She Walks!

Hey all! It looks as though the healing God's are working hard at getting my broken leg back into shape. I can now walk without crutches, but a cane, outside with all that ice  everywhere, well, there's that... But the FREEDOM of being able to walk and carrying stuff with my TWO hands, ohhhhhh SO good.

I started recording my newest album "Chameleon" last week, with Brock Zeman. It has been interesting getting around in a walking cast, but thankfully it happened to my left leg, as my right foot is my rhythm foot! Oh, and driving out to the country on a river in backwoods Ontario was also doable! The studio is located not 10 feet away from a wood stove, in the basement of a cozy home filled to the brim with the most captivatin artifacts. Brock is a collector of instruments and odd things, one could get lost in their imagination with all the stories surrounding them. A very fascinating place to record, surrounded by lava lamps, key boards, paintings of all sorts, ancient type-writers, china dolls, bronze sculptures, horse paraphernalia, you name it. Very cool and cozy, even with the dolls ;) We were able to get the "bare bones" of ten songs down, in two days. Basically the acoustic guitar and vocals, which are considered "scratch" meaning they may or may not be used in the end result... Who knows! Anything goes!

In any case, I will of course let you know how it is all going, should you be interested but right now, I wanted to let you know of a couple of gigs happening in the Land of Lindsay....

Saturday January 18th BobCat House Concerts, Ottawa Ontario http://bobcathouseconcerts.com 8pm

Wednesday February 5th Raw Sugar Café, Ottawa Ontario with David Ward and Kelly Sloan http://rawsugarcafe.com/ 9pm

I hope to see some of you out, it is winter after all and so hard to leave the cozy nest of home, but you NEED music, right???

Hope so :)

Love

Lindsay xo

Painted Horses

I lay in bed last night, a few minutes after midnight, the first few minutes of a new year, and thought about resolutions and dreams and so much more. To try to calm my brain down,  to stop over-analyzing my life, to stop thinking so much...how to bring the important things into focus? Life's ideas, problems, wishes and insecurities were on repeat, spinning around like a carousel where every painted horse was a warrior of sorts. Hunting for life, for life.  

Well, today is a new day and I awoke to a sunlit snow-covered pasture outside my door with a brand new song in my head.

What I have surmised, in my very short life, my very short time here on Earth, is that every day is indeed a new day. The sun sets, the sun rises, moods change, life changes, things that seemed scary, freaky, weird, strange and chaotic the night before are mere memories now, and I am once again in control of my warrior painted horses.

To try to find only one great big meaning of life, one great big purpose in life... It's not realistic when there are so many things, people, places, sights, smells, choices, stimuli surrounding each and every one of us at any given time. Why try to pick just one thing, one meaning? There are so many doors and windows to open, why not see what you can find and revel in the little gifts that present themselves? I bet you can pick five, just by looking around you...

MY five, right now:

1) The smell of the hand-made (unlit) beeswax candle sitting beside me.

2) The taste of the freshly ground coffee in my mug, fair-trade and all.

3) The feel of this warm poncho wrapped around me.

4) The sound of the fire crackling and sputtering in it's pot-belly iron home.

5) The look of my freshly polished guitar, shining in the sun, precariously positioned in the seat across from me.

Stop reveling in your own distaste for life. Yes, it sucks sometimes, yes, people can be uncaring and mean, and even worse, soul-less and ignorant. You can spend your time worrying about becoming one of these types, or you can walk away from them when they try to suck the life out of you. These needy, energy suckers, they are everywhere, heck even you and I can be among this class of folk, at times, we are human after all, but we don't have to live there forever. Yes, once in awhile we do things, we say things that make us feel sick, we drink too much, we judge too much, we don't live enough, we don't appreciate enough. Time passes and we have to get over those bumps, manoevre around the bends and curves. Ultimately we are filled to the brim with emotions of all sorts. Letting them free isn't a bad thing. Cry, run, laugh, sigh, Love, but KNOW that it all passes, time is going to come and change you, any second now.

