Sunny skies, spirited nights - June 10

River to River NYC - A riff in the park

Crossing the sound

Tuck & Nutty on & off stage

Amanda on waterfront at sunset, NYC

Westhampton Beach was a joy to walk around - a picture book coastal town amidst flowers in the sunshine, with an equally spectacular theatre. The show there was our first as a double bill with Renaissance, and it was the first time we connected with Annie and her team. Her voice was as pure and strong as ever. There was a combination of two crews working together and a shared drum kit, and all went smoothly - long live peace and love!

NYC traffic is legendarily difficult to negotiate as toll booths abound, or so it seems for all those who dare to enter the portals of the great metropolis. So the following morning at the suggestion of our crew chiefs Brian Coles and Richard Buckland we took the ferry across Long Island Sound instead. A 'Brianwave' as it turned out! We were blessed with blue skies, a cloudless day and calm waters... The short trip across the sound was breathtaking and uplifting.

After an enjoyable drive into lush wooded hills we reached Norfolk in Connecticut, where our hotel turned out to be a manor house that was old world charm itself. Mark Twain stayed in this very same place.

The show at Infinity Music Hall was a corker - a small gig with a big heart. The band played a blinder where once again the crowd were warm as the extended family they are. The venue has the atmosphere of a Victorian music hall and apparently has a benevolent female ghost.

Back at the old hotel the owner Mike relayed both personal and reported experiences of ghost sightings as we were held spellbound. We were utterly charmed by the hotel and felt we were only skimming the surface of the place. It's an extraordinary area where haunted buildings are surrounded by forests in which moose and bears still roam. I can't wait to return...

Our next stop - driving deep into Arlington Massachusetts for what is generally referred to as the Boston show, things were starting to blur a little. "What day is it? What time is it? Tour o'clock captain and all's well"... Both our band and hard working crew were on fine form at the Regent Theatre where we pulled off what's generally agreed to be the best version of Still Waters thus far.

Thank goodness the weather held out the following day for our outdoor New York show at the River to River festival, from where the Statue of Liberty could be seen standing tall and proud. The two bands were limited to 45 minute sets each because of curfew restrictions, but both audience and performers enjoyed themselves immensely - it felt like a picnic in the park put to music. We managed to hook up with Ian MacDonald of Court of the Crimson King fame along with several other pals.

As the sun set over the Hudson River we hurtled into the night for another 75 miles towards our next destination...

Gary plays in the park, NYC

Steve with Jo and distant Statue of Liberty