December 18, 2011
Toronto, ON

Dear Santa,

I know I usually write sooner, but for some reason I'm just not in the Christmas spirit yet. And not in a bad way. I'm surely no Sweetlandish Scrooge. But more in the kind of way you might be if you were mysteriously adrift on a barge south of the equator, or perhaps a raft. Actually, I pick barge. And somehow you seem to have lost track of the days... What month is it again? Can you pass me the sunscreen? Actually, I think I may be adrift all alone. With my fishing pole and my trunk of booty. There are distant islands to be discovered, and pirate ships to be plundered.

And not a single flake of snow in sight.

Usually around this time I'd be asking for something tall, dark and handsome carrying a chilled bottle of Dom Perignon ('76, if you have it.) Or a mountain of money to record my new album, or a pair of shiny red snowshoes... But this year I want something else.

All I want for Christmas is NOT world peace, true love, or my two front teeth. I just want a fantastic and successful year ahead. May all my many projects come to glorious fruition in 2012! And may all of yours.

Sugarplums,

xo

Sweetland

P.S. If I'm not quite in the holiday spirit yet, I will be soon enough! Playing a festive show tomorrow night at Not My Dog with Jadea Kelly, Andrea Ramolo & Cindy Doire, and Roger Marin... Wassail!

Somebody's getting a postcard... 

December 1, 2011
Toronto, ON

Gentle Readers,

It is I, your delinquent Sweetypie with tales from far and wide. Or perhaps, just tall tales. You decide. My sincere apologies for the delay in updates lately. I plead intensely artistically focused, and impressively social! You would be proud. And you did miss an important thing or two while I was busy being so busy. But here's the Coles Notes version. I played incredible shows with the likes of Micah Barnes, Jess McAvoy, Andrea Ramolo and Cindy Doire (more to come on all fronts!) As well, I hosted a slough of highly attractive house guests, rocked Halloween like only a drowned sailor girl can, cooked innumerable feasts, practiced loads of guitar, digitized my entire music collection, read my Sherlock Holmes like a good girl, ran through forests with happy poodles, wished upon a star, celebrated 11-11-11, and placed a beautiful model ship in my office window as a symbol... My ship has come in. Seriously.

So, the big news in Sweetland is one of epic proportions. Aurevoir Ruby the Van! You were the best horse ever. 7 1/2 years, 300,000 kms, and a whole world of adventures later... we say goodbye. Now I get to introduce the world to LADYSHIP.  All sexy soccer mom spy on the outside, and Venusian palace of delight on the inside (photos of her glory to come!) Together, we shall conquer the continent. Spring tour can't come too soon.

And until then I sure have my work cut out for me. A couple new albums, a book of my photography, new videos, and a motherload of flamenco dance classes later, we'll be good to go. It also looks like I'm going to be sitting in on guitar (studio and live) with some pretty amazing artists in the coming months and year. More info on axe-slinging sideperson Sweetland coming soon. We all know that sometimes I just want to wear a wig, stand in a dark corner, and play some serious guitar.

And so be it. 

Hope you can make it out to an upcoming show!

Lots of love from the big city,

x
K

P.S. I promise to write soon. And check your mailbox for postcards!

A handsome ship on the horizon!
More fall photos here.

October 18, 2011
Toronto, ON

I'm Home Sweetland Home after an epic weekend at the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals conference in Niagara Falls. I've been to tons of these kinds of events in the past, but I confess, this was one of the best. It was so good to see so many of the people I dearly love in one place! It's always overwhelming in the most cathartic and heart-warming of ways. Highlights included Thursday night dinner with James Keelaghan, one of my favourite people on the planet, big hugs from the beautiful Tannis Slimmon, mysterious moments with Mr. Mystery himself, Bill Bourne, and finally getting to meet the newest addition to the Trevor Mills/Selena Burgess family, baby Abigail! Not to mention, the glorious gala dinner and awards ceremony to honour Trevor's papa Paul Mills for all he has given to our community over the years. The highlight of said ceremony for me (besides being flanked at my table on either side by a handsome man-sandwich) was the brilliant film by another of my favourite gentlemen, Monsieur Andy Frank. I don't think I ever leave the gala dinner with a dry eye, good thing my mascara is badass waterproof.

On the first night, I initiated myself with a big adventure down to the falls (which are not a Wonder of the World for no good reason.)  It took me ages to get there, street after street, kitchy hotel after hotel, over a bridge, down a hill and straight into the mist. By the time I pointed homeward I was soaking head-to-toe, wind-blown and seriously high on negative ions. I decided to take a shortcut back, which somehow led me to me scale a muddy cliff (in my Sweetlandish heels!) right up onto some train tracks, over a fence and into a churchyard cemetery. I definitely earned the new photo I took for my eternal Adventures in Sweetland series... so perfectly Halloween.

