Sunday, August 8th, 2010:
Tweet. Just did a show this week from up in a tree. That's one for the memory-banks. In other news... Festivals have been a blast all round this year. Just played Artswells last weekend and had a blast meeting so many other talented young folks exploding on the Canadian music scene. Hotbed of creativity up there folks, I'm just sayin'... get there! But also (just to get some excitement brewing beyond my own little pocket): I have embarked upon the third album, "Love Me Deeply". Geeze, why!? Well, because it's gonna be sweet. The madly-skilled Elliot Vaughan is working on arrangements for me and the songs (ahem) are pretty good. Anyhoo - more to come. Chirp!

Monday, July 5th, 2010:
So in prep for my debut UK tour in 2011, Contraries has been heading out for a bunch of UK reviews and beyond. Thanks to Geraint Jones for all his help with this and to Bluesbunny for posting me as album of the month this month. Click Here to read the review.
Honourable mention: I'll be working with the lovely Bob & Claire of Grapevine Music Agency for this tour. All signs point to ->excellence<-
By the by: my new house "The Chalet" is lovely. A constant supply of hot chocolate and marshmallows are here for visitors... and the roomates are impeccable. Yeow. Ciao for now!

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010:
Thanks to all who came out to support the debut of Folk Tales! Extra thanks to the Canada Council for affording me the time to put energy into my show. Europe - I'm ready for you now! But first, the rest of a great summer in BC. Here come the festivals, Clown shows, shows where I will be telling tales and singing from trees, and even a change of house July 1st. Please wish me house-warming! Bye for now...

Sunday, June 13th, 2010:
Hmmm - it's been a while! So let's get right down to it... First off, this grant is coming to an end - and I'm sending it off with a show called "Folk Tales" this Friday at the Rhizome Cafe. I'll be debuting four folk-tale songs and three of the folk tales they are based on (Yes, one tale stars a Sausage). Come on out for the fun!
Also worth mentioning: I have now seen Purple Rain. Prince officially rocks my world. I mean, how can that man dance around a mic-stand like that? Like, what!?
Happy summer folks! Muas!

Thursday, April 29th, 2010:
Hokay. So first off: thanks Canada Council! This grant is rockin' me hard! I am practicing Clarinet twice a day, doing vocal exercises, yoga, reading folk tales, writing songs... pretty rad.
ALSO: first CBC, then NPR, now BBC! I have just been played on the BBC for the first time! Pretty classy biznesse, if you ask me...
Also also: Beatlemania lives! Just saw the Anthologies for the first time and I get it now, The Beatles I mean, I get it.
...and finally:
Hi Mom! Hi Nana! Happy Mother's Day to you & Cheers to all...

Tuesday, April 11th, 2010:
Satnam peoples, Satnam.

Thursday, March 25th, 2010:
Well I am happily in Funded-by-the-Canada-Council land. I took in my old clarinet for repairs at long last, and was convinced that an upgrade made more sense. Oh my new clarinet is sooooooo beautiful! I also know a ton of new folk tales since the last time I updated this website... if you ever want to hear one...
I also find myself listening to the CBC more. What a hilariously appropriate side-effect of Government funding... Yes, Jian Ghomeshi, that means you.
I'm also tearing through old tango and Jazz recordings. Yum.
Well I will re-immerse myself for now. I do have shows here and there. Summer festivals are fast-approaching and the Fall European tour is beginning to shape up as well. Hope to see you soon on one of the sunnier days...

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010:
Hello again! Told you I'd write again soon. Want to know why? Two reasons: First: Big life-affirming news. I just got word that I was awarded a Canada Council Grant to create some wonderful art over the next four months. I am honoured! So now I'm off to the library to start reading a million folk-tales between clarinet practice and all the other wonderful things I get to do as part of this project!
Second: ...one of the many friendly people I heard from after the NPR show was TED's John Francis. He called my journey "an inspiration". My house-mates and I got pretty excited. Check out his story (click here for link). It is remarkable. ALSO: See you soon!

Saturday, February 12th, 2010:
Well good morning America! I just got home on Wednesday following a busy fall of touring to Europe and Australia, and even Boston MA - and as I got a friendly reminder about from an NPR Listener this morning: I need to update the website! Welcome to the site... I write to you from the home of the Olympics (saw the torch run yesterday, and saw a bit of the protesting last night). Thanks so much to Danny Zwerdling for putting the story you may have heard this morning on NPR. He is lovely. I'll write again soon - but for now: hello! Please enjoy the music!

