Trails, Tales and Tunes 2011

Hi everyone!

Well I've been missing from the world of Blog-land for the past month, been going flat out since my last post. A great visit to Slovenia, remounting Emile's Dream in St. John's, and a week in Port Saunders with the great students there! Been busy! I'm enjoying a rare day off now at Pittman's Restaurant in Norris Point (oop - cup of tea has arrived....ahhhh tea) where I've been taking part in the Trails, Tales and Tunes Festival. This has to be my favorite festival ever. It's hard to describe if you haven't been here. It's got heart and soul and is a true community celebration, and I feel lucky for every year they invite me back. The past two weeks, what music!

(sip of tea)

So on my day off now I'm working on the next project I'm a part of - I'll be doing musical direction for the Gros Morne Summer Theatre Festival's Neddy Norris Night. This year's focus is on local songs, stories and music, and I'm really enjoying having the chance to delve deeper into the music of my home region.

I've got my camera with me so I'll try and post a video and a bit of music sometime soon to share the spring here, looking out my window I can see the Bonne Bay hills, still patched with snow, quite beautiful. Till then, take care and be well!

Camden Market!

Some video of Camden Market taken on our visit to London! Played Birmingham last night, and off for a few days now. It's a gorgeous afternoon, I'm headed out now for a walk on the moor!

Okehampton Castle!

Hi all!

The tour rolls on, I'm writing this from my hotel in Birmingham, been having a really excellent time, great shows and great fun with the Wren Music crowd from Devon. They're wonderful musicians and the combination of the two sounds - Devon and Newfoundland - really works. Haven't had loads of internet access or time to upload things so the video blogging has been a bit slow! But here is some cool footage of a castle I shot while still in Okehampton, hope you enjoy it!

Arrived in England! Hello Okehampton!

Hi all, here's the first installment of my video blog. I'm going to do my best to update this regularly while on tour! I'm staying here in Oakhampton right now at the house of English folk duo Paul Wilson and Marilyn Tucker of Wren Music, the traditional arts organization for the Devon region. Take a look at the video to see their backyard and bit of the Oakhampton countryside, and also to hear a bit of improvised fiddle. Perhaps this tune will take shape and make its way onto my next album of original material!

Across the Pond

Hi all!

In my aisle row seat on the tarmac waiting to fly from Deer Lake to Toronto and then on to England, where I'll be touring for most of April with A Crowd of Bold Sharemen. I'm surrounded by people headed to Fort MacMurray, Florida, Montego Bay, or as one woman put it "anywhere warm". Not sure if Ft. Mac fits into that criteria. I'm guessing not. People are in a surprisingly good mood for the hour; I personally am running on virtually no sleep and would gladly burrow under some comfortable sheets and stay there for a week. Or weekend at least!

Finished a project with the kids at Humber Elementary in Corner Brook yesterday. I've been working with them all month to write a song based on stories they collected from their grandparents. Really rewarding! We wrote every word and every note of the song together including the chord progression and rhythm! Quite the collaboration!

England awaits! I'm considering doing a video diary of my travels there so stay tuned!

All my best,
Daniel