I was taken by fiddle music in 1976, when the New England contra dance band sound came spilling out of an old, ivy-covered hall in South Hadley, Massachusetts. As I opened the door, the music flooded over and through me, settling in my heart as true love. Since that night, I have been devoted to this American folk music spirit and our heritage of music the local folk made, and still make, to compliment the rest of living; sounds for celebrating, dancing, and being joyful, for telling stories and history, worshipping, mourning, for finding hope and, of course, for passing time. I love to collect and share music wherever I am, sometimes seeking out particular musicians and festivals, but mostly making the best of what I hear around me. For me, the spirit and humanity shared by collective music making is often as important as the music itself. Most of the music on this project came through oral tradition around campfires and kitchen tables, at festivals, concerts, workshops and sessions and most of it is from the Piedmont and Appalachian traditions. The majority of the basic tracks are recorded live, the songs taking on the improvisatory qualities inherent to a style of folk music that is more spontaneous than historic.