Joe the Unlicensed Plumber with Unpaid Back Taxes has hired a Nashville-based publicity team. I heard he intends to make a country music record. If not really being a plumber doesn´t stop one from saying they´re a plumber, then not really being a country music singer or songwriter shouldn´t stop one from calling himself that either. Sadly, this little trick has worked for many country music stars. But I digress…..
It's time for another wild Georgia-Florida football weekend! We´ll be kicking off the festivities tonight at the 10th Annual Cousin Catfish´s Pigskin Jamboree, the mere beginning of the fanatical football madness in store for the weekend. These people know how to party and take tailgating to a whole new level, an impressive accomplishment worth marveling at. At the game-day tailgating bash, it isn´t unusual to see folding chairs, drink holders, tents, grills, kegs, kegerators, generators, shirtless and body-painted fans, chicken wings, etc…but satellite dishes mounted in buckets of cement brought to provide reception to 42-inch plasma screen TVs? Of course! After all, this annual party will be talked about in the years to come. It´s a legacy to be lived up to each year at this time, and too much is never too much!

Slumgullion is a type of stew known to mountain men and made by throwing whatever was on hand into a pot. It is also the name of the mountain pass at the bottom of which lies Lake City, CO….which is where I played a solo gig last night, at the Black Crooke Theatre. Like many Colorado towns, it started as a mining town in the late 1800s. It withstood many booms and busts, but never grew to be very big. It did, however, see its fair share of legendary outlaws. Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Poker Face Alice, Bat Masterson, and Soapy Smith all road through and occasionally shot up the town. Another shady character from Lake City´s history was Alfred Packer, hired to guide five prospectors over the mountains from Ouray. Packer had no clue of the severe winter weather with giant snowdrifts and sub-zero temperatures. Game was nowhere to be found and the supplies soon ran out. So, legend says, Packer killed and ate the prospectors. (That´s taking Slumgullion Stew a little too far, don´t you think?!) He eventually arrived in town with lots of money to spend at the saloon, and several wallets in his pockets. I love the history behind many of these rugged mountain towns that I get to play. And I love to meet the colorful folks that live in these communities today.

It´s been a busy week finishing up the tour. We had a great time playing a house concert in Dallas…..a special thanks goes out to John, Ellen, Mike, and Jessi for making us feel welcome! Yesterday we headed to Houston to help promote baygo.com at the football game. And tonight, the last gig of the tour, it will be an honor to play a private party for the Dallas Cowboys Superbowl hero, Roger Staubach. We have some time to kill before the party, so we plan to pay a visit to Dido. Dido is a very small town close to Saginaw, TX. It was once a thriving community with a post office and stores but has declined after the railroad bypassed it in the 1890s. Among the 1,000 graves in the Dido cemetery is that of Townes Van Zandt, the aforementioned songwriter extraordinaire. Steve Earle was once quoted saying, "Townes Van Zandt is the best songwriter in the whole world and I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that." Later, Townes responded with, "I've met Bob Dylan and his bodyguards, and I don't think Steve Earle could get anywhere near his coffee table." Rest in peace, Townes.

Joe the Plumber was a big hit in the third and final presidential debate. He was mentioned at least thirteen times! I wonder if Joe the Plumber knows Joe six-pack. And does either of them know Joe Blow? I´m not sure how the name Joe came to represent the hypothetical average man, but here it is all over the media.
Townes Van Zandt, on the other hand, was not your average Joe. He was a country-folk music singer-songwriter, performer, and poet affectionately remembered as "a songwriter's songwriter" influential in the genre referred to as outlaw country. Van Zandt's songs have been covered by many great musicians such as Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Guy Clark, Steve Earle, Merle Haggard, Norah Jones, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, The Be Good Tanyas, Gillian Welch, and the Dixie Chicks……to name a few. I mention him here not only because he is one of the best songwriters in the whole world, but because yesterday we drove through Van Zandt county in eastern Texas on our way to Dallas. The county is named for Isaac Van Zandt, a member of the Congress of the Republic of Texas, and ancestor of Townes. Van Zandt County is one of 46 prohibition, or entirely dry, counties in the state of Texas. This is sadly ironic because Townes Van Zandt pretty much drank himself to death. He died 44 years to the date after Hank Williams, one of his main songwriting influences. We paid homage to Townes yesterday as we drove through Van Zandt County.

This past weekend we played two fun sets to an appreciative crowd at the Creekside Festival in Bunnell, FL. The event is located on a river at an historic preserve on beautifully maintained grounds with large, shady trees. It was there that I saw a food vendor with the sign 'Home of the Deep-Fried Twinkie'.
On this tour, we've been lucky to travel in our buddy Ray's RV. It's been great and it has allowed us to save a little money by avoiding motels and restaurants. The RV is painted bright orange and covered in large logos advertising his company, baygo.com. It's almost impossible not to notice this rig on the highway. But, despite our large size and bright paint job, someone (a deep-fried twinkie?) drove through a red light and smack into the passenger-side door at an intersection on the way home Saturday night. Luckily none of us, nor our gear, was seriously injured.

We are in Georgia´s second oldest and second largest city, Augusta.
Downtown Augusta has got its southern charm, the beautiful Savannah River flowing through, and tree-lined streets. Last time I was here I learned that my dad, when he first started his landscaping company (McCumber Landscaping) in the 70´s, came to ´The Garden City´ and planted many of these trees. I get a kick out of seeing them when I come through, now some thirty years later, to play my music. Tonight we´re playing at Still Water Taproom. And since we´ll be at a taproom, we might as well sample some beer!

This past Saturday I participated in the Flat Rock Music Festival Emerging Songwriter Contest in Flat Rock, NC. What a great festival and beautiful area! The community was named for a granite outcropping that was once used as an Indian ceremonial site. Anyway, I was one of 10 finalists chosen from 287 entrants, and I won! It was a very special moment for me, and an honor, especially because of the talent of the other participating songwriters. So, it looks like we´ll be able to play their main stage next year, and I will be looking forward to it!
Many of the gas stations down here in the southeast are still suffering from lingering refinery problems along the Gulf coast. At least half of the gas stations in Atlanta were closed when we drove through earlier today. At the places that had gasoline, people were waiting in lines 60 cars long, and running out of gas while they waited, ultimately having to push their vehicles up to the pumps to refuel. We´ve been lucky so far, filling up where we can. At times it has felt like we´ve been touring through a third world country. When we turned to Cletus for advice this time, he reminded us that we can do a belly flop into the water….and it´s fun! I tell you it´s these little gems of wisdom that keep us going.

I've spent some time lately reworking some old, unfinished songs and writing some new ones. It's starting to look like a full CD's worth of fresh material. This, of course, has me excited about getting back into the recording studio...one of my favorite places to be! One of the songs, 'Pay the Fiddler' contains the relevance of our times in the lyrics. There are references to the current economic crisis and other socially charged subjects, like greed, entitlement, and irresponsibility, as they pertain to the environment and, well...life. My hope is that in the same way the world around us has had a bearing on these songs, these songs can also have a bearing on the world around them. In a positive way. I guess that's what any self-respecting songwriter would hope for.
Bass player Ken Campbell and I are on the road starting a Southeast tour. Thankfully, we have our spiritual advisor, Cletus the dog, along with us for guidance when things get confusing or when important decisions need to be made. For example, today we learned that the oil refineries that hurricane Ike had closed along the gulf coast have yet to resume normal production levels and are, therefore, continuing to cause gasoline shortages across the Southeast. Officials in the Asheville, NC area, where we are headed, say they don't expect fuel to begin flowing normally again for at least another week. When we turned to Cletus for guidance, he advised that it is always better to nap on the bigger, taller, more comfortable bed whenever possible.

…..or, uncontrollable orations delivered to strangers after the festival. We just got home from another memorable Telluride Bluegrass Festival. In addition to the great music and stunning natural beauty, the time spent with friends and family is always a privilege. It´s a community of kindred spirits from all over the world that join together in one beautiful spot year after year; a reunion of sorts. And it´s like that, too, for many of the musicians. Their connections go back many, many years. This year we were treated with a set by Hot Rize with Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers. Since disbanding in 1990, and after the loss of guitarist Charles Sawtelle in 1999, this year´s festival marks their 15th Telluride appearance on their 30th anniversary together, now with newest member Brian Sutton. I also enjoyed The Duhks. Their old-time, Celtic style is somehow fresh and renewing. I can always count Sam Bush and his band to push the envelope of bluegrass with rock, reggae, and… more cowbell!! Sam´s solid mandolin and fiddle playing is dynamic and awesome, truly inspiring. It´s crazy to think that this was his 34th, out of 35 possible Tellluride Bluegrass Festivals. We had a great time sharing the stage with The Spring Creek Bluegrass Band on Friday night. Thanks to all fellow festavarians for a great weekend of music and fun!

Last night we played at Lillian´s in Gainesville (TomPettyville). It´s been a long time since I´ve played there and it was good to revisit the old stomping grounds. Back to Jacksonville tonight for a gig at the Jacksonville Landing, a celebration of the 20 year Anniversary of Mark McCumber's golf victory at the Players Championship.
The touring musician, like many other livelihoods, is feeling the sting of rising gas prices. There is talk of an 18.4-cent-per-gallon federal gasoline tax cut. And although one might appreciate a momentary price relief of a gas tax holiday, one has to ask, where would this additional supply come from? It would probably come from increased imports, which could be diverted to the U.S. if we offered a higher price, though that, of course, would mean that much of the intended benefits of the gas tax holiday would in fact go to foreign suppliers…..a pointless and ineffective response to the situation. I recently read of a man from Minot, North Dakota who, because of rising gas prices, got out of bed early and rode his 14-year-old quarterhorse mare to work fifteen miles away at the Goodyear Tire and Auto Service. He said he was only five minutes late! I guess he and his coworkers had been talking about rising fuel prices, and he joked that he would ride his horse to work if gasoline ever hit $3 a gallon. When it hit $3.20 last week, he picked up the reins! Although I appreciate this man´s determination and creativity, I don´t think that solution would work for the band. We will have to get creative, though, in order to continue to do what we do…..

