Two special shows in Kelowna April 29th/30th
Fresh off the Vancouver release, I am now headed east for the Okanagan portion of the All We Ever Need Launch!! Going to be 2 very different shows this weekend:
April 29th – Roots Revival Event at Little Creek Gardens, innovative picnic style event, I’ll be performing alongside Leila Neverland and Nils Loewen. Click the picture below for this very unique event and team:
Sunday April 30th – House Concert release of All We Ever Need with special guests. Click the album cover below for info and link to tickets:
All We Ever Need release show at St. James Hall a huge success!
Photo by Nicoleta D
After 4 years of build up, writing, walking, rewriting, walking some more, collaboration, sweat, blood, tears, and laughter….all of it came to beautiful fruition at St. James Hall on Friday night. Meet the cast of characters that helped me to bring All We Ever Need into this world. From the left, Jon Anderson, Natalie Ramsay, Bre McDaniel, Shera Kelly, Darren Beattie, Me, Chris Couto, Colleen O’Connor, and Heather Hay! What an honour it was to play to a packed house with this all star team.
I wanted to take a moment to thank all the wonderful supporters who contributed to the fundraiser, and to the Creative BC/BC Music Fund team for helping to make this project real. With the new album in hand and properly launched, so starts the action of this project with all that was intended for it – increasing connection, building community, and growing the love! Giddy up folks. Giddy up!!
Vancouver album release to be held at St. James Hall, April 21st! Free album with ticket purchase before March 31st!
Click the above flyer for early bird tickets, and a free album!
All We Ever Need is here and available to the world!
I am so thrilled to announce that my new album project “All We Ever Need,” after 4 years in the making, is out and available on every kind of music platform imaginable. Below are links to a variety of sources where you can find it, listen to it, share it, purchase it, whatever your preference may be. Just click on the below link to go where you want to go :).
Enjoy!
Album art above designed by Celestial Folk star – Bre McDaniel
New live video for “Thank You,” entered in CBC Searchlight 2017!
Exciting news! CBC has just started their 2017 round of Searchlight, a national program that helps bring new Canadian music to your lovely ears. I have entered it this year, and have put in a new song and video in lieu of my upcoming album release “All We Ever Need.” The song is called “Thank You,” featuring the amazing Chris Couto on Djembe, and is one of the most dearest to my heart. This is the video I submitted:
(Video filmed and produced by Kale Beaudry http://klphotograph.com)
Searchlight works as a mixture of judges opinions as well as crowd voting. You can vote once per day, for any and as many artists as you like. I am one out of 12 in the “Folk,” category for “Vancouver City.”
Click the “Searchlight Vote Now” picture below to vote for “Thank You.”
Round 1 goes from today till February 27th at 3pm. The prizes for this are pretty special, and include mentorship, a chance to write a song for Canada’s 150, and some incredible performance opportunities with CBC’s festivals around Canada Day in Ottawa.
I am inviting you to participate in this journey with me, however far it goes. You can vote once per/day at the above link, and I appreciate all and any help. If you connect to it, or think of someone else who might enjoy this song and its message, feel free to share!
*For the Facebookers out there, feel free to join the EVENT PAGE and follow along for some entertaining, humourous, and uplifting daily voting reminders.
Lastly, there are a few other artists that I know and have personally played with before that are in my category. They are well worth looking into. If you feel inclned, vote for them too. They are fantastic people, and amazing musicians, and you can vote for as many artists as you like:
Natalie Ramsay
Echo Nebraska
NO MOTHERS
Thank you for time!
Bring your Soxy to The Roxy, Jan. 11th!
Cool news! I was invited to come play at The Roxy this Wednesday with some solid musical forces from around Vancouver. I’ll also be making a special announcement to do with an upcoming music video about mismatched socks, so if you’d like to be a part of something very cool, come by the Roxy.
In lieu of this, I’m also doing a sock drive for those who could use some extra foot warmth out in the cold. If you have some solo socks kicking around, and you don’t use them, bring them on Wednesday night, and I’ll make sure they find a good foot home.
Let’s have a good old Soxy night at The Roxy ;).
