Tonight I board the westbound “Canadian” VIA Rail train out of Toronto. I’ll be playing music for passengers all the way to Saskatoon. From there, it’s a Greyhound bus tour with stops in Saskatoon and Lloydminster, and a final hurrah in Calgary, opening for Martin Simpson at The Nickelodeon Music Club.
Please be kind, November weather!

 
 

Leaves fall as folksingers are ushered through the doors of the Westin Bristol Place for four days of music, collaboration, networking, learning, and celebrating. It’s the yearly convergence of my community at Folk Music Ontario‘s conference, which takes place in Toronto this year.
I’ll be speaking on two panels, running the board elections, participating in the Export Development Program, and performing in three private showcases. If you’ve got a delegate pass, I hope you’ll stop by for some late-night songs:
FRIDAY:
2:00am-2:30am – room 356 – Heaven’s Radio Social Club
SATURDAY:
12:40am–1:00am – room 347 – Folk Music Canada Blue Room
SATURDAY:
2:30am-3:00am – room 360 – LAMApalooza
In the chaos and sleep deprivation of it all, it’s important to remember the bottom line – and it looks something like this:

This great shot, courtesy of Bruce Dienes, is from the finale of the Pete Seeger Tribute workshop at the Deep Roots Music Festival in September. Songs of peace, joy, community, strength, and social change with Kim Barlow, James Keelaghan, The Bombadils, and the Ruth Moody Band. More photos from the festival can be found here.