Like most touring musicians, I miss my family when I am on the road. Sometimes my wife will email me pictures from home so I don't feel so far away. Our 'kids' consist of three dogs and a tough (or stupid) cat. Tonight my wife sent a picture of our youngest husky, Cowboy, curled up on the couch with Willow, our cat, curled up on top of him.....both sleeping. What in the hell...?! That is one brave (or stupid) cat! You could even go so far as to say she's got testicular fortitude (or stupidity), which is what Hillary Clinton apparently claims to have as of yesterday in Indiana. Might this explain the pantsuits? And one has to ask, would she still be the first female president? Is this what folks mean when they say Hillary is "a man among boys"? These are tough and relevant questions, and they raise the real issues that make this particular presidential campaign one of integrity. Other, less pertinent issues, such as reviving the industrial economy, ending the war in Iraq, and health care pale in comparison to our inquiring (or stupid) minds.
Onward to Savannah, GA today for a gig at the Live Wire Music Hall. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to stop in at Allman's Downtown Music, a guitar and drum shop owned by Annie Allman, cousin of Gregg. And then on to Mt.Pleasant, SC to A Dough Re Mi, one of our favorite places to play!

We arrived to Nashville on Tuesday and went over some tunes in a short practice before hitting the hay. Last night we showcased at a new venue, On The Rocks, to a small but enthusiastic crowd. That´s one thing I can ensure at a show…. No matter what size the crowd, my heart, my soul, and all of my experience will be behind every song! At times, my efforts are lost on crowds more interested in what is on the tv in the corner of the venue, which can be exhausting. Tonight we will play at Eddie´s Attic in Decatur. I´m really looking forward to it since the place is renowned for its intimate setting, superior sound system, and excellent acoustics. Eddie´s Attic has been the springboard for a number of local artists, such as John Mayer and Shawn Mullins, who got their starts in the Atlanta area and have gone on to receive national recognition. It´s venues like these, with focused musical visions for performing songwriters and music enthusiasts, that recharge my batteries.

Well, at least that´s what I´ve heard. We´d like to build a bocce court and a permanent stage somewhere on our property as part of our annual Hootenanny-versary Party we have each summer. I think people have a tendency to complicate things, so after researching the ideal court site, dimensions, grading, sub surface materials, top dressing, etc…. now the project seems daunting. What´s the big deal? Well, let´s just get to Spring before we start thinking about Summer!
Last night we played at The Eldo in Crested Butte while locals and visitors were busy flushing out winter and welcoming spring with their annual Flauschink Festival. This IS a big deal. Today we are headed to Ouray so, sadly, we will miss the continued festivities, which include (but aren´t limited to) an evening of polka dancing at The Eldo, a longtime local Flauschink tradition. Tomorrow, the previous year´s "Has-Beens" hand over their royalty status to the newly crowned Flauschink king and queen at the parade, and they will proudly raise their scepters made from toilet plungers. It´s a sight to behold.
Tonight we will be playing at The Wright Opera house in Ouray….the ´Little Switzerland of America´. I´m looking forward to being a part of this unique venue! It is an historic building constructed in 1888, when the town was only twelve years old, and is known as one of the most impressive small opera houses in the Western United States. Originally, the basement was used for a hardware store, church meetings and dances, and was even flooded for two winters for use as a skating rink! The building has weathered the ups and downs of the silver crash, the depression and the decline of mining in the San Juan Mountains. Now, the new owners intend to keep the tradition "alive and active" with theater, dance, and live music.

The above quote is a little of Darrell's rant about the current state of country music. This weekend, I will be a part of a Merle Haggard Tribute at Oskar Blues in Lyons, Colorado. I´m really looking forward to it. I´ve had a great time learning a few of his songs, and now have an even greater appreciation for him and his music. The tribute is on Sunday, April 6th, Merle´s birthday. I will be part of the electric set, which is perfect since Merle almost single-handedly introduced the electric sound to country music. His songs are filled with his life experiences, which, at times, seem like many lives: the lives of rebel, convict, and successful singer/guitarist/songwriter. Honors include being elected to both the Country Music Hall of Fame and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. I always appreciate when artists can receive that kind of deserved recognition while they are still alive!
Calling it ´Spring´ when you live at 7,500 feet in elevation is something of a misnomer. Nevertheless, I have seen bluebirds and robins, both harbingers of ´Spring´, while temperatures have continued to dip well below freezing at night. I think it´s safe to say it´s officially ´Mud Season´. The muddy run-off is coursing its way down Lickskillet Road these days, making it a bit like an obstacle course for our youngest husky, Cowboy, who apparently doesn´t like to get his feet wet when we go on our daily walks. He´s coming around, though, and learning to tromp through the slop like the rest of us.

McCumberland Gap has never been dubbed a jam band. To me, that kind of excessive playing can often seem indulgent, serving the ego rather than serving the song. I try to serve the song by being a strong and confident band leader, keeping the music on course, and driving the song. But, sometimes I wonder, what would happen if the music were to drive itself? Where would it go?
Recently, I received some of the rough mixes from the recording of the Boulder Theater show we played earlier this year. One of the songs, usually a five minute song, was almost ten minutes long on the mix. There are some great musical detours on this recording that I might have previously called indulgent or excessive. I might still call it that, but......I like it. The extended-dance-version! I had some very talented musicians up there on stage with me and I was able to trust and let go of the steering wheel a little. I truly felt the music was driving itself, serving itself, and I was riding shotgun. It didn't feel indulgent. It didn't feel excessive. It felt like being a part of something much bigger than the songs themselves. I hope to have the live CD and DVD of that show completed and available by June. I love what Jerry Garcia, the epitome of great jam band leaders, once said, "You do not merely want to be considered just the best of the best. You want to be considered the only ones who do what you do."

This week my latest CD, ´Lickskillet Road´ has been selected as one of the top three ´best Roots CDs of 2007´ by the Indie Acoustic Project (check out www.indieacoustic.com). Each year The Indie Acoustic Project generates increased awareness of indie artists and record companies by promoting and recognizing works of innovative, independently produced acoustic music. It´s an honor to have my CD selected as one of the top three since the finalists were selected from hundreds of CDs submitted in over fifteen categories. Winners will be announced by the third week in April! Honestly, I wondered if my CD fits more appropriately in the Alt. Country category. My wife thinks I should have my very own category.....'Malt Country', since I have a few honky-tonk drinking songs, one of which was nominated for the Best Drinking Song of 2008 by KRFC radio in Fort Collins, Colorado. Country music has certainly sprouted many branches from its roots: From the popularization of cowboy and western music through movies and radio to the development of western swing... and the creation of bluegrass by Bill Monroe and Earl Scruggs…and the innovations of "honky tonk" artists including Ernest Tubb and Hank Williams….and early folk and blues artists such as Arlo Guthrie and B.B. King. They all have collectively contributed to developing different strands of roots music, the key instruments being guitar, fiddle, accordion, banjo, and harmonica.

It was my wife's birthday yesterday. This time last year, she was a volunteer on the trail of the Iditarod sled dog race in Alaska helping out with the dogs that were dropped from the race (you can check her out at www.dailycamera.com/news/2007/mar/30/local-vet-volunteer-help-dogs-in-grueling-race/). Although she didn't get to go again this year, she was glued to her computer daily, checking out the progress of the race which, apparently, was pretty exciting. She admits not knowing or caring about football stats, but she knows all about the dog teams! Today we head to Utah, then tomorrow to Idaho, and then Wyoming for a few western mountain gigs. I'm happy to still have my percussionist Tom Larson with Beth and I for this short run of gigs before he heads back to Nashville. There are high winds predicted for our eight hour drive today. That can really make for a brutal drive, especially when towing a trailer full of gear. Luckily, we've got some 'in-flight entertainment' to listen to: Merle Haggard's biography. Should be interesting!

Sorry it's been so long since I've given you an update, but I've spent nearly 3 weeks in New Zealand and Australia. The Kiwis and Aussies are a laid-back, easy-going bunch and I think a little of that attitude rubbed off on me...which is a good thing. I was down under caddying for my brother, Josh, who plays pro golf on the Nationwide Tour. I also got to play a few gigs, and teach a guitar lesson to a Canadian. My dad was there, too, and he and I made quite a few friends at the pubs in both countries. Our favorite beer was Monteith's Gold in Christchurch, New Zealand. It might not seem like I was down there to work, but I was. It had been a while since I had caddied in a professional golf tournament, and my brother was rightfully concerned about my caddy skills. Some good advice came from a fellow caddy, Will Sprague: "There are only three things you need to know, Kort: Show up. Shut up. And keep up." And I thought to myself, 'That's brilliant!' Now, the same rules apply to my band mates. Thanks, Will! After the tee shots were hit on the first hole of the tournament in New Zealand, and we were shouldering up the bags, I overheard a Kiwi caddy say to his Aussie golfer, "Let's go for a walk." It sure did seem to put life into perspective. Isn't life just one long walk anyways?

My sister Beth and I just spent the past week in Utah at The Sundance Film Festival playing a full schedule of gigs and promoting my latest CD. And although I´m sure there is a pile of steaming celeb gossip, I would rather have red, hot pokers inserted in my eyes and get smacked in the head with a ping-pong paddle than spread any of that here. However, I do have one question: How do those celebreties party ´til dawn with 3.2 beer? We had a great week of shows including the Spur Bar, Piper Down Pub, The Owl Bar, The Hog Wallow, and Radical Rat Review.

Thanks to everyone who helped make the Boulder Theater show a success! We had a great turn out....it's always so much more fun to play to a full house. Thanks to Kirk and Julie at the Boulder Theater for all their help. Our sponsors: Ome Banjos, Namaste Solar, Om Time, Positive Energy, Woodsongs Lutherie, KGNU, Container Buyers, and Airshow Mastering have been such positive supporters in so many ways. I am grateful for their contributions. Also, thanks to Chris Jacobs of Jacobs Audio and Travis Bush for all their smarts with recording the show. And an extra special thanks goes to Mollie O'Brien and Rich Moore for starting off the show with a great set. A live DVD and CD is in the works! Stay tuned for previews and sound bites as they become available. This week we head to the Sundance Film Festival for a run of shows in the Park City area.

Anything has got to be better than the month I just had; my accordion broke, my trailer axle broke, my windshield broke, my tail-light broke, my bass broke, now I'm broke, and my dog, Guinness, had to be taken to the emergency vet clinic. But that is all so 2007. Now it's 2008 and I've got a great show at the Boulder Theater on January 4th that I'm really looking forward to. Folks are invited to come and be a part of the live video recording. And more good news... Levon Helm's first studio recording in 25 years, Dirt Farmer, has been nominated for a Grammy! My wife bought this CD for me and we haven't been able to stop listening to it.
Let's all cross our fingers that Stephen Stills recuperates well from prostate surgery tomorrow. Dan Fogelberg, Frank Zappa, Phil Lesh, and James Brown have each suffered from this disease.

