Twenty Twenty five. Whoa. I've got a lot on my mind these days. I've got some creative juices flowing, some mundane day-to-day routine tasks to tackle, and some political swirlings which I'll leave for another time. I'm excited to have taken the first step toward recording my next album which currently has the working title of Little Miracles. I've reached out Jon at the Studio at Brick Hill and plan to book some time later this month, and I've put together a somewhat cohesive bunch of new songs - loosely centered around the theme of mental well-being and the healing power of walking the beaches of Cape Cod. And for those of you who followed my #beachaday journey, I'm still out there taking photos - maybe I'll bump into you at a beach! As Alfred Wainwright, author of many walking books, once said, “There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.” So bundle up and get walking! Today was 27 degrees, with Northwest winds 15 - 25 mph and a windchill factor that made it feel like it was 8 degrees. My reward? This sweet sunset photo taken at West Dennis Beach. You've gotta show up!
I just finished up a month-long gratitude practice in December, and I'm beginning to see a small shift in my mindset toward finding the positive in life, and focusing on being grateful for the bountiful blessings that have been bestowed upon me instead of worrying about a future I can't control. Many of these blessings centered around the joy that comes from playing shows to appreciative audiences and belonging to the community of Cape Cod musicians.
January kicked off with a few solo shows. On Saturday the 4th, I played to a crowd of mostly strangers at Snow Library in Orleans as part of their Winter Concert Series. I was surrounded by beautiful textured cloth and oil paintings created by an artist named Christine Fitzsimmons, and was inspired to play an entire show of songs I have written about the beach. For the first time in a solo show, I did not play Off to Bookclub. It felt weird not to play it, but it didn't seem to fit the theme. Immediately following the show, three lovely women approached me with papers in their hands. They informed me that they belonged to a local book club, and had printed out the words in hopes of singing along. So we did a little impromptu, unplugged Off to Bookclub in the corner of the Marion Craine gallery. It was one of those rare “I think I've arrived” moments that I will cherish forever. Here's a little shot I took of the space before the crowd shuffled in and filled almost every seat in the house! Here's a little known fact: I experience almost paralyzing stage fright every single time I play. Every. Single. Time. Audience members l’ smiling faces, kind words, tapping toes, and willingness to sing along help me overcome it, so thanks for that!
Later that evening, I played a solo show at Seven Days Restaurant in Dennis. This is the former home of the Chat House, a room where I played many times in the early part of the twenty-teens, and a room that loves live music. I was surrounded by dear friends who came out to enjoy a meal and my obscure brand of Folk/Americana originals and b-side cover tunes. It was a lovely way to spend an evening. They'll be having live music every Saturday, and I'll be back there on Saturday, February 1 from 6:00 - 8:00. I'd love to see you there!
Heyday will be playing O'Shea's, AKA the House of Love, on the second and third Thursdays in January from 8:00 - 11:00. And the trio will be playing the Barley Neck in Orleans on Friday, January 17 from 9:00 - 11:00. Live music - a great cure for what ails you, and a wonderful way to chase away the winter blues!
I'll be capping off January the way I began it, with a few solo shows. On Friday, January 24th, I'll be playing solo at The Auld Triangle from 7:00 - 10:00. If you haven't had a chance to check out the former British Beer Company under new management by Des and Terri, you should! Located on Main Street in Hyannis, they've created an authentic Irish Pub atmosphere, and their bar pizza is to die for!
On Sunday, January 26th, I'll be joining songwriters Jason Baker, Linda Marks and Ilene Springer at Oakes Ames Memorial Hall in North Easton, MA. We are all members of the International Singer Songwriter Association Boston/Northeast Chapter, and we will be playing Nashville style, in the round, which means we will be taking turns sharing one song at a time and going around the group a bunch of times, which creates a really fun and meaningful experience for the audience. I'm looking forward to sharing some of my newer, gently played songs at this show. I’d love to see some familiar faces in the audience.
As always, please check the show schedule for new shows being added daily! And remember, bundle up, and put yourself out there!
peace, love, and live music - kathleen
