Buenas dias!

Nope, Justin Lacroix is not in Mexico… though, that would be nice  <):-)

..la cucaracha la cucaracha… ya no puede caminar… porque no tiene… porque le falta… marijuana que fumar… (my favorite version.. much more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Cucaracha )

(Kind of random, I know.)

I’m writing you from evening-struck Ottawa after a nice sunny day…. and it actually felt like a winter’s day for a change instead of early spring. I know some of you are probably happy about the abnormally mild weather this season, but though I too have a hard time missing the knuckle numbing deep freeze, it does make me wonder what’s going on with our dear mother earth. Makes me think twice about loading up the van to once again head out to cross this vast country on yet another musical adventure. Well, there’s no better answer for now, so I will continue as is, while throwing the question out there.. how do we do this better… and not just better for the pocketbook, but better for the overall good of the thing. At the moment, I still consider what I am doing worthwhile, and I will roll with the punches, as they say… looking forward to seeing you

Wonderful thing; sitting with a friend having but a simple pleasant conversation, yet at some point in time, the communication leads to an exchange that touches more deeply but for a brief moment, stirs something, inspires and I am left feeling I have grown from the seemingly mundane (ORIGIN late Middle English: from Old French ‘mondain’, from late Latin ‘mundanus’, from Latin ‘mundus’ (world) ) experience. Even when things bring me down… I do love being alive to simply experience the way things play out in their quasi-magical way

Embracing the serendipitous nature of this thing, tomorrow, I’ll be hitting the road! (But right now, I’m bobbing, listening to ‘Friday Night in San Fransisco’ by Al Di Meola, Paco DeLucia and John McLaughlin… amazing guitar! And so GROOVY!!)… back to the subject. I’m heading out due West. So far, I’ve got scheduled stops in:

Sault Sainte Marie (Feb 2 @ LopLop’s 9pm)

Rossport (Feb 3 @ the Serendipity Gardens Café, 8pm)

Thunder Bay (Feb 4 @ the Apollo, 9:30pm)

Winnipeg (were I will be staying for a few weeks, playing with the !!!!!Justin Lacroix Band!!!!!

I CAN’T WAIT!

Feb 10&11 @ the Bella Vista , 10pm

Feb 23 @ Festival du voyageur,TBA)

Regina (Feb 25 @ the Creative City Centre, TBA)

Calgary (Feb 27 @ the Ironwood, TBA)

Vancouver (March 1 @ Café Montmartre, 10:30pm)

Jasper (March 5 @ the Olive Bistro, 8pm)

Edmonton (March 6 @ the Cha Tea House, TBA)

Brandon (March 8 @ the Lady Of the Lake, 7pm)

London (March 15 @ the London Music Club, TBA)

Toronto (March 16 @ Not My Dog, 10pm)

(MORE TO COME…. STAY TUNED

So I hope to see many of you along the way, I’m trucking along a few new tunes that are getting to know the oldies that are never too far out of reach. Really looking forward to playing these shows… I miss you guys!

I’ve put up some more vids on the ‘TUBE… www.youtube.com/justinlacroixband  and www.youtube.com/justinnoellacroix (don’t ask me why there are 2 youtube channels… I will be rectifying that when I have some time)

What else… Oil change… New passenger side headlight (that I actually haven’t installed yet, but will do before hitting the road tomorrow … looking forward to seeing my grandfather and playing some accordion for him … sorry, that’s an instrument I only play in private… I really just play around on it once in a while, I’m a ways from being “at one” with the keyboard… never mind the bass buttons.

Ok, I’m just rambling on. I wish you well and will see you soon

CHEERS!!!

Justin

Hey Gang!

