Northern Lights

Rustically shimmering, "Northern Lights" opens up Allison Crowe's "Little Light" album. Real life transmutes into this song of love - inspired by the beauty in the skies above, and, especially, during those Summers spent in Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland.


Northern Lights from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

It’s a song Allison Crowe's carried with her from Canada to perform at the 'John Lennon Northern Lights Festival' in Durness, Scotland.

http://music.allisoncrowe.com/track/northern-lights

Accompanying the music, Yukon-based David Cartier, Sr. shares his wondrous photographs of the Aurora Borealis on flickr @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/dcartiersr/sets/72157594420812359

Here's what David says about this source of inspiration:

" When men lack a sense of awe, There will be disaster "
- - - - Lao Tzu --- The Tao Teh Ching

“Awe is what THIS is all about!!

The Aurora is an experience of breathtaking beauty... the viewing makes you feel like you are connected integrally with an amazing cosmic force ..... Aurora watching is as addictive as any drug and a whole lot more satisfying. Once you become addicted, you stay out all night, lose sleep, forget about social commitments, nearly get wind burned and frostbit and it's all, deeply, worth it!!

Every human being who can manage it should make a pilgrimage to the subarctic auroral zone in order to see and feel this at least once in their life.

Many of these were taken with an amazing old Russian Kiev-19 35mm SLR. This camera , which I still use for night sky photos, NEVER freezes up or has any shutter problems in the cold, even at minus 60!! The more expensive Japanese and German cameras which I own always, or at least often, stop functioning in the deep cold.”

Northern Lights of Labrador

NL’s Don Fulford wrote “Northern Lights of Labrador” for his sister, Trina – of the renowned duo Corey & Trina (Crewe) and they had a tremendous hit with this song - naturally popular across Newfoundland and Labrador on Canada's Atlantic coast.

Love for beauty and home shines through Allison Crowe and her newest album of music, "Newfoundland Vinyl II": http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/newfoundland-vinyl-ii

As the album title suggests, it's a song collection inspired by, and arising from, Crowe's involvement with the hit stage show, "Newfoundland Vinyl" - presented at Canada's Gros Morne Theatre Festival, and produced by Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador.

The album celebrates this creative bond between Crowe, an internationally-loved touring and recording artist, and Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador, a professional theatre company founded on Newfoundland's west coast in 1979.

For these past three Summers TNL's engaged Crowe as Musical Director of "Newfoundland Vinyl" - a perennial favourite at the annual Gros Morne Theatre Festival.

TNL Artistic Director Jeff Pitcher's conception of a revival of vinyl era, and more, songs of Newfoundland and Labrador put wind in the sails of Allison Crowe's curatorial mission.

"It's here!" says pioneering music blog Muruch, "Allison Crowe just released Newfoundland Vinyl II and it's the perfect follow-up to her traditional folk masterpiece, Newfoundland Vinyl".

Of her immersions as Musical Director with TNL, and the melodic bounty that's landed, Allison Crowe notes: "There is so much wonderful music - you could piece together multiple anthologies and still only scratch the surface of such an extensive and rich collection. Each of these songs is its own story, of land and sea, of people, and each story in-and-of-itself could be an entire show. I'm truly grateful that you are here to hear the story these songs have to offer." She gives special thanks to "the incredibly talented and versatile" casts and crews of TNL's productions for their inspiration.

Northern Lights photo - by Allison Crowe + thanks to Johnny Cann

Allison Crowe’s State of the Union this Canada & Memorial Days, Pretzelfest & Independence Day

To share this holiday: some music - Allison Crowe’s “Northern Lights”, with the photographs of David Cartier, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmSs7Apu9Cs plus recipes from Allison for Toutons and for Rosemary Bread (you can make in a pot or, improvising, a skillet): http://7thumbsup.wordpress.com/2010/07/01/beaumont-hamel-canada-day-rosemary-bread-and-toutons

 

North Americans mark an especially commemorative week – starting, eh, in this land of ours with Canada Day and, in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Memorial Day – Newfoundlander, comedian+ Rick Mercer notes the poignant dichotomy of July 1: “On the day we are supposed to be celebrating the flag, the flags are flying at half mast” in his blog @ http://rickmercer.blogspot.ca/2005/07/memorial-day-in-newfoundland.html This week rolls ahead with Pretzelfest, July 3 on Salt Spring Island, BC and rockets with July 4, Independence Day, celebrations across the USA.

