My music has been on a COVID hiatus for way too long — only the occasional rain in the desert with Rhine or a Bitter Liberal or two. Fortunately, along came Ritt Deitz who just released a new album and did a four show tour to promote its release. Buy a copy of Hinge here.
I played two of the shows with Ritt and his son, multi-instrumentalist and talented child Wilder. The shows were great. Here are some bits.
Wilder Deitz plays mandolin
The DC date was actually in Vienna at Diego Ruiz’s house.
The lineup (near the end anyway)
An excellent place to play a house concert. Great people.
All temporary of course. As we are not of this world.
Cocktails by Bill Shepardson. Where did that doctor’s bag come from?
Wilder Deitz plays piano
No, mandolin. Wilder plays mandolin.
The feet
Wilder plays guitar
No wait, it’s piano that Wilder plays.
Some other fiddler
I did play, honest. But nobody was there to record said playing. He said he played. He played.
Sing it.
Then it was on to Wilmington, NC for a Sunday evening performance (close enough to the Stick to merit a long drive).
What’s the best way to celebrate birthday 52? With a show in New Hampshire of course. Where’s Aubrey played a show in the middle of nowhere in New Hampshire for a receptive audience at the Mole Hill Theater. As always, we played a benefit performance, this time for the LEAF (nutritious lunch) program of a public charter school operating out of the same revamped machine shop where we played the show.
Alstead
A machine
We played our sets right next to a huge blue machine. Not sure what it actually used to do. Stamp out complete cars??
Where’s Aubrey and the big blue machine
The show was high energy and fun, one of the best we’ve played.
Where’s Aubrey: Gary McGraw and Rhine Singleton
Laying into the fiddle
Rhine sings
Mando and the big blue behemoth
Where’s Aubrey in Alstead, NH
no silly allowed? definitely no silly.
fiddle and the big blue behemoth
What kind of stuff does it take to play an acoustic act??
the stage
Well, to be fair, we played our two set show. Then after a break we electrified the whole thing with drums, bass, and electric guitar. The LEAF Cutters were born. Dancing happened. Much fun was had.
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A message from Rhine
Dear Friends and Music Lovers –
Because you and so many others turned out last Saturday night, we not only had a total blast playing music, we raised $1250 for the healthy lunches program at the LEAF school through donations at the door. The silent auction brought in another $1000, so the event truly was a smashing success!
And, you were a wonderful audience to play for. So, we’re sending our heartfelt thanks. Hope to see you at another music event before too long!
We played a show last year. Hah. OK, last year was only 7 days ago, but it’s true. During the show, we dropped a new CD called “diversion” which you can order for yourself. Have a listen to our favorite track!
Collectively, we raised $1181 for Habitat for Humanity’s work in Clarke County, bringing Where’s Aubrey’s all concert total to $15,662.
The concert was a blast to play. Here are some pictures. In each set, we started out with only two people on stage, Gary McGraw on violin and Rhine Singleton on guitar.
Where’s Aubrey performs at the Barns of Rose Hill 12.29.18 (photo Amy Barley)
Eventually (during both sets) we were joined by stunt guitarist Allen Kitselman and drummer Nick Schrenk (both of the Bitter Liberals).
Nick Schrenk of the Bitter Liberals plays drums with Where’s Aubrey 12.29.18 (photo Amy Barley)
The gang’s all here. Allen Kitselman play stunt guitar with Where’s Aubrey 12.29.17 (photo Amy Barley)
Where’s Aubrey plus two Barns of Rose Hill 12.29.17
The highlight of the evening for us was honoring our biggest fan and long time Berryville arts supporter Michael Hobert. Here’s what I said about Michael from the stage.
Michael Hobert (photo Jen Lee)
Rhine Singleton (photo Tom Singleton)
Where’s Aubrey mid-jam (photo Tom Singleton)
Gary McGraw (photo Tom Singleton)
Rhine concentrates (photo Tom Singleton)
Paging Allen Kitselman, Allen Kitselman to the blue courtesy guitar (photo Tom Singleton)
The energy was palpable during the show. Thanks to the 100+ people who came to see Where’s Aubrey perform. We’ll be back.
Where’s Aubrey Jams at Barns of Rose Hill 12.29.17 (photo Jen Lee)
Goofing off on stage (in the middle of a song) (photo Jen Lee)
Yeah, this is fun (photo Jen Lee)
Sensitive Big Boy Music not just reserved for the Bitter Liberals (photo Jen Lee)
The show Friday 12.29 at the Barns of Rose Hill raised $1181 for Habitat for Humanity and featured the art of Eli McGraw. Here are the videos of Eli’s art displayed before the show and during intermission.
We will be releasing our eighth CD the day of the show. Art by Eli McGraw. Music by Rhine Singleton and Gary McGraw. At the show, we’ll be playing all of the songs from the new CD plus some of your favorite Where’s Aubrey tunes.
We will be joined on stage by Allen Kitselman and Nick Schrenk of the Bitter Liberals.
Where’s Aubrey is at it again, playing a benefit concert! We hope you will join us in Berryville on Friday 12.29 as we debut our new CD “diversion” and tick our philanthropy total up over $15K while directly benefitting Clarke county residents in need of housing.
We hope you will join us for an impromptu barn concert featuring Where’s Aubrey on Friday July 22nd. We’ll be raising money for the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. The concert itself is free with a $20 donation suggested for the Food Bank.
Who: Where’s Aubrey is Gary McGraw (fiddle, mando, vocals) and Rhine Singleton (guitar, vocals)
What: Benefit Barn Concert (BYOB/BYOC)
When: FRIDAY July 22nd, Parking 7:15pm, music 8:00pm
Where: White Post, VA
Tickets: RSVP and reserve yourself space (we are counting noses)
The good news is that the Brightbox is a fantastic place to see a show. Great sound. Really nice space. Good food and drinks. The bad news is that it’s pretty far from Where’s Aubrey’s Clarke County comfort zone (not to mention New Hampshire).
The stage at the Brightbox Theater (with the orange chair)
The enthusiastic but tiny crowd on Friday 7/17 did manage to raise $500 for Dakota’s Dream Animal Rescue, putting Where’s Aubrey’s fundraising total up to a respectable $13,928. Thanks to our concert goers for their generosity and kindness! We had serious competition from local favorite Robbie Limon (playing outside at the new amphitheater just down the street) and the Bluemont Concert Series performer just across the street. Dang. Special thanks to our bestest fans who made the trek out to Winchester. We love playing for you guys.
Where’s Aubrey live at the Brightbox
Rhine Singleton of Where’s Aubrey
Gary McGraw of Where’s Aubrey
Where’s Aubrey on stage
The show was good. Here’s some video. The first three are from the new CD Chaukori Blue. You can buy a copy of the new CD here.
Allen Kitselman, a fellow Bitter Liberal joined us for four songs, including Devlish Situation.
Where’s Aubrey in Winchester
Original art by April Claggett on the stage and on the CD cover