Justin, reporting from wintery Montréal!
2012! May it be a good one

Mine’s starting out to be a busy one.. Ottawa, Sutton (QC), Montréal, Ottawa, Montréal… and that’s where I’m at.. with an upcoming show this Thursday (here in Montréal) at Burritoville (2055 Bishop Street, 2nd Floor) with the fantastic Matthew McCully (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7EOFFqSfEI). The show is at 7:30pm and it’s 10$ at the door.
Then I’ll continue to stretch out the Sienna’s legs for the long drive back West (…details to come) at the beginning of February, by heading back into the beautiful “Cantons de l’Est” (South-East of Montréal… rolling hills, little mountains, dollops of snow on trees, rooftops and streetsides… simply lovely) this Saturday (Jan 21) to play in Knowlton at the CIDI Radio Village Hall ( 305-B Knowlton Street~ Knowlton, Qc – downstairs, show at 8pm, $10 at the door).
Then, I’m back in Ottawa to play at the National Arts Centre opening for Annette Campagne (4th Stage, NAC, Ottawa) on January 27th at 7:30pm, and the voyage back to Winnipeg (not moving back.. just visiting) begins..
Sorry to leave this message a little short.. I’ll get back to you soon, however, with more on the new year and the new adventures.
In the meantime, I’ll leave you with a new clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yqt6e57FwwA
…and much love.. Hope to see you soon.

Salut!

Justin

Hey-O !!

How y’all doin’? I’m sitting here watching the snow fall on a joyful Montreal. Things have been quite busy since the fall with the big move to the big city and touring about. December has been some quiet time for me with a couple of shows here, but little gallivanting but January is about to re-introduce itself and with it, busy-me.. which will be welcomed. I’m looking forward to a new year with more touring, recording and lovely-living.

So I’ll be in QC/ON for the month of Jan 2012, but in Feb, I’m touring back to Winnipeg to stay for a few weeks to visit and play at Festival du voyageur, and then continuing on West to make my rounds before coming back East where I’ll continue roaming around with my guitar

So as I sit here in my living room/kitchen next to my origami frogs, a new book and my makeshift Christmas tree (I noticed one of our pines in front had an oddly growing branch, so I sawed it and made it our Xmas tree , I hope that you’re all well and wish you peaceful and loving family/friends time!

Much Love, and hope to see you soon!

Salut!

Justin

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27 OCT 27 //  21h00 (9pm)
JL @ café Babylone (181, rue Saint-Vallier Est)
QUÉBEC, QC

3 NOV 3  // 12h00 (midi/noon)
JL @ café Aberdeen (140 Botsford St)
MONCTON, N-B

17 NOV 17  //  21h00 (9pm)
JL (avec Ivan Burke!!) et Matthew McCully @ Bar le Magog (244, rue Dufferin)
SHERBROOKE, QC

18 NOV 18  //  21h30
JL (avec Ivan Burke!!) et Guillaume Duchêsneau
@ Bistro Mousse Café (2522, rue Beaubien Est)
MONTRÉAL, QC

19, 20 NOV 19, 20
JL (avec Ivan Burke!!) @  house  CONCERTS  de foyer
Email:  contact@justinlacroixband.com   (pour/for détails)
OTTAWA, ON

+  à venir / to come…

(www.justinlacroix.com)
(www.sonicbids.com/justinlacroixband  -  téléchargez sans frais… free downloads!)
(Twitter – Justin_Lacroix)
(http://www.facebook.com/pages/Justin-Lacroix-Band/37531166586)
(www.myspace.com/justinlacroix)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

October 26th, 2011

Perched over the falls, peering down, there is an immutable silence that blankets tourists’ chatter and the distant white noise of the infinite mass of plummeting droplets as they plow into the waters below. Silence… not a drop makes a peep as it lunges over the edge of the cliff… Peaceful abandon… So powerful… Throughout the buzz of the crowd, and all-seizing awe peacefully lingers… Niagara Falls… truly breathtaking.
(man, I should start writing tourism brochures… or more songs

HELLO!! How’s it going?!

First and foremost, THANK YOU!

I continue ever-gratefully through this wonderfully musical journey and never cease to be pleasantly surprised by life’s magic. I hope you’re all able to take the time to breathe in the greatness of all we get to experience… especially of each other and every being we encounter and with whom we share bits of this beautiful dance as we whizz through time towards our dive back into the flowing veins of this breathing, beating wonder.

Right now, I’m pleasantly sinking into a couch at a friend’s house here in Granby, Québec (having just spent the last hour sitting on the back porch with martinis and cigars… life is good) as I embark on the current little tour that started Tuesday night here in Granby (about an hour South-East of Montréal) and brings me all the way to Moncton, N-B and back to Sherbrooke, Montréal and Ottawa (where IVAN BURKE, JLB drummer will be playing with me! Whoot!!).

