NEWSLETTER #3 - JULY 2019
Hello! How are you all?
I hope you are all well and enjoying your summer!
First of all thank you so much to all those who got in touch with kind words and good wishes for a speedy recovery from my torn calf muscle injury last week -
I'm so sorry this lead to me not being able to perform at the Piu event last Monday night and apologise for any disappointment this caused. I hope to return to play at one of their future events so watch this space!
While I am still on crutches in a lot of pain, I am thankfully on the mend! Lots of rest, ice packs, pain killers and physio ahead of my next live performance on the 3rd of August at The Glad Cafe in Glasgow!
SO WHAT ELSE HAS BEEN HAPPENING THIS END?
'Empowering Women in Songwriting'
In June I was honoured to be invited to speak as a panelist at the Inauguration Conference of 'Empowering Women in Songwriting'. Based in Greenock, this group of talented songwriters were so welcoming and an inspiring, as were my fellow panelists! Thanks to Shelagh McKay Jones for organising such a worthwhile event and for inviting me to share my musical journey so far! I'm excited to see how this group grows and to be a part of that!
'Live in the Living Room' Show
I recently recorded a stripped back performance of my song 'Trouble - Live in the Living Room' for the LIVE IN THE LIVING ROOM YouTube Channel.
You can watch my video by clicking the above link or watch the full show (as well as find out about all the great charitable work they do) by visiting www.liveinthelivingroom.co.uk
To support their charitable leg, I'm performing a 'Live in the Living Room Saturday Night Music Club' Songwriters Round with Simon James, David Latto and Scott Ashworth at The Glad Cafe, Glasgow, on the 3rd of August. It would be fantastic to see you there to hear us sing our songs while helping those in need!
Family Road Trip USA: The Bluebird Cafe
June brought with it a family holiday road trip full of music and fun! We started off in Orlando, stopped off in West Palm Beach then Miami before heading to New Orleans then on up to Nashville! It was HOT!
We enjoyed every second of the trip, as those of you following our journey on instagram and facebook will have seen! :)
Eating beignets in 'Cafe du Monde' in New Orleans French Quarter while listening to the best street jazz in the world was so special - their music inspired me so much!
In Nashville I had the absolute honour of performing my original songs at the famous and iconic The Blue Bird Cafe.
Wow! It was such a magical night! In my recent Interview for 'Forever British Country' I had said playing at the Bluebird was one for the bucket list...I didn't for a minute think I'd be ticking that one off so soon! :)
My friend Brain Loschiavo and his team at 'Riverside Entertainment' have recently premiered their Documentary 'Bluebird' at the Global 2019 SXSW Film Festival - they are currently looking at getting it released here in the UK too so watch out for it on our screens!
Click on the following links to see videos of me performing a couple of my songs 'Live from the Bluebird Cafe':
'Only Love Can Break Your Heart' - Live at 'The Bluebird Cafe', Nashville
'Next Friday Night' - Live at 'The Bluebird Cafe', Nashville
I also got to perform my songs on one of the most famous pianos in the world, inside the most famous 'Circle' in the Country Music World. What an absolute honour! (Next time I get to play that piano I'm hoping there will be a few folks in the audience!!!! :) ) lol! Still...a pretty cool experience I will remember all my life!
We all absolutely loved the Grand Ole Opry Show - I had the honour of meeting some of the acts backstage, including the lovely Mark Wills, had the pleasure of hearing Carlene Carter and her band warm up before their set and shared in some of the legendary Jesse McReynolds 90th birthday celebrations! More than a few bucket list items ticked off that night too!
I'm so very grateful and inspired in so many ways.
'It's so lovely when you don't see friends for ages yet when you meet up again it feels like it was only yesterday you saw them last...'
We caught up with a few friends in Nashville - all familiar faces on our shores and to those who have been following me for a while!
Michael Logen sends his love to all those who he met at the events we performed together in Stirling and Dumfries earlier this year.
Our good friend Jenn Bostic was on great form too and misses all her UK fans!
Last but never least it was lovely catching up with our very own Irish-Nashville native Ben Glover - he's back over in Glasgow with his 'Orphan Brigade' in October as part of the 'Glasgow Americana Festival' - not to be missed!
I will also perform as part of this festival - see the 'LIVE' section below for more info and tickets links.
THE WRITING ROOMS
The song I have been writing with UK Award Winning Country Band 'Raintown' 'My Whole World' went down a treat on their recent European tour!
We met this week to give the song it's final polish and I can honestly say I love it!
You can hear them perform it live as part of their set at
East Kilbride Village Theatre, Saturday 17th of August.
LIVE
Thanks to all who came along to hear me open for the very lovely and talented Ella Munro recently - special shout out to Beth, one of our Newsletter family who came to say hi and chat on the night - it was lovely to meet you in person Beth!
Upcoming Events
All tickets can be purchased from www.elainelennon.com/live
August
Saturday 3rd - 'Live in the Living Room's Saturday Night Music Club'
Doors 7.30 for 8pm
The Glad Cafe,
Glasgow
Saturday 31st - 'Millport Country Music Festival'
16.45pm in the Maverick Magazine Acoustic Tent
Millport,
Isle of Cumbrae
October
Sunday 7th - 'Glasgow Americana Festival'
15.30pm - 'The Seven Song Club'
The Admiral Bar
Glasgow
November
Thursday 7th - 'Songwriters Uncovered Series'
The Beacon Arts Centre
Greenock
DEBUT ALBUM UPDATE
Creative Scotland
The excellent news is that I have been awarded partial funding for the overall project from Creative Scotland! I wanted to share this in my previous newsletter, however it had not been made public by CS at that point! I am so grateful! It was a long hard and gruelling application process but that's what makes it so much sweeter to know that I have their belief and support in the music I'm creating! Thank you Creative Scotland!!! :)
Kris Kesiak Photo Shoot
Photographer Kris Kesiak and I went on an adventure to take some photos for the forthcoming album - it was my first official photo shoot and let me tell you I take my hat off to those folks who model for a living - it is not as easy to look 'relaxed' and 'natural' when there's a camera pointed at you, but if anyone can put you at ease with total professionalism it's Kris! Lunan Bay offered a spectacular backdrop. We didn't let a little Scottish rain stop us getting some superb shots - the only difficulty now is narrowing all them down and deciding on the final cut!
Euan Burton - laying down the bass
The next musician that producer Findlay Napier has brought to the project is Euan Burton - he has added his bass playing magic to the album now and I could not be happier with the way it is all sounding! Euan's discography is extensive and includes Eddi Reader, Blue Rose Code, Siobhan Miller, Mike Vass, Texas...
The next stage is for Findlay and I to get back into Chem19 Studios next month with Award Winning Engineer Paul Savage to get the final mixing finished then it's on to Mastering and Production! Exciting times!
Thanks for reading and until next time!
Remember if you are coming to any events please come say hi!
hugs
Elaine xx
