Well, you've heard the news. The Brobdingnagian Bards are going their separate ways. Andrew posted his plans for the future. But what about me? If you follow my personal website, you might know some of my plans. They include plans to move, changing the way I play shows, vacation tours, and lots and lots of new music.

In 1995, I graduated college and told myself, "I love Austin, but I really want to live some place new." I gave myself a year. That turned into thirteen years. I finally decided that I am gonna leave Austin, at least temporarily. In November, my new home will be New Orleans. But I'll only be living there until next June (no worries about hurricane season). Then? I'm not sure.

The other big thing for me is travel. I love to play music, but traveling for a "gig" is just not for me. The hours on the road wear me down. Plus, I don't like leaving my kitties all by themselves for weeks on end.

Also, I have a weird perspective on performing. I prefer to think of gigs as paid vacations. While I mostly plan to play locally in New Orleans, I am still hoping to see some new places next year. But I plan to fly in and out, playing a gig while I see the new place. Is it possible? Eh? Who knows! But there's a lot of places around the country and the world I really want to see.

Which brings me to the next thing--Europe. Okay. So, I've been brainstorming this wild idea. Picture it. You fly to, say, Italy. You live in a house for a week with a bunch of other people. During the day, you see and experience one of the oldest, most-beautiful cultures on the planet. In the evening, you celebrate with good food, good drink, and good company, while singing songs along with me or just relaxing in paradise.

Whatcha you think? That's the tentative idea I've been throwing around in my head. I am thinking about organizing a "Celtic Invasion of Italy" just like that. And the opportunities are endless. We could do stuff like that in Ireland, Scotland, England, France, China, Greece, Canada, Florida, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, whatever. Anyone besides me want to go to Prince Edward Island on an Anne of Green Gables pilgrimage?? Ummm... Okay, I'll shut up now. :P

What else?

This year, I released four new CDs. Yes, FOUR. I LOVE recording music. I have several CDs planned for the future. In fact, I just finished a four-song preview of one, recorded with Rich Brotherton who produced my latest cat CD Whiskers in the Jar. I can't begin to explain how much I LOVE working with him. His special engineering touch makes the music sound incredible!

Plus, I will continue to record all my five or six or so of my podcasts (Did you vote for the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast for "Best Podsafe Music" yet at www.podcastawards.com? You have until Sept 30, 2008). Those continue to grow astonishingly. So thank you all for listening.

Is that it? Hmm...

Oh! There are two gigs I am really, really, REALLY hoping to be at next year--I-Con Science Fiction Convention in New York, and DragonCon in Georgia. I don't know if I can get in as a no-named indie musician, but those are two of my absolute favorite shows of the past nine years. I really hope I will be there. I'm gonna talk to the people in charge to see if I can make it happen. If you know anyone in those places, please send them good vibes and let them know I am dying to be a guest.

That's about it. Again, if you want to find out more join my mailing list below. I will keep you up-to-date.

Slainte!
-Marc Gunn, Bard