I’d Rather Walk in Yellowknife, NWT
So thrilled to have just landed in the Northwest Territories for the next instalment of my I’d Rather Walk tour. Going to be spending a week in Yellowknife to meet the people, see the sites, and check out the famous Snowking Festival – a month long celebration of arts and culture that literally happens in an ice castle! Exciting photos and stories to come :).
Unlikely Pairings House Concert Oct. 20th – Sitar/Guitar Fusion Extravaganza!
I am very excited and pleased to announce I will be linking up with Sitar extraordinaire, Sharanjeet Singh Mand, on October 20th for an intimate house concert experience. It has been such a fascinating cultural sharing and growth with him over the last year, and we’re thrilled to share what we have created together.
Show starts at 7pm, Sunday, October 20th, seats are limited, and tickets are $20.00. Email cowardbarb@hotmail.com or michael@michaelaverill.com to reserve a seat/purchase tickets.
Check out a brief clip of our first composition, “Utkarsh,” which is the Sanskrit word for collective success/going forward together. Enjoy your day!
National Lost Sock Memorial Day
For those who are unaware, today, is in fact, Lost Sock Memorial Day. Take a moment to celebrate the lives of all the soles that have gone sock-about. Where ever they may be, may their journeys be righteous and fulfilling.
In order to pay tribute, I wanted to post a clip from the recent Community of Songs show that happened at St. James Hall on April 5th, 2019. Special thanks to Emily Sim, Elle Glen, and Oliver Smith from Simon Fraser Elementary for joining me on stage to present this song. Presenting emotionally difficult subject matter is always better with the support of others.
Here’s to the lost socks……..
New Valentine’s song and video “Just Tell Her,” released today!
If you are looking for something impactful and meaningful to give to a friend, family member, or a special someone this upcoming Valentine’s Day, give them the gift of honest and healthy communication. See how in the video below:
*Just Tell Her is available on Spotify, Apple Music, and iTunes. For a free copy of the song for your personal sentimental collection, there is one condition of agreement. Visit the Bandcamp page for more information.
Very special thanks to Ivy. The Pulse and Derek for their fantastic acting skills. This is my first theatrical video I’ve shot and made for my music, and it was a blast with these two. Ivy is also a tremendous singer/songwriter/producer, and her song “Still Waiting,” is playing in the early part of this video. Check out her excellent music here
Happy upcoming Valentine’s week to you all, and big thanks for the loving support and honesty you’ve given me over the years!
New Disney inspired song “A Villain By Definition,” and fundraiser launched today
BOO! Mwa ha ha ha….With Halloween around the corner, and a Disney cover show fundraiser for music therapy coming up on November 18th at Notional Space in Vancouver, the shadow forces have conspired to bring forth the release of a brand new quirky tune titled, “A Villain By Definition.”
It’s an ode to the villains of Disney movies, and their ruthless commitment to their menacing causes. May it take you down a dark walk of nostalgia……..
The song is currently only available on Bandcamp on a “Name your price,” basis. Until November 18th, all proceeds will go towards the fundraiser show that is raising money for music therapy at Children’s hospital in Vancouver. Contribute what is comfortable, and share with whoever you feel would get a kick out of this song. If we raise over $1000, it can be directed to a specific program, and I’d love to see it go to the mental health ward there.
A Villain By Definition will be available on Spotify, Google Play, and other music listening services very soon.
Major thanks to Jonathan Anderson at Protection Island for helping to raise this crazy song from its villainous depths, and for the most laughter I’ve ever had in a recording session! There are instruments and gadgets on this track that I’ve never heard of or even seen before. Prizes to those who can guess what was played on this song.
New song and video for “That Star,” released today with The One Song Series
Touring and sharing music has shown and taught me many things. I’ve been able to experience different ways of life and perspectives foreign to me. I have listened to and exchanged very personal stories with anyone from close immediate family, to complete strangers on the streets in other countries. I think it’s safe to say that every single being on this planet deals with internal struggle to depths that are often times impossible to recognize from the outside, or at least until you ask.
Over the last Spring/Summer, I personally know 4 people that made attempts on their lives. 3 of them were successful. I started writing about it, but found it too difficult to complete. I attended the songwriting workshop at the ArtsWells Festival in July, trying to shift focus away, but it kept pushing through.
With a great deal of encouragement, support, and touching personal stories from other songwriters and the instructors there, I completed “That Star.”
Ever notice how you have to go to the darkest places in the world to notice all the stars in the sky? I think we have a lot in common here, and the more people I meet, the clearer it becomes we are living in a time of deep loneliness.
My hope and intention with publicly sharing this video/song is to encourage you to look around at the people in your community, and simply, to check in. Reach out to a friend, family member, someone who seems like they could use a kind hello or a call. Get together with someone you haven’t heard from in a while, and get caught up. Really listen to them.
No one likes asking for help. If you’re feeling low, don’t be afraid to reach out to those close to you, or a service like the Crisis Centre. We gotta look out for each other.
Thanks to the One Song Series for filming and producing this in it’s new and raw state, and thanks to FACTOR Canada for supporting my travel and participation in the ArtsWells songwriting workshop.
Vancouver Island Tour Aug 17-19, 2018
Very excited to be coming over to Vancouver Island this weekend. I’ll be doing a house concert in Sidney tonight, playing at The Cultivate Festival on Gabriola Island on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, and then down to Victoria for the Victoria Folk Music Society night at the Norway House. Message michael@michaelaverill.com for the house concert info, and click the links for Saturday and Sunday happenings :).
