Roots on the Rails on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

2009 ROTR TRAIN TRIPS BOOKING NOW:

The 2009 Cowboy Train: Roots on the Narrow Gauge with Tom Russell, Wylie Gustafson, Gretchen Peters, Paul Zarzyski, and Sourdough Slim, Sept 18-24, 2009 in New Mexico and Colorado.

The Mystery Train with Stan Ridgway, Jill Sobule and The Handsome Family, Nov 14-18, 2009 in California, New Mexico and Arizona.

Kachina Express: Live Music, Legendary Trains and the Great Southwest with Dave Alvin and The Flatlanders, Sept 26-30, 2009 in California, New Mexico and Arizona.

To secure your spot call us at 866-484-3669 toll free (or 802-258- 1397, 802-463-3677 fax), email: trains@sover.net

See below for trip summaries, and visit www.rootsontherails.com for more details.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

THE 2009 COWBOY TRAIN: ROOTS ON THE NARROW GAUGE

Deep Into the Heart of the San Juan Mountains Albuquerque, NM - Durango, CO - Pagosa Springs - Chama, NM - Albuquerque Sept 18-24, 2009.

Journey with Tom Russell, Wylie Gustafson, Paul Zarzyski, Gretchen Peters and Sourdough Slim as we travel into the magical San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado and Northern New Mexico.

We will ride the legendary narrow-gauge trains of this remote region - scenically spectacular examples of steam-era railroading at its finest. The Durango & Silverton, deep through Los Animas Canyon, then to the wild country of the Cumbres & Toltec, North America's longest, highest and most remote narrow gauge railroad.

We'll have concerts and jam sessions, Open Mics and picking parties. Naturalist Elsabe Kloppers will be there to keep us informed about the fascinating flora, fauna and topography of this remarkable region. Traveling solo or with friends, returning Roots on the Railer or newcomer... a warm welcome awaits you! We promise you, you won't find a better group of people to hang out or travel with anywhere!

We'll gather in Albuquerque on Friday, September 18, for a kickoff concert and a night at our comfortable hotel. Saturday, we board a chartered motor coach for the drive through the stark southwestern landscape of buttes and mesas to Durango, Colorado, the gateway city of the "Silver San Juans," at 6,600 feet above sea level. We have the afternoon free to explore this fascinating town, then a show that evening and overnight accommodations. On Sunday, we board the storied Durango and Silverton Railroad for the unforgettable trip to Silverton, twisting through the Canyon of the Rio de las Animas Perditas ("The River of Lost Souls") on rails three feet apart, in a land where no roads reach. Silverton is now a quiet hamlet of 500 year-round residents, but at one time it was the nexus of the booming mining industry. Nestled in a mountain valley at 9,300 feet, one steps into another era when one steps off the train. Once we check into the vintage Grand Imperial Hotel, the afternoon is free for exploring. Hiking, mine and jeep tours and other outdoors activities are available, with everyone back in town for a great buffet and evening show.

We depart Silverton Monday afternoon, retracing the rails back to Durango, where we board our motor coach for the easy trip to Pagosa Springs, our home for the next two nights. Native peoples have visited the springs on the banks of the San Juan River for thousands of years. Tuesday is a day to explore the remarkable sights and sensations of soaking in the springs, or to visit the ancient Ancestral Puebloan ruins of nearby Chimney Rock. Dinner and a show that night will cap off a full day!

Wednesday morning, we set out for Chama, New Mexico, where we board the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. The open-air platform car is a great place to take in the sights, sounds and smells of narrow-gauge mountain railroading at its most authentic. We climb from Chama, around breathtaking Windy Point to the summit of Cumbres Pass at 10,022 feet, then wind our way through wide valleys to the old railroad camp of Osier, Colorado, where lunch is served. We arrive back in Chama late in the afternoon. There's time to wash up at our hotel, then to the atmospheric High Country Restaurant for a buffet dinner and an outdoor show, complete with bonfire. On Thursday we ride by motor coach from Chama to Santa Fe, where we have several hours for lunch and exploring the historic Plaza area. Then it's a simple drive back to Albuquerque for a final night and fond farewells.

