Banff and Edmonton

After singing one song to celebrate the year of the minor in Canada at the Canmore folk festival, we moved on to Banff for a break. White water rafting, canoeing, basketball, shopping, hiking and the quickest swim of my life in Emerald Lake..it just had to be done but so cold!Great to be having down time with the family in such a wonderful area and Harriet learnt to let go and swim! Have just finished at the Edmonton Folk fest. A big but friendly festival..good workshops, especially enjoyed meeting and playing with Martin Simpson, and what a guitar player and nice guy too. Did two songs (Good In me Is Dead and American Novel) on the main stage in front of the gathered thousands on the hill. It wasn’t easy as Great Big Sea had just finished a storming set but I seemed to drag the crowd to a different place for a while and was quietly thrilled when I finished to see Michael Franti applauding behind me. I think he is an amazing artist working with great integrity and in a cross of hip hop, folk and rock and it meant a lot to know he had been watching. Have also enjoyed watching Natalie Merchant, David Byrne and Ani De Franco play. So, Stefan becomes a teenager tomorrow, so we will celebrate that and then drive a long way on Tuesday up to Prince George for the last festival on this tour of duty.