September 5th, 2014
Wow – time certainly does fly. Especially when you’re trying to have fun! It’s already September, and one daughter is off to Grade 1 while the other is almost walking. Let the good times roll!
The new recordings over which I’ve been so assiduously slaving (see picture below) are almost up and walking as well. Not quite sure where they’ll be going, but I’m sure they’ll find their way.
If you live in the Hamilton area like I do, the beginning of September means that Supercrawl is just around the corner. Supercrawl is a multi-day street party, music festival, and arts event in the downtown core of the city, and it really makes me proud to call this place home. This year, I’ll be performing a special set of kids’ songs called “Songs in the Key of Farm” on the Family Area Stage, along with a special guest who just started Grade 1. Details of that performance are on the CONCERTS page, while full details for Supercrawl are at www.supercrawl.ca .
July 12th, 2014
After a wonderful three week tour in the Netherlands and Germany, it’s great to be back home again. As the Dutch say: “Oost, west, thuis best”. Many thanks to all the nice folks who came out to concerts and sang along – good clean fun! I really enjoyed re-connecting with old friends and making new ones, too.
Here’s a live performance slice from the tour . Thanks again to Rolof Groothoff and everyone else at Raspberry Sessions in Utrecht.
July 3rd, 2014
The next stop on the tour is a special concert this Saturday 5 July in Ijsselmuiden, the town where my father grew up, with my brother Johan singing harmonies. My friend Arjan Brandsma will open the night with a set of his great songs. After the show, we’ll watch the Netherlands – Costa Rica match in the World Cup. Promises to be a good night!
The concert takes place in the Kampen Boys Choir building at Blekerijweg 1a, Ijsselmuiden, and it begins at 20.00u. Admission is free with a hat going around for small donations to help cover tour costs. I’m looking forward to a gezellige evening!
June 27th, 2014
Following the retro throw-back trend, I’m making this Euro tour a “Grand Euro Tour” in the tradition of the “Grand Tour” fad that swept through the upper reaches of society a few hundred years ago. So I’m visiting lots of important historical sites, experiencing local culture, and ingesting all the delicious food and drink I can. I’m also playing a bit of music, here and there!
The German portion of this tour has been great fun, with me often attempting to speak Deutsch (by way of my knowledge of conversational Dutch) and usually only succeeding in making an ass of myself. What could be better? But the shows played and people met continue to be a delight, so no complaints here. I’m feeling rather grand.
Check the CONCERTS page for the remaining tour dates and details.
June 20th, 2014
The Euro tour is up and rolling with fun times for all! More details on eating salted licorice and raw fish to follow.
June 2nd, 2014
I’m tickled pink to have been selected to participate in the Mentorship Program offered by CIRAA, the Canadian Independent Recording Artists’ Association ! My mentor will be Wayne Petti, whose work with Cuff the Duke and as a solo artist I’ve admired for a while, so this will be a great opportunity to grow and learn more about songwriting, touring, and the industry in general. With Wayne as my mentor, I know I’ll be the best manatee I can be!
Many thanks to CIRAA for running this program and to Sirius XM Canada for helping make it happen.
