Off on a US road trip (again)

I'm off on another US road trip tomorrow, with Alan Lloyd, John Howard and Gordon Fleming. This has become a twice yearly event for me since I retired a few years ago, and long may these visits continue. This time we are starting off in the Boston area - a city I haven't visited before. The musical highlight of this part of the trip will be a doowop show at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center in New Bedford where the Orlons, the Del Vikings, the Mystics and La La Brooks are performing. (Photo shows La La with me at last year's Doowop Weekend in Long Island). I will no doubt catch up with my Boston friend Noah Shaffer, who has advised us of some more shows which are on while we are in Massachusetts. Keep an eye open for future reports.
After Boston we fly to Las Vegas where we shall be going to Viva Las Vegas, undoubtedly the biggest rockabilly festival in the world, for the fifth year running. Big names from the rock and roll era who are performing include Jerry Lee Lewis, Duane Eddy, Carl Mann, Narvel Felts, Hayden Thompson, the Eldorados, Norman Fox and Roddy Jackson, but there are dozens of other, younger acts, including the Stray Cats, our own Jackson Sloan, Big Sandy, Deke Dickerson, Lil Mo and the Dynaflos and Paul Ansell. And then there's the fabulous Burlesque Showcase which is a sight for sore eyes. The photo below shows Jerry Lee on his 'farewell' 80th birthday visit to the UK two years ago. at the London Palladium.

After Vegas we are heading out to California. Not sure where exactly at the moment, but we will probably take in Sacramento, San Francisco and Los Angeles, from where we fly home in three weeks time.
To say this is a pensioner's outing is a little insulting, but undoubtedly true. I will be the youngest of the four on tour and I turned 72 this week! We all believe in growing old disgracefully, but I hope that we won't get escorted from a hotel at gunpoint, as happened in Nashville a few years ago, or threatened with a hurricane, as we were in New Orleans last year. Let the good times roll, as they say down there. Keep on eye on regular reports on The Vinyl Word, with lots of photos following, probably when we get back.