Walker T Ryan

STAY TUNED

“Change in the ocean, change deep blue sea. Change in my baby, been a change in me.
Everybody, got to change some time.”
Sleepy John Estes

I’ve updated my gigs on the The Current Gigs page And started a new page (Orkney Calling-strictly a working title) specifically for things Orkney, and a way to keep a line open with the folks I’ve met there.

We flew out of Amsterdam at 10:30 AM Sunday 8/5, and arrived in Seattle at 10:45 AM Sunday 8/5. Weird.

Backing up a bit: While in Orkney I played a gig at the Gable End Theatre on the island of Hoy for 10% of the island’s population. That’s 35 people. It was a great gig. here’s a pic at the show that was taken by Barry Jones.

Yesterday I played for folks at the Ness of Brodgar, an archeological dig of a Neolithic religious site from 3000BCE. Here’s a picture, and a link to their site http//www.orkneyjar.com/archaeology/nessofbrodgar/2012/07/dig-diary-tuesday-july-31-2012/

What was months to go is now only 3 days. On Saturday we’ll be in Orkney. Whoa!
This is an attempt at blogging the trip for friends in the States. We’ll see. Generally I’ve proved too old and cranky for social media. Nothing against it. Just too old and cranky.

Here we go-
Where are we going?

“A” marks the spot.

They call it Orkney, not the Orkney Islands. Like you don’t say Ore-ee-gon.

We’ll be on the Mainland mostly, with a trip north to Rousay. And, I have a gig on Hoy that were all going over to.

And here is part of why we are going back.

Finally, some thanks to a few folks in Orkney. There will be more later.

To Michael Moldau. He was my introduction to the music scene on Orkney last year. We connected on the internet, but when I was there, he had gigs, so, we’ll be meeting for the first time on July 28 at a show that he has set up for me on Hoy at The Gable End Theatre

To Mike Henderson, for support and getting the word out. Mike plays a mean “Diddy Wah Diddy.”

And to Michael Bradley, proprietor of the Orkney Music Shop in Kirkwall. A righteous place.
Brad is loaning me one of his fine guitars for the journey which means that I don’t have to worry about guitars and airlines!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is huge. Thanks Brad.

Kirkwall, August, 2011 Chilly day, but a great scene.

Welcome to my new site.

Right now what I’m creating is a resource for my friends in Orkney (UK). I’m going there for three weeks with my family next July, 2012, and looking forward to being among the birds and the stones, and to meeting a lot of people and playing a lot of music. I’m also hoping to pick up some house concerts, gigs, workshops, etc., to share what I do, and, to help defray costs.  Of course, I’ll be busking, too.

We were in Orkney last summer and fell in love with the place, the people, and the music scene there. Much hipper than the States.

So, essentially this is a resource, a press site, something like that.  Truth is, I don’t do the PR part much any more, and, truth is, I was never any good at it to start with.

So, I’m putting stuff I have on here, to help you, in Orkney, get to know me and to provide some fodder to help in getting the word out.

Anyone else is, of course, welcome to take a look, and if you have some work for me, get in touch.

Peace,

Walker