First song from “All We Ever Need” released on compilation album to support local food bank
I am so excited about this post today! I am absolutely thrilled to announce the release of “Thank You,” the first song shared from my Spring 2017 release “All We Ever Need.”
The song has been added to a digital compilation album with 28 other incredible artists and bands in support of the food bank this Christmas. This project was the brain seed of a special friend and musician, Luca Fogale, and I am so honoured to have my first track off the new community focused album put out this way.
29 songs by 29 artists, by donation, all going to a great cause! Give the gift of music to your friends and family by clicking on the album cover below (A Bit of Light, Vol. 1) to purchase and help people out this season.
Happy Holidays all!!
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.
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:
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!
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!
February Shows in Vancouver
Aloha friends!!
Just had the opportunity to adventure to Kaua’i at the end of January with my wife. The trip was amazing, and I highly recommend going there, at least once in your lifetime if you can. True to previous form, here’s a bard’s blog small world encounter from our journey – From Kombucha in Kauai to high school in Kelowna…
Recharged from the sun, I am very excited to be back in town, and to be playing for the first time at a legendary Vancouver venue on Saturday, February 27th – The Roxy!!
I will be joined with my bandmates, and we’ll be sharing the night with new local friend – David Alexander. It’s an earlier show, so be sure to be there by 7:45 to catch us play….Got a great one planned ;).
We’ll also be doing a jam down evening at Luke’s on 14th and Granville tomorrow night (Friday Feb 12th), starting up at 9pm. May have some special guests in attendance!
Very Special Friendraiser Show at Backstage Lounge, Vancouver Jan. 5th
This Tuesday evening I will be playing at a very special show. A new musical friend of mine, Kristina Lao, has pulled together a night of music in support of her long time friend Gilly – a very young woman that was rapidly affected by brain cancer. Funds raised from the show will go towards supporting her journey through the process. Gilly’s story can be followed here – https://www.gofundme.com/
The show will get going promptly at 8pm, so please come early, and be reading for a heart warming evening.
Massive Show @ Studio Records Oct. 16th!
So excited to be included in this event!! I will have my amazing bandmates Darren Beattie (Thumper the Drum Assassin), and Matt “Sugar” Langill (Sick bass and harmonious harmonies) to rock out with.
The whole event runs Fridays and Saturdays over the month of October, with the final night held on November 21st. If you haven’t been to Studio Records yet, it’s a really great space, and they’re going to have amazing music there all month.
If you’re coming to our night, I have tickets available for $10 ($12 at the Door), so drop me a line (michael@michaelaverill.com) and I can get those to you. If you can’t come to our night, check out some of the other nights. It’s all awesome music!
I actually don’t personally know any of the other bands yet, and am excited to meet/hear them. I was just acquainted with Kristina Lao (World musical traveller and music community super hero) who is also in the contest. She’ll be on October 9th, so go to her night if you can.
Hammer Records has been doing interviews with the bands involved in the event. Here is mine (Click the photo):
That’s lots for now! Stay tuned for more fun :).
It’s How Me Wear Me Socks!
A year ago, before I went out on summer tour, I wrote a blog about mismatched socks called “One of the World’s Greatest Secrets Revealed.” It spun off into many discussions about socks, and came about because I have been wearing mismatched socks for years.
After spending a good amount of time in the east coast last year, particularly Newfoundland, I naturally learned a few shanty style songs. On my way back west on the train, a man asked me a question…he said, “Michael…..do you mind if I ask you a personal question?” I replied, “Go for it!” He went on to say, “I see you are wearing two different socks…Why?” I immediately retreated to my room, and composed a tune, in Newfoundlandic shanty style, called “How Me Wear My Socks!”
I kept it hidden away for a year, only to reveal on the ferry to Newfoundland this year, and I found there were quite a few people who related to the sentiment. I made a promise, to those who joined my mailing list, that I would record it when I got home and send it to them…..
Well…I bust out the recording equipment today, and put down this beauty of a tune. Those who are currently on my mailing list will receive it tomorrow. If you want to be on my mailing list and receive the sock song, email michael@michaelaverill.com, introduce yourself, and let me know that you want to receive the monthly newsletter. This is the only medium in which this song will travel to the public, so if ya want it, jump on the train!
Lastly, mix and match a pair of socks and brighten up your day :).