See where this years Lillehammer festival in Norway is canceled, low ticket sales. Wondering Webb if you can give us some thoughts about your visit to the event (2008?). Other bands on the bill, the turnout, etc. Thanx.

Well, we've been there a coupla times. I GUESS 2008 was the most recent? Either way, it's really cool. There is a "village" of old, collected and reassembled Norwegian/Viking age homes (kinda like log cabins), the environs of which are as close as you'll ever come to visiting The Shire in Middle Earth where the hobbits dwell! The people there are wonderful. All very pleasant. The festival is not an outdoor one as you might expect a "festival" to be but, rather takes place indoors inside and underneath a rather large hotel facility with ballrooms, etc. Over the course of the several days we were there, Steppenwolf, Ian Hunter and band, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, some European acts I can't remember the names of as well as yours truly & the Beatnecks performed. Tony Bowles played the role of the other guitar player on one Lillehammer trip - Rick Kurtz on the other. I think it was Rick K. in 2008. We had fun and were treated well. Didn't meet Ian Hunter but, he reportedly had favorable things to say about the WW arrangement of "Big Time." Met John Kay. Strange that I had to go to Scandinavia to do it as we both livein Nash Vegas. He may have moved since then. He was talkin' about it. Jimmy and Tom were on both of those trips. The first trip to Norway was in 1993 and part of a six week Scandinavian/French tour. That time we played all over Norway...even near the Arctic circle. Our expeditions have taken us far afield; far from kith and kin. Poor Kith...such a lovely girl. Pity, really...but, I digress. Norway is the only (to my knowledge) Scandinavian country that "Doo Dad" was released in. They really support Blues and other musics. Theirs is a music lovin' country. Yay, Norway! Hey pocky way and way to go. Go? Gotta go. At my age every second counts! WW

....I suspect you've achieved a harmonious recitation, well done.

Enjoyed the story Webb, thanx.

Lillehammer is a charming little town on the side of a high ridge where they held the winter Olympics awhile ago. You could see the ski slope they used behind the grand old hotel, which had served as Nazi headquarters in Norway during WWII. The road from the hotel down to the town was very steep- we hiked down there a couple of times, and it was quite a workout coming back up! Poco was on the bill in one of our two trips there. Paul Cotton collapsed in his room prior to their show and had to remain hospitalized for quite some time afterwards as the band continued on to do dates in Europe without him (he's OK now). One time it was snowy and very beautiful; the other was during the 'Midnight Sun', so it was never completely dark at night. Glad we got to go- it was a great experience all around and the people there were really cool!

Yes Tom I was going to mention that about Paul Cotton. He's well now, but no longer with Poco (a shame and a sin!). I believe Tony Bowles filled in for him in a pinch with Poco. I have many MANY friends in Norway who I've met on Delbert McClintons Cruises over the years. TRULY music loving people, and now friends for life. I need to get over there someday.....just like WW needs to get to BOSTON again....have not seen him since 1993 HAVE MERCY!

Yeah, Tony was over there with us when it happened. Was that at that Far East (Middle East?) place where they pulled the plug on us mid song due to some hard-ass curfew thing? WW

Yes sir Webb, it was the Middle East in Cambridge, MA in 1993. It may have had something to do with them having 4 bands open for you. You were PISSED and we (me and about 20 friends and family that were there that night DO NOT blame you!). I even wrote a letter to the club owner/manager and sent a copy to you. We STILL want you back. In fact there is a GREAT place in southern NH (which I just requested to book you) called Tupelo Music Hall. I posted and several people who I don't know from Adam jumped on my post and agreed. http://www.tupelohalllondonderry.com/
PICK UP ON IT! Hope to see you again before my bucket list becomes a history book!

Dennis

Here's Tupelo Music Hall's Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/63544826677/

sorry...ignore previous link....can I delete a post???