Karla Anderson: Journal

Had all kinds of great plans today...y'know...finish wrapping kids presents, write cards etc...didn't do a darned thing!!! Except grocery shop (what a zoo) and bake mini-quiches....hmmmmmm,
I have been meaning to make a note regarding the United Arab Emirates. There has been a LOT of activity on the website from your neck of the woods....What's UP??? How are you connecting with the music??? It's always interesting to know, so, if you are reading this and you are one of the many visitors from UAE...Send me an email would you please. The UAE is close behind Canada for activity...and I think that's great! The next in line are Brazil, Germany and Russia...Again...drop me a line and let me know how you are finding the music... I imagine it is through Joan of Arcadia...as well as some radio play. The Netherlands has been great as well...Someday I will come and play for you Jordy!!!!!! :)
And again, thanks to all of you who have been sending mail now that I have managed to re-connect with you....my dream is to come and visit each of you...play in your area...connect, and bridge the distance between the hearts of the world.
Hope that all of you are able to find meaning in this crazy time of year. I know for some people, Christmas is a very painful time of year. I send out a hug to you now...Everyone talks about being happy...being with family, being warm and cozy...but it's not for everyone is it? We are all in this together really....so you are not alone!!! I send out a Christmas prayer to you.
Blessings
Karla

I just spent a few hours updating some of my email info...I lost so many great emails and addresses from my last website disaster. Thank God for Host Baby (my new website folks) So any of you who haven't heard from me (mostly in US and Europe) don't be shy to send some mail or sign the guestbook!!! Thanks for staying connected and glad to have you back in the circle...
Blessings.
K

Had a couple of great gigs this weekend...thanks to Peter North, Marc Stirling, Ron Rault, and Stuart Mcdougall...It was a great night at the Northern Lights Folk Club! Headed to Calgary for the Christmas in Alberta celebration with the Rosebud Theatre School. CKUA recorded the event and will be airing it Christmas morning. It was a beautiful program. Hats off to Paul Muir!!! And many thanks to all the wonderful, budding students. They so inspire me. If you haven't gone to Rosebud, Alberta before, check it out!!! They have a wonderful dinner theatre and school where they do 7 shows a week! These kids (and teachers) are working hard!! Their performances are TOP NOTCH!!! Give yourself a treat any time of year!! Check out their website on my links page.
As many of the folks at Northern Lights discovered on Saturday...I am not a big fan of the season. (my chosen "Christmas song" was Christmas in Prison, by John Prine)I still would like to wish you all out there the very best...to be your very best...live your very best life...count your blessings. Send your prayers out to those who cannot believe, who have no hope left...this is what we are called to. To care, to love, to connect, to give...I have met so many of you beautiful people out there. And everyday it renews the spark in me. Thanks
Karla

Hey everyone...
The weather is trying to keep us in...but we need to get out and support Homefest 2006!!!! Lets all get together and make beautiful music...and beautiful change and awareness for those who have nowhere to come in from the cold. I'm looking forward to playing and to seeing you all out!!! Keep warm...keep someone you love warm...help someone you don't even know get warm!
Blessings
Karla

Went out to see Bonnie Raitt last night with Maia Sharpe. All I can say is...music bliss....
Wow! What a great show! Inspiring to say the least. Big Thankyou to them for making the treck to the North West. I'm sure there are warmer places they could play...but I'm so happy to have seen the show...Hope all is well with you...
k

Rosebud, AB...
My favorite little town in Alberta...
Little town (population 92) with the LARGEST heart. An experience...The only place I'll play where I can say Half the town showed up! TeeHee...Thanks to the folks who drove out from CAlgary as well.... It would take too long to describe my affinity to Rosebud...It's an artist town...full of Budding actors...kids with conscience...making art...making music. A community of adults who step alongside and encourage them to fly...to be their best (Paul and Tom). The cafe where they all pull up a chair after the gig...grab a guitar, pull out a saxophone, have a beer or a steamer, and play music till 2 am. Where a young man (17) steps up and sings the most beautiful opera piece..strauss... he apologizes that he has a cold and can't sing tonight...(OH MY GOD) It is beautiful...
beautiful...beautiful...
If Tom hadn't have bought that cafe, I would have...and lived there till i was 98. God Bless Rosebud.
K

Hi All...
Well the leaves are in their full glory...it was so beaautiful today...The sun was warm. Mmmmmm. I have been trying out the sending of emails to my list...to the new folks who sign up etc... I really appreciate that people take the time to sign in. Hopefully we all stay connected to the purpose and to one another. The Embassy Sessions was nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award. That is a great honor. Not sure if I will be able to make it to Winnipeg for the conference happening there and the awards night....but all the best to everyone in my category...Pretty sure Corb will take the cake!!! Hats off to that Alberta Boy! :) Expect mail from me real soon....
k

The Embassy Sessions is Nominated for Outstanding Roots Recording this year...I'm honored to be in line with Corb Lund, Steve Dawson, Angela Harris and Harry Manx! WOW! Best of Luck to all....
check out www.westerncanadian musicawards.ca