En route to write songs with David Francey, Jenny Whiteley, and Joey Wright in Wells, BC
*Photo by John Yohan
The summer BC Tour has kicked off well, and the last few days in Vancouver, Fernie, and Kelowna with Daughter of The Moon have been awesome. I so appreciate opportunities to tour with other artists, and always learn so much from every collaboration. Big thanks to Daughter of The Moon for the great stories, shows, laughs, adventures, and your wisdom. She is carrying on all the way across Canada over the next two months with a new album soon on the way, so be sure to check out her music and go to a show. Dates available here – https://www.daughtermoon.com/tour/
As for me, I am absolutely thrilled to announce that I’m starting my tour trek north today towards Prince George, Terrace, Kispiox, and Wells, BC. Going to be doing a mixture of festivals, house shows, workshops, venues, and I’m going to be taking the legendary songwriting workshop held by Island Mountain Arts linked with the Artswells Festival. Looking forward to reconnecting with Juno Award winning songwriter, David Francey, and to meeting and learning from Award winning instructors Jenny Whiteley and Joey Wright.
Lastly, I wanted to send out a big thanks to FACTOR Canada for supporting my journey north to further develop my songwriting craft. I am so grateful for this opportunity!
Let the adventures continue :).
Workshops in the local news
This last Alberta tour was a ton of fun! Not only did I get to tour with me Ma, I got to run a couple of artist development workshops along the way. Here’s a newspaper clipping from one in Whitecourt, Alberta. It was fantastic to meet and work with some of the musicians there with regards to jamming, performance, and collaborating. In the photo with me is an excellent singer/songwriter, Danielle Knapp, who participated in the workshop. Check out her music on her Instagram here.
2018 Summer BC/Alberta tour dates announced next week
Getting really pumped to venture through BC and Alberta this Summer! I’m going to be playing a mix of house concerts, venues, festivals, schools, and running an artist development workshop. Can’t wait, and will have dates and places up next week if you want to join in the fun.
For now, enjoy a short clip from my opportunity to perform at the Honda Celebration of Lights Festival last summer with U.K. beat boxer, James Kwant, and Irish Uileann piper, Chris McMullan. What a fun jam that was!
Lost Sock Memorial Day today
I’d like to bring everyone’s attention to the very special day that is today. May 9th is Lost Sock Memorial Day. If you’d like to read about it, visit here https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/lost-sock-memorial-day/
Although it’s a treacherous issue, there is light in the fact that lost socks can find strength with others. Show your support for the lost socks in your drawer, and mix and match a couple today. Do it…go on…make the world a better place.
New Covers for the Cause Video – “Sail Away” by PK Tessmann in a raft
This was way too much fun! Enjoy the latest of my series of Covers for the Cause in support of music therapy through Music Heals. The song is called “Sail Away,” by PK Tessmann, and you can hear more of her music and the original tune here https://pktessmann.bandcamp.com/track/sail-away
New collaboration “Water Your Own,” with PK Tessmann available today! (Click photo to listen)
Happy holidays folks, and welcome to the near onset of 2018 :). It’s a funny time of year where many people reflect on what has happened in life up to this point, and set sights on what they want to achieve going forward.
This past year, I put focus into collaborating with other artists. My new album, All We Ever Need, is an example of this on many levels. During the Summer and Fall, I toured and performed with Cumberland’s (Vancouver Island) PK Tessmann. Not only did I discover a fantastic artist and human being (Check out her music!), but also a great new friendship.
After a house concert in Ladysmith, BC, the topic of “The grass is always greener on the other side,” came up in conversation. PK offered the following wisdom – “Well, if the grass is looking greener, it’s time to water your own.” BOOM! You best be sure I noted that down in my writing book!
During our following ferry ride back to the mainland, we decided to write a silly song together, and thus “Water Your Own,” was born. We had such a blast writing and performing this tune, we decided to visit producer/artist Corwin Fox in Cumberland to do a live off the floor recording in October. And now, it is here for your enjoyment! Click the snowy trampoline photo to listen, or receive the song for free by emailing michael@michaelaverill.com.
Happy coming new year, all the best in 2018, work together to do better, and if the grass is looking greener on the other side….dig in…put in the work, and remember to Water Your Own!
New song “Once You Know,” now available online in support of the On Root Project in Haida Gwaii
Back in July, I was invited to travel to Haida Gwaii, BC to participate in an artist residency organized by the good folks behind the On Root Project. The purpose of this project is to expose various artists to the beauty of the old growth forests, to contrast that with the devastation of the clear cuts, and to create an artistic work from the experience as a result.
Interacting with the community through shared stories and song was a powerful and rewarding experience, and I left with a heightened understanding of what proper stewardship of the land means. Unfortunately, clear cutting and overfishing are accelerating at unsustainable rates, and a pooled community effort is needed to protect and regulate the wellness of these vulnerable ecosystems.
I composed “Once You Know,” in support of the On Root Project’s mission to raise awareness, and to help create dialogue regarding positive solutions for the long term health of our forests and oceans. Knowing is one thing, but knowledgable action is of most importance.
What can you do? Download “Once You Know,” here, and share/post/re-post this link. The song is available for free, and sharing widely with those you think would connect to this is encouraged. If you feel compelled to financially support this initiative, any contributions/donations will be payed forward to the efforts of the On Root Project in their pursuit of strengthening land and ocean stewardship practices in Haida Gwaii and beyond.
“Once You Know,” is presently available on Bandcamp, and will be available on Spotify, iTunes, Google Play, and all other platforms very soon.
Playing The Woodstove Festival with PK Tessmann Nov. 4th/5th in Cumberland, BC
Here’s where you can catch PK and I this weekend in Cumberland:
Saturday, Nov. 4th, 6:30 The Abbey (Cover your CV Friends)
Saturday, Nov. 4th 9 PM The Abbey (PK and Michael full set)
Sunday, Nov. 5th, 4:15 Abbey (S.A.D. Songs in the Round)