traveling alone has been a very interesting experience for me. it’s challenging spending so much time alone. but hopefully i am starting to get used to it.

now that i’m not constantly around family and friends, i have a lot more free time on my hands. this is good because i’m not just booking and playing shows. i actually have time to explore a bit and start reading the many books i brought with me.

in new orleans i had the opportunity to play at an amazing coffee house called fair grinds. robert, the owner, is an amazing person. i wish him and his coffee house a great future. i spent the night in new orleans at a rapper’s house who works on tugboats by day. how amazing is that? he sampled some of my violin for one of his tracks.

fairgrinds

in birmingham i played at mecca fest iii. it’s a benefit show to help out the daniel day dream mecca art gallery. hearing the band voices in the trees was a fantastic experience. they are all very talented and energetic musicians.

trees

but it’s their viola player that tops the cake. she’s probably the only other string player i’ve seen that moves around as much as me. she claims it was to keep warm but i know that’s not true “;-)

viola

i’m in montgomery alabama right now enjoying a cup of coffee while working on booking more shows. do-it-myself touring like this is very challenging but it’s worth it when i get to play music for so many great people. i know that i’ve touched a few hearts with my violin and that makes all the difference.

-marc