November 2006

Greetings!  Welcome to the new improved Janey Girl Newsletter. We've got a brand new CD and a new website to go with it. So look around, check out the new digs at www,janeeamon.com, drop us a line, listen to some music. Enjoy... 

CD News

Deep Water released September 15, is plugging away on its own little legs. Lots of folk friendly radio shows are playing cuts and it's a hit in Finland! I've been interviewed twice now about the spirituality on the CD and find it fascinating that folks are having such strong reactions to the music - both good and bad. Check out the reviews on the new website www.janeeamon.com. 
Gordie and I are planning a wee tour in the spring to the island and hopefully will get to Ontario sometime later on in the early spring or summer. We are also targeting the folk clubs and coffeehouse circuit to drum up interest in the CD. I will be interviewed by a radio station in New York in March and Sing Out! magazine is doing a review in their next issue. So all is good. 

Touring News 

We've got some cool gigs coming up in the next month. 

November 27 - we're hosting Eve Goldberg in our house. She's a great singer/songwriter from Ontario who's touring the great west to promote a new CD. Tickets are very limited so call us if you're interested in attending.

December 8 - we're doing a short set at the V-Cafe in Vernon. Andrew Smith is the feature. December 10 - we're guests at the Unitarian Church for their Sunday church service. December 13 - it's the Night of Families at the Kelowna Community Theatre. Lots of great bands playing and it's all good. 

More upcoming dates..... 

Other News 

I was nominated for the 2nd annual Angel Awards here in the valley. This is an award that's given to anyone who shows outstanding leadership in the creative arts. Didn't win - Stu Goldberg did and a deserving fellow indeed. It's the brainchild of Jock Hildebrandt and one with great merit in this city. We don't honour our arts people enough.

I also have received two awesome reviews on the new CD, one from Charlie Hodge and one from Bruce Mitchell. You can see them on our new website at www.janeandgord.com. Songwriting classes are starting in January. Email me for more information. I will also be teaching a class at the Red Cedar Songwriting Camp on Pender Island in June. And I'm still trying to write songs. Started a silly challenge with 9 songs in 9 genres. Yikes!! I wrote one. 

September 2006

Welcome....

Deep Water is here!!!! 
After almost a year of working on it, my new CD, Deep Water is finally here. This was a true labour of love and sweat and an amazing journey both spiritually and emotionally. I went to places I don't often get to to write this CD. But having said that, it also made me aware of how much more I have to learn. I'm anxious to hear what people think of this one. Some of you may like it, some may not. But it's all good. If you want to order a CD, you can by sending me an e-mail here. 


CD's are $15.00 + $2.50 for shipping and handling. 

Touring news....Gordie and I are planning a series of small CD releases up and down the valley. We will be playing at the Verve on October 14, Creekside Theatre on Nov 3, North Shore Coffeehouse in Kamloops on Nov 4, we're hoping for Armstrong and Enderby in Nov and Dec, Ashcroft in Feb, Sunnybrae in Feb, Kelowna and Penticton in March and Ontario and the Maritimes in April and May. Whew!!! That seems like a lot. We're in the process of updating the website so keep checking back for dates as they're added. 

Other News....I was nominated for folk artist of the year in this year's Okanagan Music Awards and guess what? I WON!!!!!! Can you believe it? I was shocked and almost speechless. I was not expecting that one and felt so honoured and fortunate. Thank you to Teena Clipston for putting it together and a great big kudos to all the nominees and winners. We have a lot to be proud of in the valley. 

I am still going to be doing the songwriting workshops but they will start in January. I am taking a very limited amount of students and if you're interested, please drop me a line here. The modules will cover getting started all the way up to critiquing. 

July 2006 ~

Yahoo, Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival is coming up...and we're so excited.

 I still have no idea what we're doing but that's ok..we'll wing it. Check out the line-up here. 

It's going to be an amazing festival. 

CD news.....Deep Water is coming along nicely. We've got most of the tracking done, graphics are laid out and all that's left is mixing and mastering. I hope to have it available for sale at the Salmon Arm Festival. If you want to pre-order a CD, you can by sending me an e-mail here. 

