Donna Ulisse is providing us with a diary from her visit to Russia with her band, The Poor Mountain Boys. The trip is by invitation from the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission.
I am not sure how to word what I am feeling about my Russian trip at this moment. Sometimes a simple tear says it best but that being said, or unsaid…..I am emotionally overwhelmed by these most charming people. They have welcomed us and our music with open arms and made us “drooks” or “drookia”….friends! Music is the universal language that can truly bind. This experience has created a musical family.
Today we performed before the US consulate and a very nice crowd. There was a Russian tragedy where a ship sank and might have killed over a hundred Russians yesterday in the Volga river, causing the country to be in a state of mourning. Our show was nearly cancelled out of respect but at the last minute we forged on. The crowd was so appreciative of our music and warmer than the hot sun shining down on us.
After the show we returned to our hotel here in Vologda and met up with the two other groups from the festival. We played in solidarity as friends …weaving all of our styles of bluegrass like a fine quilt and making us all smile like Christmas morning. There is not a warmer feeling anywhere….I am so happy tonight!
May God continue to bless our trip as profoundly!