 

Where e’er you be, and whatever the occasion, may you and yours know peace and joy alongside the best of health and times. Sláinte!

 

Here at Rubenesque Records we’re invigorated by Allison Crowe’s most recent, sensational, concerts in Europe. Now home, Allison’s already deep into production of this year’s Gros Morne Theatre Festival – as Musical Director of Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador’s hit show, “Newfoundland Vinyl”.

 

TNL proclaims:

 

“Newfoundland Vinyl” is back! And this time it’s “The “C” Side”. Allison Crowe has made this show into a perennial Festival favourite. The vinyl Newfoundland hits of the 1960's, 70's and 80's by Newfoundland's biggest recording stars are never- ending. From Harry Hibbs’ “The Wild Rover” to Eddy Coffey’s “Area Code 709” to Corey & Trina’s “Northern Lights of Labrador” Allison manages to lay bare the simple and beautiful melodies and lyrics of our most talented artists.”

 

The show spins each Tuesday and Friday from July 11 - August 29 at the GMTF – and the “incredibly talented and versatile cast”, says Allison, features the wonderful performing roster of musicians/actors: Colin Furlong, Craig Haley, Claire Hewlett, Amelia Manuel, Stephanie Payne, Keelan Purchase, and Marquita Walsh. With Adam Christopher Brake as Ed.

 

The show’s stellar cast is supported by a shining set of northern production lights: Director - Jeff Pitcher/Allison Crowe; Musical Director - Allison Crowe; Stage Manager - Effie Parsons; Set Design - Derek Butt; Costume Design - Lindsay Code; Original Sound Design - Dirk Ave; Original Lighting Design - Johnny Cann; and Sound Coordination & Lighting Coordination - Laura Penney.

 

On July 28, 2014, in a special, solo, performance, Allison Crowe Sings "Newfoundland Vinyl" and More - in GMTF's "Who's Darkening Our Door" Concert Series.

 

For info on these, and all, Gros Morne Theatre Festival shows (May 31-Sept. 13, 2014) - call 709-639-7238 or toll-free 1-877-243-2899 + visit http://www.theatrenewfoundland.com

 

To celebrate with the latest music and more from Allison Crowe, anyway, anyhow, anywhere you choose: http://music.allisoncrowe.com + http://www.youtube.com/user/Adrian22 + http://www.allisoncrowe.com/bio.html

Northern Lights ~ "Tidings Concert" (song 5)

The world is a wondrous place - and among nature's beautiful displays is the Aurora Borealis. Here's Allison Crowe's song from "Tidings Concert" which reflects on that beauty and the expanses of love: "Northern Lights".

Northern Lights: Valentine's V Day Playlist #1 of 7

Valentine's, V, Day is a week off. Here's the first in a seven-part Allison Crowe playlist - original songs and interpretations to carry us beyond the galaxy of Moon-June-spoon, to land on and explore the real terrain of the heart. Intentionally rustic, Northern Lights reflects the raw beauty of nature.



Allison's music is paired with images of the Aurora Borealis captured by Yukon-based photographer David Cartier, Sr. - who's added lots more pics to his awe-inspiring sets @ Flickr

Northern Lights

Next of Allison Crowe's albums is "Little Light", a 2008 release which is the most guitar-oriented song collection among her CDs. Opening up is the rustically shimmering "Northern Lights". Again Allison transmutes real life in this love song - inspired by sighting the Aurora Borealis. Lorette C. Luzajic, Toronto-based artist and culture-writer, calls it "the prettiest song that Sarah McLachlan never wrote."



Images of the Aurora Borealis - by adventurer and photographer David Cartier, captured mostly in the Yukon territory of Canada's North - accompany Allison Crowe's "Northern Lights" song in this video - combining to help bring home the wonder of it all :)

Northern Lights - the song, the sight, the festival - the phenomenon

Keeping with the natural themes of this blog - from under-the-sea octopus, to high-in-the-sky Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights...

Love IS real.

Summer's here. Temperature's rising. Allison Crowe is joining a magical mystery tour that promises to be one of the coolest cultural events of this, or any, year. The internationally-acclaimed singer-songwriter will perform at the The John Lennon Northern Lights Festival this September 28 - 30 in the Scottish Highlands. This unique happening has been endorsed by Yoko Ono Lennon along with several members of the ex-Beatle John's family, including his sister, Julia Baird.

