Day 1 / Day 2 / Day 3 / Day 4 / Day 5 / Day 6 / Day 7

Dear Ely Friends,

We are feeling all the feels right now. This is the week when we were going to be together for a superlatively epic hang.

When we close our eyes, we can walk near the shadow of the Cathedral and into the King’s School and onto the perfect dance floor…. and we know that we’re going to able to close our eyes in a year, open them, and really be able to walk into that magical space with you.

We’re saving our real hugs and dances for then, but in the meantime we are giving you hugs from afar, and (below) an audio postcard a day for the week. We’re thinking about you and missing you dearly!

Much love from the Rays,

Rod-ray, Sam-ray, Max-ray, Stu-ray, and Mark “Pokey” Hellenberg-ray

p.s. Of course we’d love to hear from you. Say hi in the comments section at the bottom or drop us a note.

Day 1: The Irish Mist / The Walkalator

To start off, two tunes by Rodney to check your pulse. Anyone who backed our last album on Kickstarter got to hear a sneak peek of this, but otherwise it is TOP SECRET.

Keep an eye out for a forthcoming Stringrays album that might, just might feature music like this.

 

And a memory from 2019:

Be well. And keep those toes tappin’. More tomorrow….

Day 2: Swamp Haggis

Thanks for all the lovely comments below and via e-mail! Keep ’em coming. Do you have any photos or videos we should share? Let us know.

But press play on this first….

Sam says:

Here’s a moment from back in the 1990s in Louisiana, when Stuart and I played with musicians from the cast of Riverdance and world famous slide guitar player Sonny Landreth. The tune is called The Haggis, but we recorded it in the swamps of Louisiana …hence the name….

Obviously, we’re all eagerly awaiting getting back together to play some music. Recalling Ely jams certainly wets one’s whistle.

Day 3: Trip to Ely

If you are one of the lucky ones who hasn’t been to Ely yet, you have a lot of magic to look forward to. Whether you have been or not, we hope we are bringing you a bit of the experience. And the magic.

Of course, the Cathedral, full of wonder, intrigue, comfort, majesty, and surprises. But also tea with friends. And rambles along the river, seeing the boats. The market, which hasn’t missed a week since approximately the thirteenth century. (Lattes were cheaper back then, too.)

Speaking of magic, Stuart has some for us. He sends a tune and an introduction. The hall you hear his voice resonating in is the Guiding Star Grange in Greenfield, MA where he was teaching lessons today. It’s also where the track was recorded.

And the tunes, which would sound pretty amazing in the Cathedral.

Lisa Greenray (née Greenleaf) reminds us the magic of Ely’s smaller spaces, including the kitchen.

More tomorrow, friends. Share some magical memories in the comments if any come to you.

Day 4: Hurry Home

Pokey says he is looking forward to seeing everyone — even his bandmates. He sends on a little song from Jimmie Rodgers circa 1931, “Sweet Mama Hurry Home or I’ll Be Gone.”

There is some risk to not making it back soon enough: Dave and Maggie report (Oh No!) the photographer is so used to coming by to take the group photo that he showed up to find this.

Gwyn points out that April 1st was actually last week. Dave replies he never was very good with dates.

Speaking of missing things, Pokey assures us that he has checked: The Drayman’s Son is alive and kicking. And they deliver. Probably not stateside.

No tears. More good stuff tomorrow.

Day 5: Contrasaurus

Wow! Guests!

One of the highlights of a week of dancing at Ely is being joined by the Brits and their enviable lack of jetlag. Our Brit band next year is Contrasaurus, a rambunctious and charming quartet whose playing is only outdone by their expanding use of stage props. We saw them at the Chippenham Folk Festival playing to a seriously packed, enthusiastic hall of humans and dinosaurs — coexisting, despite the claims of modern paleontologists.

They left us a message…

… and some lovely jigs.

Contrasaurus Contradansus discovered playing three of our favorite claw-tappin’ tunes at the London Barndance.

Guitar player Adam snapped a quick shot on a ramble to show how lovely it is in England right now.

Thanks Contrasaurus. See you soon!

The top photo of today’s post was from Rima Forrest. Here are a few more she shared.

Thanks Rima!

Something interesting in store for tomorrow? Oh yes, most certainly.

Day 6: Rainy Days

We’ve all learned something about making the best of a rainy day, haven’t we?

The band has learned a lot about recording at home and sending music around. Rodney has published his epic new tunebook and is putting out equally epic play-along tracks. Max has been helping mix those, as well as recording tracks for Audrey Knuth’s Tunes N Stuff class. Max sent Rodney one of those tracks for the tune Hunting the Buffalo and this is what happened:

Kind of like a nice coffee or tea on a rainy day.

Jennifer sends some lovely photos of day trips involving a bit of water, as well as dry land.

Here’s to our forthcoming adventures….

Day 7: Lantern Tower

Well folks, what a week. There’s so much more to share that we haven’t even gotten to! Maybe we’ll have to find some other excuses.

Our final piece is a waltz by Rodney, Lantern Tower. He gives us an introduction:

Here it is, specially recorded for all of you.

While you listen, here are a few faces who have been looking out for a long time. Photos by Rodney.

It’s been quite a year, hasn’t it? Immeasurable losses. Disruptions. Introspections. Lonelinesses. And many have been lucky to find a few silver linings.

We have had the chance to appreciate the value of the people we love and what brings us joy and meaning. We aren’t taking that for granted. Here’s to seeing each other and all of you, in Ely and in all of our travels.

Thank you all for joining us. See you soon.

– The Rays (Rodney, Sam, Max, Stuart, and Pokey)