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.

February 16, 2013
Toronto, ON

Good morning my pets,

Hope you all had a delightful and love-drenched Valentine's Day. I spent mine in the reclining position eating gluten-free pizza and watching Psycho. I'm romantic like that. There was some serious R&R required after the glory of the past week ... So much goodness went down with my beautiful Ladies In Waiting, but it wasn't sans effect on my deep sleep reservoir.

Our "Lovesick" show at Lula Lounge was a brilliant success. We sold out and packed the house! Everybody rocked so hard, and I just can't wait for our next adventure. Whatever that shall be. I will certainly keep you posted.

Next on my list is the great Folk Alliance International conference, which has been so kind as to come visit me in Toronto this year. I'll be co-hosting a showcase room for four nights in a row with my dear Little Red Hen Music pals - road sisters and co-conspirators Darlene (darlenYa) and Jan Bell.  It will be a grand old reunion with all my musical family, old and new. I feel a little verklempt already just thinking about it.

My agenda for aujourd'hui includes a snow-dusted stroll to the St. Lawrence Farmers Market, and a hot and frothy almond milk latté. How exciting. Tonight I'll be heading out to the Cadillac Lounge to see my dear pal Andy White play. You should probably come too. Come find me in a dark corner, and buy me a whiskey.

See you there,

xo
Kristin

See you at the FAI Conference, Feb 20-24

at the Delta Chelsea Hotel in Toronto.

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...

April 22, 2011 
Home Sweetland Home ♥

Good morning! The bells in the church tower across the street are ringing to remind us how Good this Friday is ...  I'm celebrating with toast and coffee and my favourite bad TV show. This is my morning ritual: Awake in my glorious polka-dot pillow cloud bed. Lie there and think of 5 things that make me feel truly happy and grateful. (As I'm diligent these days with my Law of Attraction self-help homework!)

Today's list:

1. My incredibly comfy bed.

2. My amazing family!

3. My superhot new boots.

4. My upcoming exciting adventures down South.

5. All the episodes of my favourite bad TV show awaiting me on my PVR (for watching while waking up slowly and sipping strong coffee.)

Next, it's time to make the strong coffee. And sip it slowly. 

Last night I had a yet another magical evening at Hugh's Room. My dear friend Andy White is back in town, this time on tour with Judy Collins. At first I wasn't sure about that combo, but wow what a incredible show! 

When I think Judy Collins, I think my mom. Her voice rekindles memories of my childhood, and I confess, renders me a touch verklempt. At 71 she looks fabulous and sounds just as great as she did back then.  Told some pretty compelling stories too. What a performer. And of course, Andy was brilliant and dashing as always.

On Thursday I drove up to Stratford on a petit pilgrimage to see their show at beautiful Knox Church. And I'm so glad I did. If it weren't for the fact I forgot the memory card for my camera, there would have been epic photographic tales to tell. Said tales would have told of dark passageways, majestic windows, empty banquet halls, gargantuan chandeliers, magic mirrors and stolen moments. And my superhot new boots! At least I managed to snap one secret photo with my cell phone during the show. (See below.)

Wishing fine feasting to you all this weekend, whatever you happen to be celebrating!

xox

K

Me and my new boots went to church! Like a good girl. 

Secret photo courtesy of my cell phone.

July 24, 2010
Toronto, ON

I'm awake Unsweetlandishly early, by the glory of strong coffee and James Keelaghan in my CD alarm clock! En route to Kingston today to play an afternoon set at Raise the Roof Women's Music Festival ... Loads of my esteemed Toronto colleagues will also be performing! The likes Layah Jane, Karyn Ellis and Kirsten Jones to name a few. Kirsten and I will be embarking on another video blog mission for Roots Music Canada. We'll see what happens this time... 

Tomorrow I head to Guelph for the last day of Hillside Festival to see my pal Andy White play. Andy and I have a show together Monday night @ The Dakota Tavern. It's gonna rock. Show starts 8 PM sharp so come early!

See you there ... x

 Captain Dirt & The Skirt go for a climb.
More summer festival photos here

August 11, 2008
Toronto, ON

It has been a sweet, hot summer in Toronto and I've been living it up in style. Am currently house sitting for my pals Kt and Miss M, and lounging about their luxurious pad so very happily. Played a bunch of shows in Southern Ontario this week with brilliant Irish songwriter Andy White ... Peek at some photos from our gigs here! Relaxing in the Tdot for a few more days, then off to some fabulous festivals. Yeeee!

In Toronto on the neighbour's roof ... again  

March 17, 2008
Austin, TX

Happy St. Paddy's, with late night love from this Austin motel just off I-35. Had a great night with Andy White and his fine band rockin' it Irish core at Opal Divine's tonight. Played a couple shows with the dashing Mr. White over the past two days, both as opener and back up singin' hammertone mama. SO MUCH FUN. I want to do this forever . . . goddess deliver me a band! I have to say I am in love with Austin. SXSW was a blast. It was certainly an assault on the senses from all directions and I had to take it easy to avoid exhaustion overload. However, I am so glad I made the pilgramage to Texas. It was worth every second of that long drive. Didn't actually see that many bands this weekend though, but an honourable mention goes to Laura Stark whose haunting vocals and sultry sexiness sucked me in at the "Invasion of the GoGirls" night @ Trophy's. Also, to the BoDeans (who I loved so as a teenager!) who rocked Bourbon Rocks and brought me back to my youth in all it's nostalgic sweetness. Still my beating heart, boys. Yum. Although, I must confess I get an F in photography this trip and have very few snapshots as evidence of my exploits. You will just have to take my word for it. Except this one below... live from an Austin alleyway . . . Am sporting my new love-at-first-sight purchase: a leather shawl from Blackmail, courtesy of brilliant Austin designer Gail Chovan. There will be more photos of said fashionable item shortly, I am sure. Till then nighty-night as the sounds of the wailing trucks fade and my head slowly descends to the pillow. x

With Andy White @ Momo's, Austin TX (Photo by Pete Harris for Indie Sounds NY) 

February 23, 2008

Memphis, TN

Greetings from the depths of the annual musical mania that is the North American Folk Alliance conference! This year I've been co-hosting the Little Red Hen Music showcase room with my dear pals Darlene and Jan Bell. We've had a most fantastic and successful year, oh glory! Played some damn fine showcases too, drank some supremely delicious Scotch and most importantly saw tons of my dearest pals I hardly ever get to see. Made some new pals too that I am so excited about (smile.) More on all that later. Now, it's nearly 6 am and it's definitely sleepytime. Nighty-night. x

Andy White came to visit