A Few Quick Notes for Now:

Soon I will post some updates on my musical endeavours.  For now I will say I tried a bit of actual stand up comedy!!  I am proud to say I also failed miserably in an 8 week improv series!.

* I got some nice encouragement the other day, "Currently listening to recordings from 2008 'cause your music has been stuck in my head lately, and I haven't wandered around enough to see where your online music home is these days. And I threw out an old note...


























Happy Holidays! Want to check out some
Snow Day goofing around...?

The Alternate "Campfire" Season Begins!

photo greg denton, on the fb group page...

Summerfolk 2016

Enjoying live, outdoor music is how I spent my summer vacation - including attendance at Summerfolk (aka as Summersoak), one of the great music festivals across the province that brings folks together in a celebration of music, art and community! I danced, ate good food, made music and collected some more fine craftwork… and I talked with artists too.

I thought it was interesting to see Folk Music Ontarios suggestion in the program to invite artists to come and do a house concert in your living room! And to listen to your local folk music radio shows… and to offer thanks to everyone is helping folk music thrive in the 21st century.

I thought Treasa Levasseur sounded great as emcee on Friday night at the Amphitheatre. I was also drawn to the music of Notre Dame de Gras, and enjoyed the Old Man Leudecke set immensely!

When I interviewed him back stage the next day, for a “Riding With The Stars” segment for hoofbeats radio, he at first told me, with some dismay “I don’t have a single horse story.”  So, I said that since he had written the “Song For Ian Tyson,” and that he’s a cowboy, he should tell me about writing that song.  We had a nice little chat about all the westerns he watched as a kid and then remembered a couple trail rides he had taken, before voicing a sounder for the show and station.  I was so pleased!

I was also delighted to catch a minute with the inspirational Ken Whiteley — you can check out his appearance to hoofbeats here.

The East Pointers were a highlight for me at the MainStage on Saturday night, and Down By The Bay I thought Irish Mythen offered a gripping performance in the workshop.  She is a true entertainer and storyteller that provides an incredible emotional journey, full of laughter.  I was also very moved by the O’Pears a female folk trio with a contemporary yet classic, jaw-dropping harmonies and engaging, playful, interactive style.

I can’t believe I missed the Small Glories, I have long admired Cara Luft and would have loved to catch her as part of the dynamic duo with strong songwriting and powerful performances.

Of course any help I can offer or sales I can make in the Sylph booth are a joy! It is fun shopping with booth visitors for stylish, comfortable and sustainable clothing handmade with ecologically wonderful fabrics and dyes.  Saturday I wore my earrings from StrayStones Artisan Jewellery, handcrafted using a variety of metalsmith techniques with copper, brass and sterling silver.  On Sunday I wore my necklace and earrings from Bluefrog Creation - colourful glass with its own energy made to be worn in happiness and good spirit.  I aspired to some beautiful and fun functional products, especially something knitted with natural fibre at Lynn’s Lids, and I’ve also left a belt and buckle from Pip Robbins on my shopping list for future…

Backyard Jams - What a Town...

Guelph Mighty Uke Club Meetings

Wasn't that fun at the Cornerstone on the Sunday of the long weekend?

Did anyone keep a "set list" or want to post in advance about songs to practice or print and bring out next week?

Hillside 2016 Uke Tunes Workshop etc.

What draws me to Hillside is community. I have also always trusted the musical programming and learned here to wander a festival "by ear,” checking out acts that sound great when I’m in the mood to listen. As for Hillside in particular, I love its non-corporate sponsorship vibe (meaning it feels indie and is actually a charity vs. private co), and I adore the reusable dishes and the water truck instead of water bottles… I like how we have better garbage sorting than I have seen anywhere else. I'm drawn by its support of indigenous communities, and its environmentalism/green initiatives. I love the concern for the planet, and the hole think-global act-local style, and food choices, and its year round activism. I support Hillside for its location and passion and voice. By the way, I’ve celebrated my birthday there 12 yrs in a row and I am heartbroken that it is moving its date next year.

I think Hillside started as a Mom & Pop shop that hired the neighbour kids, giving them a start, unlike larger festivals that take on such talent when they are grown up and successful. I read in an article “Hillside is the corner store, WayHome is the Walmart.” “a brand heavy mega-mart that will books artists when they go from being weird to being popular” I would love to attend future Hillsides with a smaller slew of less expensive performers to see! I’ve been pleased to note future plans include more workshops..

The "workshops" are when bands play together, and actually jam. It's one of my favourite parts of the festival, and I think Hillside does it better than most.

I was proud to present Uke Tunes Workshops this year at Hillside.

On Saturday I demo’d 3 chords and played my original tune lovecall, just to show how easy it is to get started! Then we all mastered another extra chord shape and new pattern of 4 to strum and we heard and tried to learn an awesome tune that a young person had written on the uke for health class, about not catching an STI. I remember thinking, “only at Hillside” ha. Another participant lead a wonderful version of You Are My Sunshine (C & F) and I also thought it was a workshop highlight for us to all try and learn another participant’s choice Dammit which included bar chords on the 4th and 3rd fret. We also heard the uke tune used by a Toronto Subway busker in her audition! She wrote me afterwards “I'm really happy to have met you. The workshop last year gave me a lot more confidence with my uke.” — Sare Komono

On Sunday, we discussed the awesome benefits of playing uke and I tried to introduce a bit about each uke as i tuned and loaned it. We also collaboratively answered participants questions about what type of uke is easiest to learn on. I remember Derek taught us Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (C & F), Ken lead an awesome All Together Now jam, and Kyle lead the first exercise on basic strumming patterns from the ukulogy website. and someone asked me if i knew the “Ahead By Century” tune that Choir, Choir, Choir would be doing later, and luckily I had a semblance of paperwork that we could try and work from. I also remembered to email a pic of my handwritten paperwork to the other person from Toronto who asked for it

Hillside 2016 Workshop - Uke Tunes

uke players! join me outdoors...