See further details at 2009 Cowboy Train - Roots on the Narrow Gauge. Sign up today, by e-mailing Roots on the Rails at trains@sover.net, by calling 866-484-3669 (toll free in the US & Canada) or 802-258-1397.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Join Stan Ridgway, Jill Sobule and The Handsome Family for The Mystery Train . . . an unforgettable trip through the American Southwest; by rail this November 14-18! We will travel in overnight luxury in our own private railroad cars from Los Angeles to Albuquerque, across the Mojave Desert, tracing the lines of Route 66, "the Mother Road," and then by private motorcoach to the Painted Desert, the Petrified Forest and the Grand Canyon, before reboarding our train for the trip home. Each night there will be plenty of music: informal jams on board and land-based shows with our host musicians. An open mic or two; some world-class meals and memories to last a lifetime! There's only room for fifty patrons on board... please join us.

Download a one-page flyer (pdf) on the Mystery Train!

For full details, visit The Mystery Train. Sign up today, by e-mailing Roots on the Rails at trains@sover.net, by calling 866-484-3669 (toll free in the US & Canada) or 802-258-1397.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

THE KACHINA EXPRESS

Live Music, Legendary Trains and the Great Southwest: Los Angeles - Albuquerque - Petrified Forest - Winslow - Grand Canyon - Flagstaff - Los Angeles Sept 26-30, 2009.

Journey with Dave Alvin, and the Flatlanders: Butch Hancock, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Joe Ely on The Kachina Express... an unforgettable trip through the wide open spaces of the American Southwest. We will travel in overnight luxury in our own private railroad cars from Los Angeles to Albuquerque, across the Mojave Desert, tracing the lines of Route 66, “the Mother Road,” and then by private motorcoach to the Painted Desert, the Petrified Forest and the Grand Canyon, before reboarding our train for the trip home.

And each night there will be plenty of music, both informal jams from our patrons, but also intimate shows with legends of American music - Grammy winner Dave Alvin, and The Flatlanders. This will be an astonishing trip, the stuff of legend.

Saturday evening Sept. 26, we board our chartered private rail cars at the elegant Los Angeles Union Station. As we climb Cajon Pass, we mingle in the lounge and watch our train slice through the night. A leisurely breakfast awaits the next morning as we roll through Navajo Country with arrival in Albuquerque at noon Sunday. The afternoon is free with an evening concert following. Monday morning we board our chartered motorcoach for a day of exploration to the multi-hued badlands of the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest. Our on-board naturalist, Elsabe, will provide commentary about the flora and fauna of this fascinating region. Our home for the night is the stunning La Posada Hotel and Gardens in Winslow, Arizona. We'll have an open mic, followed by dinner at the renown Turquoise Room Restaurant. After dinner, we will enjoy a private evening concert with Dave, Joe, Butch and Jimmie Dale. Tuesday, morning we depart Winslow for the Grand Canyon, whose powerful and inspiring landscape overwhelms our senses through its immense size. In early evening we enjoy a final dinner and concert before reboarding our private sleeping cars. The overnight trip back to Los Angeles will pass quickly, with the lounge area hopping into the wee hours. Arrival in Los Angeles is scheduled for 8:15 am.

There’s only room for fifty-three patrons on board... please join us!

Download a one-page flyer (pdf) on the Kachina Express!

