2023 has had some really exciting stuff going on for me:
Switzerland
Medieval Video!!!!
I travelled to Switzerland back in June. Partly vacation, partly music. The vacation part was a fabulous experience! Switzerland is, as you can probably guess, a very civilized place.
I managed to book one show, in Basel. It was fun, with a great crowd, in a cool/weird place, the Markthalle Basel, like a permanent farmer’s market. Kind of. The building is this big dome, large enough to hold, say, a hockey rink. I have no idea how much of what I said was understood by the Swiss, they did seem to enjoy the music! (I didn’t buckle down and learn much Swiss(German), and it turned out almost everyone there speaks very good English, so there went the rest of my motivation to learn!)
The people… Swiss people in general appear very healthy and happy. It looks like people earn a living wage at what we would call minimum wage jobs such as convenience store clerks and such. They seem happy and eager to help.
The food… Switzerland has exceptionally high quality food. And I’m talking in the everyday supermarkets, not specialty stores. In Zurich I had the best steak I’ve ever had.
The water… I am still amazed that they do not treat their drinking water. No chlorine, no fluoride, nothing. And they have gorgeous public drinking fountains everywhere, running 24/7, you can have a drink, you can fill your bottles. I’m not talking only those glorious European statue and sculpture fountains, which they have, they also have little ones sculpted out of bronze, or stone or WHY on the sidewalk in residential neighbourhoods.
The castles… The best part for me? Castelgrande in Bellinzona. A true medieval castle, one of three in the fortress town of Bellinzona. Stunning, and thrilling to my little-boy heart!
And even better? They had a medieval fair when we were there. Authentic period clothes and tools and… armoured knights doing battle! And I’m talking serious battle, not play fighting. I could feel the thump and whack of swords and axes. These guys were all built like NHL hockey players, big strong lads. At one point two guys were grappling (it wasn’t a horseback thing) and a third came up and whaled on one guy’s helmet with an axe. Like, not quite full force, still enough to seriously injure without the steel helmets.
At one point a hockey game almost broke out!
Alberta Tour
I did a 20-day tour of Alberta, made a lot of new friends, saw some old friends, and played a lot of music. I got as far as Edson, where I played the hilariously-named Cougars and Kittens pub, a back-alley pub with a bunch of real music lovers. There was dancing and general mayhem all night. They wouldn’t let me leave!
Festivals
I played a few festivals, most notably the Steveston Salmon Festival in Richmond BC. If you get a chance, visit Steveston. It’s jam-packed with historic buildings from the fishing history of BC, plus it’s a working fish port. Best place to get your fresh fish right off the boat. The Gulf of Georgia Cannery is a National Historic site and a really interesting museum.
New Music
I’ve been writing at what for me is a torrid pace. Lots of new songs that I’m really proud of. I’m in the process right now of arranging and rearranging them, smoothing out the wrinkles and, best of all, finally getting them ready for some studio recording. I’m in the studio in January, working with a hot producer, Studio Jackson! If you like behind-the-scenes kinda stuff I’ll be producing lots of it. I’ll let you know!
(BTW – my goal is to win a Juno in 2025! You can help me with that – I’ll let you know as the process moves along.)
As a JML fan you’ll get Exclusive Early Access to all of it, including your chance to own pieces of JML history like set lists and original demo recordings and such. They will become even more incredibly valuable when I win my Juno!
New Logo
New logo and branding is on the way. Watch for the big reveal in 2024! I have photogs and designers standing by to make me look great!
New Gigs
For all you Vancouverites, I am focusing on playing more shows close to home. I have always had better success touring around Western Canada, and now it’s time to integrate into the Vancouver scene. Which, BTW, is growing and thriving again after the 1-2 punch of rampant condo development and some pandemic thing…
I am also hitting up jam sessions around town so I can better learn to play nice with others! As a solo performer I don’t often get the chance to play with a band. It’s fun!
If you do come out, I’m putting together a cool new thang: JML Plays Your Requests! My web wizard is working on it as I write – you’re going to like it. Stay tuned for more.
Vancouver area fans: if you want to know when I’m playing at jams, which BTW are great places to discover new music and make new friends – they are really fun and inclusive events – please let me know by replying to this email and I’ll figure out a way to keep you updated.
A Wee Christmas Tour – BC Interior and Okanagan
I have a few shows lined up in December. Typically I have hibernated in December, and now… I have to learn Christmas songs! Lol. Definitely overdue, and a good addition to my repertoire.
Touring in Canada in the winter… part of the joy of being a Canadian musician!
Show listings are at my website here.
2024
I’m looking forward to an amazing year, with the new album coming out and all the associated marketing, hype, and excitement! Another Euro Touro is in the makings; I’m applying like crazy to festivals; and more Canadian tours, possibly even an opening slot on a big tour, are shaping up. I’ll let you know.
Thanks for being my fan,
John
PS – my only active social media is Instagram. Follow me: @johnmichaellindmusic