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!

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.

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....

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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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...

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

In 2007 I released my very first full length, full band, all recorded in one place; record. You can hear "Sound." here. I had been toying around with the songs for said record, and they were the first I had ever written and after I had created that first album, I decided to quit my jobs and focus, full time on being a professional musician. Before my very first Record Release (of said record at The Black Sheep Inn) I had heard some music from the very talented Kyrie Kristmanson and had asked her if she wouldn't mind wowing the local area of Wakefield, Quebec with her music, as the special guest to my very first musical "Shin Dig." She complied and did a most excellent job, with those unique and haunting vocals. Fast forward a few years later and I had noticed she was a part of the "American Songbirds Festival" in Europe and found myself rather intrigued. I did some sleuthing! All good things take their time, and this year I was invited to perform at the tail end of this traveling musical festival, to Austria and Germany. Kyrie had to perform those last few dates in Paris and asked me to sub in for her. Awesome! Thank you ever so much, Songbird!

It was a new experience for me. Traveling in a tour van, with three other Songbirds and one Tour Manager. What a cool thing, to have everything looked after; the driving, the food, the accommodation, the venue, the rider the EVERYTHING! I am very used to doing it all myself (the booking, the planning, the navigation -on top of the composing- etc etc) and I have to say, it was a great pleasure to be introduced to this level of professionalism.

Another wonderful thing about this traveling music festival, is the variety of talent on stage. This is not just four women sounding alike. Every one had their special sound and flare! How wonderful for me to meet some new musical compadrés, from various parts of the world. Introducing Ashia Bison Rouge, living in Berlin, who plays a Cello and makes powerful sounds with looping and harmonies, entirely captivating. Enter troubadour Rachelle Garniez, from New York City, wild and wonderful and a multi-instrumentalist on accordion, guitar and piano. Her vocals are one to take tips from, rumbling down in the low and switching to fairy-tale high in a split second, a kind of Tom Waits meets Melanie. On the Grande Piano comes songwriter and singer extra-ordinaire, Daisy Chapman from England. She too uses a looper and sings from the heavens. It was SUCH an incredible opportunity for me to be a part of this wild and wonderful crew of talented super-stars.. err... women.

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The end of the tour was sad for me, as I was only getting warmed up for more musical adventures, alas, it was a great introduction to so many things, and I left my new friends, inspired. Our last day was spent touring around Berlin. It was my first time in this history filled, feeling infused city. The Wall was somewhere I needed to be, somehow, the idea of touching it came over me. What energy, indeed!

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What an incredible experience, all in all. It's times like these when I am happy that music was given to me and that I decided to explore such a gift! Ten years in and I certainly wouldn't change a thing.

Thanks for reading,

Love

Lindsay xo

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