruments, form clubs and bands, and play and perform the sacred music of the American South together? In this June 2009 Finnish/American cultural exchange designed by Bau Graves, the role of ... http://oldtownschool.org/connect/ontheroad/2009/06/11/why-bluegrass/ Monday morning we left for Helsinki. Workshops were set up for fiddle, mandolin banjo and guitar at a Finnish folk music school. The turnout was great we all taught the respective groups the same songs and got together for “2nd half” with everyone knowing the same as everyone else. ... http://oldtownschool.org/connect/ontheroad/2009/06/10/the-finnish-or-the-finnale/ As I mentioned in my previous post, Finns are often described as reserved and quiet. But that is only part of the story. They also show a lot of fire and passion. It helps to know the word they use to describe their spirit as a people: ... http://oldtownschool.org/connect/ontheroad/2009/06/09/finnish-americana-part-ii/ The Finns are absolutely wonderful people. Many of them speak English well, most understand it better, and all are incredibly patient and helpful during our tortured attempts to communicate. I feel quite dumb, because I speak only one language and know only two Finnish words: kippis and kiitos. ... http://oldtownschool.org/connect/ontheroad/2009/06/09/finnish-americana-part-i/ Elovena is a kind of instant breakfast cereal. We’ve been calling it “porridge,” which somehow seems appropriate so long as we are in Finland. Elovena is produced by the Hetki Company and only requires some boiling water and one minute of your time. There is a graphic on the box ... http://oldtownschool.org/connect/ontheroad/2009/06/08/can-you-tell-me-which-way-is-north/ got lost yesterday. streets go in all directions here and as far as i can tell, up is down, unless it´s not, as far as i can tell. did our last classes in the morning, went up the road to the mountains overlooking town just in time for sunset, dazzling, drenching the whole city of ... http://oldtownschool.org/connect/ontheroad/2009/06/07/accordian-to-me/