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"It's been the best of times it's been the worst of times it could scarcely have been both. It is the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair". Thank-you for reading
Its been a hard winter! The Medicine Show is still 'off the road'; with both vans (this one and the Canadian one) needing mechanical attention that I don't have the resources to provide. I have been offered a scheme to get us back on the road, but need your help. Please read on.
Out of the mud and into the music.
One minute broadcasting joy to the world; the next, I'm staring at a jack and a toolkit on the side of the road and a £3k mechanics bill, only to find myself right back to square one. This has become the paradox of The Medicine Show Radio Moose Mobile .
No lack of vision, support and songs, IE 'the spirit' — however we need the wheels to match, and that needs urgent action. So I'm forced to launch this fund raiser and throw myself and iMtv on your generosity yet again.
So we're re thinking the entire Moose Mobile system, here's what's gonna happen, with Belladrum Festival coming up and help from Moose Sponsors and Moose Hollow Media Partners 'Have Guitar Will Travel World' and the money collected here ( maybe still to be collected from now until August 1st ) and with what we can get for this Hymer as an imobile project (its going in a fire sale Ebay auction highest bit takes it no reserve) then we are again moving operations to Canada. I have our Calgary Friends currently looking for a replacement vehicle for the Canadian Moose - thon old GMC Vandura has finally hit the buffers too, so its a total reset for iMtv and Medicine Music.
Meanwhile its not all doom and gloom, I've enjoyed being home again this winter in beautiful Nairn covering its emergence as 'Scotland Wee Toon of Music' and have had a lot of help trying to fix the current Moose, all to no avail sadly but thanks folks (you know who you are)
The appeal will close after Belladrum Festival August 1st. I will take what comes in to Canada and hopefully get a van that served us as well as the last Mericana Moose did. So am currently looking for cool stuff to do in Alberta and then we take the new Van to Vancouver is the idea.
So I'm asking you to help me get this mobile studio back where it belongs - mobile!
I'll be fund raising all over the summer, in Canada too and will throw what money I can make as a publicist, and from Belladrum at this appeal as well.
We have 2 Albums to promote and the Spring Songwriter season in full flow offers of benefit gigs and getting on for 50 artists signing up to help with this push (thanks it means so much to have this support)
iMtv - international Moose TV has 30,000 followers across its 15 channel outlets, needless to say I'll be shaking the bucket in every direction possible, I do need to not find myself homeless after Belladrum Festival (true story) The hope was heading south for the winter, to pick up The Celtic Fringe Stravaig in Ireland bound for Bilbao on the trail of the Portuguese Knight Templars and the Celtic sages of old (and of new) and in pursuit my #robshistoryblog and in the intuitive traveling mode and model that has become The Moose and as was the plan last year that will have to wait till next year perhaps. This year we follow the Mackenzie Trail to British Columbia in the foot steps of Alexander MacKenzie from Avoch in Ross-shire the first european to traverse and Map Canada. #robshistoryblog will follow and we'll pick up music and events on the way (as is tradition) the offer is open to any of our family fold of Musicians to join us on the trail if you help with the gas we'll pick you up at the airport.
It’s rough out there and it’s only going to get rougher (chances are) so the Medicine of music is never more needed that is our mission and always has been, the Medicine Show Radio Moose Mobiles maybe the equivalent of a gypsy wagon and a couple of pack mules in the scheme of things… However we make media, artists and artisan friends everywhere, and connect their like mindedness, we help release albums, promote videos, concerts, tours, support the otherwise neglected independent songwriter sector and roots music in general with a passion, anyone who helps us we help them that's the deal and its nonexclusive.
It maybe 100% circus Buffalo Bill, Col Parker, prt Barnum prt Ronnie Lane Passing Show hokum, but I'm so very proud of the legacy, the archive and our following - it continues to grow while I can keep one step ahead of the decent town folk and their tar n feathers….There is a a revolving cast of rejects, troubled ladies w banjos in mini skirts and other miss fits with magic in their wings out their to be found, at every turn in the road. Such is my calling - please help me fulfil my purpose.
You'd be very welcome along for the ride, virtually and/or in person (Vancouver or Tangiers anyone? ) thanks in advance every contribution is a god send at this point…
Rob Ellen
Organizer
Robert Main Ellen
Organizer