2006NOTES
FROM THE ROAD ARCHIVES
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Check out the Sweetland
Scrolls,the craziest new addition to the Kristin Sweetland
website...
At the Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival
photos by Steve Johnson (more
photos)
December 21st, 2006
London, ONWelcome Dear Winter,
be gentle - but not too
All those glaciers melting
in the Arctic long for you
xx
K
The Bloodfruit Tree- Victoria, BC.... more photosNovember 8th, 2006
Toronto, ON
Am back from my wild travels and adventures out West and what a time I had... Went out purely for visitation and vacation with no gigs scheduled. This was good as I came down with a wretched case of the plague as soon as I got out there (ick) and spent a good flu-poisoned week lying around in the Crystal Court Motel. Still managed to kick it up Victoria-core as soon as I was no longer poisoned -but had to leave so sadly soon. Had a great time with my pals from Outlaw Social, went to visit Emily Carr's grave in Ross Bay cemetery, climbed my favourite tree in Beacon Hill park and ate at some of the most delicious restaurants in the world. Home now. Time for working. Proposals to write, practice practice.... and I'm recording again SOON! xxoo Kristin
October 31, 2006
Victoria, BC
Happy Halloween, pretty ones. In town to see my dear friends on my favourite festive eve... xo
Self-portrait at the London Music Club ShowOctober 25, 2006
Toronto, ONJust packing up my things before I head out to the airport to fly West... Vancouver for a few days, then Victoria for Halloween. Have had some great days in Toronto.. work done, had fun, dances danced, food eaten, wine drank... good times. Lots to do before I resume recording upon my return! Bought a little 1960s plywood Capri parlour guitar to tote on the plane and play around with. It can come to the forest. Must keep writing....Onward Ho. Will report soon. xoxox
October 13, 2006
Ottawa, ONHappy Friday the 13th. I'm In Ottawa for the yearly Ontario Council of Folk Festivals conference... It's always such a good time with droves and droves of musical compadres I haven't seen in ages. Sleeping is usually not an option, but I'm not sure I'll survive that kind of behaviour this year. Have been crazy burning-the-candle lately working hard on new album plans and all related business. All I can seem to do is crawl into bed with the new Lemony Snicket book that came out today and Z z z z z z z z z z z z z.......
September 19, 2006
Toronto, OntarioSweethearts,
I am so very pleased to announce that I've officially begun the recording process for my new album..... Hooray!!!! I'll be working again with the amazing Ken Whiteley as producer at his Toronto studio. Currently we're recording four songs for funding/grant application purposes and will be proceeding with project completion later in the fall. Some new tracks will be posted for fun here on my website and on my Myspace page. I'll keep you posted. xo
August 27, 2006
London, ONHome safe for a few weeks of poodlesitting for my family while they're away on va-cay... I heart alone-time. New photos from my Eastward adventure are posted and can be found here! Lots of things coming up for me soon -so for now it's just me, a room, and a guitar in preparation for it all.... xxx
Quelle heure est-il? more photos
August 18, 2006
Montréal, QCIn Montréal for a few days of delicious vacation. Am so so so happy to be here. Climbed the old clock tower at the port in Vieux-Montréal this eve (see photo above). Had a bit of an adventure at the top when I ran into a strange man who was looking nervous, sweating and holding a suspicious briefcase.... Made it out alive for the most delicious dinner date of my life at Restaurant Pierre du Calvet.... seriously, seriously recommended.
August 14, 2006
Lunenburg, NSI have been in Nova Scotia this past weekend at the glorious Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival. I had THE most amazing time this weekend at what was indeed one of the best festivals I have ever attended. I have been so impressed by the people here, their true love for this music and their willingness to just get up and sing!! I participated in the best Sunday morning Folkfest gospel wokshop I have ever witnessed and sang my little lungs out withthe likes of Suzie Vinnick and the Marigolds, the Johnson Girls from NYC, the sweet croonin' Rose Cousins and so many more.... needless to say, I'm a happy girl. Off to Halifax for a couple days, then adventuring to Montreal, oui oui, bien sure....xoxox
Check out new photos from the Home County Folk Festival hereAugust 8, 2006
London, Ontario
Just a little note to say "Bonjour" before I hop in Ruby the Van and head eastward towards Nova Scotia in the morning.... Tomorrow night I stop in Toronto for my weekly Flamenco dance class at Esmeralda Enrique's Academy of Spanish dance. Then it's off to the glorious ocean and the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival for me! I am so SO excited for the adventures...So here's the NEW ALBUM UPDATE! I am officially scheduled to begin recording September 15th at Casa Wroxton studio in Toronto with the amazing Ken Whiteley. After much thought and research I have decided to go back and make another album with Ken as he is just simply and truly amazing. Rough mixes of some new tunes will be posted on the site in early October, for fun and to give you all a little sampler of what's to come.... Ohhh yeah!