Those painted horses could be opportunities or distorted fears.

They could be the seed of a dream or a  the face of a nightmare.

It's up to YOU to decide.

and with that,

Happy New Year....choose wisely this 2014,

Love

Lindsay xo

Broken But Not Lost

Hey everyone Here are a few words about my most recent accident...

Enjoy the read ;)

It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining, the breeze was floating ‘Simpson-esque’ clouds across the horizon, the air smelled of the salty sea and it was my birthday. Just north of the equator, basking in summer weather, while back home, it was in the minus degree section on the thermometer, there I was, feeling a tad sorry for myself. It could be partially due to the fact that I am prone to lunatic behavior around the full moon, but for whatever reason, something wasn’t sitting right in what should have been my “Happy Birthday” head. Could it be that somehow I was foretelling the impending future?  Whatever the case, I was forced to open my eyes to a new life, and soon.

A good friend was getting married on the beaches of the Dominican Republic, so a bunch of us filed into a silver bullet, flying south to an all-inclusive resort. It was one of those ‘one-week’ deals, and on the fifth day, only hours after the “I do’s” had been professed, some of us rented a boat for a day of ocean adventure. We swam in an underwater tropical fish tank of sorts. In essence a dream-come true for me. I am a water baby and one of my all-time favourite things to do is to swim with the fishes. I was enamored with the fresh and bright quick-moving colours, scattering across, under and through the corals. In my dream world, this is most likely where I would live!! What a way to spend my birthday!!

Soon, we would sail off to a smoother, calmer section of the beach. Our beach-front, at the resort where we were staying was covered in waves and body-surfing was rampant! Where we landed after snorkeling was an idyllic spot, had there not been two other big boats, filled to the brim with youngsters getting their party on, the music was blasting through epic speakers, and it was of the sort one might find at a dark disco, music I might have danced to in another lifetime. However, a few rum and cokes later, and we were all in the water dancing and laughing away, all one hundred and fifty of us!! It turned out to be one of the best moments ever, Ocean-Disco! The fun seemed endless and weeks later, I am grateful for these memories.

It wasn’t until we got back to the wavy waters of our beach, when to my surprise the water under the boat was much shallower that I had thought. I came to this realization when I jumped off the stern and felt something strange happen inside my leg. This was no ordinary sprain. The next few minutes are a blur, and for this I am happy, turns out I can block out pain memories!! Yay!

My foot expanded by double and I kept it raised with ice for the next two and a half days. We would be back in Canada on the Sunday morning, so I would wait it out until then.  The resort was happy to lend their crutches and here, the demise of a relationship would begin. Boy, do I look forward to the day that we say our good-byes!! When I got back home, the Dr’s found TWO breaks in my lower leg. The surgical term is called a 'Maisonneuve Fracture' a spiral fracture, where there is a small break in a bone somewhere in the ankle and the electricity of the break spirals up through the two leg bones and pops out of the fibula. Dr. said that the text book says SURGERY. I prayed for none of that, and I got what I wanted. A cast for six weeks, not so much, alas, no surgery!

So, here I am, bingo-wings decreasing and one hairier leg.

What a way to spend my birthday INDEED!!!

Bye for now, and Merry Christmas ya’ll :)

Love,

Lindsay xo

Up & Coming GIGS :)

Hey folks, Are you interested in seeing me perform live??

Here's hoping :)

(also, I am always looking for HOUSE CONCERT performances, so if you have something to celebrate, we can plan for the BEST way to make that happen! Send me an email at linzferg@hotmail.com)

DATES!

