you can check out any time you like

...but you can never leave

Metaphorically speaking, I’m speeding down the freeway of life with all the windows down and the music cranked, trying to make the next green light.

I’m in a hurry!
I have a lot on my mind!
I’m emotionally flooded by the environment!
I’m enjoying good music and nice weather!

I've been home for a week after our week of recording in Saskatoon. It was splendid. We have board mixes, which is (again, metaphorically speaking) an unglued collage of the songs. We’ll soon manicure the edges and glue things down permanently in their place. The glue will have sparkles!

Paul Rigby has been a fabulous producer, collaborator and human. He also is not a guitar solo guy, which is funny because he’s really good at guitaring. My greatest regret of the process is that I told him over the phone that one song needed a guitar solo, and it had to be harmonized guitar part, like in “Hotel California”. My regret comes from not being able to see his reaction. That said, his silence was enough. I really thought I’d blown it.

Shortly after we talked he sent a video of him in his car, with “Hotel California” playing. He texted,

The universe is in your favour and it’s in my radio. After we talked this was on when I turned the car on!! It’s in God’s hands now.

I assure you that we are researching and pursuing 1970s’ style guitarmonies for your listening pleasure.

I’m a total pro at burying the lede, and this week that is the fact that I’m doing a show in Regina at Darke Hall on April 25. So fun!

The impetus was Bryn’s partner, Roxanne. She told him that after many years of Bryn and I playing together we had never done a Belle Plaine concert in Regina that didn’t have some context making it not just a Belle Plaine show – we’ve performed at festivals, with the symphony, for private events and fundraisers… but yeah. No shows that I’ve presented myself.

I told him I’d think about it and when I did I realized the last show I’d booked for myself in my home city was in 2019. Oops.

Also, it has been 15 years of me working as an artist based in this community. So I took the reins, got on the horn and booked the venue I’ve dreamed of playing since I became an artist. (Excuse the metaphors?)

If you haven’t been to Darke Hall since its renovation, I have to emphasize what a stunner it is. The building was gorgeous to start, but now it’s exquisite. Come and see it! Hear us play music! Jeff Romanyk will be drumming, Bryn Besse will be strumming and the drummer with whom I’ve put on the most miles is on bass. Hey, hey, Steve Leidal, you talented feller! Blake will also come out singing and picking too. Love having my number one at my side.

Every time I think about this show I start to vibrate.

It might also be that I’m doing too many things on too little sleep and a lot of coffee. My meditation app is my lifeline to sanity.

That’s it! As always, thanks for being here. It’s ever a treat to share the good news and creative work.

BELLE PLAINE ON TOUR
WITH THE WESTERN SEER HIRED HANDS

April 25
Regina, SK
DARKE HALL
tickets

May 2
Winnipeg, MB
SIDESTAGE
tickets

May 3
Cooks Creek, MB
Community Hall
with Little Miss Higgins
tickets