Random musings of Women and Music
Hello my friend,
Sunday was International Women’s Day and I’m celebrating with the stereotypical cliché move of being late with this missive that I started on that day. Okay, truthfully, I stated it a month ago - when I took that picture. DOH!
I do love celebrating women. In many ways I do every day. My friendships with them are my lifeblood. I can’t imagine life without my frequent walks with Colleen, breakfasts with Cathy, visits with Ginny, Kath, Elaine, Sandra, Leith, Cindy, Linda, Janie and so many others , and how quickly and easily we go deep. How much I rely on them for their sage perspective, affirmation, humour, compassion, and honesty about when I need a haircut. And I am surrounded by them in my professional life, which makes me so happy. Sharing the stage with daughter, Julia Graff, Cindy Fairbank and Kirby Barber, all gifted musicians and all serving the music with their tremendous skill, musicality, and intuition with both confidence and humility, brings a special sense of pride. Between us we span 4 decades. It’s a beautiful thing.
I admit that these days I can’t take in anything gender based without switching it around for checks and balances. Would we ever have an International Men’s Day? I think not. (Wait! We do! Nov 18th! Who knew?) I guess society needs to go on a big pendulum ride before things settle in the middle. But so often I hear jokes made about men that, if the genders were swapped, would be considered completely unacceptable to make about women. It’s a little game I play – try it. It’s enlightening how often we allow men bashing to be socially acceptable. It’s not.
I have a close friend to whom I occasionally send my newsletter for proof reading and perspective. The first draft went on a lengthy rant about how women dress and why, how differently we see ourselves from how anyone else sees us, what paralyzes us, and all manner of pontificating. Subjects I constantly mull, but required reeling in for excessive length and judgey-ness (and making up my own words). So thanks to her you’ve been spared! We’ll talk when I see you!
NEW VIDEOS and the hungry Social Media machine!
It’s disturbing to me (though for perspective, not US politics, viral panic, or climate change - disturbing!) how these days social media statistics are used to quantify and qualify the validity and value of an artist, whether it be by the public or by funding bodies. Saldy, other measurements of my lengthy career have little value in light of these new metrics. It’s the new normal and I have no choice but to surrender to it and humbly suggest that if you’d like to show your support for my music, that doing so in the form of “Liking” me (according to their analytics, since I DO assume you do or you wouldn't be reading this!) can be very helpful. I’ve never gone out of my way to court the numbers, but am feeling more and more forced to do so. So if you would be so kind as to go to the link below and LIKE me I would be so grateful!
https://www.facebook.com/ShariUlrichMusic/
Okay - THAT’s over with !
Oh, but then there’s my YouTube link if you are willing to subscribe. In fact, there’s a brand new video posted there!!
Thanks to FACTOR we were able to create 7 new videos (and a new one of “Canada” to be released next Canada Day) which we will be posting over the next few months. The first is from the CD release concert for “Back To Shore” at Bluefrog Studios. I waffled for months over whether to call this song “Busy” or “Big Idea” - it was one of the first written for the album as I struggled with how easy it is to be too busy to give a good idea half a chance to come in for a landing. I’m pretty sure I’m not the first songwriter to write a song about writing as a desperate attempt to get some traction with the creative process.
SO WATCH HERE and if you hit the “Subscribe” button you’ll know when the new ones are released… and raise my cred!
THANK YOU!
THE MAVENS!
You know I have a soft spot for the power of the tripod - Pied Pumkin, UHF, BTU - all trios with two of the finest and kindest men. I love them all so much. And now….NOW, there’s a new trio in the works - my first with women!
Last summer I visited Susan Crowe in Nova Scotia and we started brewing a plan for how to do some playing together. We reached out to Lynn Miles and it was an easy yes for all of us. We spent a few days on the west coast hanging, trading songs, laughing, eating, learning songs, laughing, and really - SO much laughing! Daughter Julia joined us to take photos and “The Mavens” were born.
We will be doing shows in late May and early June in the Maritimes and you can find them on my website. More are being added as we speak.
Lots of shows coming up (if they don’t get cancelled due to the $#%*@% virus!)
The website link above has all the details but here’s a handy list for you.
MAR 15 - Parksville BC with Cindy Fairbank - afternoon show
MAR 21 - Victoria BC - Joining Stephen Fearing for his CD release concert
APRIL 14 - Vancouver BC- Shari Hosts SongBird North with Tariq Hussain, Ian Foster and surprise guest!
APRIL 15 - North Vancouver BC- Old Crowe House Concerts - Shari
APRIL 18 - Toronto - SongBird North
APRIL 19 - Vankleek Hill ON - Shari solo
APRIL 24 - Squamish BC - Captiviating Tales & Tunes with lots of folks!
MAY 1 - Powell River BC - Shari
MAY 2 - Victoria BC - with Daniel Lapp’s “Joy of Song” - Shari
MAY 22 - Halfmoon Bay BC - SU Trio
May 23 - Gibsons BC - SU Trio
May 29 - Shelburne NS - The Mavens
May 30 - Annapolis Royal NS - The Mavens
June 4 - Halifax NS - The Mavens
June 5 - Charlottetown PEI - The Mavens
June 6 - Tatamagouche NS - The Mavens
Thanks for taking the time out of your life to read this. I h0pe to see you soon. Looking forward to feeling feel free to shake your hand, even hug you - and resume life as we knew it.
Happy trails my friend,
Shari