Summer is passing by at light speed, so much happening so fast it’s making me dizzy. Changes, events, art, the beach, sunshine, a spot of rain here and there (not enough) and music. Yes, music! So much music. The Festival was wonderful as always; I had a Farm Pass for the dancing acts; so much fun! Then I saw Chase Padgett’s stunning and virtuosic show at the Hall, called “6 Guitars,” which, wow. One man, one guitar, six characters and six styles of music seamlessly woven together, shifting sometimes mid-sentence and even mid-song. Unbelievably excellent, so if you get a chance, and you missed it here, definitely go. Chase has performed this show around the world more than 700 times now. I’m sure he’s doing it again someplace.
This is a summer of many changes on our little island. Everything is becoming new again. The Coop is going to be new, which will change so much around the Ringside. I have decided to reserve my opinion about that until I see how it unfolds. It might be okay, and who knows? It may even be a good thing, in the long run. We humans are constantly changing everything and also constantly resisting change in equal parts. Some things work out, and others suck, it’s the way of the world.
I want to tell you about an upcoming event that I am particularly excited about. Yes I am about to hype myself! I’m finally going to have a CD release concert for my album “Late Bloomer.” I’ve been asked a lot about when I was going to do one, and my answer was, “Um?” I had no idea how to go about that and I felt lost at sea as to what to do. Then I had a brainwave. We have an Arts Council on Hornby, and I am an artist member, so maybe…? I emailed them asking what they could do to support me in putting on a CD release concert, and at first, the answer was, “We’re in transition, we have no employees right now, we can’t help you, sorry!” The next day, Larry Rossignol contacted me on their behalf. Before I knew it, he had spearheaded the project and went ahead to produce the show, designing the posters and advising me every step of the way. He has made it so easy and I’m very grateful to him and to the Hornby Island Arts Council.
Sadly, Larry and Julia will be in Ontario eating peaches and will have to miss it (I might give up a lot for some peaches right now myself! Mm, peaches). I want to give him a shoutout for his amazing support and help. The Arts Council is supporting, sponsoring and presenting my show, which will be at New Horizons on Friday the 23rd of August. Please come out and support HIAC in supporting local musicians!
Music is love! It makes me happy. Hard feelings transform into joy when they are rendered into music, and joyful feelings expand into bliss. I hope it makes you happy too. If you want to hear the album before the show, my Bandcamp page is phoenixbee.bandcamp.com. You can also look me up on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube or Amazon under “Phoenix Bee Late Bloomer.”
Check out my Substack at phoenixbee.substack.com, where I write these days. Email me at phoenixonhornby@gmail.com with your thoughts!
