Thursday, July 29, 2010

Day Five

Woke up Wednesday morning at 7:50am to the sound of Pip's boatswain's
whistle. The RV was parked at the radio station WNYV 94.1 FM in
Poultney, VT Shortly thereafter we were yukkin it up with Bob and
Judy for a live braodcast. Good times. Then we headed for
Montpelier. We stopped once to jump in a lake and once to get gas and
Indian Food at an interesting little convenience store. Pip's gas
line repair held to everyone's relief.

The Black Door Bistro in Montpelier is a very stylish place with two
levels. Load in was a chore because the club is a third floor walk
up, but thankfully they have a house PA. Jay at the bar served me my
first Sazerac, an amazing cocktail with rye whiskey and Absinthe. We
made some great friends there, particularly Dana from Pittsfield and
Igor, from St. Petersburg, Russia. He insisted that we come to St.
Petersburg to play at the clubs there. After another Sazerac and
several beers I was well knackered. It poured rain on the load out
which made the two flights of stairs treacherous. Floated the boat to
a campground outside Burlington, and hit the sack at about 3:30am.
Woke to another beautiful day.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Day Three and Four

Monday was our much needed and well used day off. We headed to Lake
George and relaxed at Andy's family camp. Glorious weather for a
swim. Steve and I took a jog along the lake while Pip fixed a gas
leak on the RV and Andy did our laundry. Thanks guys!! Pip also made
his famous spaghetti and spicy sauce and cooked up a dozen or so ears
of corn we got at a farm stand. Yum! We managed to squeeze in a
little rehearsal of a couple new tunes while I polished of a bottle of
pinot noir by myself. Pip needed the cork for his repair so it was
the least I could do.

Tuesday after a jog and a swim we headed to Manchester VT for a
concert in the park. What a beautiful town. It looked like a movie
set for a dream sequence. Never seen so many B&Bs. The weather was
perfect once again and the audience was very receptive. Hands down
the highlight was receiving a bouquet of flowers from an adoring fan
at the end of the show. Quelle sweetness! We also got some sweet
cookies and bars from Charlotte and her Great Gals, a very exclusive
social club with a mysterious mandate. Thanks also to Janice and her
Australian shepherd Monroes for helping us pack up. After the show we
were treated to a great dinner at Mulligan's Restaurant in
Manchester. Great food, great beer, great service, et beaucoup des
jolie filles là, I'm telling you something what!

It wasn't Mulligan's I'm sure, because my tummy was already in turmoil
before the show, but that night I felt terrible. I'll spare the
details but the guys started joking that I could power the RV if I
kept it up. Andy Pip and Steve all came up with different antacid
medications and in the morning I was feeling much better. Good thing
because we had a 8am radio show with our old firends Bob and Judy.
Pip woke us up with his boatswain's whistle. Next stop: Montpelier.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Day Three

Only two gigs on Sunday - The first was at the Blue Paddle Restsurant
in South Hero, VT, a beautiful island community on Lake Champlain.
Quelle cuisine! I had a lobster and arugula on linguine.
Incroyable! We played outside on a flatbed trailer stage. Windy but
warm and sunny. There we met road angels Phil and Cyndi, who let us
plug in the RV at their beautiful house on the lake. Merci!

Second up was an adorable cafe in Morrisville called The Bee's Knees.
We barely had the energy to get there and set up, but the audience was
so enthusiastic that we soon ramped up and couldn't stop. Great vibe
and excellent beer selection = happy Rob. We were also joined on
triangle by a local fiddler named Alan for one song. Fun stuff.

Monday we have a well deserved day off. Heading to Lake George to
Andy's family camp. No wifi no cell service. Tune in Tuesday!

RS

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Day Two

Three gigs today. Three (3) gigs in one day, in Barre, Johnson and
Canaan, Vermont - with 130+ miles between them. We had some great
audiences, funny stories, and awesome music, several bourbons, and
now, sleep.

But first the disaster du jour: somewhere between Johnson and Canaan
one of my $600 powered JBL speakers TUMBLED OUT of the storage bay in
the side of the RV, presumably onto the side of the road, or perhaps
into a bed of clover or a cow patty, we don't know because it was
discovered only on arrival in Canaan at the Northeastmost point in
Vermont, just before the gig. Not to worry the authorities are on it,
and more importantly we played with one speaker no problem.

Highlights of course are the great people we met, particularly Don
Belleveau, an Acadian in a sea of Quebecois in Canaan- funny how they
make that distinction. Also, the drummer for the band that played
after us in Johnson had his arms on backwards and three fingers on
each hand but still played a killer set and sang to boot.

Staying in a motel tonight in a real bed. Mmm. Big day tomorrow.
The wonders never cease!

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Day One

Last thing first: we made it to our gig in Barre, VT on time! Unfortunately we missed the Press Gang's set on account of, among other things, a tire blowout on the RV somewhere on I-93 a few miles from our rendezvous point. Pip and I had to flag someone down to use a non-iPhone since (surprise) AT&T had no service. Andy & Steve came to pick us up along with our friend and savior Judy Zinc, who heroically waited for AAA to change the tire while we beat feet to the gig in Andy's van, and the white knuckled the 29 foot RV to Barre after us. Thanks Judy! The weather held for us until the last song when it rained on the mailing list but all in all a success if not disaster averted. The highlight was certainly all the little kids dancing. Super cute!

