The New Year starts depreciating the minute it leaves the lot. But, I am planning to drive the wheels off 2026… Join me when you can for Coffee Diem, on Substack, or at my shows.

I started posting Coffee Diem photos during the pandemic as I sat on my porch. Who knew that so many folks would join me. Here is a glimpse of some Coffee Diems in 2025 - from home to places I played around the U.S. I look forward to sharing coffee and music with you in 2026.

Downstairs furnace completely shot, so it is a new unit for a New Year. The silver lining is that these folks work fast, and the heat will be back on by the end of the day. That said, silver linings are aptly named... Many pieces of silver.

Woody Guthrie's New Year's Resolutions, 1942. I particularly like Nos. 19, 25, and 31. Happy New Year!

Hope to see you when @aprilverch and I take to the road next month with new music. Details at aprilverch.com/tour-dates

It would have been John Hartford's 88th birthday today. Here is one of my favorite clips, because in addition to showcasing John's storytelling, it also shines a light on his deep love of fiddle music. I love the blissful look on his face as he listens to Texas Shorty. youtu.be/0uzcF-Xb0jg?...

A New Year's song from my pen...

Coffee Diem. Round 2.

The Tar Heel Hot Shots - Jim Collier, LaNelle Davis, Margaret Martin, and Joe Newberry - first played together as a foursome 35 years ago today. We made a lot of wonderful music, and had a lot of fun over the years.

I am surprised they aren't gold.

Sunday marks 17 years of a clear mind. If you have been thinking about making a change like that, give me a shout. Always happy to talk. It works if you work it. It won't if you don't.

Shopping Daze, more like it...

Coffee Diem. Boxing Day edition.

My plan for 2026...

Coffee Diem. "It's Christmas Day!" said Scrooge to himself. "I haven't missed it. The Spirits have done it all in one night. They can do anything they like. Of course they can. Of course they can."

My song "Della and Jim" is based on O Henry's classic short story, "The Gift of the Magi." It has one of the favorite lines I ever penned. "Oh, all who love and who believe, they are the wisest ones. Those who give, and who receive, the Magi they become." youtu.be/PqfNRMPA2p0?...

A Newberry Christmas memory...

This is from George Albert Smith's film "Santa Claus," made in 1898. I love it when Santa blows the kiss to the sleeping children. And, I love how Leadbelly's music matches up with the clip. Just magically delicious. youtu.be/F5R6YarhEag?...

A Christmas memory... In our stockings, along with an orange, a candy cane, a new toothbrush, and comic books, Santa always left a package of thank you notes, which were put to good use after presents were opened and breakfast was done.

I was pretty darned excited to meet him...

Don't forget...

Looking for a musical gift this year, for yourself or a loved one? I am teaching two classes at John C. Campbell Folk School in western N.C. “Songs from the Appalachians to the Ozarks”(Feb 13-15) and “Traditional Songwriting: Write New Songs That Sound Old” (Feb 15-21). folkschool.org/music

A candle burns this longest night A message for the dark A melody of fragile light As sweet as any lark A good solstice to you all.

🎶 Christmas stress is coming to town.... 🎶

It's still the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. It always will be. It's still the Department of Defense. It always will be. It's still the Gulf of Mexico. It always will be.

Trump-Epstein Files has a nice ring to it.

I predict that the name that starts with K will soon be gone.

No big... Just that time a few years ago when I was petting a reindeer up in Alaska. Apparently, I smell like Christmas. Photo by April Verch.

Coffee Diem. Raleigh.

I suggest we all have a Rob Reiner marathon on Wednesday night. My choices... "Stand By Me," "Spinal Tap," and "The Princess Bride." Maybe a couple of episodes of "All In The Family."

There are now 26K of you who follow me here. Thank you. Let's have coffee together tomorrow. And, pick a tune. And, go Stetson shopping.

Rob Reiner's work was the fabric of movies we all wore. Here is a gift article from the NYT. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/16/o...

This... 👇👇👇

Inconceivable.

Happy Hanukkah to all my friends who celebrate the miracle of eight days of light in the face of the world's darkness.

Coffee Diem. Charlotte Symphony Orchestra.

Working on a Holiday Pops program for the Charlotte Symphony, and it makes me recall the excitement of heading to KFVS-TV in Cape Girardeau, Mo., to sing Christmas songs on Channel 12 as part of Mrs. Seabaugh's elementary school choir. 1/2

This clip is as evergreen as a Christmas tree... youtu.be/2j1FlcM9EeQ?...

Apologies to Dolly, but instead of Hard Candy, it's going to be a Two Pencil Christmas.

I am tickled to be part of Steve Kaufman's Acoustic Kamp next June in Maryville, Tenn., held on the campus of Maryville College. I am teaching singing at Old Time and Traditional Week - June 14-20, 2026. flatpik.com/steve-kaufma... Here is a slideshow of the instructors... youtu.be/qkP7WsXyvwY

New Substack up. Please subscribe and share, if you take the notion.

I won't be around in 50 years, and I am sorry that I won't be able to read the history of these times. But, we have @hcrichardson.bsky.social, and that is a pretty good start.

Very pleased to announce that Compton and Newberry will be at MerleFest next year. Here is the link to purchase tickets... merlefest.org/purchase/ See you in Wilkesboro, N.C.!

All hat and no reindeer...

Something to remember after he is gone.

I am teaching songwriting at Sorefingers music camp in the U.K. next Easter. I hope that we get enough folks to join me to make the class feasible. Here is one of my songs as a preview. Come join me... We'll have fun! sorefingers.co.uk

Remembering the "date which will live in infamy," December 7, 1941. My father, and countless others enlisted the next morning. In Dad's case, he was gone from Missouri soon after, and was overseas until the summer of 1945. The photo is of the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor.

Coffee Diem. Home for a couple of days.

Sometimes you have to settle for Coffee McDiem.