My
New Years Resolutions
by Kristin Sweetland
1. I WILL learn how to play Rock and Roll
guitar.
2. I will not procrastinate taking out the compost.
3. I will stay eternally true to Operation Buns of Steel.
4. I will write everyday.
5. I will eat more chocolate.

Baby on the Sheepskin
For more new photos of my world click
here!
December 24th, 2004
Victoria, BC
A very merry Ho to you all.
I'm now happily settled into my beautiful new little apartment (at least
for a while...) and am getting ready to seriously enjoy the festive merriment
encroaching! Making cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes and there'll likely
be a Tofurkey involved too.... Mmmm fake meat. And my personal very favourite
addition to the festive libation department this season is Flaming Glogg.
It's a Swedish hot mulled spicy wine that must certainly have magical
curing properties, I know it. Try it yourselves:
Flaming Glogg
1 bottle red wine
Aquavitae of choice (brandy, whisky, yada ya)
Snert of fresh lemon juice
Cinnamon sticks
Cloves
Allspice
Orange Peel
1 cup raisins
inf1 cup almonds
Sweetener of choice (I like honey.)
Put wine, spices, orange peel, raisins and almonds in
pot. Simmer 'till almost boiling. Serve warm. Strain if ye like. Don't
forget to drop some raisins and almonds into each glass. Mmmm.
adieu
adieu, and happy drinking...
November 21st, 2004
Motel-Land Victoria,
BC
Have been living it up in
the Crystal Court Motel in beautiful downtown Victoria... Yeehaw! From
my oh-so originally shaped motel room (with walls that flow right into
the ceiling) I have a wicked view of the Royal BC Museum totem poles with
the roof of the epic Empress Hotel rising just beyond. I'm a happy girl.
Not to mention cable tv and lots of MuchMusic! I admit, I love the cheesy
pop videos. Gwen Stefani is rockin' my world and Mmmm Eminem...

"Vanquished"by Emily
Carr
oil on canvas 1945
November 13, 2004
Tofino, BC
After much apartment looking
in the city I had to run away up north to Pacific
Rim National Park for some wet and rainy unbridled ocean! Have
been doing much hiking in the oh-so sodden forests all irridescent green
and bright orange with cedar mulch. And it's salmon running season to
boot! Have also been spending lots of time inside my fine & sleazy
motel working on new tunes. Am feeling inspired by Emily Carr and her
deep connection to the spirit of the west coast forest. Have been working
on a song inspired by my favourite Carr painting "Vanquished."
This place is truly like no other. And not to mention all the insanely
delicious restaurants up here! Had one of the most incredible meals of
my entire life this evening at the Wickaninnish
Inn. Huge gorgeous windows overlooking the crashing waves and
rocky coast line while some fine gentleman serves you hot Belgian truffle
cake with Marzipanfoam... I almost
died.
October 29, 2004
Victoria, BC
Here I am, finally, in the arms of my beloved Vancouver Island. The drive
across the mountains was snowwwy and mildly scary at times, but alas,
all went well! It feels good to know I won't be going too far for at least
a little while. Time to settle in for some winter months and work hard
on the business of the new album. All very exciting. (If only I could
find a place to live!) But I trust in the Universe to deliver me wherever
I am meant to go. And it might indeed be Northwards, up into the Wilderness.
We'll see. I'll keep you all updated. Till then I'm planning on seriously
celebrating the advent of my favourite holiday: Oooky Spooky Eve. Got
a killer costume planned this year, so look out1 (I'll post pictures for
sure...)
adieu for now,
Your Faithful Me
October 18, 2004
Edmonton, AB
Greetings from snowy and seriously brrrrr
Edmonton. Have been here for a couple days visiting with the amazing Mr.
Bill Bourne. Bill's been giving me some
Flamenco guitar lessons (lucky me) and I've been struggling desperately
to wrap my brain (and fingers) around the crazy rhythms and such.... It's
going to take me a while but I am DETERMINED to learn! Besides the painful
negative temperatures I have been thoroughly enjoying my adventures through
the Canadian prairies. Driving has been good, but my gosh it is SUCH a
long country, isn't it? Had a truly incredible gig the other night in
Calgary with amazing Wailin'
Jennys. They were so good I cried all the way through their
second set. It was a very magical evening and I can't wait to cross paths
with those fabulous women again, soon. I'm here in Edmonton for another
day or so- enough time to get mey hair chopped and dyed darrrrk ( in honour
of the dark half of the year.) Then off though the mountains to the coast
I go... Other Ocean, here I come.
xoxo,
Lady of ye Frozen Road
October 13, 2004
Thunder Bay, ON
Sooo sleepy in the sleazy
motel... and still such a long country to go! Had a lovely drive today,
the blue blue sky, the sweet golden sun and the most beautiful autumn
colours I have ever in my life seen. I remain in jaw-dropping awe at the
glory of nature. And I feel so lucky to have this life that allows me
to witness such things! O Glory! Now it's off to sleep next to the railroad
tracks with the choo choo chooing and the ever-impending dreamland...

