April in December...

The annual transition that sees many of us thrust kicking and screaming into the holiday season when we're not quite ready for it, is now complete. Our daughter in Boulder has had a couple of snowfalls already with more on the way. The Thanksgiving leftovers are fully consumed and the GardenFest lights are aglow at Lewis Ginter. And the attic has been emptied of our growing collection of Christmas decorations that are in the process of finding their proper place. Thank goodness for a few musical diversions to season the twelfth month, including Canadian songbird/fiddler April Verch who lights at Ashland Coffee and Tea this Thursday night. If you haven't heard about her, do explore her Website and MySpace page and better still, head to our favorite room on the tracks...old friend Lincoln Meyers will be joining her on guitar. (April Verch photo from her Website)

Adrienne Young returns to AC&T this Saturday, and then Robin & Linda Williams with Their Fine Group (which now includes former King Wilkie fiddler Nick Reeb) are set for a special holiday show on December 13th. Want a pair of tickets? Just email me (mail@timtimberlake.com) and tell me the year R & L first appeared on Prairie Home Companion. I'll draw from all correct responses on December 8th. Let me encourage you to get out to some of these great shows at AC&T before they fall prey to this deadly economy. Listening rooms like this Ashland jewel are closing all over the country for lack of audience and the only thing that can turn that train around is more passengers, like us. As your gift to those who serve up this live music we love...catch a couple December performances. It'll feel good.

Also on the 13th, Jackass Flats is back at The National downtown after their successful CD launch back in August. The Richmond-based bluegrass band's latest project is an ambitious one that represents lots of woodshedding. A bunch of originals ranging from crankin' instrumentals to some pretty progressive stuff like "The World Today" reveal musicians striving for the next level. This ought to make that happen for Travis Rinehart, Stephen Kuester, Eddie Carlton and Joe Bird. Nice guys...nice work.

Finally this go around I'll announce another chance for free tickets that might end up in someone's Christmas stocking. Robin & Linda Williams, the Shenandoah Valley's touring lovebirds will swing back this way yet again on January 18th at the Landmark Theater as the Modlin Center for the Arts presents America's favorite storyteller Garrison Keillor. Robin & Linda are regulars on Garrison's enduring and endearing public radio show, Prairie Home Companion. They appeared in the Robert Altman feature film of the same name and Mr. Keillor even produced the real-life duo's 2002 album Visions of Love. Now if you can tell me who played fiddle and mandolin on that project (hint: he did one of our JAMinc/InYourEar Studio Concerts back in 2006) I've got two comps for you and yours. Again, if we have multiple correct answers, I'll do a drawing on December 15th. (Keillor photo by Brian Velenchenko)

Finish your musical year with Page Wilson's Out O' The Blue Radio Revue on Saturday, the 27th from 8-10pm on 88.9 WCVE as he welcomes Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers to the Chickahominy Swamp kitchen. I was there and it was delectable...

TT