Winners in the end...

Hey folks, No matter what, at he end of the day, I am blessed with music in my veins! we may not have placed further in the competition, but we are $5000 richer! It was a blast of a time though and I had the great fortune of meeting some stellar Ottawa musicians whom I hadn't met yet... It still surprises me as to how much talent there is in this city! I hosted an "All Ottawa Music Room" as part of a music conference: Ontario Council of Folk Festivals, a couple of weekends ago, and it was such a blast! There were over 800 delegates in attendance and SO MUCH MUSIC... it's a brilliant conference, and the Ottawa Bluesfest Collective sponsored my hotel room, so we could showcase some of the great players of this musical (yes, musical) city. If you haven't yet checked out Kenny Voita, he is a talented songster who really sings... like he is SO good! Marc Nelson is another great performer, and Trevor Alguire has a great new album to drive to. These are Ottawa area music makers that you should have a listen to for sure! So we didn't win The Big Money Shot, but at the very least, the band became more of a sweet unit, we have a great bunch of songs down pat nice and tight, and I look forward to getting a new album with a stellar band sometime in the mid-new year...we have a bunch of new tunes to share!! In the meantime, I am heading over to Switzerland, for a song-writing term, what better place to start out the winter months? Sitting at the bottom of the Alps with pen in hand and candles lit... bring on the Cheese Fondue, not to mention Raclette!! hey, Onwards and upwards my friends...

Lindsay

Autumn Blues n News

What a glorious time of year. The air is alive with new scents from old, the horizon dull and bright at the same time, the wind and stars blissfully fresh and clear... and me without a penny to my name. Thank heavens I can see the beauty in life, and the creativity,  musically, never ends. Thank heavens going for a bicycle ride down windy rocky roads doesn't cost money! Alas, to be a full time music maker in a coin driven world where one in 10 music makers don't make it! What kind of decision did I make, to be a contender in a race that is almost impossible to win? I ask myself this question on many occassions and always come up with another question: Life or death? I choose life and with life, in my world, comes music and not just in my stereo, mp3, computer or from someone else completely...no, I have this musical gift and it was given to me by the cosmos and the cosmos have demanded that I share...so share I will, I do, I must! Here is a clip of one of my favourite songs, sung this past year at The Ottawa Bluesfest http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SayF4Vrsto&feature=related it's called "Sky'n Me" and I have recorded it "album" form, along with 6 other songs, which hopefully I will one day be able to press, put up on Itunes and sell from the stage... outta my hands into yours (sorry for the big huge font. just happened all of a sudden and I don't know how to change it back!) Anyway, I hope to sing for you soon, and if you are in the Ottawa area on the 14th of November (my birthday!!) I am singing at The Rainbow Bistro... it's a Saturday night... come on down... I'll be in fine form then... just a rant today, on a grey day in October... Lxo

OCFF Conference, and Ron Sexsmith

What a ride life has been over the past few months. I'm afraid things are going to start calming down by November and this scares me. I suppose things do die down during the darker and colder months, but I like to keep  things rolling. I don't have to think as much when the river is flowing!! The past weekend was superb. I got to hang out (and open for!!) Ron Sexsmith and his band. Let me tell you how small this world is...years ago, when I recorded my first demo, I had a stellar drummer, who is now drumming with Ron. Way to go Cam!! Ron is a funny guy by the way, and has a pretty cool posse that gets to travel the musical road with him. Meaghan Smith also shared the show and she is one heck of a singer. Her music has a very classic style to it, one that I could listen to for hours on end! I still have to shake my head every once in awhile when I think about how lucky I am to be part of this amazing musical world. Next weekend is the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals Conference. It's basically a music festival for the music industry across Canada and many people come from the States and Europe aswell. It's a weekend featuring performances and day-long conferences. The music starts on Thursday and doesn't really stop until Sunday. I am hosting a "Guerilla Showcase" which is a concert that takes place over two nights, both Friday and Saturday, featuring twenty performers, all from the Ottawa area. It was a blast to create, and the talent I lined up is STELLAR!!! People such as Jim Bryson, Lynn Miles, Kellylee Evans, Shawn Tavenier and Kyrie Kristmanson to name a few.  All that said however, I have no idea how Festival Directors can organize a whole festival of music and stil keep their hair!!! I'll write more about the conference next week... though I can't promise I won't be tired!! The one thing lacking at this type of thing is SLEEP!!! Until next time.... Lindsay xo