June 23, 2009,

Hi to all,

It has been a while since I last blogged and I am sure that people have wondered if I fell off the face of the earth.

Well , I am happy to tell you, like my song says that I am “Still Alive & Well.”

These are incredibly busy times for all of us and I hope that you are taking care of yourselves.

Just to re-cap, I have been part of some incredible gigs like the Sistahood Festival which is put on by Sarah Kendall and her creww & had an amazing time singing/performing with some sisters.

Talkin’ bout culture, in one month, I sang at the Japantown Festival, the Sistahood Festival, the Women Of The Blues showcase and the Waterford Festival.

You’ve got to love that.

I also graduated from my “Road ToEldership” program which includes traditional teachings/ceremonies of the North American Indigenous peoples..very cool.

June was busy with the “In The House Festival”, Aboriginal Day performance on June 21 and Gibson’s Jazz Festival with the Creek Big Band (20 piece orchestra) as  i continue to explore different avenues of expression.

Best news is I am currently writing for the next cd and very excited. A lot of  the material is about men…..hmmmm. We are hoping to record by the fall and will determine a release date soon.

Tentative title…Them Mens!

Which brings me to now. We have had a wonderful ride with our “Mamma’s Got The Blues” cd. The songs, and the cd, have received and are still receiving positive reviews. Check out the website at www.dalannahgailbowen.com  for the May issue of Canadian Musician and our showcase review.

We will be releasing one more single from this cd. The song “I Got This Bridge I Want You To Buy” at the end of June.

In the meantime, your support and continued interest deserve to be acknowledged so……we are offering a free download of “Born Under A Bad Sign.” This song is one of my all-time favorites. It’s down home, gritty…just the way I like it and the band kicks a– so…enjoy!

Not bad for a 63 year-old “mamma.”

‘Til next time take care of yourselves and the ones you love and say a prayer for those in need.

in peace, Dalannah Gail Bowen

I can’t believe how fast the time goes.

Lots going on and lots more to do.

This seems to be a good time to say “thank you” to all for your support and encouraging words.

Have been song writing for some time and have recently recieved some public acknowledgement. I started songwriting to express without any expectation of recognition for the opportunity to say what I think musically!   who knew!

I just received word that a song I wrote with my piano player Michael Creber from my play “The Returning Journey” was a finalist in the PeaceDriven Songwriting.

I also received word that my song “My Blues Keep Bringin’ Me Home” written with my guitar player Harris Van Berkel, is a finalist in the blues category in the International Songwriting Competition out of 15,500 submissions.

There are two directives to this competition. The first is the judges decision and the second is the People’s Voice/Choice.

You an vote at: http://www.sonicbids.com/voting/default.asp?poll_id=277%20

and I “thank you for your support.

I have recently been singing with the Mount Seymour Community Gospel Choir which has been a wonderful experience.

The Sistahood Festival happens during the month of March. I will be performing on March 28 with d’bi young an AFrican-jamaican-Candian and laura “piece” kelly-John form Seattle. Both women are dub poets and we will be improvising,.

This is exciting for me as I continue to explore new ways  to share the music.

in peace,   Dalannah

DALANNAH’S BLUES NEWS  

UPDATE JANUARY 5, 2009

Greetings to all and welcome to 2009.

2008 was an amazing year for me and I would like to take the time to express my gratitude and say “thank you” to all those who visited the blog, my website and my Sonicbids site.

I can’t express how much your interest was appreciated.

I also wanted to say “thank you” to my band who have stood beside me through thick and thin..Harris Van Berkel, Michael Creber, Brian Newcombe, Chris Nordquist, Dave Say & Jim Salmon. I know that the music just wouldn’t be what it is without “my boys.”

“Thanks” to my record company and Paul Hovan and Mark Fancher for the support.

Well, musically, 2008 was a breakthrough year as my current and first ever blues recording, ”Mamma’s Got The Blues,”  received critical acclaim and international airplay.

We also received acknowledgement with the title song, “Mamma’s Got The Blues”, being named a finalist for the 2008 Independent Music Awards in the blues song category.

I am the only Canadian in this category so…..i need your help. You can vote by going to www.independentmusicawards.com, click the blues category and then vote for “Mamma’s Got The Blues”. “Thank you” in advance.

We have been invited to showcase at the bi-annual Blues Summit IV in Toronto January 17, 2009. This invitation is exciting as we get to show what we do. It looks like there is still a chance this old broad, along with my boys,  will get a chance to show them what we do.

After a great review from “Pete the Blewzzman” of the U.S.A., radio airplay is steady on the rise.  We have been added to am & fm stations across the United States and Europe including France, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Norway and Poland with five stations in France.

Musically, I had the chance to perform some very cool gigs. Opening for Joe Bonamassa was cool as was the street party with Bedouin Soundclash and Black Mountain.

I broke new musical ground by performing with my native hand drum and have done a lot of work in that area. I performed with Juno-award winner Jason Burnstick at the Vancouver Aboriginal Musicians Showcase and many opening ceremonies. I love making this kind of music as it is very clean and simple in its content but powerful in its delivery.

I also had the honor of singing at the mayoral inaugration for the new mayor of Vancouver. This was very exciting on a number of levels, as many of us who work in the fields of justice, equality, poverty and homelessness have been waiting for someone who will listen to the people.

The times they are a changin!

