Karla Anderson: Journal

Nice to wake up to warm air...birds singing. Simple reminders of the beautiful things in life. Looking forward to the gigs coming up in August. We will be playing with the whole band(the band on the new record!) YAY! That doesn't happen very often, so if you can come out please do so. Will be a very great time! Will send you all a reminder note a couple weeks prior to the gig.
Blessings
karla
ps-hey two entries in one month! wat up wit dat??? teehee

Seems the focus for the year is shaping up to be writing!!!
Went to Nashville in May...writing workshop with Darrell Scott and Mary Gautier....learned about myself...which in turn, makes me write! Am teaching a songwriter workshop this weekend in Bragg Creek to teens....
Hopefully we will find the place where the songs are safe.
New record IS almost done....a few mixing things...little tweaks that come from listening too hard...and the artwork....
looking forward to releasing it into the world and seeing where it goes. Trust the ocean.
Happy summer days to you.. stay in touch.
k

Thanks bonnie...er...mum...for reminding me yet again about the things i need to get done!
Lots has been going on in the "life in general" category...the "music in general category"..well...we had a great gig at NLFC. Again, it's my hearts home...where i feel best.
Tim was wonderful, the crowd was super. The record?? ...we are mixing at the end of April...looking towards beginning of summer for release. I am excited to be teaching a couple of writing classes/workshops this spring/summer...and ultra excited about my trip to Nashville in May. I am attending an intensive writing workshop with Darrell Scott and Mary Gauthier....it's kind of a terrified excited. Any of you know what I mean? Back to reality...I sat on my couch last night and played my guitar and sang...great sound in that room. Thankful for the gift of music. And for the fact that, at eighty years old, I will still be on my couch singing to heaven.
one love
karla

IT'S JUST A BABY...BUT IT'S BORN....AND ONCE IT GETS IT'S LEGS(MIXING AND MASTERING AND PACKAGING) IT'LL BE ON IT'S WAY TO YOU!!!!
YAYYYYY!!!!
I am so excited....it is going to be an awesome project.
Looking forward to having it float out into the musical cosmos. I trust the ocean.
Blessings!
Karla

Check this out on youtube....
share with friends....
someone needing a blanket?

Love, Karla

Hey....
What a great time Tim and I had opening for Manhattan Transfer! Thanks to Brian at Keystone music for inviting us to play. Also, thanks to all the great people who visited with us after the show...great to connect. Especially to the little one in the red poncho "Claire?", who is carrying a heavy load of worry around in her little heart. Our mum's are our angels...they are always with us....be blessed.
Karla

WEATHERS TURNIN...
Brought in all the tomatoes...now what? Was in the studio a couple weeks back....gettin my feet wet...listening back...waiting for Miles to work his magic and fix it in the mix. Just a demo folks...but getting ready for the real thing. I look forward to a new year of music. How about the Manhattan Transfer gig? Pretty cool..as excited to play as i am to watch!
blessings all.


karla

We are well into summer here....LOOOOVE it! I am a warm weather girl...
Hey! Lookin Forward to the gig on the 25th at the Westin. Will be playing with Tim Leacock from Calgary....we had a great time getting together to meet and play last week...Will be fun!
For all of you attending the Gala Event at the Winspear....I will see you there! Should be an exciting evening...
Blessings to all....heading to Jasper for a day trip now...will breathe in that mountain air...and see if there is a song somewhere.
karla

Wow...how can it be that it's been since april????
There has been lots going on here with life in general I gues...has a way of kickin the you know what out of ya for sure....
Had a wonderful gig o the 19th. Was really great to play a full show, to a great room.
Martin was a nice addition to the show. Was great to try something new!
Have the Leonard Coen Event coming up in July...
Listening to al of the Cohen songs I have here...wondering which ones to cover....any suggestions?
Anyhow.
Hope that you all are hanging in there wherever this may find you.
k

HEY GUESS WHAT???
I finally got into the game here! I opened a Youtube Account and have been posting videos from the recording of the Embassy Sessions. Got to thelinks section of my website and it'll take you right there!
It's cooooool.
karla

Feels like spring....
Nice to soak up the sunshine.Just about to take the dogs for a wlak and get some fresh air. I just posted a couple of gigs in April, and am cooking up a few things here. Will keep you all posted. Get off your computer now...and go hug someone you love...or better yet, someone you don't.
TeeHeehee
Blessings!
Karla

