What's New!:

July 24, 2008: My Apologies. I thought I had posted a summary of the Malibu memorial held for John in May but apparently I did not upload it. I did not attend the show but read many reports from those who did and the universal reaction was that it was wonderful.

The memorial was held Saturday May 3rd at Pepperdine University in Malibu. Friends and family from throughout John's career were in attendance and some spoke or performed. Timothy B Schmit from the Eagles opened the show with a performance of Chilly Winds. Timothy credits the Kingston Trio (he wanted to be Nick) for his interest in music and a band. Also performing was Davy Jones of the Monkees who sang "She Believes in Me" as well as the Monkees biggie written by John "Daydream Believer". And Davy made a point of using the original lyrics of "now you know how funky I can be" rather than the monkeyed "happy I can be".

Some of the others who played in the band or performed songs throughout the day included Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham, drummer Russ Kunkel, Actor/singer/songwriter Bill Mumy, Chip Douglas, Henry Diltz, Dave Crossland, The We Five, Shana Morrison (Van's daughter), Dave Crossland, Chuck McDermott, Dave Batti, John Hoke, Dennis Kensmore, Bob Hawkins and of course John's wife Buffy.

There were several video tributes aired including ones by John Glenn, Scott Carpenter and Rosanne Cash.

John's son Mikael Stewart emceed the event and among the other speakers were Nick Reynolds, George Yanok, Paul Westphal, Max Kennedy and Bonnie Weiss. Among the hundreds also in attendance were John's first wife Julie and their children Amy, Mikael and Jeremy, as well as bass player Arnie Moore, Peter O'Brien (publisher of the UK magazine Omaha Rainbow) and Valerie Venet (widow of John's early produced Nik Venet)

For photos of the show I would highly recommend a look here: http://www.sonic.net/roadman/bloodnotes/jsmt05-08/

A lot of folks have been putting video of John up on youtube. Prior to John's death there were a few, but there are quite a bit more now. Takes a little searching but it is a lot of fun. Two vids that really bring a smile to my face are from a trip that John took to Japan in 2001. John and the Kingston trio are revered by some there and for lack of a better word, a tribute band "The Antilles Trio" was filmed with John as a guest star.

These two links will take you to youtube to see the group perform John's "Cody" as well as "California, I'm Going Home". What is lacking in video quality is more than made up for in sheer happiness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4W85DyuLqw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5_N9w8buWs

On a more serious note, the first part of this clip of John remebering Robert Kennedy shouldn't be missed: http://youtube.com/watch?v=fZzbVLRsI80

Apr 3, 2008: A public Memorial Sevice for the friends, fans and family of John Stewart is being held in Malibu, California on May 3rd. There are a very limited number of tickets available to the service (at no charge). You may reserve tickets while they last at the following website: http://www.johnstewartmusic.com/

Mar 22, 2008: Quite a few radio stations ran tributes to John's music since his death. KVMR, a good station broadcasting from Nevada City California on 89.5 FM will have a show on March 23rd from 6-8 PM (Pacific). Those not in the listening area can hear the show by going to the web site: www.kvmr.org.

John's family is planning a public memorial and concert in the Malibu area for May 3rd. I'll post details when things get finalized.

There have been a couple of memorial/tribute shows done by John's band at clubs where John regularly performed, such as at McCabe's guitar shop and Anderson's. Two special memorial concert shows are coming up:

April 4, 2008 8 PM Passim's Cambridge, MA with Chuck McDermott, Noel Paul Stookey, Dave Crossland, and friends http://www.clubpassim.org/passimcalendar/index.php 617-492-7679

April 12, 2008 9 PM Towne Crier Pawling, NY Memorial Tribute Show with Buffy Stewart, Rosanne Cash, The Kennedys, Jim Dawson, The John Stewart Band http://www.townecrier.com/ 845-855-1300

A show was also planned at Jimmy Duke's Dark Thirty in Lakeside near San Diego but has been postponed because of the planned memorial and concert in Malibu for May 3rd. When the show is rescheduled I'll try and make the information available here.

Feb 6, 2008: Plans are afoot for short video clip of John to be telecast on the Grammy Awards. The awards are scheduled to air Feb. 10 on CBS.