Touring news....Since I lost my voice in May, this thing in my throat has come back. So I've been taking it easy, singing only a little bit and getting healthy. We haven't really done any touring but hope to once the CD is complete. We are planning a trip to Ontario for the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals conference in October. We also hope to plan a wee tour of BC in the early winter to promote the CD. So keep checking the website at  www.janeandgord.com.

Red Cedar Songwriting Camp.....I just got back from four days on Pender Island with Mae Moore, Shari Ulrich, Lester Quitzau and David Essig attending a wonderful songwriting retreat/camp run by Mae and Lester. It was amazing. I sang, cried, laughed, listened and came home feeling like I'd found paradise on earth. Red Cedar is the brainchild of Mae and Lester and will be offering camps twice a year. It's very cool and if you're into exploring anything about songwriting...worth the trip. Check it out.....here.

Other News....we've had a few people sign up for newsletters from all over the continent. Welcome. It's my desire to build a musical community that can share and appreciate this great thing we do called original music. Thank you to everyone who keeps supporting it and us. 

This fall I hope to start a series of songwriting classes - six weeks, covering most of the basics of writing with a possible showcase opportunity at the end. Keep checking the website for details. 

Also, we will be having another house concert on November 26 with Eve Goldberg. She's a great songwriter from Ontario and would definitely be worth a listen. Check out her website at www.evegoldberg.com. 

I guess that's all for now. If you're interested in a copy of the new CD, drop me a line here. I'm compiling a mailing list and hope to ship CD's in late August. 

If you would rather not be on this newsletter mailing list, just send me an e-mail here and I'll take you off. 

Have a great month!

Quotes ~

"Some people march to a different drummer, ignoring the rest of the world. A few dance to the piccolo."
-Paul Chance 

"I think that music should be magic and collective hysteria."
-Pierre Boulez

"Do not be afraid of being wrong; 
just be afraid of being uninteresting."
-T. Carl Whitmer

"When in doubt, sing loud."
-Robert Merrill 

June 2006 ~

Lots happening and lots coming up. It's going to be an exciting summer to say the least. 

Well, everyone knows now that FACTOR finally approved a recording loan for me after six years. It's still sinking in but much appreciated none the less. CD #3 - Deep Water is now well underway and should be released in late August. It's proving to be an interesting project with musicians like Graham Ord and Al Hildebrandt along with Corey Doak and Larry Crawford contributing to the mix. As usual for me, I still have to write a song or two but I'm confident something will turn up. Michael Hintringer took some amazing photos and it's all good. Here's a wee sample of two songs included on the CD. 

Move On Down and Let Time Take Care of the Rest

In May, I produced a show called Duets for the Life and Arts Festival. It was 14 musicians pairing together and doing what they do best. Classic show jitters, we had 4 tickets sold the week before the show. CBC here in Kelowna and Sheryl McKay in Vancouver both did stories and the Laurel Building was full. Thanks again to everyone who helped make it hugely successful. And especially the musicians - Ellen Churchill, Sherman Doucette, Curtis Tullman, Andrew Smith, Gary Smyth, Sherri Funk, Malcolm Petch, Barry Mathers, Scott Gamble, Dave Sopel, Pat Brown, Randall Robinson, Katie Fletcher, Gord Brush, Michael O'Neill and Mike Ohman for his fabulous sound. I hope I haven't forgotten anyone. 

Gordie and I played the festival on a very chilly Friday night. We dressed up as aging folksingers from the 60's and had a blast in the cold. This year's festival was a huge success - the weather finally co-operated adn the numbers were good. Can't wait till next year!! 

Speaking of festivals, I got into this year's Salmon Arm Roots and Blues festival!! Yahoo. I don't know what I'll be doing yet - no mainstage work, but I'd be quite happy doing workshops with some of the old gospel guys. What a hoot. Check it out - August 18 - 20. There are some great musicians coming and it's always a pleasure. 

On the Memorial Day weekend, I bombed down to Seattle to play Northwest Folklife. Thirteen hours on a bus only to lose my voice the day I was supposed to sing and had to travel back feverish and miserable. Man, what a wake up call. Wasn't prepared for that at all. So I'm still coughing and hoping my voice will come back soon. Sitting in a bus depot in downtown Seattle, sick and tired is not a fun way to spend your time. 

