Reflections of Canada (Part One)

 Hello from a Lovely Summer's day, where, through my open windows,  I can hear the crickets chirping and the sheep's bells ringing! After a six week tour across Canada (In direction East this time around) I am back in the land of Chocolate & Cheese, writing to you from my home office, filled to the brim with fond memories which I thought I might share (a few) with you!

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Starting my journey in the beloved, special and sacred village of Wakefield, Quebec saw me sing our National Anthem (in both languages) to a sea of red and white.

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Wakefield, Quebec is a tremendously special place for me. It is where I started (primarily) focusing on my music career, and when I play for the people there, most of them have been on my musical journey, with me, since the beginning. It is always a pleasure to come back to the village, to it's people, it's food, it's energy and the Lovely (and refreshing) Gatineau River.

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After a few rehearsals with some very talented musicians, we had the unique opportunity to play on the big stage, for an awesome crowd, as part of the Ottawa Bluesfest. You can read an epic review by clicking HERE. I have mentioned Brock Zeman to you all in the past. He is a great inspiration to me and a photo was captured that kind of says it all! 

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During this exhilarating performance, I managed to lose my balance in mid-throw (Swiss Chocolates, no less!) causing me to fall, taking myself,  my guitar and my mic stand  down with me! As Brock put it "It could have been worse! I coulda gone down with ya!" Thankfully gravity did NOT do the same to him while he was helping me to my feet! Onwards and upwards....

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Family is a HUGE part of my life. I am so happy to have some of the BEST people as MY family! Seeing them is always an asset to my trips back to Canada. Here are a few more shots of the ones I Love....

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My_cousin_and_bass_player_Chris_Hopkins

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Family time is always too short (until it isn't HAHAHA) but I value our moments together. Thanks Ontario and Quebec for welcoming me home with Open arms... Next weeks' blog post will be focusing on "Direction Newfoundland" there are too many memories and photos to share from that fabulous tip that I think it needs it's own blog post!!! I will leave you with a sneak preview...

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Thanks for reading! See you next week with "Reflections of Canada (Part Two)"

Safe 'n Sound in St. John's

We are just about to take off once more, flying across the Atlantic Ocean, this time to 'Canada's Best Kept Secret' a.k.a St. John's, Newfoundland. It is the last leg of this Canadian journey, and what a way to cap it off! It's been about four years since I was back on "The Rock" -celebrating the release of my second record "Monkeys Under Stars"- and I am genuinely thrilled to be returning to one of my 'home away from homes.' If you haven't made the trek to Newfoundland it is HIGHLY recommended but SHHHHH!! Don't tell anyone!

Keeping up with blogging has not been my forté. Sorry about that (to the loyal readers) I guess it's just easier to take care of it when I am not on tour, sleeping in various beds, waking up to various blends (and strengths) of coffee (the stronger the better!!) There is however SO much to write about now that I can't seem to find the time! When I get back to my living room/office/dining room/studio,I will make sure to do a proper highlight blog, featuring photos of places, faces and more.

In the meantime, I will share some shots that were taken at this year's Ottawa Bluesfest, where I had the great honour (and how!!) to share the stage with some of my favourite players (Chris Hopkins on Bass, Brock Zeman on Acoustic Guitar, Blair Michael Hogan on Electric Guitar & Mandolin and Steve Foley on Drums.) Having this crew of characters alongside me and my songs meant that I didn't have to play my guitar! What a new experience for me, the freedom of singing without having to think about anything else made for one of my favourite performing experiences. I did strap on my guitar for a new song and in those few short moments I ended up losing my balance (throwing out Swiss Chocolate to the crowd, with my right hand ~I am left-handed~ and "The Fall" took me, my guitar and the mic stand DOWN!) A special shout out to Brock Zeman for pulling me back up in such haste...you are my hero for that! Thankfully, I never saw any shots of said misfortune(phew!)

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A_Lovely_shot_by_Peter_Waiser

So now I am in St. John's and will be singing TONIGHT at The Black Sheep on Water Street with Sean Panting... Stoked to be sharig a night of sound with one of my faves... On Wednesday The 11th I'll be singing at The Ship as part of Folk Night. Next week is the 40th Annual St. John's Folk Festival which sadly I did not get chosen for BUT the music is incredible, the line-up is stellar!! Ahhh sweet sweet Summer 2016...Have fun Xoxox

p.s Main photo credit goes to the talented Steve Gerecke

A Bluesfest View

The Ottawa Bluesfest is well underway in Canada's capital. Some of tonight's (Wednesday) Canadian Artist 'Must Seee's' are; Half Moon Run, Kelly Prescott, Craig Cardiff & Samantha Martin. Soon we too will be playing a set along the banks of the Ottawa River, our show is Friday night, July 15th, 6:30pm "Monster Energy Stage" with Full (Frikkin' Amazing!!) Band -Brock Zeman, Blair Michael Hogan, Steve Foley and Chris Hopkins- I've been pulling myself up out of the Gatineau River and making my way to the city to celebrate all things Bluesfest where every step (wear good shoes!) has been worth it! I can not wait to see what Friday night will bring, The Red Hot Chili Peppers are headlining so it is sure to be a wild night!!!

On returning to the festival site over the last few days, a rush of memories have been flooding in, everything from the smell of Kettle Corn swirling through the air, to the feel of the grassy ground, soft underfoot and hearing the music soar outdoors, so much new music! Not to fotrget all those smiling faces, including us!!!

Me and some of my favourite beauties! 

