Tales from "Something Worth Having" Photoshoot, Ocracoke Christmas Happenings, and an Update on our Indiegogo Crowd Fundraising Campaign

Hi Molasses Creek friends!  What a busy time we have had these past couple of weeks! Before we move along to the top news stories, here are some upcoming concerts in January.  Hope to see you out on the road!

Thursday, January 16, 2014

  Molasses Creek Residency and concert in Tyro Middle School Auditorium, Tyro, NC, 7 PM.

Friday, January 17, 2014

 Molasses Creek at Ashland Coffee and Tea, Ashland, VA, 8 PM

Saturday, January 18, 2014

 Molasses Creek at Cooper's House Concert, Columbia, MD, 7:30 PM

Sunday, January 19, 2014

 Molasses Creek House Concert in Raleigh, NC, 7 PM (please contact us for details at info@molassescreek.com)

Molasses Creek's Thanksgiving Photoshoot for "Something Worth Having"

 We had a warm Thanksgiving on Ocracoke this year and rounded up our island concerts with a sold out show at Deepwater Theater.  Gerald Hampton, his wife Beth, and his mother Nancy came to Ocracoke to spend the holiday with kids and grandkids. 

On Sunday after Thanksgiving, we rendezvoused with Justin Casey and Randy Woolard for a photoshoot for the new album.  Last time we did this was in 2012 for An Island Out of Time.  Much warmer this round!  In 2012 we shivered up and down the beach, trying to look casual while the wind cut through our thin dressy clothes.  We didn’t exactly sweat this year, but the weather was beautiful.

We shot most of the photos around the Ocracoke Lighthouse property, even venturing inside for a few pictures.  

Great acoustics!

 Twas quite a treat and the acoustics inside the lighthouse made us want to record an album in there. 
After we finished at that location we shuffled our gear over to the historic Hurricane House, another place that we love.  Many thanks to the National Park Service and to Bobby Woodwell for allowing us to search for inspiration around their places!

In the Hurricane House

Finley Woolston and the Joyful Band of Singers visit Ocracoke Island

This last Friday we had a real treat on the island when the voice of Public Radio East, Finley Woolston and his Joyful Band of Singers presented us with an energetic concert of Choral Music for Advent and Christmas through the ages.  The performance was a musical journey from Gregorian Chant to the Renaissance, early Latin and German, Traditional English and American, Modern Carols and Gospel.   The lights on the towering Christmas tree at the Ocracoke United Methodist Church illuminated the singers on stage, creating a glowing setting for the audience that packed the church.  Thanks to Finley and crew for sharing their talents with Ocracoke, and to Ocracoke Alive and the Ocracoke United Methodist Church for helping to bring them here!

Molasses Creek's “Something Worth Having” Indiegogo Campaign Off to a Good Start.  Come stay on Ocracoke and have dinner with us!

Since our last newsletter, we shot a mini-film and launched a crowd fundraising campaign to raise $10,000 in support of the promotion of our new album, Something Worth Having.  In the first ten days you helped us raise $4025/10,000.  Great job and thank you so much!  As of this post date on 12/12/13, we had 20 days to go (Dec 31) and were a little over 40% of the way there.

            There are some great Patron rewards for donations towards the campaign, for all levels of contribution.  We wanted to highlight  the “Ocracoke Island Retreat” level of sponsorship, for lovers of Ocracoke Island.  Although at $1500 it is a more significant patronage, the reward (A WEEK’S STAY ON OCRACOKE ISLAND FOR YOU AND UP TO 5 FRIENDS + MOLASSES CREEK COOKS YOU DINNER) is the going rate for a cottage retreat on the island. 

Availability for the cottage for this reward is September-April.  Fall is an incredibly beautiful time to come to the island . . . the water is warm, the crowds are low, the shops and incredible restaurants are still open.  What a treat to surprise someone with for Christmas!  If you have any questions about any of the Patron Rewards, feel free to contact us at info@molassescreek.com. Many thanks to Fiddler Dave’s parents for their willingness to donate time at their rental cottage to help us raise some money!  Also, many thanks for spreading the word about our quest amongst your friends.  We tried to make the video entertaining enough to be a reward in itself! Click on the panel above or below view the latest in Patron rewards!

Molasses Creek turns 20 in 2013!

 Happy New Year Molasses Creek fans! 

All natural fireworks at the Nature Trail on Ocracoke!

Although it has turned cold these past few days, this winter has been pretty mild so far.  Many of our plants think it is spring!  

Travel has been a bit trickier off of Ocracoke Island.  A storm this last weekend filled in the channel in the Ocracoke-Hatteras Inlet, and now the ferries can't get through until it is cleared.  It should take a couple of weeks.  In the meantime, the Swan Quarter and Cedar Island ferries have stepped up their runs to compensate. 