February 3, 2008: Quite a few tributes to John have appeared in newspapers and radio shows. John's passing is noted in this week's issue of Time magazine also. I'm not sure how long it will be there, but Rosanne Cash has written an insightful remembrance of her friend, and it is worth your time to read at http://rosannecash.com/monthly.html

John was laid to rest this past week. I'll let a letter from his friend Tom DeLisle supply the details ....

John Stewart was laid to rest in a private ceremony in Coronado, California on Wednesday, January 30, 2008.

Held at an Episcopal church just a short distance from the hotel where he was stricken on the evening of January 18, the service drew on Catholic and Buddhist religious influences in a celebration of John's 68 years of life and music. The event was attended by an estimated 100 family and friends. Buffy kept the memorial private and the family issued only verbal invitations to keep the service from drawing media distraction. She said she wished she could have "invited every one of the Bloodliners and Fantasy Campers and fans," but kept the guest list short for obvious reasons. A larger public memorial is being considered for the near future.

The 110 minute service was followed by a reception in an adjoining church library, Famed rock photojournalist Henry Diltz supplied a running slide show of John's life and career in the library's reception room. He also displayed several large mounted photos of John and Buffy; several of which also adorned the church. A large portrait photo of John was placed next to the altar.

There were many musical highlights included in the program. To many, and to me, the most affecting being the group-singing of "Daydream Believer" at the end of the service, with Dave Batti, John Hoke, Chuck McDermott and Lindsey Buckingham providing guitar accompaniment on the altar. Halfway through the song, it occurred to me to do what must be done -- and I yelped my final "whoop!" to the fabulous music of John Stewart. For, oh, what can it mean...

Other musical tributes included bagpipe and violin performances before the ceremony as guests were being seated by John's nephew Mimo and grand-daughter Noel, respectively. To open the service, Dave, John, and Chuck sang a beautiful rendition of "Jasmine" on the altar. "And oh ... here come those highways again ... and oh-ohhh....here I go..." It sounded so perfect you looked to see if John might walk out to take the lead.

They were followed by the Kingston Trio singing "Chilly Winds," with Bob Shane giving a short personal introduction and singing lead. Lindsey Buckingham did an emotional and hypnotic version of John's Kingston Trio song "Lock All the Windows," which left room for only the proverbial pin-drop at its end. It was one of so many breath-taking moments during the service.

That emotion was ratcheted even higher when Buffy went up to read a poem she had written to John, followed by her rendition of "If You Should Remember Me." And all my love was holy art ... that I might live within your heart...

The scheduled speakers were led by John and Buffy's son Luke, who absolutely floored the crowd with his touching, dry, and hilarious tribute to his Dad. I believe Luke is 28 now, but he looks and handles himself like someone 28 going on 48. He was markedly in control, laid back, cool, and collected. His stage presence reminded you of ... well, you can imagine. Likely the biggest laugh he got while reciting a list of "My Dad..." points (such as "My Dad ... could make a hand puppet out of anything") came when he said -- an in-joke to those who knew John intimately -- "My Dad ... was a dentist." The church erupted in laughter, with most in attendance thinking back to John's decades of working on his own, and everyone else's, teeth with tools both professional and primitive. (Luke promised to send us an e-mail of his church tribute; when we get it we'll forward it to Bloodlines.)

Other speakers included basketball legend Paul Westphal, an old buddy of JS; Max Kennedy, son of Bobby Kennedy; brother-in-law Marc Ford; Lindsey Buckingham, and -- I apologize -- a representative of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (and I also apologize for spelling his name like that) possibly named Bonnie Reiss, whose last name I'm not sure I have correctly, and who spoke of her involvement with John in many 'green' and social political efforts in California. Following the scheduled speakers, others who went onto the altar to say their goodbyes included John's boyhood and lifelong pal George Yanok, brother-in-law Skiff Ford; John's longtime bassist Brian Garofalo, and me, whose last name I remember.

A special moment was offered by Dayananda, who flew to California at Buffy's request from the ashram John and Buffy attended in Virginia during the 1980s. She recited a story and special prayer from Gurudev, their spiritual inspiration.

