Switchback News

May 2012

Dear Switchback Fans,

It was a beautiful April day when Marty decided we'd do some spring cleaning in the van as a surprise to Brian, who was at his home in Iowa.  The more we thought about it -- the funky smells, the unrecognizable clothing, the opaque windows,  the spilled food, the lost CDs -- we knew this job was too big for the two of us.  Who should we call?  This was no small task!  Yes, my friends, there was only one STeamer up to the task!  We needed Cornelia, the German expatriate, to get the job done.  While it's true we've been known to look as far as Japan for a bodhran player, Cornelia had only a short drive from her home in Charlevoix, Michigan to come get us out of this jam.  ("A short drive" is a relative term, of course, and in this case it was a mere eight hours!)  We knew we needed that firm German will to get the job done and there was no turning back now!

If you've ever seen the Switchback van, you'll know I'm not exaggerating when I say we used up an entire parking space just to unload everything so the cleaning could begin.  Cornelia, being an expert detailer, began with the cleaning of the windows.  No easy task, this, as each of them needed some strong elbow grease and at least a double going over.  I began vacuuming the way back, then the back seats, then (gasp!) the dreaded front seats!  Never before has such a nasty area been the birthplace of so much beautiful music.  But we were dedicated and soldiered on.  After a few hours the cargo had been sorted (but not even Marty 

knows quite all that got pitched) and reloaded into the beautiful clean van!  The merchandise was organized and neatly stowed away. The equipment fit easily in the back. Lost objects were found again:  demo CDs, half-written songs, and even a pillow I'd had on my couch at least eight years ago! We even dug up enough change to take the stale blankets, pillows, and tablecloths to the laundry.  The van was pretty fresh and clean for the Songwriters Weekend and the following Kansas run!

I've said it before and I'll say it again, it's a glamorous life being Secretly Famous!!

Christine Pardee

Switchback Road Manager   

Hello Switchback Family,

Last month, my husband David and I were lucky enough to attend the Switchback Songwriters Weekend.  Not only did we get the benefit of being part of such a rewarding weekend, but we got to spend it at the Four Mounds Inn in a secluded area off in its own little world near the Mississippi River.  Switchback fans, if you have not been there, I would strongly suggest you attend next year! It gets your creative juices going, and for those people that think they cannot write a song, you will find that you can do it! I have firsthand experience with that. I actually participated this year and came away with my own song called Butterflies and Flowers.  It is really a rewarding and relaxing weekend as a whole, and I am glad I attended as a participant because it was a completely new experience for me.  You can read all about my Songwriters Weekend experience on the Switchback blog.  Thanks to everyone that made this weekend happen, especially Jan Hoag, our Booking Agent, who was on site to help with anything that came up.  

Well, it just makes me look forward to more traveling to Iowa, which brings me to my next subject, The Mayfly Dance "Dance" on June 22.  We want to fill the dance floor at TJ Hunters in Lansing, Iowa so let's get those dancing shoes on and I hope to see you out there!  Then the day after the dance is the Mayfly Dance Cruise on the evening of June 23.  If you are interested, go to www.waygoodmusic.com for all the details. What a great way to travel down the river, listening to Switchback while looking at the beauty of nature!

You will also want to mark your calendar for September 8-9 when Switchback will debut the orchestral arrangement of "Falling Water River" at The Grand Opera House of Dubuque. Arranged and directed by Paul Hemmer, the music will be performed by the 30-piece Grand Pops Orchestra! 

Sign up for the Ireland tour now!

We've chosen Kinsale, Ireland as our next Traveling Down an Irish Road tour. The dates are October 4-11. Kinsale is on the Irish Riviera and has a rich history as well as some of the best seafood in all of Europe. Air & land price is $2197 per person double occupany from Chicago and includes a guide, coach, full Irish breakfast, a welcome dinner, two dinners at the famous Cabra Castle, a walking tour of historic Kinsale, a visit to Charles Fort, optional excursions and a whole lot more!

Contact Susan Sheehan at Celtic Tours for more details, airfare quotes and reservations by calling 1-800-833-4373 or emailing susans@celtictours.com. Trips are based on 30 passengers and itineraries are subject to change.

Ireland Tour 2012 Reservation Form