Blueskies to Jupiter

It's Wednesday night and only now am I feeling rested enough to get my head around the greatness that i had the fortune to be a part of this weekend. Really though, to put any of the past few days into words may be a tad hard, so what I will do to start this blog about "Blueskies" is to let you read the lyrics to the song we wrote about this wonderful festival, called: "Blueskies to Jupiter." On Sunday, I headed a workshop called "Write a Song for Blueskies" and I must admit I was a little nervous, the thought of finishing a song in an hour! One never knows how these things will go! In the end, however, it took two hours and we came up with a way to describe the Festival in these words:
Feathers, hula hooping, tie-dye, painting on a Blueskies day.
Moonshine through the tree line, drinking red wine, I'm home to stay
Won't you take some, where you're going
Spread that sweet Love to Jupiter
Children dancing barefoot, on the hillside, heart's keep in time...
FIRE! Yeah... MAGIC! Yeah...Rhythm! Yeah...Beauty!
Sweet songs fill the forest, echoes rising to twilight sun.
Gently making traces, building stages for years to come
Won't you take some, where you're
going, spread that sweet Love to Jupiter
Blueskies, how we Love you and we'll miss you 'til we meet again!!
It truly is a magical place, camping out in the forest under the stars for three nights and just as many nights and days of music and workshops... On a couple of those nights, a dude had set up his telescope, right on the planet Jupiter, and to my surprise I was able to see four of it's moons all in a row, from teeny tiny to bigger. It was spectacular to say the least. My favourite part was, of course, playing on the stage for the first time!!! I have wanted to perform for over five years, and my dream finally came true! I had the pleasure to play the set with Ben Whiteley on Stand-Up Bass, and Jaron Freeman Fox on Fiddle... it was wonderful to be out there making melodies together, and sharing a brand new song, written on the very same day!! To describe the way of the people at this festival is almost impossible, but I liken it to peaceful, respectful bliss...lasting for four sweet days... so sad to say goodbye but knowing that all of it exists is sure to keep me going during the dark days of winter...Knowing that unconditional Love is actually out there, between strangers... it really is a beautifully simple thing indeed. So, I guess I have to wait another year but I wait graciously with patience and strength!! Some of the acts that graced the stage came all the way from Australia; check out TOBY and KIM CHURCHILL also check out Las Vegas' THAT ONE GUY. Whoosh... okay, time for chores now and a final THANK YOU to all of the folks out there who made my weekend so wonderfully stellar... I will miss you til we meet again.
Love Lindsay xo

Aaaaaahh! Sweet Summer Livin'

Hello from Summer!
You know it truly is amazing how fast this Summer is whizzing by, but yeah, definitely having fun. I guess Summer doesn't really start for me until the Ottawa Bluesfest gets going. What a rush, and the DOWN from after effects of not being there is most assuredly "The Blues!" Some really great new bands were introduced into my life however,  and I am really am blessed for having been a part of it. My TOP TEN picks would have to be "Current Swell" from B.C, The B52's, Jimmy Cliff, Ben Cooper from Ottawa, Alexisonfire, Emily Fennell from Kingston, Konono#1, Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks, Iron Maiden & Joan Jett. There really WERE tonnes and tonnes of great shows, but as it happens, sitting here with my hot cuppa joe in the Summer breeze a week later, this is what I have come up with!! Hope you can find some new musical gems of your own out there...
Next stop for me is Blueskies Music Festival. It's up there with the TOP TWO festivals of all time (right beside the Bluesfest, to be sure!) It's a four day camping, music extravaganza and I am so lucky to be a part of it this year. It's always a surprise to find out which musical acts will grace the stage as there is no real website and no "normal" way to get tickets! Blueskies is actually a wee slice of heaven on earth, and it's a great way to fuel up for what's to come in the fall (darker longer colder days!!) The only thing lacking at Blueskies is SLEEP!! So I will be sure to get a little extra over the next few days....
After Blueskies I have a very exciting adventure ahead of me. Gigging in The Chilkotens, the west coast of Canada, north of Vancouver, on a six day white water rafting trip!! How bizarre does that sound?? I can only hope my guitar doesn't get wet or dumped, well, actually I can only hope that I don't get dumped/capsized!! It's going to be thrilling, whatever the case, but make sure to wish me luck, I am an artist music maker, not quite an athlete if ya know what I mean!! It's crazy though, trying to get a gig out West... I have been looking since April, to book a show in Vancouver, and it's two weeks away and still NOTHING!! I played last year, for the first time on Granville Island at The Backstage Lounge, and it went over swimmingly... so who knows what the deal is... people tell me you have to book a year in advance in B.C. So entirely different from Newfoundland. I am truly an East Coaster at Heart. In any case, I look forward to the nearing adventures, and thank God/Goddess/River/Sky/Moon/Sun for my musical blessings... it keeps me ALIVE and makes me want to sing for you... Hope I can soon... just get in touch, it's THAT easy. Lindsay xo

Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

It's nighttime in the Gatineau, and I am almost certain if the wind was blowing the right way, I might even hear the sounds of cheers & song coming from Le Breton Flats, home to the legendary Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest, not quite a twenty minute drive out of these here Hills. What a week it's been, and there is still one more left! Between band rehearsals, interviews with CTV http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZN1MIRXSVY with the A channel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i96cwf8A1SQ and performances at the festival http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NDHyKiyiJI&feature=related this week has been STELLAR!! On Thursday night we, the band and I, opened with a set ahead of The Moody Blues... they were great, and I was surprised at how many of their songs I actually knew, most of them bringing back memories from the good ole days when Saturday's were spent listening to music with my Mum. In any case, the show was a BLAST and we had it all recorded, with hopes that I can put a compilation of live sounds together for YOU kind readers out there... time will tell! On Friday, perhaps the most interesting night of performers (to me anyway) The John Butler Trio, Gord Downie & his new band, Courney Love & Joan Jett... what a NIGHT! Fortunately I had a SOLO gig in the Theatre in the War Museum, but unfortunately I missed one of my all time favourite music makers and lyricists, Mr. Downie and missed dancing with John Butler, but one can't be everywhere and luckily there is still a week left! So, tonight, I think I will finally sleep WELL. All this heat has made it almost unbearable to be anywhere that doesn't have a water source to jump into...here's thanking the Universe for creating that wonderful Gatineau River. And cheers to the music Lovers, I shall see YOU at The Bluesfest!! (One last thing, the "Be in the Band" performances are on Sunday the 18th. I, along with Mike Dubue from Ottawa's "Hilotrons" have been teaching some kids at Patro Community Centre on how to be in a BAND!! Wait til you hear the song they wrote and will perform on the 18th!! Exciting project indeed! There will also be other performances from other school and community centres around Ottawa, all courtesy of Mark Monahan & The Ottawa Bluesfest.. COME ONE COME ALL and see these kids realizing their musical dreams for the first time!!!)

From 42000 Feet In The Air

As I am flying over the islands of Bermuda, regarding the different shades of turquoise meets blue, I see a shipwreck. A fully sunk, covered in reef and coral, perfectly fallen vessel, laying the rest of it’s days on the bottom of the sea. It makes me wonder what’s out there, in the bottom of that sleeping ship, in some nook or cranny, not yet visited special place, perhaps holding a secret that will be forever kept?  What a day to leave, the sun is still shimmering on the Atlantic, as I gaze out into the great big open space, filled with memories from the past two weeks, and the knowledge that a new song is coming. Sitting here in the plane, writing on my little laptop, listening to the earpopping shrieks of a child not two or three rows behind me, I am content. Content in that I am where I am supposed to be and content in knowing that I will be heading home to Canada, the best country in the world. Sometimes I forget how good it is in my native home, and it helps, going away for awhile, helps me to realize how great it is, with all it’s lakes, rivers, bbq’s, family, festivals  and friends. That said, it is often hard to leave any given place for too long. I am sure I have mentioned in previous notes, that saying goodbye is the hardest part about travel, especially when Love is involved. Love comes in many forms, and this time around, I fell in Love with a special family of four, the family with whom I had the pleasure of staying with for nearly two weeks. What an amazing thing, watching and living in amongst a family that is not “yours.” Having young children and making everything “work” is the toughest job in the world, and while I know it’s hard with two parents, I can’t even, don’t WANT to even imagine what it’s like as a single Mummy or Daddy. I praise all of you hard working, Loving and caring parents out there,  it’s anything but easy! I think I will stay away from that for awhile, and let you all take care of it for now!! Of course, that said, it takes a village to raise a child, and I am part of that  village and most certainly Love all of it’s children. But yes, for now, condoms!!!! Hahahaa!! On a side note, musically speaking, I finished a new song whilst in Bermuda called “Right About You.” It’s kind of a biographical song, which speaks of unconditional Love, and I suppose if one doesn’t have it for oneself, one had better start learning how to make it happen, It’s just SO much easier this way! I posted the lyrics on my myspace blog http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendID=38495885 perhaps you might like it! It’s Canadian debut will take place on Saturday the 26th of June at 9:20ppm as part of “Elphin Music Festival” in Elphin Ontario. Hope to see you there, in the meantime, Peace, Love & Light, Lindsay xo