And it could not have been a Stewart affair without this touch: The priest who oversaw this wide-ranging observance, Father Ron, called the family grandchildren up to the altar for the blessing of ... are you ready? ... the donut holes, John's "favorite food." The donut balls were wrapped in cellophane, and after they were blessed, they were dispersed to the crowd and eaten, pew by pew, at the urging of Father Ron, who handed them out from wicker baskets. Andrew Dean Fergus of Scotland, the man who once, actually more than once, said of John's music that it is "too good for the pooblic," ate about four of the blessed donut holes, cleaning up after anyone who felt it just wasn't time to ingest a glazed ball.

Other tributes to John came in a letter from Rosanne Cash, which Buffy read. And Leslie Reynolds, the wife of Nick Reynolds, who was too ill to attend the service, read a beautiful tribute to John from Nick ... who referred to JS as "my Johnny ... my pup." Nick and Leslie live only a block from the Episcopal Church, but Nick has not been well since John's passing and his own health difficulties following another hip surgery. Buffy, John, Leslie and Nick spent JS's last night at the Reynolds house, listening to the recent re-release of the Trio's "Once Upon a Time" CD, and warmly recalling their old days in the group. Leslie recalled how the last thing John had said to her was "Take good care of my Budgie," John's nickname for Nick, as he and Buffy left the house to return to their hotel that night.

The final touch of the church service came, after the group recital of the Apostles Creed and the Lord's Prayer, with the voice of John Stewart floating out over the crowd, one last time in concert, singing the striking "Walk on the Moon." Friends who were here now they're gone ... why does it happen so soon? ... and as they were closing their eyes ...

The reception next door lasted about two or three hours, with so many people catching up for lost time, meeting again -- and perhaps for the last time -- with so many of the terrific and amazing people who seemed to gravitate to John Stewart. From grand-kids to showbiz stars, they all seemed richer for the experience of having been around JS, the coolest guy in the world. I remember thinking in church ... that the footprint he leaves is bigger than that building.

For a classic Stewart moment, and an indication that the Stewart humor is alive and well: I was struck during the service by son Mikael Stewart's children (Mikael, Jeremy, and Amy and their families were in attendance, along with John's first wife Julie). Mike's kids were too shy to go up to the altar for the blessing of the donut holes, and clung to their dad in their front row pew. Mikael hugged both kids to his side, his arms wrapped around them tightly. Later at the reception, I asked if his kids had been spooked by the moment, and said what a beautiful sight it was to see him clutch them to his side. He looked at me and said "Those weren't my kids."

To throw some booze and final remembrance into the mix, many of those attending retired to the Coronado Hotel (the La Coronado or some fancy-ass name like that, the fabled hotel with the pointed gabled roof where Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis chased Marilyn Monroe in "Some Like It Hot") for a last meeting at the hotel's large bar. All the Stewart kids and their mates and children were there, along with the Yanoks and that SOB Fergus and the Batti family and John Hoke and Greg Jorgenson and his too-cool-for-school daughter Rachel, herself a special friend of John Stewart.

I should point out, lest I forget, that the Bloodliners and Campers were represented at the service by Jorgenson, Art and Jean Faller, Dave "Dave," Jay Hovdey and legendary jockey wife Julie Krone, and -- a special surprise -- Kristen Nielsen with her new husband and sister. (Her husband is new; not her sister.) I hope I'm remembering everyone, though I'm sure I'm not. There were a few Bloodliners mentioned that night that caused Buffy to say "oh, we forgot to invite ...." and some I know were invited who could not or could not bring themselves to attend.

Other notables spotted in the crowd included Joey Harris, John's old lead guitar player, and drummer Dennis Kenmore. Jay Hovdey said he saw astronaut Scott Carpenter in attendance, though I didn't see him. But I was so revved up and weirded out by the whole affair that Yuri Gargarin and Captain Video could have been there, in full uniform, and I wouldn't have noticed. I just recall now how hard the leave-taking was.

The last call for the guy who used to say "I'm not good at goodbyes," was a tough farewell. I figured, beating the Alzheimer's condemnation that awaited him, that he got out of town a step ahead of the sheriff. And that it all ended like a Lone Ranger episode. Where at the end, when everybody wanted to thank the hero for what he had done for them, what he had given ... he was nowhere to be found, but instead was seen at the far end of town, waving goodbye ... remember, "where IS that masked man?" ... and pulling his horse up for one final glorious kick salute ... and that last "hi-yo Silver!" ... he waved his hat ... and suddenly, impossibly ... was gone.

