Harvest Jazz and Blues, Fredericton, NB

Oh, man, talk about an early start. we got at least three hours sleep before firing up the truck and rolling into the nearest Tims for some serious coffee. On the road right quick, we needed to make Fredericton for an 11:AM sound check and set up. The Confederation Bridge was pretty neat, and we otherwise had a fast run into Fredericton. After picking up our ID from the festival office we headed over to meet the sound crew and stage manager.



A pretty fair crowd came out for this noon hour show. Met Gayle and John from Kincardine and talked about our upcoming show there. CBC television shot chunks of this show and did interviews with Dave and I after the show. I guess it went to air in a good slot as people were stoping me on the street later to say they'd seen me and "my brother."

We two brothers of the Big Road proceded to check in to the Delta Fredericton, where we have a house gig over the festival. Nice rooms, nice little jazz lounge. After unloading our gear we set up for our next show. The phone is busy at the bar with various musician pals checking in on us. We'll try to make it to Matchstick Mike's show after we get finished up. Bird Stafford is playing with him this week, so it should be fun. Gotta run and tune. Dave says "hi." -Doc

Here's a late pic somebody sent me- Doc, Matchstick, and Watermelon Slim. Where's Big Dave?

C'Town and Truck Trouble

Dale's family was up and off to work at a very early hour, so we headed down to the local Tim's for some extra large coffee's and then made our start for Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
Yes, we kicked around Kentville, NS, looking for trouble. I couldn't join the army, but Dave had to send flowers.


A pretty uneventful drive to the ferry terminal where we missed our boat by three minutes. We passed the next hour and a half dozing in the truck. The wind was roaring past us and as the boat rolled in- no start! The truck was dead! We were first in line, but the line was directed around us. It took me 30 seconds to get the cables out, get the hood open and get 'em snapped on! Some guy in a golf card roared over and gave us a boost.

We loaded onto the ferry with only moments to spare. Well, that was about the first tense moment we've had on this tour. Of course, we can't start the truck to get it off the ferry either, so the ferry staff cheerfully boosted us, and down the ramp we go. PEI! We made it! Red dirt everywhere, and it looks like we are going to arrive on time for our show at Baba's Lounge. First a stop at Canadian Tire where they put a new battery in the truck and had us on our way in less than 15 minutes. I think the tour jackets must of impressed them. Anyhow, like everybody else here in eastern Canada they were really friendly and helpful.

To Baba's Lounge, a little upstairs place. A local band opened for us and they were pretty good. Dave and I were kind of worried at first- late show on a weeknight in a small city- but by showtime the place was full and we had a great listening crowd once again. After the show somebody came up and gave us smoked salmon sandwiches and loaves of home baked bread. Island hospitality! Back at the motel by around 2:30, we set the wake-up call for 6:AM. We'll need to make Fredericton by 11:00 AM to set up and do sound check for our noon hour concert. Did I forget anything? Oh, yeah- Dave says "hi." - Doc

Anything with Yarmouth on it, darlin'?

Left the MacLean B&B well fed and decided to take the small roads down the coast to Digby. We hadn't been long for the road before we spotted a car in the ditch ahead of us. Pulling over we met a couple of lawyers from Delaware, a little bit shaken, but more sheepish than anything else. Dave and I got the tow rope out of the back of our truck and were getting ready to tie up and give it a pull by the time local help arrived. Didn't take long to get them out and on their way, and soon we were back on track to another fine highway day. Stopped at Anapolis Royal for an internet break, and then on to Yarmouth where our hosts Dale and Eva prepared us local seafood for dinner.

Capt. Kelly's had a good crowd out- despite rolling fog and rain coming up in the early evening. Dave had spent the day trying out "Yar-mouth" jokes on me, and fortunately most of them were lost on the crowd! Actually, this was one of the quietest pub shows Dave or I have ever played- folks sat very still and listened to everything- more like a little concert room. The organizers, Dale and Andy, are hoping to bring blues and roots shows to Yarmouth on a regular basis, and with audiences like the one that came out for us this should be no problem! Andy got the Yarmouth tour jacket, and it fits and looks sharp! Jake took pictures, and although I can't upload them on this hotel computer, here's a link to his photo page- http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=4479&id=500183210

We all stayed up too late, and it will be an early start in the morning as we head up the road to Prince Edward Island. Dave says, "hi." - Doc

Down time on Fundy

Great sleep. Rain out over the Berwick, NS main street. We headed down to drink coffee in the cafe. Heather brought her laptop in and helped me get photos off my new camera onto a cd. I was able to do some updates to the Blog before we lost power, but not quite enough! Anyway, it was good to catch up as we've been pretty busy.



