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a-simple-imagine · 4 years

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Stay With Me

Synopsis: Y/N tries to convince Rose to give up on Abra (Set during the events of the movie Doctor Sleep)

Pairing: Rose the Hat x True Knot member fem!reader

Words: 3k

A/N - I’m told I shouldn’t be in love with Rose the Hat because she like tortures kids or whatever but I see that as like a minor flaw. My new calling in life is writing Rose the Hat stories for a niche market of one

Warnings - Swearing, sexual themes, blood, mentions of violence, murder and pain. Doctor Sleep spoilers I guess??

It had been years and yet you could recall the day she turned you like it was yesterday. From Crow Daddy abducting you to waking up in a bed you didn't recognise. A place you didn't recognise. You remember the fear that coursed through your veins as she approached you. Her bracelets jangling with each step. Her style was very bohemian; it suited her well. A hat sat on top of her mangled brown locks. A cup steamed between her palms. She didn't look like a creepy psychopath, in fact, she was probably the most beautiful woman you had ever seen but looks could be deceiving and you could sense her intentions weren't pure. Ever since you were little you had been able to sense danger. It always started as a weird pull deep in your stomach. The closer the connection to the person the more intense it would become and this woman was like a bright red warning sign. However, every word that came out of her mouth was calculated but gentle. She spoke with such care that it was weird to experience. This woman sat down next to you, her eyes drifting over you. She smelt... earthy? Not in a bad way, it was intoxicating. She made you an offer that you couldn't refuse unless you wanted to be their dinner. The ritual that followed caused pain so intense you felt like your head was about to explode. Every cell in your body burning you alive. Trying to destroy you. She told you it wouldn't hurt; no fear but this was horrifying. Fingertips pressed into your skin as she tried to keep you focused as you writhed around. Nails scraping the ground like it would somehow help. Tears streamed down your face as your grip on reality faded away; desperate for a breath of fresh air. To this very day, you've never felt anything quite like that and you never wanted to again. It was perhaps a fate worse than death.

Eat Well. Live long.

Things had certainly changed since then. It had taken you a lot of soul searching to adjust to being part of the True Knot but over time they had become your family. You still didn't quite have the stomach for snatching children or the atrocities that followed but you had come to understand that the world wasn't so black and white. Most of life sat in the grey area in between. With lives as long as yours and connections vast, consequences no longer existed. The shine was a rarity that was purest in children. The steam they produce is vital for your survival, it's nothing more than hunting for food. Rubes kill animals for food what’s the difference? Or at least that's how you rationalised the situation. Maybe you had just become numb to it all. You personally never actually hurt anyone. Rose had always had a sort of soft spot for you and you liked to use it to your advantage. She had never forced you to do anything you didn't want to which was primarily all the sadistic, gritty tasks. However, you would do the grocery shopping whenever somebody asked or you enjoyed cooking so big meals were never an issue. Why you still ate normal food was beyond you but they got a kick out of it. Helping with the day to day tasks made you feel like you were still helping out. It was unsurprisingly hard to watch somebody you were so utterly enthralled with do such horrid things. Often you'd find yourself diverting your eyes only to hear the cries of terror. Pain purifies steam so does fear. You don't understand why but it was part of the process. You could practically feel the pleasure she derived from it in every shotgun kiss shared between the two of you. The embraces could be considered magical. They made your heart melt and tasted like the greatest thing in the world; always left you craving more steam and craving her. She was always so intimate with you and over time you let yourself fall so stupidly in love with a complete monster. Rose the Hat was many things. She could be described as evil, manipulative, even intimidatingly disgusting. She had done awful things that your heart seemed to so easily ignore just because she was also rather charming. She genuinely cared for the people in her life; she was almost motherly towards them. And she was certainly very easy on the eyes. You adored her in ways you had never experienced before.

"You doin' okay, my sweet?" Rose's voice drifts into your ears bringing a small smile to your lips. You glance back at her from your spot on the edge of the watchtower, swaying your legs in a repetitive motion. She was in her usual spot, legs crossed for meditation. She looked so pretty and peaceful.

"Mhmm. Just thinking about life." You admit softly, turning back to nature. You enjoyed being up here. Rose, on the other hand, didn't like it so much when you disturbed her and often you'd respect her authority. But sometimes you came up here when she wasn't too busy or just to relax alone. It helped clear your head when you watched the others. That smile faded away as you feel a pit in your stomach grow. You had been sitting on an uneasy feeling for a while now but you had decided against telling her. The sole reason for staying behind was to comfort her the way she always did for you. Before you could warn her, Rose just started groaning uncomfortably loud. Scrambling up, you rush to her side. Whatever was happening, she seemed to be in excruciating pain. Shit, she was probably gonna be mad that you didn't warn her. With such a faint feeling, you never expected anything major. Maybe the lack of steam was affecting you more than you thought. When she finally calmed down, she remained still breathing heavily. You placed your hand on her back but she shoved you away, climbing down the ladder. You follow quickly behind her; keeping a reasonable distance between the two of you.

