FOLKSINGER:Tour 2000 Video Journal : Directory

This is a Directory of the available Video Tour Journals with short descriptions and links to the larger story around each episode and to the actual videos in various formats.
The Video Tour Journals are able to show what the regular annual Tour Journals never could, the scenes and moments that can be so hard, or impossible, to describe in words. Still, in two to three minutes, I can only show glimpses through the window of the camera, and I can't tell all the details of the story. Sometimes I focus on some specific facet of the life, maybe because the camera captured a particularly great scene that illustrated some thread, or a certain facet of the larger story was surfacing in my life and mind at the time. So I have provided the story of what was happening during and around each episode of the video tour journal, to explain more fully what was happening at the time, place these moments in their place within the larger story. Finally, since the VTJs only provide glimpses of songs and performances, I have provided a few complete songs from scenes within the VTJs.

For a perspective of the VTJs within the context of the story of the entire year, you can read the
2000 Tour Journal in the ARCHIVE section
along with all the other annual tour journals, where I more or less tell the stories of each year.

For videos of me playing entire songs
Directory of Music Videos

The Video Tour Journals are available thanks to Google Video.

I am trying to provide several optional formats with different quality, screen sizes, and file sizes.
I originally tried providing Full Screen hi-fi : Cinepak codec avi files, minimal compression, around 400 MBs, but they were rejected by google, I assume because they are just too big. I may try full screen videos using some compression format, since the footage is TV quality and contain a lot of scenes that really are worth seeing full size, like panoramic natural scenes where the detail is part of the beauty. But the files are also just huge, so I understand that this format is still not workable.
Small Screen hi-fi : 352x240 Cinepk codec avi files, minimal compression, around 140 MBs
MP2: MP2 files, compressed to around 25 MBs from the full screen sourcefile, not sure of the output screen size.
(Thanks to Jonathan Schlichther for his freeware MP2 encoder avi2vcd)
Video iPod : Videora mp4 files, about 15 MBs.
(Thanks to the free V-iPod file encoder from Videora.com. Note: I don't have a V-ipod or know anyone who does, so I can't check if it worked)
Mini Screen : mp4 files for other handheld devices, about 10-15 MBs
(thanks to Mpegable MP4 converter)

The only formats I can guarantee are right are the original uncompressed ones. I'm still experimenting with what choices to offer. I unfortunately don't really have time to figure out all the technical details right now. I generally have seriously limited resources and computer time. I've used some freeware and some shareware on a trial basis, since this is a trial. If the video tours can somehow justify spending money on them, I can buy software or I'll have to stop providing those compressed formats or find freeware to do it. I need to save my money to pay for producing CDs, building dulcimers, and other projects, and even more for keeping the van running and travelling to follow the seasons, the festivals, and especially the street scenes where most of my income comes from.
I don't have the ability to check these files and see how they look, I'm just running them through the programs and hoping they're ok. The original full screens are great, though they haven't gotten verified and may be just too big to fly, they may appear eventually. It may be a while before I can update this page with all the active links, so even if there isn't an active link to a format here, the format may be available on Google if you look. I also don't have time to check all the links to make sure I got them all right, but I'm rushing this job. I am doing what I can but I just don't have the time to figure it all out right now, please accept my apologies. At least they are available in some form.
Though I can afford to spend some time on them, the VTJ are taking a lot of time, and I have to get on to other things. ."the facts o' life." Reality is that it is mid-February and I have hmmm.. about $300 cash, a full tank in the van and two full gas cans on the roof, and I need to get to Florida where I can start playing the street before the season is over.
But in the long run, I am here to serve, within the practical limits of keeping this whole show going! So I'll keep providing these VTJs or some sort of video whenever I can, but I'm just one folksinger mostly just trying to survive.

Folksinger's Tour 2000
AK2K

The Introduction
Introduction : Folksinger's Tour 2000 : AK2K
Location: Key West, FL to Alaska via Alexandria, VA and Missoula, Montana; returning to Virginia via Missoula and Seattle, WA; San Francisco, CA; Salt Lake,UT; Fruitport, MI; and Indianapolis, IN

I made this as a lead in to the Tour Journals, since I thought the final distribution format might be video only without text support for background, or that making a video introduction available might be appropriate for a video tour journal.

The Introduction

THE STORY

PLAY VIDEO:
Full Screen | Small Screen | MP2 | Video iPod | Mini-screen MP4

Willow
V.1 : July 20th to 28th
Location: Willow, Alaska

I arrive in Alaska and head to KK's house outside Willow to recover from the long drive and play some local shows.

V.1: Willow
THE STORY

PLAY VIDEO:
Full Screen | Small Screen | MP2 | Video iPod | Mini-screen MP4

The Deltana Fair
V.2 : July 29th to 31st
Location: Delta Junction, Alaska

I head over and play the Deltana Fair for the weekend, then loop back along the Denali Highway

V.2: Deltana
THE STORY

PLAY VIDEO:
Full Screen | Small Screen | MP2 | Video iPod | Mini-screen MP4

The Denali Highway
V.3 : July 31st to August 1st
Location: The Denali Highway, Alaska

I loop back to Willow following the Denali highway, a slow scenic drive for a recovery day.

V.3: Denali Highway
THE STORY

PLAY VIDEO:
Full Screen | Small Screen | MP2 | Video iPod | Mini-screen MP4

The Tanana Valley State Fair
V.4 & V.5 : August 2nd to 14th
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska

I drive up and perform at the State Fair, the main event of this season.