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010:
Celebration! I won! The 9th Annual IMA Award for Best Acoustic Song. Street cred, here I come!

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009:
Ahhhh.... cozy cozy home.... I have recorded and posted some new tracks up on the old myspace (click here to visit), including the Paris Song I've been so excited about. I kept singing Joni Mitchell's Paris tunes whenever I was wandering those streets and canals... mmmmmmmmm.

ALSO: The Dusty Crew is at it again!

The Dusty Flowerpot Cabaret is opening its doors to The Village Project this weekend. It bears repeating: the work of this group is magical and wondrous and brings joy to my heart. I recommend. Details at www.dustyflowerpot.org. Join me for some end-of-year-fun before I head for Australia! (That's right... Australia... holy begeezers!). Happy approaching holidays folks!

Monday, November 16th, 2009:
I'm home! Europe was amazing! What's then left to say?... just thanks to Inge, the booking agent who lined up so many fabulous shows. So many memories... like Paris the morning after all the shows (live tracks including the new Paris song coming soon for free download). I'll be in the studio with Marc L'Esperance for the next few days - Vancouver's "Zippy" is going to play some cello with me... so many stories and so much news... I'll put up some more once I've gotten over this jet-lag perhaps (been up since 4 this morning, tinkering with junk machines and roasting walnuts...mmmmmmmmm...) Good to be home. Ciao folks!

Sunday, September 6th, 2009:
Oh...my...goodness.....gracious.........................me. This morning was monumental. I was played on The Vinyl Cafe with Stuart McLean (for those of you from beyond the border, Stuart McLean is one of Canada's legends). Wow. As if that was not already a career highlight to satisfy: this weekend's shows have been fulfilling of their own accord - to sold out audiences each night (this is the Book of Doorways show... theatrical territory being charted anew) - so much so that we are extending the run for one more night... It shall be mystical and wondrous, feel free to join! But seriously... Stuart McLean.... okok. Enough said.

Monday, August 17th, 2009:
August is circus month!
You may not have previously been so informed - but, indeed, this is the case.
All of which is to say:
I am in a circus this month and it's free and awesome and you should come! Check out details on the "shows" page...
...I have a small crush on this show, directed by Cirque Plume's Chelsea O'Brian and with original music by Montreal's David Drury. Also, it allows me take-out my beloved "Junk Machine" (easy on the eyes, easy on the ears)... Lots of delightful spectacle in this 45-minute romp of a show - I recommend!

Monday, July 13th, 2009:
So it has been an AMAzing summer so far, just recently brought up-to-date by a stunning festival weekend over in Comox Valley ("The Vancouver Island Music Festival"). Highlights include being recorded for CBC live (to be broadcast sometime soon...), seeing legendary folkie and storyteller: Arlo Guthrie, and hearing for the first time - and rushing to buy their cd's - both "Yves Lambert & Le Bebert Orchestra" and "Nordik Tree". I am excitedly listening to them now... it turns out blazing twin fiddles with some modal mojo really do it for me. So - good times all round last weekend.
In other news, I have successfully laid feet on a little place called Horsefly, BC where a beautiful little festival is making a splash (as did I, in their beautiful river on a hot summer Saturday). I've also finished painting my room... big achievement, believe me! There is plenty more on the go as well (see the "shows" page for more) but for now I will just leave you with the useless fact of the day: "Triscadecaphobia", alternate spelling "Triskaidekaphobia", is the fear of the number 13 (today's fact courtesy of Kenton Wiens, drummer slash word bank).
Ciao for now!

Saturday, May 6th, 2009:
Full moon tonight! And I thought I'd say a quick word of hello as the summer season kicks into full throttle... shows today, shows tonight, shows tomorrow... shows until the summer is over! Collaborating with some neat folks these days: with storytellers Naomi Steinberg and Ari Lazer, with a circus in August, with directors, with choreographers, with composers, with clowns... One could indeed say that all this fun is served in questionably large proportions! Anyhoo - they say the full moon means go out and have fun - so feel free to mind that advice as well in whatever doses you can manage. Meanwhile - best to y'all now the summer has begun!

