Here's the page 3 story in this month's MapleBlues:
http://www.torontobluessociety.com/lbn.htm.
Thanks to writer Gary Tate for all the kind words.
A month from the CD launch and things are starting to happen around here.
Confirmation on some Ontario dates and now a Quebec tour is taking shape.
Still would love to get to the New England Regional Folk Alliance in mid
Nov but it's too late to line up gigs in the states then wait 90 days for a
visa. They say the situtation is improving...I hope so, because I intend to
be playing a lot down there. I've made a determination to play every day
between now and the launch - no more leaving the guitar in the case for
weeks at a time. It's show time.
Last week I had a last minute request to fill in a couple of slots at the
Songwriterfest and I jumped at the chance, even if I thought it would
probably be sparsley attended. I checked in for my first set and I was
sharing the bill with a gal who was also parachuted in at the last minute.
She asked me to start it up because she was waiting for some family members
to show up - so I was ready to play, but then the family shows up and she
asked if she could go on first. No problem. She got 3 or 4 songs into her
set then the "family" all get up to leave...She says "stay for this last
song - it's my best song" Well they stand at the doorway and listen to a
few bars and then they're gone... I suppose it's about 50/50 whether you're
lucky enough to have family that support your music.
This has to be the first time that my big "découverte" (discovery) at a
festival is the festival director herself. I got to play with Mary Anne Epp
and heard her do some of her material and it was sweet - very sweet.
Still calling in favours and rounding up friends to help me get the word
out on the CD launch...and get some gigs. Solo, band gigs, big revues or
house concerts. If you're reading this, I guess you're a believer and if
you think you can help me line up a gig in your town drop me a line:
brian(at)blain(dot)com
There were a couple of media functions this week that would have been fun
but I missed them both - The Southside Shuffle was on Tuesday and my car
wouldn't start (anyway, I'm not playing it...so whatever...). Then Thursday
was a big bash to launch the Buskers' Festival. Except, Thursday morning I
get an email saying the launch is cancelled. I never bothered to RSVP and I
guess nobody else did either so they said "forget it". Reminder to self:
Have the courtesy to RSVP