Festival Romance has grown out of my love of music and festivals, the people that we meet, the songs that we sing, the songs we love and the people we love, and how that all joins up to be one big Festival Romance! I have recorded with people on my album that I have known and played with through many years of being a folk festival junkie.

I think of, and thank:

Bass player, Bob Silbery, and drummer, Wayne Morris, who came along to create the basis of this album. Listening, they then laid down what Robbie Duncan at Braeburn studios describes as the �cake'. Their contributions moved these songs from simple guitar and vocal pieces, to something requiring icing . . . Recipe, Foolish, Geranium and The Edge, creating themselves in the studio as I considered, are these songs? Bob and Wayne contrived to make them so.

Julian McKean leant his ear to the original tracks, offering his thoughtful, creative guitar accompaniments in a way that only Julian can. Julian took songs to the point where Paul Symons was able to introduce his unique style of pedal steel guitar. Moving around Julian's rhythm and �talking' lead, Paul sensitively weaves in and out of guitar breaks, soloing on occasion and enhancing the vocals beautifully.

Paul and Julian left spaces for, and worked around, the acoustic and electric guitaring contributions of my twin sons Aden and Greer Mackay. Listening, they found particular songs they wanted to play on. Having grown up in the folk festival world these young men have been exposed to the musical styles we have all known and loved, and show how well fine guitar culture has been bred in them! Their diligence and downright enthusiasm makes me so proud. They turned 21 years old as this album was completed � their first time in a studio atmosphere, and yes, the result of a festival romance � how lucky am I � how lucky we all are.

A first time recording experience also for Catherine Bowness (BB). Playing live versions of the song Festival Romance in its initial stages, also adding backing vocals, BB simply inspired it to be what it is. Turning her bright, clever, finger-pickery banjo playing to �Bottles' as well, her innovative style moved these songs along well and truly. BB was 15 years old when we recorded these two numbers in May 2006. Accompanied by Andrew Bicknall's consistant and sensitive playing on his grand old double bass, Festival Romance, the album began to take shape.

For over twenty years Owen Hugh has been a musical soul mate and confidante. With his �Owen' voice he is just there � sharing Leave me Now in a way that I have always wanted to record it with him. Though she does not sing on the album, Penni Bousfield, her mentoring and sage advice has been a huge part of me being the singer/songwriter I have become.

Then along came Simon Burgess. As if it is not enough to have a handle on accordian, fiddle, and mandolin, he happened to have the trombone that found its way into �Don't tell me how to drive'. Suggested by Owen, and doctored by Robbie to also sound like a tuba � the dulcet tones surely bring a smile.

Along with Robbie Duncan's really very good engineering skills, these songs have grown as songs do in festival jam situations. There was room to be filled with the nuances of musicians who listened and felt and did what they do best. I simply provided the canvas, and with Robbie's utmost patience and enthusiasm this album was produced by both of us, and all who played and listened.

Friends, family, we are all out there on the edge and making the most of it. Festivals will come and go, wherever they are � it is the likes of us � performers, listeners, organisers and visionaries that makes them what they are.

Special thanks to Carol and Lester for advice, dinners, beds and breakfasts; Ben for listening, making the beautiful dichroic glass pendant and earrings and taking the cover photo. Special thanks, also to Chris, Anna and Ruby, Penny, Sarah and Stuart, and Northwest Multi Media, Pat and Allan Mortensen, for teaching Greer to be a graphic artist so he could create the �album' cover, and donating his time and their money! AND special thanks to my family for having me!

To the women in my life���x

To the men in my life����.x

Let's keep making it all happen �

Cheers, Love Tracey

Vocals and Acoustic Guitar: Tracey Haskell

Drums: Wayne Morris

Bass: Bob Silbery