Folk musician Bill Staines passed away from cancer yesterday. He’s best known for “A Place in the Choir,” “Roseville Fair,” and “River.”
I had been running a coffeehouse before Covid hit, and one of my biggest regrets was having to cancel a show with Bill. I’d convinced myself he’d be the first booking I’d arrange when we reopened. Sadly, that won’t be possible. Bill was perhaps the easiest performer to book: I emailed him with a date that seemed to fit his schedule; he emailed back in an hour with a price; I confirmed it. That was it. No contract; no sound requirements; no food needs; no booking agent.