One of my favourite singer songwriters is John Millard. I am pretty lucky as not only is he a friend of mine, but he also lives right here in the neighbourhood. He also sings on my Cd In the Future of Your Dream. (this is a bit of a Christmas sounding record without being too obviously "christmas-sounding")

I got this nice email from him this morning and I suggest you take heed:

Hi Folks,

Not to put too fine a point on it but, if you are looking for a nice gift for all ages, why not send my new cd, " A People's Fame". Big hit with young and old. I will even gift wrap it and send it directly to it's recipient for you. At $20 for 17 tunes, that is only $1.17 per song. ($15 if you stop by the house.)

see johnmillard.ca for details or don't forget the other old chestnuts at johnmillardandhappyday.com (ie The original John Millard and Happy Day discs or The Polka Dogs.)

John

Went to hear the Crazy Strings last night at the Silver Dollar. Really I am going to hear Chris Quin play the banjo but the other guys were all great too. The harmonies, the solos and all the great songs (last featured a bunch of uptempo banjo classics)

I have been fantasizing lately of starting to go to jam sessions etc. and changing my name to Gil D. Wood. I could live another life, be a down and out banjo player, session to session, living off the last deli-tray...hmmm...better keep practising.

t

Went to hear the Crazy Strings last night at the Silver Dollar. Really I am going to hear Chris Quin play the banjo but the other guys were all great too. The harmonies, the solos and all the great songs (last featured a bunch of uptempo banjo classics)

I have been fantasizing lately of starting to go to jam sessions etc. and changing my name to Gil D. Wood. I could live another life, be a down and out banjo player, session to session, living off the last deli-tray...hmmm...better keep practising.

t

Here is a plug for rabble.ca where I host my podcast. (sorry, that has slowed up so much...been busy with other things but hoping to get back to it!) One of the best online news sources you will find too!
------------
What do you get when you mix rabble's 5th birthday and winter
holidays? Great gifts! This holiday, give the gift of a rabble membership.
Help rabble raise a ruckus and get a rabble membership in a friend's name
and your friend can pick from a great list of "thank you" gifts from rabble.ca
. There are books, magazine subscriptions, a
t-shirt, fair trade chocolate, even a radical sock monkey.

You can join right now (for yourself or a friend) at:
www.rabble.ca/membership . Your
membership will help keep Canadian independent news alive and get you or
your friend some great gifts.

I really shouldn't stay up this late knowing my family will probably not let me sleep much past 730am...but I found this great banjo clinic on youtube from Bill Keith. Very inspiring. Reminds me how important it is to just work on music and not nescessarily repertoire etc.

Please come and hear the rob clutton band tommorrow night at the central. I will be playing banjo...yeeha!!
good night.
t


Sunday December 3
9pm
Rob Clutton Quartet

The Central
603 Markham Street
west of Bathurst south of Bloor
(416) 913-4586
$5

Lina Allemano - Trumpet
Rob Clutton - Double Bass, Guitar
Ryan Driver - Analog Synth, Flute, Piano, Melodica
Tim Posgate - Banjo, Guitar

Active around Toronto for a dozen years, the Rob Clutton Band is
resurfacing with this quartet outing. This event will feature new
original music, drawing from a love of improvised music, bluegrass and
jazz. Each of the musicians brings a distinct creative contribution to
the music.