The American Spirit (Is Trapped in the Ice)

The story The American Spirit is a Lake Erie ore boat that had one more trip in January 2026 before docking for the winter. As it made it's voyage west to Toledo, the lake began to freeze with 40 knot gales spraying lake water that would soon freeze to the side of the boat causing instability.Meanwhile a little further north in…

By admin February 13, 2026New MixFARM, Folk Alliance International, folk alliance region midwest, folk music, great lakes, human rights, Ice, ore boat, protest, roots of american musiic, Ships, songwriting, topical musicNo Comments

New Mix Song Spotlight

Hold Me Close

Hold Me Close- Performed by Becca Rhoades and Charlie Mosbrook Something I have been doing a lot of lately is to open old recording projects and give them a fresh mix to reflect my current knowledge of mixing and the tools available to me. This song Hold Me Close was written by Avin Baird. I asked Becca Rhodes to share the…

By admin February 4, 2026New Mix, Song SpotlightA Time Long Gone, avin baird, Becca Rhoades, folk music, norma troy, Red Brick Rhoades, songwritingNo Comments

The American Courage Lake Freighter in the Cuyahoga

New Mix

The American Spirit is trapped in the Ice

The American Spirit is a great lakes freighter that had to make one last run before returning to Toledo to layup for the winter. The boat got caught in the ice. It struggled for some time, but eventually got free of the ice. Perseverance. Steady on. We will break through. Earlier Mixes With Mandolin, Accordion and second vocal Original recording without…

By admin January 30, 2026New Mixamerican spirit, folk music, freighter, Ice, lake erie, Minneapolis, ore boat, song, topical musicNo Comments

New Mix Song Spotlight

I will be coming home to you

I Will Be coming Home to You is on the Something to Believe CD with Avin Baird and Steve Inglish (Mr Downchild). It was written from the road when I was trying to reassure my wife (Future wife at the time) that I would be returning home soon. We were a new couple at the time, soon had different interpretations. I…

By admin January 4, 2026New Mix, Song Spotlightdistant love, folk music, home, homecoming, returning home, silly, vacation home, welcome homeNo Comments

New Mix trad.

The Water Is Wide

The Water Is Wide is a traditional British folk song also known as Waly Waly.I developed my version from Avin Baird. I always loved when she performed it and eventually developed my own with her help. As my finger picking became more intentional, this song became a staple in my sets. Today it appears from time to time in my live…

By admin December 1, 2025New Mix, trad.british folk song, carla bonoff, FARM, Folk Alliance International, folk alliance region midwest, folk music, james taylor, roots of american musiic, stop the hateNo Comments

New Mix trad.

I Bid You Goodnight

I bid You Goodnight is a Bahamian spiritual by Joseph Spence. It's origins go further back than that, but his take on the song was picked up by a string of others. Mine mostly resembles the Grateful Dead or Aaron Neville versions because that is what I was listening to when I first heard it. The song quickly became my automatic…

By admin November 24, 2025New Mix, trad.aaron neville, American Folk Life, coventry Arabica, FARM, Folk Alliance International, folk alliance region midwest, folk music, goodnight, grateful dead, joseph spence, open mic, roots of american musiic, trad., traditional spirituals, We bid you goodnightNo Comments

New Mix

Minister Creek

In my free time of late I have been doing a lot of recording. I want to get better at the recording craft and the art of mixing. That happens by doing it. the simplest subject matter is my own music. These recordings are exclusive content on my website. I will be adding these routinely. This is a recording of Minister…

By admin September 27, 2025New Mixcleveland, compression, david grisman, folk music, jerry garcia, minister creek, recording, songs, songwriting, telarc, tom anderson