Then, the universe saw fit to deliver me a strange challenge, as I woke up on Friday morning with absolutely no voice!  I guess the soggy evening's adventure the night before was a bit much for my currently delicate constitution. So I whispered, mimed, smiled and nodded my way through the rest of the conference. I was trooper and still played two of my three showcases. Good thing I have an arsenal of instrumentals, and am pretty effing entertaining... even when I can't sing.

Musically, I enjoyed hearing the lovely Ann Vriend for the first time, as well as new pals Cindy Doire and Andrea Ramolo. Attended a great showcase by dear friend (and newlywed) David Newland, and so wished I could have sung along to the sweet sounds of Jessie Dee and Jacquie B... On the last night of the conference we gave'r till dawn with an all-night jam in the Tunesmith Room hosted by David Ross Macdonald. Somehow it all degenerated into an early morning dance party on the balcony. We drank bourbon out of the bottle and a trumpet played the 2001 Space Odyssey theme as the sun rose over Niagara Falls...

Sigh.

So I'm back at Casa Sweetlandia resting up until further notice. My folks just came by and dropped off Ursa the Sweetland family beast while they're off vacationing somewhere warm. Puppy snuggles are very healing, and the good news is, I just opened my mouth and sound came out! Hallelujah.

Love, honey, and high notes,

x
K

Boo! More photos from my recent adventures here.

October 10, 2011
Toronto, ON

Happy Thanksgiving! It's yet another incredibly glorious day in the big city. I'm relaxing by the metaphorical pool after last night's fantastic Thanksgiving dinner chez moi.  Our meal was delicious and surprisingly vegan, featuring all the traditional fixings à la Sweetland. (And a live concert by the one and only Darlene while I cooked!) Tonight I will also be quite chefly, preparing a vat of saffron risotto for my dear pal Andy White who's in town for a visit.

Besides all the cooking and lounging about in my rose garden, I have been such a busy woman. Making tour plans for coming year, working on the new album, attending strange and adventurous auditions, dancing flamenco in the kitchen, and performing various impressive feats of housework. I've also been working at the Gladstone Hotel lately as an event photographer, shooting some of their amazing music and art soirées. I had a blast there last weekend for Nuit Blanche! You can have a peek at some of my photos from the evening here.

And for new shots from my eternal Adventures in Sweetland...

New concert dates are also now posted on my tour page. Even more coming soon... Stay tuned!

Love,

Sweetland

P.S.  I'm so excited to see all my friends at the OCFF conference in Niagara Falls this weekend! Meet you in a dark stairwell.

At the Gladstone...

September 3, 2011
Toronto, ON

Good morning! The sun just emerged from behind a cloud —as if on cue— when the church bells across the street started ringing. I usually let said bells rise me on Sunday mornings. Then I peek out from my window perch to watch the minister greet all the smiling morning parishioners who seem to have made it to church on time. But today I've been long awake, lying here in my polka-dot bed, conscious but seriously dreaming.

I know it's not the real end of the summer yet. We still have one delicious fortnight and a half left of the sweet season. And even though it's been ages since I set foot in a school, it's hard not to get those back-to-school butterflies every year. They come on with but a suggestion of a chill in the air, and yield an uncontrollable fancy for fall fashion. And a strange desire to stop eating nothing but watermelon for dinner. However, this fall I am actually going back to school. In a minimalist kind of way. Besides my twice-weekly classes at the Academy of Spanish Dance, I've been a very good girl and registered for a course at the Royal Conservatory of Music. It's time to focus and brush up on my music theory/composition, in the name of all my glorious upcoming projects.

I've spent much of the last couple weeks at home, me, myself, my guitar, and the Turner Classic Movie channel. Last night I had big plans to go to the drive-in movie theatre, which is so close to my house it's criminal that I've not yet been. However, I didn't manage to find an appropriate partner-in-crime for my evil plans. We all know I'm not even remotely beyond going to the drive-in by myself. But I'm definitely going to need somebody to help me eat all that popcorn. And If you come with me next weekend, I'll let you pick the movie...

Even though my romantic retro movie-going plans were foiled hier soir, it was was still an incredibly productive evening. I stayed home, ate a legacy of cabbage and diligently practiced my Doc Watson fingerstyle instructional videos. Today, I shall emerge back into the social world for a Sunday afternoon outing with the girls, and an evening with The Beauties at the Dakota Tavern.

And just so you know, the songwriting progress for the new album is going fantastically well! I'm so excited to have something new to share with you all... Hopefully sooner than later.

