Weekend Three Carolina

Well! We've just finished our third weekend here at the Carolina Renaissance Festival. Boy! Was it a fun one! Such gorgeous weather! Near perfect and a bunch of people showed up. For those of you who do not live in this part of the country, this was "Race Weekend" with something like an additional 300,00 people flooding into the Charlotte area. This has traditionally been a good weekend for us, especially since the races were moved to the evening hours. So many people from other parts of the country and, from other parts of the world - truly an "international" weekend. Don Juan, Esmeralda and I had a lot of fun this weekend. Today (Sunday) we performed "The Queen of Spain" show, which we haven't attempted since Sterling. It's such a wacky show! I love doing it even though it can be a bit of an effort. I think we (us and the audience) all had fun with that one! I am thinking that "The Queen Of Spain" will fill our 2 PM slot here - what is listed in the Carolina program as "The Mystery Show".

As far as "projects" go... We're still working on Sarah Marie Mullen's second CD. (Her first has been a great success! Thank you!) We should have all the recording finished within a couple of weeks. THE LOST PRINCESS score writers Eddie Jeff Cahill and Bret Blackshear will perform on it with her, as well as Bob Bielefeld and Michel Levy of Cantiga, and "Deryn" of the PA faire's "Faire Enough". We've already recorded Bob, Michelle and Deryn in Pennsylvania - we'll be recording Eddie Jeff and Bret here in Charlotte.

Also, the harpist Martha Gay, of Cantiga, is currently performing at TRF (Texas Renaissance Festival) and will soon be completing her recording there. We've been in communication and are working on some edits for her first solo CD. She recorded part of the CD in Ohio, with the same studio that the "Minstrels of Mayhem", a really excellent group, use. Jerry Barry, a member of that group (and old friend) agreed too help and acted as producer for us. For those of you who do not know - Martha is an old friend, we've known her for around twenty years, and she is a fabulous musician, one of the finest I know. I have some great memories of mornings at Sterling. Before the show opens and crafters, food people, actors, gamers and staff are all busy with the last few preparations for the day, Martha will be sitting at the gazebo right by the front gate "warming up" on her harp. To me warming up is stretching and running some scales, when Martha warms up the air around her is alive with this beautiful and relaxed sound. It evokes summer, morning, and a sense of wonder. I love to hear it, it begins my day with magic. So I am really excited about her first solo CD, it will be gift to all of us.

Both CD's should be released by Spring 06.

Thank you all for your support of all our "Blind Dog" productions. Your patronage will enable us to record more festival musicians and make more, and better films. Thanks.

- Doug