Scene from the glorious autumn forest...by
Marilyn Sweetland
October 10, 2004
London, Ontario
Hey folks, It's a crazy time!
I've been home in Ontario for a few days only and have spent this time
madly packing up all my worldly goods and getting ready to head westerly
for the winter (where I'm very much planning on hibernating.) There's
tons of new excitement on the horizon... so stay tuned!! Next
plan: Pack van, start driving..... again.
September 22, 2004
Still down in
the holler...
HAPPY AUTUMN EVERYONE.
Here I am still, in the little log cabin in the mountains. Never did make
it down to Asheville due to unfortunate amounts of hurricaning. Instead,
we decided to stay here and make sure the roof didn't blow off from one
of the dozens of tornados that touched down in the area. It would have
been truly tragique if we came home to kittens in the land of Oz. I have
been making good with my "time off" by working like crazy. Have
been designing posters and flyers for gigs and practicing praticing practicing
like a total nerd. My dad (because he's the best) found me a Learn
How to Play Flamenco Guitar DVD set from Homespun
Tapes. It rocks, and I'm learning tons. Just wait till I put
on my Flamenco shoes with the clickety-clacks and begin singing, playing
and dancing all at once... Yeow! Can't wait.
We're having an Equinox bonfire party this eve. Too bad yer all so far
away!!! xox
September 15, 2004
Gid Brown Hollow, VA
Greetings once again from the deeeep damp dank beautiful Virginia holler.
I am finally coming out of my week of rest and recuperative comatosis
from post summer festival/driving season exhaustion. I had the worlds
best summer... too much delight to even mention. But I will say, I did
well earn my resting. Have been keeping busy in the holler by reading
very good books. Lots of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, poems and biographies
(I admit, I've got a dead white guy crush on him...) And a good healthy
amount of Dante's Inferno, cause a little bit of Hell fires never hurt
anyone. Also keeping up with the serious practicing of crazy Bach-ness
and working on material for the new album... Yum. Now it's back to the
go go go of business and all the things I gotta do before I hit the road
again... Ahhhh the life. Will be here for a few more days, then down to
Asheville, North Carolina to visit my pal Chuck Brodsky (Hurricane Ivan
permitting) then back for Virginia festivals and off off off to NYC!!!
Here I goooooooo....
Miss Jenny 'n Me at Summerfolk
more
summer festival photos here
August 19, 2004
On board the M.S. Chi-Cheemaun crossing Georgian Bay...
The glorious sun shineth down on the decks of the Chi-Cheemaun, a true
Ontario institution of Ferry-dom. Just ate too many greezy fries and am
so grateful that the waves aren't rockier... or it would be bad. Just
had the most beautiful drive ever down around Lake Superior. Bless Ontario
where you can drive for three days and still be in the same province (and
still have a long way to go...) Have been listening to Jack Kerouac's
"On the Road" book on tape while I drive. Cannot believe I never
before experienced the brilliance of this true road classic. I am now
once again thoroughly renewed in my compulsion to continue my journeying
on this crazy ever-road thriving off every delicious morcel of my outrageous
adventures. Cause life is far too short not to be fantastically mad and
brilliantly insane.
Hence I drive on....
August 16, 2004
Thunder Bay, ON
You
gotta love the Kingsway Motel. Every half hour or so the train rips by
shaking the walls like crazy and throwing
up a wild wind so stong you can feel it through your window in bed...
Have been watching the Oympics in French (practicing understanding for
my impending spring birthday trip to gaie Paris!) Gymnastics is my official
favourite. Man, I'd give anything to be able to do that. Had a long day
of driving from Ear Falls today. Spent this past weekend at the Trout
Forest Music Festival having the greatest time up in the green
lucious Northlands... And saw my very first Northern Lights ever... It
was more beautiful then I could have ever imagined. I am such a lucky
girl to have this life. Let me tell ya.