Thursday, April 2nd, 2009:
Happy Birthday Melissa Bandura!... as for news: the Boston tour was a blast, big thanks to Erik & Jo... now I'm gearing up for another big production: yup. taxes. (I know, I know - you're already finished aren't you?)... but ACTually - I am also getting ready to start clown school. Taking classes with David McMurray Smith over at Fantastic Space. I recommend this course (it runs every year) to anyone looking to experience and grow. So how's about that? It's almost warm, and spring (aka love) is in the air - look forward to seeing you folks out and about and showing off your summer do's!

Monday, March 23, 2009:
Hallo, hallo! So this month was a JCS month... I've been receiving well-timed guidance from local artists such as Michael Bean, Sascha Levin and Colin Mayhew who have given me various tips on my end-of-the-month solo performances. The first show was this past Saturday in Kamloops - and went splendidly! What a warm community I found myself in - great crowd and a cozy atmosphere once the lights were set in the Barnhartvale Community Hall. Special thanks to Sylvie, Doug & Cherryl.
My fabulous friend Andrea Curtis went with me for the trip, and we both had a good time of it, taking the scenic routes, enjoying the sights and smells of the Okanagan. Looking forward to more touring experiences like this one - So! Best to you and yours now as March makes it's graceful exit (what will it be March - lion or lamb?).
PS. Wish me luck for the Boston shows this week!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009:
Quick note: the CD Release was a BLAST! Thanks to all who came and took part in that special evening, the effects of which still are still trickling along...
Now onwards and upwards!
It is a good year, this 2009 - and of late, I feel very humbled by my good fortune. I was particularly exhilarated yesterday after waking up and realizing that I am, indeed, surviving as a musician.
The news this month is Lily news: we head north this time next week, but before we do we're gonna have a li'l hootenanny down at Cafe Deux this Friday with the talented folks from Blackberry Wood... we'd love to see you there! Meanwhile - rock it with your bad self!

Tuesday, January 27th, 2009:
CD RELEASE THIS FRIDAY!!! It is very chilly outside (I was up in the Yukon last week with T. Nile... and this all feels too familiar...) so in the few warm moments before I bundle up in scarves and sweaters, I wanted to make sure to remind you all... doors at 8pm, show at 9pm (more info on the "shows" page) - it's gonna be radsauce! The Snails are doing alluring shadow displays for the show, SFU dancers have choreographed graceful somethings as well, and T. Nile, Michael Bean, Amber Dash, Kat, Maria in the Shower (featuring James Lamb) will all be adding their talent and beauty to the evening - so I look forward to seeing you! This is the home stretch!! Ok, ok... I'll get dressed... and go poster... brrr!

Saturday, January 3rd, 2009:
It's my birfday today... and I wanted to put out a little thanks to the fun group of Toronto folks I met at the Freetimes over the last few months - they helped me ring in my own little new year last night, and I felt very lucky. Family today... then back to business tomorrow. There's a friendly fellow at NPR in the States who is going to distribute my music across the US. This is too cool for my brain to compute. Meanwhile - CBC is accepting my li'l ol' disk into their library as well - so in just a month or so, request away. They'll have it. Thanks to Mark Rheaume over there. Seriously awesome.
Ok. I'm done. Loves!
(PS - J.R.R. Tolkien was born Jan. 3rd. Rock sauce.)

Monday, December 22nd, 2008:
So the CD Release is booked now!! It will be on Jan. 30th at the Ukrainian Hall (Owowow!!). It'll be a party - Candy Curlypaws is helping out with the prep (thanks babe!), and Maria in the Shower have said they'll join us to make some noise.
Meanwhile, I'm just wrapping up this ol' stint in the Toronto - two more weeks of celebrations, holiday-wise and birthday-wise. Also: the CD's available for pre-release now:

So hooray. Big time. I'm at the Freetimes as I write this, with all my new buddies around, eating delicious fries. Mmmmmm... I gotta go... Happy holidays all!

Sunday, December 7th, 2008:
Whoa! The new CD has arrived (!!!) and I wanted to make sure I made an announcement to mark the occasion. Big thanks to L.Basil McMahon for the graphic design (he's also responsible for the fancy new graphics you see here - and Rehan Delal helped with some new html biznesse... have fun surfing the all the new features...)
More info to come regarding releases, where to purchase, and various other winterly thoughts. Best wishes in the snow!