My buddy and drummer Tom Larson arrived last night after missing his flight from Nashville. He made it, but his drums, which were supposed to arrive yesterday, didn't. Thinking we would somehow make do with what instruments we had packed in the trailer, we start to leave for Wyoming. As I back out the driveway with the trailer, I hear a terrible noise, like I hit something. Well, the trailer's axle broke, the wheel is off, I'm in the middle of the road and here comes some lady in a Penske truck trying to drive around us. It turns out she is delivering Tom's drums. We drag the trailer across the ice into a parking spot, loaded everything from the trailer, including Tom's drums, into the back of the truck. It'll be a cozy drive to Wyoming. He, Beth, and I are to play the next two nights in Jackson Hole at The Wort Hotel´s infamous Silver Dollar Bar. Its a great place known for its 2,032 inlaid silver dollars and western atmosphere. I love that I get to sing my songs in places with history, character, and charm. It's all part of the journey and what inspires me to make music to begin with. "Music is your own experience, your thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out your horn."....I think Charlie Parker said that.

I am in the middle of reading Neil Young´s biography. I have a hard time putting it down, not because it´s so good necessarily, but because it´s so interesting. Neil, in his life and in his music, seems to be both touchingly vulnerable and terrifyingly controlling. It´s all part of his mystique, I guess, though it must be maddening at times to be part of his inner circle. That craziness, though, contributes to…. or maybe even sums up, the reasons we love his music: It´s so real. It´s ragged, honest, and unpolished with deeply personal lyrics. He´s the epitome anti-pop. I find some validation in the book because I admire his conviction to his beliefs. But, his recklessness is troubling, almost like too much information.
My friend James Moors has been touring in Colorado for the past few weeks sharing the songs from his most recent CD, Hush, released earlier this month. He stayed with us in the mountains for a few nights between gigs, a respite from the hair-raising winter driving conditions he encountered on this trip. James did a great job singing and playing guitar on this recording. And I am proud to have been a part of it. James and I co-wrote four of the new songs together: ´Chenille´, ´Welcome to Duluth´, ´It´s Alright´, and ´Your Father´s Son´. I also contributed with upright bass, electric bass, harmony vocals, dobro, banjo, harmonica, piano, and co-production. It was recorded at Jim Gilmour´s studio, Southview Arts, high on a hill above the town of Middletown Springs, Vermont…. my favorite place to record. Jim has a way of knowing just what to add (and even better, what not to add) to bring out the best in a singer-songwriter. James really did a great job. Check it out at www.jamesmoors.com.

People keep asking me if the ´Free Mullet Removal´ sign referred to in an earlier journal entry was real. Yes! Mullets are not to be taken lightly in the south. It´s serious business…but, not ALL business. Hence the name ´Business in the front, party in the back´! My wife thinks my hair is a ´Party in the front, party in the back´ right now. But, hey, it´s the holidays! Other names that mullets are commonly referred to are: Yes-No, Neck Warmer, Tennessee Tophat, Mud Flap, Kentucky Waterfall, and my current personal favorite, The Shlong (short-long). Brilliant. Luckily, and not coincidentally, I am in a position of real power here, and can freely discuss any topic I choose. Let´s move on, shall we?….
I am really looking forward to the CD Release show at The Boulder Theater on January 4th, 2008. We are grateful for the positive support we´ve received from our friends and sponsors. Thanks to Container Buyers, Ome Banjos, KGNU, Namaste Solar, Positive Energy, and Air Show Mastering! Mollie O´Brien and Rich Moore will be opening the show that night. And McCumberland Gap will include the usual motley crew of Beth Wilberger, Dan Rose, Jim Gilmour, Tom Larson, and Greg Schochet. We are lucky to have some special guests joining us, as well! Tickets are available and can be purchased at www.bouldertheater.com.

My friend and co-writing buddy, Kevin DeForrest, turned 50 yesterday. That means he was born in 1957....when The Everly Brothers, Jimmie Rodgers, Buddy Holly, and Elvis were on the top of the music charts. It was also the year of some very cool classic American cars. I read about a brand new 1957 Plymouth Belvedere Sport Coupe that was buried as part of a time capsule in the Tulsa County Courthouse lawn. The folks in Tulsa felt that the Plymouth was a true representative of automobiles of the twenteith century, with the kind of lasting appeal that should still be in style in fifty years.....in 2007! The car was exhumed earlier this year, found in four feet of water, almost completely rusted, with flat tires and rotting upholstery. Apparently, 1950s preservation technology could not withstand the ravage of five decades of weather and bad drainage. Kevin has faired better through the years. He's a 50-year-old who looks 35, probably feels 24, and sometimes acts like he's 18! Regardless, friends and family gathered at The D'Note in Arvada to celebrate with him.
In addition, it's my dog Guinness's birthday, too. She turned 11 today, and she, like Kevin, has faired well through the years. We attribute her good health and positive outlook on life to no television, no sugar, no caffeine, no soda, and no alcohol.

On Tuesday night I joined host Jon Chandler and guest artists The Laws, at The Olde Town Pickin' Parlor in Arvada. Jon Chandler, a Westminster-based singer/songwriter and award-winning author with four acclaimed CDs in release, hosts the songwriter series once a month there. It's a great vibe. The Laws are Canadian husband-and-wife singer/songwriters. Their songs are an acoustic mix of country, bluegrass, folk and pop, delivered with great harmonies. I was happy to be a part of the mix and to meet new people making strides in the Americana music scene. You should check them out at www.thelaws.ca.

The other day I overheard two friends saying goodbye to each other. You know you're in Nashville when one says, "Say hi to the Mrs. for me....and ask her if she wants to sing that song in the key of C!" We've left Music City and have headed back home to Colorado, via a detour that involved picking up our new husky puppy, Cowboy. He's a handful and, like Nugget, quite vocal. Perhaps his singing debut will be on one of my future CDs! It feels great to be home. It's time to get a little more prepared for winter. The chimney sweep comes today and then we'll be ready to get the woodstove cranking!

We have been back in Nashville finishing our final gig of the tour at Windows on the Cumberland and attending this year's Americana Music Festival and Conference. I was invited to be a part of a panel discussing artist development on Thursday. The panel participants were from a variety of media and music groups that are regularly involved with the development process for artists and bands in the Americana genre of music. It was a great learning experience for me and I appreciate all the feedback and advice from folks so knowledgeable in the field. The conference was smaller than I anticipated, but jam-packed with all kinds of opportunities for networking with other people who love this genre as much as I do. Although it embraces musical traditions including country, roots-rock, bluegrass, folk, rockabilly, singer-songwriter, etc..., it seems Americana is still young and, thankfully, undefined. I hope the name continues to retain its slightly ambiguous earthiness. Later that night we got to check out the Americana Honors and Awards Show at The Ryman. I love that auditorium. It was a night of inspiring music with Joe Ely, Nancy Griffin, EmmyLou, Darrell Scott, Lyle Lovett and Todd Snider, to name a few. Overall, a very fulfilling trip!

Our southeast tour is slowly wrapping up. We played a fun gig in Dunedin, Florida at the Dunedin Brewery. Dunedin is a charming little town with a rich Scottish heritage. At one time Dunedin had the largest fleet of sailing vessels in Florida and became one of Florida's chief seaport and trading centers. Early settlers were primarily cotton and citrus growers, and it is hard to envision that most of what is now downtown was once a big cotton field. We had a small but enthusiastic crowd at the brewery, which, thanks to the aforementioned Scottish heritage, had delicious beer. We returned to Jacksonville for Rockin' on the Range at the UNF GolfPlex, kicking off the Florida/Georgia game weekend on Friday night. What a beautiful night to be playing our music outside. A good time was had by all, and we look forward to returning again next year. It is great to reconnect with friends and family. I appreciate everyone's love and support.

I guess, you know you're in the south again when you start seeing signs advertising this in front of the hair salons! Our bass player Jim Gilmour has headed back home to Vermont for a few days to spend some quality time with his kids. The downsized version of McCumberland Gap has been continuing on our southeast tour without him (temporarily) for a few gigs. Tom Larson, our percussionist, has been holding down the groove and rhythm secton on his own, and doing a great job! Last night, the three of us played an intimate house concert in Orange Park, FL for approximately 65 people. We had a great time and hope all who attended did, too. Jim will be joining us again on Friday Oct. 26th when we start off the Florida vs. Georgia weekend playing 'Rockin' on the Range' at the UNF GolfPlex. This is a new outdoor concert where folks and their families can compete in the golf skills challenge at 4pm, and then, at 7pm, kick back with their lawn chairs and enjoy the scenery, food and drinks while McCumberland Gap starts the hootenanny! See www.golfplex.com for more info, or call 904-620-2050. We hope to see you there!

It's been a busy and fun-filled few weeks on our southeast tour. It all started in Nashville at The Basement. From there we had our first of several CD release shows at The Friday Musicale Concert Hall in Jacksonville, FL. Friday Musicale strives to fulfill
its original mission of bringing fine music to the First Coast community and adding to its heritage of musical excellence. I appreciate being able to share my latest CD in the community where my musical journey began. We had a decent turnout. It was great to see friends and family and some new faces, too. Black Mountain, NC, WDVX radio in Knoxville, TN, and the Melting Point in Athens, GA have been great new audiences. The Melting Point is an intimate music venue, once an old, brick foundry. We are lookiing forward to returning there on February 26, 2008! Last night we played a house concert for some wonderful, welcoming folks in Charlotte, NC. Although the road can be exhausting, it is always a pleasure to meet new people and share what we do.

We had an enjoyable evening at Acoustic Alley at Miner's Playhouse in Golden on Thursday night. It's a really great venue because of its intimate setting. With 130 seats and its simple, calm, comfortable ambiance it is perfect for acoustic musicians. We were lucky to have musician Michael Lille open and share the stage with us. Thanks to Donald Davidoff for accomodating us! We are looking forward to a busy few weeks touring in the southeast. We'll be hitting venues in Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida to share my latest CD with new audiences. I'm thinking this will be a good way to extend our fall weather! I've just heard that we are to get cold and snowy here tomorrow and I am not feeling ready for that. So, off we go to find some proper fall weather!