July 29, 2004
London, Ontario
Ladies and Gents,
Lucky me has been relaxing at home for the last 10 days and it has been
SOO good for me. Lots of sleeping and cleaning of belongings has been
going on, not to mention lots of going to the movies... Saw Fahrenheit
9/11 finally. Michael Moore is a hero of the truest kind. Am
off to Blue Skies festival tomorrow and then up up up to Northern Ontario.
Universe, let the mosquitos be kind.
Amen.
Talk soon, K
June 29, 2004
Gid Brown Hollow, VA
Little Darlings,
Once again, down in the holler I am. Been doin' some serious sittin' on
the stoop like a good mountain-chick pickin' away at at my banjo. (altho,
I've still got a lonnnng way to go in the banjo department...) Have also
been working so incredibly hard at learning Bach's
Cello suite no. 1 in G major on
guitar (but I'm a delinquent and I play it in D) which I've been studying
for possible inclusion on my currently gestating NEWalbum... (Shhhh, don't
tell.) I've got a local gig tonight at the Smokehouse
Winery -source of the supremely delicious Smokehouse honey
mead I've become famous for toting around the world with me... Yum-a-rama.
. All is delightful in the glorious Shenandoahs and I'm remembering why
it is so crucial for me to get back to nature. And so far I've only found
two snakes in my bed: The first, dropped into my lap by a proud kitten
named Evilina. The second fell from the ceiling onto my HEAD while I was
curled up in bed watching Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman DVDs on my laptop minding
my own business.... (Good thing I'm a toughy.)
I'm here for a few more days and then up up up and away to northern Michigan
where my summer festival season officially begineths at
Blissfest.
Check out the Shows
page for my whole summer lineup. Hope to see all y'all out there...
till then, xo
La K

Ahhhh, Nothing like lounging in front of
a slag heap and toxic runoff pond in your pink satin armour.
Hallelujah, summer's here!!
June 20th, 2004
Brooklyn, NY
Hot damn! Summer in the city. I've made a
wee pilgramage down to Brooklyn to visit my friends Chris
Brown and Kate Fenner. I gotta say, this is my first official
trip to NYC and I am having the time of my life!! Last night Chris and
Kate opened for B.B. King at his Times Square blues club "BB
King's" and they rocked the house man!! Got treated like
a total princess by the whole world and got fed full of food and yummy
drinks whilst lounging in a cushy booth with the fabulously talented goddesses
Sarah Harmer and Julie MacDonald. I am officially the luckiest girl in
the world. Tonight I'll be opening for Chris and Kate at the Living
Room and celebrating the summer solstice
crouched in some doorway in some alley on the Lower East Side. Tomorrow
going to explore the city more... And there will definitely be shopping
involved.
I love my life.
Amen.

The view from here...
June 2nd, 2004
Poplar Beach, ON
How glorious Lake Huron is shimmering in the golden red setting sun...
Full moon bonfire tonight on the beach. I've got some things to burn.
(Let me tell ya.) Bring it on!!
burn baby burn,
xox
K
May 20th, 2004
London, Ontario
Had the most incredible gig last night at
the London
Music Club -a fabulous new venue in town that I am so psyched
about! Played with my good pal Sam Masich and very special guest Jane
Siberry to a house of oh-so appreciative and wonderful folks. Am still
gliding down from the glory... Other than that me myself and I have been
getting gots of exercise running about the beautiful forests as well as
spending lotsa time at the compter working hard on businessy stuff. I've
been spending most of my nights painting painting painting (as in on canvas-
not walls) whilst listening to high-quality late night talk radio. Must
keep abreast of important worldly affairs, says I.
Hi-ho Hi-ho, now back to work I go...
May
1st, 2004
Toronto, ON
Happy Happy May Day. How I love this day!
Must be 'cause I'm such a May baby ( I get to turn 29 on the 10th....)
Am in Toronto with my dear friends Kt, Missy and Melissa celebrating the
day with honey mead and possible excursions out-on-the-town. So long as
I get to dress up- I don't care. Tomorrow I head back to London to prepare
for a month of house and poodle-sitting while my parents are gallivanting
about Italy. Lucky them. I'll wash the dishes take out the garbage and
mow the lawn. My time has come.
will report soon,
Lady K

With Darlene
at the Townehouse in Sudbury... more
photos here!
