4 days in Toronto

We bundled up the family and took a cab to the airport at 4:45 am on wednesday. Hardly even the morning if you ask me. After a lovely stop in Newark, we landed in Toronto where it was literally 55 degrees colder than sunny Austin, TX. It was all of our first time in Ontario.

The International Folk Alliance is an annual gathering of some of the most hungry, hard working, talented unknown folksingers/folk musicians in the world along with agents, managers, venue owners, house concert hosts and appreciators. Everyone holes up in a fancier-than-normal hotel and goes at it for 4 days and nights. In my younger years i’d have drunk my fill of Irish whisky and stayed up the entire time, singing songs with my folk brethren. This is the second year i’ve attended this shindig as a mommy and my brain is woefully divided, however still happily appeased.

Andrew hosted a showcase room with the imitable Steve Poltz (co-writer of Jewel’s hit “You Were Meant For Me” as well as the guy in the video, he is Oh so much more!) and we brought along Andrew’s parents to help with Emmett. Emmett was a champ and only had a hard time at night when i would nurse him to sleep at a reasonable hour, then wake up and be unsatisfied with anyone, except Thomas the Train until i showed up again, often very late. It’s still very hard for me to leave the baby for more than a few hours. He’s a phantom limb that tingles wildly in my brain. I think i said “I’ve got to go find my baby” more than “our new album Caldera comes out this year and i think it’s pretty good”.

Maybe i could have schmoozed more, maybe i could have played more songs, maybe i could have tried to accomplish the many career goals that are a scant half inch above my head; major festival bookings, enormous booking agent, fancy pants manager guy, famous colleagues… but the truth is, i heard just enough songs by some of my most favorite folk friends, i played my heart out every time i picked up the guitar, and i met some amazing people. i did the best i could do and i feel ever more re-connected to this crazy job. thank goodness there are all these glorious glowing people out there doing it as well.

IMG_3125

i heart Nels Andrews! he wrote this gorgeous lovesong called Wisteria and sang it at our wedding

IMG_3173

3 Penny Acre playing their official showcase

IMG_3170

Canadian legend Corin Raymond sweating music

 

IMG_3128

The Sea, The Sea slaying with gorgeousness

IMG_3133

us at our official showcase! photo by Anna Vogelzang

IMG_3183

my delicious bestie Rebecca Loebe. photo by Mary Granata

IMG_3176

i heart the Birds of Chicago

IMG_3156

Aj Roach & Nuala Kennedy. (hey you guys, move to texas!!)

IMG_3162

mellow afternoon set with Rebecca Loebe and Andrew

IMG_3137

thumbs up from Andrew, Matt The Electrician & Joey Ryan of the Milk Carton Kids

IMG_3142

Dar Williams. such a great show!

IMG_3147

lastly, Andrew & Steve Poltz rocking so hard they were blurry

 

 

12 thoughts on “4 days in Toronto

  1. l
    Some awesome pictures.
    Did everyone have as good a time at FA as it looked like they did.
    You doing SXSW and if so, got a schedule posted yet?

  2. Beautiful. Perfect description of what it is like to be a mother in the industry. Kids, they are the new rock n roll! I love how we are growing with them. I missed being there with everyone this year but my feet are grateful that I stayed put (as if there was any other option).

Leave a Reply to raina rose Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *