June 19, 2014
Toronto, ON

Hello at long last,

And happy almost summertime! I know I've been a silent Sweetland for quite a while now... There is much to catch you up on. As the solstice nears on Saturday, I'm getting prepared for all my upcoming plans for the warm season. I have a few adventures in store with Captain Dirt & The Skirt, as well as some sweet solo sojourns.

First on my agenda is Fiesta Flamenca! my year-end flamenco dance recital with the amazing Esmeralda Enrique Academy of Spanish Dance. We've been working hard on our choreographies since September and I have butterflies of excitement just thinking about it. Not to mention I have my very first castanets solo and a beautiful new flamenco skirt I can't wait to show off for you. For more info about the performance on June 28th please visit the ASD website.

My next gig is a Canada Day party on July 1st at my favourite tiniest bar in Toronto, Not My Dog. Joining me for the soirée are dear friends Andy White and Maria Ryan. Because what better way to celebrate being Canadian than with a tall Irishman and a beautiful American? Hope to see you there.

Soon after that I'll be heading out to hook up with my musical gypsy road sister DarlenYa for some shows and shenanigans. We'll both be back to Toronto in time to rock the Cameron House with Captain Dirt & The Skirt and Dede and the Dreamers July 16th. That will be a show you definitely won't want to miss!

And I'm very much looking forward to Captain Dirt & The Skirt's performance at Blue Skies Music Festival this year. That festival is a truly magical place and I can't wait to behold its glory once more. We're on the mainstage Friday, August 1st at 9:30 pm.

After Blue Skies I head East on the train via the VIA Rail Artists On Board program. I'm riding the rails from Montreal to Halifax and back again. In between I set sail for beautiful Newfoundland - a place I have yet to visit- on a seriously Sweetlandish adventure. I'll also be playing the Company House in Halifax on August 14th with local pal Jont.

Upon my return to Ontario I'll be pointing North for a big show in Lavigne, ON, with my magnificent Ladies In Waiting. For more details about all my upcoming performances please visit my tour page here.

And here's some news, kristinsweetland.com is going to be getting a makeover soon! I have some exciting projects coming up over the rest of the year -both musically and photographically- and the new website will make it easier for me to share them with you. Stay tuned.

Speaking of photography, my latest Adventures In Sweetland self-portrait series is called Space and Time and features my recent fascination with Astrophotography. As we know, I've always been a space nerd, but I've really been getting into my studies lately. So keep your earthly eyeholes peeled for new Sweetlandish star photos and an article I'm writing about all my recent astronomical adventures... Coming soon.

Till then,

xo
Kristin

Self-portrait with Meteor.
At the Carr Astronomical Observatory near Thornbury, ON.
More Space and Time photos here.

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