It's been a busy month! I had a great string of shows with The Jim Gilmour Band from Vermont. We toured through Colorado and Utah as the autumn aspen leaves were just beginning to turn gold. The leaves are at their peak here now. I'm looking forward to more tours in the future with those guys; all great musicians and fun to be around. There was a lot of betting going on... like, how long could Paul sit in the 'invisible chair' position? He said he could do it for ten minutes. Not likely. We bet him he couldn't. So, if you saw a bunch of road weary musicians at the top of the continental divide doing the 'invisible chair' against the post of a road sign, that is why. Paul lost that bet.
It's hard for me to believe that my CD, 'Lickskillet Road', is actually done! We received it last week. I am really proud of the final product and hope folks will check it out. It should be available at CDBaby.com next week. The CD is named after our road. I used to think Lickskillet Road was the steepest road in the county. It is actually the steepest county road in the country. The title track on the CD is a high-energy instrumental that serves as a great soundtrack when driving down Lickskillet Road. Special guest Vince Gill joins me on the first two songs of the CD. Other guests include Sally Van Meter and Don Conoscenti.

Wow, is it hot here in Nashville! At home a storm blew through that left three inches of hail on the ground. I love being here, though. The buzz and energy around every aspect of music recharges my batteries. Now that my new CD has been mastered, I am anticipating my next musical goal. I love being in the studio. There is something about being surrounded by all of my instruments, playing them in a room with perfect acoustics, while receiving constructive advice from my engineer and producer, and knowing I've just nailed a cut. Even a frustrating day in the studio is enjoyable to me. If nothing goes right, I still love the vibe of being there. No matter what my next musical goal, it will eventually lead me back into the studio to record again. All roads lead to...the studio. So, when I was invited to meet with Tim O'Brien at Gary Paczosa's studio this morning, I was thrilled. I appreciate opportunities like this because I often become so focused on my next goal, doing more, and filling my schedule, that I forget to enjoy the view from where I am. Tim's laid back approach to music makes me remember to manage my time and goals with more attention to the other things in my life that matter. And I think, even though my CD won't be completed within my self-imposed timeline, I can appreciate the pleasure of the climb as I take in the view from here. And from this vantage point, it's pretty amazing!

I am in Nashville again for a short visit. Today I made a point of visiting The Country Music Hall of Fame. I took a self-guided tour that covered two floors of the museum. The place is packed with photos, instruments, costumes, and music that shares the history of country music and the musicians' lives during its pre-commercial roots in the nineteenth century to the present day. It's really inspiring! As I explored the exhibit, I felt connected to our American roots and musical heritage. Ah, the power of music! The displays are arranged chronologically, and at the end of the exhibit hall Thomas Hart Benton (my wife's favorite American painter), has his famous last painting 'The Sources of Country Music' displayed. It's way cool.

I just turned 30 a couple days ago, and though I'm not reaching for the Grecian Formula just yet, it does feel a little weird. Musically, it's been a long, strange trip since I played my first open-mic night. I recorded my first CD when I was twenty-two. I am now finishing my sixth at thirty...and did I mention Vince Gill is featured on it? Speaking of Vince Gill, he has been wisely selected to be one of the inductees of this year's Country Music Hall of Fame. What a huge honor.....and it's happened during his lifetime! Recognition like this often happens after one is dead, which is an unfortunate bummer for many artists. Music makes for some amazing journeys in life. Vince accompanies me on two of the songs on my new CD, Lickskillet Road, due out later this summer. I am so grateful for Vince's masterful contributions to my songs and I am so grateful for this musical life.

It looks like we've set a date to have the new CD, Lickskillet Road, mastered on Friday August 10th! It's been a long, slow project, which has been a challenge for me. It's no secret that I'm not the most patient guy on the planet. But, patient or not, David Glasser at Air Show will complete the final stage of the recording and then it will be DONE! My wife and I got to catch the Shawn Colvin and John Hiatt show at the Chautauqua Auditorium on Sunday night. It was great to see two very different and accomplished solo musicians perform in one night. The auditorium, a big open-air barn with expansive wood beams, seems as if it was built specifically for acoustic musicians. They sounded great and we enjoyed them both!   

We had a great time kicking off this year's Charles Sawtelle Mountain Jam last Sunday in the side yard of the Gold Hill Inn. The Claire Lynch Band, Steve Conn and Gris Gris, and The Jayme Stone Quartet followed our set with great entertainment for a full day of music in the sun. Mollie O'Brien also graced the stage for a kick-ass 'tweener' set. She does a great job selecting the line up each year and I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of it this year, and to help support KGNU.

I won!!! I just got back from the Founders Title Folk & Bluegrass Festival in Snowbird, Utah, participating in the Susanne Millsaps songwriter showcase. What a great experience! I enjoyed sharing the stage with talented finalists from all over the country. It was a thrill to win the contest (maybe 3.2 beer isn't so bad after all!) and I am looking forward to kicking off the festival next year with McCumberland Gap. It was great seeing Tim Stafford of Blue Highway and finally meeting Mollie O'Brien. The whole experience was rewarding on many levels and I am, as always, grateful for this musical journey. When I returned home after the festival, I was greeted by our two dogs, Guinness and Nugget, each wearing t-shirts that said "My dad rocks!!". Is that awesome or what!?

"Just as our eyes need light in order to see, our minds need ideas in order to create." I liked this quote when I read it recently, and it is a fitting reminder to compliment this past weekend at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. I was inspired on so many levels, it's hard to say what left the biggest impression. There were many great performers: Sam Bush, Alison Krauss, Emmy Lou Harris, Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile, Tony Rice, Jerry Douglas, Bela Fleck, to name a few of the regulars who not only keep the bluegrass spirit alive, but who are so innovative, they push their musical skills to other levels. If anyone has a preconception that a particular instrument is limited, these folks are here to prove that theory wrong, whether it be the dobro, upright bass, or their voice. My favorite duet was Mike Marshall and Hamilton de Holanda from Brazil. Hamilton's precision and speed on the mandolin gives chills. His subtle, creative, dynamic, and percussive Brazillian-inspired melodies combined with Mike Marshall's more traditional American tunes made for some inspiring moments. I enjoyed seeing and listening to their enthusiasm and passion. Drew Emmitt, Vince Herman & Friends and The New Orleans Social Club were highlights for me, as well. Both were energetic, and within both bands, their love for what they do and for each other was clearly evident.

The banjo, more than any other instrument, finds itself as the butt of humor among country and bluegrass musicians, many of whom play the instrument. Some of the jokes, it's true, are made in a spirit of friendly rivalry by folks who play fiddle, or bass. These tend to be directed, not just toward the banjo itself, but towards the hapless banjo player. Is this really fair? I just got my brand new Ome banjo today. It's beautiful and it makes me happy, and I am anxious to play it....a lot. My wife may want to start a support group: Women Who Love Men Who Love the Banjo Too Much. But I'm confident she will grow to love the banjo as much as I do. You can mock me with your jokes: If you drop a banjo from a tall building, what do you hear when it hits the ground? Applause. Why do some people take an instant aversion to banjo players? It saves time in the long run. What's the difference between a Harley Davidson motorcycle and a banjo? You can tune a Harley. But I love this instrument!

I am pretty excited to learn that I am one of ten finalists in the Susanne Millsaps Performing Songwriter Showcase. The Showcase will be held on the main festival stage on Saturday, July 14, 2007 as part of the 24th annual Founder's Title Co. Folk & Bluegrass Festival (www.foundersfestival.org ) at the magnificent Snowbird Resort near Salt Lake City. This year, there were 35 individual entrants for the Showcase, coming from three countries and ten states. Each finalist will be evaluated by a panel of judges, including Mollie O'Brien and Mitch Barrett both mainstage performers this year. I'm looking forward to it!

I've recently returned from recording the final tracks for my new CD in Nashville. It was a very fulfilling trip in many ways. I'm grateful to have Vince Gill be a part of my newest CD, Lickskillet Road, due out later this summer. I originally had hoped to have the CD completed by late spring, but scheduling with Vince proved to be more difficult than I had previously anticipated. He is a very busy man, what with winning grammys and CMA awards! The guy is a constant inspiration to me, both as a musician and as a person. Jim Gilmour, my friend and engineer, met me down there. We met Vince at his home one morning and recorded two songs in his living room while his wife, Amy Grant, cooked up bacon and waffles in the kitchen! I am thankful for the experience: for Vince's contribution to my music and the opportunity to work with a truly talented and accomplished musician.

My sister Beth and I played music for over 50,000 runners yesterday morning during the 29th Memorial Day Bolder Boulder 10k race. We were stationed about a half mile into the race and saw many enthusiastic, smiling participants from serious racers to those just happy to finish. And there were some interesting costumes, too: Napoleon Dynamite, super heroes, a hotdog, to mention a few. I was happy to be among several bands along the sidelines of the race course. In addition to the bands, there were bellydancers and, well.... bacon. A group of about 15 gave the bacon away on Walnut Street and about 21st Street, just before the last of four official Gatorade-and-water aid stations. There were choruses of "If your legs are achin', eat some bacon!" "Last nitrites!" and "Pork: the other PowerBar!" On Cedar Street, Unknown Americans drummer, Jason Pawlina, and friends, The Jamestown Anti-Fascist Marching Band, encouraged runners to "Run, run, run, run, run!" It was a great time and I was happy to be a part of it. Thanks to Ron for helping to make that happen.
Today I head to Nashville to, hopefully, record the final parts for my new CD. I am looking forward to reconnecting with old friends there and to completing this project.

I saw that headline today while standing in the checkout aisle at the grocery store. It caught my eye so I thought I'd try it here. It snowed here today. My wife is pretending she doesn't see it while she reorganizes her closet from winter to summer clothes. It doesn't seem to be working. On Memorial day, my sister and I will play to our largest audience yet! 50,000 people! Every year on Memorial Day, Boulder, Colorado, hosts the Bolder Boulder 10K running race. This is the fourth largest road race in the world. We will be stationed at one of the mile markers along the race course playing music for the racers and race watchers. It will be the earliest gig we've ever played...7am! It should be a good time and we are looking forward to it.

Donald Rumsfeld once said, "There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns -- the ones we don't know we don't know." Needless to say, it's clear that he MUST have been referring to Danny Shafer's band, The Unknown Americans. Though I am excited about focusing on new projects, I was admittedly a little sad to have played my last Unknown Americans gig on Saturday night at Conor O'Neil's. I have enjoyed playing bass with singer/songwriter Danny Shafer and drummer Jason Pawlina for the past 18 months. We got to play a lot of great gigs together including the Boulder Theater and the Fox Theater. I wish them the best.