April 16th, 2004
Sudbury, ON
After a big lonnnng drive 'cross my home
and native land I am settled for a few days in the Big Nickel. Have been
kickin' it up with my darling Darlene and dear pal Carrie who has been
gracious enough to house this travelling wayfaring songstress... The time
here has been extremely creatively productive and Dar and I have been
practicing our sword and hoop dance (among other performatory extravaganzas...)
And have had many a video and photo shoot to boot. Filmmaker Peter
Zwarich took some insane footage of me doin' my sword thang
and edited it together with some footage from last night's gig at the
Townehouse. It's worth checking out, man. Click on the link in the upper
left column of this page... (Don't forget to download and updated version
of Quicktime first.. or it won't work!) As well, masterful Sudbury photographer
David Wiewel
was so kind as to snap a ton of mindblowing images of all the action.
You'll notice his photos all over this page, but click on the links to
see more...
Can't believe I'm finally back in Ontario...
It's been 22,000 kms of true glory.
Thanks Universe for protecting me all the way!
Welcome home Sweetyland.
April 5, 2004
Edmonton, AB
I love Edmonton. Have already been here for
a week and I'm just not ready to leave yet! Rolled into town on March
27th to play a house concert at Bill
Bourne's place. Bill and his partner Tanja just moved into
a gorgeous house near downtown Edmonton they're calling it"The
Beach House" and are beginning a house concert series
there. Yay for that! So I got to come be the inaugural house concert performer
for what ended up also being their housewarming party- and Bill's 50th
birthday party! Felt so lucky to be a part. Since then I've had some great
gigs with Bill around and about not to mention the Junos were in town
this weekend so there have been much festivites pertaining to that. I
had a Junofest gig on Friday night that will go down in hisory as one
of the most memorable gigs of my life EVER. The Northern
Lights Folk Club sponsored two nights of Junofest performances
at The Masonic Temple and I got to play in the Masonic Inner Lodge Room.
There was the big checkerboard floor with the star in the middle and the
big thrones and everything. I mean, how many times in her life does a
girl get to perform in an inner sanctum, man? And it sounded sooo beautiful.
Counting my blessings as we speaketh... This tour has really been the
best ever. And that's saying a lot. And more adventures yet to come! talk
soon...
love,
Lady K
March 22, 2004
Victoria, BC
Finally it's Spring! weeeeeee! Ohhh how Victoria
always feels like coming home. I've been a bit delinquent at updating
my adventures of late for a couple reasons. Firstly, California was such
a blast.... On my. And I was very distrated by inordinate amounts of Fun.
Folk Alliance was truly unbelievable this year and the Little Red Hen
room rocked the house!! Thanks so much to everyone who paricipated. After
the conference I headed up to LA with pals Po' Girl and Chris Brown &
Kate Fenner for yet another adventure in the City of Angels. Apparently
I had more fun that my wee body could handle as I ended up coming down
with a super nasty case of strep throat and had to find myself an emergency
clinic fast.... Ended up passed out in a Motel 6 in Santa Barbara county
for five days on heavy doses of antibiotics for my throat and an ear infection
watching nothin' but X Files reruns. La Pauvre K.
But all is oh-so well now and I'm so glad to be back on my beloved Vancouver
Island. Time for resting and recuperating and frolicking about the beautiful
forests...
There's no place like home.

Little
Red Hen showcase poster for San Diego Folk
Alliance 2004
click
here to enlarge poster
NEW!-
Check out the full Little
Red Hen Folk Alliance Schedule!
February 26-29 San Diego, CA
February 24,2004
Hollywood, CA
Holeeee Hollywood girl! I'm so incredibly
excited as this is my very first ever trip ever to tinselly-town! Got
myself a nice Hollywood sleazy motel and am heading out for some serious
sight-seeing. Wanna go check out the Foulcault Pendulum at the Griffith
Observatory and then hit Beverly Hills for some very impotant shoe shopping.
Not to mention I could really use a manicure, pedicure and maybe even
a massage.... go team decadence!
February
22, 2004
Santa Cruz, CA
Ohhhhh California. Thank the Goddess! Mmmmmm
ocean and sun and all things sweet. And believe it or not the ocean even
washed up dozens of roses at my feet when I finally arrived...(no lying.)
This is the life. And Maybelle did indeedy recover rom her bout of convulsing
and I found out I have a big time new power steering leak brought on somehow
by the painful painful desert coldness. Just need to check the fluid levels
all-the-time now cause I can't afford to get it fixed at the moment. All
is better now that I get to lie on sunny beaches and eat sushi. Even more
fun times to come.... can't wait.
