We're gearing up for the 1st Montreal Ukulele Bizarro Festival and it's looking like it's going to be a real uke party! I had no idea when I initially asked Meb (met through myspace) and Risa (founder of indyish.com) a few months ago if they would like to play a ukulele cabaret that it would expand into the event its shaping up to be. Then Miss Dynamite dropped me a line! Next I met a girl named NIVE (from Greenland!) at the SXSW Music Festival in Austin last March and she passed along her beautiful demo (working with John Parish, Howe Gelb...). Turns out she's in Montreal this May so we added her to the bill! Then another local ukulady Caracol offered to join in...I had to turn down subsequent offers from some very talended uke folk - Erin Lang par example, whom I hope to program for the September Edition of the Ukulele Bizarro Festival. OUI!

The doors are at 8:30pm and the show starts at 9:30pm...Short, sharp sets by 6 ukuladies of varying styles, backgrounds and hairstyles will grace the stage! Lederhosen Lucil will MC the event and hand out prizes during the raffle including, rumour has it, a brand neue ukulele! Magnum PI Look-a-like contest! Baked goods available at the general store table...DJ Oahu promises to round out the night with a selection of 30's-60's cult, alt, bizarro, bluegrass, groove, and pop action. Tropical and kitsch dress encouraged!

A jeudi,
Krista

BUSY TIMES! Roadtripping, adventuring, touring - some of my favorite things!

Texas was AMAZING! DJ Jester The Filipino Fist, Joe Jack Talcum and I united to tour San Antonio (Artpace - an amazing multidisciplinary gallery! What I show - I resurrected Lederhosen Lucil to the surprise of old school fans and friends!), Marfa (Tillie Arts Gallery - true West Texas party with dancing, whooping, singing along and tall cans of beer! Nice to see my Scott brothers again too...) and Austin (SXSW Closing party - a real hoot and a great way to end off the intense festival). "Leave Alight" also screened at the SXSW Film Festival which was exciting indeed. Nice to attend the Ritz Theatre where you can dine while watching your film!

Highlights at SX/Austin included seeing PJ Harvy & John Parish at the MeTV studios, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros (spiritural pop orchestrated dance party sweetness!), as well as eating tons of breakfast tacos and the mandatory "Protein 2000" at Veggie Heaven. And a last minute gig performing with Buck65 as my "alt" ego Lederhosen Lucil.

And no trip would be complete without the brisk and beautiful bathe in Barton Springs and a few wee jogs around the river.

Upon returning to Montreal the temperature swooped from +30 to -20 and I holed up for a while watching classic films (Alice, Bells Are Ringing, Look Who's Coming to Dinner etc.) and drinking hot chocolate.

Then Shane & I performed in Quebec City at our favorite haunt "Le Cercle" and did a live session at CKRL as part of their annual fundraising drive. Delicious food, lovely folks - QC is always a divine time. Even managed to pick up a few more vintage aprons for my collection (now numbering in the 20's!) at thrifts along the way.

Last weekend we hit St-Eustache to open for Caracol in a beautiful church that has been turned into a performing arts center. Que c'ete BEAU!

And now...
SATURDAY, APRIL 18th - OTTAWA - Clocktower Pub
Cold Coffee & Salty Boots, Merle Knurling & Krista Muir (not sure in what order!) - After 9pm. $6-10 (PWYC). Live music, film strips and treats!

Hope to see you soon!

"Leave Alight" (my first real producer credit!) has gotten into the SXSW Film Festival in March 2009 as well as the Kingston Canadian Film Festival Feb 2009. Check out the official site  here for more details on the screenings and some production stills. Yaaaay!

Also "The Ride," my 1/2 Greek song off Accidental Railway, is airing today on Radio Centraal Belgium. You can find it on the "Moire" show! Merci Kris, for putting the word out in Anvers...

It's true! Tonight is the big benefit concert at Sala Rossa in Montreal for the now 12 Distroboto (art dispensers made from recycled cigarette machines!) machines in Montreal. Come out and support the amazing invention by Louis Rastelli. I'll be performing a special set of songs - Lederhosen Lucil cover, Gelee cover (the electro duo I was in many years ago and whose 3-song single was only available in the Distroboto!), and more! Sunny Duval, Donzelle and hrsta will join me to ring in the 12th machine...Here's a little French interview that BangBang TV did with me a few days ago about the show and my upcoming projects. A bientot j'esperoooooo...

"Accidental Railway" is on the road! After touring Ontario with the amazing Luther Wright (who brought along Dan Whiteley, mandolin virtuoso for the ride!) my fearless band and I returned to Montreal to put on a magical night at the historic Chapelle Saint Louis. The above picture was taken by the Cassavant pipe organ that I played to open the night. I made sure to bake ginger cookies and lemon tarts (recipes included in the liner notes) for the occasion, and everyone enjoyed the antique cufflinks and oddities at the "General Store."

Shane Watt created 13 maps to represent the 13 tracks on the album. They were premiered at the Oct. 29th show and are soon going to be up for sale on his website - Shane Watt - Mapmaker. You can email him if you have a question or commission in mind.

This Saturday, November 8th we'll hit Zaphod's in Ottawa for a special show with Milie Croche and Shanker & Romps. Show at 8pm. Tickets $10 at the door!

And now I'm off to make some chocolate brownies...if they work out I'll post the recipe...

Hola!
I really have to get more bloggy these days...it's been such a crazy time!!! I just got the master back for my new record "Accidental Railway" and it sounds amazing. Fran Ashcroft from Happy Beat, UK mastered it - exciting indeed!