I recently met Chuck Ogsbury, founder of Ome Banjos. What a great guy! It is obvious that there is a lot of care and reverence that goes into building his banjos. His instruments are inspired by nature and his appreciation for it, using quality materials to create quality instruments. He shared with me some stories of the mountain people and the mountain music of this area in the 1960s! On the drive home from our gig at Peaceful Henry's in Guffey, CO, we came darn close to hitting a buffalo. A buffalo! It is a sad situation when buffaloes are out running amuck late on a snowy cinco de Mayo night! Anyway, it was icy, we had to slam on the brakes, we had the trailer on the back of the truck with all our equipment, and things got dicey for a second. But we and the buffalo are fine. Then I got to thinking... the last time the roads were particularly icy and dangerous to drive was on April 5th, coming home from a gig in Steamboat Springs. And the time before that was on March 5th driving back from the Upper Penninsula in Michigan after recording James Moors' new CD. I'll have to look back and see what the moon was doing on the 5th of those months!

Tonight the Gold Hill Inn opens its doors for the 2007 season.......and we get to play the occasion! My friend recently asked me why I love playing there so much. As I answered that small queston for him, I realized that I also answered a bigger question for myself. What I said was..... I have a new CD called Lickskillet Road which is due out later this year. Six out of the thirteen songs on the CD reference my life in and around Gold Hill. My music is inspired by the history, beauty, and charm of this place I am fortunate to call home. And what I realized was..... places like Gold Hill sum up the whole reason I play acoustic Americana music at all. Americana music encompasses a wide variety of musical genres because of the diverse range of cultural influences which we call American. It is roots music based on tradition. The places in the world that move me, like Gold Hill, are steeped in history and tradition. They inspire me to make music that moves others. The show starts at 9pm tonight!

My buddy James Moors has been visiting this week and we've had a fun string of gigs together. Last night we played at the Chautauqua Community House. We had a great crowd despite the weather. It seems to be winter again, with frost and snow coating every pine needle and blade of grass. The low temps made driving a challenge, but folks still came out to enjoy a night of music. We saw a lot of familiar faces as well as many new ones. Thank you, we appreciate the support!
We saw a mountain lion on our way home! It was very large and not afraid, slinking across the road by a fence and looking back at us when we stopped the truck to get a better look. Yikes!
And then things got weird....
Later that night I dreamed I was playing in The Masters. I was on the 15th hole in the final round, in the lead at +3. I teed it up on 15 and piped one down the middle. But I ended up in a divot. Still I want to go for the green in two and think I can do it. And then I wake up.

Every time I try to change the strings on my instruments, our cat, Willow, attacks the string ends. I usually wind up bleeding.
It's that time of year again... one of our local newspapers, the Boulder Weekly, features a "Best Of Boulder" survey each year. There are many catagories for which one can vote, including 'Favorite Local Band'. There are options from which to choose, but one can fill in the 'other' option with Kort McCumber & McCumberland Gap, if one were so inclined. If one wanted to do this, the website is www.boulderweekly.com.

My wife and I have often felt that the secret to our success as a couple has lied securely in the fact that our parents (even after two years of marriage) have never met. Well, they met last week for the first time. And though it seems things went well, we are worried.
Next week I'll take a quick trip to Florida to see my buddy Todd get married, attend a Vince Gill concert, go to my brother and his wife's baby shower, and play a house concert in Orange Park. I'm looking forward to a fun filled week.

We just got the news that we've been invited to play at The Annual Charles Sawtelle Memorial Mountain Jam this summer. Folks just call it The Charles now. It's a fun gathering of local bluegrass talent at The Gold Hill Inn and an opportunity to honor the late, great bluegrass musician Mr. Charles Sawtelle. Thanks to KGNU, Michael Bradshaw, and Mollie O'Brien for inviting us to be a part of it. We are really looking forward to it!

Larry Keel is a skilled and versatile acoustic musician. I appreciate how he reveres the roots music he grew up with in the Blue Ridge Mountains, tweaks it with his own original style, and brings it to us here in the Rocky Mountains. It was great to open for them at the Stage Stop on Friday.
There is a fifth season up here at 7,510ft in elevaton on Lickskillet Road. Mud Season. It goes Summer, Fall, Winter, Mud, and Spring. And I think it's safe to say that it is officially Mud Season. After going for an early hike with the dogs today, most of the mud is on our husky right now! Still, today is one of my favorite days of the year because of daylight savings. From here on out, the days get lighter and lighter for longer and longer. After a long, snowy, cold, and particularly windy winter, this is very good news.

We are really looking forward to opening for Larry Keel & Natural Bridge at The Stage Stop on Friday March 9th. There are several reasons for this. First, Keel is a flatpicking guitar master and a kick-ass singer-songwriter. He and his band, Natural Bridge, are very talented musicians. Both Del McCoury and Acoustic Syndicate have recorded Larry´s material. Check out www.larrykeel.com to learn more. Thanks to Joe and Patrick for helping to make this happen. Second, we love The Stage Stop! The Stage Stop was originally built in 1868 as a barn and stage stop along the old stagecoach road from Black Hawk to Estes Park. It's gone through a few changes since then, but still retains its western character. It is now a great restaurant, bar and music venue. The Stage Stop is located 6 miles south of Nederland on the Peak to Peak Highway alongside the railroad tracks and is at the foot of Rollins Pass. And third, March 9th is the start of the sixth annual Frozen Dead Guy Days winter festival in Nederland. What more could we ask for?!! Frozen Dead Guy Days honors an eccentric Norwegian, known as Grandpa Bredo up here in the mountains, whose family froze his body after he died of a heart attack. Why did they do this? Because they believe in cryonics. This is the science of using ultra-cold temperatures to preserve human life. It is a speculative technology that presumes medicine will someday be able to cure the disease that caused the death of the person who was frozen. Apparently, Grandpa Bredo had been to Nederland before he died and his family bought property in there in the early 1990´s with a vision to build a cryonics facility to serve numerous clients. It ought to be a fun night!

The week in the studio is winding down. All of us are pleased with the progress of James' recording so far. On Monday and Tuesday we focused some long hours on the vocal and guitar tracks. Wednesday was spent with electric bass, vocal harmonies, and harmonica. Today I will add bouzouki, electric baritone guitar, banjo, and mandolin to the already tight mixes. It is really sounding great. And my wife wasn't even here to remind us not to screw up! James has some really great songs and I am honored to be a part of their evolution. We will cut the day short in the studio on Friday to end the week will an all-star gig featuring myself, Jim Gilmour and his band, and James Moors at the Iron Lantern in Castleton. What a great way to close the week!

On Thursday I loaded my instruments in the back of the pick-up and headed north to get James Moors (the artist previously known as Sterling Waters) and continued on to Middletown Springs, Vermont. That is where we will be recording James' new CD. Despite a slight delay due to terrible winter storms in the mid-west, we have arrived in Vermont safely and plan to start recording tomorrow, that is, after a few Long Trail Ales and a good night's rest. I always look forward to being in the Southview Arts studio with Jim. And aside from his peculiar eating habits, I don't really mind his assistant, Ryan, too much either.

It's been a great month! The highlight so far was when my buddy Tom Larson came out from Nashville to play drums and percussion with me for a string of gigs around Colorado. Even though it was Superbowl Sunday, we had a great crowd on the 4th at Mountain Sun Brewery in Boulder, followed by another great show at Oskar Blues in Lyons on the 7th. Thanks to everybody that came out to show their support! Boulder Vibe, an online magazine that will launch in March, videotaped the Oskar Blues show. Keep an eye out at www.bouldervibe.com! I leave in a few days for Vermont to co-produce and play on James Moors' new record. We will be recording in Middletown Springs with famed recording engineer Jim Gilmour and his assistant Ryan DuBois at Southview Arts. What would the plural form of DuBois be? Like if, God forbid, there is more than one DuBois in the room?......DuBoises? And what about the plural possessive form? The DuBoises's? And why isn't it just spelled like it sounds?....Doobwah! These are questions I have.

Uncle! It's snowing again! Tonight I play with James Moors and Scott Von at Avogadro's in Fort Collins. Then I switch gears tomorrow night with an Unknown American's gig at Conor O'Neill's in Boulder. I am lucky to have such musical variety. On Saturday, my Nashville buddy Tom Larson will be joining me for a few gigs. He is a great percussionist and I am looking forward to playing some fun shows together while he is in town. Sunday night, after the superbowl, will be a hoot at Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery. Show your team spirit and come see us play!

What a crazy, exciting week it's been at Sundance! I have met some really talented musicians and have played a lot of music...and have not slept nearly enough. It all started with the frozen pipes at our lodging accomodations, well, that's another story. Sundance has been a huge learning experience for me. The new folks I've met (Andy Scisco and Chris Stills) and the old friends I've reacquainted with have been inspiring. Last night I played with the Dreamsicles and Tom Prasada-Rao. What a great guy! I am continually reminded that I am on a musical journey, and I never know what I'll find over that next hill.

Heavy winds and drifting snow have kept us close to home lately. We've sollicited the help of our husky, Nugget, by hooking his harness to a sled loaded with fire wood, so we could stash it closer to the house. Last week he did the same with a bass amp I had stored in the shed. I guess that makes him an official roadie! He's a champ! Tonight McCumberland Gap has a gig at Conor O'Neill's. I am happy to be accompanied on uprighteous bass by Dan (smells like a) Rose, who has played previously with High on the Hog, Uncle Earl, and The Mammals. He's a great guy and a great bassist. Come check out the new combo!

Happy New Year from the KortMusic Team! We hope everyone had a great 2006 and that 2007 is even better! We've got a fun gig in Nederland at the First Street Pub tomorrow night. Come on out. Dan Rose will be playing upright bass and Beth Wilberger will be on the fiddle and vocals. It's going to be a great night of music. See ya soon!Kort

We are up to our armpits in snow! It sure looked light and fluffy when it was falling, but when it came time to shovel, it was very heavy. My wife and I spent yesterday clearing the snow from our roof and driveway. Then this morning I cleared a very long path to my trailer to reach my PA system for two Unknown Americans gigs today with Danny Shafer and Jason Pawlina. It should be a good time......if my arms don't fall off! Things are plugging along with the new CD, though still waiting for one more very important piece to add to the mix. It's still looking like an early 2007 release. I am very excited about this CD and am looking forward to several CD release parties/shows this spring!

I have enjoyed having singer/songwriter and buddy Sterling Waters stay with us at our house these past few weeks. We've been breaking in the new studio by practicing some old tunes and writing some new ones together. It's always exciting to see what unfolds when musicians come together. Sometimes it's nothing and sometimes it's magic....like the old saying, "the sum is greater than the parts." It's so true! Many great musical moments were had in the studio. And many more will follow. I am happy to have the space to let them unfold.