In December, we celebrated with our annual event; Blues For Xmas. Blues For Xmas is an annual Greater Vancouver Food Bank benefit. I have been producing this event (with a lot of help) for 22 years. Blues musicians from the Lower Mainland of Vancouver all donate their time to create three nights of the best blues music available.

“Thank you” to the Yale Hotel, Vancouver’s “home of the blues,” and all of the sponsors and the musicians for an amazing event.

Don’t forget that you can go to my website and there is a free download of the latest single “My Blues Keep Bringin’ Me Home” at www.dalannahgailbowen.com or you can go to my Sonicbids site and check out all of the cd’s material at www.sonicbids.com/dalannahgailbowen.

2009 promises to be an exciting year and I invite you to continue to come along for the ride…..it could get very interesting.

I want to wish each and every one of you health & happiness for 2009 and request that you be gentle with the ones you love.

in peace, Dalannah Gail Bowen

Hey people,

Checking in after a very busy October/November to date.

I have been having a wonderful time with a concert performance, the “Living Blanket” opening and the Aboriginal Musicians Showcase as part of the canoe launch  at Crab Park for the Heart Of The City Festival here in Vancouver, British Columbia.

“The Living Blanket” is a concept that was realized by french artist Doris Buttignol under the patronage of the Mothers Of The Plaza de Mayo.

The Living Blanket is an ever-growing quilt made by women and women’s groups around the world. I was fortunate to be asked to prepare the space before the opening with a blessing and drum song; then sing at the opening. The exhibit was extraordinary in both its content and response.

For more information about”The Living Blanket” please visit www.couverturevivante.org.

I presented a concert on November 3 at the Firehall Theatre called “All of Me.” 

I had my killer band with grammy-nominated, Juno-award winning pianist Michael Creber, award-winning guitarist..Harris Van Berkel, Rene Worst on stand-up and electric bass, drums Phil Robertson, percussion Jim Salmon and sax Dave Say. I also had three back-up singers and the room was filled with the sweet sounds that happen when everyone comes together to create something special. These are the times that bring me to be satisfied. “Thanks” to the “Heart Of The City Festival” for giving me the opportunity to present music that I have wanted to perform for a while.

There was another aspect of this concert that I was excited about. I have been writing some new material and so I had the chance to try some of the new songs out with great success.

The next while will be spent writing some new tunes  with people like Ferron, Jason Burnstick, Cheryl L’Hirondelle and others. I want to explore songwriting beyond my personal experience and move into new territory. I’m looking forward to this.

The other project taking up my energy is the new initiative; the Downtown Eastside Centre For The Arts. If you would like to find out more, you can check the website at www.decentreforthearts.com.

Don’t forget that you can download my new single “My Blues Keep Bringin’ Me Home”for free at www.dalannahgailbowen.com

‘thank you’ for taking the time to visit and take care.

In peace,

Dalannah Gail Bowen

Greetings,

Well, it was a wonderful holiday Thanksgiving weekend here in Vancouver with beautiful weather, my 63rd birthday and gathering of friends.

Just to catch up…the last blog I sent offered a free download of our new single, “MY Blues Keep Bringin’ Me Home”.

I had no idea that we would get the response we did so….. my collaborators and I (actually my website manager and I) have decided to continue this offer until we have a new dowload to offer.

I am happy to do this because my intention and the spirit of my music is to share the gift and I can’t think of a better way to do that, and get my music out there, than make my introduction to the world of blog with an offering of my music so…..download away (smiles).

I am also happy to say that I am very busy with performances in and around the Vancovuer area and am going to try and tour in the spring so…if anyone is reading this that has a club in Canada; check out the website (www.dalannahgailbowen.com) or the promotion site at www.sonicbids.com/dalannahgailbowen with the video clip and samples of more of the music and let’s see what we can do OR if you like what you hear and see… talk to a club in your area and tell them you would like to see us at their club!!! They both work. I promise we won’t disappoint you.

In closing, please take care of yourselves and those close to you!!!

In peace,  Dalannah

Hi everyone,

Well, I am just relazing how important this tool actually is and I want to update you about what is going on with my music.

Late last year, I released my first blues cd “Mamma’s Got The Blues” to great reviews and international airplay. We have just released the second single “My Blues Keep Bringin’ Me Home”  to the airwaves and have special promotion going on right now.

You can download the song from my website for free for the next two days. I invite you to come and visit the website at www.dalannahgailbowen.com and I hope you enjoy the offering.

enjoy!!!

in peace,   Dalannah

Hi everyone,

Well, I am realizing how much impact this kind of communciation can have which is great as my work, making music, is also about the business of communicating musically.

On september 23, we released our second single from my new & first blues cd “Mamma’s Got The Blues.”

My Blues Keep Bringin’ Me Home” is now available on my website at www.dalannahgailbowen.com as a free download from now until October 10. Check it out and let me know what you think.

I am also presenting a concert on Monday November 3 at the Firehall Theatre, for those who live in the Vancouver area, that will reflect some of my musical influences. I will have grammy-nominated pianist Michael Creber, award-winning guitarist Harris Van Berkel, who are part of my band “Straight-Up with me so the music is going to kick  a**.

I am very fortunate to have a band that has been described as “the most sopisticated blues band you will ever hear” so whether you want to check out my website or my Sonicbids site at sonicbids.com/dalannahgailbowen , my hope is that you will enjoy the offering.

‘Til next time………… 

in peace,

dalannahgailbowen

this is my new weblog and we are  just testing to see how it works and what we can do.

I’m stepping into the 21st century!!!

peace,

dalannah