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!

A_painted_face_celebrating_Canada_Day

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.

Canada_Day_as_seen_from_a_Wakefield_stage

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.

Along_the_shores_of_the_Gatineau

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! 

Pre-Fall_Brock_swooped_in_and_picked_me_up_pretty_quick

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....

Dylan_Myself_and_my_Auntie

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....

Myself_and_my_brother_Jeffrey

My_cousin_and_bass_player_Chris_Hopkins

My_Dad_and_his_favourite_ little_buddy_Fergie

My_Mum_my_best_friend

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...

Singing_in_Seaforth_Nova_Scotia

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

Travel In Time

Travel has always been something that I have longed to do. When I was seven years old, we (my family; Mum, Dad, brother and I) flew back to Bermuda. My brother and I were both born there, but I returned to Canada when I was around four years old, which leaves a lot to be imagined and much less to be remembered. That flight back to my first home felt like my first time in an airplane; the feel of the smooth seat covers, the glide of the window shades; up, down, up, down, the neatly bundled airline branded silver cutlery, the tidy meal tray, the metal/canvas/bizarre liquid smell of the plane, the discovery of how to balance ear pressure with a simple yawn, and the view! The view out the window, seeing the world from above; the tiny cars, the plots of land, the lakes, the bizarrely beautiful cloud formations....

Fraser_River_and_British_Columbia_from_above

I have always wondered, what is it that makes people want to stay in one place? MONEY problems aside (because there is always a way to get what you want i.e Cigarettes and alcohol come to mind.. where there is a will, there is a way!) I am guessing the main reason people tend to 'stay put' is fear. Fear of the new, fear of change and fear of the unknown. You would be surprised at how YOU you still are in other countries. You do learn new things (language, geography) meet new people (keep in mind there are all kinds everywhere; energy stealers, bartenders, constructions workers, writers, dancers, dunces, artists, arses, buskers, bakers, jokers, joggers, liars, looters, snobs and stars: just like at home!! You will be introduced to some local culinary deliciousness', you will be in awe of new (and very old) architecture and you'll feel SOMEwhat different in a new country but that is likely due to the THRILL of being somewhere new and far away from home. To be sure, however, you will always be YOU, wherever you may be.

Look_Ma_it's_me_being_me_on_Georgian_bay

People who don't tend to travel, romanticize travel. Folks tell me how they long to see the Louvre, or the dreamy Eiffel Tower (neither of which I have seen, yet) I hear about all these fantastic fantasies of wine-tasting in the South of France, or inhaling the salty beach air of the Bahamas (also things I have yet to do.) There are an incredibly and over-whelming amount of destinations out there to discover. You can not know the feeling of walking the length of the Berlin wall in the rain or the enormous orchestra of sound from tree frogs at night in the tropics, or the taste of freshly caught Digby scallops pan-fried in butter, or the feel of the slippery rocks of the Giant's Causeway underfoot, or the immense magic behind the walls of a an eight hundred year old castle, or that satisfaction of seeing an entire train shooting across the fields of the Canadian prairies. You will, most definitely FEEL a great many things when you leave the comfort of your own home, but least of all fear. And, if you are lucky, those romantic notions you dream up might actually be real, somewhere, out there.

Me_and_a_massively_huge_Douglas_Fir_in_Cathedral_Grove

Songbirds

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!

Lindsay_singing_in_Germany

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. 

My_hand_holding_a_wine_glass_in_shadow

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. 

Shining_together_in_an_800_year_old_room

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! 

Seeing_the_Berlin_wall_for_the_first_time

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