hii friends

i just wanted to write you all a little love-note and give you an update on what's going on these days.

tomorrow night i'm playing a show at the gladstone hotel, which is this beautiful old space that was refurnished and schmancied up in the last few years (some would say gentrified, perhaps they're right) and now hosts lots of good music and fun things like dance parties and an erotic arts festival. at my show there will be far less skin but no less reason to dance, as i'm playing with one of the usual suspects (dan taylor on bass and ukulele) and a new face -- tony wallace! tony plays violin, banjo, accordian...really, there's nothing he can't do (except maybe play them simultaneously, but i wouldn't put it past him). it's going to be a really lovely night and if you're in toronto or close enough to trek in, you should come by and say hello.

i suppose this is sort of like the kick-off to the concert season, as i've got quite a few coming up in the next little while. there's bread and circus on may 12, and then an ecology festival in my hometown. there will definitely be more on the way, so watch the show section for updates.

and to all of you who keep asking about me coming to your town, the short answer is YES i would love to! but i can't just yet. the explanation is thus: touring costs money, folks. if you reallyreally want me to come to your city, buy a CD! buy two! i know it's a dying medium and blahblahblah, but it really is the lifeblood of independent artists. the more CDs we sell, the easier it is to tour.

but this is where the thank you part comes in. since this whole thing started, i've been receiving messages and emails and comments and blog posts and friend requests like you wouldn't believe! i've been trying my best to respond to all of them personally but i just wanted to say that i appreciate so much the outpouring of love and kindness you've been sending my way.

on that note, i want to karmically repay all that goodness by telling you about my friends, bent by elephants. they're a seven piece folk orchestra from montréal making some of the most beautiful music i have ever heard. we had the enormous pleasure of playing with them last month at le cagibi and were completely blown away by their incredible musicianship, command of melody, command of stage, sense of humour, and ability to somehow jam all seven people onto a stage not much bigger than a postage stamp. they're coming to toronto for a few dates this month and i absolutely cannot wait to see them live again. they're going to blow up, folks, you heard it here first. in the meantime, they're in my top friends and you should give a listen (my favourite these days is "saskatchewan pool").

all right, thus ends my extraordinarily long update. watch for more shows, a video made by some talented canadian and aussie friends of mine (ooooh!) and hopefully, a secret web-only release happening very soon.

much, much love to all of you. now get off your computers and go and enjoy the sunshine!

xo kay