Just wanted to drop a line...played a great gig last friday. thanks to zoe and stephen...to chanda amd martin. Have a couple new tunes...like the way they feel. Am booking a few gigs at the moment for April. Watch the calendar for dates etc. The world is wild...
hang on with all your might.
karla

someone told me today that they checked the website....and it had been a long time since i had visited it. Hmmmmm.
I logged in to see when the last time was....i'm embarassed.
forgive me. life is getting the better of me i guess. i play songs in my livingroom. write songs...throw them into the wind...write more.
everyday seems to blend into the next. i choose my words carefully here.....i am a songwriter, words are powerful tools.
and for lack of them...i lean towards the melancholy (my favorite songs :) there is so much beauty...like the warm wind today. you would think we lived in calgary...and then there's the stuff we write songs about. Like wow....you were here to see what i had to say....when i'm only a phone call away....the songwriter rears her head.
I sat tonight in the quiet of my basement....kids off for the weekend...and i watch patti griffin's dvd. Gawd. I cry. I feel, i love. and hate. all at the same time. is that crazy? i bet you weren't expecting this entry. neither was i. but i'm happy we were here together.
blessings to all lost souls who are en route to meet mine.
also...cheers to tamara at mom magazine who inspired me today.
as always
blessings
k

The concert we recorded in
Lloydminster last month will be broadcast one week from tonight. That's
Friday, November 16th on "Live From Alberta Stages" - 8-9pm. Stephen's
Green is up first, then you. (The program is re-broadcast Sunday morning
at 4 - November 18th )

The gig at Blue Chair was great. Thanks to Rob And Jessica!! It's my favorite format really.....

Blessings to yoou Don...thanks for coming out and connecting. To all whoo were there, giving and receiving. thanks

karla

WOW!!
Been such a busy fall so far...between kids, work and music...ther's definately no shortage of things to do. Have some more gigs coming up this month. First off, thanks to the folks at Rose City Roots for featuring the C'mon in my Kitchen show. I was able to get out and play with those guys...and as usual..it was alot of fun. Last Friday, I had the priveledge of opening for Livingston Taylor(James Taylor's brother)...he must be tired of that introduction!! He was a very warm and humble soul. He teaches performance classes and was gracious enough to spend some time giving me some very positive feedback. Thanks Livingston! And great hanging with Becky! So....This Friday, I head out to Lloydminster with the fabulous Mike Lent for a show "Live from Alberta Stages" recorded by CKUA...and broadcasted at a later date. (Stay informed through the CKUA website) Then the Blue Chair on the 27th...sharing the stage with Jessica Heine and Rob Heath.
AND FINALLY!!!!!!!! I have an opening spot November 3 at my FAVORITE FOLK CLUB...opening for the FANTASTIC David Francey! YAY!!!
Then...it will be time to settle in for the Christmas rush....and we'll see you in the new year!!!!!
With a new record?????
Sorry to all those who are patiently waiting...i am not so patiently waiting.....
Blessings...

Karla

For the Fall to start creeping in.The leaves are already changing here...The nights are cooling off. Which is great at night to have to reach for an extra blanket and breathe in coooool air. The kids are getting ready to head back to school on Tuesday. I remember when I was a stay at home mum...homeschooling...I never understood why every other mother was so glad to get the kids back to school. :)
But now, the thought of coming home after work to kids at home all day making messes and beng "bored"...I,too,am lookin forward to having their days busy! :)
My oldest boy started driving today!!! He got his first car two weeks ago and has been fussing over it ever since!!! Got his licence on Tuesday (first try) and is a much more cautious driver than me! He has learned from me exactly how not to drive!!!!
Teeheee....
I realize...if you ever think you are out of the woods in the worrying department...you're not. As he pops his head in here tonight...smelling like that great cologne i bought him for Christmas, and says "see ya later mum" I think of all the things i want to tell him...like "drive carefully"...for the hundreth time today!!!!!
Thank you God...for the simple things in life. May i never lose sight of them.
Blessings to everyone out there who actually takes the time to read this.
hope this finds you well...and counting your blessings.
Karla

Well, I am back at home after the Edmonton Folk Festival. It was, as always, a privelege and a pleasure to be a part of it. I am always grateful for the opportunity to connect with a variety of people. From other performers, to people who come out and listen.

I was thrilled to meet Darrell Scott...and to re-connect with Kenny Malone. Kenny came up on stage for the last two songs of my concert. It was my festival moment. :)

I am pretty tuckered out today...I will gather my thoughts and write more...sooner than later. We did some filming and some recording at the festival. I will send a mailer out to you when we post some of those vids online.

Again, thanks to all the kind people who come out to listen, to share and connect. It's not about anything more than that. There wouldn't be any music if there was no one to listen...to receive. The rest is just details.....

God Bless.

