Cod Jigger by Dean Rumbolt, Port au Choix.

Hello all!  The documentary I've been working on with a team at French Shore Academy makes its Youtube debut tonight!  "Reclaiming Independence: Essential Skills of Newfoundland" will be featured on Newfoundland and Labrador's regional CBC news program Here and Now at 6:32 pm before making its Youtube debut at 6:45 pm NL time.  Check back around then for a link!

First stop on my ON trip - giving a workshop in Newfoundland fiddling tonight at the Tavern Corktown starting at 6:30. I'll be joining in the session afterwards too - should be a time!

http://amap.to/gkyz4s

I'm heading off to Ontario!  Just temporarily, on a tour that will include a bunch of concerts, some masterclass workshops, and a very cool performance with a choir at the University of Guelph!  I've been enjoying a fairly relaxing winter, was able to start off a few new projects including an album with my sister Stephanie, as well as the first steps towards a prototype of a new accordion I'm making!  Keep an eye out here for more news on that.  

Next week I'll be heading to French Shore Academy in Port Saunders on the Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland, to begin work on a documentary that will be filmed and edited by the students there!  I'm really excited about this project, which I've been working on with Ryan Wiltshire - a fantastic teacher at the school.  The documentary will explore the hands-on skills that are still very much part of the culture there but which are being displaced in an era of disposable consumerism.  The young people of the school will be full creative partners in the creation of this work, and they will spend time interviewing skilled persons in their communities, documenting their stories and their processes.  The results will be shared online.  I'm very happy to working again with the young folks at this great school.

After that it's off to Ontario!  Many thanks to Marta McCarthy of the University of Guelph for doing so much to help set up this little trip.  It's going to be a great adventure and I'm really excited to see some more of this part of Canada.  While there I'll be performing at the March Hare in Toronto, with some special guests, namely my wonderful brother Phillip Payne and my good friend Tom Power - gonna be a time!

To see where I'll be performing check out the Events page!

Sending my best to you all,

Daniel

New Release!

DOP Productions proudly presents its 5th title, the first and only instructional DVD for people who want to play Newfoundland traditional music on the tin whistle.

Beginners of all ages can use this fun and encouraging DVD. 2 hours of lessons. For whistles in the key of D.

In upcoming news, two other shows are on the horizon.  On the 14th I'll be heading out east to St. John's for the Soundshift Festival which is taking place there as part of the International Conference on Traditional Music.  While there I'll be performing with A Crowd of Bold Sharemen and Wren Music from Devon in England.  Our show is called Shore to Shore and explores the connections between the music of Newfoundland and Labrador and the West Country of England.  Check the Concerts tab for more information! 

Then on the 18th its back to Corner Brook to open the dance/live music/theatre piece Borrowed Black, which I've spent the past month composing music for.  Borrowed Black, based on the children's book of the same name, is a dark fantasy of love, death, and redemption and features my ballet-dancing brother, Phillip Payne, as lead dancer.  I am beyond excited to work with Phillip and to bring this eerie tale to life!  For more information on tickets and showtimes visit www.gmsm.ca!