Richard Thompson “1952 Vincent Black Lightning,”

I have a couple of friends who say they can feel it in their bones that 2012 is going to be the best year yet. I have had a great start, hope it has been the same for you. In fact, I am luxuriating in my friends optimism, I am buoyed by it. At church on Christmas evening, the Minister addressed us all, no matter where we were on life’s journey. It is sweet to ponder how the road unwinds; though hill and dale, or Chutes and Ladders-that old and wonderfully wrought childhood game. All I know is that we have been working hard to make Music Fog a destination that encourages music discovery. We love the people we get to work with, and we love the feedback we have been getting. If I haven’t said thanks to you for being there, let me take this opportunity.

Music Fog now has 3 full years and 7 million hits on the Music Fog YouTube Channel…and counting. It took just 68 days from hitting 6 million to make it to 7 million views!! That said, we still haven’t had sessions with everyone we’d like to film. We are bringing you a classic tune today from Richard Thompson, as today marks the reissue of 1982’s Shoot Out The Lights, from Richard and Linda Thompson.That is a good place to start digging into his catalog, for sure. Ah, but I digress, today’s tune was originally recorded on the 1992 Rumor & Sigh album. There are some things that have great intrinsic and iconic value, and the 1952 Vincent Black Lightning just happens to be one of them. Motorcycles, they scream of the freedom of the road, wind in your hair as you ride the rumble. Here is “1952 Vincent Black Lightning,” from the Cambridge Folk Festival in 2006.

-Jessie Scott

John Fullbright "Fat Man"

Saturday night in Steamboat was epic. So much love in the big tent that it was palpable, especially during the MusicFest Jam. Stoney LaRue started it out and was joined by Cody Canada, Randy Rogers, Wade Bowen, Uncle Lucius, Band Of Heathens, Jason Eady, Midnight River Choir, Jonathan Tyler and a slew of others. I hope you were able to tune in to the webcast on The MusicFest.com page.

Today's shows:

5:20 to 6:40 for Turnpike Troubadours

7:10 to 8:30 it’s Cory Morrow

9:00 to 10:30 the Randy Rogers Band will tear it up, all Mountain Time of course.

I wouldn’t trade this for the world, the opportunity to be part of this community. We get to have extraordinary times with remarkable people; whether I am soloing, like this time (not totally…Sheila Francis, Dave Newman, and photographer Christopher Durst are with me) or whether I am out with my Music Fog compadres at the other events we cover. I am eternally grateful. We bring you a song today from Music Fog’s sessions back in May at Cherokee Creek Music Festival. John Fullbright (you know, he has to take the ride to Steamboat one of these years!) And next year, may the Music Fog Production Crew - Aaron, Beans, Denise and Chris make it back out here too! I am thrilled to report there is a new album coming out with John Fullbright’s name on it. Huzzah! 

Here is a short about it with a snippet of info and a bit of song.

-Jessie Scott

Waco Brothers "Walking on Hell's Roof Looking At The Flowers"

I have been cruising the halls of MusicFest at Steamboat Springs, and hitting venues around town, from The Old Town Pub and The Slopeside to the Steamboat Grand to the MusicFest Tent to the Tugboat, and I can tell you that the music is alive and well at this amazing event. I talked to someone at the bar at the Slopeside who said he had come for the last three years, and wouldn't miss it ever again. This music nourishes you, you have to have it, we are like moths to this flame of honest to goodness stuff that touches your soul.

Today the MusicFest stream from the really big tent is:

2:30 to 3:35 Sons of Bill.

6:15 to 7:40 Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights.

8:10 to 9:30 Stoney LaRue & The Arsenals.

9:30 to 10:30 The MusicFest Jam. It’s all good. 

There is a feeling of warmth that comes from the bonding that occurs here.  It keeps you wrapped in the arms of each other.  It feels safe. It feels like home. Savor the sweet times, for they are often too short. The Waco Brothers express some positives amongst the chaos, “Walking On Hell’s Roof Looking At The Flowers.” Why not, I say. We had the pleasure of catching up with them at the 2011 Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill’s during SXSW this past March. Their next release will be this spring, The Great Chicago Fire, done in conjunction with Paul Burch. We can hardly wait!

- Jessie Scott