I'm off in June to spend four days with Mae Moore, Lester Quitzau, David Essig and Shari Ulrich at a songwriting camp on Pender Island. I'm really looking forward to it. This is the first year I didn't attend the Henderson Forbes wokshop and I need my fix. 

Other big news? Andrew Smith won the Kerrville Newfolk Songwriters Competition. He was the only Canadian chosen in the six winners. Way to go Andrew!!! 

I guess that's all for now. If you're interested in a copy of the new CD, drop me a line here. I'm compiling a mailing list and hope to ship CD's in late August. 

If you would rather not be on this newsletter mailing list, just send me an e-mail here and I'll take you off. 

Have a great month. 

Quotes 

A gentleman is a man who can play the accordion but doesn't. ~Author Unknown

"The average person thinks he isn’t."
- Father Larry Lorenzoni

""Wit is educated insolence."
- Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

"We don’t like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out."
- Decca Recording Company, rejecting the Beatles, in 1962

March 2006 ~

WE DID IT!!!! FACTOR APPROVED MY APPLICATION!!! 

Can you believe it? After all these years - 6 to be exact, FACTOR finally said yes, we think you're good enough to give money to. Wow. What a rush!!!!

Thank you so much to everyone who sent a letter of support and to all those who said - never give up!! 


I will be starting CD #3 very soon and should have it completed by the fall, so keep your eyes peeled. 

Gordie and I just got back from a great mini-tour of the Island with Andrew. The photo is from backstage at a new venue in Victoria called the Dinner Theatre. We went through snow, rain, wind and sunshine to play a bunch of great gigs up and down the island. We met amazing people and felt very pumped when we returned. 

What's happening in the community? March 19 is Carlos del Junco at the Mary Irwin Theatre. This is another of those great Fringe Folk Club gigs. Kurt Philips, owner of Guitarworks will be opening in the atrium. Kurt also informed me that he has a wee CD for sale featuring his instrumental guitar work. Speaking of CD's, Corey Doak has just released his new one and it's great. I suggest you go and pick one up, you won't be disappointed. 

I'm gearing up for a Songwriters in the Round with Yael Wand, Brian Burnam, Corey Doak and Ryan Donn on April 1 at the Verve. Starting this Sat, SILK-FM will be airing a great commercial featuring all of our music. Check it out. 

Other news?? I had a company in Quebec ask if they could translate Robinson Caruso to French for a jazz singer. Cool, huh? When You Do That Thing You Do and Man in the Moon made it into the top ten for Canada on Broadjam. I still get reviews that range from 2 out of 5 to 5 out of 5 on Broadjam.com., so I guess you can't please everyone. 

I haven't updated my blog for a while, been a wee bit busy. But if someone wants to suggest a topic, maybe I could post something new. Any suggestions? 

I'm still doing reviews for Muse's Muse and Rambles and writing new songs for the upcoming CD. Spring is coming and I want to be travelling. So who knows where this will lead? 

Again, a great big thank you to everyone who supported me in the FACTOR application. It means a lot. 

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 and have a great month. 

"Classical music is the kind we keep thinking will turn into a tune." 
~Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard, Comments of Abe Martin and His Neighbors, 1923

"I worry that the person who thought up Muzak may be thinking up something else."
~Lily Tomlin

February 2006 ~

Can you believe it's already February? Where did January go? It's true what they say, time moves at an alarming pace, the older you get. 

Happy Chinese New Year..year of the dog. 

So what's been happening? Biggest news, I retired from writing for the Okanagan Musician. What with the two magazines I do CD reviews for, preparing for a new CD, planning tours, hosting house concerts, planning a show for May AND working a full-time job, something had to go. I'm sad to give it up but it's time. Teena Clipston who produces the magazine is doing so well and has come so far in such a short time. Check out the magazine at www.scorpionentertainment.ca. 

Still no word from FACTOR. I'm hoping that's a good thing. Keep your fingers crossed. 


I played my first gig since my adventure with a steak knife at the V-Cafe in Vernon. Great gig. Really supportive people trying to get good live music out to folks. I also played "Aunt Kitty" for the annual Alzheimer's Society fundraiser walk at KSS. It was sad and a very hard thing to do. 

