My weekly grind lands me in the world of wonder known commonly as childhood. I am a day to day Mary Poppins.
Building forts out of blankets, singing songs about the seasons, making dances up for all the animals, all the sounds, and all the feelings.
I have organized my life so that I may be at play with it, joyful and curious even in the dark corners of the randomness encountered. In doing so I am continually inspired by the small wonders, the vibrant realness.
My day job, for lack of a better word makes for a special and valuable counterpart to a songwriter who’s main impulse is to create a place of dreamy wakefulness.  Hence my endeavour to dream vast and without doubt in a world that manufactures doubt even in it’s most privileged places and burdens all with its weight.

The documentary “The Eternal Children” by David Kleijwegt from The Netherlands, continues to be one of the most inspiring looks at artistry that I’ve seen in a long time.
I’ve watched it and revelled in the familiarity of the sentiments and desires displayed within. Each time I have viewed all or some of the film I have been reminded that these boisterous, curious, shameless ways of exploring life are possible in every moment and that I am of extreme fortune to live in a community that interacts and creates with such abandon at it’s best.

I am ever thankful to the dreamers and the belief makers! Thank you for painting your world into this one and by doing so changing the face of the day, for singing your saddest or sweetest songs under so many kinds of circumstance, for dancing the delight into the darkness with lights tied to your toes, for writing the words that remind us we have stories untold and precious in every breath.

Love!

: The above photo is of an art piece in the window of a gallery on College street in Toronto in June 2011. I never got the artists name. If you know it please message me so I may credit the work.

At the end of March I left the lower rain lands and headed eastward to Toronto for CMW. CMW is a music industry event geared toward helping indie bands make the connections necessary to make it BIG! The entire concept of such a thing kind of makes me gag but alas I have really dear friends in Toronto, I love performing, I had just enough air miles for a flight and so I decided to go. Besides which, an industry event is only as industrious as you allow it to be and if socializing with otherwise lovely human beings in an environment that feels as though its sole purpose is to perpetuate the remnants of a money guzzling industry that seems less and less relevant seems uninteresting, then lucky me that I have lovely and amazing friends in Toronto! Truth be told aside from performing my showcase and checking in at the festivals reception I all but forgot CMW was happening and set to gallivanting around Toronto with some old bandmates and dear dearies. It was a spectacular blur of whiskey sours, good eats, performance art fundraisers, chronological dance parties, dub after hours scenes, late night diners, brunch and inspiring words between warm hugs below blue skies. I had a wonderful time!

The video at the onset of this blog comes from an event I performed at during CMW. “Live Near Bellwoods” was organized by the folks at Humble Empire and Young Lions Music Club. Their event “Live in Bellwoods” was the highlight of my NXNE experience and actually landed me the gig at good ol’ CMW so I was supremely pleased to be invited to perform in their afternoon series once again. “Live Near Bellwoods” took place across from Trinity Bellwoods Park in the charming Toronto Institute For The Enjoyment Of Music. The fellas at Humble Empire are just splendid and tirelessly captured and edited highlights from all the performances in the series. Check out their YOUTUBE.

Here are two more videos from my performance at the Toronto Institute For The Enjoyment Of Music:

After returning to Vancouver I finished loading all of my worldly possessions into boxes and moved a little further west. I have moved three times in the last year or so. I hope to not do it again for some time. Moving is such an incredibly emotional experience…I will share more on that topic at a later date…I really will, I’ve been reading all of Amanda Palmer’s blogs and I am suddenly remembering how unbelievably empowering it is to be spilling open and honest in a public forum. Here’sto sharing stories mundane or glorious!

Of more timely importance is this lovely little contest the CBC and Green Couch Sessions is having. Together they are creating a project called Tracks On Tracks. A modern day Festival Express (if we may be so bold as to put ourselves in the good company of some epic history) so to speak. A train full of musicians travelling across the country doing what musicians on a train are likely to do. Make music! If you follow this link CBC MUSIC TRACKS ON TRACKS you can have your say in what musicians fill the remaining three slots on the line-up. Just scroll down the list and choose your three favourites, spread the word and cross your fingers!

I already put my vote in. It’s a heck of an impressive list. I’m touched to be in the running along such a vast array of talent.

See you soon lovelies! Perhaps at The Railway Club on May 9th. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.
xo
jess