“Look at that,” said Keith Riker, who is part of our Rocky Mountain Combo, as we drove along Upper Bear Creek, just north of the town of Evergreen, Colorado. “The cottonwoods are already starting to yellow at the tops.” Sure enough, alongside the rushing waters of the Bear, we looked up and saw the trees in passing, yellow tipped against the pure blue sky. Fall had announced its return and even though Labor Day hadn’t occurred yet, a slight feeling of cold and the inevitable snowfall on the Rockies betrayed the warm day.
Change. There was a time when I did not like the word, mainly because I would confuse it with growing older. Change always signified something unsettling to me and yet, over time, I realized that there is the gift of growth in there, too.
We’ve certainly been going through a great deal of change in Switchback. Our songwriting is becoming more solid and the number of shows continues to grow. By the time you read this newsletter, we will have performed Falling Water River with the Grand Pops Orchestra in Dubuque. It certainly marks a historical milestone for Switchback and one that hopefully will see us taking the stage with more symphonies around North America. (Click here to listen to a sample of music from the orchestral debut). Those fans of ours who saw us playing at the Irish Times of Brookfield, Illinois on a late Sunday evening back in the 1990’s certainly will appreciate that change.
Another change has been the growth of participation in our tours to Ireland. We have over 40 people joining us for the tour to Kinsale this year and already are starting to take names for next year’s visit to Donegal. Since 2004 we have conducted a yearly tour and sometimes even two tours in a year. All in all several hundred fans have now walked the fields and forests of Ireland and shared a pint in a pub with Switchback.
Another change has been the growth in collaborations with renowned artists. On October 16th, Chicagoans will have the chance to celebrate the return of WayGood Presents, the series that brings unique artists and Switchback to perform an intimate concert. The first concert will feature Alyth McCormack and Triona Marshall, who currently tour with our friends the Chieftains. There are plans to introduce a similar concert series around Memphis. Stay tuned.
The change of the seasons used to be something that meant a slowing down for Switchback, but Brian and I are starting to play through the winter months, too. January and February will see Switchback roam from Canada to a few miles north of Mexico. We’ve also taken to the air quite a bit as Labor Day weekend saw us move from Chicago to Iowa, Minnesota, Colorado, and back to Minnesota and Iowa all in five days!
This February will bring us the arrival of the album Kanoka, which will once again feature the producing and stringmaster talents of Lloyd Maines as well as the heavenly harmonica of Howard Levy. These are stellar musicians to be able to play with and we feel truly blessed.
Through it all, we attempt to keep focus on our mission with Switchback: to touch as many souls through music and to reach out to those who need a little music in their lives. Yes, the leaves are starting to change, but it doesn’t signify anything sad for me anymore. I now look at it as a reminder of the blessings of music and our gratitude to have traveled this trail with our fans.
See you at a show!
Marty (and Brian)
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