In her 80’s, Vera has more energy than, well, me somedays! When she asked me to open her “Vera and Friend’s Variety Show” to raise money for her program, Reading Wings, I didn’t need to think about it. The answer was yes!
So many amazing things.
Opening the show, I was at a grand piano on the stage at the Bella Theatre, one of the most glorious stages in Canada. I would be performing alongside Al Muirhead, a Juno Award Winner with his band, and meeting Michelle Cameron Coulter and Darrell Janz, two Canadian Legends as well as so many other amazing performers. All of this carefully organized and produced by Murray Ord (umm Brad Pitt Legends of the Fall kind of stuff).
The best part, the money raised at the event was to support Vera’s reading program, one she created to teach people how to read. Reading Wings has taken flight and travelled the world all the way to Gambia, West Africa.
The last show I did before Covid 19 quarantine was Vera’s Story Circle Project which shared the documentary of the Gambia experience.
Personally this show was a milestone for me. I shared another original song I wrote called Speak Out. Also, for the first time, I had family friends in the audience. It is always harder to sing for people I know. You would think it would be the opposite, but it isn’t. I can sing for thousands of people I don’t know way easier than for 20 people I see in my everyday life. Why is that? If you know, maybe I can write a song about it one day!
So I want to thank Vera for being a role model. To me, and all those young boys and girls in Gambia! Also, thank you for giving me a platform to share my music, and inviting me to be a part of your amazing initiative.
What could follow Wickfest 2019 in Calgary? Wickfest 2020 in Surrey B.C! When Hayley asked if I would think about coming out to BC to perform there was nothing to think about – the answer was yes!
Whoa. No words to describe how incredible this experience was. Well, there will be words as this is a blog 🙂 but initially when I thought of what I could write after coming home, I thought, how do you describe one of the most amazing experiences I have had so far? I want to share my journey with you all as a performer and someone who is grateful for these incredible experiences.
All of my performances before this, I have sang a few songs, as part of a show that would have other performers. This time I was the show! Over 500 girls crammed in a room and I had a full set, 10 songs, encores prepared, and I was so ready to entertain and share my music… but I could not have been prepared for the experience it turned into.
The energy, the love, the feeling of everyone in the room singing along with me was incredible!
Thank you so much! And the crowd even picked up one of my new songs so fast! To hear everyone singing along to my songs I wrote, was the best gift ever! I sing because in a song I can share so much, but this time it was you who shared so much with me! I was overwhelmed by how quickly the stage felt like home and how welcomed you made me feel! To everyone who stayed after to come up and say hi to me I will never forget you!
Thank you Hayley, thank you Wickfest for the best time ever!!
Natalie Spooner, Hanna Bunton, Rebecca Leslie and so many others: thanks for coming over to say hi!
Thank you to everyone who sang along to my songs and for coming by to say hi after the performance. One of my favourite parts was looking into the crowd and seeing someone doing the worm while I was performing! That was the first time I’ve seen that in the audience and I loved it. The crowd was amazing – thank you to everyone.
The biggest thank you to Hayley for having me and for all you do! You are a true inspiration.
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