CC Nichols

Hey folks,

It’s been a weird few weeks…invasive trees and Delfest.

Some of you might’ve noticed I took a bit of an unplanned break from performing lately. The reason? Well… I picked a fight with a Tree of Heaven — and lost.

Let me back up a bit. For those lucky enough not to know, the Tree of Heaven is this invasive, fast-growing tree that smells like burnt peanut butter and creeps into every inch of land it can find. It’s like the junk mail of the forest and crowds out all the native plant life that would otherwise thrive. On top of that, it’s a favorite hangout for one of the most unholy pests I’ve ever come across: the Spotted Lanternfly. These little devils look like a butterfly designed by a caffeinated 12-year-old with a paintball gun and they’re slowly gnawing their way across the Appalachian landscape like it owes them money.

Now, I’ve got a bit of land, and these trees are everywhere. So, I decided it was time to go full Rambo on them. Boots on. Gloves laced. Chainsaw ready. I did the research; found out the best way to stop them from coming back is to hit ‘em with a little herbicide cocktail right into the stump.

Only problem is, I wasn’t quite careful enough. One gust of wind later, and I accidentally inhaled a good lungful of the stuff. Ended up with a chemical burn on the back of my throat. Let me tell you, it felt like I gargled hot gravel and tried to sing through a kazoo made of fire. Singing? Not an option. Talking hurt. Even thinking about falsetto made my throat seize up.

So yeah, I took a solid 4-5 week hiatus to heal up. It was scary, honestly. Singing’s not just what I do, it’s how I process the world. Not being able to do that? It knocked me off center.

But I’m back now (a little wiser, a little warier of yardwork) and ready to hit the stage again. Starting this Sunday, June 1st, I’m rolling out a packed schedule of summer shows. If you’ve been wondering when we’d get a chance to catch up and swap stories over some live tunes and a cold drink, this is it.

And speaking of music, while I was recovering, I still got to enjoy some. I headed to DelFest, like I do every year, and soaked in a weekend of world-class pickin’. I especially loved catching sets from some of our own local heroes like Megan Jean’s Secret Family and Gilbert Lee and the Ghosts on the Radio. Both bands had GREAT sets. Seeing them up there reminded me exactly why I love doing what I do and fired me up for the summer ahead. 

🎸 Here’s where I’ll be coming up:

June 1 – Brewery and the Beast – Accident, MD (1–4 PM)
June 7 – Cushwa Brewing – Williamsport, MD (1–4 PM)
June 14 – Kindred Spirits Festival – Purgittsville, WV (2:45–3:50 PM)
June 21 – Berkeley Springs Brewing – Berkeley Springs, WV (7–9 PM)
June 26 – Tenth Ward Distilling Company – Frederick, MD (7–9 PM)
June 28 – Dig Deep Brewery – Cumberland, MD (7–9 PM)
July 23 – The Fifth Alehouse – Johnstown, PA (7–10 PM)
July 25 – Olde Bedford Brewing – Bedford, PA (6–9 PM)
August 3 – Potomac Ridge Brewing – Sharpsburg, MD (3–6 PM)

I’m especially excited about this weekend’s gig at Brewery and the Beast — great folks, great brews, and the perfect way to shake off the dust. Come on out, say hi, and let’s get the summer started right.

And hey, if you happen to know a tried-and-true method for banishing Tree of Heaven and Spotted Lanternflies that doesn’t involve a near-death experience, feel free to bring that wisdom to the merch table. We’ll swap war stories.

Thanks for sticking with me through the silence. Here’s to music, misadventures, and the kind of laughter that gets you through it all.

See you out there,
CC Nichols