Heidi Muller News

Bob and I just got back from New England, rolling into Charleston with reports of a Nor’easter chugging toward the place we left behind. Winter is finally here though no one really believes it can last for long, since we were so spoiled by those 70 degree days back in December… and then, of course, there were the groundhog predictions for an early spring. The groundhog rules. But that’s not much comfort to the folks in New York State who have 12 feet of snow…

Down here in Charleston, a little snowfall like 4″ can actually wreak some havoc. It’s an embarrassment to some of us who think we’re winter warriors. And just before we headed north a few days ago, we got one of those snowstorms with luscious fat flakes that set the city spinning. Our good friend at the Charleston Gazette, Doug Imbrogno, sent out his photo crew to take pictures for The Gazz website. He created a lovely little slide show and set it to music, using my own song “Snowdance”. Thanks, Doug!

You can check it out here: http://thegazz.com/snowday/ 

We’re also happy to report that Sunday’s benefit concert for Don Moore’s sawmill was an incredible success! With just 100 people, it is amazing the amount of money that was raised. Folks gave $200 for the cookies and brownies alone. The final report was $9000 coming in just on Sunday. Thank you to everyone! We loved hearing Don Sineti, who is such a personable, barrel-chested, deep-voiced singer — you can see him at Mystic Seaport if you’re up Connecticut way. Thomasina sang so beautifully with her velvet voice, so true to pitch, and playing her collection of dulcimers. We found after singing “Old Joe Clark” that there really was a man named Joe Clark in the audience! Wonder if he has a mule… Jim Sherman who came down from Macchias, Maine, pleased the crowd with his 12-string and singalongs, including his (in)famous “Butter Beans”. Channel 3 from Hartford filmed some music and an interview with Don Moore for the TV news. Don and his boys are a little closer to a new building at the mill and lots more sawdust flying through the air. They send their humble thanks to all.

Take care and cuddle up in these still-cold days. The forsythia is just around the bend…

Sunday, February 11 2:00-4:00 pm — Benefit for Moore’s Sawmill Restoration Fund
Featuring: Don Sineti, Thomasina, Jim Sherman and Heidi Muller & Bob Webb
Help us raise money to rebuild Don Moore’s 5th generation sawmill ca. 1875 that had a terrible fire on January 16.
Marilyn Michaelson Senior Center
300 Park Ave, Bloomfield, CT
Admission: $10 suggested donation (sliding scale - more if you can!)
Info: (860) 658-4040

Linden Tree Coffeehouse, Wakefield, MA
Heidi Muller & Bob Webb split the night with wonderful songwriter Tim Grimm. 8:00 show. The Linden Tree is held at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 326 Main Street, in Wakefield. Admission: $15. For info see www.lindentreecoffeehouse.org.

Friday, February 9 at 6:00 pm Live interview with Marilyn Rae Beyer

On Thursday night, February 8, at 7:00 pm Heidi will return to Gary Martin’s wonderful home for a house concert for the first time in several years. This time will be Bob’s first. Come out for a fun, informal evening of two sets featuring songs from their new Seeing Things CD, with plenty of singing backed by dulcimer, electric cello, mandolin and guitar. For more info on Gary’s concerts, see www.musicbythebay.org.

Wed., February 7, at 7:00 pm — Live interview on “In the Tradition” show with Bettie Carlson

It’s amazing how much you can get done from a computer. I’ve been working on my book project for weeks, publicizing the concerts in New England (check out the Tour Page), booking the next round of work, and today I made out a grant application. But I feel good tonight ’cause something I’ve been cooking up from afar is going to come to pass, and it will make lots of other people feel good, too.

My friend Don Moore, a fellow dulcimer player, runs a sawmill in Bloomfield, Connecticut that’s been passed down in his family for five generations since 1875. Last Friday I found out that a fire broke out on January 16 and took down a good deal of his operation. He and his sons lost about 80% of their ability to produce an income to support their families. Don had just offered to put on a house concert for me and Bob on February 11, before this all happened.

Bob and I felt we had a perfect opportunity to pay Don back for all he’s done for the music community, and his friendly support of my own music. He’s driven to NJ at least twice to surprise me at a concert. He’s encouraged many dulcimer players through his work with the Dulcimer F#olk Association and attending various festivals. We had just visited and taken a tour of his mill last May. So it was a no-brainer to get on the computer last Friday at midnight and see if this house concert could be changed to a benefit. With the help of email and well-connected dulcimer friends in Virginia and Maine, the wheels started to turn…

So I hope any of you who are within shouting distance of Hartford will make the trip next Sunday, Feb. 11 at 2:00 to the Marilyn Michaelson Senior Center at 300 Park Avenue in Bloomfield. Bob and I will be joined by Jim Sherman from Macchias, Maine doing a few rousing singalongs; Don Seneti singing his wonderful sea shanteys; and Thomasina Levy, last year’s Conn. State Troubador and dulcimer player/songwriter. If you can’t make it, consider sending a donation to help us raise the mill, and Don’s spirits, back up again. A building restoration fund has been set up through the generosity of many of the local townspeople and businesses to help restore this historic “oldest family business in Bloomfield”. Checks made payable to Moore’s Sawmill Restoration Fund can be mailed to: Simsbury Bank, P.O. Box 376, Bloomfield CT 06002.

You’ll feel good, too.