See further details at Kachina Express. Sign up today, by e-mailing Roots on the Rails at trains@sover.net, by calling 866-484-3669 (toll free in the US & Canada) or 802-258-1397.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Tom Russell, Fred Eaglesmith, Ian Tyson, Washboard Hank, Willie P. Bennett, Michael Martin, Alasdair Fraser, Gordon Matthews, Natalie Haas, Eilen Jewell, Butch Hancock, Terry Allen & Jo Harvey Allen, Laurie Lewis, Tom Rozum, Lance Loree, Blackie & the Rodeo Kings, Cowboy Junkies, Skydiggers, Over the Rhine, Hayes Carll, Peter Rowan, Steve Young, Eliza Gilkyson, Wylie & the Wild West, Rosalie Sorrells, Sourdough Slim, Stephanie Davis, Romi Mayes, Greg Hobbs, David Olney, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Andrew Hardin, Audrey Auld, Jon Dee Graham, Gurf Morlix, Luke Stackhouse, Matty Simpson, Nina Gerber, Kori Heppner, Wylie Gustafson, Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Ian Tamblyn, D. Rangers, Carolyn Mark, Andrew Hardin, Hot Club of Cow Town, Fats Kaplin, Kristi Rose, Bobby Watt, Serena Ryder, Jimmy Ryan, Roger Marin, Paul Zarzyski, Don Edwards, Nanci Griffith, Gretchen Peters, Mary Gauthier. . . . . . . . . folk music, americana, steel wheels on steel rail, mystery train, camaraderie, folk trains, folk trains, TomTrain, Mexico Train, Canada Train, folkfest trains, CANADIAN, Sierra Madre Express.... "Planes aren't music; buses aren't music; trucks aren't music.... trains are music." Copper Canyon, adventure, ROTR, Tarahumara Indians, music train, train whistles in the night, festivals, Mexico, music trains, driving the last spike, Polar Bear Train, Roots on the Rails, real cowboy music, VIA Rail, New Mexico, ROTR, laughter, yodels, travelling, roots music, wide open spaces, cross this great land, music trains, Fred Train, flying under radar, music jamming, crazy train, camaraderie, Scottish fiddle train, Roots on the Narrow Gauge, Colorado, Durango, Silverton, Albuquerque, Chama, New Mexico, Churchill, Manitoba, polar bears, tundra buggy, desert southwest, Tucson, Copper Canyon, steam train, tundra buggies, flyingunderradar, tarahumara, folkfest train, sierra madre, music trains, narrow guage, poetry, Elko, polar express, songwriter train, western life, Cowboy Train, tundra, permafrost, west coast, Jasper, hell's gate, fraser canyon, prairies, shield country, northern Ontario, ROTR, Capreol, cottage country, rocks and trees, friends at your shoulders, festivals, arctic, love train, waterboys, Roots on the Rails, flying under radar, grande landscapes, rootsontherails, whisky and wine, fredhead, friendship, roots, Vancouver, Toronto, Winnipeg, the prairies, Churchill, the Pas, railway, rail line, music trains, FredTrain, dancing, railroad, rootsontherails, polar express, fiddletrain, ROTR, Festival Express, yodelling, music train, americana, ridin' the rails, folk trains, Los Animas Canyon, Cumbres and Toltec Steam train, polar bear train, Songwriter train, "I Like Trains", Vancouver, at the siding, Tom Train, folk fest train, Queen of the North, ceiligh, steel rail, ridin the rails, Toronto, festival, music jams, ceilidh, festival train, roots on the rails, festivals, flying under radar, songwriters, Canada train, wild country, music train, roots on the rails, VIA Rail, landscape, Durango and Silverton Narrow Guage railroad, ROTR, Rocket through the Rockies, music trains, flyingunderradar, folk fest train . . . . . . .an indescribably fun experience!

Get Flash now!

In order to listen or view this content you will have to upgrade your version of Flash.

Roots on the Rails . . . . . . . there's something about music and trains that just goes together. The relentless rhythm of steel wheel against steel rail; the sense of leaving it all behind; the unfolding panorama of the North American landscape. From great cities to the lights of small towns, the majesty of the Rockies to the wide-open plains. Join us for one of our journeys - incredible music adventures on great trains with great music and great people.

There's a good reason why Roots on the Rails trains get great write-ups and our riders come back again and again: take unbeatable scenery, great fellowship, incredible music and a vintage streamline train... put them all together and you have an absolutely unforgettable travel experience.

We provide berth accommodations on overnight trains, great meals on board, excellent hotels, concerts and an amazing atmosphere of fun, music and camaraderie! Plenty of room on board for socializing and song-swapping; plenty of glass-topped dome seating (in Canada) for taking in the scenery. Whether rolling through the heart of the Canadian Rockies, or riding the last great, scenically spectacular examples of steam-era railroading in North America into the magical San Juan mountains of southwestern Colorado and Northern New Mexico, we plan our trips to take advantage of the most incredible scenery accessible by rail in the Western Hemisphere. And the onboard soundtrack can’t be beat! Join your favorite artists in an environment that uniquely showcases their gifts and provides you with an audience experience like no other!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

HERE'S WHAT TRAVELLERS ON PREVIOUS ROOTS ON THE RAILS TRIPS HAD TO SAY:

"The best of the best! Glad to travel with you all. I can't wipe the smile off my face." - Gerry Frost, Calgary, AB

"Sixty nine of the nicest people plus nine of the most talented; 24/7 days and nights of all killer/no filler. Unforgettable weird and wonderful stuff that has me already thinking back in disbelief -- was it all really that good?? It was really that good, like the best of a movable Elko without worrying about tickets." - Corky Gordon, Los Angeles, CA

"We had high hopes, but the trip was even better than expected. We knew the performers would be great, however we were not prepared to be so overwhelmed with the quality of our fellow travellers, the Roots on the Rails folks and the staff on the train. Thanks to all for a great time!" - Chris and Robin Jenkins

HOW DO THE ONBOARD MUSICIANS DESCRIBE THE EXPERIENCE?