"Crow has her." She growls; a bitter unforgiving anger laced in her otherwise beautiful voice. "The others... didn't make it."

Your brow furrows but you don't dare ask what happened. It had become pretty clear anyway so there wasn’t a need for details. You cautiously walk up behind her, wrapping her in your arms and placing a chaste kiss against her back. In response, she took one of your hands and brought it to her lips. "I..." Trailing off before so much as a full word is uttered, you hesitate to continue. You can't imagine she'll like what you have to say even with the best of intentions. "Rosie... I'm glad you stayed behind."

Her body tenses and you instantly regret having said anything at all. It was completely selfish and yet still so still true. The others were like family but your connection with them was nothing compared to your feelings for Rose. Although You had struck up quite a bond with snakebite Andi. Forcing her way out of your grip, she disappears into her Earth Camper and you decide not to follow her just yet. Instead, plopping down on a fold-out chair, you stare up at the pink and purple hues that coloured the sky. If you just left her alone, maybe she would calm down a little. You can't even begin to imagine how she must be feeling right now having endured all that. You still felt sick which wasn't a good sign. If you were at full strength maybe you could have predicted this but Rose was right in saying you haven't been eating well. Not for a long time. You finally work up the courage to go inside, peeking your head in first before barging in. Your lover was just sitting there staring out the window into the woods. She sighs loudly. "What's gonna happen to him?"

You're surprised she even talks to you as you come to a stop. "I'm not sure," you shrug. "but it's obviously not good." You approach her cautiously, looking out into the woods. There was once a time where being out here would have creeped you out but now you were the monsters that lurked in the dark. "You wanna take a nap with me? Crow won't be back for hours and you're just gonna drive yourself crazy sitting here." You take her silence as a no and so you leave her be. Climbing into her bed so you could keep an eye on her. You liked how small her bed was - if you could call it that - it always made you feel closer to her. It doesn't take long for you to drift off, you hadn't exactly been bursting with energy lately.

A blood-curdling shriek dragged you kicking and screaming back to reality. Jerking up in bed to see Rose on the floor. Her eyes shone brightly as she cried out in absolute agony. "What's wrong?" You wonder, shoving off the covers. Tears fell silently down her cheeks, her jaw tense in pain. You rub your eyes a little, you hadn't been out that long had you? Using your thumb, you slowly brush away any signs of her sadness. It seemed a lot worse this time like she was much more distraught. "It's crow isn't it?"

You meet her once shimmering eyes. Every ounce of softness burned by the fire of her anger. You've never seen her this mad before; it's... scary.

"I want that little bitchchild." She spits through gritted teeth. You back away from her, giving her the space she needed to not burn you in the crossfire but apparently, that's not what she wanted this time. She reached out for you and you take another step back, hitting the wall.

"Are you scared of me, my dear?" You almost admit the truth but you figure she already knows and that's why she asked. You liked her caring side but when she got angry it was better to steer clear. Shaking your head, Rose walks towards you and pulls you against her chest. Her embrace welcoming and tight. "I'm going after her- we can still track her." Rose huffs, loosening her grip just a little so she could look at you. There was a look of crazy determination on her face that made your heart ache.

"Please don't," you whisper softly. Burying your face in the fabric of her dress. Inhaling her like you never want to let her go.

"Y/N-"

"Something really bad is gonna happen." You interrupt quickly. "I- I can't lose you too."

She offers you a small smile. "You don't have to come with me but I have to do this."

"No, you don't," Your voice surprisingly firm as you scowl at her. There was a little smirk on her lips like she was proud. "We can find someone else, another kid- I don't care."

"You will when you're fucking starving." Rose snaps harshly. You let your head fall so you wouldn't have to look at her anymore. Rose was in charge and you had to respect her decision even if it was idiotic. The brunette places her hand softly against your cheek and you instinctively lean into her touch. She lets her forehead fall against yours. "You trust me, right?" Eventually, you nod a little. "Then trust me to do this. If not for ourselves than for the others that that little bitch murdered."

You could beg and plead until you went blue in the face but it wouldn't make a difference. Rose has becoming consumed by her obsession; motivated by her anger. This was no longer just about getting Abra, it was about revenge. She'd never been good at letting things go. She had lost her family so quickly. Felt them die one after the other like a game of dominos. There was no way to fix that. Even if you could find other rubes, the chances of them being as powerful as Abra; someone who got inside Rose's head like walking into a store would be almost impossible. And so you had to trust her even if it made your insides burn. "When are you going?"

"I got a little time." She forces you to look at her. Pressing your lips together softly at first but with increasing intensity. You could feel her pain in the way her teeth bore down into your bottom lip as she guided you towards the bed. Her knee speeding your legs apart. The metallic taste of blood dripping into your mouth when she pulls back. Her eyes were dark with anger or lust you couldn't be sure. "Will I feel it when you die? Since you feel it when we do?"