July 16, 2006
London, OntarioHome for a spell, finger healing well, it's hot as h-e-l-l... (but summer is swell!) xx
July 8, 2006
Sudbury, OntarioIn Sudbury for the weekend at the Northern Lights Festival Boreal. Having a fabulous time kickin' it with my dearest musical compadre Darlene and the incomparable Ken Whiteley who joined me for my mainstage set last night. Had a bad sharp-thing accident this morning and sliced off a serious chunk off the top my pinky finger on my left (fretting) hand . It is NOT GOOD. The blood floweth freely and won't stop. Can't play with it right now. I am she of the giant mummy-bandaged finger. booooooo. However the show must go on, and I am planning on playing my ass off this weekend, regardless. Take no prisoners!!
P.S. Owwwww!
Autumn in Virginia v.s. the painting above my hotel bed in Sudbury
kinda creepy eh?... click on images to enlargeJuly 4th, 2006
Toronto, ONWow, did I really not write for the whole month of June? So sorry about that! I have been working so hard -harder than ever... Much much to tell, but I'll save it for when I have time to elaborate. Am currently snuggled in a corner in my pals Kt and Miss M's apartment in Toronto preparing to drive North North tomorrow. Beginning of my summer festival season this weekend at the Northern Lights Festival Boreal. xoxo Y'ull hear from me very verysoon.
May 26, 2006
London, ON
working... working... working....
xxx K
May 18th, 2006
Poplar Beach, ONAm back up at the cottage for five more days of solitary work and hibernation. This is likely to be my last solo voyage to Poplar Beach as the cottage is getting sold soon! (boo.) But I am so so so grateful for all the magical and incredible times I have spent here over the last 15 years. I will never forget. I have been deep deep into my writing and studies this trip. It has been totally drippy wet and unfortunate out, so I haven't been spending much time running about the forests and beaches. Instead I have been focusing inward and soaking my brain full of new knowledge. Have been working on a bunch of new tunes- both vocal and instrumentals. Am writing a song in honour of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and my favourite poem Kubla Khan . It is for him and all other artists and poets who had -and still have to- go to the very deepest darkest writhing pits of torturous artistic despair in order to birth their great art. But I'd know nothing about that... xo, K
May 2nd, 2006
Poplar Beach, ON
LOVE the spring, all the wee trilliums abloom and little birdies aplenty. Am at the cottage on Lake Huron for some more crazy-making creative hibernation. This always involves various kinds of writhing and flailing and tearing of one's hair out (and often -in the finer season- some serious barbecuing and triple-fermented beer-drinking) ...until you finally arrive at some crafty and glorious self-satisfied epiphone. Love that! Worth it everytime. Makes me want to do gymnastics at sunset on a cliff edge, (see above) -o yeah!Purrrr. xxo
A Streetcar named Sweetland... more Toronto photosApril 27, 2006
Toronto, ONSunny and glorious, so happy to be back in the city. Am updating this page with all the journals and photos I haven't been able to post of late due to my far-away from technology travels... All has been so good and hope you anjoy reading (and peekin' at) all the fine trouble I've been up to. More news from the homefront on future endeavours, new album update and some new website features coming soon! Stay tuned! xxoo K
April 22, 2006
East Lansing, MIHanging out in my super-sweet hotel suite after playing an afternoon gig at the Creole Gallery for Ladyfest Lansing. It was a crazy day in dowtown Lansing as the streets were all blocked off and closed due to some serious protests and scary rallies goin' down... It was like a total ghost town in the middle of a gorgeous spring Saturday. Very strange. My parents came to town for the weekend to see me and visit my dad's old scholarly haunts at Michigan Sate University. A serious honorable mention for the most fun I had in Lansing goes to James Keelaghan who happened to be playing a gig for the Ten Pound Fiddle Coffeehouse the night before my show. He had me up for a spontaneous rendition of Battle Hymn with him and bassist Hugh McMillan. The show was amazing. James rules. So much fun. xxx
Adieu, Adieu Virginia... (for now) more photosApril 16, 2006
Gid Brown Hollow, VAIn Virginia briefly to pay my final respects to my best friend Jenny's little 317 year old cabin in the holler. In February she married the amazing Chuck Brodsky and now they're gonna find themselves a little dream home somewhere in North Carolina. Adieu Virginia, Bonjour Asheville. Sweet! I wil miss it here, but I look forward to visiting them down in that gorgeous place. Had a superb Easter dinner tonight at the home of Paul Reisler and Julie Portman, two of my most beloved performatory and musical mentors. Food was delish. How I have grown to love Virginia -and the amazing people here- since i started visiting Rappahannock County 5 years ago. So so so so unfathomably beautiful. I will always come back here, forever.
