Since last June (2012) approximately 125 of my gigs were in some way connected to the Woody Guthrie centennial year. Some are as yet to happen before it all comes to a close at the end of May 2013. Either way you look at it, those gigs ate up a lot of time and miles. The arlonet schedule is arranged by calendar year, because it's logical, and we all understand it. But, the touring year - the time frame for a 'season' defined by the theaters and concert halls is uniquely different. The season begins in June and runs thru the following May. So when you 'expand' the schedule here on arlonet you'll discover that tours with different names, or have a particular theme cross over from one year to the next with little attention to what year it is. That is also the reason that some dates are not posted even though we know what's coming, as some venues would rather we didn't give away their schedules in advance until they can announce it themselves. I am perpetually confused by this, but we have to defer to their judgement (usually by contractual arrangements).

So, we are beginning to fill in the blanks in the arlonet calendar for the coming season, and a new touring year begins soon. This coming summer (2013) is pretty much nailed down with some solo shows here and there. I'll be taking some time off the road as well as there's a lot of work that needs to get done on The Farm - Abe & Lisa have started an amazing bunch of projects, from maple syrup to bees and orchards and Lord knows what else just to keep the place up and running. Annie & Deb are holding down the fortress on the hill keeping the offices and logistical stuff going. It's a crew and a half. I just wanna bask in the summer sun like a seal and roll into the water from time to time.

But, first - Alaska. Yep I hear they're putting up the chain-link fence for mosquito season. I'm hoping to beat it out of there before the Kodiak bears remember they haven't eaten for months. So, I'm working my way north for the next couple weeks before sliding over to Wisconsin and Michigan - The last leg of the journey. See you out there somewhere...

Love to All,
adg

Hello From Australia... It's been Summer here while my home in Massachusetts has already seen enuff of Winter. sometimes ya get the best of both worlds, sometimes not so much. It's been a lovely tour and Sarah Lee, Johnny and I are about half way thru our little tour down here. The folks have been gracious and happy (most of the time) at the gigs. No complaints for our part.

Life is moving us along as it tends to do one day follows another, until it doesn't. As I write this I'm almost as far south as I guess I will ever be, except for the next few days when we do a festival where it'll be a little cooler - Good because it's been in the 90s F here and that's a little over my comfort zone.

Anyway, I just wanted to check-in with everyone here at arlonet and wish you all a great Spring - Comin' right up! See you somewhere,

adg

To all our friends out there all over the USA and all over the world - We are thankful for this moment, this day and for the memories we've shared. Our hope is for the future that we actually get somewhere farther down the road to a more peaceful world. We are thankful for all those who make the effort toward that end. A little more justice, a little more food and clothing where needed, and a little less judgement and suspicion toward our neighbors would be so welcome in this troubled world of ours. There is enough sorrow in this world even in the best of times without having to add to it...

Much Love from our entire Guthrie Clan to all of you reading this today...

adg

I've got a couple / few gigs under my belt now since I got back on the road. There were so many notes and letters from everyone that it has been fairly overwhelming. What stood out was how many of our friends or people we work with have gone thru or are now going thru the same thing - the loss of someone dear. It is staggeringly real when hundreds and thousands of folks write in and share their lives in such an honest way - no one selling anything - Just real people going thru life trying to keep it real. So this little note is simply to let you know how grateful we are to everyone for taking the time to check-in.

I'll get back in some way or other, but there's no way to answer everyone individually. It would take another life time. And now I'm just trying to get used to the life I have left. Time to make the doughnuts. I just need time to eat 'em.

Much Love As Usual.... adg

Dear Friends

The sun rose on my world this morning. Jackie stayed with us throughout the night, lingering in our hearts just out of sight but clearly present. She woke me before sunrise in a dream saying that the hour had come when she would need to leave us and be gone before the sun arose. As her words awakened me I walked outside and stood looking over the river talking with her in the predawn twilight we both loved so much. It was our time and for years she brought me coffee as I took photographs of morning on the river.

There are loves, and there are LOVES. Ours was and will continue to be what it has always been - A very great love. We didn't always like each other. From time to time there were moments when we'd have our bags packed by the door. But, there was this great love that we shared from the moment we met - a recognition - It's YOU! And we would always return to it year after year, decade after decade and I believe life after lifetime.

I can hear the household awakening now as I ramble through my thoughts and feelings. I am needed elsewhere. So a new day begins, another chapter in the book of our love. It seems to me already written although I can't remember what happens next. All I know is, I've read it before and it ends well.

I've had to cancel and postpone a few shows coming up. I will make them up as soon as possible. The tour will begin with the gigs scheduled for Canada, and I will move ahead through the rest of whatever happens next. Our wonderful guru, Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati always reminded us to stay in the moment - no thought of the past or future. The moment is all we really have, the rest is fiction. Jackie and I lived that teaching as best we could and I will continue to be present and accounted for.

Stay tuned... adg