What's happening in the community? Feb 3 is another Songwriters in the Round featuring the MacGregors, Ryan Donn, Mark Tromness and Rod Shuttleworth at the Verve. Always a sellout and well worth the admission. I just heard that Corey Doak is finishing up a new CD. Great local songwriter Kim McMechan released her CD to a sold-out crowd at the Verve. We couldn't get in as it was standing room only!! Big news - local country singer Roger Gabriel is finally recording a CD with Tom McKillip at Warehouse Studios in Vancouver. A song that Michael O'Neill and I wrote - Set Me Free - was chosen for the project. I am now the proud owner of Janey Girl Music, my very own publishing company. 

Gordie and I will be opening Feb 15 for Stephen Fearing at the Rotary Arts Centre. Actually we're the act in the Atrium which should be interesting. It's part of the Fringe Folk Club's Concert Series. Also we will be hosting Jory Nash on March 13 at our second Yellow House Concert Series. Tickets are VERY limited and available for $15 at Robbie Brown's Guitar Town. 

Other news?? Move On Down, Man in the Moon, Lady of the Blues and Robinson Caruso Blues all keep steady in the top ten on Broadjam. Ruckus was put on standby for a contest to have a country single released across Canada. It was also listed for the Billboard Song Contest. The winners were announced Feb 1 but I still might get an honourable mention. 

My blog has a great conversation about art vs. money. It was a lively debate on maplepost some of which I copied to the blog. You can read it at www.janeeamon.blogspot.com. 

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 and have a great month. 

"Hell is a half-filled auditorium." -Robert Frost (1874-1963)

"2,400,000 Americans play the accordion - hopefully not at the same time." -unknown

January 2006 ~

Hope everyone had an awesome holiday season and New Year. What a year 2005 turned out to be!! 

What with floods, hurricanes, tidal waves, corrupt governments, earthquakes. I guess you could say it was a year of upheaval. 

Personally, the year was remarkable. Ruckus in the Henhouse was chosen for two compilation CD's. We had one humdinger of a CD release party in February. I was part of a team of writers who did the 'official' Centennial song - 100 years - for Kelowna. We posted not one but two brand new websites. We toured Vancouver Island and Alberta. I started reviewing CD's for two online magazines. AND I was fortunate enough to win three Scorpion music awards this year. Wow. What a year. 

So what's ahead? Still waiting for word on the status of my FACTOR application. I should know sometime in Feb yeah or nay. Gordie and I are heading out for a mini-tour of the island with Andrew Smith as a double bill late Feb. In April, I will be part of Ryan Donn's Songwriters in the Round with Yael Wand. We're hosting the first of our house concert series with Terry Tufts January 11. (Tickets are still available) 

What's happening in the community? Andrew Smith is doing a special show with the Creator's Arts School at the Rotary Arts Centre on Jan 27 and 28. He will be featuring songs from his instrumental CD, escape velocity accompanied by several different dancers. The Fringe Folk Club in partnership with the Rotary Arts Centre is presenting a folk series starting with Alpha Yaya Diallo on Jan 25. There's a new coffeehouse is town called the Fridge. Awesome bluesman, Graham Ord is the host and once a month will feature local musicians. Check out Andrew Smith Jan 20. 

Other news?? I was chosen as one of eight showcase spots for this year's Winterfolk in Toronto. However, it takes place at the beginning of Feb, and I will not be able to attend. Bummer, it was a great honour. .

We will be heading out to the island Feb 24 - March 3. Andrew Smith and Gordie and I are doing a double bill as the dynamic duo. Should be a great mini-tour. Check out the dates below. Jan 22, I will be sharing Aunt Kitty with the Alzheimer's Society for their annual fund-raiser. 

I also now have a blogspot. Check it out - add a comment or two - www.janeeamon.blogspot.com. Hope you all have a fabulous new year. 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. 

"Like everything else in nature, music is a becoming, and it becomes its full self, when it sounds and laws are used by intelligent man for the production of harmany, and so made the vehicle of emotion and thought"
~ Theodore Mungers

"Jazz came to America three hundred years ago in chains."
~Paul Whiteman