July 5, 2008
Paris, France

Bonsoir from gaie Paris. I had yet another magnificent day in the most romantic city in the world. Tonight I am silent in my little poetic Parisian room, while outside Paris is still wildly awake! At 4am the motorcycles roar, the cars honk madly, the people scream and laugh . . . In the room next door the shutters moan, opening then slamming shut again in the wind. Zut alors! How can I possibly sleep?

This morning I visited the gorgeous home of Victor Hugo in the Place des Vosges (serious wallpaper envy!) where I took some excellently creepy Miserables photos. Next I had a lovely lunch followed by minor amounts of high-quality shopping. Then it was time to head back to the hotel for an interview with Blues Magazine journalist Frankie Bluesy Pfeiffer. Also met with Eric Coubard, head of Bad Reputation label that's releasing my album in Europe this month! After une petite café we were joined by photographer Williams B and I prepared for my honest to goddess Parisian photo shoot in the streets! All the photos look amazing from what little I saw and can't wait to see more . . . hopefully I will post soon. Tomorrow X-roads journalist and pal Alex Cecilia is taking me to the Solidays festival somewhere beyond the Bois de Boulogne . . . I have ancient memories of that place from childhood. Should be une grande aventure! Home via the friendly skies will come sooner than I like. Had planned to head down to Barlcelona to visit my brilliant flamenco dance teacher Renata but Air France wanted to charge me $4000 to change my ticket! *&^%! Think I will be heading to Spain some other time . . . Autumn sounds perfectly lovely to me.

Bises, x K

J'aime Paris ... more photos 

June 29, 2008
Beaucroissant, France

I am having the most incredible time in belle France! The people are amazing, the scenery is magnifique and I am being treated like a queen! I've been at the "Sur la Route de Tullins" festival all week and it may win the prize for the funnest fest ever. So far I've done 2 televisions interviews on France 3, a radio interview on France Bleu, a concert in Voiron, played at the festival's inauguration party (with the mayor, walnut wine and loads of the finest cheese ever!), helped artistic director François Louwagie launch about a million stages for the "Festival Off" (a free festival night with stages all over town), opened the festival mainstage two nights in a row and taught an AMAZING master class at the Tullins Ecole de Musique! Somehow amidst all of that I've had time to meet so many incredible people, visit the "Caves de Chartreuse" (where the monks make the magical green liqueur of the same name), eat loads of pastries and trop de fromage, not to mention practice my French! Right now I'm in a sweet little countryside hotel in a town called "Beaucroissant" (apparently world-famous for it's fair.) There is no air-conditioning here and I am slightly suffering. However, the most incredible view of the mountains from my window seems to be taking the edge off. A soft moon is rising in the bright evening sky over groves of walnut trees and hoppy skippy jumpy French bunny rabbits. All I need now is an icy bucket of champagne and I can die . . .

With my class at the Tullins Ecole de Musique ... more photos!

June 24, 2008
Tullins, France

Bonjour à tous from "la porte des Alpes" !

It is so incredibly beautiful here, I am revelling in my good luck at getting hired to play in such a place! Scenery aside, I'm slowly recovering from a torturous night of no sleep on the plane ... A night of no sleep followed by an immediate interview and performance on French television! In French! Got to visit the beautiful grounds of the Tullins Mairie (city hall) for the interview and see all the lovely ducks swimming on the beautiful pond. Reminds me of the one french song I remember from my childhood called V'la le bon vent ..."Derrière chez nous y'a un étang -Derrière chez nous y'a un étang - Trois beaux canards s'en vont baignant ..." Sadly, it ended badly for at least one duck.

Tonight I have a concert in the beautiful little town of Voiron at Yvann's Musique. This will be my first ever performance en Francais! Wish me luck! More later.

xo          K

Moon over the Alps ... more photos

June 20, 2008
London, ON

Bonjour everyone, and happy summer solstice! Just a quick note to say hi and update you all on my encroaching exciting adventures. This weekend I am on my way to France for the Sur la Route de Tullins  festival near Grenoble in the Alps! I''ll be playing lots of concerts there and teaching a few guitar workshops/master classes. Then I'm heading onto Paris for much fun and to meet with the Parisian-based label Bad Reputation who's releasing "Own Sweet Time" throughout Europe in July! Hooray again! After that my plans invole a plane to Barcelona and a visit with my flamenco dance teacher Renata. Hopefully there will be some dancing and flamenco guitar in my near future. And I have just bought myself a new gorgeous bathing suit -- so hopefully there will be some beaches too! I will NOT be bringing my laptop with me on my travels this time and will sadly not be able to update this journal until I return. I will however be able to update my Myspace blog so check there if you're dying to know what I'm up to!

A bientôt,

xox
Kristin

June 1, 2008
Brooklyn, NY

My goodness was it ever a late one last night! I had the best time ever performing in the simply magical Shanghai Mermaid speakeasy cabaret show in Brooklyn. Aesthetic goddess Juliette Campbell along with her partners in crime Tanya and Josh put on, literally, the best party I've ever been to in my life. This time it was held in the Red Hook neighbourhood in Brooklyn's oldest firehall - currently a metalwork studio called Hyde. I cannot say enough for the sheer glory of the event and can't wait to return for another show soon as possible!

My time in NYC has been truly amazing and everyday has been an adventure. I never want to leave, but alas. Played some great shows, did a LOT of walking and met loads of crazy interesting people. Will write more about all my various exploits later, but now it's time to sleep as the road will be calling me northwards in the morning. Adieu sweet Brooklyn and see you soon. x

And P.S. peek at my NYC photos here!

In the aftermath with Shanghai Mermaid
masterminds Tanya and Juliette

May 21, 2008
New York City

Hello darlings, greetings from glorious moonlit Manhattan. Had a great gig tonight at Banjo Jim's in the East Village - what a darling little venue with such amazing staff! Thanks so much to all those who came out to the show. It has been raining and raining and I'm very grateful it stopped long enough for the moon to poke through the clouds! Here's hoping there are some seriously sunny days on the way. Am in NYC for a good haul and have a couple more shows before I leave. But mostly I'm here to enjoy the sweet springtime in the most interesting city in the world . . . sigh. 

 
Moon over Manhattan ... more photos

May 11, 2008
Montreal, QC

I have come to gorgeous Montreal for a birthday adventure this weekend! Got to see some amazing friends, got treated like a princess and walked about a hundred blocks in totally impractical footwear. Could not help from buying myself a sweet new pair of birthday Fluevogs (How could I resist?) As soon as I put them on I was overcome by an overwhelming compulsion to break them in by running up Mont-Royal mountain! An hour and only one blister later I victoriously arrived at the top-o-the-mountain cross. (Photo above.) Am now headin' down to Vermont for a day or two of visitation with an old pal ... More news from that front soon.

xo
K