Excerpt from Midwest Folk
Issue 1, Summer 2003 article on Joel Mabus.

MF ...What are you working on these days, musically?

JM ...I'm starting to think about my next recording project. I haven't come to any conclusion yet. I think it's going to be more about singing than playing. I was in part of a concert last January call the Mid Winter Singing Festival - one of the most optimistic things I've done in a long time in terms of getting people involved. It was in Lansing, Michigan, my old hometown. It was two nights of singing. It was all about the audience participating. All about singing along. These were songs that were intended for everyone to sing. All the lyrics were printed in a booklet. The lights were up and there were four of us who were hired to be song leaders. And we did everything from old 60's songs to spirituals to Elvis material to some originals - all singable songs for folks to sing along. And it really charged my batteries - it was a wonderful two nights. And the people were so enthused in a way that I've never seen in my lifetime. I play a lot of shows - and people say "it was wonderful", pat me on the back and have emotional moments and stuff - but nothing like this. People were involved. Truly "in concert" with people. Everyone made this thing happen.