Tour: Days 5-8

I'm falling a bit behind with the blog here.

The past few days have been a bit rough. I came down with a cold. This is the second time I've left the maritimes since I moved back home last December, and the second time I've gotten ill. It's starting to feel like it's not a coincidence.

So, anyway, I dosed myself up with Oil of Oregano, Cold F/X, Vitamin D and Advil Cold and Sinus and went and played at Grumpy's on Day 5. Despite my cold, it was a really fun show! With the delightful Brie Neilson hosting the evening, Gern F of United Steel Workers of Montreal behind the bar, and a full room of enthusiastic revellers, we made a great night of it.

On Day 6 I drove to Ottawa and I spent that evening and most of Day 7 recuperating at the home of some dear friends. The house concert on Day 7 went amazingly well, given my state of health. I was so full of Advil Cold and Sinus, I'm amazed my eyes didn't glow like yellow gel-caps. But, my voice held out for me to serenade a room full of lovely, attentive and generous-hearted folks. Also, generous-walleted - thanks, folks!

Now, it's Day 8, I've driven to Peterborough and am at a laundromat here. A solar-powered laundromat, in case you're interested.

Here's the mandatory picture of my car. Note the kleenex on the passenger seat. And my bathing suit still draped over the driver's seat from the pool in Edmundston. Classy.

Tour: Day 4

I almost forgot to take a picture of my car today. After a white-knuckle drive through pelting rain between Quebec City and Montreal, I was glad to hand it, and its keys, over to the guys in the parking lot across from my hotel. I remembered in the twilight to grab a quick shot of it (the parking lot guys think I'm nuts) et voilà.

I decided to splurge on a hotel for these two nights in Montreal. I am coming down with a sore throat - ack! - and hope that hot baths and lots of sleep will cure me - hence the hotel rather than begging for a spot on a friend or family member's sofa.

I love my hotel! It's seedy on the outside - the entrance is through an abandoned pizzeria while the lobby is under renovation - but my room is absolutely plush. And it's one block away from the venue I'm playing tomorrow night: Grumpy's, 1242 rue Bishop! 9:30 start. See you there.

Tour: Day 3

Today's photo was taken in an underground garage in Quebec City where I'm having a stopover to visit with my Dad.

You can see the apples I bought at the side of the road in Oxford, NS prominently displayed in this shot. They're gravensteins and they are delicious!!!

Tour Day 2

I love my new boots! They were great last night.

(If you look closely, you'll see that I'm already ignoring the garbage separation system I set up for myself :-)

Tour: day 1

My lover suggested I take a photo of the car each day of the tour - I guess to show off what an Incredible slob I am :-)

I think that's a great idea so here's the first shot. The dolphins are toys my nieces won when they were visiting this summer - too big to fly back on the plane, so I'll be chauffeuring them to Toronto. Nice to have the company.

Time to hit the road to Tatamagouche!

What? I'm going on tour tomorrow?

I'm not entirely sure how this happened, but apparently, I am leaving to go on tour up to Ontario tomorrow. This means that today is going to be completely crazy because I am not ready to leave to go anywhere - let alone 2000 km away for 3 weeks.

How could I be so unprepared? Well, it probably has something to do with the fact that I helped my neighbours host a folk festival this past weekend, but that's a blog post for another time.

Somehow, I'm sure I will manage to get everything I need into the car and launch myself tomorrow.

I will be absolutely delighted if you are able to catch one of my shows while I'm on the road. Here are the dates!

Thursday, September 29, 2011, 7:30 pm

Fables

Tatamagouche, NS

no cover

Come and join us for activist songs and songs of joy and heartbreak. I love Fables and the folks who hang out there. Looking forward to this show!

Monday, October 3, 9:30pm

Chick-Pickin' Mondays at Grumpy's in MONTREAL

1242 rue Bishop

I'm performing the opening spot at this infamous weekly gathering of women singer-songwriters. I can hardly wait!

Wednesday, October 5, 2011, 8pm

House Concert in OTTAWA

Please e-mail for more details: mail@alexsings.ca

Friday, October 7, 2011, 7:30 pm

House Concert in PETERBOROUGH

Please e-mail for more details: mail@alexsings.ca

Saturday, October 15, 2011, 8 pm

House Concert in TORONTO

52 Boustead (Roncesvalles + Dundas West)

Tickets: $12

Tickets available through Eventbrite. Seating is limited, so please buy your tickets early.

Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival

Tomorrow I perform at Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival. For me, this is The Big Gig.

You see, I think of Folk Harbour as my home festival. I attended (as a member of the audience) for the first time in 1987. Yep, 24 years ago. I was 16, and the festival was just two years old.

I bet most of the other teenagers there had been dragged by their parents, kicking and screaming, but not me. Archie Fisher and Garnet Rogers were headlining and I could hardly wait to see them perform.

My friend Steve and I went together. I remember sitting under the mainstage tent being treated to the finest folk music imaginable - less than half an hour's drive from where each of us lived. What I remember most clearly is a feeling of enchantment – especially when Archie and Garnet played Witch of the Westmoreland, fulfilling my greatest hope for the evening.

There have been other Folk Harbour experiences since that one. After I moved away to Toronto, I tried to plan my summer visits to co-incide with the festival, and I've heard some great music on that mainstage, but my first night at Folk Harbour remains the most special.

On that night in 1987, I had absolutely no idea that I was going to become a singer-songwriter when I grew up. More than 20 years later, I released my first cd and one of the first places I sent it was to Folk Harbour's programming committee. Tomorrow, with the same stars in my eyes that were there when I was 16, I'll step up on that mainstage and sing my heart out.

I can hardly wait.

More details for those of you coming to the festival:
I'll be playing on three stages tomorrow (Friday, August 5):
1pm in St. John's Anglican church as part of a blues workshop with David Myles, Thom Swift and Harry Manx
4pm at the Bandstand - a half hour solo set
8:15 (approximately), I'll be on the mainstage for a tweener - just one song - between the 2nd and 3rd mainstage performers