Thursday September 5th at 10'ish in the morning, check out Ottawa's ROGERS TV

Friday September 6th at 10'ish in the morning, check out Ottawa's CTV

Saturday September 7th OTTAWA FOLK FESTIVAL, Ravenlaw Stage, from 2pm to 3pm

Sunday September 8th OTTAWA FOLK FESTIVAL WORKSHOP (TBA)

Wednesday September 18th in PORT HOPE at Cravingz

Saturday September 21st in BELLEVILLE at PORCHFEST from 3pm to 4pm

Thursday October 3rd in Wakefield at The Black Sheep Inn with Jadea Kelly

Saturday October 5th in Wakefield at The Wakefield Market 10am to 1pm

Friday November 8th in Ottawa at The Shenkman Arts Centre with RYKKA

And there July was, gone.

Hello from this 200 year old farm house. We live on the top floor and considering the HEAT that this Summer is bringing us, it's not so bad with the windows wide open when there is a breeze flowing through.

July was a wonderful somewhat cool month, filled with new song-writing, sweet music playing, delicious barbeque eating and refreshing river/lake swimming.

I having been missing my Gatineau River and the people and food of the wonderful Wakefield Quebec, but life is pretty wonderful up here, out here, a five minute drive to the Alps.

We went swimming in the River Aare, or rather "floating." It is a fast paced river, and you just get in with a floaty of some sort (in my case, a waterproof bag to store some drinking water, my towel etc) and go sailing down the river rather quickly. It's a blue/green crystal clear river which reminded me of white-water rafting (with ROAM -Rivers, Oceans and Mountains) down the Chilcotin River in British Columbia, without the raft of course. It was pretty amazing but for some reason I kept getting away from the rest of my friends and had to "swim" up-river so that they could catch up to me which made my leisurely float a tad less leisurely and I could definitely feel it the next day... the GOOD pain, you know??? I remember when we were in B.C in the big yellow rafts, we would have to plan our lunch spot or camping spot for the night well in advance so we could make the stop and not get swept away by the current... Well it is a little more difficult when planning a lunch stop with a little floaty bag, naked toes and wimpy arms...you risk smashing into the rocks that you are about to sit and eat on. I have a little bruise on my elbow, but really, all was SUPER fun and I would do it again... actually the best part was diving down under the water, opening your eyes and feeling your body racing through the water, speeding past the rocks... Amazing, such a perfect day spent for a water baby such as myself.

Yesterday was my first time celebrating Swiss National Day. For all of the "Swiss" order of things, it wasn't as orderly as I thought it would be. See, the fireworks started at 10am and didn't stop until past midnight, people ALL over Switzerland were letting them off, everywhere and not just in one place, but next door, up the road, over the mountain, across the stream, down by the river, in the backyard, in the side yard in the front yard.... EVERYWHERE, all day. In Canada, there are the odd folks who set some off at the beach etc around sunset but mostly, townfolk/cityfolk head to a designated area and watch them all together singing chorus' of Ooooh's and Aaaaah's... Not here. Silence then BAM, silence then POW, silence then CRASH BOOM BANG!!! I had to let out a few whistles of appreciation... you can take the girl out of Canada...

I got some great news a couple of days ago. Not only am I coming home back to Canada in September, but I am playing at the Ottawa Folk Festival for the first time. It was my SEVENTH time applying, so lucky number SEVEN came through and I am pretty excited to be making my debut Canadian show in MONTHS at a Folk Festival; the same festival that EmmyLou Harris and Beth Orton are playing at. Tres cool I must say, and I can't wait to get my dirty festival feet on!!

As always, I am looking to book shows and if you are reading this note and would like to host a house concert, a backyard BBQ or a dinner & music style event... Any kind of musical event featuring ME... don't hesitate to email me at linzferg@hotmail.com

Until we meet again,

Love, Live and Smile!!

Lindsay xo

First Day of Summer 2013

And just like that, Summer began. In the darkest days of winter, most of us long for today, and here it is in all it's blue-sky-green-grass-leafy-tree glory (it's actually over-cast here, but we all get the drift!)