Bermuda

Greetings from Sunny humid Bermuda. I played a show here last night, and it was marvellous. When I was a kid, I used to catch fish in the shallow waters with my brother, and now, I am singing beside the water where the fishies have no fear. I was setting up last night, and thought, boy, here it is, the gig I have been waiting for all these months. Here I am doing my sound check (with sound guy Mike from Nova Scotia!) thinking to myself, time really flies, and here I am, living out the dream I had imagined for so long! You see, it's a sweet gig. People actually listen, and it's outside, under a sunset, singing to listening ears beside aqua blue water...you can't really get much better. So here I write a BIG thank you to beautiful Bermuda and of course The Bermuda Folk Club! Bermuda itself is a gorgeous tiny Island south of Halifax, in the great wide Atlantic. The houses are multi-coloured with white limestone rooftops. The streets are super narrow, and they drive on the left. It's actually heart stopping at times as there are so many corners and bends in the road, and not many sidewalks, and many many people driving, riding and walking...at night it's extremely loud with the sound of tree frogs chirping, and you would think it would be a neat way to fall asleep, but there is always one little bugger too close to your open window, chriping away grinding your tired brain. Thankfully I have earplugs, a ceiling fan and the ability to shut the window!! Ha! I went to the beach yesterday, and further out from shore there are a bunch of reefs, fit with coral, sea anenomes and many types of shiny coloured fish. I brought my goggles but had to come up for air, which was kind of a let down, as swimming under the sea with all it's wonder is something that is better off without the need for oxygen. Ah well, I am human! The beaches are indeed pink and pretty darn gorgeous!! The air here is humid, which makes for humid everything. At home, the food is sealed in air tight bags because if you open crackers and leave them for even an hour, they go stale! Oh, and hair doubles in size, there is no such thing as flat hair here, and if you are like me with a little natural curl, it turns into the most delightful frizz!! Perhaps not so delightful, but big as heck!!! Most of the food here is imported, except for fruit, milk, eggs and corn. The corn is explosively delicious and I can't even type the word PEACH without my mouth watering. My friends here have a peach tree, and it makes for an amazing morning treat, mmMmmm, plucked fresh! Press was generous with me and I am enclosing a few links for your reading pleasure! My next gig is in Elphin Ontario, as part of Elphin Music Fest... it's on the 26th of June (I can't seem to get the 25th date erased, incase you think it's 2 nights, it's only one night!) and there are heaps of great musicians playing. Elphin is about an hour and a half west of Ottawa, check it out if you can!! In the meantime, I think I will head back to the beach soon with some heavy SPF to be sure. Of course, heading home later to see the "True Blood" season premiere! Ya! Life is good. Bermuda's Royal Gazette http://www.royalgazette.com/rg/Article/article.jsp?articleId=7da662730030009&sectionId=80 Bernews http://bernews.com/2010/06/bermudian-born-singer-to-perform-tomorrow/ See you soon Canada, Love Lindsay xo

No home to call my own, but I got my Dodge 92...

Greetings from Wakefield Quebec! This is where a lot of my family live, so I like to come here OFTEN. In fact, my brother even has a room here set up for me, with a big fat Marshmallow Bed! Sooooooo comfy! It's painstakingly hot out right now,  almost impossible to go out into... Thankfully, there is one HECK of a glorious River out there, called The Gatineau River. It's SCRUMPTIOUS and super cold, so cold you can't really stay in too long, but that will mend itself soon enough...I tend to fly around a lot, so don't really have ONE fixed address yet.. I suppose, one day, everything, every duck will line up into it's special place, and I may have my very own haven, somewhere on Mother Earth... I wonder where though... So much of me LOVES this community of Wakefield, as it IS like no other, a vortex all in it's own...but my heart is with the Sea on the East coast, in Newfoundland, along with a few extremely close friends, who I miss every day! Then of course, there is that fabulous little spot in Switzerland, another one of my "homes" and they DO have the best Pizza in Luzern, and pretty cool cobble stone streets that echo up and down the walls when you walk (stumble!) home after a good night's "work".  Picton Ontario is also a sweet haven, which fits nicely between both families, the ones in Quebec, and the one's in the Belleville area... ohhhh what to do what to do... I guess all this fancy talk of actually settling down somewhere, well it's all a dream really! One that looks like it's gonna take awhile, as I still have a LOT of work to do, and I must build up my fan base, get my next album out, book a tour, promote the gigs, write new songs, get new shocks for my 92 Dodge... thank GOODness there is a mattress in the back of the van, and it's Summer, so a place to sleep isn't at the TOP of my list of things to do, got THAT one covered anyway... ahhh, but to dream is to live, and one day I will be sleeping in my own home! One HAS to have some sort of goal in life! haaahahahaaaaa.....in the meantime, I play, I travel, I gig, I sing, I swim, I write, I sit on a patio with vodka & lemon.....ooh, and it's COTTAGE country time... oooh, how I LOVE Summer so.....I forget how MUCH I actually miss it, but then it comes back to me, and I feel "right" again. And the music life part of my life, has been so generous this past week... a new song, an interview with Xavier Rudd, and playing a radio show with David Gray....Dreams CAN come true!!! xoxoxoox