The view from here... more photos
April 1, 2006
Zihuatanejo, MexicoI have been in Mexico for a week perfroming at the Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival. Am having the most fascinating adventure. The festival is AMAZING and I can't believe the incredible talent of all my fellow performers. I had not met or heard any of them before I arrived in Zihua and have been absolutely blown away. Just to name a few, check out Jocelyn Celaya (kicks unbelievable ass with her "Radical Classical" performatory glory), David Feder (incredible, incredible) Ricardo Sweatt Rodriguez (magical acoustic fusion) Michael Kent Smith (musician/artist extraordinaire) and Lee Barbour (sweet sweet jazz.) Not to mention everyone else... Mexico is so beautiful and the people here are just lovely. I have been minorly suffering with heat-stroke and a mild bout of foreign-country-itis (translation: my body hates food.) But have been enjoying lotsa fresh coconut juice (chop the top off a coconut and stick a straw in it-style...) and have been doing much lazy pina-colada beach lounging. The ocean is perfect temperature for floating.... Mmmmmm happy girl.
Edge of the Icy World... more photosFebruary 28, 2006
Poplar Beach, ON
Back from the "balmy" south to my winter wonderland of vast frozen lake-dom. Just got in from playing in the snow. O How fun! Now, time to snuggle up with the fire and finish a new song or two... Ohh yeah. xxx
With drummer extraordinaire Paul Brennan
White Oak Canyon, VirginiaFebruary 20, 2006
Sperryville, VA
Greetings from the beautiful rolling hills and hollers of Rappahannock County, Virginia. Am staying in a little cabin at the Smokehouse Winery with a few of my most beloved friends. We all came down from Canada for my best friend's wedding which was, I must say, justa bout the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Have been living it up holler-core, building lots of fires and wandering up through the glorious Shenandoahs... happy happy.
xo
home soon, KFebruary 14, 2006
London, ON
Happy Valentines Day, my sweeties. Am hittin' the road ASAP southwards to Virginia. My best friend Jenny is getting married to singer-songwriter compadre Chuck Brodsky this weekend in a wee special ceremony down in the holler. So looking forward to all the celebrations! Will certainly report on the adventures that transpire and will be posting photos for sure (u know me). Wishing you all beds full of roses and wine.
xxx Kristin
Snow-AngelFebruary 7, 2006
Poplar Beach, ONWell, the storm finally broke and it was a bad one. Spent 2 days without power in the frigid brrrr curled up close to the woodstove. Had to haul borrowed wood from 2 cottages down along the ferociously blustery shoreline cliff with the ice pellets blowing in my eyes and everything. My new official name is Svetlana Ice Princess of the North. Got to make biscuts over the fire, YUM and spent lots of time in the dark Thinking. But all is back to bluey skies now and am so happy to have the power back- to grind my coffee. Yay for that.
xo
Svetlana,K
February 4, 2006
Poplar Beach, ON
Snowed in today due to the biggest wettest blowingest hugest snowflakes I have ever seen. Working like crazy on some great new writing -with perhaps an intermittent sip or two of fine Doublewood Balvenine (Mmmm warm..) amidst the great white storm.More cottage self-portraits here
xxoo, la K
February 2nd, 2006
Poplar Beach, ONAm currently in writing hibernaton at the cottage on Lake Huron. Warm fires and cold crashing waves beneath the gloomy gloomy gorgeous grey sky... In the name of Groundhog Day woke up at the crack of dawn to see if I could see my shadow. So- No shadow: it seems that spring might cometh early, after all.
Doorknobs and MouseJanuary 25, 2006
London, ON
Dear Ones, greetings once again from the Me from my post at Command Central. A lovely winter day in Southwestern Ontario with the blue sky and puffy clouds... Am house and puppy-sitting right now for my Tropical-Beach-y mom and dad and have been so enjoying cooking the big kitchen and having full reign of the 300-channel bad tv. Trying to make up for all the brain-drain work I've been doing of late with some serious quality R & R with miss poodle (see above). Know the photo's a bit fuzz (that's me being artistic) hope it provokes no unmitigated types of dizziness and/or other unfortunateness. Am having lots of fun planning my summer tours and travels see the Shows page for all the latest- and stay tuned, tons more performances and adventures to be posted soon! Hope you are all faring wonderfully through the oft-times dark and dreary Januarys and much love to you all!And talk soon, xox Kristin
Look, it's Kristin at Arbora Vita Music Headquarters!
January 7, 2006
London, ONHey folks, it's me writing to y'all from Arbora Vita Music headquarters where I have officially been chained-to-my-computer girl for days now. 'Tis that time of year for planning and administrating and I'm trying to get all my summer touring and new album funding ducks in a row. Other than nursing an officially unfortunate nasty winter cold I have been quite well indeed. I am a happy girl. Having fun planning my grand future and am getting really excited about the new encroaching album! Ohhh yeah! Am working on putting together killer little band of sooo talented players for summer festival season and beyond... Yeee! Am also planning a trip to Mexico in March to play at the Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival as well as a possible wee tour of the UK come fall. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
Yeah baby!
KristinJanuary 1, 2006
Toronto, ON
Happy New Year Everyone!
Hope all your festivities were smashingly delicious, and oh so many Sweetlandish kisses..... x x x x x x x x x
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