There is too much good stuff going on around town these days, and I am a bit behind on the positive blog. Here are some short items to try to catch up.

Stand Up Comedy with Chris Brooker & Duncan Hart brought to you by Baby Blue Banana. Chris Brooker definitely earned some laughs on Tuesday night at his first stand-up show in Budapest. No big guffaws, but an entertaining evening. Another double bill is coming at you on June 21st with Gordon Southern (UK) and Taylor Glenn (US).

Nick Palmer played another brilliant flamenco concert last Thursday at Treehugger Dan's. Partner Attila Pozsgai sadly had to miss the gig due to illness, but Nick thankfully was able to pull a plan B out of his hat and brought three flamenco dancers with him. Not only did they entertain, but at the end of the concert they also gave some dance lessons.
Set 1:Rondena (guitar solo), Granaina (guitar solo), Buleria I, Sevillana, Guajira
Set 2:Zambra Mora (guitar solo), Tiento, Solea, Buleria II
Set 3:Dance House Sevillana
Dancers: Ági Szabó, Mariann Molnár, Rozika Mayer

The Poosta Ramblers put on a very tight and entertaining show Thursday night at one of the biggest venues in town, the A38 boat. Let's hope this helps them break into the big time. I want a Poosta t-shirt! I am not alone when I say that one of the nicest things about a Poosta show is the versatility of each band member. Everyone takes lead vocals at some point, instruments are passed all around, and you feel like you are listening to them jam in someone's kitchen as the bisquits bake. It was awesome to hear an old Tea Thieves song "Long, Long, Long Time Ago" Poostafied, with Mike Kentish putting on a southern twang. Great to hear Bob Jackson on his new resonant guitar (dobro), one of my favorite instruments .

The Poostas opened for two international acts, Digger Barnes from Germany and Austin Lucas from the US. Duncan had a good stage presence, good voice and good songs. He also had very good guitar technique as my tablemates testified to after checking up close if he had a backing track playing or if it was all him. He mentioned he likes going to the funerals of strangers, which brought to mind one of my favorite all-time films, Harold and Maude, starring Bud Cort and Ruth Gordon. The Budapest Kamara Szinhaz puts on a fine production of this.  Austin Lucas was phenomenal. An unassuming guy with fewer teeth than tattoos, the man has a golden voice and a stage presence all his own. I do not know how big he is in the US, but he hit it big with us. Some of the musicians around me went up as close as they could get, then came back to the table and stated that they were going home to burn their guitars. Yes, he was that good. Delightfully, he got off the stage near the end of his concert, had the PA turned off, and got into the middle of the small crowd to play a couple tunes.

Poosta Set List:

1. Friend of the Devil - Grateful Dead
2. Harm's Swift Way - Townes Van Zandt
3. Long, Long, Long Time Ago - Tea Thieves
4. Fallin' and Flyin' (A) - Jeff Bridges
5. Don't Come Home a-Drinkin' - Loretta Lynn
6. Deportee - Woody Guthrie
7. Make Me Down a Pallet On Your Floor - trad
8. I Fall to Pieces - Patsy Cline
9. California Stars - Wilco
10. Y'All Come - Arlie Duff
11. Jambalaya - Hank Williams