Hi Folks.. I just found out that I get to realize a dream! When I was working all those years ago in Ireland, I was introduced to a CD called "David Gray ~ Lost Songs" it would be the soundtrack to my life for quite sometime, until "White Ladder" came out... and I still play that one with fervour!!! In any case, he is coming to Ottawa's new and improved Museum of Nature, and LIVE 88.5 is having a live radio taping, live off the floor at the Museum featuring ME as well as David Gray. I am excited to say the least!! I am on from 12:05pm until 12:15pm... that's 10mintutes and approximately three tracks if all goes to plan!! David will be on from 1:35pm until 1:50pm. What a thrill, there are a few others too, Tara Holloway, Jonathan Chandler & Pete Hammond...stop by Live 88.5 online to have a listen... How amazing!! Wooooooooooooooo!!! Also coming up in the Life of Lindsay is a date I have at Ottawa's The Rainbow Bistro on May 19th, it's a Wednesday night, so if you are out and about in the market, make sure to drop in for a spell of Songs....Also, I started a new blog, because I really don't think I have enough to keep up with on the web... check it out if ya like http://lindsayferguson.blogspot.com/ Anyway, that's it for now, short and sweet, unless you go to my blog link and read that!!! Hahaaaaa... it's a beautiful sun shiny day out there... Enjoy xox
Lindsay LIVE with The Lost Boys... 2moro Night!
Greetings Websurfers, Indeed, I have a gig 2moro night in Wakefield Quebec. That's Thursday the 7th, at The Black Sheep Inn. We've been practicing some new songs as a band, and boy, sometimes they sound SO MUCH BETTER with a band then when I am standing in the kitchen singing to the taps! I will also be on CKCU Radio from 8am til 9:30am in the morning, that's 93.1fm in Ottawa...I may bring out some older recordings for a treat or a laugh... depending...! I will also be performing a few live songs as well... solo style...without the taps. Maggie Meyer from Newfoundland and Megan Hamilton from Toronto will also be singing souls on Thursday night at The Sheep, so if you are in for a trek out to the hills, come join us, the fun starts at 9pm!!!
Life as a music maker is a little slower for me these days, as I am spending my daze, writing new tunes for a new album. I would LOVE to get it released next Spring, Spring 2010. My last album, released September 2007 took a year to organize, so it appears I may indeed have the time to reach my goal date, but I will of course keep you posted on all of that, I still have to choose the right studio, and that's half the battle. The songs are flowing freely and I am stoked to get them recorded...all in good time I suppose!!
Summer will see me traveling a bit, out to the East Coast of Canada for some shows and then out to the West Coast, to the Rocky Mountains!! With an exceptional gig in between at at The Ottawa Bluesfest, on July 10th, where Jackson Browne, Steve Earle and Sam Roberts will also e performing... I am SURE it will be a fabulous night for all!!
As an independent musician, I am always looking for shows. I do all my own booking (so far) and if you have anything exciting happening and are in need of Music Makers, drop me an email. With or without band!! Keep in mind there are 2 Lindsay Styles...or ring me! My number is up there at the top of this page...
On another note, I have fallen in Love with a new band called "Mother Mother" maybe they aren't so NEW, but new to me... I saw them perform a few days back, and it was one of the BEST performances I've ever seen. An amazingly dynamic, creative, melodic, harmonic, and RAW talent type of band. Check them out sometime. One more Canadian Gem to add to our musical roster of greats....
Talk soon, Lindsay xo
A Festival in the Dead of Winter
Recently I had the pleasure of being a part of a wonderful winter festival in Halifax. A quaint music festival in the middle of ice, snow & wind storms a four block radius in downtown Hali...I played my set in a new music venue called "The Company House", a wonderfully attentive room filled with beautiful paintings, cozy atmosphere and locally brewed beer... much like Wakefield's "Black Sheep Inn". It's not easy finding inspiration in the deadly dark nights of winter, but having a music fest at such a time, fills one with wonder, lyrics, melody and sunny blue skies. I happened upon a few rare treasures while sliding through snow drifts and icy streets in my big black Sorel boots... check out the likes of Ana Egge, Meg Hutchinson, Matt Epp & Erin Costelo to name a few...where once I had a songbook in need of new songs, I now have new images, melodies & lyrics to share. I've been spending the last few months away from home, trying to find new music and little did I know that a five day festival on the east coast of Canada was going to re-fuel me, stoke my fire...Oh Canada, Home Sweet Home. The next few things I have planned in Canada-Land musically, to share... are as follows: February 14th in Metcalfe @ Lovefest, Sunday Feb. 15th at The Black Swan in Toronto and February 27th in Ottawa at Zaphod Beeblebrox... I look forward to playing some new songs for all of you... Happy trails until we meet again....Lindsay xo
Lindsay Canadian
Canada is my home. What a lucky girl I am. While I Love traveling and culture, I must say that living in Canada feels right and safe and comfortable. Struggling through freezing steps is one of many parts to being Canadian, so is Hot Chocolate and Beaver Tails, skating down the Ottawa canal. There is something touchable about living here, like you can talk to almost anyone, go almost anywhere, and you still feel like you belong. Of course there are exceptions to every rule and it's NOT all roses, but Canada has a certain familiarity and even though it's so incredibly huge in size, we have a shared quality of life here. We seem to speak the same language; beer, pizza, movies, music, campfires, wine, balaclavas, popcorn, pancakes, CBC, skis, candlelight, festivals and potluck dinners (something like that...) Realizing one's dream or purpose is attainable here, you can be a writer, lawyer, farmer, doctor, musician; it's all at your fingertips and surely someone knows someone who knows someone that can help you. That's why I Love Canada, because everyone is connected into this vortex of Canadian life, and most are willing to share their knowledge. I have come into contact with MANY Canadians while I tour and sing, and there always seems to be a "small-world" link connecting one dining room table conversation to another, one taste to another, one cousin to another, one neighbour to another one hand to another. After being away from home for the last two months, I just wanted to share some of my insights about this beautiful Country, tell you that I am always happy to return. If you are in the Ottawa area next weekend, tune into CKCU around 9:30am on Saturday morning, the 24th for some live songs by ME!! Also, I have a gig the SAME night, in Cantley Quebec at "La Grange de la Gatineau" where you can enjoy a Lovely meal inside a beautiful log home, as well as some musical sounds from me...I hope 2009 is shaping up nicely for those of you that actually read this blog... I know 'so far so good' for me... xox
Swiss Radio!
