Hello friends,
Has it really been four months since I've written one of these, an Oona Notes? I've been doing quite a bit musically and I have a lot I want to tell you. But also, there's so much wrong being done in the world that it's been hard to find words to talk about music. But I'll give it a try.
First and foremost, my duo Drank The Gold has been working really hard on some news - to be announced so so soon (hint: tune in to wextradio.org this evening [Tuesday 4/29] around 7pm ET for a sneak peek).
What we can tell you is that we are super excited to be playing a concert at Caffe Lena on Sunday, March 11th, and we hope you'll join us. We've been developing a lot of new material and our hometown listening room will be a very special place to show it off.
TICKETS for Drank The Gold @ Caffe Lena 5/11/25
Besides the Caffe Lena concert I have lots of other great music on the horizon - check out my full calendar listing HERE.
Since I last wrote, James and I taught a well received Irish Music Ensemble class for adults and anyone available Wednesdays at lunchtime. We are offering a second round this May and the first week of June and we welcome returning students and new folks alike. If you play any instrument typically found in Irish music (melody or harmony) and are comfortable learning by ear, we'd love to have you jump in. Please send me questions if you are interested.
IRISH MUSIC ENSEMBLE at Caffe Lena, May 7 - June 4, Wednesdays noon-1:30 pm
We also have three summer music camps on deck for July - two for youth at Caffe Lena - plus we're joining the fantastic staff roster at GrassRoots Culture Camp in the Ithaca area. I'll write more on that in another message, but check out all my educational offerings HERE.
Lately I've been fully embracing my plant lady destiny. This spring I am yet again amazed watching the leaves sprouting and flowers begin to bloom. Perhaps you would like to hear about a few of this month's stand outs?
The fig tree [below] completely lost it's leaves and stayed a bare twig all winter. I put it out into the cold back room, not quite knowing how to treat a plant in dormancy, and half terrified it had died. But, low and behold, sometime in march I spied a bit of green poking out and brought it back to the light and warm, and now it is growing gangbusters!
This orchid [above] is from a group of orphans that I rescued from the side of the road. Walking home from town one night a couple of years ago, I discovered that someone had left a whole tray of non-blooming orchids on the curb, and couldn't help myself but to carry them home. Some didn't make it, but with expert coaching from Rosie Newton (remember that they come from the rainforest, where they grow on the sides of trees - in bark and moss, not dirt - and try to emulate that environment for them as much as possible – water the whole plant including leaves with warm water – no ice cubes, please!) I have ended up with a nice collection on my dining room table. One bloomed last spring and I gave it to my mom for Mother's Day, and now the rest of the flock has either started to bloom or has buds and will get to it in good time.
Tending orchids has been a great reminder that everything/one works at their own pace and good things come to those who wait. In a lot of ways I can relate - I have many ideas percolating, most unseen, and they seem to take their good time to bloom (no matter how impatient I feel to get them out sooner!)
THIS JUST IN:
James and I and our pal Pádraig Timoney are excited to transition our monthly Irish night at The Inn at Saratoga back to an Irish session. For those that remember our Inn sessions from before the pandemic, this will look a little different (we'll be in the bar room under the ship) but we hope to bring the same energy and inspiration from those good old days!
It'll be Tuesday, May 6th, 7-9 pm (and 1st Tuesdays of the month going forward). Please come in to check it out - if you are a musician who knows some Irish tunes, we invited you to bring your instrument but please know that space is limited and we may not have spots for everyone to play at the same time. We'll be prioritizing seats for melody players and may ask that folks take turns and swap in and out in order to get everyone playing. It'll be fun and chaotic and so good to play with you all!
We also invite folks to come listen - part of a session (and all performance) is the interplay between the musicians and the listeners. Did we even play if no one heard us?
LOOKING AHEAD:
Drank The Gold will be the resident band on the Schooner American Eagle once again this September, and we invite you to join us on this grand adventure. It's a wonderful few days of sailing on a 90+ foot wooden boat in the Penobscot Bay off the coast of Maine, feasting our senses on delicious food and gorgeous scenery, with some tunes and songs from me and James every afternoon and evening.
Look up the Celtic Isles trip beginning September 21st for more information.
I promise I won't take so long to write again. I've got lots more to tell you about Drank The Gold and The Millstone Rounders (who didn't even make it into today's story!) and yet unnamed other projects. If you know of a place you'd love to see us play, give me a shout. I look forward to meeting you on the dusty trail and I always love to hear from you if you feel like dropping a line!
xo Oona
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