Sunday, November 9th, 2008:
I have been in Toronto for a little over a week - and what a transition. I miss my lovely road-mates, but have made a new friend of the Don Valley. What a magical spot to go. I go to watch the sunrises (not something I often get up for on the road...) over the misty fields and the beautiful CN Tower (say what you want - I love that thing!).
Early this week I was looking through the NOW magazine and saw that Ane Brun (one of our favorites to listen to on the tour) was playing at El Mocambo on Friday! I shot Ane a little myspace message telling her I was excited for the show, and that I'd love to open for her or do back-ups anytime (bolder than usual for me!). To my surprise she'd already checked it before the show, so she got me and my buddy Liam up on the stage to sing with her. I was pretty much tongue-tied for the rest of the evening. Well Hey, Ho - that was a fun night!
Now just gearing up for some in-the-city time while the snow gets ready to fall around us. All the best to you, whatever side of whatever country you may be on...
for stories from the road, check out Women in the Round's Myspace Page

Friday, October 10th, 2008:
Ok. Summer is over.
But what a busy fall this is shaping out to be! I have been on the road for a month now - first with Martin Reisle, heading all the way up the the Khutzeymateen (a reserve north of Prince Rupert, BC, swimming with Grizzlies). We caught the full moon at the northern apex of the journey. It was a whirlwind tour that has given rise to the new band: "The End Tree" consisting of Martin, myself and two others: Elliot Vaughan and Adin... the idea is to blend our songs with storytelling. On this first little tour, there were two of us and ten instruments... that made a buck or two at the farmer's market I'll tell you...
Now I am back on the road with Women in the Round: the "rollicking estrogen-injected" group. I have been greatly enjoying being amidst the mountains, trekking along outside the city and catching the fall colours of spring all over Western Canada. We are heading East tomorrow, and I will miss the Vancouver community for a time (sigh...) but am looking forward to all that awaits on the other side of this country. Hope to see you on whichever side you reside. I hear Mercury is in retrograde until Halloween... fare well!

Wednesday, August 20th, 2008:
Summer's not over yet!

Thursday, July 3rd, 2008:
If you are anything like me, then the word "magic" may send a twitch down your spine. "Magic," some voice deep down inside may scoff, "is one of those silly words thrown around by hippies and cult-types... Not practical, certainly not something you can eat." However, to that killjoy voice, I would like to offer up this Toronto summer of clarinet-playing, ceramic-exploring and midnight-bridge-walking. As for the JCS Book Club, on the list this summer are:

Invisible Cities, Italo Calvino
Cymbeline, Shakespeare
The Prophet, Khalil Gibran
Under Milk Wood, Dylan Thomas
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm, Translated by Jack Zipes

May there be magic for all in the summer months! See you in the fall...

Saturday, May 17th, 2008:
NEWS NOW: Valley of Ashes is on this weekend - and it is a MUST SEE! Check it out at www.dustyflowerpot.org (I'll be playing clarinet in the pit) - fer reeeeal.
In other news: the "Women in the Round" tour was a knock-out success (hooray!), as was the Lily Come Down CD Release Party (more hooray!). Also: I love CBC - have I mentioned that before? They are playing Eyre Corvidae still, and now Lily Come Down, and even played "Things Are Gonna Go Wrong" from my latest album - which I haven't even released yet! Whoa. My mind is blown. So Thank you CBC. Feeling the love... Rock out in the sun everyone!

Saturday, April 12th, 2008:
And they're off...
Last night was the successful Vancouver kick-off to "Women in the Round...On the Road" a Western Canadian tour featuring Kate Reid, Sarah MacDougall and myself performing as singer-songwriters-in-the-round. This is the most ambitious tour I have been a part of to date, and I am thrilled at the talent of the ladies I get to share it with. So I hope to see some of you along the way - and I'd love to see the vancouver folks at the Railway when we get back on April 27th.

Whoa. Too excited. Getting pheklempt...

Tuesday, March 4th, 2008:
So hello after a long silence...literally! - I've had chronic laryngitis! All the same, I have somehow managed to record a rocking new album! This Friday is the last day of mixing and I am excited. I am excited, too, to get back to the stage...
This month I have a few gigs - then in April I hit the road for a Western Canadian tour with "Women in the Round" - myself, Kate Reid and Sarah MacDougall. We've got a myspace - click here to check it out (it has some of my new tunes up there!).
So life is slowly getting back to normal - and as spring rolls around, all the challenges seem just a little easier to face. A lot of friends have been having various troubles of their own over this winter - and a few of them announced that March was "Napping Month!" or "Music Month!"... very optimistic titles, I thought! My idea for March is just to have a little more fun...
I'm off to have a bit of that now - but before I go, I'll just leave you with links to some lovely YouTube videos someone posted from a live gig with the band back in November 2007:

Arbitrary Lines
Cry For The Departed

...Ciao!