A soft sigh slipped into the air. You could tell she didn't want to talk about this and not just because it was killing the mood. "How bad is it?"

"Nauseating, a little better being so close to you but it'll get worse as you leave."

A gentle kiss was placed against your forehead. "You've always been too soft for your own good. Maybe I should have been tougher with you- made you carry your weight a little more."

"You like me because I’m soft," you argue, an amused smile spreading over your lips. "Makes me easier to manipulate or so you think it does. I just... go along with whatever because I wanted you to like me. I relish in the way you treat me."

"Oh my love, I know that. I can read your mind after all." Rose chuckled softly.

"I don't like when you're in my head." Her lips connect with yours once more.

I know.

Palm against her chest, you push her away again. She may be running off to her own doom but you couldn't ignore how you felt about her or the sick feeling beginning to fester. Something really bad was gonna happen and you can’t help but wonder if this would be the end for her too. Would they then come after you? "I don't know if I can last by myself."

"You definitely can't." She answers instantly and you're a little offended she's so quick to dismiss you but she was right. " but you won't be alone so it's fine, Y/N." She let her thumb dance softly over your cheek.

"When have I ever been wrong," you ask, a little too aggressively. She stops her movements for a second before continuing. "Tell me that what I'm feeling right now isn't a sign that you're not gonna make it. Promise me you'll come back and I won't bring it up again."

Her beautiful eyes drift to your lips but you're sure it's just to avoid looking you in the eye as she lies to you.

"Your wrong this time." She answers clearly. "I'll come back so please just... relax for me, my love."

You keep your word despite every part of you screaming to stop her. There was nothing you could do anyway. Her powers were far stronger and she had the stomach to do anything to get what she wanted. Her hand slips down to your neck where she sinks her teeth into your shoulder. An unexpected whine escapes into the air causing her to smile against you. Your arms wrap around her, pulling her flush against you. Pressing into her in order to be as close as possible. To feel every part of her just in case it was the last time. You rolled your hips against her knee which was still so conveniently placed between your legs. Rose sucked on your collar bone; marking you as her own. Dull waves of pleasure spilled through every part of your body until she stops you. Holding you down. Hand wrapping firmly around your neck. "Such a needy, girl." She hums, kissing you slowly. You try to move your hips again but her grip around your neck tightens so you stop. A whine slipping past your pouted lips. "Slow down, my sweet. I wanna taste you."

Rocked from your slumber, no words are shared between the two of you. Not so much as a plead for her to stay or an admission of love as you watch her gear up to dive further into the black hole of her obsession. She opens up a few special canisters she’d been saving. Inhaling the steam, on the last one she told you to join her. Giving you one last shotgun kiss. You noticed her hand was completely healed which meant she must have her strength back. You were feeling better too; stronger so it should have been no surprise when you felt like we're gonna throw up right here and now. You silently wish for a change of heart knowing she's probably spying on your thoughts but she was already out the door. It was still dark out. You're reluctant to go after her in case you touch her and witness her fate. So you stay by the door, feeling the cold air in nothing more than one of her shirts. The jeep roars to life and without so much as a glance back she drives away. You remain there until she's out of sight and you're left to play with the ghosts of a once lively campsite. For a second you're at peace and then her voice filters into your head.

Trust me. I'll get her. The tears you had managed to subdue no longer cared for composure and you begin to silent sob for a woman whose fate was yet to be sealed.

#rebecca ferguson #Rose the hat #doctor sleep #the shining #stephen king #Rose the hat x reader #the true knot #Stay with me

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listening-through-the-lens · 6 years

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What were our very best live shows throughout 2017?

photo Jim Jacob

By Rob Dickens

Smoke On The Water

I had seen only a few shows on water before – the North Mississippi Allstars on the Steamboat Natchez paddling up the Mississippi River off New Orleans. It was when bassist Chris Chew was in the band. Man they funked it up. (I loved that era of the band – check out Hernando (2006)).

Another musica nautica adventure featured the wonderful English guitarist and songwriter Martin Simpson. On a flat watercraft along the upper reaches of the Thames near Windsor, he, along with master player Andy Cutting, gave us a wondrous insight into the best English folk. (The set proceeded while the boat went through a few river locks and paused when, on the captain’s orders due to passing under a VERY low bridge, the entire assembly sat on the floor as the vessel’s roof descended to our heads).

I mention this because my shows at sea experience have been blown out of the water (pardon the pun) by not one music cruise but two, back to back, in 2017 – same port, same ship, same cabin even.

The Big Four

The Cayamo and Outlaw Country Cruises were spiritual revelations in February. So much great music, at such close quarters, with a bunch of music-loving colleagues. The bar therefore was set very high early in the year. The other two great sources of live shows were AmericanaFest in Nashville in September and The Festy Experience near Arrington Virginia just after.

