Six String Nation

The passing of @amancalledwrycraft_designer is devastating news for many of us. It must be especially tough for his siblings for many reasons. I offer this portrait of Michael with his brother Kevin taken at the @hillsidefestival in Guelph in 2006 as a reminder of happier times and in his memory.⁠ ⁠ Portrait, as always, by @dougnicholsonimages⁠ ⁠ #6SN https://instagr.am/p/CdoI929ldz_/

It was easy for a while to imagine this day would never come for a man who was such a force of nature. It seemed each mounting health challenge was merely a flesh wound against all that energy that was so elementally Michael. I treasure every conversation and car-ride.⁠ ⁠ Apart from memory, there is this vast catalog of inimitable work that veritably crackles with his spirit that we can turn when we miss him most.⁠ ⁠ Love you.⁠ ⁠ Portrait, as always, by @dougnicholsonimages⁠ ⁠ @amancalledwrycraft_designer⁠ ⁠ #6SN https://instagr.am/p/CdoGvu5u0_n/

I've had the good fortune to work many times over the years with the great @Lennie_Gallant - including spending some time wandering the streets of Charlottetown with him, exploring the hidden corners of PEI and getting to hang out with many from his large and lovely family.⁠ ⁠ But perhaps no honour was greater than when we were going to be in his hometown of Rustico WITHOUT Lennie and we were invited to the home of his parents, who cooked us up an awesome lobster dinner. You can't get more PEI, more hospitable or more Gallant than that.⁠ ⁠ Sincere condolences to Lennie and Fanny and the rest of the family on the news of George's passing on Friday at the age of 85. Love to you all.⁠ ⁠ Portrait, as always, by @dougnicholsonimages⁠ *⁠ *⁠ *⁠ *⁠ *⁠ *⁠ *⁠ *⁠ #sixstringnation #lenniegallant #pei #peimusic #princeedwardisland #rustico #6SN https://instagr.am/p/Cdn2JY7skAr/

Honestly, looking back to 2009, who could honestly say they were surprised by last night's win by @mustafathepoet for Best Alternative Album of the Year at @thejunoawards ?⁠ ⁠ CONGRATULATIONS Mustafa!⁠ ⁠ Portrait, as always, by @dougnicholsonimages ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ Find out more about the Six String Nation project and book a live or virtual presentation at https://www.sixstringnation.com⁠ ⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ #toronto #torontohiphop #mustafathepoet #regentparktoronto #CanEd @cbc_music #CanadianMusic #CanadianArt #SocialStudies #CanadianGuitar #nelsonmandelaparkpublicschool #caltoncases #junos #sixstringnation #6SN #portraits #portraitphotography https://instagr.am/p/Cdny8QNOCU7/

View from the chaise in our little yard. Hey Siri - play music by #NickDrake and #StephenDuffy. https://instagr.am/p/CdmFlWHpL5j/

It was a tough week behind with the passing of Bill Bourne and Shane Yellowbird - two artists who brought Voyageur brilliantly to life – but my visit to @Epiphany_TCDSB was an important reminder of the promise of the road ahead.⁠ ⁠ It was my first live school visit in over two years and it felt great to be back seeing students and teachers responding to the project in person and in real time.⁠ ⁠ Sam (left) acted as emcee in full #radiodj mode but when the time came to hear Voyageur played, it was 11-year-old Kevork who did the honours. He did two classical pieces and one he wrote himself that was a kind of hybrid of classical finger work and "House of the Rising Sun". I'll say that again: WROTE HIMSELF! 11! And that was the reminder I needed of the way music carries us through the ups and the downs. Thanks Kevork - great Kwork!⁠ ⁠ Thanks also to principal Dave McMullan and the rest of the staff and students at Epiphany of Our Lord Catholic Academy!⁠ ⁠ For more info on bringing the Six String Nation experience to your school, see the LinkinBio.⁠ ⁠ #schoolvisits #sixstringnation https://instagr.am/p/Cc8NlGLtnE-/

I'm sorry I couldn't immediately find a better photo to share having just learned the shocking news today of the passing on Tuesday of Shane Yellowbird, a trailblazing Cree country music star from Maskwacis, AB, at the age of just 42.⁠ ⁠ He played Voyageur during his set on the Parliament Hill stage for Canada Day 2009 and it was a real honour for us. In our encounter with him backstage he also seemed like a real sweetheart of a guy.⁠ ⁠ His funeral will be held tomorrow in Maskwacis and our hearts go out to his family, friends and fans.⁠ ⁠ #RIPShaneYellowbird #Indigenousmusic #CanadaDay #sixstringnation https://instagr.am/p/Cc3ov4tOR5B/

Bill Bourne plays Voyageur at @HughsRoomLive in 2011. Our thoughts are with Bill's family and with all his friends, musical and otherwise. He's joined here by Pa Joe but I'm thinking today also of his Tri-Continental collaborators @Madagascar_Slim and @lesterquitzau.⁠ ⁠ #RIPBillBourne #sixstringnation https://instagr.am/p/CcdR6vSNTfy/

