My greatest moments this year were the fruits of organizing Showcase and Circle of Song with Matt Fried. En-route to the working waterfront where festival-goers could sail on the 106' Sloop Clearwater, we had an amazing vibe. For the first time, we brought new artists with a strong Hudson Valley connection, unknown to some, but hardly all. Please check out these artists websites and their work. You may find great pleasure there.

Fred Gillen Jr.
Jack and Daria Grace
Stephan Smith
Carol Thomas
Ryan Montbleau
Peter Prince
James Durst
K.J. Denhert
Peggy Atwood
Alan Bennett
Ricky Commins
Todd Giudice
Noah Hoffeld
Andy Revkin, A great musician and an environmental writer for the New York Times

My first set this year as a performer was on Saturday afternoon on the Family Stage and was a real treat. Travelling into that kids courtyard is fun. You turn a corner from typical vending tables into bouncing, jumping, running kids area. I was welcomed running into rocker/kids star Dan Zanes. What a cool guy. Kevin Hupp joined me on dumbek and vocals in a set that included "Ice Cream Song", "Oh Bla Di, Oh Bla Da" (the Beatles, as if you didn't know), "Favorite Tune". "Hinei Mah Tov", "Aiko Aiko" and "Siyahamba".

Saturday night on the Hudson Stage was a peak. I was joined by Stephan Smith, violinist extraordinaire. We covered 'Aiko Aiko' on mandolin, violin and voice. The frequencies open ears and hearts. Carol Thomas lent her shimmering voice alongside Noah Hoffeld's soulful cello for a set that included: "Jimmy", "Joker's Life", "Dear Mr. President", "Wind Lift Me", "Hobo Boy", "Buffalohead" and we closed with Dylan's "Forever Young." Pete Seeger and friends had been on before and there had been a lot of excitement. Everyone was behind Pete on his celebratory 85th year on Earth. After a 45 minute intermission, folks left following him and some came back, filling the tent and lawn and giving great vibes to us on the stage as the wind whipped and the sun dropped.

On Sunday, Kevin Hupp joined me to perform Jewish Soul Music at Circle of Song. We played many songs from our recent record: Mandolin Caravan's "Desert Soul". People swarmed to hear Hebrew songs from Yemen, Iraq, Morroco, Lithuania, and the United States (a Sephardic 'Dayenu' with a little Zeppelin "Kashmir" composed by yours truly).

My favorite moments at Circle of Song were Ireland's Tommy Sands: a True-badour, The Woody Guthrie Tribute led by Tribes Hill's Fred Gillen Jr., Todd Giudice, and Steve Kirkman with Pete Seeger in the audience, Walkabout Clearwater Chorus, who run a coffeehouse every second saturday/month at the Harvey School in Katonah, actually physically making a circle of song. Bravo! I loved hearing Catie Curtis and Kris Delmhorst lead everyone in a spirited rendition of Mike Scott's "Fisherman's Blues". Guy Davis was a bullseye leading call and response in the sweet style of country blues. Perfect with a pilsner, Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams (slambovia.com) were triumphant leading a packed crowd in their hillbilly/psychedelia/roots rock renditions. A fine sing-along indeed!

A big hooray to Dar Williams for putting spark in the Revival this year.

A lot of people ask me what my greatest gig was? In the context of this year's Clearwater experience, the greatest "gig" I think I ever did was songleading a parade with my friends George "Hoppy" Robinson (I miss you!!) and Lliam Greguez (in the B/W picture with Pete Seeger at Lincoln Center. Lliam and I are standing together. I am wearing a Keith Haring "Apartheid" shirt.) Hoppy, Lliam and I led 1000ish physically challenged people from Grand Central Station to Madison Avenue Park near the Flat Iron Building singing about their rights and needs. We were in wheelchairs, on crutches, blind, deaf and mentally retarded. We sang Pete's, King's and Heschel's classics. There was great spirtit and compassion there. Put all the volunteers at Clearwater together and their connection to doing the right thing, all the good people of the Hudson Valley, add good weather and you have a good future Clearwater.

We do have great threats upon us, and most all agree we are to close Indian Point (or it's too close to us).
Why?
It is Al-Qaeda's primary New York target.

We live in the darkest of times. The Great Hudson River Revival is a delight and treasure for our community. Support Clearwater.

Be well,
Matt Turk

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