Tuesday, June 6, 2023
So excited to be heading to The Faroe Islands today with Buddy Jewell and Chad Brock. We have worked with Allan, the promoter, for years and I have yet to have a chance to come here.
We flew from Nashville to Detroit, Detroit to Amsterdam, Amsterdam to Copenhagen where we pick up an Atlantic Airways flight to The Faroes. We were lucky that all of our flights left and arrived on time. I think I may have slept an hour on the long flight from Detroit to Amsterdam and I am not sure Buddy or Chad got much more either.
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
We had about 4 hours in Copenhagen since we had to pick up our bags and re check in with Atlantic Airways. Sitting there is when the jet lag started to kick in. Everyone had warned us about flying into The Faroe’s since the islands sit in gulf stream, it can get very windy and very foggy and the landing can be a bit bumpy or they could decide to nix it and take you back to Copenhagen and try again later.. thankfully it was a very smooth landing.
Allan met us outside of baggage claim. He is an absolute sweetheart and I am so happy to see him again. We are staying in Thorshavn about a 45 min drive.. and what a drive it is! Wild and beautiful. The pictures that I take every 5 seconds do not do it justice.
We checked into our rooms around 2:30 pm ( 24 hours after leaving Nashville) and it was “Goodnight Irene” for Chad. He said we would not be seeing him at dinner at 6pm 🙂
I unpacked, took a quick shower and answered a few emails. Buddy and I went down to the lobby restaurant at 6 and had a nice burger. We were so tired though. Came back to the room and talked to my kids for a few minutes before going to sleep. It does not get fully dark here at this time of year. When I woke up at 11pm and 2pm I could still see the light shining into my room.
Thursday, June 8, 2023
Woke up at 5 am and could not get back to sleep. Checked emails and on the kids. They are volunteering at VBS this week at their church and are really enjoying helping the younger kids. I went down to breakfast at 8 am and as I sat down Buddy sent me a message that he was up and headed down as well. We have not seen or heard from Chad yet….
I sent Chad a message letting him know we were having breakfast and that Allan was picking us up at noon for a short sightseeing trip around the island if he wanted to join us. Otherwise I would see him at 4pm for rehearsal with the band.
Chad called me around 9:30 am and had just woke up ha ha. I told him breakfast stopped at 10 am and he was going to try and grab some food but would forgo the sightseeing so he could get his stuff together for rehearsal.
We met Allan in the lobby at noon and he drove us up to the top of “Foggy” mountain. You can see all 19 Islands from the top of this mountain on a clear day. It also holds a military radar station that is run by US and Danish forces. Again.. it is just amazingly beautiful! We were blessed with very nice weather today. Clear and around 50 degrees.
Back at the hotel at 3 to freshen up and then get Chad over to the rehearsal space at 4pm. Hallur Joensen and his band are backing up Chad and Buddy at the festival this weekend. He and his band have played with a ton of other Artists here and are great, professional musicians. I stayed through the first few songs and then headed back to the hotel to have dinner with Buddy and then to meet our friend Tummas for a drink. Buddy and I both opted for the salmon tonight..I mean, its Faroese Salmon, how can you not? We are both becoming accustomed to eating french fries with mayo….
Tummas met us in the lobby at 7pm and then took us to one of his restaurants where he brought out a charcuterie board of salmon, sausage, cheese, olives, etc. as well as a very nice bottle of white wine. We sat there for about 2 hours sharing stories. On our way back to our hotel, Tummas took us to his newest hotel that opened last June and gave us a tour of the restaurant and wine cellar.
Chad texted me around 8pm. He was back at the hotel grabbing dinner and said he was very happy with the band and things went well. He performs tomorrow night and Buddy on Saturday.
Buddy and I returned to the hotel around 10:30 pm .. it feels like early evening still since the sun doesn’t really set here this time of year. Going to get some sleep. Tomorrow morning Buddy does his rehearsal and then Chad performs tomorrow night.
Friday, June 9, 2023
I woke up around 8 am and went upstairs to grab breakfast. The hotel has a huge breakfast buffet, I think it is called St. Olaf Buffet? I texted Chad and Buddy to let them know I was going up. Buddy replied that he was wide awake at 6 am and had already eaten. Haven’t heard from Chad…
Finished breakfast then went back to my room to get ready and check emails. Buddy has rehearsal today starting at 11:00 am. Allan drove us over and I stayed a little while then went back to the hotel. I know Buddy is in good hands with Hallur and the band. He finished rehearsal and was back at the hotel around 2.
Erika picked me, Chad and Buddy up at 7:30 to drive us over to the festival. grounds. The festival is in Sorvag and is a 45 min drive from the hotel. it is a beautiful drive with magnificent views of the mountains and valleys. Allan said the attendance was great and the sunshine will bring even more out.