Karla

WOW!! I keep waiting for it and then have to remind myself that it's here...and not to miss it!!!! teehee...for those of you who live in warmer climates, you probably can't relate to what i'm saying! Summer here is so short, and if the weather isn't great...you can miss it! :) Notice lots of activity(hits) on the site from Germany and from New Zealand. Did "Joan of Arcadia" Air there??? Always curious to see how people are arriving at the site. Don't forget to drop me a line in the guestbook when you do!
Had a wonderful gig in Canmore...it was so sweet to play with Cori and Jane. The folks that came out were so warm...great energy in that room. Thanks to all who came out. I always say, the music is only as good as those who receive it. And the folks in Canmore proved that! I did manage to finish the tune i wrote for our ailing community. It's called Angels in Graves. Pretty sordid...but the message is there i think...the story told. Story tellers...that's what we are. All of us have a story don't we?
Anyhow...blessings to you reading this.
karla

Heading out to the Canmore Artspeak Festival this weekend to play. I'm doing a songwriter in the round with Jane Hawley and Cori Brewster. It's my first time seeing or playing with them, so it's a new discovery for us all. Should be great! Always good to get the sister energy going! And in the mountains to boot! Been lots going on in everyday life here...My oldest son is graduating at the end of the month. It's so hard to believe how time flies....how it takes you beyond the limits of your love. Our town has been rife with local struggles...I've been working on a song...or rather a song has been working on me. Trying to sum up the angst and sorrow of some of the kids and parents here...A series of unfortunate events. For sure. And tornadoes touching down here yesterday too!! Youch! I think we better start prayin for this little town! Anyhow...for those of you that come out to the show in Canmore, I willhopefully be ready to share the new song. Have a few of them for you. Blessings to you, wherever you are.
Karla

i'm so slack with my entries...
forget to make an entry the for the weekend of the 13-15...did that c'mon in my kitchen show....in my hometown. It was great!!!! I love playing with those boys!! Also had a special trip to Calgary on Friday where i met some special gals..and got to sing for them and talk to them. They are so young and have already seen to much of the dark side...i wish them well...they know who they are. Stay strong girls...i'm thinkin about you...and prayin too. Hang on for that brand new day...
blessings.
karla

THE ALBERTA SESSIONS!!!!
Hats off to John Rutherford...to all of his volunteers...who make this show so special. I had the great fortune to have
Kit Johnson join me on bass for the show. Everything felt right...you know? Jack does sucha splendid job on sound...it feels like you're in the living room.. ..It's the way to hear it. The audience was wonderful...giving back to us their energy and connection. Thanks to everyone who played, and listened and had a part in making another very successful Songwriter Session series. Took my son Matt with me...we were on a date for his birthday...which was back in January. I had a gig on his birthday, and promised him a special date...just him and I. Dinner, a movie...so that's what we did! We drove into Calgary and saw a movie...skipped dinner for swimming at the hotel (where we met some folks from Medicine Hat who recognized me from their winter folk fest...small world!!!) Anyhow...we went to the gig...went back to our room fell asleep...got up had a great pillow fight...went for a swim...went to Nellie's for a terrific breakfast!!! With terrific company..Jesse and Carmen. Thanks for getting the table! Teehee...drove home. Feeling that those moments are what make life so precious. Matt fell asleep on the way home, I sang to my John Mayer Continuum CD...and had sunshine and tears in my eyes at the simple things that are so beautiful, and easily missed. Thankful for feeling every moment...for not being asleep, or too numb to feel. Any how...I'm really going on now!!!! :) Blessings really to any of you who are taking the time to read this. My heart goes out to this world of friends...
blessings
karla

Well...just wanted to drop in to say thanks to everyone at the Braeside Hall for making me feel so welcome. Had a nice time at your 30 year old folk club!!!! WOW! It's a community unto itself! And what a great line-up shaping up for next year! Good Work Chuck! Anyhow...must get back to work here. The balancing act continues.... k

January was such a great month.... I got to connect with so many great folks. Starting with the Nickelodeon Folk Club, thanks to Nancy and the gang for driving ALL the way from Saskatoon to see the show. WOW!!!!!
Then to the Engineered Air Theatre with the C'mon in my Kitchen show...great night with the boys!!! Beautiful audience! And finally to the Medicine Hat Tounge on the Post Festival. What a great time!!! Thanks to Ron Mason..for givin me three chances. To jessica Benini for steppin up to the plate and killin the ball!!!! :) to Paddy for the great words of wisdom...and to Darla and the gang for all their hard work!!!!
I am blessed!
and send it out to you.
karla

Here we are...2007. What will this year bring? A new record I'm thinkin... Went to Bluebird North last night. Good to see those songwriters out there. We are all connected we are. Any how...Have a couple of dates i need to add to my schedule...waiting to hear back on other stuff...mostly thinking about recording. It is comin on...
blessings to you
karla