The JP HOE PROM SHOW, FORT FRANCES FOLK FESTIVAL, 20STEPS.COM, and summer till now...
Well, the past 2 months have been tremendous! I've been busy, and couldn't be happier. Every show reminds me how important being on stage is, and is such a reward for so many years that led up to this point.
THE PROM SHOW
We started with THE JP HOE PROM SHOW...a night of memories and a chance to be decadent and over the top. The audience dressed up, we played perfectly, and pulled off something I hope will be an annual event. Photos are online, thanks to all of the volunteers (friends and fans) who threw themselves into the idea of a PROM, it was honestly one of my favourite shows ever!
MINI MINUTES:
-Recorded a performance with my favourite string quartet and Uncle Rob, for and at the new and improved West End Cultural Centre
-Participated with Spirit's Call choir in a lovely fundraiser for a Women's shelter in a beautiful old church
-Watched Coldplay kill the concert in Winnipeg, 2.5 hrs, energy, and imagination, awesome.
20STEPS.COM
Later in June...in a 72hr span drove (6) from Winnipeg to Calgary and back, played a corporate show (20STEPS.COM - WHICH IS GOING TO BE AN AMAZING NEW WEBSITE, STAND BY FOR MORE DETAILS) 45 mins after arriving, had delicious shwarma, was put up at the Fairmont Palliser in beautiful downtown Calgary, with two open mini bars and plenty of motivation to empty them. Slept, awoke to a stunning buffet, a visit to H&M, rafting down the Elbow river, and racing out to the Alberta/Montana border for another private show on a ranch that stretched out to the eye can see. It was spectacular. We spent the night accidentally consuming too much white rum and being surrounded by wonderful people and fortress walls made of hills. It was also a chance to play with some old friends, Zack and Derek from TELE, making new ones too; Megith Dolovich from Megan Dolovich, rounding out the gang was Rob and Derek Norton quite the compliment. First thing sunday morning after a poor decision to climb a hill at "break-neck" speeds with minor hangovers, we headed back to Winnipeg, arriving home 70 hours after departing...incredible.
FORT FRANCES FOLK FESTIVAL
The great shows didn't end in Calgary. This past weekend, we headed to Fort Frances Ontario to headline their first annual Fort Frances Folk Fest! Organized by young Alex (21), a new crew piled into the van (David, Darcie, Rob, Jamie, Derek, Meg, and Lindsay) and we drove through some of the world's most beautiful wetlands. When we arrived we noticed how well the event was organized. I realized I was lucky to have been asked to come. Small town people are great. I don't know if I've ever mentioned it, but truly, everyone was super polite and helpful, the folks at the hotel, the volunteers at the event, and random strangers.
The stage was facing a great big hill, and we watched a made for tv sunset as our set approached near. The show itself was strong. There were some technical glitches and the mosquitos followed us from Manitoba (not your fault FF), but the band sounded tight. there was so much help tech wise, there's no way it would have gone as smooth otherwise. I recorded the audio of the show and we'll find out this week how it came out. If it did I'll be adding a couple of tracks to the JP HOE DOWNLO SITE, for anyone on my mailing list and/or myspace and facebook fan pages.
Hopefully, we'll get to return to the Fort Frances area and play a few more shows extending our stay in the Canadian shield. We had fun and expect more of the same.
JP on 07.20.09 @ 11:24 AM CST [link] [No Comments]
