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Back from Retreat with a New Release
Plus: Upcoming Gigs, Book Reports, and More
I made it back from retreat and what an adventure it was! I won’t go into detail here but if you’re interested to read my practice log I will gladly email it to you, just let me know. It’s long and mostly quite boring but there were some exciting moments here and there. I’ll include a few more photos from the experience at the bottom of this newsletter too. Now that I’m back I have so much to share —
In this newsletter:
New Release: Terra Incognita
Upcoming Gigs
I'm Available for Music Lessons
Detroit Folk School
Book Reports: The World That Made New Orleans, and The Law of Love
New Release: Terra Incognita
You may recall Thomas Bailey, a great musical inspiration, hero, and friend to me. We released Wild Hog in 2012 and although we’ve lived on different continents for years we’ve maintained and continued to expand our musical relationship. I recorded this with Tom and his all-star Parisian old time band in the summer of 2023 when I was in town to work with the Cité de la Musique. and it was a total blast. This album is really rocking and I mean some of these tracks are just burning! I have a limited edition of 50 CDs available for US distribution. Order yours here!
Upcoming Gigs
There’s not too many of them as I am really aiming for quality over quantity these days, so if you can make it to any of these don’t miss your chance —
02/04/25 SOLO SHOW in Paw Paw, MI at The Lucky Wolf Cafe Time: 7:30pm. Admission: $15 adv / $18 day of. Age restrictions: All Ages. Box office: (269) 913-4153. Address: 404 E. Michigan Ave..Venue phone: (269) 913-4153. Showtime at 7:30, doors at 7 BUY TICKETS
02/05/25 SOLO SHOW in Fort Wayne, IN at J K O’Donnell’s Time: 7:00pm. Admission: FREE!. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 121 W Wayne St. Bobcat Opossum & Friends Featuring Aaron Jonah Lewis 7-10pm, FREE!
02/16/25 Aaron Jonah Lewis’s Ragtime Banjo Revival Trio in Detroit, MI at Cliff Bell’s Time: 5:30pm. Admission: $25. Address: 2030 Park Ave. Venue phone: 313.961.2543. Two shows: 5:30-6:45 and 7:30-8:45 BUY TICKETS More information
02/21/25 White Flowers in Redford Township, MI at Entropy Stereo Time: 8:00pm. Admission: $10-20 sliding scale. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 25908 Six Mile Rd. Doors at 7 pm, music at 8 pm White Flowers and Spectrum 2 White Flowers are a sextet featuring brilliant string work, heavy rhythms and searing guitar work from LuFuki. Channeling the beauty and fierceness of Detroiter Yusef Lateef’s compositions, White Flowers is fresh off their residency at Ragdale Arts.
02/22/25 Detroit Square Dance Society in Detroit, MI at Vámonos! Time: 7:00pm. Admission: $20 suggested, No One Turned Away For Lack Of Funds. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 4444 W. Vernor.What: Queer Square Dancing + Potluck w/Lindsay McCaw calling, Aaron Jonah Lewis on fiddle, Alex Belhaj on guitar, Rachel Pearson on bass, and special mystery guests sitting in (If you want to be a special mystery guest please send me a message.) ================ Bring: Potluck foods with serving utensils, bring a bunch of friends and wear comfy shoes for dancing! (Dancing is optional, too — it’s 100% ok to hang out, eat, drink, enjoy the scene and socialize without dancing.) ================ Parking: There are two free parking lots behind the space plus street parking and the insurance agency lot across the street, all free ================ $20 suggested donation — If you don’t have $20 we still want you to come in and join the party! If you can pay more than $20 please do, it helps a lot. Pay whatever you can. ================ Cash bar with beer, wine, nonalcoholic drinks including fresh squeezed juice. Please no outside drinks. ================ Covid Precautions: We will have CR boxes set up for super filtered air quality and we are not requiring masking for this event, although we encourage you to wear whatever you feel most comfortable wearing. Please do not attend if you’re feeling the slightest bit unwell. ================ Accessibility: Vámonos is wheelchair accessible ================ Restrooms: There are two unisex restrooms available and the doors are 35.5” wide. ================ As always: – All ages welcome – No one turned away for lack of funds – No experience necessary, all dances will be taught – No partner needed, no fancy outfits needed (though you’re welcome to dress up however you like) ================ “Why a queer square dance and not just a square dance?” We use gender inclusive language and we don’t enforce any dress codes or other gender norms. We promote a culture of acceptance and discourage homophobia at our events. Everyone is welcome to attend, except for bigots and haters! ================ Please note: We are creating a queer space where we can come together and celebrate each other’s unique experiences in community. Bring your open and welcoming hearts and keep respect and kindness in mind as you may see people expressing themselves freely! More information
03/22/25 SOLO SHOW in Toledo, OH at Over Yonder Concert House Time: 7:00pm. Admission: $20. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 2492 Scottwood Ave. Doors at 6:30, show at 7:00 at the Flamb-OWE-nce Community House More information
03/29/25 Aaron Jonah Lewis’s Ragtime Banjo Revival Trio in Ann Arbor, MI at GroupMuse House Concert Time: 7:00pm. Admission: $30. Age restrictions: All Ages BUY TICKETS
I’m Available for Music Lessons
I’m only looking for 3 or 4 serious students who want to take their banjo or fiddle playing to the next level, contact me directly if interested. If you know someone who may be interested please send them my way.
If you’re on this mailing list you probably already know that what I have to offer is quite rare and special: Over 20 years’ professional performing and teaching experience, a vast and intimate knowledge of American traditional styles, and an undying love for the music, its creators, its players, and the stories that give the experience meaning and context. I teach in person and virtual lessons and scheduling is flexible; I also offer asynchronous options for even greater flexibility.
We are slowly getting this project off the ground, step by baby step. We now have our own substack so you can join our mailing list and get the monthly-ish updates! (Highly recommended for Detroit and Metro Detroit residents and visitors.)
I still have a Patreon account and it’s still a great way to support my work! If you’ve made it this far into the newsletter you may as well subscribe now. You can even sign up for a free subscription!
Subscribers receive exclusive content and early access to new videos, and above all the warm feeling that can only come from knowing that you’re helping keep precious musical gems from the dustbins of history.
Book Reports: The World That Made New Orleans, and The Law of Love
“The World That Made New Orleans,” by Ned Sublette, is a must-read for anyone who is deeply interested in the roots of American music. I learned so much from reading this book and it was well-written, too. I can’t recommend it highly enough. A few topics I bookmarked: The necessity of dance, bamboula, calenda, banza; Fiddles came from Africa, too; Ragtime dance roots; Vaudeville, swing; Gottschalk; French vs. English contra dance (squares vs. lines); Origin of the term “Dixieland,” and so much more.
“The Law of Love,” by Laura Esquivel, is a madly entertaining sci-fi spiritual fantasy mystery thriller and I enjoyed it greatly and can also recommend it. My sister sent it to me and said she wasn’t sure why but she thought I’d enjoy it, and she was right. It’s a fast-moving romantic adventure that stretches from the fall of Montezuma’s Mexico to the 23rd century.
Farewell, for Now
That’s all folks! I hope I’ll see you in the real world again soon, and I hope you didn’t miss me too much. I will likely make winter retreats an annual event from now on. Wishing you great peace and contentment. May All Beings Have Happy Minds!
…And now, as promised, a few photos:
