Greetings and well wishes to you in 2026.
Around here, 2025 was a fast paced time with many wonderful moments of connection and fulfillment. There was an overflowing of support from my inner circle and beyond, supporting the campaign to release “At The Blue Front,” and we also got a new album out for Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, which was an absolute honor, a thrill and an experience that, for me, cemented a passion for all analog live recording. There were tour dates throughout the country, dozens of shows from the northeast to deep south, with festival sets, workshops, an abundance of press, radio and TV broadcasts along the way.
Thank you to everyone who supported the fundraising efforts, who bought an album, came to a show, attended a workshop, online class or individual guitar lesson… And thank you to my patrons who support me on a monthly basis at “The Lab.” Many thanks also to the venues and hosts who gave me a place to offer what I love and value. Extra special thanks to Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, Gilbert Vowell, Nick Loss-Eaton, Grant Smith, Jay Scheffler, Chuck Foley, Tom Hommeyer, Dan Leslie, Mark Nachmias, Dr. Eric Turk and to my dear wife Nicoline and our family for the support. There are many others not mentioned here... but I love and appreciate you all.
Show highlights included opening slots and co-bills with Jimmy “Duck” Holmes (who made a special trip north to play the wonderful Meadowlark Festival and our beloved Myrtle in East Providence), Willie Farmer, Super Chikan, Kent Burnside, Todd Albright and Ted Drozdowski. It was a great experience playing live in Memphis on WREG, along with a wonderful return to the Green Room and Radio Memphis and a true honor to be documented by Robert Mugge in Nashville, where we also performed at 3rd & Lindsley for WMOT.
I also got into making one of a kind custom tapes, recorded live in my home on reel to reel and mailed out on cassette, direct to the listener. That is quickly becoming one of my favorite ways to connect.
Beyond work, we lost one of our dogs, Quigley, who passed suddenly... and after much consideration, moved from the beach back to town. We miss our boy, but still have our dear Sadie and it is feeling really good to be back in an urban environment.
In between all the above, I managed to record a lot of music from home in 2025 and am giving most of my attention to what I want to share in 2026. Keep an eye out - and thanks again for listening.
With love and appreciation,
RLC
Photo by Michael Kurgansky