Chad did a quick radio interview when we arrived, I think Buddy did as well 🙂
Allan was already at the festival and he brought his partner Annie over to meet me. I have heard so much about her, and she I , but we have not had a chance to meet until now. She is so sweet and I just want to bring her home with me! I was also able to meet his daughter. She is just as nice as her parents.
Soundcheck was quick as Hallur and his band had everything ready to go. Chad took the stage at 10 (It is 10 pm at night and I am wearing sunglasses… so strange)
Chad is a true entertainer. He has a great personality and joked and talked to the crowd. He did his songs as well as a lot of traditional country songs that the crowd loved. I took plenty of videos of the crowd line dancing 🙂
He played a 60 min set and you could just tell he was having a blast and realy enjoying himself. We stayed for about 30 mins after the show ended then Erika picked us up and drove us back to the hotel. I was a little after midnight when we got back. Called and checked on the kids before crashing.
They say the weather is suppose to be just as nice tomorrow night for Buddy’s performance. Keeping fingers crossed!
Saturday, June 10, 2023
We do not have anything today until we leave for the venue at 7:30 again. After breakfast and checking emails, I took a walk into town. Our hotel is on the hill outside of the town and is about a 30 min walk into the city center. Keep in mind that I am walking down the hill to town. Went to a few shops that were open and then made my way over to SMS, which is the mall here. After grabbing a sandwich at the mall, I decided to take a taxi back up to the hotel 🙂
Today has been foggy, but a bit warmer than yesterday. Erika picked us up at 7:30 and drove us to the venue. With the fog rolling in, it is like driving through the clouds here. The rain started when we arrived at the venue.
Hallur and his band were on stage performing when we arrived so we were able to catch part of their show. Quick soundcheck and Buddy took the stage a few minutes after 10pm.. and yes, still raining.
Buddy brought Chad up and they sang “Big City” together. I stood out front with Allan, his wife Annie and their daughter Solva. Toward the end of his set he sang one of his hits “Help Pour Out the Rain” to a crowd that was more than happy to stand in the rain and listen to him. He is such a talented singer and songwriter.
He finished a little after 11 pm and we hung backstage thanking everyone and saying our goodbye to Hallur and his band, Mickey, Allan and his family. Erika who is driving us back to the hotel will also be taking us to the airport tomorrow, so we will not see Allan again.
It’s 1 am and I am going to get some sleep. We leave at noon from here and fly to Copenhagen, where we will stay tonight before flying home tomorrow.
Sunday, June 11, 2023
Erika met us at the hotel at noon to drive us over to the airport. Our flight leaves at 2:30 to Copenhagen. We will stay at the Clarion by the airport tonight and then start the journey home tomorrow.
Chad, Buddy and I have had such a wonderful time here. The people have been so kind and have taken great care of us. The majestic beauty of this place just cannot be described and my pictures do not do it justice. If you are ever looking for a place off the beaten path and just want to unplug for a while, I highly suggest The Faroe Islands.
Our Atlantic Airways flight left on time. Grabbed our bags in Copenhagen and walked across to The Clarion Hotel to check in. Once I had the boys checked in and put my luggage back in my room, I took our passports over to the DL check in counter at the airport to try and check in for our flights tomorrow. I cannot do it on the DL app since our 1st flight is on KLM to Amsterdam. Unfortunately, the Delta desk could not do it yet either 🙁
Met the boys in the restaurant for dinner and back up to the room around 9pm. Breakfast is at 5:30 am tomorrow morning and we need to walk back over to the airport at 6:30 am
Monday, June 13, 2023
Woke up to messages from Delta advising of a flight delay out of Amsterdam. It is only by 30 mins right now and we still have plenty of time in Atlanta to make our connections. The 30 min delay out of Amsterdam ended up being a good thing as we were late leaving Copenhagen and landed late in Amsterdam. The delay gave us the extra time we needed to walk across that huge aiport and go through passport control for our flight to the US.
As we are taxing to the runaway in Amsterdam, the flight attendants notify us that this is a new plane and has not been outfited with wireless connection yet .. great. ..
Watched a few movies, nodded off several times. About an 1 1/2 hr before landing they usually serve a light lunch, however they came around with a cookie and drinks. I guess the refridgerator went out and they were unable to safely serve the “light lunch meal” Delta gave us meal vouchers to use in the airport.
I was able to use my Global entry and zoom through passport control to customs. I was able to grab our bags before Chad and Buddy made it through passport control.. but Buddy’s bag was damaged. He will have to file a claim in Nashville for it. Landed a little after 7 in Nashville.
Thank you Buddy and Chad for being so great to work with. I hope we get to do more together. You made this tour so much fun.
Allan – I am so glad I was finally able to experince this festival and meet everyone. You are always a pleasure to work with. Big hugs to you all. I am looking forward to you bringing Annie and your daughter here!! Love you all.