Please join an informal, friendly song circle focused on the ukulele. Not just for kids, this fun little instrument can be played with just one hour of effort... Bring your own uke, or borrow one, and participate with your voice, a smile, an instrument or a even a song to share!

~ By the way, Hillside is starting a social media campaign highlighting the More than Music areas. My workshop is included (photographed last year):

Longings...

i am missing the music classes where i was encouraged to sing thru the instruments!!!

Recent efforts:

i have to internalize a harmony part as a melody.  do we all?

made it to the joint open mic after the non-choir choir just once!

pre Comedy Private Music Festival, ha

it's true i went to visit a friend to mine for material for my first timers stand up comedy effort.  and its true, we set up her festival vendor tent with a table and two chairs beneath it and watched her partner, a farmer, harvest asparagus in the fields

for THREE HOURS, and then

ate asparagus!

there was more chatting than music its true, but some of the highlights included:

Swimming Song
Ride On
500 Miles
Butterfly (So Much Wine)

*
p.s.
want to check out the comedy effort, take a look here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrzKf14LiGY&feature=youtu.be

Crepuscule, Guelph, 2016

I wish I had submitted more of a description of what the uke pod would be, but instead I sent this as a bio for the Crepuscule Program:

A mostly-self-taught artist, Kim Logue is a poet and writer that hails from a business background. With more recent experience as an award-winning broadcaster, artist manager, papermaker, film maker, emcee, and songwriter, she aspires as a vocalist and musician. She founded the Guelph Mighty Uke club, wherein local players and enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels get together sing and play together to celebrate a fun and friendly instrument, and to promote health, peace, joy and happiness!

Check out a brand new "Website," or email for more details guelphmightyukeclub(at)gmail(dot)com

Seeking Uke Players ~ re: free, family friendly event Sat May 14, 2pm at the Arboretum

Have you heard about the upcoming Crepuscule event already? You are invited to an improvised collaboration led by the 2015-16 Improviser-in-Residence, Douglas R. Ewart, that includes a broad combination of community groups and artists organized as “pods.”

Please bring a ukulele (or borrow an extra we will have on hand) in a celebration of good health, peace, joy and happiness! Our "uke pod" will have a sweet 20-30 minute jam and song circle before interacting (as we wish) with the other performance groups... We will be part of an active audience of community and activities, within a group of diverse folk, from all walks of life!

Bring your family and friends! And help us spread the word... You don't want to miss this celebration of art and music -- inspired by land and water — at the Arboretum, University of Guelph.

p.s. we are encouraged to dress enthusiastically, vibrantly, and, creatively!

For more info on the event, check out the invite specific to ukes, or the larger event invite!  Hope to see you there.

Another Random "Music Lesson"

I think developing your skills as an artist can often be enhanced by what you take in...  and thus, I enjoy a Craig Cardiff show, in many ways...  especially the singalong songs, ha.

i posted this on Instagram in late April when Craig was in town

"And you, by the way," said a kind stranger holding the door for me as we exited "have a beautiful voice that you shouldn’t be saving for “backstage.”

More Impromptu Influences?

 It's true I was avoiding the small talk and playing guitar and singing songs around the quiet sweet backyard campfire when the rockstars arrived.  I hadn't even brought enough of my own clothes, let alone a chair for the impromptu house concert in town!

My handsome was accompanying on uke and also with his voice which was absolutely rare and wonderful, and it would have felt more awkward to stop, so I kept going... I basically played every song I know, ha.

Would you believe CR Avery actually sang along?

Record Store Day, and other recent outings

It was an honour to get a private screening of Andrew McPherson's recent film and to talk about the futility of the music industry.  I basically said the horse world is just as impractical/impossible and he said all the world(s) is so, and we laughed and I thanked him for the pep talk.

And then, I find other such outings so optimistically inspiring, ha.

Mutual Music Lesson

Are you an active or former music student, a wannabe, or an actual music teacher?

Please join us for discussions to explore why music matters, and how playing and studying music benefits people of all ages, as well as lots of other actual practical valuable tips and exercises! Please feel free to bring an instrument if you are able to demo an example or want to experiment.

I would also like to invite Local Music Teachers to drop by for little "Feature Talks" as Performing Arts Workshops for Hillside Music and Community Festival.

A Musical Weekend Update:

pre/post jam jottings/to do's

photo/caption Heather McRae
"Missing Mo but loving the music"

Free On-Air Music Lessons?

While hanging around the radio station CFRU, as a "Holiday Helper" I brought my own lunch, and produced a series of six "Local Music Teacher Feature" seasonal shows, that I hope are rebroadcast able.

The programs explore why music matters, and how playing and studying music benefits people of all ages, as well as lots of other valuable tips!

Give a read/listen to the postings at blogguelph and let me know what you think...