Estuary Sounding Circle with David Budd (The Artful Drummer) and Honey Sweet Harmony

Rail Trail Cafe guests are invited to join David Budd (The Artful Drummer) and Honey Sweet Harmony for a participatory group practice of place-based vocal improvisation. Rooted in the teachings of Bobby McFerrin (Circle Singing), Rhiannon (Vocal River), Ysaye Barnwell (Sweet Honey in the Rock), and others, combined with percussion influenced by many world traditions, the facilitators will guide participants into creating a collaborative soundscape sourced through deep connection to the natural world.

The Mahicannituck (The River That Flows Two Ways, an estuary also known as the "Hudson") is an ever-present creator of sound and movement. An estuary is a space where different ecosystems overlap, where freshwater from streams and rivers meet and mix with salt water from the sea. The resulting mix makes the estuary nutrient-rich, a highly generative natural habitat.

Estuary Sounding Circles are a regenerative timespace for everyone who seeks to connect more deeply with their own innate creativity and their nature neighborhood; all who long to be seen, to be heard, to belong, to contribute, and to feel valued are welcome!*

*from The Five Needs teachings as transmitted by Banakonda Kennedy-Kish Bell, an Anishaabe (Ojibwe) Elder

Honey Sweet Harmony is an interspecies creativity-catalyzing mentorship constellation. Honey Sweet Harmony is committed to helping everyone remember our ancestral regenerative cultural patterns. Deep nature connection mentors and ancestral skills facilitators, kin specialize in facilitating community gatherings for storytelling and storycatching, music, movement, eco-connective healing arts, nature’s cycle ceremonies, and grief / peace tending. For over 30 years kin have taught experiential enrichment programs in a diverse range of nature-based programs, arts programs, spiritual-based organizations, public and private schools, and community centers. Kin have facilitated for the Association for Nature Based Education (ANBE) webinars and in-person workshops, Village Talk (a weekly phone conference for mentors committed to deep nature connection), solar and lunar phase celebrations, and many more forms of multigenerational community events inspired by nature’s rhythms. Kin also offer private mentoring and eco-healing sessions for individuals, families, and organizations.

Contact: honeysweetharmony@proton.me

David Budd (The Artful Drummer) is a visual artist, percussionist, and writer based in the Mid-Hudson Valley who loves sharing his passion for creativity in a way that fosters expression, growth and resiliency in those he mentors. As a professional percussionist he blends traditions of the ancient Mediterranean world, Brazil, Turkey, West Africa, Latin music, American Jazz, Rock, Funk, Reggae, Polka, and Zydeco. He trained extensively with frame drummer/historian Layne Redmond, and studied with drummer/composer/educator Harvey Sorgen. David now serves as a ritual drummer, drawing on his interest in shamanic practices, and celebrating his joy of life as a facilitator in earth-based spiritual communities. In recent years, he has begun exploring the world of expressive arts therapy, including trainings with Lucy Barbera in Kingston, NY, bringing together visual arts, music, and writing. David offers lessons and classes for individuals and small groups, plus public playshops.

Contact: theartfuldrummer@pm.me

**nature connective pronouns proposed by Robin Wall Kimmerer: ki (singular) and kin (plural) are inspired by many indigenous languages whose pronouns recognize kinship among many forms of being.

"...this harmony is what we call the spirit-that-moves-through-all-things" ~ Black Bear