The most "with us" man of our time was gone. And as you can imagine, his final encore -- like everything else over the past couple weeks -- was a surreal affair. I can't remember much of what I said when it was my turn to speak. I know I SHOULD have said that he was certainly the coolest guy I ever met, really the coolest guy in the world. I should have said that he leaves a footprint bigger than the church. I should have said that in his leaving he takes the color out of my world, leaving me with only whites and browns to paint with in my remaining years. I tried to drink myself into some kind of forgetfulness at the Coronado bar, but since my illness I can't drink worth a damn anymore. I can't send myself into the kind of oblivion one needs to cope with the loss of John Coburn Stewart. (I was about to write "with the loss of someone like John Coburn Stewart" ... but, as we all know, there just AIN'T nobody, nowhere, that's ever been LIKE John C. Stewart.) And, besides, there ain't enough booze in the world to compensate for a loss like this; or to force a respite from the pain.

As with many of you, per your Bloodlines reports, this hole seems to get deeper as the time goes on. It is not moving towards healing or calm or acceptance. There are times it seems like he left and took the whole world with him. His loss is monstrous. And the facets of his talent and character continue to glow brighter with each passing phase of mourning. Each day brings a painful new reminder of what has been lost. Each day brings a moment when I think "Yow, I have to tell Johnny about THAT!" and the awful empty quick knowledge that follows and says "you CAN'T tell Johnny about that." Each bleak day seems to bring a new sense that he is going to be recognized and lauded for who he was and what he did now, ironically, that he is no longer here to appreciate it; now that he cannot hear the world's acclaim and applause. One just gets that feeling, more and more. That the world will, someday soon, get hip to what it had in John Stewart. It will be a grim acknowledgement for those of us who knew all along.

Johnny would laugh. And his 'mass card,' handed out at the service, shows a smiling 40ish John, seated in a rocking chair I would guess, smiling broadly and dressed in a jeans shirts. On the reverse are the words to "If You Should Remember Me," atop a final stunning and obscene statement: John Stewart -- 9/5/39 - 1/19/08.

And come on. If we "should" remember him? If we might, if we happen to, as if we have a choice? As if. And if you want to remember him with a smile, think of that whole congregation, on their feet, singing "Daydream Believer" like it was the last song in the world. With people whooping as always, like in the old days, to music that was made for it. The greatest singer-songwriter lives in that music. He created an energy and a community in his work. Neither will ever die.

And, finally, I should have said this, borrowing from a real writer: "Sheep without shepherd ... when the snow takes the sky ... Why did you leave us, Johnny ... why did you die?"

January 22, 2008: If any public memorials or funeral arrangements are announced for John I will do my best to post an announcement here as quickly as possible.

A number of radio stations have been broadcasting tributes to John Stewart. XM Sat radio will be broadcasting two different tributes for John on their XM15 "The Village" channel. One is four hours and another 1 hour. The times and description are as follows: Robert Aubry Davis Remembers John Stewart. A four-hour tribute with reminisces and music of John Stewart, looking at the solo albums, live work, the early years with the Cumberland Three and the seven years with the Kingston Trio with your host, Robert Aubry Davis. Times: Eastern: Thurs Jan 24 2 PM Sunday Jan 27 2 AM; Pacific Thurs Jan 24 11 AM Saturday Jan 26 11 PM. A rebroadcast of a tribute by Elena See, 1 hour is Eastern: Sat Jan 26 12 Noon; Pacific Sat Jan 26 9 AM

Paul Rybolt, a long time supporter and friend of John's has posted a number of excellent videos of John on youtube. If you have a highspeed connection they are worth a watch. He has posted Walk on the Moon from a concert John performed in Dalry Scotland in 2001. Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZhmS05geyU

January 19, 2008: John passed on this morning in San Diego in the city where he was born. We've lost the song poet of our generation and he's left us much too soon. John had been re-energized of late, recording a new album last month and thinking about the next Fantasy Camp in August. He spent the week with Nick Reynolds and his wife listening to the recent concert releases, singing the old songs together and sharing many memories.

