New Bard’s Blog about tattoos, family, and The Tragically Hip
Hope you guys enjoy this one :). Click on the photo for the blog:
Say what you need to say
Greetings!
Something happened recently that made me what to share a story. I was sitting in a sushi restaurant the other day, and overheard a woman telling her friends about an old math teacher she had. She said that when she got older, this teacher stuck out in her mind as someone who really took the time to connect, and had a profound influence on her life. She had thought about going back to visit to her old teacher in her hometown to express her gratitude, but kept putting it off.
Many years later, she was chatting with a friend from high school, and this particular teacher came up in the conversation. The woman said “I’d love to go say thanks to him.” Her school mate then told her that the teacher passed away 5 or 6 years previous.
The woman was crushed, and then told the people at the table that she really wished she had said what she wanted to when she thought about it originally. The missed opportunity left her feeling sad, but motivated her to sit down one afternoon to call or email anyone she felt she wanted to thank in some way.
5 years ago today, my Dad (Garry Averill) passed away, and “Thank you,” is something I feel lucky I got to say to him before it was too late. In honour of my Dad, I’d like to encourage anyone who reads this to call someone that has had an impact in your life, and express your thanks. It means a lot for them to know, and will feel great for you to say.
Don’t wait – you may not get the chance again.
Roundhouse Radio Interview and article in 24 Hours
Wow! Last day of the All We Ever Need Fundraiser (6 hours left!!), and had two awesome forms of publicity come through. Also, we just hit $7500!!! Click on the photo below to listen to an interview and a couple of songs I played with Cory Price of Roundhouse Radio:
Click here for a written article I did with Joe Leary of 24 Hours:
Last day of All We Ever Need Fundraiser!
There has been a great swell of motion in the campaign these last few days, and it all finishes off tonight at 11:59pm!! Any last contributions or support can be made here – http://fnd.us/allweeverneed?ref=sh_f5k600
I’m going in to Roundhouse Radio in Vancouver to do an interview about the project today, and to play a few tunes. It will be at 12:30 PST, and you can listen in by clicking the photo below! Thank you all so dearly for the support and encouragement!
All We Ever Need breaks $6000 this morning!
The momentum is flying right now!! Had a huge day yesterday, and a couple days left! Click on the photo to participate:
All We Ever Need Fundraiser breaks $4000! Campaign deadline this Thursday July 28th!
Great news!! We just broke $4000, and have a few days left of the campaign to go. If you were holding off to contribute or share, you have until this Thursday night at 11:59pm to do so. There are some awesome perks, and all help will be payed forward in many many ways. Click the picture below to go to the campaign page to share or support:
A must do walking experience in Old Montreal
As an avid walker, I see a great deal of details around the country. This literally cooked my nogan!!!!! This is history and walking on a whole nodda level!! Introducing Cite Memoire!! It’s the world’s largest outdoor projection installation, is totally free to listen to with an app, and you can access pubic free wifi downtown. Simply amazing!!
CBC Cape Breton Interview – Minstrel of Marine Atlantic: Folk-singing ferry performer sings of love and loss
Click on the photo for the article:
Introducing a Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers Cover – Salt Water Joys
Early in my walking tour, I was introduced to a legendary Newfoundland band named Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers. Other than having the greatest band name in the world!!!… they are incredible writers and performers, ranging from comedy, commentary, and hit you deep in the heart powerful. This one really struck a note with me, and I thought me slide would do it justice. I’ve waited a few years for the right moment to do this near the ocean in Newfoundland, and yesterday……that moment greeted me kindly.
Without further adieu, here is a Newfoundland gem – Salt Water Joys, by Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers, written by Wayne Chaulk. Hope you enjoy this version:
All We Ever Need Fundraiser just hit $2000! Next up – $5000!
Thank you so much to all those who have helped lift this project off the ground and getting’er rolling!! Keep sharing with those who love community, and connecting with other human beans :). Click on the photo to share!
3 year walking tour anniversary today!
