Annual Benefit Postponed

December 22nd, 2013

We have been suckerpunched by the weather here in Kingston and forced to postpone our annual rock show for charity until next Sunday, December 29th. It is just too treacherous out there. Merry merry to all!

Soon it will be Christmas Day...

December 17th, 2013

Happy holidays pilgrims! It is mere days away until our mucho annual rock show for charity. It takes place at Stages in Kingston on Dec 22 as a fundraser for Marthas Table. The show features Sarah Harmer, P.S. I Love You, Deck the Halls with Balls & Kelly, Lw, Chantal Thompson, Beginners Guide to Endings, Rueben deGroot and Freds Lounge. Tickets are available online at maple music

Big City, I am yours for but these nights...

November 28th, 2013

Dear reader, there is something about a well executed, surprise birthday party, eh? Everybody wins with that delightful return to the youthful, giddy, anticipatory, rush of the magic moment when the birthday star enters the liar of love that awaits. Yippee, Yahoos and Yee Haws erupt! Let the games begin!! Such was the case this week at the surprise 7 x10, bday bash for our manger man Skinny. It was held with great stealth at the groovalicious club The Supermarket in Kensington market, T town. His lovely wife and her gaggle of charming daughters snuck us all in to surprise the old fella with cheers, hugs and music featuring most of the acts he has represented over the years. There was the Ron Sexsmith, the Jose from By Divine Right, his royal rockness Ron Hawkins from Lowest of the Low, Noah from hHead, Cuff the Duke, Andrew Cash and many more including Lw & the Wrongs featuring Sean Kelly, Cam Giroux, Burke Carroll and yours truly. We rocked. What fun. Sean is the dude and it was great to be back in the game with him. He has always had the voice that melts the hearts. We are currently scheming on our upcoming annual rock show for charity that takes place at Stages in Kingston on Dec 22. Uh huh, a huge show that is a fundraser for Marthas Table, a local charity started up back in the day by three local churches to provide nutritious meals in a welcoming environment. The show features Sarah Harmer, P.S. I Love You, Deck the Halls with Balls & Kelly, Lw, Chantal Thompson, Beginners Guide to Endings, Rueben deGroot and Freds Lounge. Tickets are available online at www.maplemusic.com

Check out this!!

October 24th, 2013

LW and the Wrongs In NYC with Caroline Bugala, Tony Sherr, Daria Grace and Russ Meisner

Autumn Greetings

October 21st, 2013

The fall colours have peaked here in the Gatineau although they are still doing their dance down Kingston way. After a fine summer of shows and music I have geared down and taken unprecedented measures to retool for 2014. For the first time in twenty some years I do not have full shows on the calendar! Beyond resting up some I intend to finish my album that was started in the spring with my pal Chris Brown on scenic Wolfe Island and focus on next spring summers touring plans. I received an awesome offer from the UK which I will reveal after some planning moves forward and the work with Rusty Ford is never done. He made some waves with a Scottish promoter earlier this year that we have yet to follow up on and we are planning out a Canadian, western swing to further promote his remarkable album, My Truck, My Dog & You. I will be appearing at a few events before years end though including A Man Called Wycrafts Tom Waits tribute at Hughs Room in Toronto on November 29th and our annual charity rock show in Kingston on December 22nd. Stay tuned for more info about that Sarah Harmer, Sean Kelly, LW curated blowout! Well mes amis, keep it as real as needed and for those living in the Windsor Quebec corridor fight the Line 9 reversal proposal!!

Rusty Ford Tour!

