I turned 70 on March 30, 2014. My wife and I were planning on going to see Jesse Winchester for my birthday celebration, but he became ill and had to cancel his show, so my son and wife arranged for a surprise party. They said they'd take me to a place I like to eat in Peterborough, but Clay, my son, said that our friend Benj was running an open stage, so we should take some instruments and play a few tunes. We went to Benj's open mic and played for a while, then went to eat. On the way back to the car, Clay said,"I've gotta talk to the sound guy at the Red Dog. Come on over with me." When I walked in the door, I saw a couple of guys who went to school with me and figured something was up. The stage was set up and everyone in the bar was someone I knew and had played music with or at least on the same venue. Clay and Jimmy Bowskill were the house band if anyone needed one and there were enough top quality musicians to fill a folk festival.
Dennis O'Toole started the show, followed by Washboard Hank, Cris Cuddy, David Newland, Jimmy Bowskill, Rick Fines, Saskia Tomkins, Carlos del Junco, Ted Staunton and we finished the night with a unique incarnation of the Maple Leaf Champions Jug Band.
The coolest birthday ever.