Pic taken yesterday by Rachel Shnapp.
I’m staring out my kitchen window onto a lime green field, the odd rook or jackdaw sits on the back of a non-plussed sheep. I’ve been away a lot, England mostly, where I always get a little preview of what’s to come in Galloway’s spring and summer growth. Finally, tender seedlings are coming up, house plants are on summer vacation and it’s about to become a foraging showdown! On my to to list:
- harvest nettles, hawthorn, cleavers, sage, plantain, dandelion, lady’s mantle.
- make teas and tinctures for each.
- fill vases around the house with cow parsley and honey suckle.
- clean up pollen from said cow parsley.
- keep slugs off cabbages and french beans.
- write a newsletter to tell you where I’ll be this summer.
Moniaive’s folk festival just passed this weekend. I came back from a festival in north Wales to find my tiny village flooded with converted vans, dogs of every flavour and variety and enough fiddles and pipes to satisfy the most avid medieval fayre patron. I also learned I missed the greatest aurora borealis display in most villagers’ living memory. The local nurse led a samba band. The bartender made dragon masks for the parade. The shop keeper wore an outrageous 70’s button down shirt which he promised to lend me (and I will hold him to). Our little festival keeps the village going financially and spiritually throughout the year, just another reason to continue supporting the arts.
Wanderlust: short documentary on being a songwriter and herbalist in Moniaive.
So it’s festival season. This summer is my busiest since 2018. Tour dates are below, with more to come in the following weeks. Turned to Gold is still turning heads (and the party, dare I say?) We just released instrumental versions of all the songs. If you’re anything like me, lyrics demand my full attention, so this is a simple way to listen to the musicianship of Matt Kelly (keys, guitars, pedal steel), James McEleney (bass) and Leon Power (drums), all of which was crafted by myself and producer Johnny Payne (who plays some guitar, harmonica and even included a little dog bark on Is It Just the Whisky Talking, so listen closely!)
If you see a gap in the tour and you’d like to see me in your town, get in touch and hopefully we can make it happen!
Summer Tour Dates
May 16 - Thornhill, Scotland - CAMPLELINE (“Wanderlust” screening + Concert)
May 18 - Newton Stewart, Scotland - SpringGrass Festival w/ The Often Herd
May 31 - Arisaig, Scotland - Arisaig Americana Music Festival
June 27 - Rossland, BC Canada - Alpine Grind
June 29 - Crowsnest Pass, BC Canada - Crowsnest Pass Public Art Gallery
July 2 - Brighton, ON Canada - Tasting Lounge at Northumberland Fine Food
July 4 - Port Hope, ON Canada - Road to Cultivate Summer Concert Series
July 5-7 Sudbury, ON Canada - Northern Lights Festival Boreal
July 8-12 Gambier Island, BC Canada - SongRoots Music Camp
July 14 Bowen Island, BC Canada -Songwriting Workshop at the Bowen Island Library
July 15 Vancouver, BC Canada - Notional Space*
July 17 Prince George, BC Canada - Omineca Arts Centre
July 18 Fort St. John, BC Canada - Music in the Park Concert Series
July 26 Victoria, BC Canada - Vinyl Envy w/ Dana Sipos (tickets on sale ASAP!!)
Aug. 2 Galiano Island, BC Songwriting Workshop & Concert, Yellowhouse Arts Centre
Aug. 3-4 Pender Island, BC Canada - Mosaic Arts & Culture Festival
Aug. 6 Gimli, MB Canada - Ship and Plough (tickets on sale ASAP!!)
Aug. 9-11 Ear Falls, ON Canada - Trout Forest Music Festival
*non-transactional: there is no ticket fee, please support live music in other ways!