We'll be releasing it October 14th with Indica Records so I'll post news about launches and how you can get it soon soon! I just put up "Summer Eyes" for your listening enjoyment...it features Pat Magee (Stars) drummin' and Shane Watt geetarin' and me on the violin...

I recently found out I'm up for a local indie award for "Leave Alight" (Best Singer-Songwriter Record of 2007 - Montreal) so if you have 5 min please cast your vote for me at www.gamiq.com

Merci and I'll write more sooner than in half a year...I promise!

K

Freundlings, friends, fellow electronic voters (this one, a friend assured me, will take you 6.5 seconds and three clicks!)

You see, I've been nominated for the local Montreal Music Awards (MIMI's) in "Discovery" and "Song" categories for my new album "Leave Alight." The prize could be a lifetime supply of tea and cake (or recording equipment...), SO please cast your vote accordingly. Voting ends Tuesday, February 26th at 5:00PM.

If you haven't already, you can check out www.myspace.com/kristallmuir to hear the songs and see some pics! Just follow this link - MIMI's - to VOTE!

A la prochaine,
Krista
(L.L. Muir)

Pour mes amis Francais il y s plus de details ici
Les gens peuvent se rendre dès maintenant au www.mimimtl.com pour
choisir selon eux qui parmi les artistes du TOP 20 MIMI devraient
l'emporter dans ces deux catégories. Le vote se terminera le mardi 26
février à 17h00.

Les artistes du TOP 20 MIMI 2008 sont Bonjour Brumaire, El Motor,
Gatineau, Ghislain Poirier, Katie Moore, Krista L. L. Muir,
Mahjorbidet, Miracle Fortress, Misteur Valaire, O Linea, Plants and
Animals, Samian, Socalled, The Besnard Lakes, The Dirty Tricks, The
National Parcs, Torngat, Unexpect, United Steel Workers of Montreal et
We Are Wolves. Les pièces en nomination dans la catégorie Chanson ont
été déterminées par les artistes eux-mêmes.

Les résultats du vote du public seront utilisés à des fins de
consultation par le jury qui lui déterminera le gagnant dans les
catégories Découverte et Chanson.

My lovely amis! Freundlings! Mangas!

I have been a busy, busy bee. I recently returned from a dreamy one month tour in Europa (photos up on www.lederhosenlucil.com if you wanna take a peek!) and now I'm getting ready to head south to work on my new album in Nashville and play some really special shows with Shane Watt, DJ Jester, The Noise Revival Orchestra, Yoda's House and many more!

SHOWS:
16 Nov 2007 - Lowell House - Cambridge, MA
19 Nov 2007 - Bluebird Cafe (open mic)
Nashville, TN
20 Nov 2007 - Douglas Corner Cafe (open mic) Nashville, TN
27 Nov 2007 - The Cavern - Dallas, TX
28 Nov 2007 – Proletariat - Houston, TX
29 Nov 2007 - Club Deville - Austin, TX
30 Nov 2007 - Limelight - San Antonio, TX
1 Dec 2007 - Prom Night @ Liberty Hall - Marfa, TX
3 Dec 2007 - Q-8 - El Paso, TX
4 Dec 2007 - Winning Coffee Co. - Albuquerque, NM
5 Dec 2007 – Tree & Leaf – Oklahoma City, OK
6 Dec 2007 - TBC - Springfield, MI
7 Dec 2007 – TBC - St. Louis, MI
8 Dec 2007 - TBC - Chicago, IL
10 Dec 2007 - 20:00 (early show!) The Dakota Tavern - Toronto, Ontario
11 Jan 2008 - TBA - Quebec City, Quebec
12 Jan 2008 - Le LOBE - Chicoutimi, Quebec
18 Jan 2008 - Irene's Pub - Ottawa, Ontario

ArtTV APPEARANCE:
I'll be appearing on the French TV show "Mange Ta Ville" Tuesday, November 20th at 19:30. If you tune in you'll see me playing my ukulele in a community garden and singing "La Grenade." This show will be webcast simultaneously at www.mangetaville.tv if you don't get ArtTV!

Pour les amis Francais (les details):
NATURE EN VILLE - Catherine Pogonat questionne la chanteuse et réalisatrice d'origine inuit Elisapie Isaac sur sa vie partagée entre le Grand Nord et Montréal. Les membres de la formation National Parcs nous prouvent qu'on peut faire de la musique pop à partir de sons issus de la forêt. En prestation musicale, Krista L.L. Muir, l'alter ego de Lederhosen Lucil, chante au milieu d'un jardin communautaire.

Gros bises...Hope to see you sooooon,

Krista

www.myspace.com/kristallmuir
www.myspace.com/lederhosenlucil
www.lederhosenlucil.com

It's true! I flew over the ocean to reach France on September 17th and finished an amazing tour with band Cannibales et Vahines in the south of France and Basque countryside in Spain. Many delicious things were eaten from the sea, many songs were played, and I was attacked by friendly cats wherever I slept. Ahhhh...Photos of the trip are posted at www.lederhosenlucil.com if you'd like to check them out!

I am now in Greece and getting ready for my first DJ set tonight at a secret location. Then Sunday I play at TIKI here in Athens and am then off to Syros with the Rokos brothers for acoustic fun and a vernissage.

Other dates:

Monday, October 8th - Bush Hall - Amazing show with 4 other solo female artists! LONDON

Tuesday, October 9th - The Abbey - LONDON

Thursday, October 11th - Ear Music - At The Star - LONDON

October 13 or 14th - Secret Show TBC - PARIS

Hope to see you soon!

xo,
Krista-a-Athina