What a week! It started on Monday by driving to Delta to watch and join pianist Joy Myers and flutist Donna Wissinger perform. Joy Myers is my mom. I had a very small part in the performance. Though I enjoyed being a part of it, I got the most enjoyment out of seeing my mom out touring and performing with another talented musician. The Delta show was the last night of their tour and my wife and I were glad to catch it! Thanksgiving with the family at my sister's was great. Friday morning we went on a good, long hike with the dogs, and then later I had a good, long practice with bass player Sean Kelly. He is a great musician. By playing with him, he pushes me to be a better musician and I really appreciate that. Saturday was a two-gig-day which is both energizing and exhausting. The first gig in Summit County was fun. There wasn't much snow for the skiers, but the music was good! Then back to Boulder for a late gig at Conor O'Neill's. We had a great crowd and I love to see familiar faces showing up again and again to hear us play. Thanks for the support! I am really looking forward to this Thursday night's show at Chautauqua. Sean, Beth, and Jason will be joining me there and it will be a good time!

My wife is pretty pleased that her dog Nugget made a guest appearance on the recording. I guess we will have to include him in the vocal credits now. I am anxious to hear the rough mixes with all of the new parts added!

It has been a long day of recording. I redid some of my parts and then shuffled off to Lyons to record Sally Van Meter. Did I mention that she RIPS on dobro? Then, back home to record my sister's violin, viola, and vocal harmonies. (My wife says she has a fever....and the only prescription is more cowbell!) Now Don Conoscenti is adding his haunting lap steel parts, and it's sounding great. Did I mention that he RIPS? We'll have another long day tomorrow recording Danny Shafer and Greg Schochet. Everything is coming together nicely, thanks to all involved.

Jim Gilmour arrives in town later this evening. We will have two long days in the studio together before he needs to head back home to Vermont. I am lucky and thankful to have him here, even if it is brief. Amos and I busted a move on the studio space which, though it still needs a bit of work, is looking pretty good! It will certainly do the job for now until we can complete it. Tomorrow we will meet up with Sally Van Meter to record parts on one or two songs for the new CD. I'm looking forward to it. Also, my sister Beth Wilberger will be playing violin and viola and singing harmony on a few of the songs. I love the creative process involved in recording a CD. All these valuable pieces of talent come together to form a beautiful unified snapshot in time. I am grateful to be both an instigator and a part of this project's process. And I am grateful to all of the talented folks that have come together to be a part of it with me.

Well, we woke up yesterday to a dusting of snow, and though it didn't accumulate to much, it continued to snow on and off all day. It is starting to look like a proper winter. And the studio is starting to look like a proper studio! With another coat of paint and some touch-up it should be looking pretty good. It will soon be a great space to write and practice. Yesterday, I dropped off a copy of some rough mixes for the new CD to my friend Greg Schochet who will add his masterful touch to the project. Greg plays telecaster, mandolin, and a slew of other instruments in a bunch of different bands, two of which are: Halden Wofford and the Hi-Beams and The All Night Honkytonk Allstars. I am really looking forward to recording with him later this week.

Wow. It's 11:11pm on 11/11... one MORE than 10! Tonight I joined friend and songwriter extraordinaire Danny Shafer and drummer Jason Pawlina for an Unknown Americans gig at Conor O'Neill's. We had an enthusiastic crowd which always makes me smile. I play electric bass in this combo. Tomorrow my wife and I will paint the inside of the studio, go for a hike with the dogs, and hopefully take a long, restful nap! I like this quote I read today: "Play the music, not the instrument." ~Author Unknown

Recording in Nashville was a hoot! Wow! It sure is amazing how many great musicians are there. The energy is contagious and everywhere I went I could hear people talking about writing, performing, and playing music. I look forward to going back in December to do some more recording for this new CD. My buddy Bob Mason played mandolin on two songs, and it's great to have him involved with this project. All that said, it still sure is great to be back home on Lickskillet Road. Since I've been back, I've been drywalling my own studio here on Lickskillet Road. I am anxious to get it done so that we can finish some of the record here. My mentor and friend, Don (another great Italian) Conoscenti is coming up from Taos to contribute his talents next week. Don plays every instrument under the sun and I always enjoy hearing him play and working with him. None of this would be possible without the help of engineer, producer, and great friend Jim Gilmour, who will also be joining us here next week. Can't wait!

It is great to be in Nashville again. This trip is short, though, and I don’t have much time to reconnect with old friends. Yesterday was a long day in the studio. My buddy Tom Larson cut drum tracks to nine of the songs so far. Tomorrow we’ll continue with drums, percussion, pedal steel, and mandolin. The folks at Shark Bait Studios have been great. I am excited about this project for many reasons. This is my sixth CD recording. Each time I have come into the studio to record I feel it’s like a testament to how much I have grown and learned musically since the last time. It reminds me that music knows no bounds. And to top it off, the opportunities I have to collaborate with great musicians and songwriters feels like such a privilege and an honor. I am truly blessed to be able to do what I love.

I'm back in Colorado, and we just got about a foot and a half of snow at my house! Heavy wet snow. Amos and I were shoveling our roof off all afternoon yesterday! But today it is sunny and beautiful. I am working on finishing the new record and it should be released January 2007. Check back for more updates soon. Cheers,Kort

Hi folks! Greetings from Vermont! I've been on the road for the past few weeks and now I am in Vermont working on my new record. The new tunes are sounding great! I can't wait for you all to hear them. We are heading back to Colorado today. We've got about 30 hours of driving ahead of us. See you all soon.cheers,Kort 

Well here we are in Park City, UT. The gig last night in Sundance, UT was a lot of fun. The crazy thing is that it is snowing quite a bit right now. September 22nd, and snow is already here in the mountains. We play tonight and then head to Wilson, WY tomorrow for the last gig on this 3 week tour. We're all looking forward to heading back to Colorado to spend some time at home in our own beds. Thanks to everyone out here on the road for making this a great tour. See y'all soon!cheers,Kort

Here we are at the Mystic Hot Springs in Monroe, UT. We got in a day early to soak in the natural hot springs tubs. They are up on a hillside pouring out of claw foot tubs. Pretty neat. We have a day off to rest before finishing the tour with 5 gigs. 4 in Utah and the last one outside Jackson Hole, WY. Thanks to Stephanie and Caleb for having us at your wedding. We had a great time playing for you guys.  Have a great honeymoon in St. Lucia. After this tour I will be back in Boulder for a week, then off on another trip with my wife and dogs, ending up in Vermont to record my new record in mid October. Hope to see you all soon.cheers,Kort

Well, here we are, the first day of September. It is beautiful up here at 7,510 feet at the base of Lickskillet Road. Fall is in the air. We are gearing up for our fall tour out west, and we are kicking it off with a few gigs here in Colorado to start the month. Thanks for checking the website. See you soon.
Kort

Thanks to Rosanne Cash, Chautauqua, and NIPP for a great opening set on Friday night! It sure was amazing opening for such a great musician. We look forward to playing Chautauqua again and hopefully opening for Rosanne Cash again. We are also excited about the September tour to the West coast and many points in between. Hope to see you on the road soon. Thanks for all the support. Check back soon for a brand new website and new info!
Kort

What an amazing summer so far! I just got back from rafting the Grand Canyon with 18 family members! It was the trip of a lifetime. It's really hard being back. I wish I was still on the river. If you ever get a chance to take the trip, you must do it. The rapids were huge, the camping was great, and our guides, Ben and Joe were fantastic! I'm gonna save my money and get back on the river sometime in the future. We took some great hikes up to waterfalls and swimming holes. I could go on and on about the trip. Also, I got to celebrate my birthday on the river. That will be a tough birthday to beat. I hope to see all of my fellow rafters soon.

Well, on the music front, we've got some gigs in Colorado this month, and then we'll be visiting Oregon, California, Utah, and Wyoming on our tour in September. Hope to see you on the road!
Kort & McCumberland Gap!

We are now officially into summer. It doesn't get much better than the Rocky Mountains in the summer. You should all come out here and catch a McCumberland Gap show and enjoy it all with us! The short tour in Utah was a success. A couple of great venues and new fans. Thanks to all of our new friends for supporting us those few gigs. We will be heading back to those places in September. Hope to see you at the next Hootenanny!
Kort & McCumberland Gap

Memorial Day weekend was a blast! The show at the Gold Hill Inn on Memorial Day was great. A duo from Nashville called The Believers opened the show and then The Unknown Americans did a set and Great American Taxi closed out the afternoon. A whole lot of fun. Conor O'Neill's in Ft. Collins on Friday night, Idaho Springs on Saturday, the Boulder Creek Festival and Oskar Blues on Sunday, and we ended the weekend in Gold Hill! It sure was fun playing a hometown gig. McCumberland Gap will be playing this Thursday on the roof-top patio at Lazy Dog, right on Pearl Street, downtown Boulder at 5pm. Come on over after work. See ya,
Kort

Well, I'm back in Colorado and in the full swing of things now. Europe was a great experience and a lot of fun. Thanks to my friend Mike Beck for inviting me on the tour. I got back late Wednesday night and played with David LaMotte on Thursday in Longmont, The Unknown Americans on Friday in Woodland Park and David again last night at Swallow Hill in Denver. 3 good gigs and another good one tonight at Mountain Sun in Boulder with The Unknown Americans. It's going to be a great summer out here in Colorado. Lots of music in beautiful places. Come and join us!

Well, the European Tour is coming to an end. It was a great 2 weeks of shows all over The Netherlands and Germany. We played to a bunch of people and made new friends and fans. It has been a great experience. We have a radio show tonight in s'Gravenzande, The Netherlands, and then I will be taking the Train from Culumburg, NL to Amsterdam to catch my flight home to Colorado and Lickskillet Road.

We are now back in Holland. We play a show tonight in Zeist. Last night we played in Arnsberg in the cellar of an Irish Pub. The cellar dates from the Gothic Period. The stories those walls could tell. It was a great place, and we made some new fans. I'll be back in the States on Wednesday night. Looking forward to playing in Colorado this summer!

Hello from Hamburg. Last night we went down to the St. Pauli section of the city, where the Beatles used to play. Legend has it that they would play 6 nights a week, 8 hours each night! That sure is crazy. We will be heading to Arnsberg today to play at O'Casey's Irish Pub tonight. See you all soon.

