The pandemic forced the legendary Tumbleweed Music Festival into virtual mode this year, and I’m happy to be playing one of the singer-songwriter showcase stages!

The Tumbleweed crew has done an amazing job building a virtual festival that captures the best of the 24-year old event. While I’ll miss lazy late summer walks along the Columbia River in Richland, the virtual festival gives everyone around the globe a chance to tune in and hear some amazing songwriters, and roots musicians of all genres. Performers have pre-taped their sets and Tumbleweed has grouped us on the “stages” we would have played live. All the sets will be available starting Thursday, Sept. 3 and remain on their web platform for a full year.

No more running back and forth between stages, catching half of an act and splitting to see another. We can all sit back, relax, replay and enjoy the shows!

The weekend also featured a number of live workshops on Zoom, on topics from “Chord Science for Songwriters” to “Flamenco Dance.” Details on the webpage.

This is something like my 6th appearance at Tumbleweed, including one time as a finalist in the festival’s Jane Titland Memorial Songwriters Contest. The 10 finalist songs on this year’s theme of “wind” will play Saturday afternoon, alas without me. I expect there will be some mechanism for expressing your vote for the People’s Choice award.

So tune in, this weekend, or anytime this year.

Usually when I drive to Richland for the festival I stop and enjoy the Yakima River Canyon. Here’s a shot from last year’s trip…