So the "do-it-yourself" folk music festival of my imagination has been going smashingly well (see here for editions one, two and three). And below are a few more additions to this summer's line-up (so many more to bring along but there's always next year). Yet there is something missing. One of my favourite things about going… Continue reading Do-it-yourself folk fest, part IV
Category: Great music
Build my own folk fest, ed. III
So I'm putting together my own Folk Fest (I still need a good name for it, but you can see the bands I've already lined up in part 1 and part 2). What's a summer without a really good folk fest? Since I can't get to one this year, I'm making one up. And in… Continue reading Build my own folk fest, ed. III
Build my own folk fest, part II
In the absence of going to a folk music festival this summer, I'm putting together my own folk festival right here at Squinch. Here's my first post. Next up on the stage of my imagination are The Most Loyal. An indie folk/rock band from Toronto, I've gotten to know a few of the fine folks… Continue reading Build my own folk fest, part II
Build my own folk fest
I'm growing sad about not getting my folk fest fix this summer. I did snag tickets to Mumford and Sons' Gentlemen of the Road stop in Ontario, but beyond that I'm dry. Oh, wait - there is the 3rd Annual Fast Folk Fest at Knox Presbyterian in Toronto (details soon to follow). But in the… Continue reading Build my own folk fest
My musical memento mori
Eugene Peterson tells of a time he was staying at a monastery and being shown around the grounds when he noticed an open grave. He asked his host if one of the brothers died recently. The monk giving him the tour casually responded: "No. That's for the next one of us." The open grave served… Continue reading My musical memento mori
The book of love – 25 years in
25 years today. I can hardly believe it. The wedding pictures show what looks like two kids shining with sweat, standing in front of their community and making a gift of their life to one another, too young to fully comprehend what they were really doing, recklessly making promises to be faithful until death - that's… Continue reading The book of love – 25 years in
On Folk Festivals
I love folk music; ergo I love folk music festivals. Nothing sings summer like lounging on a lawn and taking in fabulous music. For years, the Calgary Folk Music Festival was my late July summer staple. It's a unique musical event that wonderfully stretches the term "folk" (where do you get to hear Yiddish hip-hop,… Continue reading On Folk Festivals
Summer soundtrack
It's smokin' hot out there. Summertime and I am loving it. Time to lose the shoes, roll down the windows, feel the wind in your face (or through your hair if you've got it), and cue the summer tunes. Trouble is, I'm stuck inside writing a paper to wrap up a doctoral course. (Yes, I'm… Continue reading Summer soundtrack
The Perfect Space
Entering into a new place and finding my way into a new community is providing an instant refresher course on the in’s-and-out’s of forming and living in community. You’d think I’d have learned this by now and so it feels a little like remedial breathing lessons. Call it “Belonging 101.” Probably better titled “How I… Continue reading The Perfect Space
An anthem for Black Friday – reprise
Just had this piece posted on the CRC Network site so figured I'd repost an edited version of it here today. Today is Black Friday south of the 49th, the biggest consumer bender known to humanity. Called black because merchants' books finally crossover from the red into the black, it's an apt adjective for other… Continue reading An anthem for Black Friday – reprise
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