Halellujah to that!
xo
Cali- K
February 16, 2004
Amarillo, TX
Oh my, poor Maybelle the van is having a
slight hard time of it. Seems she couldn't quite handle the intense searing
desert-cold of last niht and she is having a mild case of convulsing disorder
out in the motel parking lot. had to go find myself some mechanic with
no teeth to take a look at her. Hope I make it to New Mexico tody man...
I guess we'll see!
cross yer fingers for me- and send love to
Maybelle.
love love,
Krissy-kins
February 14, 2004
Shreveport, LA
Happy Valentines Day, kittens. Today I woke up in my Mississippi sleazeball
motel and decided to make a pilgramage to find myself a Valentine. Drove
all through northern Louisiana past Shreveport -almost to Texas- through
some pine bayou or another and down some dirt road or two while big fat
juicy snowflakes fell on my head. Then finally, I reached Shiloh Baptist
Chuch andthere I found Leadbelly's
grave. Brought him the stalk and bud of cotton I was given
after playing my Hugh's Room Leadbelly impersonation show as his Valentines
present... Thanks for writing all those precious Timeless tunes Huddie
Ledbetter. I know there was the small problem of you bein' a bit of a
murderer and all... But, you know, at least you did it for the passionate
torturous glory of love (altho it was still very wrong!) But you know,
I believe it was that intense passionate edge you had that really made
your songs stand the test of time. And they do. Thanks for that.
Onward Ho to Texas in the morn'!
xo
LadyValentine
February 13, 2004
Deactur, GA
Have been having a blast in Georgia. Played
a show last night at Edddie's atic with my pal Molly Bancroft. Shows at
Eddie's are always SO good... The people are so great and the sound is
always highly superior. . And some folks fron Phlashnet came out to record
the show for live feed off the inernet- so you can even listen!!
Listen
to a live clip from my Eddie's Attic show!
xxoo
February 9, 2004
Sperryville, VA
I must say, 'tis rather brrrr down here in the frozen
Virginia holler! Have been visting the Blue Ridge Mountains and steeping
in the glory of rural Virginia yum. Played an amazing gig down here on
Saturday night at the Smokehouse Winery. Got to sing all night in a gorgeors
little stone cottagy thatched roof medievally inn-like room in the middle
of the beautiful Virginia Nowheres... Deliciosa. Now 'm off down south
for some time in sunny Georgia, and some hopeful warmer-than-here-ness...
talk soon
love,
me
January 27, 2004
London, Ontario
Hello my lovelies. Here I am snuggled up to my computer as yet another
gynormous winter storm comes down upon us. I must say, I am getting rather
sick of being painfully freezing cold all the time! And not to mention
the whole scraping layers of ice of your windshield thing whilst cursing
like a sailor.... But alas, my time in the serious brrr-fest is about
to come to a close as I pack up and hit the road in one week! Hoooray!
First stop, the enchanting Virginia holler as I go have a visit with my
friend Jenny in her 313 year old log cabin that use'ta belong to a bootlegger...
Altho, last I heard the pipes were frozen, the chimney was in rip-roaring
danger of bursting into flames any second and the power outlets were smoking...
Hmmmm. I guess we'll see how that goes. From Virginia it's off to Georgia
for some exciting times down south and then -oh my- I'm drivin' to California!
There will most certainly be many updates from the road of the encroaching
adventures so be sure to peek back here soon!
xoxo
K

Mmmmm... Dreaming of Summer.
January 3rd, 2004
Toronto, ON
Happy New Year sweety-pies. I've been having
a grand ol' time in Metropolitan Torontonia for the past couple of days.
Played and AMAZING show at Hugh's
Room last night called "Girls Play Boys" with the
delicious likes of Katherine Wheatley, Arlene Bishop, Suzie Vinnick (who
SO rocked the house with her Supertramp-express) and many more... Got
to dress up in a girlie-tux with bowtie and sing Leadbelly songs all night.
I absolutely loved it. Now I'm off to lounge in front of the telly for
some quality repeats of Angel,
coffee to the max and some serious relax-n-recuperation time... Mmmmm
Angel.
NOTES FROM THE ROAD ARCHIVES
2009 ... 2008 ... 2007 ... 2006 ... 2005 ... 2004 ... 2003 ... 2002 ... 2001
home/news/music/tour/bio/galleries/store/press/media/links/contact