Happy Canada Day!! Exactly 3 summers ago, I took “I’d Rather Walk,” to the trails, and this crazy stroll around the country began. This was the first bridge I crossed. Very symbolic in many ways, as it was a crossing into a whole new path of discovery of Canada, it’s people, and all the connections in between.
With the launch this week of the All We Ever Need Fundraiser , it feels like Canada Day has become a bench mark date for embarking on new adventures, and I couldn’t be more excited to take the next leap.
Thanks to all who have supported, contributed, and shared the campaign so far. We’re close to $2000 in under a week, and I am really stoked about that! More exciting updates to come :).
Have an absolutely wonderful day! It’s a great one to celebrate with your family, friends, and community!
Big Announcement: New Album Fundraiser Launches Today!
I am very excited for this day!! Over the last few years of walking throughout Canada and connecting with wonderful people and communities around the country, it is time to put these stories in songs into album form. For the first time, I am going to be working with a producer to bring this very special project to life!
Today is day 1 of the fundraiser, and I am thrilled to share this with the world! The new album is going to be called “All We Ever Need.” Click on the photo below to visit the page, watch the video, and to learn how you and your community can support and benefit from this project!
Performance clip from Festival of Small Halls, PEI
Last year aboard VIA Rail I met a man named Edward, almost 90 years old, heading east to Halifax on the train. I asked him what he was planning to do on his trip, and he replied he was headed to the Maritime Museum in Halifax to see the Titanic exhibit.
I asked Edward where it was, and he said he didn’t know. He also said he was travelling out just to go to the Museum for an afternoon, and then was turning back on the train. In my head, I’m thinking, “Man, what if the Museum was closed?!?! That’s a six trip out, and 6 day trip back!!” Hopefully that wasn’t his case.
Anyways, I asked him what the greatest lesson he had learned in his life was. He replied very promptly…”If you’re gonna do something, do it NOW!”
I sat on that idea for a year until hoping aboard the train again. I got to thinking about Edward, and a tune in his honour showed up at my doorstep. Here’s a clip from the Festival of Small Halls Storyteller’s Circle where I played it for the kind people of Linkletter.
Thanks Edward! You bring joy to many folk :). Hope the Museum was awesome!
Fulfilling dreams in PEI
Yesterday was a great day….sun was shining strong on Father’s Day, and I had my first show in the Festival of Small Halls in Grand River, PEI. Deeply honoured to be a part of this with an amazing line-up of artists. Playing tonight in Stanley Bridge, and tomorrow in Linkletter for the Storyteller’s Circle – both of which are sold out!! Looking forward to these two nights, and loving every minute of it!
Re-united with an old friend on the train
What a fantastic start to the tour. The woman in the above photo with me is Elizabeth Taylor. The first time I ever took the train was in the summer of 2013 with Nova Scotia’s Jen Miller when we were the duo – When Coasts Collide. During one of our on board performances, this woman came into the room with a violin, sat down, and ROCKED those strings like crazy with us! We had such a great jam…
We hadn’t seen or heard from each other since…until Friday night when I got on the train headed east. I was tuning my guitar, looked around, and saw Elizabeth with violin in hand! She opened up her case, and we played together for the passengers awaiting their journey. So awesome!!
Then….on the train, I bumped into a few other people I had met in previous years! Super cool!! It’s really neat to re-connect with people this way.
Just made it into Toronto, and am heading out to New Brunswick tomorrow! East Coast….I be coming for ya, and then the legendary Festival of Small Halls in PEI!!!
Heading out on the train tonight!
I’m very excited to be heading out on my Canadian Summer Tour this evening. Absolutely thrilled to be a part of the Festival of Small Halls in PEI on the 19th, 20th, and 21st.
Here’s where I’ll be over the next 6 weeks:
June 10-16th – Via Rail Train between Vancouver, BC and Moncton, NB
June 18th – Private House Concert, outside Moncton, NB
June 19th, 20th, 21st – Festival of Small Halls, PEI
June 24th-29th – Marine Atlantic Ferry between North Sydney, NS, and Argentia, NFLD
July 2nd – Private House Concert, Nova Scotia
July 4th – Music Mondays, Alma, NS
July 6th-13th – Marine Atlantic Ferry between North Sydney, NS, and Argentia, NFLD
July 16th-17th – Montreal, QB
July 18th-20th – Ottawa, Oakville, Toronto
July 21st – 25th – Via Rail Train between Toronto-Vancouver
Looking forward to catching up with old friends, and making new ones!!
