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Just home from a wonderful journey of roots music via railway- traveling from Vancouver to Winnipeg. I met so many gifted people from the headliners to the everyday folks on the train. We took in an extra concert in Vancouver on Sun night- Martin Sexton. Oh my gosh!!!! Talk about singing your note! Anyway, I am inspired and encouraged and totally well rested. I look forward to being on a roots on rails train again. Hopefully sooner than later. And, one more little detail, Ian Tyson sang a song called from Yellowhead to Yellowstone and it absolutely wiped me out. I was so moved and inspired I managed to squeeze in some writing time while on the train and came up with 3 lyric sheets and 1 poem. I am working on a song inspired by Mary Lou- its on the piano but will likely move to the banjo. Fun!!!
My heavenly past two weeks went like this...
*played at bistro with Ross Stafford- gifted songwriter and bistro host, had a little rehearsal prior and tested out my new trick- harmonica in C!
*speaking of which- harmonica teacher- Ron Halliday has taught me so much my brain hurts. So much about being a musician, call and response, sweetening every note...BEING REAL!
*getting ready to play the benefit concert- so a practice with Justin Stewart and Curtis Phagoo. What a lovely time together. So looking forward to the event! This is like a reward for doing some good deed in a former life- I am so happy to play with these two!
*presented at a wellness conference in Rocky Mountain House and I ended with One More Round which folks seemed to like...farming, singalong song
*gig at the Velvet Olive and Curtis surprised me by bringing in Rob Goodwin. Rob is so funny and plays a mean snare. A simple little folk song can really come to life with this addition. So fun!
*then another rehearsal this time with Curtis and Lee Cocolicchio to prepare for Lynn's special birthday. Oh my- we sat in my little studio and honest to God, we played a few songs that I wished were recorded off the floor right then right there. It is so good to sit close and really listen to each other and honor each other by adding to the song in a unique way
*and then, 3 times throughout this period of time my neighbor and friend Kaley Zunino and I got together to get ready for gigs coming up.I have been praying for years to be able to connect with another female musician who is easy to play with as she is a roots musician and she couldnt give a fiddle is there are 6 measures or 10 and we lay down the song, get the structure and let it rip! We sing our prairie girl hearts out with sincerity. I actually am blown away by this girls natural ability and her excellent tunes. And the harmonies!!!!!!!!!Plus she plays guitar like a guy! Ha!
So a belated Happy Thanksgiving and a giant message to the universe for bringing me such beautiful and gifted people to learn from and to share with. Thank you thank you thank you...
*played at bistro with Ross Stafford- gifted songwriter and bistro host, had a little rehearsal prior and tested out my new trick- harmonica in C!
*speaking of which- harmonica teacher- Ron Halliday has taught me so much my brain hurts. So much about being a musician, call and response, sweetening every note...BEING REAL!
*getting ready to play the benefit concert- so a practice with Justin Stewart and Curtis Phagoo. What a lovely time together. So looking forward to the event! This is like a reward for doing some good deed in a former life- I am so happy to play with these two!
*presented at a wellness conference in Rocky Mountain House and I ended with One More Round which folks seemed to like...farming, singalong song
*gig at the Velvet Olive and Curtis surprised me by bringing in Rob Goodwin. Rob is so funny and plays a mean snare. A simple little folk song can really come to life with this addition. So fun!
*then another rehearsal this time with Curtis and Lee Cocolicchio to prepare for Lynn's special birthday. Oh my- we sat in my little studio and honest to God, we played a few songs that I wished were recorded off the floor right then right there. It is so good to sit close and really listen to each other and honor each other by adding to the song in a unique way
*and then, 3 times throughout this period of time my neighbor and friend Kaley Zunino and I got together to get ready for gigs coming up.I have been praying for years to be able to connect with another female musician who is easy to play with as she is a roots musician and she couldnt give a fiddle is there are 6 measures or 10 and we lay down the song, get the structure and let it rip! We sing our prairie girl hearts out with sincerity. I actually am blown away by this girls natural ability and her excellent tunes. And the harmonies!!!!!!!!!Plus she plays guitar like a guy! Ha!
So a belated Happy Thanksgiving and a giant message to the universe for bringing me such beautiful and gifted people to learn from and to share with. Thank you thank you thank you...
We played at the Prickly Pear early October and then again in the evening for the songwriters night and to audition for their upcoming festival Tongue on the Post. Curtis loved the gig- thought it was his best ever. The audience was so in to live original music it was heart rendering. The hosts Patrick and Phyllis were organinzed and welcoming. The owners of the Prickly Pear were lovely and encouraged us to come back anytime. We are hoping of course to be accepted to play the festival and to headline a songwriters night in the sping. Well done you guys- what a great great thing you have going in the Hat!! Phyllis and Richard you are so kind and so the nicest people in the world! Thanks for taking care of us.
And love at first listen- the Nelson boys played and we swooned. Two enormously talented young guys- Brett and Owen. We really want to do a show together. Wow- the more I go outward with my songs the more I realize the giftedness of prairie singer/songwriters.
And love at first listen- the Nelson boys played and we swooned. Two enormously talented young guys- Brett and Owen. We really want to do a show together. Wow- the more I go outward with my songs the more I realize the giftedness of prairie singer/songwriters.
Ok first- I have the best Dad in the whole world so it was fabulous to gig for his birthday in his town at the Merchants Cafe in Camrose. This used to be the courthouse and now it is a smashing good place to have a great latte and meet up with friends and listen to or in our case play live, original music. The staff have the faces of old friends and are so positive and welcoming. Those who showed up on Friday night are the angels of my life- my family and good good friends who are right connected even though a decade may have passed since we worked and played together. I have had some sweet gigs, however, this one, was a blessing- so much tenderness and kindness. It was balm to my being. Everyone snuggled in for a night of music and Jeff even gave us a couple of cowboy poems. And of course, I always love a gig with Curtis- he is super talented and we really like each others songs. In my life he is a huge support and I have grown in leaps and bounds because he is a strong musician and also a nut and will try to coax a sound out of anything.
Sooo... I came back home Saturday after a lovely hike and meal with my parents. And this is what songwriting is for me... circular... now I can write a song about singing and playing songs on this day of my Dad's birth.
Sooo... I came back home Saturday after a lovely hike and meal with my parents. And this is what songwriting is for me... circular... now I can write a song about singing and playing songs on this day of my Dad's birth.
I am so thrilled about a few things... well I am always thrilled about a few things. However at the end of October I am going to be with good friends singing and playing and listening to the best of the best on a 1950 steam engine travelling from Vancouver to Winnepeg. HOW COOL IS THAT?