I’ve been constantly ranting about the measly “day and a half” we got of summer for the past month or so, and it finally came back to bite me. We had an early rain last weekend. And it’s probably going to rain again this weekend. Possibly. Likely. Or at least, on Saturday, during the seventh annual (yup, seven years folks) Post-Harvest Party at Roudon-Smith Winery in Scotts Valley. About ten years ago, at a KPIG Fat Fry concert, I witnessed how electrical amplification and rain get along: Water had to be squeegeed off the stage between bands (not a comforting site), and it reached it’s peak when Richard Thompson was halfway into “Vincent Black Lightning”. There was a very loud “POP’, the power died, and Thompson carefully (and wisely) backed away from the stage, never to return for the rest of the day.

We weren’t sure how to prevent a similar event (electrocution, not a KPIG Fat Fry) in the event of rain this weekend. Then Annette Hunt, owner of the winery, had a brilliant idea (she’s good for those). We’ll play in the winery warehouse, behind the tasting room. We’re treating this like a house concert. It’ll be intimate, we’ll use minimal amplification so there’s less gear to hall, it’ll be warmer than outside, and we’ll be closer to the restroom (all pluses in my book).

Roudon-Smith Winery when it’s not raining

Music starts at noon, and the day’s performers include Rob Hastings, Michelle Chappel, The Babiarz-Scott Band, and a band set from us. I’ll also be playing MC for the day. A complete schedule is on my Shows page. Admission is free, food will be available on site, and wine tasting is $5.00. Roudon-Smith Winery is at 2364 Bean Creek Road in Scotts Valley. This is our last band set on the books for awhile. Hope you can join us. Should be a blast up there, as always.

And did I mention I don’t have to haul as much gear?