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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10TH:
Up really early to
get over to the airport and get checked in for the 40 minute PROP plane flight
to Billund. Didn’t realize I had to take a bus to the Domestic Terminal, so I
didn’t have long to wait at the gate for boarding. But, I realized that Pam
Tillis’s group only had one hour to make the connection AND they had to clear
passport control. A few of the guys came through quickly but I was afraid Pam
and the other guys were going to miss the plane. They actually held the plane
for them until they got on board. Very unusual. It was a little bumpy but not
too bad.
Landed in Billund and the big tour bus and drive with a sign who was supposed to
meet us was no where to be seen. Instead, there was a little tiny 13 passenger
bus with a tiny little trailer on the back. The trailer was not even one of
those that had a door in the back and opened up. It was just a little “shell”
type trailer. Of course, everything wouldn’t fit in it and the driver started
cramming things in the seats. I KNEW our promoter would never send something
like this to pick us up. I called her and she was furious. The bus company
finally brought another bus, only it was full of people! When I questioned
them, they said that they had to go drop them off at “Legoland” (right behind
the Billund airport. We finally got the bus and started the trip to Silkeborg.
Silkeborg is a
beautiful little town right on the water. Lots fo great shops and restaurants.
Several of Pam’s group took naps before walking in to the towns. I got on email
and took care of lots of that and then walked into town to find something to
eat. Our hotel is really nice and it is UNUSUALLY COLD here. Go figure!
Suzy Bogguss and her husband/manager arrived here on Monday and have just been
doing a little sightseeing. Her band arrived this afternoon and The Bellamy
Brothers and Becky Hobbs come in tomorrow.
Jude
THURSDAY, AUGUST 11TH:
“TODAY” was the big day. After SIX WEEKS of “inactivity”, I got to JOG. I was
a really good girl and waited my 6 weeks just like the doctor ordered. He said
I could try it after 6 weeks and “let pain be my guide”. It was really cool
and misting rain, but I was NOT going to be deterred. Took off down towards the
water and was very “cautious” with the foot that has the broken toe. It didn’t
really hurt until I was 25 minutes from the hotel. Of course, that was half-way
and too late for me to turn back. So, I toughed it out and made sure I landed
on the “inside” of my right foot. I jogged across this little “walking bridge”
and found maize of trails in the woods. There were bikers and joggers all in
there but I decided NOT to run in there. I knew I would get so turned around
and lost and never come back out. But being able to job again was so awesome.
It was definitely better than …..dessert!
J
Back to the hotel and over to the venue for Pam’s sound check and then Suzy’s
sound check. It has been misting rain all day today. But, tonight’s show is a
“private” event for people who have been a member of the Scandinavian Country
Music Club for 10 years or more. This is either their 20th or 25th
anniversary for the festival. The Bellamys and Becky Hobbs arrived right on
time at the hotel. Becky was “diverted” from Detroit to Nashville because her
plane was late leaving Detroit to Nashville. She thought it was going to be
another nightmare trip like the one to Sweden a few weeks ago. With Northwest
Airlines threatening a mechanics strike, I have a feeling we are going to have a
really hard time getting home to Nashville.
We had a little press conference and the audience asked some very controversial
questions about the music business in the U.S. and the CMA Awards being moved to
NYC. At least they didn’t ask what Suzy and Pam thought of the Dixie Chicks
remarks! I’ve been walking back and forth between the venue and the hotel and
it’s a very confusing route through some gardens. I stayed lost most of the
time – in the rain, of course!
Had dinner with the Bellamys and Becky and then bolted to the show. The
audience has “guns”and they shoot off “blanks” all during the show. There are
big signs warning the entertainers that this is going to happen. It’s pretty
unnerving. But, the only time it bothers me is when I’m in Iraq! J
Suzy had them teach her how to say “This is fun” in Danish and she practiced and
practiced. Then after her show, I told her that she really said, “I have nice
boobs”. She was horrified until I told her I was just kidding. I remember Pam
Tillis practicing saying “Let That Pony Run” (one of her songs) in Japanese.
She went out on stage and said in perfect Japanese – My next song will be “Set
that spider Free”. The audience had this “blank” look on their faces.
Going to be another “short” night for me tonight. Each artist signs autographs
after their shows and these people show up with 10-15 cds for them to sign. I
think they have the very first albums that Suzy and Pam recorded!
Both shows were really awesome! Audience and buyer could not have been
happier.
I’ve been getting emails all day today about the 4 Star General who was relieved
of his duties for having an affair. He was in Bosnia when I was going over
there on a regular basis and I remember him WELL!
Two more shows tomorrow….
Jude
FRIDAY, AUGUST
12TH:
Got my FIVE
hours of sleep last night and went running AGAIN this morning. Tucker, the
Bellamys’ drummer, said he would run with me. So, against my better judgment,
we did five miles. Probably not the smartest thing to put that much strain on
the toe, but oh, it felt so good otherwise. It’s still really cold and rainy
here. Even colder than yesterday.
I walked downtown with Howard and David’s wives so we could buy fleece. Of
course, it’s supposed to be hot in Germany tomorrow. Bellamys and Becky had a
press conference and it was pretty much the same “controversial” questions that
Pam and Suzy were asked. But everyone handled it well and we won’t have another
“Dixie Chicks Scandal” in the media tomorrow. J
Suzy Bogguss and her guys and Pam Tillis departed today. Pam’s musicians are
still here and they depart on Saturday. Becky Hobbs performs first tonight.
Then the Bellamys perform and we leave after they sign autographs for Germany.
Supposed to be a bus with 12 bunks in it but you NEVER know. I called the buyer
in Germany to make 100% SURE that the bus was a sleeper bus with 12 bunks. He
said, “yes yes, of course”. Didn’t want a bus with seats to show up to
transport us overnight to Germany since we have a show tomorrow night. We have
horror stories about buses in foreign countries. I’m anxious to see what it
looks like! It will take about 5 hours to drive from Silkeborg, Denmark to
Kiel, Germany. Show in Germany tomorrow night, then bus all night to Holland
and do the LAST show there on Sunday. HOME ON MONDAY…for a couple of weeks
anyway.
Becky Hobbs and the Bellamys both had awesome shows. There was a huge crowd
and they all purchased cds after the shows. Getting the Belllamys through the
crowd to the autograph booth was like escorting “Elvis”. The audience started
lining up and buying their cds TWO HOURS before the end of the show! The
promoter and her husband at this festival are absolutely FIRST CLASS. I never
have to worry about everything being handled properly. It is such a JOY to work
with people like this. Makes my life so much easier and makes for some very
happy entertainers.
I kept calling the hotel to see if the bus had arrived, but as of 11:30 pm it
had not arrived. Going back to the hotel to “wait” for him.
Jude
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