Kids are talking about going back to school...half ready and half not! I'm loving the summer we've been having...finally a summer of warm days. Feels good to soak up the sun into the bones...getting ready for the coming season. Not much to mention...just wanting to make the connection. Blessings to you
Karla

Just got home from the festival...it was really a great thing!! Beautiful people, music, weather...how can you ask for more? The highlight for me was the last workshop with Chip Taylor and Carrie Rodriguez. We ended the workshop singing Angel of the Morning together....there i was on stage with one of the greatest songwriters on the planet... a beautiful and amzing group of musicians...singing Angel of the Morning. Time stopped a bit...i looked out at the mountains. How beautiful. Thanks so much to Ken Rooks for all the dedication and hard work. To all the volunteers...to Mike and Marc. To all folks who came up and chatted...who bought cd's in support of the music. It all says keep goin...to where??? Who knows. The journey is the destination. Blessings all...
Karla

Been so long since i've made an entry...no, I haven't dropped off the face of the planet. Went out to the Island Music Fest. It was a terrific festival. Great to be out on the coast...connecting with all the great folks I met there. The highlight of the festival for me was watching the Darrell Scott concert on Sunday at 4. He blew me away. The tears wouldn't stop comin. It reminded me of the first time i watched Martyn Joseph...that kind of heart wide open. Anyhow, I bought his CD and after the festival took a drive up to Campbell River, listening. It was a much needed and beautiful drive. I'm lookin forward to The Canmore Festival coming up. It'll be great to play with Mike and Marc. Hope to see you out...Hope this finds you well...
Blessings.
Karla

WOW!!! I think we'd better think about plans for and ark. Not used to so much rain...Building site is like mud soup. House isn't quite finished...livin like gypsies. Wanted to touch base to let youknow how things are going. The Southern Alberta dates were really great. Thanks toThe Stop in Black Diamond for their commitment to live music and to all the people who come out to support. Main Street Cafe in Nanton too, was such a treat. The chili was delicious!!!! The room was full of warm hearts...thanks to all who came out really...As I always say...If there weren't people to listen and receive, we wouldn't be able to do what we do. It's a two way deal. I tried uploading a copy of the Boston Globe chart on the Pics page. I know it didn't show up very well..for reference...it reads Radio Play for WUMB 91.9 in Boston for the week ending May 26
#1 Karla Anderson-"Out From Under"
#2 Grace Potter & the Nocturnals- "2:22"
#3 Josh Ritter- "In the Dark"
#4 Bruce Springsteen-"Jacob's Ladder"
#5 Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris-"This Is Us"
#6 Kieran Kane and Kevin Welch- "Satan's Paradise"
#7 David Wilcox- "No Doubt About It"
#8 McCoy Bros.-"Lighthouse Dream"
#9 Elvis Costello & Allen Tousaint "Tears, Tears and More Tears"
#10 Dave Alvin "On My Way Downtown"

Thanks to WUMB for giving us such awesome support...And to all who have signed into the guestbook. I will be replying to you as I get the time...and adding your addresses to the mail list. Still trying to figure out how to operate the site!! Please stay in touch everyone.
Blessings to you, wherever you are, whatever life is dishing out...
blessings.
New Quote of the week.
"We can live our lives two ways...One as if nothing is a miracle, the other as if everything is a miracle." -Albert Einstein
PS. -- Hallo to all the great folks who were brave enough to come out to our 20 year reunion last night!!! It was great fun to see you out. If you get a chance...come out to a show! :)

Hi all...
Well, I just want to say a big thankyou to everyone who has been responding to the CBC Alberta Bound special. It was a great honor to be among so many terrific performers. I am looking forward to getting out and playing some more this spring/summer...Been contracting a house all winter and I'm beginning to feel like I want my life back!!! No more phone calls to contractors...no more things to pick up no more no more no more. Just move in...have a glass of red wine and thank God it's finished!!!! I'm packing and getting ready to move as we speak (type). Thanks to everyone who have been so patient while I drop out of site!!! Friends...family...my orphan children :) , my boss(!), mymanager Neil.... I'll be baaaaackkk...soon!
Blesiings
Karla

Sitting here with my son and nephew marveling at the wonders of host baby...more later...

I just want to say that this news section will be used primarily like a journal. I am first a writer really...with the need to express. My old website had a couple of years worth of journal entries and I miss reviewing them...because it was such a great outline of the journey we've been on. I look forward to building the same relationship here. We just have to start over...from the top...And don't we have to do that in so many ways in life anyhow. How to accept change...that's the greatest lesson ever learned. Two and a half years ago I found myself at the beginning in the middle of my life...Some time soon, i will write a story here about the journey. More than a bio...but a real story you can relate to....the reason you connect with the music and the reason I connect with each of you and your stories. Blessings to everyone taking the time to read this. Send me a line...post a comment if you'd like. But stay in touch...cause this is how roots music grows...one heart at a time.
Karla

Finally...we are back...Will be growing slowly but surely!