"It was fantastic!" - Colin Linden, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings

"Personal Favorite On-stage Moment/Show of 2006: Looking out the window, somewhere between Wawa and Kenora as we performed '200 More Miles' on our Cross Canada Train adventure" - Michael Timmins, Cowboy Junkies, (Glide Magazine)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

PAST ROOTS ON THE RAILS TRIPS AND THE MUSICIANS ABOARD:

Nov 10-14, 2008, Toronto to Vancouver “Songwriter Train”:
Tom Russell with Michael Martin, and The Flatlanders (Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock).

Nov 2-8, 2008, Winnipeg to Churchill and Return: “Polar Bear Train”:
Fred Eaglesmith, Audrey Auld with Andrew Hardin, Gurf Morlix, Jon Dee Graham, Washboard Hank and Lance Loree.

Oct 27-30, 2008, Vancouver to Winnipeg “Cowboy Train”:
Ian Tyson, Tom Russell with Michael Martin, and Eliza Gilkyson with Nina Gerber.

Sept 26–Oct 2, 2008, N. Mexico-Colorado "Roots On The Narrow Gauge":
Fred Eaglesmith, Corb Lund, Po’Girl, Washboard Hank and Lance Loree.

Nov 9-13, 2007, Toronto to Vancouver "Cowboy Train":
Ian Tyson, Tom Russell, Michael Martin and Ramblin' Jack Elliott.

Nov 3-7, 2007, Vancouver to Toronto "Fiddle Train":
Alasdair Fraser, Natalie Haas and Genticorum.

Sep 28-Oct 5, 2007, N. Mexico-Colorado "Roots On The Narrow Gauge":
Fred Eaglesmith, Eilen Jewell, Washboard Hank.

Sep 13-20, 2007, Copper Canyon, Mexico "Tarahumara Train":
Tom Russell, Dave Alvin, Michael Martin, Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum, Butch Hancock and Terry Allen.

Nov 10-14, 2006, Toronto-Vancouver "Cowboy Junkies Train":
Cowboy Junkies, Skydiggers, Fred Eaglesmith, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Over the Rhine.

Nov 4-8, 2006, Vancouver-Toronto "Cowboy Train":
Tom Russell, Michael Martin, Wylie and the Wild West, Rosalie Sorrells, Sourdough Slim, Stephanie Davis.

March 31-April 6, 2006: Vancouver-Prince Rupert, BC "Rocket Through the Rockies":
Fred Eaglesmith, Hayes Carll, Romi Mayes, Washboard Hank, Willie P Bennett, Lance Loree, Raghu Lochanathan.

March 2-9, 2006, Tucson-Copper Canyon, Mexico "Tarahumara Train":
Tom Russell, Peter Rowan, Steve Young, Eliza Gilkyson.

March 25-29, 2005, Toronto-Vancouver "Songwriter Train":
Tom Russell, Nanci Griffith, Gretchen Peters, Andrew Hardin, Mary Gauthier.

March 20-24, 2005, Vancouver-Toronto "Cowboy Train":
Tom Russell, Andrew Hardin, Wylie & the Wild West, Paul Zarzyski, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Don Edwards.

April 6-10, 2004, Toronto-Vancouver "Songwriter Train":
Fred Eaglesmith, Corb Lund Band, Nathan, Bobby Watt, Roger Marin, Willie P Bennett, Ian Tamblyn, Washboard Hank, David Olney, D. Rangers, Linda McRae.

April 1-5, 2004, Vancouver-Toronto "Cowboy Train":
Tom Russell, Andrew Hardin, Hot Club of Cow Town, Fats Kaplin, Kristi Rose.

March 10-15, 2003, Toronto-Vancouver "Fred Train":
Fred Eaglesmith, Bobby Watt, Serena Ryder, Jimmy Ryan,
Roger Marin, Willie P Bennett, Ian Tamblyn, Washboard Hank,
D. Rangers, Carolyn Mark, Greg Hobbs.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

THIS PAGE IS . . . . . . . .

overseen by Roots on the Rails' Charlie Hunter (Supreme Commander), and managed by Sarah Ovenden (Logistics Director and Queen of Onboard Creature Comforts) with tech support from elsabe, (Onboard Naturalist).

MySpace a place for friends

Get Flash now!