David Gray in person up close?

Hi Folks.. I just found out that I get to realize a dream! When I was working all those years ago in Ireland, I was introduced to a CD called "David Gray ~ Lost Songs" it would be the soundtrack to my life for quite sometime, until "White Ladder" came out... and I still play that one with fervour!!! In any case, he is coming to Ottawa's new and improved Museum of Nature, and LIVE 88.5 is having a live radio taping, live off the floor at the Museum featuring ME as well as David Gray. I am excited to say the least!! I am on from 12:05pm until 12:15pm... that's 10mintutes and approximately three tracks if all goes to plan!! David will be on from 1:35pm until 1:50pm. What a thrill, there are a few others too, Tara Holloway, Jonathan Chandler & Pete Hammond...stop by Live 88.5 online to have a listen... How amazing!! Wooooooooooooooo!!! Also coming up in the Life of Lindsay is a date I have at Ottawa's The Rainbow Bistro on May 19th, it's a Wednesday night, so if you are out and about in the market, make sure to drop in for a spell of Songs....Also, I started a new blog, because I really don't think I have enough to keep up with on the web... check it out if ya like http://lindsayferguson.blogspot.com/ Anyway, that's it for now, short and sweet, unless you go to my blog link and read that!!! Hahaaaaa... it's a beautiful sun shiny day out there... Enjoy xox

Good Day Beautiful!!

What a stellar month May is turning out to be. The nights have been warm and the bugs haven't started attacking just yet, I am sure within the next 48hrs that peace will all be over, alas, to delight in the little things!! I found out that I am going to be playing a couple of sets at Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest this Summer in July!! I can't wait, one is FULL BAND style and we shall be opening for The Moody Blues, which will be EXCELLENT (on July 8th at 6pm SHARP!) Then on Thursday it will be Lindsay LIVE and SOLO at The Barney Danson Theatre, so at least PART of my Bluesfest sets will be COOL, literally, the only place that's air-conditioned! Ha! Also I have recently started working with children at a community center who want to be in a band... it's pretty sweet, seeing the young ones with so much promise, or at the very least, determination to play!! I spent the last three weeks on the road playing gigs and meeting beautiful new people... this life on wheels can be tough, but the best part is meeting YOU out there, and what a thrill it all becomes...Did I tell you I recorded and sang on three HIP HOP tracks? What a cool new experience for me, and the songs are going to be amazing once mixed and mastered... patience is a virtue they say but I can't WAIT to hear them... check out the Hip Hop artist that I worked with, google "JOFO" he is fantabulous... anyway, the day has started and I have to clean!! Scrubbing by day, Strumming by night! haahahahaaaa. Happy Spring, LOVE Lindsay xo

to say Goodbye...

I wonder how to put it sometimes, and sometimes I sneak out the back door . Saying “So long!” is better left put short, wouldn’t you agree? It’s always an emotional thing, whether you leave the dinner party or the pub, there will always be that one person who looks at you with puppy dog eyes and says “Stay?” That’s why I tend to opt for door number two, at the rear entrance, without a word at all, making sure of course, to let someone know I am exiting, cuz you gotta play it safe!  I like to get out of places, see? Sometimes I don’t even want to go to places, so yeah, I can be sneaky! There are times of course, when a Goodbye is absolutely necessary, and it’s those times that make me sad and longing for the next hello. Like today for example, I had to fly away back to mainland Canada, back home from St. John’s Newfoundland. I have been travelling back and forth to Newfoundland since 1998, I can’t believe it’s been 12years! In that time I have developed some of the strongest relationships in my life and I only get to connect with these great Loves of mine once a year, perhaps twice, and well, the odd time on Skype… I know when I get home to Ontario and Quebec, I will have some equally strong relationships to tend to, and for that I am ever so grateful. It’s amazing how much I need you fine supportive folks in my life, and really, instead of ever saying good bye I should be saying  “Thank You.”

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