After a great evening Thursday he was suddenly stricken. His friends and family gathered quickly for support, but he left us all this morning. He's given us all a lifetime of music and although we will miss him terribly he will live on in all of us. Our thoughts are with his wife Buffy and his children and grandchildren who have just lost their hero.

A few years ago John wrote a most poignant song - and I hope John is still dreaming he will walk on the moon...

If I had all the time in the world

And I had all the world in my time

There are dreams that I'm keeping inside

Like verses that never would rhyme.

I still dream I'll make movies in Spain

And photograph dancers in flight.

Watching the clock running down

And I live in available light.

And I still dream I will walk on the moon

If the moon isn't holding me down.

Chasing the future through fields

With moonlight igniting the ground.

All the young girls are light years away

And they seem to be browsing through time.

But you know that not one can compare

With the heart of this true love of mine.

In the water of all of my tears

The reflections of beautiful times.

In my arms I am holding the wings

Of angels I'm hoping to find.

And I still dream I will walk on the moon

If the moon isn't holding me down.

Chasing the future through fields

With moonlight igniting the ground.

Friends, who were here, now are gone.

Oh, why does it happen so soon.

And, as they were closing their eyes,

Did they dream they would walk on the moon?

And I still dream I will walk on the moon

If the moon isn't holding me down.

Chasing the future through fields

With moonlight igniting the ground.

January 18, 2008: John was stricken by a serious stroke and has been hospitalized this morning in San Diego. Please keep John and his family in your thoughts at this difficult time. I will provide updates as I learn more. Any concert dates should be considered on hold for now.

January 15, 2008: Some nice background info and funny remembrances by George Yanok, an old buddy of John's, on the Once and Twice Upon a Time releases. You can read it on George's blog http://writir.blogspot.com/2007/10/once-upon-time.html

Worth a mention for the lonesome pickers out there is a nice compilation of tabs put together here http://www.earthriders.us/johnstewartsongdatabase.html

January 14, 2008: Long overdue for a bit of an update. Singer songwriter Bill Staines, an old favorite of mine, has covered John's "Cody" on his newest album "Old Dogs" on Red House Records released in late 2007.

Probably should mention that "Once Upon a Time" the Kingston Trio release has finally gotten a real CD release. Many butchered versions have appeared over the years but this release attempts to set it right. Also notable is a "new" Kingston Trio release from the same time and tour (1966 in Lake Tahoe) called "Twice Upon a Time". They should be available through your usual folk music sources like Rediscover. There have actually been a number of Kingston Trio concert releases this past year and we may see more in 2008.

In December John strapped on a Fender and went into the studio to cut a rock and roll album. Well, John has said "I wanna be Elvis" and I guess we'll see what comes out of the mix. Some notable sideman are working on the project. Some of the names I've heard include Russ Kunkel, Bryan Garofalo, Lindsey Buckingham and Henry Diltz on some of the tracks, along with Bob Hawkins, Dave Batti and John Hoke.

I've slowly been adding some of the recent archives of Bloodlines. Also new concert dates keep trickling in. I've got some of them on the tourdates page.

August 18, 2007: There has been no news this year on any album projects and things have been pretty quiet. There are a few shows coming up in coming months. John tours less now so please take advantage of opportunities in your area. Check the tourdates page.

John will be making a first appearance at a special venue in San Diego that I encourage you to try. They present the kinds of acts that Stewart fans love such as Tom Russell, Dave Alvin, Jimmy LaFave and Eliza Gilkyson. John will be appearing October 26th but you can get advance tickets now. AcousticMusicSanDiego.com, 4650 Mansfield Street, San Diego, CA 92116 (619) 303-8176

Trio Fantasy Camp 2007 is in progress right now with John Stewart and Nick Reynolds, with appearances by Bob Shane, legendary trio bass player Dean "mad dog" Reilly, and astronaut Scott Carpenter. Rumors abound that Travis Edmondson is also on hand as well as former Association and New Christy Minstrel man Larry Ramos. Keep your eyes on the stars.

January 21, 2007: A nice spring tour is shaping up including John's first trip to the Pacific Northwest in quite a few years Check the tourdates page.