I Love both Seasons. All seasons, actually. Each one has it's best part, and each 0ne helps me, in some way or form, to be inspired to follow my dreams and stay on the right course. Naturally, on occasion I take the wrong road, the 'road less traveled' but in the end,  most avenues are right, as hindsight is always 20/20.

It's my first time writing here as a married woman.

The last few months were filled to the brim with excitement and plans and yellow tape and caterers and paperwork and dress measuring and clothes shopping and phone calls and invites and organizing and basking in the Love of my mans eyes. All in the name of Love and all for the best day of my life, my wedding day. It's true what they say... It was the best day of my life, and I have lived through some pretty tremendous days. This one beat them all, so does that mean it's all down hill from now?? I think I will coast on the coat-tails of being a newly-wed for awhile...

It was also the first time I grew out my nails in many, many, many moons. One can't play the chords on guitar with finger nails. I missed the sounds of the strings plucked and strummed and all those melodies that flow out while I'm rehearsing. So I'm back at it, and when you step away from it for a couple of weeks (or more??) it's amazing what comes out once you get going again. The tap from that fresh water constant-running-spring had been corked so when I liberate the cork, the water is in full flowing force. Refreshing, beautiful, colourful musical 'water.' Oh how I bask in the glory of thee.

So I am back to writing and back to booking, all as a married woman.

Some say that you feel differently in your relationship once you tie the knot. I concur! I won't go into gushy details of Love, but it does feel as though there is a tighter, kindred connection, more sincere in a way? It's hard to put into words...more secure in the saddle? Someone recently asked me how I was going to create songs, now that my heart is solid and strong. Well, thank goodness I have a unique array of friendships that provide me with stimulating stories, not to mention the catalogue of  life's drama I have already seen ;)

It's my first Summer away from my second home (Canada) in a long time. The last place I spent a Summer was in Ireland, when I worked out on the Emerald Isle's west coast, in Connemara, all those years ago. Well, here I am in Switzerland, south of Bern, a bike-ride (all up hill!) away from the Alps. It's pretty heavenly here, but WHERE isn't it heavenly in the Summertime?

I miss my Wakefield. If you ever have the chance to head up, north of Ottawa to the Gatineau Hills in Quebec, do it. Wakefield has everything from Organic Farms, to hand crafted beeswax candles, to luxurious bakeries, to the BEST bistros, the BEST poutine, and the BEST place to see live music, at The Black Sheep Inn. We have an arts festival at the end of August called 'Wakefest' and there is a market every Saturday featuring live music, fresh breads, cookies, coffee, hand picked vegetables, hand crafted felted masterpieces, local honey, local EVERYTHING!! So go check it out... Oh and yeah, the Gatineau River is the liquid Love that brings it all together.

In the meantime, I will sit up here in this old farm house on the hill, over-looking the small village I live in part-time (half Swiss time half Canadian time!) serenaded by the melody of the sheep chimes, a fridge stocked with local cheeses, delicious beer and a cabinet full of chocolate.

Remember folks,

Life is what you make it.

Love

Lindsay xo

*New Song* "Doors & Heartbeats"

Here is a video of me singing my new song... It's a home recording... still, you get the jist ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QUd7qVpuSQ

Two Worlds

What is it like to live in two different places, for about half a year each? Well, I am in my third year, living in between... and it satisfies my 'wanderlust-filled' soul.

If I could, I would live like this for the rest of my life,

that way, I wouldn't have to say "Good-Bye" for too long.

I Love my friends and family across the world and it is truly hard to say those two words. When I embark on that final (for the moment) journey to the airport, I focus on the next place, and try to swallow those good-bye tears. Sometimes it's easier said than done, and I spend my train time swallowing hiccups and thankful I have a hanky.

Small price to pay however, to have a different view from time to time.

As a musician, I can find places to play anywhere in the world, from living rooms to lit stages, it's an 'easy' profession when it comes to up-rooting once in awhile... (or twice every year.)