Back To The Well

Our Total Tennessee Tour dug deep into music roots this year and provided a timely reminder of where some of this wonderful stuff that we love came from. We stayed on in Nashville to go to The Opry and Music City Roots, visited Memphis (Gracelands, Stax, Sun Studio, Ardent Studio), Loretta Lynn’s Ranch, Clarksdale (Red’s Lounge, Ground Zero, Delta Blues Museum) and deep into The Blue Ridge Mountains heritage trail (Bristol, Galax, Abingdon) – hell, we even stopped off in Chattanooga. This provided me with a re-education, a re-positioning of where all this fits. It enhanced what I saw even more.

What was I thinking?!

It was the last evening of The Festy Experience. I had a writing deadline and a monster trip home the next day (30+ hours). It was raining steadily – there were acts on that I had seen before for the next three hours, at the end of which Billy Strings was due. I packed up early – big mistake!

Sound Advice

There were a couple of exceptions – once at The High Watt and twice at the Cannery Ballroom, but the sound at AmericanaFest was again remarkably good, sound engineers seemingly invisible moving from one set to the next with aplomb.

Some disappointments

Wanda Jackson on the Outlaw Cruise demonstrated that it best we all concentrate and rejoice in her legacy and that further live appearances, based on the ship performances, are not necessary. Amanda Shires‘ set at the Station Inn during AmericanaFest 2017 was meandering. Jason Eady‘s show at the aforementioned Cannery Ballroom was absolutely ruined by the sound no matter where I stood. Buddy Miller and Rodney Crowell were both absent from the Americana Honors and Awards Show due to illness. Van Morrison‘s acceptance of his Americana Honor (I won’t use the term ‘speech’ as that would be misleading) was awkward and frigid. Steve Earle kept checking his watch during one show even while he was playing the guitar – it broke the spell.

The loudest

Easy. Deke Harp at Levon’s Bar and Grill in Clarksdale. Even the food covered its ears!

The best story-teller

Justin Hayward (Moody Blues) had some great stories – early band, War Of The Worls soundtrack and touring with Cream.

Honorable mentions

Hard to fit everyone into twenty, as some wise person once said. Here are some terrific shows that got edged out:

Tim O’Brien Caravan Music Club Melbourne Aus

Rosie Flores (with Sophia Johnson), Outlaw Country Cruise

Lucinda Williams, Outlaw Country Cruise

Teskey Brothers, Music On The Hill Melbourne Aus

Doug Seegers, The Mercy Lounge Nashville TN (AmericanaFest)

Nick Forster and Danny Barnes, The Festy Experience

Carl Anderson, The Festy Experience

Robbie Fulks, The Caravan Club Melbourne

Christian Lopez, Cayamo Cruise

All photos Rob Dickens except where noted

The BEST

20. Paul Thorn Band – Cayamo Cruise, Somewhere At Sea – 22 Feb

I’ve seen Thorn play quite a few times. Always love his enthusiasm, his folksy rock and blues vibe, no pretensions, nothing but uplifting messages. So embraceable. On the Cayamo Cruise, we attended the Stardust Theatre waiting patiently for the long-drop red velvet curtains to let go of their embrace and see beyond. Finally they parted like the Red Sea and we were greeted by a screen and engrossing mini-doco featuring Thorn and focussing on his pre-music, accomplished boxing career. He then appeared in person and announced that his permanent break with The Ring led him to his debut Hammer and Nail which he, in order to celebrate its twentieth anniversary, would perform the entire album front-to-back, with the whole set recorded. It was a celebration for him and, without a shred of doubt, everyone in that room.

19. Lori McKenna – 3rd & Lindsley Nashville TN @ AmericanaFest – 14 Sep

Now here’s a songwriter! Ten albums to her name, she has remained in Stoughton, Massachusetts despite the amount of time she spends in Nashville, so grounded is she with her extensive family and possibly being able to captures insights afresh living away from ‘the business’. That has not stopped her garnering considerable success – her songs covered by Alison Krauss, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw and Keith Urban. Number one Billboard hits, a CMA Award, a National Songwriter Association International gong and her first Grammy attest to her craft.

Her latest album The Bird & The Wire is highly acclaimed and adds to her already impressive set of achievements. This night she was humble, engaging and warm, with plenty of banter that provided context to her evocative stories.

18. Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen – Fern Tree Gully Bowls Club, Melbourne Aus – 21 Nov

Frank Solivan with Caleb Klauder in Nashville – photo Jim Jacob

A Grammy-nominated, twice IBMA-award winning (for the coveted Best Instrumental Band) outfit from Washington DC. As well as being a super group of musicians, their repertoire extends way beyond traditional bluegrass, mixing pop, rock and other standard fare effortlessly. I have seen them live a few times now, both in Raleigh NC and Nashville TN but tonight had a little edge to it. Perhaps it was the modest setting, the small but adoring audience, the collaborative willingness to share the stage with the support act and other musicians or their sheer joy of travelling around Australia for the first time and ending their tour this night. Whatever the reason, it was special.

