Re: [Harp-L] Memphis Hill Country Blues Harmonica Homecoming Travel Tips

[Cara Cooke <cyberharp@xxxxxxxxx>]

Billy,
If you are truly interested in visiting Austin, we also may be able to cater
to some of your other interests, as well.  The Texas Memorial Museum on the
UT campus (plus a presidential library/museum, if you are interested), a
wide variety of caverns in the Central Texas area, pretty views and natural
areas, and the urban bat population should be flying about that time.
(Austin is home to the largest urban Mexican Free-tail bat population.  They
live and raise their young under our bridges and such.)

If you want to visit some of these things, you will probably want to get a
car.  Check on the internet for the types of things that you would like to
see here when you come and get a feel for the distances.  Nothing is too far
away by Texas (or Australian) standards, but you won't want to walk it.

The sites can occupy your day and the music from great harmonica players can
fill your night.

Cara Cooke

On Thu, Feb 18, 2010 at 10:50 AM, michael rubin <
michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Billy,
> I live in Austin as does Bill Frain, Jimi Lee, Guy Forsythe, Cara
> Cooke, Greg Izor, Dale Spalding, Mel Davis, Andrew Halbreich, Jose
> Ruiz, Brad Trainham, Bonzai.  Tim Moyer and James Cotton live in the
> burbs.
>
> However to consider Austin a blues town anymore is not really
> accurate.  Antones will have a blues show about once a month but is
> really a rock club.  In the East side is TC's Lounge, that has a
> regular Monday night blues show that is a happening and they have
> blues sporadically on other nights.  There are around 5 blues jams on
> Sunday.  Although we have many many live music venues and many of them
> will hire blues bands, there are no real blues clubs save TC's.
>
> Still, come to town and see many great musicians.  Give me a call and
> we can share coffee and/or food.  I know Jimi Lee and I give lessons
> if you are interested, I can get you in touch with Jimi.  Also, I
> would be happy to look at the club listings for every night you are
> here and give you my best picks for the night.
>
> Austin is a great town with a great blues history.  When I moved here
> in 93 it was unreal how many incredible blues bands were playing every
> night.  Austin is still a great town.
> Michael Rubin
> Michaelrubinharmonica.com
>
>
> On 2/17/10, Billy James <billyjames@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > I am intending on flying over to enjoy Adam Gussows Hill Country Blues
> Harmonica Homecoming weekend in mid May. I'm curious if any other
> participants would be interested in sharing accomodation and transport costs
> to extend a stay into visiting the legendary delta towns and exploring
> historical sights of the blues etc?
> > Flying up from Australia, I would be really interested in any touring
> options re: Blues harpin' gigs/jams/jukes, especially places to stay
> cheaply, hostels etc. Also any contact offline, by other Australian or
> International participants will be appreciated.
> > I really enjoy the music of this particular region however, since I am
> intending this first visit to the U.S.A. all options are open to
> consideration eg: possibly the Austin Texas blues scene, apparently home of
> Antones, Bill Frain and the late great Gary Primich ? Whats that like? Any
> other suggestions about what to check out over there [probably in states
> reasonably close to Mississippi] will be gratefully recieved, I'm open to
> anything interesting from the blues to indian historical culture to natural
> landscape beauty. P.S : I'll definately await the Harpers International Gig
> list for May for 2010.Sincere thanks for any help, Billy James
> www.myspace.com/thedeltaampsbluesband
> >
>
>