Sometimes performance can be difficult, if you are used to getting a laugh in between songs, the nature of sarcasm and jokes can get lost on a crowd who may speak English as a second (or third) language. I am much more "Italian" in the way I speak when this is a factor, using my body and hands as tools to get the jokes across. It's pretty fun. Sometimes I just laugh to myself, or at myself... alone.

Laughter is the best medicine, right?

Miscommunication is okay for me, as is other "bad gig moments" such as a non-responsive crowd or a terrible sound system (or stinky microphone, yes, that happens too!) In these cases, it just becomes a 'practice session' or yeah, just about the money ;) However, I do believe in performing as best as I can, even if there are only a handful (or more) of listeners. If I can get through to someone, just a little, then I have done my job.

Fellow Canadian artist, Craig Cardiff has a notebook that he takes to his concerts in which he asks people to write their dreams, thoughts, secrets etc in... And it always amazes me, when I get a chance to read some of these, at how profoundly music can help. I am so entirely thankful for this musical path I am on, be it for me or for you, it's worth it. Bad sound systems, non-listeners, sore shoulders, hot lights, smelly mics, long drives, sideway-glances and all!

Being away from home, either home, is tough at times. Thankfully Social-Media is here for home-sickness... or maybe not? I see shows and markets and babies that I am missing out on, but still, I get to see your face once in awhile and hear your voice too!! At the very least we get to stay present in each others lives, which is  big bonus, missing you in 'real life' or not.

Currently, I am writing a new song, featuring wisdom that I have learned over the years.

I hope to debut it on Sunday, where my voice will be soaring in a church for the first time in a long time.

You never really know what life will bring. Look forward to every day, and try not to want to know,

that way, you will be surprised,

surprises are good.

Love Lindsay

"Monkeys Under Stars" ~SOLO~ Live Video on the Gatineau River

Here is a Lovely live video, shot on The Gatineau River by the Red Covered Bridge. On a sunny spring day :)

Thank you OTTAWA CITIZEN!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrwzUlagZKU&NR=1&feature=endscreen

A Life in the Day of an Indie Artist

I live each day trying to fulfill my needs as a self-employed singer and song-writer which doesn’t always have to be that complicated and trying to explain what I do to people who are living by an entirely different set of rules, well, therein lies the complication. Talk about guilt! Some days on my list of things to do it goes a bit like: Make a fire, put the coffee on, do the dishes, check your emails, write a blog, pick up the guitar, work on songs, put more logs on the fire, fill up the wood box, prepare dinner, read a book, book a show, watch a movie, charge the phone, go to sleep. Some days the writing table is full of arts ‘n craft supplies, feather earrings!! Sometimes there is a yoga mat on the floor. Sometimes I get to talk on Skype to close friends and family, some days I get to go on hikes, you know, fuel for the soul and the songs. Some days I get to PLAY MUSIC in front of an audience.

These are pretty much the details that make up my life. I am also very lucky because I have a partner in crime who accepts and Loves me for who I am and what I do. I do not follow the normal day to day life that many of my friends have and it’s a bit hard for me sometimes because I am sure that there are people out there that do not appreciate my life, the life I chose, this independent set-your-own-rules way of living.

Talk about discipline! There is no one out there telling me what I have to do, no guidelines, no boss, so it’s all up to me.

I remember moving out of the house I grew up in, to University, where I could do whatever I wanted. I could eat marshmallows for breakfast and potato chips for dinner, there was no one to tell me any different. But through heartburn and tiredness I quickly learned how to eat better and be more attentive to my nutritional needs. Some days I feel like I am back there, in need of discipline and Mama’s knowledge.

I am still learning and still working hard to keep this musical ball rolling and it can be hard without a boss. I am not saying the grass is greener, but I am saying that I appreciate all of you who work so hard in a fixed schedule and sometimes I wish someone could arrange mine for me. Alas, this is my life and I am sticking to it.

Up with music!!