September 13th, 2013

Rusty is really hitting it out of the park with his band the Extra Regulars. Miss Emily Sugarplum also takes the band for a ride in her awesome Sugarplum opening set. Shawn Rompre on drums, Lotus Wight on double bass and Dan Cowboy Curtis round it all out. Rusty Ford music Check out the review of Rustys new album on Exlcaim mags site: Rusty Ford review

Summer report

August 28th, 2013

What a great city Halifax is! The Company House is a fine venue for the singer songwriter and although it was a small but mighty crowd I thoroughly enjoyed playing there again. Coming back on the train to Toronto was also a rewarding experience what with the views and the socializing. Their onboard entertainment program is a boon to the touring community. Carolyn Mark and Dennis Siemens traveled by train all the way from Vancouver to meet up in Toronto for us to start our tour together. Very Canadian we thought. Our pal Miranda Mulholland of Great Lake Swimmers and Belle Star fame presented a show for us as part of her Pardale music series and it was a smash hit! They converted a hair salon into a music venue for the night and it was packed out with a good looking crowd of music lovers and players alike. We made our way to London, Ontario the next day for a fun night with our friends in the Rizdales who performed as Hey Loretta. Tara Dunphy is quite the singer and fiddle player and husband Tom has picked up the double bass to add to the mix. Blair their guitar slinger also brought the show and joined us for some hits. Fred Eaglesmiths picnic was a spectacular weekend of music and hanging out. It is an old school, camping festival in a beautiful park near Woodstock, Ontario and Fred is a generous man to out it on. I believe that next year is the 20th annual so if you are in the area make an effort to go! We sailed through gigs in Oakville at the fabulous Moonshine Cafe and Wolfe Island at the newly renovated Grill. Our drummer mate Casey Fisher has really dialed that place in and the view is magnificent, not to mention the food. The blaster of the show was at the Blacksheep Inn as part of Wakefield, Quebecs Wakefest. We had the talent of Miss Emily Sugarplum, Dan Cowboy Curtis, Brian Sanderson and Lotus Wight to beef up the crew and boy did we hit it out of the park that night. Dennis even had fireworks set up to shoot off over the Gatineau River for the grand finale, wowee. I will put some pictures up in the gallery section for you to check out. We did a couple of swell barn shows the next few nights and the last one up at Francs barn included the Whiteleys (Jenny & Dan) and brother cousin Joey Wright. All in all everybody was super happy and the crowds came out. Now we gear up for the fabulous Rusty Ford Tour that starts next week! xo, lu

Ahh yes...

July 30th, 2013

Where has the time gone? Wow. July was hot and wonderful but the heat broke and now cooler temps portend. I must say we recently had a fun run of shows around the Kingston area that included a spectacular and delicious time at Pan Chancho where they host a bbq party on Thursdays. I had both Dan Whiteley and Dan Curtis playing with me which opened up the possibility to play virtually all the songs I have written. And if felt like we dug pretty deep. For someone who forgets passwords or where I put the damn keys I seem to be able to remember a shitload of words when up in front of people. Never could do that as a kid. In fact I couldnt even stand in front of people without flailing into a panic. Those Dans though. Two weirder guys would be hard to find but keerist can they play. It was packed with wonderful folks who enjoyed the cuisine and picturesque patio ta boot. I will be back there for another kick at the can with Ms Carolyn Mark at the end of the summer, mmm bbq. Also of note was our barn concert out Adolphustown way at the beautiful Daverne farm. They jazzed up their barn to suit the needs of a music loving crowd and we certainly had one of those that day. The handsome and talented Joey Wright played a sublime set to the appreciative crowd and was followed by Irish Roots bringing the music of the pub to the mix. Again we will be doing a few more shows there this summer so stay tuned. It is off to the east coast this weekend for a secret mission that includes a gig in Halifax at the Company House. I will be performing solo then making/playing my way back on the train to meet up with Ms Mark and Dennis for a run of fun shows that includes more barn concerts and a big blow out Hootenanny Reuve at the legendary Blacksheep Inn here in my adopted town of Wakefield, Quebec. All that and a bag of chips. Hard to believe that JJ Cale passed this week. There is no time in my life where I did not listen to the man on a regular basis. I am sure that a lot of people can say that too. R.I.P. JJ

Maryland magic!