17, Big Star and Friends – Cannery Ballroom, Nashville TN @ AmericanaFest – 12 Sep

Big Star drummer Jody Stephens at Ardent Studio in Memphis, a few days after the AmericanaFest show

In 2010 an all-star band unearthed the original scores, assembled an orchestra and performed fabled cult band Big Star’s album Third. Following the death of front man Chilton just before a scheduled SXSW performance in 2010, performer friends came to play the gig in his honor. A concert documentary film Thank You, Friends: Big Star’s Third Live…And More followed and screened at AmericanaFest 2017.

The day following the film, the concert at the Cannery Ballroom was performed in its entirety, featuring the original Third conductor Carl Marsh and core players including sole surviving Big Star member Jody Stephens along with Mike Mills (REM), Mitch Easter (Let’s Active), Chris Stamey (the dB’s) and Pat Sansone (Wilco) to name a few. The Third performance was followed by a set of Big Star hits with many special musical guests. Two hours of magic.

16. Joe Ely Band – Outlaw Country Cruise, Somewhere At Sea – 26 Feb

‘Twas a breezy night on the ship’s deck. The Joe Ely Band members were in cracking form. This Texas legend with his distinctive chants and unique blend of Texas country, honky tonk, rock and Tex-Mex held our attention with ease. Ely’s long-time band cohorts were tight, prancing around the stage ready to pounce (well, except for the drummer). It had been a while since I caught him at Antone’s in Austin TX. Absence DOES make the heart grow fonder!

15. Jerry Douglas Band – The Festy Experience, Infinity Downs Farm Virginia – 8 Oct

Jerry Douglas – photo Rob Dickens

A new album (out just in the latter part of this year) What If represents another significant departure and music adventure for the redoubtable musician, producer and collaborator extraordinaire. The Jerry Douglas Band contains some of finest players in the land which reminded me of the sheer unadulterated virtuosity of Punch Brothers. Jerry was plugged in and a far cry from his more well-known bluegrass/country contributions. Tonight he was channelling his early influences Weather Report and Chick Corea. There was jazz fusion, Douglas’ party vocals and some highly inventive covers. For the record, the other band members are Doug Belote (drums), bassist Daniel Kimbro, violinist Christian Sedelmyer, Mike Seal electric guitarist. Spell-binding!

14. Bottle Rockets – Outlaw Country Cruise, Somewhere At Sea – 21 Feb

The Bottle Rockets make their music sound simple. Almost hay seed primal. Maybe that is the attraction. It is anthemic, lyrically cut-to-the-bone and contains a wave of sound that picks you up and dumps you if you’re not on your mettle. Pleasing us since the early 90’s, this St Louis, Missouri-based power four piece has been a stalwart of the thumping roots rock movement for a long time, well before it came into fashion in fact. This was my first viewing and after many attempts of travelling across the Pacific. ‘1000 Dollar Car’, ‘Welfare Music’ and, most of all, ‘Dog’. I must see them again – it was too much to take in.

13. David Luning – Music City Roots, Franklin TN 19 Sep

David Who? Former American Idol contestant? Hmmm. Well, consider me blown away by this unique rocking storyteller from California’s Sonoma County. Covering fast and slower material with aplomb, he has that knack that the best comedians have when telling a joke – using space and timing to gripping effect. The thundering ‘Bet It On Black’, the pleading ‘Danger’ and the reflective and majestic ‘Be Like Gold’. Go see him or buy his album Restless – or do both.

12. Larry Cordle, Carl Jackson with Val Storey and others, The Station Inn Nashville TN – 11 Sep

A wonderful band steeped in country, gospel and just about anything good. Larry Cordle is an acclaimed songwriter, singer, stalwart – Carl Jackson the same with guitar sidekick and close friend to Glen Campbell to add to his bio. Many guests including Campbell’s daughter Ashley (god-daughter to Jackson), the honeyed voice of Val Storey, even a visiting Irishman got up and sang a love song to his wife in the crowd (I admit it wasn’t a musical highlight of the night, but a glorious example of community and song). When someone sang Glen’s last release ‘Adios’ with Ashley in the crowd, it proved to be one of the heightened emotional moments of the year. AND this core outfit does this show EVERY MONDAY NIGHT.

11. Courtney Marie Andrews and Joe Pug, The Spotted Mallard Melbourne Aus – 13 July

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I’m not sure why this tour pairing was arranged and how. Joe Pug, the Austin Texas troubadour who has graced these shores a considerable number of times before returning on the back of his release last year Windfall. The younger Courtney Marie Andrews, hailing from Phoenix Arizona, whose debut album in 2016 Honest Life was a serious eye opener. Tonight was the fifth stop on an eight-date tour of Australia, with both artists largely in solo acoustic guitar mode, except for Pug on keyboards for a spell. Eminently good vocals and songwriting through the night with not a dip in excellence to be seen.