Some of Britain's greatest artists, and, now, a Canadian, too, will travel to a tiny highland village to pay homage to John Lennon. The three-day festival in Durness (pop. 356), the most north-westerly and remote village on mainland Britain, is being called "one of the most extraordinary festivals ever to be staged in the country".

"John really loved Durness and would be very pleased that his influence was being celebrated with this festival," said Julia Baird on the launch. "I am delighted to be involved in what is a high quality event which has taste and respect at its core. We are all looking forward very much to coming again to a place that meant so much to my brother."



Allison Crowe and Julia Baird met last Summer, at a Beatles celebration organized by Hal Bruce, "The Cavern's very best friend", in Halifax, Nova Scotia - at which Julia, a teacher in Cheshire, was Guest of Honour. On that occasion Allison received a standing ovation for her solo performances of the Beatles' "Let It Be" and "In My Life" (which has roots in Durness) and John's "Imagine". The opportunity to meet again, and to share inspiration is exciting says Allison: "John Lennon was an amazing, artistic, peaceful, spirit. He made a huge impact on society." And, she notes, "I love Scotland!" (Both grandparents on her Mother's side are Scottish.)

As a boy, John Lennon would be packed off on the bus from Liverpool to a croft in Durness owned by relatives. His cousin Stanley Parkes, says: "The festival is not remembering John Lennon the pop star, but John the person, the writer and the poet." During a break from recording the Abbey Road album in 1969, the then-Beatle returned to the Highlands with Yoko, son Julian, and Yoko's daughter Kyoko.

"I have a very sweet memory of Durness," Yoko said last month, in giving her blessing to festival organizer Mike Merritt's team. "I would most certainly love to lend my co-operation to this splendid venture to bring the world's attention to Scotland, the most beautiful and magical country, with John's name, his memory and a lovely one of mine, as well."

Allison Crowe, a French reviewer has observed, creates music for people who love the '60s and '70s sound ~ even if they'd not yet been born. It's a spirit of freedom and fun. Of uncompromised, singular, artistry. Honesty and innocence. She's in perfect harmony with a wildly eclectic festival line-up that includes: the original Quarrymen, (John's skiffle group which evolved into The Beatles); poet and playwright Carol Ann Duffy; punk poet John Cooper Clarke; the Queen's Master of Music, composer/conductor Sir Peter Maxwell Davies; jazz singer Todd Gordon and his combo; actor/playwright Gary Bleasdale; contemporary UK chart-toppers Nizlopi; and a wide palette of artists in all sorts of disciplines. Music, painting, drama, Beatles' films (on Britain's only mobile cinema, Screen Machine), Fab Four memorabilia, an on-site astronomer, and festivities in Smoo Cave, (Britain's biggest sea cave), are among the attractions.

As are the Northern Lights... which shine on the festival's celestial banner alongside John Lennon. The whole brings to mind the truth and beauty of such songs from John's Plastic Ono Band album as "Look at Me" and "Love".

Allison Crowe has recorded, naturally, one of her newest songs, "Northern Lights". "And, yes, I stood on the other side of the world, but I took the Northern Lights home to you."



The beautiful images seen in the video come from Yukon-based David Cartier, Sr. David shares his colletion of Aurora Borealis pics and more on his flickr page

Here’s what David says about this source of inspiration:

" When Men lack a sense of awe, There will be disaster "
- - - - Lao Tzu --- The Tao Teh Ching
Awe is what THIS is all about!!
The Aurora is an experience of breathtaking beauty... the viewing makes you feel like you are connected integrally with an amazing cosmic force ..... Aurora watching is as addictive as any drug and a whole lot more satisfying. Once you become addicted, you stay out all night, lose sleep, forget about social commitments, nearly get wind burned and frostbit and it's all, deeply, worth it !!
Every human being who can manage it should make a pilgrimage to the subarctic auroral zone in order to see and feel this at least once in their life.
Many of these were taken with an amazing old Russian Kiev-19 35mm SLR. This camera , which I still use for night sky photos, NEVER freezes up or has any shutter problems in the cold, even at minus 60!! The more expensive Japanese and German cameras which I own always, or at least often, stop functioning in the deep cold.