Just crawled home from my first trip to New York City where I proudly performed at the launch of spoken word artist Luna Allison’s “Falling Open”. I’d like to say the show went off without a hitch, but instead let me say that we put on a solid performance and the in-house and internet audience were touched and moved by the emotional force of this powerful piece. Thanks to the Bowery Poetry Club in the East Village for hosting the launch.

I’ve been working with Luna over the last year and a half, and composed and performed the music for this epic 90 minute poetry show. Keep posted for times and dates in other venues here in Canada and elsewhere.

March 28th at 8:30pm, people around the world will be turning off their lights in support of Earth Hour, an initiative spearheaded by the World Wildlife Federation to draw attention to the impact our use of electricity has on the planet’s resources. I encourage everyone to take part, and this website will be inactive during that period. I’m also holding an unplugged, candle-lit concert that evening. Contact me if you are interested in attending.

Now I’m not normally a very political person. And I’m sure that, aside from seeking to slash arts funding, perpetuating abysmal environmental and copyright legislation, and generally generally making Canada a less pleasant place to be, Stephen Harper is a swell candidate.

However if, like myself, you are interested in using your vote to it’s fullest in ensuring that a Conservative majority doesn’t happen, click on over to http://www.voteforenvironment.ca/ to find out which candidate in your riding is most likely to defeat the conservatives, and cast your vote.

Okay, this is definitely my favorite time of the year. Whether it’s because of the crackling leaves, the brisk and lively wind that tells me change is coming, or the chance to wear warm, comforting clothes, I’ll never know. No, it’s the pumpkin pie. By the way, the Kingston farmer’s market is totally great.

This week I am looking forward to performing at the annual Harvestfest, which takes place north of Toronto. It’s a weekend of camping, workshops, music and ritual work around the time of harvest and the bounty of the earth. I’ll be joined again by my friend Jeremy Sills, and the lovely Theda Phoenix from Vancouver as well as a host of other great talent. Just check out the website at http://www.wiccanfest.com/harvestfest/index.html.

I had the pleasure of pitching in some percussion tracks onto a recent CD project by the name of “Night of the Misfits”. The music of Margaret Feuerstack is delicate, tasty and evocatively moody. It is a lovely listen and conjures melodic images of the swing era and tin pan alley, even a little classic western. The CD is available now from Margaret, so you can go to her myspace page for samples.