I am working on trying to get a 'podcast' from the Radio interview I did last night in Switzerland! It was pretty cool, having all my answers translated into 'Swiss German'. I only hope that some of the things I said didn't get lost in translation! What a thrill though, I absolutely Love this station "Radio 3fach" (pronounced 'dry-faug') Check out their music vibes at www.3fach.ch if you so desire, the station only hires those music Lovers 25yrs and under... so there is always new music to listen to, a refreshing sound altogether! Soon, I will be heading back to Canada-land, to play some shows, and get ready for 'Big Money Shot'. A music competition held in Ottawa Ontario, where the winner can win up to $250000!! What a rush, to think I could make a new album and pay off all my debts from the last one!! Ha! To dream is to live, I say!! There will definitely be more to come on THAT subject!! Just have to get the band super tight so we can thrill the judges out there! At the end of the month I am flying to Halifax for "In the Dead of Winter" festival... I can't wait! I have never been to Hali and it's sure to be an adventure what with all the piles & piles of snow (that I have managed to avoid thus far!!). I play on the 31st at "The Company House" and will have much fun checking out the other artists through the week, for more info go to www.inthedeadofwinter.com and if you are on the East Coast, come check it out!!! Tomorrow night I will play my last show in Luzern for awhile, it's been an amazing trip, one filled with countless moments of inspiration, bread, cheese & chocolate!! I have many many new ideas for new songs, melodies waiting to be filled with lyrics... I've been a little empty of words lately, can you imagine??? Well, I am sure they will come in time for my new album... anyway, I play on Saturday night at "Penny Farthing Pub House" in Kriens... it's a 9:30pm start for those readers out there anywhere near this part of the world. Next Wednesday I am singing in Montreal, at Casa Del Popolo, with Joe Grass & Charlotte Cornfield, we will be doing the show a la "song circle" style, so come check it out if you are in THAT part of the world!! There are SO many places to play, to see, to feel... wow, the world is full of wonder, isn't it???? Okay, take care, and Live well. xox
Voted Best New Artist ~2008~
I am very happy to announce that I was voted Best New Artist of 2008 by The Ottawa Xpress. I am chuffed to bits about this, quite happy indeed! Its isn't always so easy to live in this world as an entertainer... it gets lonely out on the road and the rejections far outweigh the acknowledgements, but at times like these, one tends to forget the no's!! I suppose the greatest reward of all is the performance part. There is nothing quite like a room full of people star-gazing at YOU! Not to mention the energy that transcends between us... it is quite special indeed and if it wasn't for people like you, Music Lovers, then I couldn't exist on stage at all! I would simply be a kitchen singer, which is something I Love to do, but the fire inside me is far too hot and I need to travel and sing to the world. Bit by bit I am doing this, one step at a time and I genuinely thank you all deep deeply! For any of you who voted for me this time around, again my sincerest Thanks!! If you would like to catch a show anytime, there are a couple coming up in the very near future... I will be playing a SOLO set at Zaphod Beeblebrox on Monday the 17th of November, special guest to the one and ONLY Serena Ryder and the following Thursday, the 20th I am playing two FULL BAND sets at The Black Sheep Inn!! Two very contrasting and distinctive shows... Maybe you can bring me some of your Love and I will absolutely return it. Just show up and I'll show you... Lindsay xo
Nominated by the Ottawa Xpress, BEST NEW MUSICAL ARTIST 2008!! Vote for me!!!