The first show I saw (most shows are staggered in a way that you are able to catch at least twenty minutes of every band -should you want?) First, was Joe Jackson. I wasn't sure I knew his music but being an 80's gal, I very happily recognized most of his tunes. What a voice! Man, that Joe can sing! Boy & Bear, The Head and the Heart and Peter Bjorn & John were all totally new to me and I was pleasantly surprised by each one! It always rattles me when people say things like "What a shitty line-up for this year, I don't know anyone!!" Isn't that a good point of a good music festival??? New music! Seeing old faves are also a big part, but for me, new music is the bomb! As a side note, Teddy Kumpel (Joe Jackson's guitar player) was jamming up a storm as part of the Open Mic up in Wakefield's Kaffe 1870 the night prior to his Bfest show, it was a pretty fantastical night :)

Joe Jackson doing his thang! 

The second night of Blues was epic which included (for me) Ben Harper, The Tallest Man on Earth and John Németh. The Black Sheep Stage is featuring a HUGE amount of amazing Blues performers. John Németh kept me entranced. Ben Harper and I had a small but profound connection between performer and auduence member, which none of my friends noticed but it was still awesome. The view around the park (?) is also wrapped up in beauty, a perfect sunset every night (and fireflies!)

Seagulls on the hunt  

Saturday is always a great day at the fest featuring acts from early afternoon onwards.... My favourite act of the evening was Amanda Rheaume. I could be a little biased since we've been friends for awhile and her guitar player also plays with me (Blair Michael Hogan) but their perseverance in the pouring rain was inspiring!!! Yes, it was a very rainy day and we were all preetty soaked by the end of it. The Lumineers were an incredible 'Summer Vibey' band. The image I kept seeing in my mind (even in the downpour) was Summer camp fires, bbq's and guitars... What a great vision to behold and thus a pretty wonderful feeling inside. Their music is similar all the way through but in a 'chillaxed, Steve Miller' kind of way. The Cult was also tearing up the stage but they were never my taste, back then it was The Cure over The Cult every time.

Amanda Rheaume ROCKIN' it in the rain

Sunday was crazy great. No rain, smooth sailing!! I was able to fit in SO MUCH GOODNESS!! I went in on my own which proved to be easy & fun. I Love my peeps but NOT having to round up the troops made things pretty effortless. Steve Hill is a One Man Band from Memphis, who BLEW UP the Black Sheep Stage! Ginkgoa is playful with strong melodies. The Texas Horns were easy listening in the Barney Danson Theatre until Matthew Chaffey came on and sang like he might have sold his soul to the devil??? Gotta LOVE the local vibe to the Ottawa Bluesfest. John Fogerty is the same flawless Rock 'n Roller, Belly is a hip hop artist who was enchanting (Love the Bass!!) Thomas Rhett brough out all the teenies (which was a show in itself!) All in all there have been many unexpected little wonders during all of these music, friend, food filled hours and I am pretty happy to be singing next Friday night! Rehearsals have been humbling, inspiring and pretty darn great. See you Friday??

Photo by Steve Gerecke

The Truth Hurts

This plane is definitely the hottest plane I have ever sat in. We are sitting in the terminal waiting to fill up and to get sorted. We are sardines in a can, flying across the Ocean, every one of us on an adventure of some sort. Hot sardines in a can (update- Air-Con happened when we got going, currently in Montreal, waiting for my connecting flight to Ottawa) and how very lucky we are. I just read that there was another suicide bomber, another airport massacre, this time in Turkey. For a brief second while I was waiting at the gate I thought "That could have happened to us! This could happen right now!" But I can't spend my time worrying about being decimated in an airport. More and more, I realize how precious our moments are. This could all be taken away in a split (explosive) second, so I had better be grateful. I truly don't feel a lot about this horrid event, I can't help but wonder WHY? I am not an un-feeling robot kind, I am an artist, open to the world and it's emotions, but somehow, reading the news and/or seeing the horror online/on TV just makes me shake my head and scroll along. Yes, I am privileged because I don't (think) I know any of the dead and I am apathetic because these murderers are making these events seem too normal. "Oh. Another religious zealot wore a B-word?" Huh.... Again? Huh. I think it's disgusting that this behaviour is almost considered normal. I am disgusted in myself. A great deal of my FB 'friends' are sending out 'Love and prayers' to those injured and to the families who lost Loved ones, spending all of twenty seconds commenting on a brutal act, then scrolling along and in almost the same breath laughing at some toddler with an entire tube of lipstick smeared on their face. Ha. Let's not lie to ourselves people, this shit is real and is happening a few hours away to people who might have posted a photo of their (now deceased/blown-up) kid with lipstick all over their face!! Harsh, yes!! But yeah, take that twenty seconds out of your busy day to send Love and prayers. Seriously though, what in the hell can we do about this?? Say nothing instead? Be thankful we were not harmed (yet?) This is getting out of hand and I feel helpless. So yeah, I guess I do feel SOMEthing... Apathetic, helpless and most certainly privileged....

"Die you stupid bastards!" How's that for sending 'prayer vibes' across the sea?

Jeepers. Sorry for all this angst and anger but somebody has to be geniunely angry, it seems to be the best way to get things done, kindness 'Love and prayers' certainly don't seem to be working.

So yeah, scratch that first response of feeling nothing and scrolling along....

Change can only start with ME so I had better smile more, stop and smell the roses more, eat whatever I want, whenever I want and not feel guilty about it about it more, wear the purple hat more, DANCE more, stop caring about what other people think about me more, SING more, hug more, write more, LISTEN and learn more and the best of all, tell my Loved ones I Love them more.

Because you never know when your time is gonna come. Because you never know when that crazy B-word, gun-toting psycho is going to walk around that corner....

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