At the end of May I got to play in my hometown which is always a treat. This was my first time playing at Deerhurst Resort and it was a great time. Deerhurst is a great resort that emphasizes the natural beauty of northern Canada. The audience was great, and the other artists in the lineup made the whole night a great experience. I played some new songs, and it’s always great to see what songs resonate with the audience, it varies from show to show. Some songs always go over well, but then others hit harder with specific crowds.
Branson Landing
On June 17, I was asked to perform at the 10 year anniversary of the Branson Landing in Branson Missouri which was such an honor! My entire band and I drove over to Branson on the morning of the 17th, and 7 hours in a band with other musicians is always a good time, typically with many jokes, laughter, and stories being shared. We sound checked, found out the stage was right by the river (super cool!) and then had just enough time to change for the show! About 3 songs in the sound cut out due to technical difficulties and a circuit being overloaded, but I went out into the audience to play, just me and my guitar, which was such a fun experience! It was like playing an intimate acoustic sent in the middle of my full band southern rock set! After they got the sound working again we finished out our set, and then got to explore Branson Landing. The weather was great, my band was awesome (as usual), and the audience was so much fun to play for! Here are some photos by Roberto Cerini from the show and some behind the scenes photos by my photographer!
Best Shopping in Asheville
During my quick trip to Asheville we spent a couple hours on Saturday morning strolling downtown and exploring the shops. We saw a lot of really cute boutiques and some very interesting shops. I love getting a feel for the different styles of every city I have the chance to visit and Asheville felt very bohemian. From the coffee shops, the clothing, the unique locals, and the many trinket shops, I got the feeling that Asheville has a vibe all it’s own.
Best Asheville Restaurants
I’ve been to Asheville multiple times, but only to see the Biltmore Estate, I never actually went into the city of Asheville. A few weeks ago, that changed! A group of friend and I decided to take a little getaway trip to Asheville! It was such a unique city, we saw Lake Street Dive play, ate some great food, and generally soaked in the fun and creative atmosphere that is Asheville! Here are some of my favorite eats from the trip.
Tupelo Honey
Early Girl
French Broad Chocolate Lounge
World Coffee Cafe
Wanderers and Warriors
When I’m touring and promoting my music I get to meet the coolest people and whether they are fellow artists or fans, I love the opportunity to connect with like minded people. I recently discovered the brand Wanderers and Warriors on Instagram and as soon as I found out they had a love of traveling too, I wanted to know more. The brand, which is based out of Peterborough England, is run by two entrepreneurs who were inspired and fueled by a love of travel, something I also happen to love! So when I had the chance to partner with them to share their clothing collection it seemed like a very natural fit. This shirt has quickly become one of my favorites, and not just because it’s so comfortable, but because I love the message. We should all consider the world our playground and explore it as much as we possibly can. Check out all of their clothing at www.wanderersandwarriors.com
What To Do in Ottawa
What I was most excited for in Ottawa was my radio visit to New Country 94.3, the main Country music station for Ottawa! Playing and being interviewed on air is always so exciting. It’s a live show being broadcast to so many people but sitting in the room is actually only 2 or 3 other people! After the interview I had a couple hours before I needed to head to Montreal so we explored the Byward Market. Its a great area full of open air booths and shops selling everything from fresh produce to trendy clothing. Two of my favorite shops in the market were the Cupcake Lounge and the clothing shop Milk. Do you have any open markets in your area that you love to visit?
The Cupcake Lounge
I had the lemon cake with raspberry frosting, it was so worth it!
Milk
A great boutique with a great mix of known and undiscovered brands!
Byward Market