Hasee Ciaccio, George Guthrie and Laurie Lewis, Tsunami Books, Eugene, OR  photo by Mike Meyer

Dear Companions,

It has been an eventful October. Halfway through our Northwest tour, I had to cancel our shows in Prosser and Seattle, WA, because my mother came down with COVID and ended up in the hospital. I flew home from Portland after an exceptionally fun night at the Alberta Rose Theater, where my old bandmate Tony Furtado sat in with us. I am happy to say that my mom is out of the hospital and doing very well at home. She's definitely going to kick this thing! A big thank you to Brandon Godman for driving the van back home. He made record time. I think he knows a secret shortcut along I-5 somewhere.

Last weekend, I played my first night at the Side Door in Sacramento, with Nina Gerber. This is a lovely listening room, and I am looking forward to getting the chance to return in the not-too-distant future.

My voice continues to get stronger again, and it makes me so happy to have an instrument with which to express myself. Last year, at my annual Saturday-after-Thanksgiving concert at the Freight and Salvage, I had to ask other people to sing my songs. They came forward and the night was one of the most thrilling I have been a part of! Such a treat to hear my friends interpret my writing! This year, I will be back with some very special guests, and am looking forward to unveiling some new songs and new collaborations there on November 26.

The Right Hands and I are nearing completion of a new album, and we will be doing a lot of our new material this next weekend in Northern California. The band is a joy to play with!

Coming up also is a series of concerts with Men of Note. These guys are incredible musicians, and I really have to run to keep up with them! If you are anywhere near Sonoma County or the Central Valley town of Ripon, take a chance and come hear us. I guarantee you won't be disappointed. The combination of fiddle, accordion, occasional banjo and most excellent bass-playing is so refreshing and exciting for me.

It feels so good to be getting out and playing again for actual real live people. I hope you are one of them!

Yours,

Laurie

UPCOMING APPEARANCES

THU, NOV 3

Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands: Brandon Godman, Hasee Ciaccio, and George Guthrie

Trinity Alps Performing Arts Center

Weaverville, CA

FRI, NOV 4

Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands

The Old Steeple

Ferndale, CA

SAT, NOV 5

Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands

Arena Theater

Point Arena, CA

THU, NOV 10

Laurie Lewis and Men of Note: Mark Schatz, Sam Reider and Brandon Godman

Ripon Arts League

Ripon, CA

FRI NOV 11

Laurie Lewis and Men of Note

Gilroy, CA

SAT, NOV 12

Laurie Lewis and Men of Note

Weil Hall Loft at the Green Center

Rohnert Park, CA

SAT, NOV 26

Laurie's Annual Concert of Gratitude

The Freight and Salvage

Berkeley, CA

SUN DEC 4—SAT, DEC10

Riding and Writing Retreat: Laurie Lewis, Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms

Elkhorn Ranch

near Tucson, AZ

contact Mary Miller

SAT DEC 10

The Tucson Opry: Laurie Lewis, Peter McLaughlin, Chris Brashear and others

Tucson, AZ

ELKHORN RANCH RETREAT, with CALEB KLAUDER AND REEB WILLMS

From December 4-10, 2022, I am thrilled to be able to spend time at this beautiful dude ranch, set in the rugged countryside near Kitt Peak in southern Arizona. Days will be spent on horseback, riding across the plains or in the mountains, and/or writing in the comfort of our adobe casitas. In the evening we will come together to learn about the area, workshop our songs and writings, and work on the art of harmony singing. Then there's a fantastic dinner, followed by nights around the fire sharing songs, or just listening to the desert sounds and each other and experiencing the night sky. For information, contact Elkhorn Ranch.

And find out more about Caleb and Reeb here

Here's a picture from last December's trip, with my intrepidmountain pony, Haley. I am hopeful that Tom Rozum will be joining us again this year, and teaching harmony singing with me.

HIGH SIERRA RAMBLES

I am happy to say that I have started writing up my Sierra backpacking trips again. It is such a joy to relive the hikes. You can check it out here. I am currently on Day 4 of last August's return to the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne.

WINTER'S GRACE ON SALE NOW

Tom Rozum's and my critically-acclaimed Winter-season CD is selling for $10 each at the online store.

“Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum celebrate not just the Christmas holiday, but the entire winter solstice season… they explore winter’s beauty, joys and hardships. Winter’s Grace is one of the few seasonal recordings worth hunting down.”

– Derk Richardson

NEW CD: FREIGHT '98

While going through my archives and boxing things up to send to the Southern Folklife Collection at the University of North Carolina, I ran across a recording of a live show from 1998. It is so exciting to hear this fantastic band, and Tom Rozum's and my singing is in top form. Featuring Darol Anger, Nina Gerber, Mary Gibbons, Kathy Kallick, Mike Marshall, Todd Phillips, and Tom Rozum, the music sounds as fresh as can be. This was the CD release show for my album, Seeing Things, which somehow fell through the cracks at Rounder Records. Thanks to Paul Knight for capturing the magic, and to the Freight and Salvage for being so supportive of me and so many others throughout the long history of that venue. BUY THIS CD!

Available now here

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