July 8th, 2013

Oh, hi there . Presently we are driving the long road home from our dear friends wedding that took place on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. What a wonderful place! I have to say that in all my years of wheeling around North America I have never experienced the coastal estuaries of Maryland. Peaceful and rural with more than a touch of southern charm. It was all the more southern flavoured as most of the wedding crowd came up from the Carolinas where the bride and groom hail. I first met goodbride Amber in 2002 when we stormed into The Jack of the Woods pub in Asheville, NC for what was to become our most successful run of shows at any one bar in the U.S.A. My love affair with that city and its people began then and it has never abated. Many shows and visits over the years have only brought us all closer and what a way to celebrate friendship and love then for them to throw a smoking fun wedding with 250 awesome people. The bridesmaids dresses were emblazoned with an orange octopus that synched nicely with my fabulous orange octo suit. I gotta say though, it was steaming hot in that damn suit while I played the pre-wedding cocktail set. Even with the breeze blowing off of the estuary I still must have lost 15 pounds. Luckily I had my lady and our new best friends the iridology twins keeping me hydrated with cold beer and saucy smiles. And once that hot summer sun dropped below the horizon and the ever so romantic nuptials were completed everything fell into place nicely. Funk band, seafood, roast beef, bourbon bourbon bourbon and cigars, even for the ladies. I sure love me American brethren. We lingered on the Sunday for brunch with the family and said many long, huggy goodbyes before hauling ass across the state to Assateague state park. It is on a thin strip of sandy land at the most eastern and southern part of Maryland. It is best known for the wild horses who swam ashore from shipwrecks years ago and have adapted to beach life. We set up camp on the dunes and after a brisk swim in the fresh Atlantic ocean we took a wee nap only to be awoken by said wild horses feeding beside our tent. Apparently they bite and kick if you get too close, which seems to be pretty straightforward but apparently that does not stop upwards of 16 people a year from getting bitten and booted for trying to feed them or pet them. Truthfully? They look like horses. I have never been inclined to feed the domesticated ones potato chips so maybe a good bite or kicking is what some people need to learn a few basics about animal behaviour. After a campfire dinner, a windy sleep and a morning swim we hit the boardwalk in Ocean City just north of the park for coffee and, okay, bloody marys. Back home to Canadia for the continuation of a superlicious summer of music and magic! Yahoo to you, lu xo

Reporting in after the western swing

June 28th, 2013

Back home and settled in after the western swing with the fabulous Rusty Ford and friends. We sure had a good act with Terri Upton on bass backing both Rusty and I up and we were pretty sad to say goodbye to her when we left for Edmonton and points north. Prior to that though we knocked it out of the park in Vancouver at my dear friend Soooosings and in Victoria at our U of Vic friends house, both shows to a well read and congenial crowd. Sunday afternoon had me hosting fathers day at Logans pub where we have been playing since our first Canadian tour back in 1998. Carolyn Mark usually hosts the hoot but she was on tour so I got the job and kept the locals at bay for the most part. The sun shines through the front window and the drinks flow as the songs get sung. A couple of days respite and Rusty and I were on a flight into the drier parts of Alberty to meet up with the gang and play a warm up show for the North Country Fair at The Artery. It was nice travel up a few hours to Slave Lake area where North Country is held. Beautiful, sprawling country and we had plenty of sunshine the whole summer solstice weekend. So many great acts played and it went late late every night. Rusty wowed em with his show that started at 1:30 am on the Friday and then I was up early to play as Butterfingers at 11 the next morning with Grayson from Hearse on accordian. Carolyn, Rusty, Dennis and I were all part of the Stomping Tom Conners tribute show later that day and needless to say Rusty freaked everyone out with his bang on Stomping Tom voice. The wonderful Calvin Weatherall hosted and set the stage for good fun. I snuck off with Hank Pine to the river in the hot part of the day to a lovely river where much hippyness occured. I got so settled in that I forgot about a workshop I was in and ran like the dickens, soaking wet in my long sleeve shirt and pants through the campground to arrive in time. The Hank and Lily disco show was absolutely spectacular! Holy shit are they ever great. Dancers, costume changes adn disco music. CR Avery got stuck in southern Alberty due to the floods but showed up on the Saturday night to kill it as he is wont to do. Ahhh, the good times rolled. It was a lifetime of travelling to get back in time for a supr flood here in Wakefield that washed out the foundation of our favourite local pub at the bottom of the hill. The rains still fall today as everyone readys for the Canada Day festival that is coming up. I will be selling our manmade perogies and later performing with Chris H Brown on the festival stage. Summer loving! I trust you are all getting some too. xox Lw

