MT Duo cool pics, Zwiefalten, Germany Feb. 07

A little out of chronological order, but I just got these photos in from Bodo Ruedenburg from the Muensterklinik in Zwiefalten, Germany, where we played for the second time in Feb. 6th, 2007. This is how we live, breath, eat and sleep our music. We will play again for the good people in Zwiefalten on Wed. 18. March, 2009. Info. at this link: http://www.zfp-web.de/K3/index.php3

Matching Ties Quartet 5/24/08 Spalt, Germany

As those pics come in from fans and promoters here's another highlight concert with our quartet in my wife Maria's home town of Spalt, south of Nuremburg, Germany. Though you can only see Guinness in the mugs on the tables, they also serve Spalter Beer, one of the best darn beers in the world. Spalter "aroma" hops, grown in the fields all around the town, are world famous. It's a beautiful, historic medieval town where I have spent many Christmases and family gatherings. This is our 5th concert for the Sommernachspiele theater group in the former train station of Spalt which has been converted to a stage. It was a wonderful warm evening, sold out show and great atmosphere. Thanks to Berhard Müller, and the people in the "verein" as well as all the good people of Spalt. Yours, Paul Stowe

Matching Ties-Duo 1.5.08 Vetternwirtschaft Rosenheim

It's been a while since our last blog entry, but we have been staying very busy with lots of great gigs. Here's a picture of our gig on May Day 1.5.08 taken by our young friend Ruben Lenz in Rosenheim, Germany. We played in the Vetternwirtschaft, one of the oldest live music clubs in the area, and had a great day with lots of familiar faces. A special thanks to Manfred Lenz for recommending us, and to the organization at the "Vettern". Keep checking our tour schedule page for concerts near you: http://www.matchingties.com/schedule.html. ALSO, for U.S. fans: our tour in Oct.-Nov. 08 is shaping up. Hope to see you in Utah or elsewhere in the Northwestern States.

Gold Rush

Here's a video that didn't quite make the cut, but I've posted it here. You can always delete the post. And you can also embed the vids you create here. Might be more apropos, newsy, etc.

Matching Ties-Duo, 2/15/08 Kulturscheune Schwanstetten, Germany

Here we are playing for the 4th time for our friends Harry Behr and family and all the folks at the KIS eV. in Schwanstetten, south of Nuremberg, Germany. This time we played in Leerstetten at their beutifully renovated barn/concert hall. The audience and the hospitality were great. Thanks a lot.

Death of Dave Bell, fellow musician and friend

We are very sad to report that our dear friend and bodhran player Scotsman Dave Bell passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 22nd, 2008 in Munich. Dave played bodhran, percussions, spoons and bones on the most recent Matching Ties CD "Across the Sea" and toured with us in our "Irish Quartet" with Colm O'Tuama from Dublin on tin whistles and Irish Flute, or played with Trevor and I as trio. Although Dave was fighting diabetes for some years, he always managed to be friendly and caring. We enjoyed his great sense of humor and adept conversation. Dave showed up spontaneously to play on many of our Munich gigs ,and was a key figure in the Monday night Irish folk sessions as well as in his duo "Hijinx" with Colm in Munich pubs. Our condolences to his girlfriend Bernadette. We loved him and will miss him sorely. So long Dave. Keep beating that bodhran in that big folk band in sky.

Matching Ties Duo U.S.A. Tour UT, MT, ID, OR mid to end Oct. 08

Our duo tour Oct. 14th-28th (may be extended to 11/2, subject to change) is already being booked. Dates are planned in Salt Lake City, near Darby and elsewhere in Montana, and possibly in Idaho and Oregon. The first planned date (tba) will be at our good friend Jay Toups' house in Lapwai Lane, Darby, Montana: http://concerts.jaytoups.com/. Promoters in this area, please contact us if you are interested in doing a show with us. Information about us and booking requests can be made directly from this website or with Jay Toups. Don't miss the chance to book us or come and hear us. Trevor Morriss from London is a great mandolin player and singer. We have done but few Matching Ties tours in the U.S., but hope to kick off a series of future tours with this one. Hope to hear from you all soon. Comments or requests can be made directly on this blog. Yours truly, Paul Stowe

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 07-08

Dear friends and fans far and near,

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year from all the Matching Ties, and the Stowe family. We hope to see you all this coming year at as many concerts as possible. Please send me your e-mail addresses if you want to get on our mailing list (Newsletter) to receive out tour schedule regularly. Otherwise, the Matching Ties and Paul Stowe (solo) concert dates are always up to date on this site under: http://www.matchingties.com/schedule.html. I've enclosed a picture of all the boys in the band. We are really happy to have Georg Bähr on the violin (also plays with Trevor and I as a trio) and Thomas Kärner on the upright bass as steady and dependable partners in our quartet. They not only add a great deal musically, we also seem to be on the same wavelength musically. Thanks to all of you for a great year. I am sure the fun will continue as we enter our 23rd year as a band.

As there is no Stowe website yet I will include some Stowe news in this blog (see photo with a friend in Greece Aug. 07). Maria and I have been together for 20 years as of this Christmas. She still enjoys her 3 day a week job as a soial worker coordinating a day care nanny pool for the City of Munich Child Protection Service in that she hooks families who need day care for their kids up with available nannies. Elisa (13, 8th grade), is very good student and a talented musician on the flute and sings in youth choir with a regular schedule of concerts. She is also a singer in her first rock band. Being a native English speaking singer in Germany helps a lot too. She also plays volleyball in the local sport club. Eric (10, 5th grade) is also in the Gymnasium (academic high school) now and is also very musical, playing the violin and having his first go singing rock songs with a guitar buddy. He plays soccer also through the local sport club. His team is pretty good (3rd place), and Eric managed to put the ball in the net a few times himself as a forward. We'd love to hear from you whether regarding our family or Matching Ties. Please feel free to contribute your comments on this blog.