Twittering.. and Etsy

This is just a quick post to let you know I've recently gotten a little bit lost on Twitter.. If you want more short updates go to this site and click follow ;) 

Also, we are working on items for the Etsy site, first two stencils are done for the Tshirts and they'll be up soon I promise.. Have designed a few steam-punk things too and as you'll see on the Twitter site I've been making hats...

I'll be in Auckland next week, and then playing at the Ellerslie flower show in Christchurch on March 14th, I'm on between 3.3ö and 4.30 on the main stage.  xox

Something old.. something new..

Happy new year! I've been a bit absent from the blog for a while now.. Here's what has been going on..

In January I played two shows with Marty Casey, he came and did a tour of New Zealand to support CanTeen *a wonderful charity supporting young people living with cancer. We played in Christchurch at AL's bar, and in Dunedin at 10 bar.. We met the day before the first concert and then played two songs together both nights, lots of fun and will put up some pictures and video here soon..

I played in Hagley park for the Christchurch city council as part of the 'Lazy weekends' outdoor concert series, except the day that I played there was a thunderstorm.. As I got to the gardens, we could hear the thunder rumbling in the distance and it didn't look good for an outdoor concert.. But there were plenty of (brave) people, already set up with picnics and so I played.. it rained a bit during the first few songs, and I dried my guitar with a towel in between songs.. then it was lovely until the end.
When everything was packed up, it was like an explosion went off.. thunder, lightning and black skies.. it rained like I've never experienced here..

I believe these are the most memorable concerts.. more so than just a lovely day outside ;)

It's the best time of year here in Christchurch now, with the summertimes festival, buskers and festival of flowers on.. Went to a brilliant show in the botanical gardens last week, it's on every night until the Feb 15th, ''The Complete history of cinema (abridged)'' Highly reccommend going (bring a picnic) to see it...

I've had several requests for T-shirts lately.. So we decided to set up an Etsy store.. *I love etsy.. it's a wonderful site for all things handmade.. And rather than mass-produced printed photo-style T's, we've decided to do hand-stencilled ones.. Something a bit more personal and different..
*so if there's something particular you'd like to see in the store.. now is the time to contact (use the contact button here on the site) :) Would love to hear your ideas.

I have a little time off at the moment, we're working on a new music video and I'm writing. There will be more info here soon about upcoming concerts, but I can tell you we're planning one for early april, and I'll be playing during Earth hour in march *more info soon..

I'm about to share something I never have before.. When I have a little time, I love designing and making jewelry.. Since we set up the etsy store, I decided to list some items.. they're one-off-handmade pieces using glass, crystals, lava and all sorts of bits and pieces.. Hope you like them.. Lots more coming soon.. and the T-shirts will be up in the next few weeks...

xox

Live videos and more teaching

I went to Taupo last week to do another workshop for the NZ music commission and ended up learning lots myself.. I played ukulele for the first time and loved it! I had 23 students in the workshop, and then played for the whole school outside after their lunch break.. They were so lovely! and it was a beautiful sunny day!

Only 9 days till christmas now, and it's finally summer! My vegetable garden is looking great and will have new potatoes very soon..

I mentioned on the mailing list that my favourite chocolate is now available here in Christchurch, and got some great replies.. I have no idea what this is but really curious to try it..

Here are some photos from the mentoring program:

The boys, and the Pink ukulele..




And these photos below were taken at the Nut Point Gallery concert last month. They now have a site up with videos from the concert here. Scroll down to see the videos.









Photos by Matt Stead.

xox

Mentoring Program and Southern Amp..

It's been quite a while since I last wrote here, Lots of things going on and it's looking like it's going to be an interesting summer! (we had frost, snow and hail only a few days ago, and yesterday was 31 degrees..) Last weekend was Southern Amp, which was wonderful! And I've attached some photos from there, here below.    *Photos by Matt Stead.





