Grandfather Mountain Highland Games

This lovely young woman is Jen Hamel. She sang and played guitar for the the high-energy traditional/contemporary Celtic group Clandestine. They are sadly disbanded, but they left 4 CDs behind. Their piper, EJ Jones has a website where you can order them. They were based in Texas and a pub called Mcgonigels Mucky Duck was where they got their start. After (actually slightly before) the breakup Jen moved to Asheville. I used to run into her on the street and in Jack of the Wood. She was conducting songwriters workshops and had a group called Moresby that played around the area. Then she sort of dropped out of sight (or at least my sight). I heard that she got married to a local club owner, but don't know how reliable that bit of intelligence is.

I took this picture at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and Gathering of Scottish Clans in MacRae Meadows on Grandfather Mountain, NC about 5 years ago. The games are held in July (this year July 6-9). As you can see from the way she is dressed it was warm that day. It isn't always warm on the mountain in July. I can remember some games where it rained so hard that they had to cancel the music and some where it was so cold that you had to have a winter coat or a blanket.

I plan to post some more pictures from the games later on in connection with the Gathering of the Blogs.