Kort

Greetings from Wiebaden, Germany! 4 gigs into the European Tour. We head to Soest, Germany for a gig tomorrow night. We will be in Germany until Saturday morning, and then back to Holland for a few shows before I head home to Colorado. See you all soon!
Kort

The European Tour starts on Thursday! I'm getting excited about playing gigs in Holland and Germany, and doing a few radio shows. Thanks to my friend Mike Beck for putting this all together. I'll be keeping somewhat of a tour journal and will try to update the news when I get a chance. See ya in a few weeks back in the USA. Thanks.
Kort

191,750..... Well, it sure is hard to believe that we are well into April. A great winter of gigs, new fans and friends and more new tunes. We should find out at the end of this month who wins the best Roots CD of 2005 from Indie Acoustic.com. Stayed tuned. We are also working on a brand new website that should be up this summer. Thanks for the support, and if you would like to see some pics and other stuff, please check out our new myspace page. myspace.com/kortmccumber.
See you soon!

190,000.....The miles keep adding up. "Greetings from McCumberland Gap", our bentgrass/bluegrass CD was just nominated as a finalist for best CD of 2005 by the Indie Acoustic Project in the Roots category. Go check out www.indieacoustic.com for more info. We are really happy about this. They will anounce the winners next month. Big week of music with the Boulder Theater this Friday. Don't miss it. See you soon
Kort

Another busy week of gigs for McCumberland Gap. We will be all over the state this week. Gunnison to Steamboat to Breckenridge back to Boulder and then Idaho Springs to cap it off with my good friend John Erlandson. He has a brand new CD that is great. John and recorded the record in Vermont last fall with Jim Gilmour. Don't forget to check out John's website. www.johnerlandson.com. See you all on the road!
Kort

Fire in the Mountains!
Well, we had a little scare yesterday up here in the mountains west of Boulder. There was a fire in the canyon just north of here. Luckily, the firefighters got the blaze contained. It did burn over 6 acres in the Roosevelt National Forest. I was playing a gig at the Old Dillon Inn, but was ready to head home at any minute if we needed to evacuate. It sure is dry and windy out here. We'll keep you updated on gigs, fires, etc.... right here on the news page. Hope to see you all soon. We'll give you a call if we need help moving the grand piano!
Kort, Amos, Guinness, Willow, Nugget, and Ken "Hub Cap" Campbell.

187,000... Life is good out here in the Mountains. Lots of music, new tunes and new tour dates. Come on out to the Fox Theatre March 1st to see the Unknown Americans. A 3 piece roots rock band. Also, don't forget to come out to Todd Adelman's CD Release show on March 2nd at Trilogy Lounge right here in Boulder. Two great shows in one week. Hope to see you at the shows. Thanks!
Kort

What a fun night of music last night at Conor O'Neill's. That was a real hootenanny. We had Beth sittin' in playin' fiddle and singin', the always solid Ken Campbell on Doghouse Bass, Danny Shafer on Guitar, Jason Pawlina on Percussion, and my buddy Ken Vargo from Salida playin' some banjo! It was a hoot! You don't want to miss a night like that again. Thanks to all of our friends for hangin' around and being a part of a magical night of music. We were all stayin' warm inside while it was snowing pretty good outside. It made the drive home interesting, especially since my windshield wipers decided to stop working. But, I got them working again. Just a busted fuse. We woke up this morning to about a foot of snow! Beautiful. See you all soon.
Kort

Well, it looks like 6 more weeks of winter. The groundhog saw his shadow. Anyways, the Van is still kickin', 186,000 and change. Check the dates page for when we are playing. Hope to see you soon.
Kort

Welcome to the VW Camper Chronicles. Odometer 184,300. Greetings from a Coffee Shop in Breckenridge, Colorado. Elevation well over 9,000 feet. We just drove in from Steamboat Springs. They have the most snow in the state. The snow banks on top of Rabbit Ears Pass were higher than the camper. It was beautiful and we had a great time at the Old Town Pub. See you all soon!
Kort

Odometer 183,350...........A good, but crazy weekend of gigs! We started Thursday night at Mary's Lake Lodge, and it was a great night of music with Danny Shafer, Mike Beck and Ken Campbell. We had one heck of a hootenanny goin' all night. Then it was off to Alma. Elevation 10,500. Maybe more. The highest bar in the United States. When we arrived, the bartender was surprised we made it because they had shut down the road in both directions getting into Alma. When we asked why, she said, "there is a gunman on the loose!" That was pretty shocking, but I guess it is still the wild, wild west out here in Colorado. The gig went on without any hitches, but we did wake up to a flat front left tire. Maybe the gunman got us. I'm not sure. Then on to Granby, CO for the Saturday night gig. The Denver Broncos game was on, so I would have to say that affected turnout a little bit. We tried to do our best to end songs when something good happened in the game, so it felt like they were appauding for us. Sometimes it worked.... I guess just a normal working weekend for us. See you all soon, and watch out for the gunman......
Kort

Odometer 182,838......and the van keeps moving on. Finally got a new windshield. It sure does feel safer, but lost all of those festival stickers. Clean slate to 2006. We've got a busy 4 months to start the new year. A bunch of gigs from now until the end of April. Also, I've been writing a lot of new songs with my friend Kevin DeForrest and we are getting a bunch of tunes together for a new album this year. I'll keep you all posted. Thanks for a great 2005!
Kort

Happy New Year! See you on the road!

Breaking news on Lickskillet Road. We have installed a wood stove.....thank goodness. We are now warm and cozy. I think I got a little carried away yesterday with it. I had it cranked and the thermometer in the house was registering almost 80 degrees. But wow, it felt great. I didn't have to have 3 layers of clothes on. I had the humidifier crankin' and the wood stove. It was probably a little hot for our new siberian husky puppy Nugget. He likes it outside when it is zero degrees. As we say on Lickskillet, Happy Howlidays and hope to see you all soon.
Slainte,
Kort, Guinness, Willow (the cat), Nugget and Amos

Oh my goodness... I don't care if you grew up in an Igloo, or northen Minnesota, or Alaska, or Siberia. negative 25 is really cold... That is what the thermometer said at my house yesterday morning. Today, much warmer at minus 5. Wow, first major cold snap in Colorado. Not a good day to run out of propane. Not a good day to think about installing a wood stove. But, a great day to have a hot cup of coffee and stay inside. But, not inside my house. 40 inside the house....Brrrrrr. We are still trying to thaw out. Anyways, just thought I'd let all the warm weather folks have a peak into Colorado mountain living. See you all soon. Down the road, down the road, it is really cold on Lickskillet Road.

We had a great weekend of gigs all over Colorado. We traveled from Gunnison to Guffey to Eagle and finally Beaver Creek. We met some great people and played some good music. The drive home late Sunday was pretty scary. Lots of ice and very windy. But, it is great to see all of this snow so early in the season. We will be up in the mountains again this weekend. Tell your friends and come hang out with us. Jamestown on Thursday, Alma on Friday, Breckenridge on Saturday, and then back home to the Pearl Street Pub on Sunday. Another great week of music!

Wow, what a crazy drive over Monarch Pass in Central Colorado. It was snowing and the wind was blowing like crazy. Lots and lots of snow. But, we made it to Gunnison and we are getting ready to set up and play tonight at the Brick Cellar Wine Bar. Really icy roads, but it is beautiful. Wish you could all see it. See you soon!
Kort

I hope everyone had a great long weekend. It was beautiful up in the mountains. We had a great time at the Cala Inn in Keystone Saturday night. The drive home was a bit daunting, as it snowed 18 inches in Summit County. Let it snow! See you all on the road.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

It is a winter wonderland at my house right now. The last couple of days it has been snowing, and last night it really came down. I had to put the chains on just to get back home! Winter is upon us up in the hills. See you all on the slopes soon. It's going to be a great winter!

176,767..... howdy everybody. The winter schedule is shaping up. I hope everyone is gearing up for Turkey day. It's just around the corner. Have a great weekend, and we will see you soon! Thanks to everyone who bought CD's on CDBABY the last 2 months. CD Baby raised over $200,000 for Hurricane Katrina vicitms. Thanks!

Odometer 176,000.....and counting.......Wow! Almost a foot of snow on Lickskillet Road! October 10th and snow is falling! It is beautiful, but very cold.... I'm sure some of you are experiencing hot and humid temperature still. Anyways, just wanted to let you all know. Talk to you soon.

Odometer 175,900.......and counting.... It is glorious in Colorado right now! The Aspens are changing colors, the nights are cold, and the fire is cracklin'. Wish you all could see it. The winter shows are starting to line up a little bit. Keep checkin' the site to see when we will be playing. There will be a lot of solo shows, some Kort and Beth shows, some Kort and Stewey shows, and some Kort, Beth and Stewey shows. All kinda fun this winter! Stewey has been learning a bunch of tunes on my 1964 Kay Upright Bass. It has been a lot of fun seeing that thing in action. Also, some new tunes have been written and I have been playing those a lot lately. It sure is nice to have some new material. I've been writing with my good friend Kevin DeForrest, and hopefully by next spring there will be enough tunes for another record. Thanks for the love and support and hope to see you soon. The VW Van is still kickin', but just barely makin' it up these mountains!

Howdy folks! We are two full days into John's CD and things are really sounding great. We were in the studio until midnight last night. John is hoping to have this released in a few months, so check back on this site to find out more about it. He will also have his website up and running soon too. www.johnerlandson.com. It is beautiful in Vermont right now. New England is a great place to be in the fall. See ya soon! Also, it is Beth's birthday today! Happy Birthday Beth!

It is starting to feel like fall here in Colorado. Some of the Aspen leaves are starting to change and it is getting colder. I love this time of year.
Right now I am in Vermont with my good friend John Erlandson and Jim Gilmour. We are recording John's new CD at Jim's recording studio in Middletown Springs.
I've got some gigs coming up in Colorado, so I hope to see you guys soon. Thanks again for the support. It looks like we are trying to put together a Katrina benefit soon. Possibly on October 5th. Please check back for an update on that show. Also, all of our profits from CD's bought on CD Baby will be donated to the Red Cross to help Hurricane victims. Thanks.

Another amazing week at Planet Bluegrass! The Rocky Mountain Song School and Folks Festival was great! Willy Porter, John Gorka, Patty Griffin, Joe Craven and Peter Mayer were great. The songwriters in the round show in the Wildflower Tent with Danny Shafer and Jeff Hamer was a lot of fun too. Thanks guys for including me. We have a few shows coming up in the next few weeks, then I will be heading to Vermont to do some recording with my friend John Erlandson. Jim Gilmour will be producing John's new record at South View Arts in Middletown Springs, VT. John has a bunch of great new songs for his next record and I am really happy to be a part of it. Thanks for visiting the website, and hope to see you all soon.

Rockygrass was a blast! I want to say thanks to my buddies Bob Mason and Eric Drobny for playing in the band competition with Beth and I! Thanks so much fellas. It was perfect weather all weekend. We have a few gigs this month, so come on out and listen! See you all soon.

