The 2013 Winter Tour

It's the morning of 12/29 and as i write, the snow falls gently outside my window. The van
sits idle, packed and ready to go. We await the passing of our daughters fever in
anticipation of what is sure to be a glorious last hurrah for our little family. What do i
mean? Well, my daughter starts K4 in the fall of 2013 and this winter marks the end of 4
years of touring together as a family (which i have truly relished!). When i first started
touring nationally in 2005, it was a very different landscape. The ukulele community for
one, had not grown into what it is now. My stops included: nursing homes, schools,
libraries, house concerts, bars, street corners, temples and a slew of other
miscellaneous gigs.Today, my tours include, performing arts centers, temples,
house concerts, music stores, folk societies, retirement homes, theaters,
cultural arts centers and more!


This year we were slated to begin in Nobelsville, IN on saturday the 29th. With my daughter being sick we decided to cancel the first show in order to give her some time to get well before we start out, making Tarpon Springs, FL the first stop on our 3 month, 16,000 mile tour.


I have really grown to love Florida, the sunshine state, and its people. I can now see why so many flock to its beaches to escape the brutal winters of the Midwest and Northeastern Climes. I have shows in Tarpon Springs, Clearwater, Key West (1st time), Hollywood and Satelitte Beach.


Then its' onto Mississippi for a few days of rest before we continue onto Texas for some workshops and shows in Austin, Dallas and Amarillo. Texas is the sort of place where if you've never been there it would be easy to let you imagination run away with your thoughts, what we know about Texas from the news, political happenings and the movies, doesn't even come one ounce close to giving one a picture of its vast and storied landscape, people and culture. Texans have huge hearts and they are some of the most genuine friendly folks i have ever met. I love being in Texas. Its a real slice of Americana, and if you are a lover of culture and lore there is plenty of it there, from San Antonio;s river walk to little cantina's where the mariachi bands shine, the best BBQ to smoking blues. Its all there and oh, did i say the people are tops? You get my drift, i am always happy to be heading towards Texas.


From Amarillo, we'll head due west on 65 over to Albuqurque, NM where we'll stop for a few days of gigs and R & R. Perhaps a stroll over to Knob Hill and some good eats with a NM flair! I am doing a multi-generational show at The JCC of ALBQ and that should be a ton-o-fun.


Out of NM and into AZ for a string of concerts and ukulele workshops, we'll then hang low for a few days and visit with friends and family. All the while hoping and a praying that the sun shines down on us and we can get a little Vitamin D while we are still in the southern clime.


If you are in AZ, catch us at Fiddler's Dream in Phoenix on the 25th of January 8pm.
W/Celia. www.lilrev.com


From Arizona we head to California, land of 100 ukulele clubs! We will spend a full month in California with stops in L.A., San Louis Obispo, Alta Dena, Canoga Park, Eureka, Sacramento, Grass Valley, Santa Cruz, Petaluma, Palo Alto and more! We love California and spend more time there than any other place on our winter tour.


From California, our winter tours always take us smack dab right up the coast and into Oregon where we'll have stops this year in Portland, Monmouth, Hood River and White Salmon (WA).


The tour ends in Washington State with stops in White Salmon, Seattle, Port Townsend and Anacortes.


We hope to see you somewhere on down that old plank road,

Lil Rev
www.lilrev.com