This morning I returned to the Barre festival to do my educational presentation on Acadian Culture through music along with Steve & Andy. Again, lots of kids, beautiful weather and lots of fun.

Looking forward to a great tour. Already a memorable adventure. What next?

Sent from my iPhone
Http://www.borealtordu.com

Friday, July 23, 2010

Boréal Tordu Champlain Valley Tour

Today begins a run of 16 gigs in 12 days throughout Vermont and New York for Boréal Tordu.  Looking forward to reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones.  Check it out and spread the word. Allons-y! 

 

Friday, July 23rd, 6:30 pm 

Barre Heritage Festival

Barre, VT


Saturday, July 24th,  10 am
Acadian Culture in Maine, a Musical History with Robert Sylvain - 
Barre Heritage Festival Barre, VT

Saturday, July 24th, 1:30-3 pm
49th Annual Lamoille County Field Days

Johnson, VT

Saturday, July 24th, 8 pm
Northland Restaurant and Lounge

Canaan,, VT


Sunday, July 25th, 3-4:30 pm
Blue Paddle Bistro

South Hero,, VT


Sunday, July 25th, 7:30 pm
Bee's Knees

Morrisville,, VT 


Tuesday, July 27th,  6 pm
Tuesdays on the Green -Manchester Summer Concert Series

Manchester, VT


Wednesday, July 28th,  8 am
The Morning Show with Bob and Judy -
Lakes Region Radio, 94.1 fm, 1340 am

Poultney, VT


Wednesday, July 28th, 8pm
Acadian/Cajun Heritage Show 
The Black Door Bar and Bistro

Montpelier, VT

Thursday, July 29th, 3pm - 4pm
Vergennes Farmer's Market  Vergennes Town Green

Vergennes,, VT


Thursday, July 29th, 7pm
Ballard Park Summer Concert Series
Ballard Park Performance Pavillion

Westport,, NY


Thursday, July 29th, 1pm-2pm
Shillelagh Safari with Celtic ED

Burlington,, VT

"The Radiator" 105.9-FM

Friday, July 30th, 8 PM
Caffè Lena

Saratoga Springs, NY 


Saturday, July 31st,  7 pm
Millbrook Arts Group Summer Concert Series -
Millbrook Band Shell

Millbrook, NY 


Sunday, August 1st, 1 pm - 3 pm
Lenox Community Center

Lenox, MA


Tuesday, August 3rd, 
14th Annual Castleton Concerts on the Green

Castleton, VT

/*/  /  /
Boréal Tordu
La musique des Acaidens du Maine
30 Mechanic Street
Portland, ME 04101
info@borealtordu.com
http://www.borealtordu.com




Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Sylvain & The Cajun Aces

Tuesday, July 20 8pm @ Bayside Bowl 58 Alder Street Portland, ME

Once again Sylvain & The Cajun Aces take the stage tonight at Bayside Bowl.  Last week was a blast with all the dancers who came out to learn to Zydeco, so we're doing it again this week with the INCREDIBLE Emma Holder showing us the moves.  So come early and get some beans and rice for $3 so you can carb up for dancing all night.  Dance lessons at 8pm, Live music shortly thereafter, and as always, $3 Sebago drafts all night.  

 

Thursday, July 22 8pm @ Run of the Mill, Saco Island, Biddeford, ME

The Cajun Aces return to L/A by the Bay's favorite Brewpub in a fantastic old Brick Mill building.  If you've never been down, or up as it were, it's well worth the trip.

 

****  Tuesday, July 27 Cozmik Zombies @ Bayside Bowl

 Rob & Pip will be on tour all over the Champlain Valley next week with Boreal Tordu, so Pete Witham & the Cozmik Zombies will be filling in at Bayside Bowl next Tuesday.  You'll see, Zombie music is great for Zydeco dancing too! see www.petewitham.com

 

****  Thursday, July 29 Lost Bayou Ramblers @ One Longfellow Square

If you're sticking around Maine while we're on tour, please check out our awesome friends from Lafayette, Louisiana when they return to Maine for a very special show at One Longfellow.  This is the band that The Deuce was playing with before and after he lived and played with us in Portland, and they're every bit as crazy as our boy Matthew.  Sorry I'll have to miss it.  Tell 'em we said quoiss'up?  see http://www.lostbayouramblers.com

 

http://www.thecajunaces.com

 

stay tuned for dates from Boreal Tordu's upcoming VT-NY tour 


Tuesday, July 6, 2010

French Music in Maine

 

Tuesday means Sylvain & The Cajun Aces are playing again at Bayside Bowl on Alder Street in Portland.  This is such a blast every week with specials on Cajun food, Sebago brews and more, plus prizes for dancers.  for more information see http://www.baysidebowl.com or http://www.thecajunaces.com  You have to experience this place to really get it.  You'll see....

 

This weekend marks the beginning of the northern leg of Boréal Tordu's 2010 Home State Tour, including stops in Eastport, Presque Isle, and Lille, Maine.  That's right, we're heading all the way up to the heart of Acadian Country.  Always worth the trip to see our cousins in the county.  For more details see http://www.borealtordu.com

 

Saturday, July 10th, 7 pm

Eastport Arts Center

Eastport, ME


Sunday, July 11th, 1 pm
Presque Isle Summer Concert Series @ Riverside Park

Presque Isle, ME


Sunday, July 11th, 7 pm
Musée culturel du Mont-Carmel

Lille, ME

 

Thanks for supporting live music.  Keep in touch.

 

Robert Sylvain

Gigafone Records