Now, the “Justin moving his touche to Montréal Tour” was great! Thank you once again to the folks that came to the shows, the bar/café owners and employees and especially the friends and family that keep on welcoming me warmly into their homes as I tour around. Thank you for loving this wandering troubadour. Much love.

It is in this kind of loving environment that I have fallen into out here. Great roomies (now like family) in a sweet apartment with a super chill porch out back… already had some good little jam-alongs back there . Since my arrival in Montréal, the pace hasn’t really slowed much. I spent a week apple picking just North of the city, I spent a weekend in Niagara Falls to participate in the OCFF (Ontario Council of Folk Festivals) conference (An event that gives artists a chance to perform for and meet festival folks in hopes to get booked for next summer’s celebration… good times.. Thanks to the Manitoba Music folks for having me take part in their after hours showcases). Last but not least, I spent last weekend in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield (’bout an hour South-West of Montréal) with friends Marie-Claudel and Ariane Chénard (of the duo Eldéanne) to play a few shows.. and a house party. A great discovery for me. I’d like to say that in my lifetime, I’ll get to visit all of the cool little spots on this earth… but that would be a little ignorant, because the more I tour around, the more I realize that there are cool little spots with incredible people EVERYWHERE! Big thanks to the Chénards for welcoming me into their home. MMmm creamy cheezy crab buns… I am spoiled. Merci.

Next up, Québec city!! It’ll be a first for me, and is followed by another first… Moncton! Then, Ivan (drummer in the JLB) will be in Montréal for a bit, so we’ll be doing some shows (Sherbrooke, Montréal and Ottawa so far… but more to be announced in the next days…) I’ll keep you guys posted on the goins on… in the meantime, take good care of you and your loves, and don’t forget to let yourself celebrate (even if it’s a quiet celebration… simply letting yourself enjoy one breath… quite liberating).

Much Love,

Keep on groovin’ on,

xoxox

Justin

PS. Details on the upcoming shows are posted up above… You can always check out www.justinlacroix.com and all that stuff..

September 23 septembre
Loplop’s, 9:30pm
Sault Sainte-Marie, ON

September 24 septembre
Dez’s, 8:30pm
(email pour détails : contact@justinlacroixband.com)
North Bay, ON

September 29 septembre
London Music Club, 9pm
London, ON

September 30 septembre
Not My Dog, 9pm
Toronto, ON

October 1 octobre
Avant Garde, 9pm
Ottawa, ON

October 2 octobre
Bistro Mousse Café, 9pm
Montréal, QC

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G’d'day! G’d'day!

Just finished my spinach/cranberry/almond/goat cheese/balsamic salad from the Dish here in Sault Ste-Marie… quite good! Black bean soup is good too… excuse me while I kiss this spoon… ok. maybe not.

Anyhow, how’s it goin’!?
I’m doing well! Even splendidly!
Just rode into the Soo from Wawa where I had a nice last visit with my lake Superior folk for the last time until next time. This tour has been all about that and it’s been wonderful. Thank you all for the beautiful experiences. What a treat! You’ll eventually get sick of me saying it, if you’re not already, but I’ll say it again.. I LOVE doing what I do… Ocean breezes, mountain skirts, massageing rolling hills, comforting prairie sunsets, heartwarming lake Superior campfire songs… I am spoiled… and forever grateful.

So I’m about to set up shop in Montréal and it’s very exciting to be opening this new chapter in my life as I welcome the same good fortune in a fresh inspiring environment. I do, however believe that this, the touring, playing for diverse communities as I travel the countryside, is where it’s really at for me, so I will continue to work on tours so I can, well, keep on keepin’ on. Who knows what connections I may make in the future may help in the organizing of tours and such…

For now, I am super happy since I have 6 more shows including the one that lands me in Montréal. You probably saw them as you scrolled down, but if you missed them… look up

So take care, don’t be afraid to love and take a break.. you deserve a nice relaxing breath of freedom. (… resisting to grate more cheese

Much love,

Justin

Whooooo!!