Old Man and Wiseman
V.6: August 14th to August 16
Location: The Haul Road; The Brooks Range, Alaska

I wake up the morning after the fair, and I head north up the pipeline haul-road, stopping to visit friends in Old Man. Farther north, a hundred miles past the Arctic Circle, I visit my friends in the village of Wiseman.

V.6: Wiseman
THE STORY

PLAY VIDEO:
Full Screen | Small Screen | MP2 | Video iPod | Mini-screen MP4

218 Gold Creek and The Arctic Circle
V.7 & V.8: August 16th to September 3rd
Location: The Brooks Range, Alaska

I head north from Wiseman deeper into the Brooks Range a ways then cut east off the road on the Big Lake trail, heading up Gold Creek to visit a couple friends caretaking and working at a gold mine. I watch the place while they go to town and I walkabout a bit. My life is balanced by cycling between two poles, the the crowded cities and fairs and the solitude of the wild.

V.7: "218 Gold Creek"
THE STORY

PLAY VIDEO:
Full Screen | Small Screen | MP2 | Video iPod | Mini-screen MP4

V.8: "The Arctic Circle"
THE STORY

PLAY VIDEO:
Full Screen | Small Screen | MP2 | Video iPod | Mini-screen MP4

Eagle: Live from the Yukon River
V.9 & V.10 : September 5th to October 2nd
Location: Eagle, Alaska

V.9: I go to Eagle on the Yukon River to set up the DAW at the community school, to teach and record a couple songs for the school. In this video I tried using a guest narrator, my friend, fellow musician, and principal at the school, Ann Millard, who also performed an original song for the soundtrack.
V.10: At the same time, I started these Video Tour Journals, developing the format and completing the first episodes in lo-fi untill I can install the pro-gear in the computer. I record a few songs of my own, jam with some local folks, and just play for others, then head out just before the road closes for winter.

This is the end of the presently uploaded episodes. We'll see where we go from here, once I have some perspective on what works, and how much time I can justify devoting to this project. I'll have time to work on it again in May and June. I plan to eventually get the rest of the episodes available, and also eventually make more VTJs, as well as other types of videos, from the raw footage I have been gathering since I made these initial VTJs.

The Final Circuit-Into The Woods
V.11 : October 2nd-10th
Location: Tok, Delta Junction, and Fairbanks; Alaska

I get out of Eagle on the heels of the first winter storm. I stop in Tok, then go on to Delta Junction to do a couple school shows. I continue on to Fairbanks; where a friday night jam turns into a weekend stay due to the second winter front, an icestorm.

V.11: Final Circuit
THE STORY

Southpoint
V.12 : October 10th to 18th
Location: Willow, Anchorage, and Girdwood; Alaska

As the highways are cleared I head south to stop in Willow, but continue south to make a final loop; trying to visit more of my friends before I leave Alaska.

V.12: Southernmost Point
THE STORY

Return to Willow
V.13 : October 18th to 25th
Location: Willow, Alaska

I return to Willow for another whirlwind visit to my hosts here. I play a couple more schools, and a roadhouse; then set up the DAW to record a jam party at my host's house.

V.13: Return to Willow
THE STORY

The Last Show
V.14 : October 25th to 28th
Location: Tok, Alaska

I drive to Tok ahead of the latest storm. I'm there to do a school show and also an evening concert with the highschool chorus. After the show I visit Helga at the Off-The-Road-House and have a nice jam friday. There's snow flurries falling in Tok, but the satellite pictures look like there's an openning if I leave immediately, so I do.

V.14: The Last Show
THE STORY

The ALCAN
V.15 : October 28th to November 1st
Location: Tok, Alaska to Missoula, Montana

There's snow flurries falling in Tok saturday morning, but the satellite pictures look like there's an openning if I leave immediately, so I do, and reach Whitehorse that night. I'm running a good weather window so I don't stop for long till I cross the border and reach Missoula; the storm nipping at my heels.

V.15: Goin' to Montana
THE STORY

Jam with Joe
V.16 : November 1st to 17th
Location: Missoula, Montana

The storm hits but I'm safe and secure, visiting an old friend in Missoula, who happens to be a great slide player. He's just found out he's losing his place (its been sold). I come in time to help him start geting ready, and to jam the blues. I set up the DAW, and start some serious work; though the real result is to plan ahead for Joe to do the lead work on the upcoming CD.Then it's on the road again, off to Seattle to visit a couple old friends there.

V.16: Jam at Joe's
THE STORY

Seattle
V.17 November 17th to 21th
Location: Seattle, Washington

I arrive in Seattle, a familiar place and a regular base on my circuit. I don't have much time this year though, just time to visit a couple old friends, then get back on the road.

V.16: Seattle
THE STORY

The Great Highway
V18 toV20: November 22nd to December 10th
Location: San Francisco, Salt Lake, Chicago, Fruitport, Indianapolis, and Alexandria, VA

I leave Seattle heading south again. I'm trying something new here, to stop and visit or jam with people I've met through the musician internetworks. I put up a few posts, then swung around and visitied and jammed, setting up the Daw a few times along the way. I finally finish the trip by comleting the circuit and returning to DC in time for the holidays with my family. Its the end of Tour 2000. These videos have not even been made, except for the audio track of the first one. I plan to finally complete the series in the course of getting this first year up on the net. Then look at what to do next.

V.17: The Great Highway
THE STORY

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