It's already here again! That's right! Rockygrass in Lyons, Colorado. I'm sitting here with my buddy Stewey at the Barking Dog Cafe in downtown Lyons, it's about 7am, and we just pulled up to get in line for camping! This is one of the best weeks of the year. We will be playing the band competition, and enjoying the great music all week. Hope to see you around. YEE HAW! Bluegrass Camp! Also, we have a great gig up in Evergreen on Wednesday night, July 27th. Thanks!

A big thanks to Jami Lunde for having us at the Winter Park Folks Festival. That was one of the best weekends of music in a long time! Thank you so much Jeff and Jami! We got to jam with Don Conoscenti on the main stage! That was awesome! Thanks Don Con! I'm still flying about last weekend, or maybe it's the pain pills I've been taking? hehe..I had to get one of my wisdom teeth out this week, and it has been killing me. Soup and yogurt for a week.....It is no fun let me tell you. I should be back in tip top shape in a few days just in time for Rockygrass. yee haw! See you guys soon!

Another beautiful day here in Colorado! We have great month of gigs and can't wait to see our friends all over the state. We will also be up at Rockygrass in Lyons having fun at the band competition. Thanks for all of your support and love of music. See you all soon!

Wow,
I can't believe that June is almost over! It's been over a month since I have checked in to the website. I hope everyone is having a great summer. The solo shows have been going great, and we are looking forward to the band shows in July with our bluegrass band, McCumberland Gap! Thanks for all the support. Beth is back from Cabo San Lucas where she went on her honeymoon. They had a great time. Her new last name is Wilberger, but she says she will be keeping McCumber as her stage name. Anyways, I'm having a good time ramblin' on, but I think I will say goodbye for now!

We sure did have a great show on Friday night at the Thrasher-Horne Performing Arts Center! It was an amazing night! A packed house of friends, family and fans! Thanks to Hein, Tony and Kathryn for making it such a great night of music! And, of course, thanks to all of you who attended the show! We look forward to playing there again. We will be heading up to Tennessee for a few shows this week, and then we end the tour in Cary, NC at the Six String Cafe. Thanks for all the support. See you all soon!

THRASHER-HORNE SHOW SOLD OUT!
We just found out that our show at the Performing Arts Center has sold out. We are really excited about this show. We will be recording the show for a future live disc. Thanks for all of our friends and fans for buying up all the tickets. It sure does make us feel good. We will be playing a few shows in Florida before we head up to Tennessee for a really great little festival called Camper Fest. It seems fitting for us to play this festival since we drive around the country in a VW Camper. Anyways, we look forward to all of our shows in the southeast, and will be heading back to Colorado at the end of this month. Ciao!

Spring has arrived in Colorado, and it is beautiful! We are booking more shows eveyday for this summer. We look forward to seeing you. The southeast tour has been finalized. It is going to be a great mix of listening rooms, clubs, theaters and festivals. We will be visiting Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and North Carolina. On the road again! The VW camper has hinted at retirement for a few months, but it will be making another tour. See you on the road!

We are back in Colorado! We had a great tour out west and we'd like to thank everybody in Oregon and California for making it such a good time! We are having some crazy weather in Colorado right now. A bunch of snow and it feels like winter all over again. It's hard to believe. It sure is beautiful! A winter wonderland at the end of April. This coming weekend Beth and I will be in Maryland for the Susquehanna Music and Arts Festival. We were chosen as one of the 10 finalists for the songwriting competition. The winner gets to perform on the main stage on Saturday night, and then a full set at next years festival. Exciting stuff! We look forward to seeing you on the road. Ciao!

We sure did have a great week of gigs in Oregon. Ashland, Bend, Eugene and Portland were great stops on our tour. We also got to hang out with some good friends and check out part of the Columbia River Gorge. Thanks to Travis, Alisha, Willow and Emile! We are now back in Northern California with 4 more gigs on the tour. The sun just came out, and it is absolutely beautiful outside. Wish you could all see it! We will be playing in Blue Lake, McKinleyville, Bolinas and Big Sur this week and then heading back to Colorado. Hopefully we won't run into a blizzard on our way back to Colorado. See ya soon!

Spring is an amazing time to travel the Northwest. We woke up this morning with a few inches of heavy, wet snow on the ground in Dunsmuir, CA. The day before it was 65 degrees and sunny in Ashland, OR. I guess we should be used to it living in Colorado. Anyways, we have now arrived in Bend and play tonight at really neat venue called The Grove. After tonight we head to Eugene, and then up to Portland. The tour is going great so far, and we have about 10 days left on the road. It's been great meeting new fans and playing music in a new places every night. We sure are lucky to be able to play music all over the country. Thanks to everyone that has helped us along the way. The home cooked meals on the road, the comfortable couches to sleep on, and the hot showers help so much. Thanks again! Until next time, cheers!

Howdy Folks! We just rolled into Arcata, California. What a beautiful place. It is sunny and about 60 degrees. The first 3 gigs on our California/Oregon Tour were great! Thanks to our dear friends John and Linda in Nevada City for making the gigs great, and our friends Patrick and Linda in Ukiah. Thanks guys! We are making our way North into Oregon to play at The Siskiyou Brew Pub on Wednesday. As for now, we are just catching up on email and enjoying spring in Northern California. If you have any friends in Oregon or Northern California, tell them to come say hi at one of our gigs! See ya soon!

The Colorado Winter Tour is now over...... It was a great 4 months of gigs. Up and down, and all over the Rocky Mountain State. Unfortunately, we didn't end it with a bang. The weather hindered us from getting to Alma on Friday night, and then the flu knocked both of us out of commision on Saturday night, and we couldn't make it to Estes Park. We were really looking forward to those two gigs, but sometimes things happen. Hopefully we can re-schedule those shows soon. Thanks to Tony up in Alma, and Karen up in Estes Park for being so understanding.
We are now gearing up for our California and Oregon tour. We leave on Wednesday and will be on the road playing new places for the next 3 weeks. We will keep you updated right here on the site. Thanks to everyone in Colorado for making it such an awesome winter full of gigs!

......This just in! We have been selected as a finalist in the Susquehanna Music and Arts Festival songwriting competition. We will be performing Saturday, May 6th in Darlington, Maryland, along with the other 9 finalists. The festival is held at the Ramblewood Resort.
Also, our album, "Until I Return", was selected as a finalist for "best Americana CD of 2004" by the Indie Acoustic Project. Some of the other finalists in other categories include Sam Bush, Alison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs and Darrell Scott. We are really excited about this recognition! Go check out indieacoustic.com for more info on this award, and also cdbaby.com to listen to our albums. Thanks for all the support!

It has been another beautiful week in Colorado. We played a few gigs in Crested Butte and Gunnison, and they were all really fun. Thanks again to Emily, Elaine, and all the wonderful people with the Crested Butte Music Festival and the Mountain Theatre! Thanks! The Monday night show was one of our best! Thanks to all the folks that came to the Princess on Tuesday, and Gunnison Brewery on Wednesday. Colorado is one amazing place to be. It was in the single digits in Crested Butte, with 6 ft of snow lining the streets, and when we got back to Boulder, it was 55 degrees and sunny!
Today we are off to Salida to play at Bongo Billy's. Then, we head up to Granby on Saturday night and The Goat in Keystone on Sunday. Our winter tour is coming to an end. We have 6 more gigs in Colorado before we head to the west coast for 3 weeks. A lot of travelling, and a lot of great places. See ya on the road!

Wow, what a great weekend of gigs! Friday night we played up in Nederland, Colorado at First Street Grille and had a blast. They have great food, drinks and a great stage to play music. Thanks to Jessica, Eric, and all the people up in Nederland that came out to the show. If you are ever in the area, you should check out First Street Grille. We then played up in Ft. Collins on Saturday night at Avogadro's, with our good friend John Erlandson. This place is one of the best listening rooms in the country. Thanks to Rob at Avogadro's for giving us the opportunity to play at his place. We can't wait to get back up to Ft. Collins. Thanks to all of our friends from Greeley, Ft. Collins, Evergreen and Boulder that come up to support us. We recorded the show, so hopefully it turned out great and we will be able to release a live CD sometime soon. It is another glorious day here in Boulder. Right now it is about 60 degrees and sunny. It seems that the groundhog might have been wrong about six more weeks of winter. Spring is in full force out here on the Front Range. We still have a bunch of gigs left in Colorado in the next few weeks, so hopefully we will be able to see all of you soon. Thanks for the support! Cheers!

Howdy Music Lovers!
This year is just strummin' right along. We had a nice short spring snow shower out here in Boulder today. It was beautiful! We are really excited about the gigs we have coming up. One more month in Colorado before we hit the West coast. We booked a real nice tour out in California and Oregon. We can't wait to see our west coast friends, or as our dad says, "left coast". We also have our new CD's for sale at CDBABY.com! We'd love for you all to check them out. See you soon! Thanks for visiting the site!

Happy New Year!

Wow, it's amazing how time flies when you are having fun. The start of a brand new year brings a brand new album called "Greetings From McCumberland Gap", recorded at Southview Arts in Middletown Springs, VT by Jim Gilmour and mastered by Grammy winner David Glasser of Air Show in Boulder. This one is a real bluegrass barrel of fun featuring Tim Stafford (Blue Highway) and Todd Livingston (Hit & Run Bluegrass). Yee-Haw! In addition to being an amazing guitar picker, singer and songwriter, Tim Stafford was a member of the 1993 Grammy-winning band Alison Krauss & Union Station. Todd Livingston (if it´s not Scottish it´s crrr…ap!) is an award winning dobro player in the Colorado band Hit & Run, and is an instructor at the famed Rockygrass Academy in Lyons, CO.

We have also re-mixed, re-mastered and re-designed our first CD, "Somewhere To Go". If you get an opportunity, please check out www.cdbaby.com/all/kortmusic, to listen to and purchase your very own copies.

Currently, we are touring the state of Colorado and will be hitting the west coast in April and the southeast in May.

Our first Live CD will be recorded at the new Thrasher-Horne Performing Arts Center in Orange Park, FL, May 20th, 2005. You can purchase tickets by calling the box office at (904) 276-6750 or by going to www.thcenter.org.

The New Year brings more exciting news…… Beth said yes! Beth and Rob got engaged in December and plan to marry in June out here in beautiful Colorado. Sorry fellas!

We look forward to seeing you on the road at our next hootenanny. Thanks for continuing to support live music and the arts!
Cheers!