3 days left!!
This may come as a surprise to some of you, but I have been planning some more touring for the fall that will land me in Montréal, where I’ll be STAYING for a little while (1 year, 2 years… we’ll see how it fits). Lots of questions pop up of course:
Why? Well, several reasons… to be closer to the bigger, more bilingual eastern canadian populations… to be closer to people who may be able to help me with bookings and promo and such… and, well, I’ve been feeling the need for a change, and I think this will be a good one for me right now.
What about the band? Well, the focus right now is getting the music out there to see if we can garner enough support to get this boat floating… then, the plan is for the band to join… not necessarily getting them to move out there, but at least get to tour together and do more recording… I can’t wait!
Will I ever be back in Winnipeg? How could I ever stay away? I’ve got my family here and a great heap of friends that I love dearly, so yeah, I will be coming back from time to time to visit when I tour out West.

If there are any other questions that might pop into your head, please do not hesitate.. write back.

So right now, I’m getting more and more excited about leaving, but my head is also starting to spin, thinking about all I have to do before I leave… not to mention the people I want to spend time with.

That being said, I should get to doing the things I gotta do. I’m thinking, there’s a lot more I want to tell you, but it will have to wait. There will be plenty of time to tell stories when I’m all packed up in the JLB van (yes, I’m driving out… oh yeah! I have to have the oil changed).

So here’s the list of shows coming up! Hope to see you out there!

LOVE

Justin

August 30 août
Aqua Books(w Marijosée), 8pm
Winnipeg, MB

September 2 septembre
Lady of the Lake, 6pm
Brandon, MB

September 6 septembre
Wunderbar, 9:30pm
Edmonton, AB

September 7 septembre
Olive Bistro, 8pm
Jasper, AB

September 9 septembre
Café Montmartre, 9:30pm
Vancouver, BC

September 12 septembre
the Owl, 10pm
Lethbridge, AB

September 13 septembre
TBA
Calgary, AB

September 14 septembre
23 Main Street, 8pm
Moose Jaw, SK

September 15 septembre
the Fainting Goat, 8:30pm
Regina, SK

September 16 septembre
Mystic Java (w Véronique Poulin), 8pm
Saskatoon, SK

September 17 septembre
Aaron Provincial Park, 7pm
Dryden, ON

September 18 septembre
the Apollo (w the Dead Letters), 9:30pm
Thunder Bay, ON

September 19 septembre
Serendipity Gardens Café, 8pm
Rossport, ON

September 21 septembre
Rock Island Lodge, 7:30pm
Wawa, ON

September 23 septembre
Loplop’s, 9:30pm
Sault Sainte-Marie, ON

September 24 septembre
TBA
North Bay, ON

September 30 septembre
Not My Dog, 9pm
Toronto, ON

October 1 octobre
Avant Garde (w Gabriel Bouchard, Kristine St-Pierre & Sarah Cruzoe), 9pm
Ottawa, ON

October 2 octobre
Bistro Mousse Café (w Philippe Brach), 9pm
Montréal, QC

Good day folks!

Justin Lacroix reporting from North Bay, Ontario. I’m sitting here at the Veg Out bistro (an organic juice bar and eatery with a nice atmosphere and internet connection) doing some office work on a cloudy, cool day. So I’m on tour right now and I’m working my way out to Petite Vallée, Gaspésie (region of Québec on the bottom lip of the fleuve Saint-Laurent’s mouth), for a songwriters’ residency. It’ll essentially be a dozen of us working on songs as we let the tides of the Atlantic massage our creative bug for 10 days and at the end of the stay, we put on a show. Good times. I’ve been wanting to check out that portion of the country for some time now.

So I decided to tour out to the coast from Winnipeg. Not the best organized tour yet, but still good. Good to get to play for folks all over the place and meet all sorts. Oh, and an opportunity to check out guitar stores and pawn shops in search of little gems. Speaking of which… I just bought a banjo! Whoo!!

So I’ve got some dates posted up on the calendar for stops in North Bay, Strathroy, Ottawa, Wawa, Thunder Bay and the Aaron Provincial Park (I was playing my guitar by the campfire on the morning after my Winnipeg departure and the park attendant stopped by and started inquiring about my playing… ends up he booked me to play at their amphitheater on my way home! Can’t wait!). Ok. I know there are some missing stops in there and I’m working on it. I’ll keep you up to date on the development of Toronto, Montréal, Sherbrooke…

So yeah, things are good. The Toyota Sienna is rolling along and I’ve seen 6 moose, 3 black bears, 3 great blue herons and one bald eagle so far… not to mention about 1134 crows, 12 bunnies, 19 vultures and horses and cows and cats and dogs.

