catfishkeith.com- String-Twanging Home of Catfish Keith

Catfish Journal
Issue #16,  September 12, 2010

---

Howdy. Thanks for tuning in. 

As the season starts turning toward fall, our overseas touring time is coming right up. Here at home the weather is turning cool at night, and they've drained the local swimming pool. I'm still digging holes and planting in the backyard (with help from our faithful hound, Lily, pictured to the left), and harvesting lots of goodies from the garden. We're eating homegrown vegetables and getting ready for our big tours.

This year Penny and I are both thrilled to be returning to Ireland to start out the season at the Cork Folk Festival, then on to the UK and Holland too for an extensive run that takes us to the end of November. It's very exciting and we can't wait to get on the road again (See below!).

'LIKE' ME ON FACEBOOK: JOIN THE FAN PAGE!

You may have noticed I haven't made a Catfish Journal for quite some time; more and more Penny and I have been using Facebook for day-to-day, up-to-the-minute reports. So please do "like" me on my Facebook fan page (click the icon above, then click LIKE on the fan page), and get interactive reports as part of your Facebook experience.

If you are not into Facebook, please note that you can always get all fully updated tour date info and order all CDs and other products right here on this website.

CORK FOLK FESTIVAL SEPT 30-OCT 3, THEN THE GREAT BIG UK & HOLLAND TOUR OCT. 15 - NOV. 21. 2010!

Penny and I are preparing to fly overseas yet again for our big tour of the UK and Europe! The tour will start in Ireland at the Cork Folk Festival on September 30th. Then, October 15th through November 21st will include gigs and some guitar workshops through most all of England, parts of Wales, Scotland, and three gigs in the Netherlands. Take a look at my Tour Dates page for full details, including how to get tickets.

In December, we'll return home to Iowa for the Holidays, have plans (to be announced) on the West Coast, USA, then in later January through April we will go south to Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico for the rest of the winter, playing some cool gigs, and enjoying the sun and waves and great friends of Puerto.

Late April 2011 brings a return to one of my favorite festivals of all time, MERLEFEST. Our old pal Roy Book Binder hosts the Greatest Acoustic Blues Show on Earth, and I get to share the stage this time with Roy, Corey Harris and Phil Wiggins, Paul Geremia and Veronika Jackson. Merlefest was founded years ago by Doc Watson (pictured left), in the memory of his son Merle Watson. It's grown into one of the biggest and greatest roots music festivals in the world. Thanks Doc! Thanks Roy!!

Check it all out on my Tour Dates page.

"LIVE AT THE HALF MOON" CD AVAILABLE HERE AND AT CONCERTS

I have really been tickled by the response to my 12th CD, Live at the Half Moon. It was recorded at the famous Half Moon in Putney, London, England while we were on tour. All the elements came together to make this the definitive live record: great sound in a legendary music room, with an excited audience of true blue fans. We really had fun that night and I think this was captured on this CD. I hope you can enjoy that night with me. The CD can be bought directly from us here or at all concerts.

NEW PAGE: 4 FLAMMANG GUITARS ARE NOW AVAILABLE!

Super luthier David Flammang's fantastic acoustic guitars are now available for sale through this website. Take a look at the new page: Why I Love Flammang Guitars to see four great new Flammang one-of-a-kind instruments for sale right now. This is a rare opportunity to buy these guitars. David usually builds only custom guitars that are commissioned to be built. These are dream guitars for sure, and include a to-die-for Parlor (I need that one myself), a L00 style (ditto), a J35 style and a beautiful Dreadnought.  I've been playing David's guitars for many years now, and love them. You can hear them on  my last three albums. David, you are the Greatest!.

NATIONAL EL TROVADOR 12-STRING!

Don Young, Eric Smith and the gang at National Reso-Phonic Guitars have outdone themselves yet again. I am the very proud owner of a new guitar model from National. It's an El Trovador 12 String. I was honored to be the first musician to have one of these amazing guitars. It's the standard El Trovador guitar, but with a great 12 string neck. It has the sleek-shaped all-mahogany body, single cone and tasty binding, and the Highlander pickup really amplifies the guitar beautifully onstage. I've been using it for a year or so now, I think it's the Ultimate 12 String. It's got easy action and has a giant, orchestra-in-a-guitar sound that really knocks me out. I tune it real low like guitars (especially 12 strings) should be, and it's bendy and twangy and deep and dark and bright and sparkly too. Man, I love this thing!

CATFISH IS AN OFFICIAL NATIONAL RESO-PHONIC GUITAR DEALER

I've always championed the mighty National guitar. Loved the sound since Day One. I've been helping players all over the world to purchase these great guitars, and now I've been honored for the last few years to be an Official National Dealer.

Thanks to National founders Don Young and McGregor Gaines for everything over these many years. Also, big thanks to National Vice President Eric Smith, shop foreman Jason Workman, and the office staff of  Robynne Torres, Shanon Smith, and the whole gang at National.  Thank you!

As always, I'm happy to help if you want to buy a new National, just email or call 319-338-3614 anytime. We have their amazing 2-CD-and-trading-cards Catalogues still available. I occasionally do  lessons and workshops too, please do get in touch for more info. Look at my Why I Love National Guitars page to see what I have in stock and you can order any model and make custom orders too.

BUY CATFISH DOWNLOADS HERE!

Music from all of my albums is available to purchase for downloading on all of the major download sites, including ITunes, Napster, and over 40 other companies.  Of course, we encourage you to buy CDs the "old fashioned" way direct from me and Penny right here at this website, or from CD Baby or Amazon.  You can now also download MP3s of entire albums through CD Baby, and download MP3s of individual songs.

Access all of this right here on our Fish Tail Records Catalog Page.




Hope to see you at the shows.  Please come say hello. Feel free to email or call, it’s always great to hear from you.

yours truly, Catfish Keith

• Fish Tail Newsletter #1, September 1998
• Fish Tail Newsletter #2, April 1999
• Fish Tail Newsletter #3, August 1999
• Fish Tail Newsletter #4, December 1999
• Fish Tail Newsletter #5, February 2000
• Fish Tail Newsletter #6, August 2001
• Fish Tail Newsletter #7, January 2003