Happy New Year! Wow! A new year, a new decade and a much belated and needed update. So much has happened since May of 2007 it is hard to believe that 2 and a half years have gone by without keeping up the site. So without further a due, here we go.
Shows with BAM in Ottawa and the United States as well as shows with Écoute Ça across Quebec. (See shows)
BAM is in residence at the Maison des Arts of Laval for spring break. (See photo)
I accompanied the artist, Nika Cantabile, for a Cogeco television performance. The cover of the song Truth by the group Arashi (a Japanese group) a few months later finds itself on the net and suddenly becomes a mini underground hit in Japan! Wow! Domo arigato!
3-week tour in northern Ontario with BAM. We play rarely visited corners and the audiences enjoyed the show extensively. In Sioux Lookout, I meet with a Native American healer who tells me the REAL problems that are happening on the reserves. Wow! Within an hour, I received more education about their culture that all of my 4 years as a guide in major Canadian museums. (Civilization and McCord) (See pictures) We return home exhausted from all the traveling because Ontario is indeed a huge province.
Shows in the United States and Québec with BAM.
A BIG MONTH FOR U.S. BAM gets invited to play at the Grand Rire Bleu of Quebec. We prepare for a 5 minute number to be judged by none other than a childhood hero of mine, Michel Courtemanche! He is the director for the gala of Dominic et Martin, the presenters of night we are trying to obtain a spot in. We meet in Montreal at Showmédia studios. We play our number and Michel laughs and has fun during it all! Ouff, all of a sudden the pressure disappears and we shake hands and get an OK from him! Yes! We redo the number once again and fixed up a few details.The whole experience is done in under an hour! And then, few weeks later, we play with alongside comedians such as Mike Ward, Peter Macleod and Jean Michel Anctil. Finally, after 10 years of world tours we start to be recognized in our own back yard. And it feels good.
In the second week of june, we make the ultimate experience of the southern United States. We are go to Tennessee with a invitation to play for none other than the goddess of country music herself, Miss Dolly Parton at her amusement park, Dollywood! We experience of course all the clichés: the food with huge portions of meat, the heavy accent from the South, and we see a tourist street that is so mind boggling bright at night that it makes the famous Las Vegas Boulevard strip look as if it were a small street of a Quebec village! Incredible! (see pictures) But we also experience the southern hospitality that is indeed very friendly. And as surreal has this visit was, we left with a bit of sadness the crew that welcomed us during our stay at the park. We were also graced with the presence of the lady herself, Dolly, who introduced us to the crowd during our first performance. Wow! BAM and Dolly Parton!? Who knew? (see photos)
We are invited to the festival été de Québec, from July 12 to 14. During those 3 days I have fun like I’m a 12 year old vacationing for the first time in the city as I rediscover it’s charms.Yes, it is a touristy area (sigh) but the historical side of it always gets to me. (Ah, history!) Not to mention that the beautiful summer temperature was present making it a nice sojourn. It also reminded me to wear sunscreen while riding my bike in the sun! Ouch!
Then in late july we played at Just for Laughs Festival. The experience is met with mixed emotions I must admit. The festival is big and the visibility is there, but some arrangements makes us work hard to gain the attention of people passing near the outdoor stage. The problem is that, alongside our stage are other shows not too far also fighting for the same crowd. A detail we though a festival of this grandeur would have though of, yet helas didn't. In short, too many things are happening at once in one place. Making it difficult for people to know which show to watch. But those who saw our show loved it. As this new convert stated in is blog. (See link)
In late july, I take a vacation in P.E.I. WOW! What a beautiful province. I will definitely return soon.
BAM is up north, wayyyy north! In CHIBOUGAMAU to be precise.! I decide to travel by my favorite mode of transportation; by motorcycle! (see photo) What a trip! The more we rode upwards, the more layers of clothes piled up on us. The cold, even in august, was ever present. But what a beautiful place!! This was my first time visiting the famous Lac St-Jean. We did it in two days with a stop in Roberval, where I tasted for the first time what my friends from the Lac call REAL mince meat pie! Once " in town " on the second day, I realize that others have also made the journey by motorbike. And, as all riders do, we share the details of the trip between us. Ah, the family of motorcyclists. If only drivers of cars had the same kindred spirit, accidents would be a rare occasion. We share the weekend with France D’amour and Renée Martel. We return home the next day in Montreal in one day! An 8+ hours trip on a bike. Our buts were indeed sore!
Other than BAM, I began working with an artist named Pamela Brottes from Montreal. She is a singer in the Rock Soul category (a style that seems to come back to me) Her compositions are very promising, and her writing is far advanced for her age. I'm excited to work with a new band after Tara Lee Combs, who has unfortunately ceased all activities at the moment.
A take bit of respite from the summer. I begin studies at the University of Montreal to finish my bachelor's degree in Library studies.
BAM goes back to its source: Europe! We're going for a week to do 4 shows in France and Belgium. Oh, how we ate well in France! And the French were very happy to tell us they love the cousins! (Quebequers)
We tour in New Brunswick for 2 weeks. BAM returns even more to its roots with performances in local New Brunswick schools. Ouff, how long ago did we used to do this?? But no matter, the kids love it and they make us relive at times parts of our childhood. Especially in Dieppe and it’s high school, Mathieu Martin, who were really into it! I salute you guys!
Demo recording for Pamela Brottes. 5 tunes in one day! I look forward to hear the final result.
Two shows in Hull with BAM, one of which I'll remember for a long time! Hen France! Hahahaha. I concentrate on studies and gifts shopping for xmas and take a well deserved break. Happy New Year!
2009 - 2008 - 2007 (soon available)