Wednesday, February 27th, 2008:
Happy belated New Year - I am finally ready! More news to come...

Thursday, December 13th, 2007:
Well I am getting excited... it's now four days until I leave for Brazil for a month of sun! Meanwhile - the new tracks are sounding great (check 'em out at www.myspace.com/joannacs. One of my bands, "Lily Come Down" has just finished our album as well... pretty fun... also I am charting for the first time! Where? You guessed it: Kamloops, CFBX. I'll be there in April when Kate Reid, Sarah MacDougall and I hit the road for a Western Canadian tour "Women in the Round...on the road!". Well that's all my news. Basically: Happy Holidays. To family et al: Lots of love! I'll see you soon!

Saturday, October 21st, 2007:
So the play was a fantastic experience - thanks to those who came - but onwards and upwards. It is studio season...
I went into the studio last week to record a new 6-track EP with the band. It is sounding great - I am very excited.
Lily Come Down is just about finished our first album, and all three of the other groups I am in (T. Nile, Sarah MacDougall & The Heroes and Gamelan Madu Sari) are all in various stages of recording new albums as well - a surplus of immortality going around.
I hope to put a few new tracks up on my Myspace soon. Meanwhile, I recently updated the old Myspace - and she's looking mighty fine - check her out at www.myspace.com/joannacs. Oh, and in case I forget: Happy Halloween!

Wednesday, September 27th, 2007:
Hello all... just had to put a little autumn message up for us all getting back into gear with work and school routines. I am back playing dance classes and loving it AND I have the good fortune of being involved in a very cool play called "Out Like Flynn" that starts up next week. Yes - I will be acting. Click Here for more information. Wow. I have a renewed respect for the theatre. The intense creativity and stamina required of the cast and crew are inspiring. I am thoroughly enjoying the experience. I'd love for you to come. Anyhoozers - I wish you all the best as the cold creeps steadily on. Get those cozy layers ready...

Friday, September 7th, 2007:
This was my first summer of festivals - and I loved it! - Finally getting a good look at this corner of the globe, meeting and hearing a whole bunch of incredible musicians, free food!... I just hope next summer is as full-up with fun as this one has been. So with a hearty sigh - I now turn my head up to "watch the seasons change up in the trees" (-T. Nile, Trees ). Have a great school-year everyone, and Happy Birthday Nana!

Thursday, June 28th, 2007:
Well dang folks. I've just arrived back to Vancouver following my two big firsts: my first little tour and my first big festival. The tour was a lovely three-day jaunt to the island organized by Pedestrian! Productions. I highly recommend the Duncan Garage Showroom to anyone looking to be surrounded by an air of the mysterious...
If on the other hand you go for out-and-out beauty, take a scenic flight up to Smithers, BC for the Midsummer Festival next year. What a gracious community - and so ready to jump in and dance! Thanks to the Westmans and others for playing host or just for sharing some fun times. So many summer memories already and it's only June!

Thursday, April 26th, 2007:
I've been checking up on my electronic footprints, and to my cheerful surprise I see that CBC has been playing several of my songs across Canada (Winnipeg and Ontario have now joined my airwave-map). So I am sitting here rather pleased as the rain falls softly outside and I sit working on some new tunes. All the best to you buddies and browsers on this bountiful day. Oh - and congratulations to my Mom who has announced her wedding this summer!!

Wednesday, March 28th:
Yes there's an exciting show at Rime this Friday - why do you ask? Ahhhh, but this is not all in the works this week. Festival number 2 has confirmed!! Join Joanna (my humble me) out in the Bulkley Valley June 22-24 this summer for the Midsummer Festival, the serene sunsets, and the warm summer breezes...

Tuesday, February 21st:
It's a lucky day for Jo - not only has The Atlin Arts & Music Festival confirmed for this summer (July 6-8) but Joanna will officially be the new voice of the Log Driver's Waltz in a live action remake of the classic cartoon to be filmed this summer by Ride With The Tide Productions. "For he goes birling down and down white waters..." To view original cartoon, visit www.canadaka.net

Saturday, February 10th:
Sheryl Mackay, host of North By Northwest on CBC Radio 1, played 'Moment of Green' this morning. Rise and Shine Vancouver!