10. Old 97’s Outlaw Country Cruise, Somewhere At Sea – 27 Feb

The next set after The Bottle Rockets (see above) in The Stardust Theatre. The new album from Old 97‘s released almost to the day – we got a wonderful opportunity to hear just about all the new material plus plenty of the old stuff too. Energy, passion, songwriting with messages crystal clear and highly agreeable. Much of it delivered at their renowned breakneck tempo but their sensitive side shone through as well. I heard that their later show on the pool deck was even better! Holy cowpunk!

9. Infamous Stringsdusters – The Festy Experience, Infinity Downs Farm Virginia – 6 Oct

The Infamous Stringdusters were from around these parts but have since spread themselves a little, with Brevard North Carolina now their base. But they are hometown picks for sure. In fact, they formed the backbone of the festival schedule. Members comprise guitarist Andy Falco, banjo man Chris Pandolfi, Andy Hall (dobro), Jeremy Garrett (fiddle) and Travis Book (double bass) and together they are formidable. Roving around the stage with ease, they break out of any restrictions that other bluegrass outfits may feel hidebound by. A set list with plenty of covers, all of them distinctive and cleverly chosen. The band’s jamming was spectacular.

8. The Mavericks – Outlaw Country Cruise, Somewhere At Sea – 26 Feb

This one’s easy. The sail-away show of the Outlaw Cruise. Shots of something or other handed out to every passenger before it started. The large ship moved, as if propelled by the irresistible sounds of The Mavericks, gliding through the air and now across the water. What they do is make every moment a joyous one. If you can’t get uplifted when The Mavericks are playing, you need medical help or give up music. Funnily enough, the band mis-timed the set and walked off thinking they were done but plenty more was to come. They called a team huddle (see above) and proceeded with nary a scratch. A guest appearance from Steve Earle didn’t hurt either.

7. Lee Roy Parnell – Music City Roots, Franklin TN – 19 Sep

Texas country rocker Lee Roy Parnell looked the goods. His interview prior to the set was informative and gave me the impression that he doesn’t like being messed around. He carried that onto the set., fiery guitar perfectly attuned to that unique Texas take on many genres of which I never tire. His new CD Midnight Believer was on display with pride and it was a joyous opportunity to set my eyes and ears on someone who surprisingly is not a little (or a lot) more well-known.

6. Son Volt – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne Aus – 12 Oct

Jay Farrar – photo Jim Jacob

My first time with Jay Farrar in band mode. I had enjoyed a couple of acoustic shows over the years but this was revelatory. This night I made a decision to leave my notebook behind – determined not to write anything down as it would prove to be a distraction. It was a prudent call at the time as the band’s power interplay was astoundingly good but doesn’t help me now as I write this with only my memory to guide me. I have a lot of friends that were there or saw the band at Out On The Weekend festival just before who rate this as one of their best concerts EVER. If you want any information about the set list or other details, leave a comment and I’ll get my expert buddies onto the job (they know who they are).

5. Patty Griffin and Friends – Cayamo Cruise, Somewhere At Sea – 24 Feb

The ‘Patty Griffin and Friends’ session included Griffin, Buddy Miller, Rodney Crowell, Lee Ann Womack, Emmylou Harris and Jedd Hughes (crack Australian guitarist). In the round, sharing songs, stories, emotions. I was in the front row (thanks Sixthman!) and it seemed like the shortest set possible. More more!

4. Americana Honors and Awards – Ryman Auditorium @ Americanafest, Nashville TN – 13 Sep

Again, a magnificent cornerstone for AmericanaFest, held on the Wednesday night. After five of these in a row, you can get a little picky (I rate the 2014 Show with Ry Cooder in the All-Star band as my favourite). Performers on this star-studded night were: Old Crow Medicine Show, Jim Lauderdale, Brent Cobb, Lori McKenna, Iris Dement, John Prine, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, Sam Outlaw, Amanda Shires, Billy Bragg/Joe Henry, Graham Nash with the Milk Carton Kids, Drive-By Truckers, Aaron Lee Tasjan, The Lumineers, Robert Cray, Hurray For The Riff Raff, Margo Price, Jason Isbell and Van Morrison.

There was more but the list above is enough to justify a special night’s work.

3. Guy Clark Tribute – Cayamo Cruise – Somewhere At Sea – 21 Feb

Melody Duncan of The Mulligan Brothers during the Tribute

I had just finished reading Without Getting Killed or Caught: The Story of Guy Clark (Tamara Saviano) and his departure became raw again. The tribute set was stunning and emotional – contributions both musical and personal from Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris, Sarah Jarosz, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Brian Wright, Angaleena Presley, Paul Thorn and others. Another of the seemingly shortest sets of the year but it actually stretched to ninety minutes. A wonderful emotional farewell to a legend.