Report from Day 3, Wet Coast

June 15th, 2013

Things are going great guns out in the left coast with Rusty Ford and Terri Upton. Check out the photos in the gallery. We have a great show for the people and it was in full flight last night at our friend Soooosins place in Kits. We set up outside and the audience responded in all the right ways at the appropriate times. The sun shines on us today as we set sail to Victoria for more performances and socializing with old and new friends. Terri says her parents are going to feed us even. I am not as adverse to that as in years past. Eating that is... Apparently I am more reasonable when fed.

June Bug

June 12th, 2013

I am currently at the airport en route to Vangroover to meet up with the legendary Rusty Ford for our tour. I get to pick the solos for some of the shows, which is a good thing for me as the years of acoustic guitar playing have got me going and Rusty writes a perfect song for my style. We will be wearing our fabulous tailored suits, courtesy of Wendy Suitmaker. In fact she is working on another fabulous suit for me to wear when the octopus suit is just too much. Speaking of clothing I was informed by Carolyn Mark to pack weather wear and be prepared for bugs when we hit the North Country Fair next week up in Driftpile Alberta. That stands to be an amazing way to spend summer solstice. The Hank and Lily Show is something I really look forward to as they are promoting their epic disco album. I will be playing late with Rusty and early as Butterfingers for the kids at the festival. I have been picking away on the tunes in preparation to rock the junior chipmunks and hope to wrangle a few unsuspecting musicos to join me onstage. Yahoo!!

the Sun is Made of Cheese

May 24th, 2013

We had an astoundingly musical show at the Rodeo Bar in Nyc last week. We were joined by the fabulous Tony Scherr on guitar and our new best friend Caroline Bugala on violin. She conveniently arrived the night before to New York from France with her mother and sauntered into our Brooklyn gig with violin in hand. After a brief chat (partially In stumbling french on my part) we jammed it out and it was quite apparent how skilled she was with that fiddle! She was also keen to join us the next night at Ny citys longest running honkytonk for the aforementioned big show. Wahoo!! New York city. Currently gearing up for the western Canadian run with Mr Rusty Ford (related to mayor Rob Ford? We do not know...). We are gonna be packing some brand new Rusty Ford tee shirts, stickers and a killer show to put on for the good people of southern B.C. and northern Alberta! Stayed tuned for reports from the road...

The False Spring

April 24th, 2013

Winter just would not quit up here the hills of Wakefield, Quebec but finally April is winding down as we wind up for a spring summer fall of f.u.n. Recording of the new album is going well with Chris Brown at the helm (the Canadian CB, yo) over on Wolfe Island. Gearing up for a flurry of electric guitar overdubs that will define the sound of the album. It is taking shape as a pop record overall, with some wisps of country a la moi. I am looking forward to May and playing with my new York peeps including the fabulous Daria Grace. But this just in! I will be doing a tune at the Idle NoMore event at the Piston in Toronto this Tuesday, Ap 30th. Also featured are members of the Bourbon Tabernacle Choir, Mary Margaret Ohara (!), Sarah Harmer, Jason Colett and more. $10 suggested donation and the food there rocks as well.

