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!!
Trees of unusual size…..I now believe they exist!
Can you say….”TREEZILLA!” It’s impossible not to say if you go wandering through the Big Tree Trail in Tofino. The tree in this photo is actually one of the smaller trees on the trail we saw on this amazing 2 1/2 hour hike. The diameter was at least 15 feet, and they got much bigger down the trail!!!!
I played a couple of shows at Jack’s Waterfront Pub with Shera Kelly a week ago, and on top of having an amazing show experience, seeing this forest was truly inspiring. Highly highly highly recommend going there if you’re in Tofino. Contact the good people at Tofino Water Taxi, and they’ll take care of you.
April Shows In BC…..
Happy April Everyone!
I just got back to Vancouver after an amazing Alberta tour, and was welcomed back to Cherry Blossoms blooming all over the city. While Cherry Blossom gazing, I came across this unusual phenomenon……….If you can figure out what this is and where this is, come to a show or event this month and tell me, and I’ll give you a prize. Tons of shows and special workshops around BC this month, so here is where you can find me:
April 2nd – Songwriting in Schools, Glen Eagle Secondary 10am-2pm
April 2nd – West Point Grey Community Center – Jam Language Workshop 7:15pm
April 3rd – Cherry Blossom Festival Performance w/full band – Downtown Vancouver 12pm
April 3rd – Pre – Concert Series at Rogue Folk Club w/Shera Kelly on Craig Cardiff night 7pm
April 5th – Live Performance Workshop for musicians – 2:15pm – 6:15pm, Commercial Drive
April 6th – Corduroy Lounge Singer/Songwriter Showcase w/Sandra-Mae, 8pm
April 7th – Live Performance Workshop for musicians – Commercial Drive, 7-9pm
April 8th – Songwriting in Schools, Glen Eagle Secondary 10am-2pm
April 8th – Corduroy Open Jam – 8:30pm
April 10th – Collingwood Community Center Seniors Lunch, 12pm
April 10th – Railway Club w/Thereafter, Lydia Hol, 8pm
April 11th – Jack’s Waterfront Pub, Tofino w/Shera Kelly 9pm
April 13th – Jack’s Waterfront Pub, Tofino w/Shera Kelly 11am-1pm
April 14th – Songs of Old, Lives of New workshop, Collingwood Community Center, 1pm
April 18th – Nanaimo Coffee House, Nanaimo
April 20th – Corduroy Singer/Songwriter Showcase w/Julia Spitale, 8pm
April 23rd – SONG Fundraiser Show, El Azteca
April 26th – West Point Grey Community Center – Jam Language Workshop 1-3pm
April 29th – Aboriginal Peoples Special Event, Westin Bayshore
May 2nd – Luke’s Corner Bar and Kitchen w/Jarrett Plett, 9pm
We Won Battle of The Bands!
Massive thank you to all those who came out and supported us in Battle Of The Bands at Sin Bin since January. Couldn’t have done it without you, and thanks so much to the amazing artists that joined me in this venture – Shera Kelly, Jarrett Plett, C. Ramsay, and James Parker. Also – great to share the stage with Sometime After Sunday, Chloe Lloyd, and Eric Olufson.
Here are a few clips from the night. Those of you who know the tune 9 Months and One Night will get a special kick out of the first video 🙂
9 Months and One Night
Simple Life
Acoustic Battle Of The Bands Finals FEB.18th @ Sin Bin, Vancouver
I am most happy to announce that I have made it to the finals of an Acoustic Battle of The Bands in Vancouver this coming Tuesday Feb. 18th……WHAT?? Band you say?!?!?!…….. Dang straight! I am absolutely thrilled to be playing in this event with an incredible line up of all star musicians:
Shera Kelly, solo singer/songstress
Jarrett Plett, percussionist for Son’s of Granville, and a variety of awesome bands
Colby Ramsay (a.k.a My Boy Rascal), solo singer/songman
All, in their own right, are among my favourite composers I know, and the fusion of everyone’s abilities for this group is simply outstanding!
Not many have seen me play with a full band, and what better night to come out and see it???? TUESDAY FEBRUARY 18TH!! (Click for Facebook event page info). Please come dance, cheer, and if you dig what we have planned, vote your enormous heart out!! The other 3 bands are solid, and the whole night is going to be a blast. If you’re in Vancouver, mark it on your calendar, and we’ll see you there. For non-Facebook users – Here is the info:
*The Sin Bin, 295 West 2nd Avenue, bands start at 9pm!!
For those who cannot be there, here is something of interest. I did a really fun interview with Folk Oasis on CiTR radio at UBC. Click on the ostrich head to go to it. The interview runs between 29:30 – 1:23:00, so grab a tea, or banana and peanut butter for when you listen ;).
Have a beautiful day!
Michael
Halloween Fun!
Great times had on Halloween! I was a first generation Ipod Shuffle…haha! Had a blast playing with the talented Shera Kelly (Peacock mask), Darren Beattie (V for Vendetta mask), Rob Loree and Jeremy Jones (Not in these photos). Hope you all enjoyed yourself, and thanks to all who sent me pics of their costumes! Thanks to Ali Bordbar for the wicked photos!
