December 2005 ~

It's that time of year when we all get a little nostalgic and try to take time to think about the year gone by.

And what a year it's been!!! Seems like Gordie and I did a fair bit of travelling this year - the Island mostly, but it was a great opportunity to see how our music fared in other towns. We hope to be doing a lot more of it in the new year.


So what's been happening? Big news, I stupidly had a fight with a bag of oatmeal and a steak knife at 5:15 AM!! Needless to say the knife was a lot tougher than I was, and I had to get four stitches in my left index finger - yes that's right, my guitar playing hand!! So I've been off the guitar, which is making me crazy. But a good friend of mine said maybe that's just a sign that you need to take a breath before you move. Good advice. .

What other news? Several songs continue to chart on the top 10 at Broadjam.com. Lady of the Blues, Robinson Caruso Blues, Take My Hand and Move On Down.

A Different Place stayed in the top 10 at Village 900 Radio (#4).

I've managed to complete several CD reviews - two for Muses Muse and one for Rambles. It's very interesting what kind of music I've been getting - everything from a garage band in Oregon, to a pop singer from Phily. I've had guys write to me from England and weird Christmas piano music. I've listened to contemporary Italian folk music and really awful singer songwriter stuff. But it's a ton of fun. So I expect I'll be doing it for awhile yet. Check out the Muses's Muse reviews here.

Need a stocking stuffer? You can still purchase a copy of my CD at Robbie Brown's Guitar Town in Kelowna or at www.cdbaby.com/cd/janeeamon. I am working on songs for the new CD, working title, Mektoub, hopefully available in late spring 2006.

I have three new songs recorded and have put two of them on a sampler of six songs. If you're interested in the sampler, it's $7 plus $2 shipping. It contains one song from the Blue Madonna, three from a different place and the two new ones. Just write to me at info@janeandgord.com and I'll send one off to you (signed if you like, even!!)

Other news? Gordie and I are starting a house concert series in 2006. We hope to host four concerts next year. So far we've booked three acts. First one is Terry Tufts, January 11. Tickets are limited to 30 people and are $15 each. All money is going to the artist. Andrew Smith will be opening with a short set of his amazing guitar playing. And funny enough, Terry and Andrew know each other. You can check out Terry's stuff  here. Contact me at info@janeandgord.com for tickets. Next concert will be March 13 with Jory Nash and September with Barley Wik. We are talking about having Linda McCrae for November. We're very excited about this and really looking forward to them.

More news? The Life and Arts Festival now has an official website. Check it out!! www.lifeandarts.com  If you're interested in participating as a performer or artisan you can download an application from the site now. Our Centennial song, 100 years, has been included in a promo video that's quite good. And speaking of the Centennial, we all get to sing it live for the new mayor, Sharon Shepherd on Monday December 5th at the swearing in ceremony. What fun. Carolyn Anele will be absent as SHE'S KINDA BUSY HAVING A BABY!!! But Deborah Lee, another talented singer/songwriter from Kelowna will be filling her shoes.

So more fingers crossed, folks!! Hope you all stay healthy and happy. If you would rather not be on this newsletter mailing list, just send me an e-mail here and I'll take you off. Thanks.

"Music is everybody's possession. It's only publishers who think that people own it."
~John Lennon / Beatles

"If I hadn't been a woman, I'd have been a drag queen"
~ Dolly Parton

November, 2005 ~ 

Travelling on, I got's to be travelling on....

That's what it felt like this month, what with all our travelling. It's like Gordie and I were everywhere. 

We played Coldstream, had a great set with our old pal, Gordie Milne from the Sunnybrae Coffeehouse. Played a wee set at a new coffeehouse, the V-Cafe in Vernon. Followed a screaming rock band...that's a story. Played the coffeehouse at Creekside, attended a basement musicians' circle at the Mary Irwin Theatre, appeared as a double bill with our pals, Barley Wik in Victoria, played at the side of the ocean to a roaring wood fire in Cowichan Bay and finally brought the house down as the feature of the Victoria Folk Club. Whew!! Were we glad to be home.

What other news? Several songs continue to chart on the top 10 at Broadjam.com. Lady of the Blues, Robinson Caruso Blues, Take My Hand and Move On Down. 

A Different Place stayed in the top 10 at Village 900 Radio (#4). 

CD's are starting to trickle in for my reviews for both Rambles and the Muses Muse magazines. Really interesting stuff. Stay tuned, I might post a few on our website. I've also started a new column for the Okanagan Musicians' Guide, the Songwriter. I plan to interview local writers about their personal journey to the craft. First one is Michael O'Neill, one of the writers for Kelowna's official Centennial Song. .

I was the Up, Close and Personal this month in eVent magazine. Kind of funny really, but a great photo by Lor-Ann Charlton. Thanks for that.


Factor? Ah, yes, the infamous Factor. It appears that I made it through two juries and both recommended me for funding. However, the new and improved super jury turned me down cause my 2nd song wasn't strong enough. So get this, I've been invited to resubmit by November 30. Andrew and I are recording a new 2nd song and sending it off again. So more fingers crossed, folks!! Hope you all stay healthy and happy. If you would rather not be on this newsletter mailing list, just send me an e-mail here and I'll take you off. Thanks. 

Music is love in search of a word.
~Sidney Lanier

Of course the music is a great difficulty. You see, if one plays good music, people don't listen, and if one plays bad music people don't talk.
~Oscar Wilde

October 6, 2005 ~

Don't you just love fall? Leaves changing colour, dark in the morning, dark at night, crisp cold....ahh. My favourite time of the year.

This is the time we get things done. Gordie and I are chomping at the bit to get cracking. Still waiting for word of our FACTOR application and it might take another month yet. 

So what's been happening? Big news...Lady of the Blues placed in the top ten on Broadjam for Fan Pick - Male, British Columbia - region, Western Canada - region, Acoustic Blues and Female Vocal. Wow!! Take My Hand and Move On Down both entered Broadjam in the top ten for gospel. For those who don't know, Broadjam is a very large independent songwriters website devoted to promoting and supporting independents. Check it out at www.broadjam.com. 


I think we told you last month that Ruckus in the Henhouse made it on to a protest song CD. Well here's the cover. It will be out this month and has an amazing collection of performers from around the globe all singing about change. 

We finally made it to #1 in the Folk and Roots chart at Village 900 Internet Radio.

Other news?? I got another job as a reviewer of CD's, this time for the Muse's Muse. It's a very cool songwriters' magazine that's been around for quite a while. I'll be reviewing acoustic based music.

Seems like my picture was everywhere this month. I showed up in Socan's magazine - Words and Music for the awards I won at this year's Scorpions. I also showed up on a blog page for CBC Unplugged for the rally I did here in Kelowna with Shelagh Rogers. AND believe it or not, I was the celebrity photo for SILK FM's, Big White contest. Is that like finding your CD at Value Village? Yikes!!

That's it for now.... 

September 15, 2005 ~

So we really are starting CD #3. Andrew Smith and I are back at it with a 2 song demo to be sent to FACTOR to try and secure a wee bit of financing for this new project. I just wanted to say, I asked for letters of support from our e-mail list and was blown away by the response. Thank you all so much to everyone who sent in a letter. They are so wonderful. Stay tuned folks, new CD will be coming up soon enough. If all goes well, we expect to get into the studio by November.