InCredits

According to several dozen Websites, this weekend promises to be a pretty exciting time in Spokane, WA for fans of J.R.R. Tolkien. The 6th annual Tolkien Moot will be held in eastern Washington and simulcast on the Internet on Friday, August 13, Saturday, August 14, and Sunday, August 15. The convention features Middle-earth based gaming and special programming.

The featured guest for the event appears to be Elvish music specialist Rehtaeh. Tolkien scholar and expert Michael Martinez is also on the roster. Martinez has been a past guest of the convention, along with the likes of John Rateliff (The History of the Hobbit, Chris Seeman, and Thomas Morwinsky. Martinez has written three books on Middle-earth and is also cohost of Middle-earth Talk Radio with the convention organizer.

Tolkien Moot (www.tolkienmoot.org) is the only convention that broadcasts all its sessions live on the Internet. Rehtaeh will be performing each day of the convention as well as appearing on a panel called “Raw Hobbit”. “Raw Hobbit” is an interview show modeled on William Shatner’s cable TV show “Raw Nerve”. Promos for the convention include videos of Rehtaeh (aka Heather Downing) singing in church and in a professional music video.

Elvish fanboys in several Web forums appear to be looking forward to the convention for Downing alone. Rumor has it she recently visited New Zealand as part of a hush hush trip to the set of the “Hobbit” movies. Speculation that she may be negotiating a deal to sing for the movie’s end credits is spreading across the Internet.