Into Kentville to do some banking, and off for a day exploring the Fundy shore. Dave and I did some great circles on the back roads, winding up at Margaretville where we saw the "MacLean B&B." Of course we had to stop off, and they had to take us. A quiet night trading stories with a big view of the Bay behind us. Dave wanted to make sure that I said he said "hi" to everybody.

Union St. Cafe, Berwick, NS

Another great day in Nova Scotia! Ian fed us a Captain's breakfast at Mersey House, and after saying our good-byes Dave and I headed north along the shore roads. Our lunch, coffee and postcard stop was Lunenburg. We were lucky that the Bluenose was at home, so we went on board and took some snaps. International readers will note that this is a tall masted ship, a replica of the one that appears on the back of the Canadian ten cent coin. Walking up the street we noticed a Morgan Davis poster in the window of a shop, and sure enough they had his new cd. Dave bought one, and you should, too. Morgan is a good pal of ours, a true friend of the blues who writes great songs and plays with an infinite sense of cool.

Time next to get over to Berwick, NS to find the Union St. Cafe. We cut across on hwy 10, passing through some pretty wild country until arriving at the Annapolis valley. We'd already had some venison and vegetables from the area, and had been told that less legal forms of cash crop were now a big part of the local economy. No proof of that came our way, but we did quickly find our way to the club.

Jenny and the other staff at the Union quickly made us at home. After being well fed and having a quick sound check we were ready to play. Meanwhile our pal Ross Neilson and his girl joined us. Nice to see Ross, a great young player, singer, songwriter, blues guy. Soon after Matt Andersen joined us, too. These guys are pretty popular on the east coast, so there was a little buzz in the room once they had both arrived. These lads sat right up front, so after our first set we made them (no, we asked them and they graciously agreed to) play a couple of numbers. I've been a Matt Andersen fan for several years now, so it was great to meet him. What a singer and guitar player! Dave's done some festivals with him already, so he made the introduction.

We had a pretty good house, some folks coming a considerable distance to hear us, and another enjoyable time on stage. I'm really, really liking Dave's new songs. I know how popular his older ones are for some people... but the new ones-yeah! Oh, yeah! Also, we played the heck out of some of mine. I think we did the best Angola Prison Rodeo I have ever played or sung. Dave's harp put it there for me. This Big Road Blues Tour is picking up!!


Back in our room we've got a TV with only one channel, and sure enough when we turn it on there is a guy in a preacher's collar mumbling about something. With the sound off, Dave and I sit and swap stories late into the night. Again, life is good on the Blues Highway. And Dave says "hi."- Doc MacLean

Liverpool, NS

An easy drive on the Big Road into Liverpool. The most interesting part was coasting in on empty to buy some gas for the truck. No problem! At the Mersey House we got set up and had a ball playing for Michael and Heather and a small crowd. They've done a great job doing the reno on this old building, and our quarters above the club were welcome.

Ian and Lisa did a great job making sure we had everything we wanted. After the show Dave and I walked out to the lighthouse and watched the night ocean for a while. A warm night. Big trees. Big flowers. We walked back to the Mersey House right down the middle of Main St. The town was down for the count and so were we. Dave said "hi." Doc MacLean

The Tree House

Dave and I went to visit Joe Murphy at the Halifax hospital this morning- happy to report that although he is very weak, he seems to be recovering nicely. Joe is one of the key guys on the Canadian east coast blues scene, so it was a real pleasure to meet him. Dave has done some touring with Joe in the past, so it was great to hear them trading stories. We spent the afternoon on the backroads to New Glasgow, stopping off in Upper Hopewell to check on an old family boneyard. My people had come to this part of Nova Scotia back in 1801, so it is always interesting for me to visit the area.

The Tree House was a private house party with my pals Capt. John and Anne, their family, and many of our friends from the community.

John had us arrive by limo- which set the tone for the rest of our stay. It was a real pleasure to play this jem of a house- giant tree rising up through the middle, and a beautiful outlook over the ocean. As always, the company was good and the evening exotic and international. Guests were both local and from far flung locations. I was pleased to meet Donald Cameron, the former leader of Nova Scotia. The next day we went out in John's old lobster boat and saw Pictou from the water. After a swim in the wet salt we had a great venison meal on board before heading out to our next destination. Oh, and Dave says "hi." -Doc