Hope everyone is doing well as well.

Love and peace,

Justin

Good evening!

Justin Lacroix here writing you from my mother’s basement… aahhh reality… ain’t it a beauty (I will set up my own nest… soon… I promise.). But really, I am very grateful for an ever supportive and loving family. Being back in Winnipeg is a good feeling, but I still wish it was but another stop on this tour. Another time perhaps.

What a tour, though! I must send out big THANKS to all who came out to support me, feed me and house me along my western canadian musical meanderings. Many fond memories will be cherished, and well, I would like to share some highlights from the road…

- I left Winnipeg with a belly full of delicious sushi from the Sushi King where I had an intimate and heartwarming send-off on Feb 28th.
- One of my firsts of this tour was Saskatoon, and though new friends offered me a warm place to crash, I oddly opted for the cold comfort of the Toyota Sienna…hmmm… not always the brightest bulb…
- The first of two stops in Edmonton was kind of like a treasure hunt. First, I played my show at the Wild Earth Bakery and Café, then I joined some friends (Raphael Freynet and crew) at the “Cité Francophone” for a jam, and when that closed down, some new friends invited us over to their place where we continued to jam along until the wee hours of the morn… the good life.
- Then it was the drive straight up North that ended in Hay River. Now for those of you who didn’t know, the Northwest Territories holds one of the biggest bodies of freshwater in the world. On the south edge of the Great Slave Lake, you find Hay River, where the natural beauty is only surpassed by the kind warmhearted folks. On the northern shores of this same gargantuan puddle, you find Yellowknife. Now, if you happen to find yourself in Yellowknife in March, there is something worth checking out… well quite a few things to check out, but I’m talking about the Snow King festival. All you really need to know is that there is a Snow King, and he is a very generous and gracious host, that you should dress warmly since the festivities take place in the Snow King’s Snow Castle (quite impressive http://snowking.ca/ ) and though it’s lightly heated and the bodies of celebrating snow peasants warm the place up, it is nice to by toasty, and last but not least… BYOCB (the C stands for concealed). Oh. and relax and have a good time. That we did. Big thanks to my new northern family!!
- It was kind of sad leaving the Northwest Territories that Monday morning, but I was looking forward to continuing my adventures out to the coast. Not before another fun night with friends in Edmonton and yet another new stage in Jasper. Also had fun playing at the French school in Jasper before making my way to Vancouver.
- Big shout out to René from CostLess Auto in Vancouver who gave me a super deal on a new(ish) power steering pump (still quite expensive, but can you put a price on safety… not really, I mean you could try, but it would just give you a headache… I don’t really like headaches, had a lot of ‘em when I was a kid… not a fan). Vancouver… I usually just walk around repeating “Vancouver” when I’m there. It is really something else being on the West coast… can’t wait for this summer when I’ll get more familiar with the East coast, but that’s for another story..
- Thanks to Donna for the tour of Penticton when we closed up shop after waiting for 2 hours for nobody to show up at the gig… next time… and looking forward to getting to actually play Pentiction. I do dig it there too.
- I feel Calgary gets a bad rap and I want to tell her that I do Love her and I want to thank her for the Love she has shown me not only this time, but in the past as well.
- For those of you who have often passed by Moose Jaw never thinking twice about stopping in… you should.  It’s a really cute town and the folks are nice too.
- I had the chance to share the stage for a second time with Fur Eel, this time in their home town, Regina. What a fun night. Definitely do it again. And do check out that band, they have a good thing going… worth listening and supporting.
- Yorkton… sorry I was late… honest mistake. Oh, and to the kind couple in front, sorry I couldn’t entice your baby to come out… hope she (or he) liked the music anyway.
- Brandon… thank you for the pizza and the good company… oh, and the mandolin jam and education (did you know lime goes on dare, amber or spiced rum beverages, but not on white?)
- It all came to an end over an Australian stout (a beer, not a stalky man with a charming accent), good company, and good music at the Billabong last night here in Winnipeg.