2. Drive-by Truckers – The Festy Experience, Infinity Downs Farm Virginia – 7 Oct

A ninety minute blast that ended my busy festival day. I had seen Drive-By Truckers at the Cannery Ballroom as part of AmericanaFest just three weeks earlier (it seemed much longer) but tonight surpassed that one by a home stretch. Perhaps due to the beautiful setting here and my proximity to the stage hence the ‘immersion factor’. The light rain started almost at the same time as their opening greeting. They were pretty angry in the lead up to the release of their last album, the elegantly simple titled American Band and that was BEFORE the US Presidential election and its aftermath, not to mention a number of controversies and incidents down South during 2017. Tonight they really wanted to make a statement – ‘Black Lives Matter’ prominently displayed with pride. And so they did. Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley strode the stage with a Southern Rock majesty. This correspondent spent most of the time in the photography pit. A recent song “This Perilous Ride” was potent, a blistering version of one of my favourites “Ronnie and Neil”, the driving “Ever South”, “Tom Petty’s “The Waiting” and the closing protest “Hell No I Ain’t Happy”.

Brian Wright – Fond Objects @ Americanafest, Nashville TN – 17 Sep

Not many words required for this. Brian Wright, guitarist for Aaron Lee Tasjan, solo artist and co-founder of Cafe Rooster Records at just about the last set of AmericanaFest 2017 – see below:

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What ya reckon? Tell me if you were at these shows and what you think

How ’bout your own faves of 2017?

What were our very best live shows throughout 2017?

***

Best Live Shows 2017 What were our very best live shows throughout 2017?

#Best Gigs #best live shows 2017

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fotokids · 7 years

Text

Letter from the Founder N. McGirr

Looking back on our 25th anniversary year, it was rosy one, for the most part. Our exhibits drew in new people and inspired renewed in our loyal followers.

Our last exhibition in November coincided with the day after the U.S. elections. Attendance lagged at first, then I think most people showed up for a drink. (The Panza Verde Gallery graciously serves wine at their openings.) The work showcased photographs taken by the staff, young people who have been with Fotokids since primary school and are now in their 20’s and 30’s.

Since we generally spotlight only the children’s work, many of the photographs taken by the staff on trips to Europe and the U.S., (and later work) have never been exhibited. Images in the show ran the gamut from Paris at night, to Ugandan displaced camps, to the colours of Guatemala. You can see more of their work on the last page or on the web site www.fotokidsoriginal.org

Personally, it was a busy and emotional time for me as I transition out; trying to take a measure of when to offer advice and when to step back. Establishing a rhythm for working at home, where I allow myself the freedom not to concentrate solely on Fotokids, will take some training. I will still be writing the newsletter and fundraising but hope to do some of my own writing as well.

Guatemala’s school year starts in January. The staff spent 4 days in December at a planning retreat, doing a class-by-class curriculum. Everyone is excited about this upcoming year.

Fotokids is undertaking a new girls gender and vocational program in Santiago Atitlán that will expand our already successful Save Girls program. We began our first gender-based technology program in 2007 for young women from high-risk areas.

The Save Girls program, a 3-year technology course, teaches web design, flash, graphic design, illustration, video production, photo story narration and commercial studio photography. The goal of the program is to give young women entering the job market added skills, thus making them more attractive to potential employers.

Innovative plans this year call for Guatemalan women speakers presenting their work and how they got their start in non-traditional careers, writing short radio dramas based on the gender material studied, including issues of discrimination, racism, and machismo, and exploration of how women are portrayed in the media. Life skills will also be taught; how to apply for a job, the interview, employers expectations and responsibilities, along with practical things like how to open a bank account.

The younger children in Santiago will continue to produce e-books based on explorations of their environment as it relates to them. This year they created photographic e-books on exotic plants of Santiago A. and traditional plant medicine.

Ericka who is studying design at the university has created a syllabus for the students that is both professional and motivational. When she presented it during the retreat I thought, this sounds great; I’d love to take this course.

I’m very proud of our teachers who enthusiastically look for creative approaches to teaching. Rocio created two assignments that I particularly found insightful. In the first, the group of middle schoolers chose a magazine photo that appealed to them. They then had to forage through the school and pick out objects that echoed the forms reflected in the image and reconstructed them using Photoshop. By German©copyright Fotokids/2017

The second assignment was a study of three painters, Vermeer, Magritte and Picasso. The students then went out and re-enacted a selected painting in a photograph.

Tierra Nueva, the gang-dominated area where we work in Guatemala City, presents its own challenges. It is basically a violent hellhole where dead bodies pop up on the streets like earthworms after a rainfall. Do you remember Jonathon who had his both parents killed by a gang? Well, despite all we could do, (which is a struggle as we have the kids for only 5 hours a week. The remainder of the time (163 hours) they are submerged in an environment of violence and poverty). Jonathon finally succumbed to joining a gang.

