Laura O'Kelly: Home

It's been an eventful past few months to say the least! The chicks hatched just fine and are laying now. (As it happens, there's another round to go in the incubator this weekend!) We skipped the annual apple butter making last year; Luke and I were married at his parents' farm this past fall. We've been playing out here and there, mostly very local or private events. It's a good combination of Irish and American folk - real upbeat porch music. We'll get out more as the weather improves and the flock allows. Be sure to check the calendar!

In teaching news, I have some really great fiddle and violin students, and am very excited to have started a Fiddle Ensemble. In the course of doing that I'm also kind of writing my own fiddle book. Should have it done in about ten years or so...reserve your copy now. 8^)

Otherwise, looking forward to this Friday's session at Round Hill!

The short story since March - the garden is in full force. We've had THE BEST tomatoes and peppers thanks to Shawna & Attila at Mountain View Farm. The chickens provide hours of entertainment, but evidently not enough; we've got 45 eggs in the incubator, set to hatch next Friday....

I am excited to announce my return to private teaching! I will be giving fiddle/violin lessons with the Allegro Community Music School in Vint Hill, and also with the Community Music School of the Piedmont in Upperville or thereabouts. Private lessons are just the start, but more on that later. Contact the schools directly if you are interested. (Links are on the links page.)

Speaking of links, sometimes we get the opportunity to meet some really cool musicians who are not only musically gifted but all around good people as well. Just wanted to let you know about a group we met at Beaverstock this summer, the Rust Kings. They call their music "Appalachian Stompgrass" and we think that's pretty fitting. Great music, awesome originals and some of the best vocal harmonies you could hope to hear. You can find their site on the links page as well. Check 'em out!

If you were there, you know what we mean! Thanks to all who came out to Auld Shebeen, McMahon's and Fado's, and congratulations to all of our prizewinners!!! A special congrats to those who won the coveted "Instant Irish Accent Mouth Spray"...'tis grand things we'll be expectin' from ye. Rita, hope you did well at the DC 8k despite a lack of the Unicorn song (no! nay! never!!!). Jim, thanks for everything and send us your chiropractor's bill, heh heh. Lessons from the weekend: If you're stuck in DC at 3 in the morning looking for anyone who'll deliver, look no further than "Good Danny's" pizza AND chinese. The new cornbread pancakes at IHOP are a balm for the hungry southern soul, and the Irish breakfast at McMahon's is tough to beat on either side of the Atlantic. Was there music somewhere between all that food?