Sept 22, 2006: I saw John and Buffy perform at the Palms on Sept 16th. For me it was a very refreshing return to seeing John live. I really enjoyed the show - John was in a rather talkative mood and told stories of early days, boy scout camp on Catalina Island where he composed the "Shrunken Head Boogie" at age 12 and became the hit of camp - he was the hit of camp in other ways too - hard head Stewart - a funny story that I hope John tells at the Grass Valley and other shows coming up. He talked of discovering folk music and "John and Monty" and first meeting the original Kingston Trio and writing for them - the forming of the Cumberland Three and going on tour for "Moishe", going to Greenwich Village and sitting next to Cisco Houston and other legends - it has been a long time since I heard such great stories from John.

The music was excellent - it seems to me like John looked in his closet, found an old coat and some old clothes that surprisingly fit him well or even better perhaps now. Songs I hadn't heard in a very long time were somehow made richer - "Road Away", "Hung on the Heart", "She Believes in Me" (one of those first two or three Stewart songs that hooked me for life) "Mazatlan" . I just really liked this show - seeing John in such good spirits and playing a variety of great stuff including Run The Ridges and my two favorites from the new album "Baby It's You" and one it took me a while to warm to, "Jasmine". John also wrote and debuted a new song; "Old Friends in the Morning" is the tentative title, which I'll call a fond look by John on his friends Tom Delisle, George Yanok and Henry Diltz.

Here are several photos from the show Palms 1 Palms 2 Palms 3

added numerous files to the The Archives of Bloodlines

Sept 16, 2006: A rare central California appearance for John in Santa Barbara has just been added to the tour schedule for October 28. also a show in Bakersfield on October 20. Check the tourdates page for details on September and October shows. John tours less these days so don't miss a chance at a show.

A cover of a John Stewart song. I always like finding those. But, not just any cover - an actual duet with John. Kate Wallace. Per Kate's website www.katewallace.com ( www.katewallace.com ) "Politics & Religion Brand new CD of 11 songs produced by Kate and David West featuring Kate’s big-time favorite, John Stewart on his song, Spirit." If you go to CDbaby here: http://cdbaby.com/cd/katewallace4 you can even listen to a 2 minute clip of "Spirit"

And another! Folk-Rock duo "The Kennedys" have a new album out "Songs of the Open Road". Maura Kenndy fell in love upon first listen to the song "Jasmine" from John's new album "The Day the River sang" and has included this song on the Kennedys' new album. You can read all about it here: Songs of the Open Road

Sept 12, 2006: I've been remiss in not posting news so plan to bring things up to date in the following months. For starters, roots-rocker Dave Alvin pays homage to John with the lead off cut on his new album "West of the West". He covers "California Bloodlines" and recounts a childhood memory in the liner notes and says that the song more or less inspired his new album. Worth a listen.

June 6, 2006: John had knee surgery a few days ago and is expected to make a full recovery and resume touring later this month at McCabe's and in San Diego. A hoped for tour of the UK this year had to be postponed as John was having difficulty travelling.

The NPR-syndicated "World Cafe" radio program with David Dye broadcast and streamed its recent interview with John Stewart on Tuesday, May 30. The interview was interspersed with live songs taken from the April 14 "Live at Noon" broadcast of John's special free show at the Tin Angel in Philadelphia. The program can be accessed online under the date may 30th here: World Cafe with David Dye

April 2006: On Friday, April 7, John Stewart was the featured noontime guest on Boston's folk-oriented radio station, WUMB (one of America's two major all-folk radio station, along with NYC's WFUV). John was interviewed and played several songs "live" on the air.

John will perform a "Free at Noon" live concert at Philadelphia's Tin Angel venue at noon on Friday, April 14, to be broadcast and streamed live on WXPN, a major player in the non-commercial AAA universe. After the broadcast, John will tape an interview with David Dye, host of WXPN's daily "World Café" program, which is syndicated by NPR and is carried by about 165 stations nationally. The interview, with live songs from the "Free at Noon" show interspersed, should be broadcast about three or four weeks after the taping.