So a big thanks to all o’ y’all once again. Can’t wait for the next time ’round!

Now, I’ll be heading out to Regina to do some recording (new solo album) for a couple weeks and also work on booking my summer tours ( out East in June and July and out West and North in August and September).

Oh, and I’ll be playing in Brandon again on Saturday (April 2nd) on my way out to Regina.

Until next time, take good care of your bad selves!

Much Love,

Sincerely,

Justin

Ps. Oh yeah, and as I was being driven to the Yellowknife airport by my new friends, two foxes, one red and one black, crossed the road behind us as if to say: come back and visit some time.  Cheers!

Yee Haw!!

OK. I won’t be out to tame it exactly… Would be like a lion trying to tame a wild horse…not pretty. It would just end up with blood, black eyes and a broken nose…not my style. I will, however, be doing the western rounds to play some music for the fine folks of these communities:

February 28 février     7 PM / 19h     Sushi King (Winnipeg, MB)
March   2  mars     8:30 PM / 20h30     Spadina Free House (Saskatoon, SK)
March   4  mars     8:00 PM / 20h     Wild Earth Bakery (Edmonton, AB)
March   7  mars     TBA     Fort Smith Rec Centre (Fort Smith, NT)
March   8  mars     TBA     Chief Sunrise (K’atl’odeeche First Nation, NT)
March   9  mars     TBA     Beaver Tail Jamboree / Icebreaker Lounge (Fort Simpson, NT)
March 11  mars     TBA     CSDF-FCDÉ (Hay River, NT)
March 12  mars     TBA     Snowking Festival (Yellowknife, NT)
March 15  mars     9:00 PM / 21h     The Druid Irish Pub (Edmonton, AB)
(Playing the Spotlight Set for the Druid’s Open Mic Night)
March 18  mars     8:30 PM / 20h30     Café Montmartre (Vancouver, BC)
March 20  mars     8:00 PM / 20h     Voodoo’s (Penticton, BC)
(Justin Lacroix and Lobo Blanco)
March 22  mars     8:30 PM / 20h30     Ironwood Stage & Grill (Calgary, AB)
March 23  mars     7:30 PM / 19h30     23 Main Street (Moose Jaw, SK)
March 24  mars     10:00 PM / 22h00     McNally’s Tavern (Regina, SK)
March 25  mars     7:30 PM / 19h30     5th Avenue Cup & Saucer (Yorkton, SK)
March 26  mars     8 PM / 20h     Lady of the Lake (Brandon, MB)
March 28  mars     9:30 PM / 21h30     Billabong (Winnipeg, MB)
Hope to see y’all out on the road!!

xo Justin

Good morning!

Justin Lacroix reporting from sunny Manitoba. Takes for you to visit less sunny places to realize it sometimes…that and much more… Well, after a substantial amount of time mostly consecrated to the preparation of the Justin Lacroix Band’s début LP (which we launched here in Winnipeg October 16th 2010 and is now available and circulating), I’m glad to say I’ll be getting back to sharing the music throughout the country from the stage. 2011 started off on the right foot as I headed off on the first tour of the year out to Ontario and Québec (a solo tour for now…until it can pay for more than me…reality…).