The closed channel didn't slow down a huge great white shark, "Mary Lee" that Ocearch has been tracking in Pamlico Sound and off the coast of NC.  Read all about her here.  To see where "Mary Lee" is now, click on this link to the shark tracking page and select "Mary Lee."  Pretty exciting!  We'll stay out of the water for the moment. . . it was a little cool for swimming right now, anyway.

Molasses Creek Performance this weekend on Saturday, January 26, Outer Banks Forum, Kill Devil Hills, NC ~ This weekend we will be doing a concert with the Outer Banks Forum for the Lively Arts, at the First Flight High School Auditorium in Kill Devil Hills.  The concert begins at 7:30 PM.  For more information visit www.outerbanksforum.org/.  Hope to see you there!

Molasses Creek rounded out 2012 at our favorite spot, First Night Williamsburg.  We swapped off sets with The Company Store throughout the evening, and then rang in the new year with fireworks on the campus of William and Mary.  

Our friends from The Company Store

 The next day we toured Colonial Williamsburg. 


Here are Amy & Lachlan Howard, and Fiddler Dave having a picture taken in front of the Williamsburg Gaol (Jail).  Lachlan is 10th generation descended from William Howard, the quartermaster on Blackbeard's ship (who also visited the Williamsburg Gaol when he was on trial for piracy in Williamsburg in 1718).   

 When the Williamsburg staff realized our relation to William Howard, they decided they had better put an end to trouble before it started.
 
 After a couple of days rest in Virginia, and a sampling of the local rotten fruits and vegetables, Amy, David & Lachlan made a successful escape back to Ocracoke.

In January, we resumed working on the new Molasses Creek album (#13!) at Gary Mitchell's Soundside Studio on Ocracoke Island.  This recording is going to be a lot of fun.  We are looking forward to its release at the Ocrafolk Festival in June!

On January 12 & 13, Molasses Creek traveled to the middle of the state for two fabulous shows at Americana Stage in Morganton (sold out!), and The Rooster's Wife in Aberdeen, NC.

Marcy & Lou warming up on the ferry.

On the way to Morganton, Gary Mitchell's expert sniffer detected a nearby bakery.  Winding our way off the interstate, we journeyed deep into Old Salem in Winston-Salem. 

The C. Winkler Bakery was just unloading goodies from the traditional wood fired ovens, so we stopped in for  a sampling.  This "professional" bakery was established by the church in 1800 when it was discovered that too many of the Single Sisters were stopping by the Single Brother's bakery to "buy bread."

Gary, Marcy & Lou "buying bread." No really. . . they were!

Loading the bakery over with wood for the next day firing.

This explains those funny pumpernickel rolls that Fiddler Dave found in the street.

We left Old Salem mid-afternoon and arrived in Morganton at the Grind Cafe Coffeehouse, home of the Americana Stage concert series (We swear we weren't just making another stop for coffee!)

 The concert took place upstairs in this historic building, in an intimate hall that seats about 75.  Twas a great evening of songs and celebration.  We even showcased a new version of "Nevertheless" that we have been preparing for the new album.  Thanks so much to Clint and Katie Bernard for hosting us at the concert and in their home and letting us play all their fine instruments!  Thanks also to our friends at the the Grind Cafe for providing a great location for the concerts.  We loved it! 

On Sunday we traveled towards Southern Pines, NC, to Aberdeen where Janet Kenworthy and friends and family produce The Rooster's Wife concert series.  They have worked hard to create this great listening room . . . and let us tell you, it is a real treat!  Beautiful sound, lighting, stage, and wow!  What chair selection (highly personalized)!

Gary & Gerald setup sound while Louie contemplates his performance.

 After the concert we retired to Janet & Jake's beautiful home up the street, where we wined, dined, and got some great chair massages from Denise.  What royal treatment . . . we're moving in next month!

Well. . .back out on the road, things are much different.  Here is the reality of band touring.

"Hey!  If Fiddler Dave is taking pictures then he is obviously NOT scrubbing the back windshield!"

 At least when you live on Ocracoke Island trips have beautiful beginnings and endings.

Returning to the island. . .

That's all for this news report.  February we will be focusing on the new album and taking some personal time off from the band.  Fiddler Dave, Amy & Lachlan will be heading to the Northwest to visit Amy's mom in Washington state for a couple of weeks.  We'll keep you appraised of all the happenings on and off the island.  Coming up in March we have a couple of great performances.

All the best,
Gary, Fiddler Dave, Marcy, Lou, and Gerald
Molasses Creek
 ***
March 2, 2013 ~ Music Across the Sounds, Mattamaskeet High School, Swan Quarter, NC.  Molasses Creek joins other eastern Carolina musicians for this community show sponsored by the Beaufort County Arts Council, NC Arts Council, and the NEA.

March 16, 2013 ~ Molasses Creek will be performing at a fundraising gala event put on by Public Radio East and the Hospice of Jacksonville, NC.  More details TBA.