February 15, 2006: John will be featured on an internet radio station show. Visit www.Radiofreephoenix.com this Thursday Feb 16 @ 11:00am MST. Adjust to your own time zone. John will be joining Andy Olson for an interview and music from John's new cd "The Day the River Sang". They will also be replaying the interview on Sunday Feb. 19 at 5pm

January 31, 2006: Finally, in February, a new commercial release from John! Slated for an official release date of Feb 21, 2006, "The Day The River Sang" is being released on Appleseed Records. The advance praise for the release has been pretty amazing with most fans who have heard it calling it the best release since Punch the Big Guy in the late 80's. I have only heard part of it, and the part I heard was really good. John returns with a variety of songs, including the story songs that long time fans have really appreciated. The type of song that John has written in recent years has differed quite a bit from his earlier work. With only a slight tongue in my cheek, much of John's early work tended to revolve around an Americana landscape and if it didn't have a horse, the road, the wind, rain or a river in it you almost wondered if it was Stewart. More recent work has tended to be less "rural" and more of a, I'm not sure how to say it, observation of society and life. There has been a bit of this always, and certainly since "Gold", but it seemed to be more prevalent in later work, and John has also added the perspective of a man who has lived a life and is looking back reflectively on it. One thing about John's music is that it rarely sits still and is sure to surprise you. The songs on the disc are as follows: 1. Baby, It's You 2. Jasmine 3. East of Denver 4. The Day the River Sang 5. Run the Ridges 6. New Orleans 7. Golden Gate Fields 8. Amanda Won't Dance 9. Sister Mercy 10. Broken Roses 11. Naked Angel on a Star-Crossed Train 12. Midnight Train 13. Slider

January 10, 2006: The first few tour dates are on the tour dates page for 2006

January 3, 2006: 2005 proved to be a fairly quiet year for Stewart related stuff. Lingering effects from a concussion John had in 2004 caused some problems touring in 2005 and with some show performances. We will have to see how it goes for 2006.

Fans may have noted that John's "Daydream Believer" has gotten heavy play in an Ebay ad campaign. Everyone still thinks Neil Diamond (that one is I'm a Believer") or the Monkees (they had the hit but they didn't write it) wrote it, but we know who really did. Kind of fun to think one of Stewart's songs has become so widespread.

Now for the big news - a new Stewart album will be released in February on Appleseed records. The title is "The Day The River Sang" and advance word is that it is really good. I'll have more details including tracks up here soon.

January 1, 2005: Happy New Year to all from the Cellar. New tour dates have been added for this coming year - California, Arizona and the start of the East Coast tour. John and Buffy are doing well and spent the holidays with their family in Southern California. 2004 was a pretty dry year for Stewart music, but John has been at work writing many new songs and rumor has it they are very good.

Nov 22, 2004: John's Fall tour was curtailed a bit by a concussion he suffered late this summer. Repeated tests came back fine but a concussion can take some time to recover from. He is at work on one, possibly two new studio albums for next year - one of which is planned to include modern renditions of some of John's "lost songs" from the past that never made it to albums. The summer Fantasy Camp was reported to be yet another success, this time including a brief impromptu reunion of Stewart, Nick Reynolds and Bob Shane.

John's performance this year at Woodsongs has been archived at can be found at: http://www.woodsongs.com/showlist.asp His show is No. 301

More of What's New from earlier months and years

The Photo Gallery

 

John Stewart

John Stewart Biography

The John Stewart discography

The Cumberland Three, The Kingston Trio, and solo works, as well as a listing of song covers by other artists and odds and ends - song lists and album cover photos

Tales of the sidemen

Articles, Interviews, Album, video & concert reviews

The incredible Lyrics database

You can purchase virtually all of John Stewart's recordings from Homecoming Records, managed by John's bass player Dave Batti.

You can use this handy order form to order directly.

A Photo Gallery

Dar Williams

The Finger

John Stewart Chord archive

A collection of songs that fans have created to assist you in figuring out the Lonesome Picker's songs Enquire within

The Archives of Bloodlines

Bloodlines

You can find out more at Bloodlines 

Clack's Favorite albums

My favorite mostly folk and singer-songwriter oriented albums from the last dozen years or so with a few others too

To Ride the Lightning One More Time   -John Stewart, October 20, 1998

Read and hear John's stirring tribute to John Glenn

Links to Folk Clubs in the San Francisco Bay Area