Bill mentored many up and coming artists. In 2007 he joined a young Paul Brogee at the OCFF Conference for his Six String Nation portrait by @dougnicholsonimages⁠ ⁠ Earlier that year, at an Edmonton media tour stop, Bill joined me dark and early to play "Pie & Ice Cream" on Voyageur for an appearance on Breakfast Television. Unforgettable.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #RIPBillBourne #sixstringnation⁠ https://instagr.am/p/CcdQwqatzf5/

There are few sights in the country like the view from the stage as the hill lights up for the finale of the Edmonton Folk Festival. Custom has it that the cast of the festival assembles on stage for a sing-a-long rendition of Ian & Sylvia's "Four Strong Winds". We were so honoured that Bill Bourne lead the assembly playing Voyageur at the 2006 edition of the festival.⁠ ⁠ Photo by @dougnicholsonimages⁠ ⁠ #RIPBillBourne #sixstringnation #edmontonfolkfestival https://instagr.am/p/CcdOCN-t-rw/

So saddened to hear of the passing yesterday of the inimitable Bill Bourne. ⁠ I first met Bill when Bourne & MacLeod performed on various stages at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto when I was working there in the early '90s. Naturally, I thought of him as the Six String Nation project came together and it was such a pleasure to reunite with him on his home turf of the @edmfolkfest and shoot what become one of our most iconic portrait series in 2006.⁠ ⁠ Portrait, as always, by @dougnicholsonimages⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #RIPbillbourne #edmontonfolkfestival #sixstringnation https://instagr.am/p/CcdM1hQN3Q-/

The blog of our #returntolive show at @fergusgrandtheatre is now up!⁠ Follow the link in the first comment or c/p https://ift.tt/9l1ZrA7 ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #fergusgrandtheatre #centrewellington #sixstringnation #6SN https://instagr.am/p/CcBRz0tLnaP/

Just horrified and saddened to hear about the hit and run death yesterday in Hamilton of the great conductor Boris Brott.⁠ ⁠ I met him at Selwyn House school in Montreal and he was a delight.⁠ ⁠ Heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, students and colleagues around the world but especially at the Orchestre classique de Montréal.⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ #RIP #borisbrott #sixstringnation #6SN #borisbrottfestival #selwynhouse #orchestreclassiquedemontreal https://instagr.am/p/CcAl-7MutgH/

With the exception of some sleepovers with @leaskexpected for the #VoyageurInSong writing, recording and video sessions and a few other guest appearances, poor Voyageur has spent most of the last two years in its cozy @CaltonCases home.⁠ ⁠ As we both re-emerged into the world of live events for our show at the @FergusGrandTheatre it was clear some loving attention was required.⁠ ⁠ Thanks as always to our good friends at daddariocanada for making sure we have what we need to pamper Canada's most beloved guitar.⁠ ⁠ Find out more about the Six String Nation project and book a live or virtual presentation at https://www.sixstringnation.com⁠ ⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ #daddariocanada #guitarmaintenance #fergusgrandtheatre #livemusic #centrewellington #caltoncases #acousticguitar #CanadianTeachers #sixstringnation #6SN⁠ https://instagr.am/p/Cb8XHRXBLmZ/

A good morning heads-up to our friends in Fergus: today is the day you'll receive your portraits from our session at the @fergusgrandtheatre on March 20th.⁠ ⁠ If you'd like a sneak peak at the full set before you receive yours by email, you can have a look at our Flickr gallery, linked in the first comment below.⁠ ⁠ Thanks so much for a wonderful return to live events!⁠ ⁠ Portrait, as always, by @dougnicholsonimages.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ Find out more about the Six String Nation project and book a live or virtual presentation at https://www.sixstringnation.com⁠ ⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ #fergusontario #fergusgrandtheatre #livemusic #centrewellington #caltoncases #acousticguitar #CanadianTeachers #sixstringnation #6SN #portraits #portraitphotography⁠ https://instagr.am/p/Cb7soVyNHb3/

It was only a matter of time. @AlexCuba - nominated for #grammyaward three times before came up with the big nod last night for Best Latin Pop Album for Mendó. Congratulations Alex!⁠ *⁠ *⁠ *⁠ *⁠ *⁠ *⁠ *⁠ *⁠ *⁠ *⁠ #grammywinner #sixstringnation #6SN #canadianmusic #congratulations #prideofsmithers #grammys2022 @iamalexcuba https://instagr.am/p/Cb7ksM_Mb76/

It was a show 722 days delayed by Covid but we finally made it to the stage at the #fergusgrandtheatre yesterday - how wonderful to be with an audience again!⁠ ⁠ Thanks to Eric Goudie and his staff and volunteers at the theatre (especially Barb and Terry for helping with the portrait sessions and Rob for sound & vision).⁠ ⁠ And very special thanks to the musicians who brought Voyageur to life in Fergus: (from left) Isaac Stacey, Adrian Jones, Lucas Doyle and Amanda Braam.⁠ ⁠ And of course, thanks to that lovely audience for reminding me, their town and themselves what it's like to share a live cultural experience after so long away!⁠ ⁠ Portrait, as always, by @dougnicholsonimages⁠ *⁠ *⁠ *⁠ *⁠ *⁠ *⁠ *⁠ *⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #coviddelay #localtalent #canadianguitar #6SN #sixstringnation #fergus #canadianmusic #canadianhistory #returntolive https://instagr.am/p/CbX4CRENRDf/