I was on the phone with my friend the other day and she said, "You really should write about your crazy schedule. People that aren't traveling musicians don't know what it's like. Personally... I think you're insane."

Until this conversation with my friend I thought it impossible that there could any broad interest in The Sparrow Quartet travel schedule... but maybe there is. I think I agree with her, I'm insane, but still I feel lucky to get to play music for a living. For those of you that are interested this is what the past 2 weeks have looked like, also see the pics of us waitingwaitingwaiting in airports.

7/9 -travel day- fly Nashville to Duluth, MN - Connection in Minneapolis, dinner at an airport café while waiting for delayed flight. Arrive Duluth 12:30am.

7/10 -Big Top Chattaqua Show- noon departure for Duluth airport hotel for two hour drive to Bayfield, WI for No Depression 3pm photoshoot, 4:30pm soundcheck and 7:30pm show. 10:30pm tear down. 11:30pm drive 
two hours back to Duluth airport hotel. Sleep by 2am.
*Country Inn & Suites next to the Duluth airport has a rockin' waterslide that Ben and Bela and I took advantage of...

7/11 -Winnipeg Folk Festival- 4:45am lobby call for shuttle to airport for 7am flight to Winnipeg by way of Minneapolis. Sit on runway for 3hours, flight cancelled. Scramble for new flight. Arrive in Winnipeg 3pm, Bela and I go direct to world music workshop. Sleep in trailer backstage for 2hours, play mainstage set at 9:30pm. Midnight return to hotel.

7/12 -Winnipeg Folk Festival-  10am lobby call for shuttle to festival. Noon workshop in rain and wind...water dripping from our instruments. 2pm shuttle to airport. 3pm flight to Vancouver Island via Calgary. Night off of good food at The Atlas Café and five pin bowling.

7/13 -Vancouver Island Music Fest- 12:45pm banjo workshop, 3:30pm songwriting workshop, 7:30pm mainstage set. 11pm return to hotel pack up and drive 3 hours to Victoria. Asleep by 3am.

7/14 -Benaroya Hall- 9am lobby call to return rental cars and catch the Victoria Clipper ferry to Seattle. Meet my mom in Seattle to borrow van and drive to downtown hotel. 30 min break before walk to venue for soundcheck. 5pm soundcheck, 6:30pm nap, 7:30pm show, opening for Earl Scruggs. Out to dinner with promoter and musicians 
at 11pm. Asleep by 2:30am.

7/15 -Aladdin Theatre- 11am lobby call for 3.5 hour drive to Portland. 3:45pm load in and soundcheck. 5:30pm 20 min nap in van. 8pm show. Asleep by 1am.

7/16 -travel day- lobby call 9am for airport. 11am flight to Boston by way of Chicago. First flight late, miss second flight. Re-booked on later flight. Later flight mechanical problems, fly to Providence instead, rent two cars, asleep in Lowell, MA by 4:30am. Bags lost.

7/17 -Lowell Summer Music Series- 2pm lobby call. Delay departure for bags. 3pm load in. 4:30pm soundcheck. 7:30pm show. Midnight departure for three hour drive to Ancra, NY. In bed by 3am.

7/18 -Greyfox Bluegrass Festival- 9am rehearsal with Uncle Earl.  11am 20 min nap. Noon departure for festival. 2pm mainstage set with Uncle Earl. 4pm dance stage set with Uncle Earl. 7:30pm mainstage set. 11:30pm departure for Albany - slow driving thru torrential rains. In bed by 2am.

7/19 -Vancouver Folk Festival-  5:30am lobby call for airport. Fly Albany to Vancouver, BC by way of Chicago. First flight fine. Second flight sat on runway in rainstorms for an hour, began to accel up ramp and came to a sudden screeching, smoking stop before lifting off. Apparently the engines were running at different speeds. Plane no good. Back to airport, wait on runway for gate. De-plane. New 
plane found. Immediately before boarding crew hours expire, flight cancelled at 2pm. Re-booked standby on oversold 3pm flight... starting to cut close to set time at Vancouver. Last minute confirmation of seats. Arrive Vancouver 6pm. 8:25pm set time.
*Albany flight attendent announces: "Any instruments without passports may not board the plane." And, "Anyone with a Boston Red Sox shirt on can board the plane first."

7/20 -Vancouver Folk Festival/Showcase-  9am departure for 10am workshop with Red Chamber and John Reishman & the Jaybirds. 11:30am media tent for TV interviews. 1:20pm for workshop. 4pm depart festival for Nettwerk Headquarters to play showcase. 8pm leave for airport. 11:10pm flight to Nashville thru Chicago. 5am arrival in Chicago, customs, and now I'm sitting at the gate for a return home to Nashville at 6:40am, arrive Nashville 8am. Go home and sleep!  Repack to leave for another tour 48 hours later... first stop Colorado, Rockygrass.