I've just finished a course of teaching here in Christchurch for the New Zealand Music Commission. It's called the mentoring program, where musicians go to schools, and teach music in a different way... (which I think is brilliant, because I didn't really enjoy the way they tought when I was at school..) This is more like a songwriting workshop, and it's just such a great thing to take part in. My last class was five very talented boys, and I can actually show you something wonderful ;) one of my students was already writing music before the workshop, and is going to go very far I believe.. this is his performance on What Now after he won a songwriting competition there recently, his name is Rahul and he's 12 years old..

If you're watching this on the facebook site and can't see the video **here is the link**

I'll be doing some more teaching near Taupo next month, which is where my cat came from.. (I've been away from home for a few days and he just cannot get enough smooches right now.. they say dogs don't have too much of a sense of time as in how long you've been away for, wether it's an hour or three days.. but I really think my cat knows..)

I've moved house since I last wrote here, and have been writing lots of new songs.. Will be making another music video very soon with the same crew as worked on 'Feels so good' This time for 'The devil and me' and looking forward to it..

Next concert coming up is at the Nut Point Gallery on the 29th this month. I haven't played there before but I think it will be lovely. It's about 22km from the city center, and is part of their songwriters series.. xox for now

Sunshine and spring..

It's lovely to be home. For the first few days it was a bit cold and grey but it seems spring has finally kicked in. Everything is blossoming and beautiful..

I went to one of my favourite places here on Sunday.. Pegasus Bay.. and did a short video there. Initially the video blogging was just meant to be while on tour in Iceland, but I've decided to keep going for a little while and share some of New Zealand too ;)

Coming up is the Alexandra Blossom Festival, and Southern Amp.. more info here in the Live section. And I'll be playing in Cathedral Square on October 5th for the World Harmony Run after the concert at the Arts Centre. xox

Home, and Copenhagen

I'm home now. Copenhagen was wonderful! it didn't rain while I was there, which was really nice. I got very sick on the day I left Iceland, and completely lost my voice. Nothing would come out louder than a whisper - I literally couldn't even fake talking.. But I'm very stubborn and refused to call the two venues and cancel the concerts. But went instead to see an ear nose and throat specialist and find out what it was or if anything was damaged, and was told I've over-strained my vocal chords (from doing many concerts in a row, and singing/writing in between..) a bit like a sprained muscle.. But he prescribed an inhaler (which I used only on the day of the concerts) and some kamillete herbal tea. (I think it's eccinacea?) and I got through without having to cancel :)

The first concert was at an art opening at Nordatlantensbrygge. The artist was Helgi Thorgils Friidjonsson, who is Icelandic, so there were a lot of Icelandic people there although all the speeches were in danish.

The picture here was also taken at Nordatlantensbrygge upstairs, there was an exhibition on Greenland 1906-1908 a lot of beautiful sketches and old diaries.. The picture is with a stuffed polar bear..

Then in the evening I played at Cafe Blasen, which I think is the smallest venue I've ever played in (even smaller than the church in oddi, Oddakirkja) and it was amazing! there was hardly room to breathe in there, absolutely packed with people and it had such a wonderful vibe! very very  cosy!

And I visited Tivoli! on the first day in Copenhagen, completely voice-less and went on the demon rollercoaster without being able to scream... very strange experience.. I felt somehow pollite, just sitting there and smiling...  Here´s a short video from the second day, taken in between concerts..


Now I'm home and voiceless again.. settling into the time zone and geeking out on the new iphone (I'm a bit of a gadget nerd) Just over two weeks until the next concert so I can rest a little..

Here are my friends babies Pinto and Pottle, I've been knitting in Iceland while touring, and
made these two little Lopapeysa's for them.. (traditional Icelandic woolen sweaters) *they do have a purpose, little ones get very cold here in the New Zealand winter..

And here is mine, this is Brjánn / Brian, I posted a picture of him here a long time ago
but there's a more recent picture now on the right :) He's a hairless sphynx cat..