From Austin, Texas!

Can hardly believe it's the 21st January and I haven't written anything here since the 8th! It's been a hectic few weeks since flying out of Shetland on 10th January and here to Austin the following day. I'm in the US for seven weeks with 3 Orkney musicians - Duncan McLean, Iain Tait and Dick Levens, touring Long Gone Lonesome, a musical play written by Duncan for the National Theatre of Scotland telling the story of Thomas Fraser of Burra, Shetland. Thomas was a Burra fisherman and crofter that during his lifetime (1927 - 1978) grew an obsession with American country music - the songs of Jimmie Rodgers, Carl Smith, Hank Williams. He learned to sing and play those songs to a standard to rival the originals but too shy to perform them in public, he made recordings on his reel to reel recorder - state of the art at that time. 20 years after his death, his grandson Karl Simpson listened through the tapes and amazed by their quality got to work on preserving them and to date has released 6 CDs to great acclaim. Thomas didn't make it to America so it feels appropriate that we can take him here by telling his story in the home of the music he loved and devoted so much to.

We're two shows in, having opened here in Austin on Thursday night at the Bass Concert Hall. It's amazing to be standing on a stage here in the US telling the story of a Shetlander! Both shows were sold out and we have two more today, then on to Purdue, Indiana on Monday. The audiences have been warm and receptive so far - Texans live up to their friendly reputations. Great too to have six Shetlanders there last night, including May and Karl. Busy day ahead with 2pm and 8pm shows today so better get going. I'll get some photos up here soon... the Austin venue set up, my boots for the show!, raffle being drawn Sat night in Austin, and Austin from South Congress.