Marching On

March 5th, 2013

Yup, we had a fine run of shows and such over the last few weeks. The big folk alliance conference was full of friends and fine musicos. Unlike other music conferences it is predominantly attended by musicians and bookers, many of them small venue or concert series types. There is not much of a major label presence (is there such a thing anymore?) but a fair number of smaller labels and a few of those people that take 15 to 20% of your gig money for sending an email and forgetting to send your posters to the gig. Whoa whoa whoa, that does not sound charitable. Speaking of which we did a bit of outreach through the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals community outreach program that asked us to play at the Salvation Army Gateway shelter in downtown. Burke Carroll of the Wrongs joined me for a wonderful little jam in the drop in centre. The folks there were very appreciative and the staff at the shelter as well although we felt it an honour to be able to share what we have with those who are going through a rough patch in their lives. The best things I saw at the conference were The Soujourners, Sheesham and Lotus and Son, The Birds of Chicago and Steve Poltz to name a few of many astounding acts. Plenty of talent from the U.S., Great Britain and Auz too. Friendly, generous types for the most part (except me of course...). Rusty Ford made a good impression on his first outing and no one could ignore him in his fine suit and big hat. We finished up the good times with three shows with Awna Teixeira that hit the high water mark at the Saturday gig in Wakefield at the now legendary Blacksheep Inn where we packed in a house full of darling people for a late afternoon show. They are celebrating 20 years of presenting music and we were proud to return to the stage that has graced many a fine musician over the years. A little girl gave me a rock as a gift for being such a good singer (her words). It was a piece of mica, not just some random rock so I can fix my iron with it or maybe barter it for a goat after the fall of the empire...

Wakefield Ahoy!

February 25th, 2013

This Saturday, March 2nd I will be playing the Blacksheep Inn in Wakefield Quebec with Awna Teixeira (of Po Girl) and Rusty Ford. As we say, tell both of your friends!

February Forever!

February 16th, 2013

Well, it seems like it lasts forever some days. But honestly, I am starting to love the cold and winter. Maybe it was those life changing trips up to the Yukon over the last few years or maybe the cold helps numb the pain of age and awareness. Kidding!! You young folks need not worry about growing old. In fact when you get to your late forties you will look back at what concerned you about aging and shake your head in disbelief. Save some freaking money, that is probably the big thing. How many shots of jagermeister does it take to buy a back brace or pay for extended home care? There is a question bartenders should know. Well, anyway, it is getting kind of ranty in here so maybe open a window... I trust all you sweethearts had a fine valentines day. We hosted a perogie night at the local Kaffe 1870 in Wakefield and had music provided by THE Dr Timothy Valenteen. He really came prepared with many cheesy, romantic hits. I believe he nailed every word of Muskrat Love.... Well this cold winter has been a good time for booking shows and scheming up schemes. The big international folk alliance conference is coming up and we will be there for the duration to work the room as it were. I am producing a video or two for Rusty Ford over the next bit and we and going to employ Miami Harald Bachman as our cameraman. We worked together on many film projects together years back in my other life and it will be good to be back in the groove. Jack Grace and Carolyn Mark and I have nailed down a time for another Owner Operator Tour and we will call that time, October. Nothing could be finer. In recent news I hazarded the worst winter storm in years to make it to my gig at The Branch south of Ottawa the other night. Man that fella Bruce makes a delicious brisket! It was worth risking our lives for. There is also rumours of a local hootenanny up Westport way this spring so stay tuned...

Video fun from your car window

February 5th, 2013

The Groovy Grotto ......... Dawson City Drive Around or the skating video... Howdoyoulikeitnow

2013 hello how are you

January 16th, 2013

Ahh the new year is upon us. After some serious holiday fun and mine Jenny Whiteleys annual birthday show we are back at it. Recording is moving along with Chris Brown at the helm and plans for the year are brewing. The big folk alliance conference in Toronto awaits in February where loads of old and new friends will be showing off their musical wares. Rusty Ford is dialing in the artwork for the album I produced and we will be pimping that bad boy as well as hoping to entice some folks to come record up my way in the future. Today is actually my birthday and my pals are taking me skiing if you can believe it. We are not out west like many years where Lily Fawn threw some spectacular parties for me. Really hard to beat the time she had the burlesque dancer jump out of a cake for me. I mean, come on. We are currently planning a New York City run of shows, a western run, as well as looking at what to present locally this summer so keep in touch good people. xo Lu