Home County

Just a quick note to say what a lovely time I had at my very first folk festival this week, Home County Folk Festival here in London, Ontario.

Memorable moments include playing a "Next Generation" workshop with fellow kids-of-folkies Catherine MacLellan and Nathan Rogers. After I led up with my dad's song, Dance Hall Girls, they did a tune each by their eminent fathers: Catherine played Gene's "Snowbird" (which I've never heard sound so pretty; sorry, Anne Murray) and Nathan did one of Stan's great songs, the title of which alas escapes me. We then did some of our own tunes, and if I do say so myself, the kids are doin' it for themselves just fine. I felt humbled to share a stage with those two.

Also did a couple of workshops with my pal Alex, who, although her new work with her band is quite amazing in its ambitious innovation, I think is just as great all by herself with her little nylon-string guitar. She just keeps writing these interesting, catchy, smart little songs, and her voice is like frayed velvet. Hard to keep from envying! It was great to play with her again.

Then my showcase on Sunday went really well, I felt. The rain held off, blessedly, and the ever-wonderful Jonathan Davis did his magical one-snare-and-brushes job by my side as I played about eight songs. Won a few new fans over, and mostly just had a nice time. 

So I'm grateful to the good people of HCFF for inviting me this year, and hope this will be the first of many festivals for me. It's a beautiful way to experience music. My thanks, too, to those of you who listened and came to say hi. I hope I'll be seeing you again soon...

Love,

Kaya