Lots of love,

La Sweet

Toronto says aurevoir To Jack Layton.
(With the famous Own Sweet Time clocktower in the background!)
More Summer photos here

August 17, 2011 
Toronto, ON

It's been ages, I know, since I spun a Sweetlandish yarn and told you all my secrets. A lot has happened. Many miles driven, photos taken, lobsters trapped, trees climbed, walls scaled, gigs played, postcards mailed, beasts tamed and feasts eaten. Not to mention the message in a bottle I was forced to throw overboard. Do keep an eye on your closest waterway. It may just make it your way soon...

I've been home for more than a fortnight now, with my hands full of Australians and house guests. I've been enjoying the relaxed nature of my schedule lately, taking many naps, having dinner parties, lounging around on my beautiful patio, and thinking long and hard about my life. It's all going well. Plans are in full swing for the new album and I promise to give you all more info very soon!

Played a fantastic house concert last weekend up in the land I call "Farm Heaven." Captain Dirt/Lyndell Montgomery, brilliant Aussie pals Jess McAvoy, Aurora Jane and I rocked the countryside, pool party high heel bikini-core. But I was the only one wearing high heels... And the only one not wearing a bikini. The next day, Jane, Jess and I adventured into Montréal on a serious mission. This involved a clock tower, a very important meeting, an orange guitar, a polka-dot dress and a fresh, hot bagel melting in my mouth. 

And a Toto sing-along!

A thousand adventures later, here I am at my writing desk in a beam of sunlight gazing out at the churchyard across the street. Like I'd never left. Summer is a sweet time in my neighbourhood, not to mention high season for gettin' hitched. Good thing I love the sound of church bells. Three days a weekend, and sometimes on Thursdays I get to sit here at my perch and watch one bride after another leave the chapel with her dress, her bouquet, her bridesmaids and her groom, en route to her limo. I confess, I always get a bit romantic about it. But not quite as romantic as I felt after watching the new Jane Eyre movie last night. Mr. Rochester does it to me every time. I so need a new type.

Yesterday there were no weddings to speak of, but I peeked out from my writing perch to see a film crew busily preparing to shoot an episode of Covert Affairs. They're always in my hood. I love that show! Which reminds me to tell you to watch for a Sweetlandish cameo on the new season of Being Erica coming in the fall... I love that show too.

Today is about cooking, cleaning and doing my hair in preparation for my incoming BFF later today! I'd make a fantastic 1950's housewife. And you haven't even seen me in my polka-dot apron yet. I've been busy fortifying my kitchen against the army of mice that seem to think mi casa es su casa.  I've decided to play nice first, with some well-placed steel wool and lavender oil. We'll see... I started suspecting I had nocturnal roommates when one by one the bowl of mini cinnamon hearts leftover from my Valentine's party began disappearing off the top of the stove. After pulling out said appliance yesterday, I discovered the one last-remaining lonely cinnamon heart lying in a pile of dust.  I'm not exactly sure what that's a metaphor for. But it's a metaphor for something.

Aurevoir for now my pretties, I promise to write again soon! For all y'all in Southern Ontario come see me play this weekend at the fabulous Back to the Garden Roots Music Festival on Sunday. It's gonna be a blast!

Love love,

x

K

Nothing says trouble like a pair of hot Aussies...
More summer photos here!

June 30, 2011 

Toronto, ON

There's no place like home. I returned to the big city a short while back, with tales to tell in spades. When last we spoke I was packing up my little red van on the streets of downtown Brooklyn... Since then I've made midnight pilgrimages to sacred lands of my youth, sought out beautiful bays where I once cast my heart, cavorted with handsome sailors upon ancient yachts, and made the grand journey home to my sweet Sweetlandish bed. Now I confess, gentle readers, there is more to my story that I may one day tell... But for now it shall remain a mystery.

And as for today, quelle belle journée! It was the perfect temperature in downtown Toronto. Warm, with a lake breeze, just swift enough that one must hold onto their sun hat while strolling. Not to mention the distinct aroma of sugar in the air, drifting over from the Redpath factory on the lakeshore. Strangely delicious, and slightly creepy. This afternoon I did some adventurous cooking, purified my entire premises (aurevoir bunnies of dust!) And then wandered over to the St. Lawrence Market, all in the name of cheese. Now I'm here at my writing desk, observing my daily ritual: Ponder intently whatever I may be composing while gazing at the beautiful church across the street (right now all glowy in the sleepy sun.) And I feel grateful.

I've been doing a lot of writing lately here at my perch, and for that I am grateful as well. Have a couple exciting projects on the go, so stay tuned for more details! Tomorrow I head up Georgian Bay-way to play a Sauble Beach Canada Day house concert. Sweeet. There will most certainly be fireworks.

Happy Canada!

xo

Sweetland

P.S. The last of the photos from my Southern tour are now posted here!

 Back in the big city, baby ... More summer shots here!