Greetings from what appears to be a Spring-like day. We had a blizzard a few days ago, out here in the hills. The snow came roaring down and attacked all the glorious trees, breaking some and eliminating all of the colours down to the ground. No more Autumn in an instant. But now, all the white stuff is gone and I am flat out confused. I think being a Canadian means being a "Seasonal" person. Somewhere deep inside there is a 'seasonal change' box that just knows when to switch to the next phase....well, mine doesn't know if it's living in Spring or Winter or somewhere between. How about you? One day the skis are out, the next day jean jackets! Whatever the case, confused or not, life is indeed strangely beautiful. I spent my Halloween listening to one of my favourite bands "The Sun Parlour Players". They are mad good, sweaty folk rock good. I passed the evening as a blood-sucking Vampire. It was great, noone knew who I was, so I could REALLY dance as if noone was watching.... I'm not such a dancer, usually I have to be filled with vast glasses of beer and even then it's like pulling teeth. I am meant for singing, that's my excuse but it doesn't always work that way. Especially if Loudlove is playing, they are my ALL TIME FAVOURITE OTTAWA BAND!!! Please check them out, they are on their way to the stars. NO doubt about it. When it comes to their music, beer or no beer, costume or no costume, I am all over that dance floor. Speaking of dance floors, "The Sadies" are playing on my birthday in Ottawa at Barrymore's. I think it'll be a swell night, so if you are reading this and are anywhere near Bank street on the 14th, let's have a cheers!!! I will keep you posted with what's happening next, but for now I have my fingers crossed that I will be voted "Best New Musical Artist of 2008" by the Ottawa Xpress. It's not usually my luck to win anything, but maybe, just maybe I will get lucky this time (with your help!!)Go to
http://www.ottawaxpress.ca/dossier/bestof/xpress2008.aspx MERCI!!! xo
OCFF Dreaming...
It's amazing, what a body can do with no sleep. I am quite surprised at how well my voice held out with all the singing over the past weekend. Singing in the doorway, hallway, staircase, elevators, shower singing, mic singing, harmonies too...not to mention banjos, pedal steel, violin's, drums, upright bass, electric one's, guitars, mandolins, melodions, keyboards, computers too all together jamming having fun one two!!! Sounds a bit overwhelming and it was, especially with only a few hours sleep over a four day period. It's the Ontario Council of Folk Festival Conference and happens once a year, featuring musicians and industry people from all over Canada... and some state-siders too... conferences all day and music all night ( & into the sunshine!) I hosted an "All Ottawa Showcase Room" and it went over smashingly. The room was packed solid for two nights (mornings!) in a row. Thank you thank you thank you Ottawa for having such a talented amount of people. I am glad to be a part of it sometimes. What a blast. After such a weekend, I feel totally re-generated. After all the time I spend on the computer, alone, trying to get gigs, organize gigs, search for this that and the other, it can get a bit tiresome and lonely, but after attending a conference such as this, it makes me realize that I am doing it all for the right reason and that every second of sweat and tears is worth it in the long run. Thanking you....Lindsay xox
Mainland Making It...
After having just spent the last two weeks on Canada’s best kept secret Island, Newfoundland I can safely say that it is indeed a whole different world out there with regards to making it in the Canadian Music Industry, with regards to pretty much anything, actually. But more on the music…In any given city across Canada, I have been told that one mustn’t play in that city more than four times a year, excluding St. John’s of course. You see, in St. John’s, you can play four times a week if you really want to because one of the most important things to Newfoundlanders is Music. Music all the time… and why shouldn’t it be that way? I understand things like “not over-playing your welcome” in a sense, but I think everything’s better with Music??? Don’t you? Bonavista is also a very special place. Located up on the East coast, north east of St. John’s about four hours is an incredible place with the most endearing people. What a treat to see there are still folks out there who won’t take no for an answer when it comes to offering up a supper, a drive or a hot cup of tea. Time really gets away from you up there, and not in a busy paced holy @#&% kind of way. More like a fresh air gets in your blood and bones deeper than before and it kind of changes you forever...all in all it was a fabulous journey to the Rock once again. I even wrote a new song that I am very pleased with, called “Volcano”. Come on out to one of my shows and I will sing it for you!! Next Thursday in Ottawa at the St. Elias Centre, all in the name of Women building Peace, then at the Sandbanks Winery on the 4th for their Harvest Festival… then back to Wakefield for a great night of great bands at the Black Sheep Inn on the 10th. I’ll be in Belleville opening up for Ron Sexsmith on the 17th of October at The Empire Theatre…and I’m booking more shows as you read this, you can bet on it!!! So, do take care, and try to get out to see some live music. We need you!!! Lindsay xo
1000 Kisses, 8th Wonder
Hey Folks, I'm not much of a morning person, but this morning, when I got into the kitchen, the radio, MIX 97, was playing my song, 1000 Kisses. This made me very happy! People ask me what it's like to hear myself on the radio and I say "hell yeah, bring it on!!!" I haven't been pursuing the dream of music to have my first brand new album sit on a shelf!! Last night, my cousin was driving home and heard my song "8th Wonder" on The Bear, in Ottawa... what a thrill to get that message in my inbox this morning. I can feel it, it's just a matter of time now. I played a show last night and asked the audience if there was anyone out there who heard my songs on the radio, prompting them to come to a live show, and wouldn't you know it, hands went up!!! Thank you radio!! I can feel a new song coming... Lxo