It wasn’t long before I was reminded that this musical adventure that I have embarked on is truly mine to live. Sometimes I question what I am doing. Maybe I could have been a… no answers seem right. Then I have a guitar on my lap and a tune in my head and a desire to go play it for people… probably on the right track. Besides, I know some folks who wouldn’t let me stop even if I tried (thank you!). Truth is, we are all unique and though we fall into a certain category of being and then a subdivision and another, we are, in the end, unique. No other living creature hears the same way or sees the same way or feels the same way… I’m not saying your pang is someone else’s ping, your blue is their red and your smooth is their rough, though that may be the case in extreme circumstances. It is that the you that is experiencing the sounds, views, scents, feel, tastes, and emotions experiences it from a unique perspective. That perspective is built on a story that is the story of your life. Innumerable circumstances have brought you here from there and create your way of seeing things. Well, that and what you were born with… a mix of mom and dad and a sprinkle of soul. So where does that leave us? Why am I talking about this? Because when I look at what role I play in the eternal grand concert that rings throughout our Universe, it becomes clearer and clearer that there is no point in doing something that you’re not moved to do. Unless there is a point to it. We do have to do things we don’t like to do but usually there is a good motive (that means to an end stuff). Easier said than done, and half the battle is just figuring out who you are and what you like and want. Many won’t even get to that because they’re wrapped up in just getting the basic survival done. And you can’t go any further if you’re not taking care of that. Besides, if we all had it figured out, well, that’s like saying: if there were no nights… impossible. What makes this world is all of what makes it. The good, the bad, the white, the black, the sweet and the bitter… The important thing is not to sleep through it all though sleep is important too. It’s funny, whenever I start writing or thinking about this stuff, I end up running in circles going “this is this, but that is that and this is that…” so I’ll stop now before I dig us all into a dark cave where we’ll all start wondering who and where we are, which isn’t bad, just a little heavy for a Sunday morning. All I wanted to say is: I am and you are so let’s be as we are.

I was just going to give you the low-down on the tour, but as some of you know, I can get distracted from time to time. The tour! It was great! Thank you to all who came out to listen to my music, it’s your breath in my sail that, well, moves my boat..he he.. moves my boat.. Thank you to all of my friends and family and friends that are family for putting me up and feeding me (quite well might I add). It really wouldn’t be possible at this point in time for me to tour without your help so once again, thank you. The most lovely part of this whole experience is the people you encounter, whether it be an old friend or a new one, it is the connection that is made in that brief moment that inspires all sorts of things. So thank you to all who cross my path with their own (or is it mine that has crossed theirs..).

Seeing as I’ve used up all mine and yours time, I will re-cap the tour in a quickie.

Winnipeg sent me off on tired legs after a great time playing my fingers and voice right off for my good hometown crew. I was immediately revived in Thunder Bay with but a breath of that rich Lake Superior air and a warming bowl of Sheila’s gypsy soup (Hope you’re feeling better, Tina). In Rossport, after a delicious meal and an intimate evening playing music for some good folks, I rested under a starry sky (No, I didn’t sleep outside, I was inside the most comfortably welcoming Serendipity Gardens Guest House). I did sleep in the van in Sault Sainte-Marie testing my nest in -10 C temperature…not bad except for having to get up to pee in the “too early to wake up” morn. In Sudbury, I drank beer with the locals at the live music venue “the Townhouse” wondering why I wasn’t on that stage(at least to play an opening set). In North Bay, I had a great time at the 100 Georges for their open mic (since I had a bit of a hole in my schedule, I found some open mics that would have me). Also, I met the self-acclaimed writer of Brian Adam’s “Everything I do”. hmmm…I don’t know… Shame on me for doubting it… I met the writer of “Everything I Do”!!!WOW!!! In London, I hung out with the folks from the Blues Society (Thank you Ray for introducing me to your crew) and in Strathroy, I bought a bass (the Framus Basse Guitarre. Made in Germany in the 60′s. so cool.). I also had fun inviting friends to come up and play bass with me on songs they didn’t know…Fun times!  In Gatineau, I played my heart out as well as in Montréal, where I also ate a poutine that made my heart hurt. Something happens the more you return to a place. It starts to become more and more familiar… like a worn-in pair of shoes… I love that feeling. (sorry for my poor use of punctuation… I should take a course… or not) To wrap it up, I played my first show in Sherbrooke and was blown away by the attendance and response (thank you so much for helping spread the word and getting people out! MERCI beaucoup beaucoup!!! Ça fait beaucoup de beaucoups! ; )>). Oh, yeah, on the way back West I stopped in to play at an acoustic jam with the folks at the Moose Lodge in Sault Sainte-Marie. What a great time; 17 people sitting in a circle with acoustic guitars and mics singing old country tunes (wish I knew more of those). The folks at the Madhouse in Thunder Bay were most welcoming on my last night of the tour and my Thunder Bay home, though I got kinda lost trying to find my way there after the show was so very nice to step into out of the cold January night (MERCI!).

It’s a lot of driving, a lot of playing, and a lot of love… and I love that this is my journey! Thanks a million more times and hope to see you soon!

Salut,

Justin