Thanksgiving Eve 2010...

I just finished checking in with this year's TGE 2010 performers and have started to recruit/invite folks into the annual "ad ho gospel choir." It is going to be a BLAST. We will start rehearsals in two weeks on a lot of great old country gospel tunes like this...

Some treats will include a new gospel song from our own Brian Staubach and the return of great friends like Andy Kelly, Linda Worster and Bert Marshall. I am also delighted that two new performers - but dear souls - are joining the fun: Graham Sturtz and Hal Lefferts. I had the privilege of celebrating Graham's wedding a few years back.

And Hal - well we've known one another on and off since junior high school - and have played music with each other back in the day. He was the lead guitarist in our high school garage band known as "Creepin' Jesus" - and played some acoustic gigs together a few years later, too. It will be a very sweet reunion. (BTW you should check out his totally excellent radio show - WTF - @ robinhoodradio.com/schedule.php)

You can check out these artists here:

+ Hal Lefferts: www.reverbnation.com/hallefferts

+ Bert Marshall: www.gospelofmarkalive.com/music.html

+ Linda Worster: www.lindaworster.com/

+ Andy Kelly: www.berkshireeagle.com/berkshiresweek/ci_16272829

I am hoping a good size "ad hoc gospel choir" will turn up for the group tunes - trying to keep that tradition alive, too. And as I did some research into our "thanksgiving for North American musicians who have gone on to the big band in the sky" we'll remember Solomon Burke, Kate McGarrigle, Leana Horn and some of our brothers in both the Temptation and the Isley Brothers.

So... come on down and support our music and raising funds for emergency fuel in the Berkshires this winter. The fun starts at 7 pm on Thanksgiving Eve: Wednesday, November 24th at First Church on Park Square. Here's a clip from last year...