[Dixielandjazz] Lu Watters Concert

[John Gill]

Hi Steve Barbone and Marek Boym
To answer your questions the event was recorded and we hope to have something available. The tapes have to be gone over for usable material.
To answerSteve's question about festivals, It has been very difficult to get the festival circuit interested in the band. That said we have played San Diego for the last 10 years or so,they have been very loyal to us and are having us back in 2012. Kalispel Montana has had us twice and were going back in 2012. We're also making a return visit to Olympia Washington in 2012. In 2001 we played Sacramento thanks to the urging of Jim Cullum, but we have never been asked back. When I asked if they would be interested in having us back I never got an answer. We may be too exspensive due to airfares, etc. We have played Phoenix Arizona 2 times but I got the feeling that what we do does not fit with their concept. I have been told on more than one occaision that the band is "Too Traditional" for the festival circuit. The great country artist Buck Owens was often told he was "Too Country" for Nashville. We tend to be more interested in playing and less
 interested in "show biz" and that probably works against us. But speaking candidly for myself, some of these so called entertaining bands are not entertaining at all, and usually play uninteresting music. At least to me they do. I have been approached by many trad jazz fans who tell me they don't go to the festivals anymore because they don't dig the bands but many of the festivals who concentrate on show bands or variety acts do very well so I can't knock them. I don't listen to Metallica but they sell more records and tickets than I do so I can't knock them. I'll just have to take what I can get. Maybe I can open for Metallica.
Regards
John Gill