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HIGHLIGHTS
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HIGHLIGHTS
4 weeks in Europe....travelling through UK, Benelux, Scandinavia and Spain...Linda
McLean solo shows and interviews, showcasing and promoting her CD "No Language"
(Bongo Beat) and building distribution ties, Pinnacle/Nettwerk in the UK , DOCK
in Spain, and Playground in Scandinavia November -December 2006
Bob Harris article features his visit to Linda
McLean's Studio.
Highlights from My summer tour in UK and Holland......
ON July 30th we played at the Acoustic Festival of Britian, in the beautiful
town of Cheshire in Wales.(photo1) We got to warm up backstage beside the Del
McCoury Band, (photo 2) but our stage was a bit smaller than his. (photo 3)
His audience was, to say the least, HUGE while ours,were sturdy and true, (photo
4) had to sit through a bit of rain. (photo 5) Best part, making new friends.
ON August 6, Andy and I played an intimate late afternoon set to a very friendly
crowd at the Monumentje Pub. Located along a canal in Westerstraat in the old
Jordaan section of town, it's one of the oldest 'brown' pubs in Amsterdam. I'm
beginning to sound like a tour guide. The old wooden walls of the pub resonated
perfectly to the music. And the very special monk brewed beer was, well, VERY
good. “kjseirsh”
August 6th at the Monumentje Pub in Amsterdam (photography: Olga Westrate)
Here are a few of my favourite moments from my summer.....
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|  *To
Halifax for the Juno weekend extravaganza, hanging out in the old district
with my new and not so new friends, listening to some of the best musicians
in the world play their songs as if we were all in someone's kitchen,
drinking lots of great beer and one day, while ambling aimlessly around,
heading over to Sam's to listen to indie artist in-store showcases, Elliot
Brood, Luke Doucet....and finding one copy of my CD NO LANGUAGE left in
the racks, right in front ( I guess they love the photo too) My friend
Scott bought it!!!Wish I had my camera with me. But here is a picture
of me when I have been eating and drinking too much (which is what I did
in Halifax. )
Cheers. |
|  *My
Hometown CD Release Party was a huge success. Thanks to wonderful help
like the poster Stephen Chester designed for me to put up all over town.
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| I'm so glad I had my official release in
my new hometown of Huntsville. There was a lot of love in that club.
Steve Zsarai and Lyle Molzan drove all the way from Toronto to be 2 of
my Hanks, and Andy got to be Hank #1 on electric guitar. Jason cleaned
the pub up really well for my “sophisticated” crowd, even
shined up the dance floor. And people actually danced....which taught
me I need to add a couple more dance numbers to my set just to keep the
dancers happy at the end of the night. Next time I'll be ready for you
guys. Graham did a great job with the sound bouncing off the mirror that
is the back wall of the stage. All of my loyal local fans and friends
came, and they brought new fans and friends, and we rocked the night away.
I even have an a couple of great stage photos from the night. Thanks Tex.
 
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| * Touring in S.Ontario with the Rolling Roots
Caravan, Bill Culp, David Celia and me with other artists we are picking
up along the way, surviving the elements (if you've done it you know why
surviving is a highlight), and encountering the predictable and unexpected
with equal enthusiasm.
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| *Playing unplugged at OCFF trade show and having
the TV Ontario camera crew that was walking around spontaneously record
some of my performance and interview me.
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| * Live performance and taping for CBC's Vinyl Cafe, hanging
out with Stuart McLean and his gang, my mom meeting Stuart and baking him
her famous Norwegian cake. |
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| * Gig at the beautiful new Algonquin Theatre in downtown
Huntsville, supporting Juno Award winning songwriter Ron Sexsmith. |
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* First show in Los Angeles, showcasing with
label mates for International Pop Overthrow celebration of 10 years of Bongo
Beat.
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| * Putting All the Hanks together (Gary, Maury
and Tim Bovaconti) and playing full frontal at The Drake for NXNE.
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| * Seeing my new video for “All Around”
(No Language, track #4) directed by my dear and talented friend documentary
film maker Dirk Jan Roeleven and his wonderful Dutch crew, Rob Hodselmans
(camera), Simone Galavazi (sound) and Hinne Brouwer (editor), for the
first time. 
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SOME MORE PAST HIGHLIGHTS
* Finding the location and filming the video for “All Around” at
Wreck Beach in Vancouver (fully clothed) with my Dutch pals.
 *
John Whynot as a houseguest / producer and recording all the vocals and guitars
for No Language, 12 songs, in 10 days, at my home studio built amid a forest
that grows on rock in Muskoka, Canada.
* Winning the Award for Best Songwriter for ‘Mandolin' at the 2003 Northern
Ontario Music and Film Awards.
* In The City, Manchester UK, showcase opening for solo show of international
star Tim Booth, previously of James, in Andy's hometown.
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London UK, Borderline gigs, first opening for delta blues steel guitar hero
Chris Whitely; second opening for Norwegian punkska duo St. Thomas. Meandering
Soho looking for the 12 Bar and Barry's recommended Indian noshery with the
goldfish.
* Interview with Mart Smeet, legendary Americana DJ in The Netherlands, and
playing Beauty solo for the first time on national radio. Standing ovation at
concert outside Amsterdam, and I was in the audience. Bicycling in Amsterdam.
Passenger on the back of Hester's bike in Amsterdam. Amsterdam. Writing Amsterdam
Canals my sweet sad love song to distant friends.
* Hosting 2 annual Songwriter's Songs and Stories evenings at Huntsville Festival
of the Arts and performing with great Canadian artists Stephen Fearing, Katherine
Wheatley, Jian Ghomeshi and folk icon Valdy.
* 'Who Will Say', Betty's Room, track #6, picked up by Gallaxie Satellite Radio
for continual play on the Adult Alternative station. “Choose That Road”,
track #2, added a few months later.
* ‘Monday Song', Betty's Room, track #9, picked up for television airplay
on Showcase's, “Queer as Folk”.
* Meeting Bert Pijpers, head of Rounder/Europe and true music lover, in Cannes
and playing some tracks from Betty's Room. Bert loving the CD and deciding to
release Betty's Room in 5 territories across Europe on his personal label, Me
and My Records.
* Calling the sales team at the UK Distributors, Proper Music, and finding
out I was their top pick of female singer songwriters.
* 4 star review of Betty's Room in Heaven Magazine, Belgium, among others.
* Finding my hard working plug in and go Takamine that looks like the one Dave
Matthews plays sometimes.
* Building a studio so close to my kitchen I can carry my coffee in a real
mug and wander over in my pj's.
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