Old Man Kelly

Good news for the dancers among you: Old Man Kelly hits up Richmond on May 11 to call square dances at The Camel.  It’s an early dance — 6pm — so take the afternoon off and pre-game.  On Thursday, May 17, you can visit Ceritano’s in Blacksburg to dance to the honkabilly sounds of Old Man Kelly and the Streetsweepers.  Big rhythms and a big dance floor: you can’t go wrong.  Also notable: I just signed the contract to appear at FloydFest, calling squares and contras in the dance tent Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

The summer gig schedule is a bit thin, and it’s no accident.  The home studio is currently full of recording equipment.  Look for an Old Man Kelly solo album this fall…

This Saturday, 7pm: Old Man Kelly swaggers his usual St. Patrick’s Day schtick at Gillie’s in Blacksburg. Haul away!

Happy 2012 from Old Man Kelly!

Every year, the New Year’s Resolution is the same: more and better. Big thanks to everybody who came out to the 75-or-so shows that I did in 2011. Here’s how 2012 is shaping up so far:

This Thursday, January 19: Old Man Kelly calls a square dance at Magnolia House in Charlottesville, VA . Young, energetic square dances seem to be cropping up all over these days, and this is one of the rowdiest. Contact OMK or the house for directions.

Friday, January 20: Old Man Kelly solo at Horseshoe Bend Bistro in Scottsville, VA.

January 27-29: The Don’t Tell Darlings tour the New River Valley, promoting their full-length album, Sugar for Sugar! Friday night we’re at the Swoop House Gallery in Blacksburg, Saturday night at the Palisades Restaurant in Eggleston, Sunday morning at The Underground Pub in Blacksburg. Check the web site for details!

Saturday, February 4: Old Man Kelly calls the Blacksburg square dance at the YMCA with Indian Run String band.

There are also the usual smattering of honky-tonk shows at The Cellar, and a soon-to-be-announced twice-monthly Old Man Kelly solo show at a new venue in Blacksburg. Watch the web site and Facebook page for details!

Thanks for supporting live music, get off my lawn, and come out to the show.

This Thursday, Old Man Kelly will participate in a special show at Swoop House in Blacksburg, featuring the nationally-famous Crankies of Anna and Elizabeth.  Here’s the blurb:

A night of nights! an evening of entertainment!
THURSDAY, December 15, 8 pm
at the Swoop House Gallery, 512 Progress Street in Blacksburg

First, OLD MAN KELLY! Music from Blacksburg’s finest singing, sea chantey-ing, accordion playing, storytelling, shennanigan making character.(http://www.oldmankelly.com/)

Second, CRANKIE SHOW. Anna Roberts-Gevalt (fiddlist, banjoer, guitar picker) and Elizabeth LaPrelle (ballad singer extraordinaire) have been working together for the past year, gathering ballads, songs ad stories from Southwest Virginia and Kentucky, which they will share using their CRANKIES—handsewn, handprinted, handcut scrolling illustrations! Here’s a video of one they made last year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNf5oVrYn5I

They have three brand new ones inspired by the ballad singers Addie Graham, Texas Gladden and the Kentucky fiddler Lella Todd, which they will share alongside singing, harmonies, and banjo & fiddle tunes. With a few special musical guests to be announced!

Third, SHADOW PUPPET SHOW! This is where you, dear audience, come in! We tried this last year in Blacksburg, to great success and laughter! We’ll have paper and scissors on hand —we’ll pick a fairytale or other story, and together cut out shadow puppets (this part shall most likely happen before everything starts). We’ll hang up a sheet, get the person in the room with the best radio voice to narrate, and get musicians to improvise a score—an instant shadow puppet show. Magic.

Fourth, Dessert Potluck! Bring one to share!

On Friday night, join The Don’t Tell Darlings at Rapunzel’s in Lovingston.  Then join us again in Richmond on Saturday night for a combined house concert and birthday party.  2011 just gets better from here!

Some good shows this week.

• Thursday at The Black Squirrel in DC with the Don’t Tell Darlings
• Friday night, a house concert with the Darlings in DC
• Then Saturday, The Halliday Line at Rapunzel’s

That’s a lot of fun for three days!