Instructing at the Georgia Straight Guitar Workshop June 3rd-5th
I am honoured to have been selected to be on the instructor team for the 25th annual Georgia Straight Guitar Workshop coming up in June. This weekend of musical education presents a diverse pallet of new skills to learn, and great people to learn from. I’m going to be facilitating 2 courses – Bending the Blues, and an intermediate improv/jam class. These have focus on the guitar, but aren’t completely limited to it.
Click on the guitar below for a list of the classes and instructors. There’s singing, songwriting, ukelele, guitar, hand drumming (west african and afro-cuban), opportunities to perform, and great people to meet. It’s also held right near the stunning Crescent Beach. Check it out:
Blarney Stone Fridays in May 4-7PM
Over the last four years of touring to eastern Canada, I have acquired a mass of Celtic inspired songs, and have written my own within this particular flavour. It has now reached the point where I can now carry an early evening Celtic experience, and will be doing so every Friday in May at The Blarney Stone in Vancouver. If you’re a fan of oysters and Guinness, they have a wicked Happy Hour during this time in your favour :).
I’m there singing my heart out from 4-7pm.
April Shows!
Upcoming show update!!
Friday April 8th – Luke’s, Vancouver, full band, 9pm.
Saturday April 9th – Tractorgrease, Chilliwack, with good friends in the picture above (Chicken-Like Birds), 7pm, $12
Friday April 15th – TD Bank, Downtown Vancouver, 12-2pm, instrumental performance
Wednesday April 20th – Vancouver Folk Song Society Feature, Friend’s Neighbourhood House, 70th/Oak street, 7:30 PM
Sunday April 24th – Chewies, Kitsilano/Vancouver, 7pm, solo
Monday April 25th – Brix, Yaletown/Vancouver, 8pm, solo
April 29th-30th, Kelowna, TBC
On the Road with the BC Touring Council
Good day to yee all! What a whirlwind this last week was….in all ways awesome! I had the honour of being a part of this all star community that you see in the above photo. These are the trainer/mentors and participants of a brand new workshop/program called “On the Road.” It was organized by the BC Touring Council to help artists better understand the world of touring, and how to navigate music conference events such as Pacific Contact.
What is Pacific Contact you say? It’s a multi-day event, and there are many others around Canada (Ontario Contact, OSAC, CAPACOA, Contact East) where venue and event presenters, agents, managers, and artists come together to see how they can help each other out. Artists, agents, and managers present their craft and roster, and presenters book who they think will be a great fit for the communities they present to.
It was a fascinating experience to be involved with this event. The BC Touring Council has been around doing this for 40 years!!! This year was particularly revolutionary, as it was the first year they opened up a professional development component for emerging and aspiring artists. This also gave a few of the artists a chance to pitch/perform their art in the actual conference to presenters, something that has never happened before. On top of that, a youth advisory panel was assembled of young superstars around the province to raise awareness of issues surrounding the next generation of art presenting – an important step in arts world forward movement!
It’s exciting to see more community building initiatives being offered that walk artists through what it means to have a successful career. Many artists do not know about conferences and programs like these, so if you are an artist or know an artist, please pass this post along, as it this is something every touring artists should at least be aware of. Also, keep an eye on those in the photo above – they are an outstanding group of talented and dedicated artists, and will be making waves in the future!
Opening for Coalmont at Acoustic Emporium in Chilliwack this evening!
I’ll be warming up the audience at the lovely Acoustic Emporium this evening in Chilliwack. Headlining the night will be Coalmont, a lovely group with amazing harmonies! They managed to snag an award – 2015 GMA Country Song of the Year for their tune “Under the Stars!” Can’t wait to meet them, and play in Chilliwack for the first time!!