Tom & Tara Dunphy

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Sunday night in Austin at C-Boys on south Congress. One of those infamous hole in the wall bars with Tom and Tara Dunphy of London's Rizdales playing.

Tom & Tara w Dale

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We got to see Tom & Tara Dunphy of the London band, the Rizdales, sing a couple of tunes with Dale Watson at the Ameripolitan Revue held today at the ABGB just a short bike ride away.... the Canadian invasion!

Sunny & Brennen

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Tuesday is often a slow night, but not in Austin. We caught Brennen Leigh and Sunny Sweeney at an 8:00 acoustic show at the Saxon Pub -- we biked over, it's a short ride from our vacation stay. It was basically a song swap with Sophia Johnson (who we had seen with Whitney Rose) playing along. This was probably the best show we've seen so far with an appreciative audience who listened to the music ... far too often bars are loud and noisy as patron shout at one another over top of the progressively louder music which attempts to drown out them out.

They sang some very funny songs like one about being a "trophy" wife, wanting to be a old lady driving a really big car real slow. And classics like "Honky Tonk Angels".

What made the event extra special was a guest appearance by Ray Benson who started off with a finger pickin' blues number by Mississippi John Hurt. He then brought the house down when he played his favorite song: Guy Clark's Dublin Blues. I've know about Ray Benson but had him pegged as a silky toned swing artist. He really opened my eyes to another side which I really liked and will need to explore.

We talked with Sophia, she's a Brit and has only been in the country a year or so, nevertheless she has a tattoo of Texas on her arm. We asked about her playing with Whitney Rose, she said sure and there's her husband over there who drums for Whitney who we had seen in Gruene over the weekend, and by the way did you see Whitney here tonight? And my band is playing at the Whitehorse later this wee. Small world here in Austin.

Brennen and Sunny gig around town and we already have plans to see them again. I wonder who we'll bump into there?

Whitney Rose

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Thursday night found us at the early show at the Continental Club where Whitney Rose performed songs from her two albums, some covers and some new tunes.

I didn't know about this artist before this trip to Austin and was very impressed with what I saw. She sings true country with classic melodies and an incredible delivery. She has a powerful voice with a great range. Her version of "Stand by Your Man" was a real stand out. You might fit her in the Ameripolitan genre or just classic country.

I was also pleasantly surprised to discover that Whitney is Canadian -- PEI and Toronto only lately in Austin. In some ways she reminds me of another Canadian, Lindi Oretga, who has a similar style.

The band she's performing with are all excellent players as well but I didn't catch their names. But no, it's not those guys from the Mavericks who perform on her second album "Heartbreaker of the Year".

This is a performer to watch out for. She's going places and should do well.

Joe Ely

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Kate and I got to see Joe Ely with Joel Guzman at Strange Brew here in Austin. Some great tunes that can move you to tears in a great venue where people actually listen to the music.

We'll be there again for more concerts.

Jan den Boer

Our dear friend and cousin Jan den Boer passed away recently. Jan was Kate's first cousin and a life long chum. Kate and I have collected some of our photos into an album which should be shared -- see below.

The obituary, which ran in the Toronto Star and the Portage Daily Graphic (Portage la Prairie was Jan's childhood home) reads:

JANICE MARGARET den BOER (nee RITCHIE) In loving memory of Jan den Boer who passed away peacefully at McNally House Hospice in Grimsby on Saturday, January 9, 2016. Jan was born in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, but spent most of her adult years in Ontario where in addition to years of working in marketing, she enjoyed cooking, golf, fashion and shopping. She was the beloved daughter of the late Elmo and Dorothy ("Dot") Ritchie and loved sister of Jack Ritchie of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Jan will be greatly missed by her family: nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, cousins and her many, many friends. She will be forever remembered for her kindness, generosity, ready smile and sense of humour, as well as the strength and bravery with which she faced her illness. A special thanks to the staff and volunteers of McNally House Hospice for their ongoing support and compassionate care and to other medical staff who provided exceptional care. Donations in Jan's memory may be made to McNally House Hospice.  A private celebration of Jan's life will be held at a later date.

Melbourne Street Art

Kate and I visited Melbourne (Victoria, Australia) for 5 weeks in November and December of 2015. There's lots of street art that caught my eye -- I include some posters. I am not keen on tagging. These are mostly straight up with little editing -- some tuning, some perspective control, some cropping, some stitching, etc. Of the many artists' works I really can't say who is responsible for what. Only that I found these interesting.

Here's an album of street art.