Helen McCookerybook And Her 2015 North Carolina Sojourn

Hello All-

My great friend Helen McCookerybook came over to North Carolina last year to play and record with her friend Martin Stephenson, and we referred to as "The Two Jim's." Helen has posted four of her recordings over at her Bandcamp page. Here is links to her blog about the recordings and trip. Come back soon, Helen!

-Daniel
November 13, 2016

http://mccookerybook.blogspot.com/2016/11/from-last-year-in-north-carolina.html 

http://mccookerybook.blogspot.com/2016/11/the-old-house-circle-ep.html 

Some Recent B&W Film Pics of Martin Stephenson And Friends

Martin Stephenson
Helen McCookerybook
and the two Jims
Hiltons, VA
and near Concord, NC
Ilford B&W HP5 400 speed film
All photos copyright 2015 Daniel Coston

 

Martin Stephenson And Friends US Tour Photos, September 2015

Martin Stephenson
Helen McCookerybook
and the two Jim's
NC, VA, and other places
September 2015
All photos copyright 2015 Daniel Coston

Martin Stephenson & Helen McCookerybook's Recent US Tour

With lots of business going on lately, I haven’t had the chance to write about recent visits from Martin Stephenson, Helen McCookerybook and others. I first met Martin in 2002, as he was visiting North Carolina from his native England to finish work on an album. I ended up contributing photos to that album, the Haint Of The Budded Rose, and have been friends with Martin ever since. 

It had been nine years since Martin and his friend Helen had visited the US, so it was a surprise when Martin emailed me over the summer to ask if I could put together some tour dates for him. We settled on the first week of September, and he recommended contacting some friends. Before too long, we had a tour with three shows lined up, as well as a visit to the Carter Family Fold (where I had taken Martin to in 2004), and a quiet ice cream social with friends. I even recommended a recording session with my friend Chris Garges at Old House Studios. I even provided transportation from the airport when they flew in. 

I have to say that the tour went really well. The goal of the trip from Martin and his friends was to experience the Southern US, and to have a good time. And they succeeded on evey count. And I took lots of photos, along the way. The recording session went especially well, and you can hear some of those recordings now on Martin’s Soundcloud page. I have to admit that I felt a bit of sadness when the band left to head home. It’s that moment that all of the fun, and all of the planning, was now at an end. But for a first time booking a (mini) tour, I couldn’t have asked for better. 

I’ll post some photos soon. Cheers to Martin, Helen and the two Jims that accompanied them on the trip. Roll up, roll up! Let’s do it again sometime soon.

-Daniel

September 14, 2015