Right before Christmas, his little 11-year-old brother, Michael, received a wrapped present delivered to his house. When he opened the box, an explosive device blew up in his face. He had burns across his nose cheeks and forehead. Luckily his eyes were spared. Michael was in the hospital for over a month. Both boys live in a humble shack with their grandma who suffers from diabetes and is losing her sight. Fearful of retribution, she covered up what we believe to be an attack by a rival gang and didn’t report it to the police. I really don’t know what kind of a future Michael will have if any. Your donations though are helping pay for the medical bills, rehab, therapy, school fees and extra food.

We are doing very well with fundraising. There are still have some children who need scholarships, but by and large with the two online fundraisers we do each year; one in May, Local Giving Day and the other in November, Giving Tuesday, you all have come through with flying colours and donations have reached a new high.

I thought this morning of the meeting I had with the children’s fathers in Santiago Atitlán when we began our program there in 1997. We were packed in a little cement block classroom at the public school, the fathers in their traditional embroidered pants and straw hats. One dad said to me, in a stiff, formal Spanish, how thankful he was for the project and that “We can only give them a hoe and you are giving them …a camera.” At the time, I smiled to myself saying, hoe-camera, hoe-camera, and the hoe no question about it, came up as the superior, most useful tool!

But the camera, the camera is the watering can that lets those seeds of curiosity, self-expression and creativity flourish. That’s what you have done. When people ask why Fotokids is successful, there are a few answers to that question, but undoubtedly it was your support and long-term commitment that made that happen, so once again take a bow.

If you have read this far in the newsletter you deserve to finish on what can be conceived as a more light-hearted note.

Andres Sosof, the innovative director of our Santiago Atitlán program, (he began with Fotokids when he was 9 years old and now is 26) had his students write down all the superstitions (or sayings) from the village and then illustrate them. I thought you would enjoy knowing some of these so that you can avoid falling into the following traps.

You shouldn’t eat the tip of the chicken wing because when you marry your husband or wife will be jealous and follow you around all the time.

A child should never eat inside a temascal (sauna) because if they do, all their teeth will fall out when they reach adulthood.

It’s not good for a boy or teenager to put a wooden spoon in a pot of herbs because when he is older, he will become a womaniser

Girls shouldn’t save jocotes (a small oval acidic fruit) that are bifurcated, in their blouses because if they do, they will have big breasts when they are older.

It is prohibited for children to run, shout or cry at twilight because the evil spirits will imitate them, and frighten them in the patios of their houses.

If a person breaks a stick of tinder in two with their hands, their husband or wife will die an early death (authors note, do watch out for broken twigs around the house).

It’s not good to throw food at someone, and if you do, you will live far away from your home and village when you marry.

A pregnant woman shouldn’t step on fish scales, or when her baby is born it could have scabies

If a girl eats fish eggs in her future she will have lots of children

When a child has a fall, the parents should go to the site of the accident, preferably under a guayaba tree, and lash him to the tree to ease the pain.

If a young woman gives a photo of herself to her boyfriend and later deceives him, he can take the photo to Maximón (Pre-Spanish conquest deity) on a night when she is asleep. Upon awakening in the morning, she will find herself not in her house, but at a street crossroads, tied up, and naked.

When someone loses their dog, they can get him back home calling his name into the water jug.

Take your clothes off when you come across drowned people (I think there might be something missing with this one) BUT it was followed by!

On Drowned People’s Day?! (Is that like a national holiday or just local?) the drowned take to the streets singing, but if you come across them at midnight, you must take off your clothes and lay in the dirt so that they will pass by without taking you.

And finally: When a person eats rotten beans, he always forgets things.

I think these helpful hints should go a long way toward keeping you out of trouble this upcoming year.

Information: All past newsletters (and additional material) can be read on this secret supporters website www.fotokidsinsider.wordpress.org

Images and more info on www.fotokidsoriginal.org

How you can Help (if you’ve been left out). We still need some scholarships, Educational $600 year, Fotokids $300.

Don’t forget to put us in your Will (definitely you 1%ers –you know who you are…though on second thought, not sure you read this newsletter) Our legal name: Fotokids Inc. 45-1261970 (IRS#)

Out of every dollar that you donate to Fotokids, 97¢ goes directly to our programs and services. You may donate online at www.Fotokidsoriginal.org, on our Fotokids FB page, or make checks out to: FOTOKIDS

Send Holiday cards and any donations to: Fotokids/Walt Trask, 1333 Jones St. #1001, San Francisco, CA 94109

AMAZON- If you use Amazon be sure to sign up for Amazon Smile –costs you nothing and they contribute a portion of each purchase to Fotokids http://smile.amazon.com/ch/45-1261970

More Photographs from The Staff Exhibit November-December 2016

Winter Quarterly Newsletter 2016/2017 Flying over Rome ©Werner Monterroso/Fotokids Fotokids Staff Exhibition 2016 Letter from the Founder N. McGirr Looking back on our 25th anniversary year, it was rosy one, for the most part.

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