I’ve typed many of theses blogs over the years from the seat of an airplane, but his marks the first time I will be uploading one from 35,000 feet in the air. Currently on American Airlines flying from Nashville to Los Angeles and for a fee of 15 bucks or so you can get on line. The novelty of it is pretty cool, I must say. I have long worried that losing my airplane time off the grid would be a negative experience but today, from seat 20C, in front of a screen playing a film I have already seen and holding a Kobo that I forgot to recharge, I am grateful for the whole deal.

Time for a quick update.

Great Big Sea is enjoying the start of a hiatus as we recharge after the most awesome XX Tour.

I’ve been busy doing some fun and rewarding charity and fundraising work. About ten days ago, myself and Chef Todd Perrin along with my Mom and Dad, headed to Fogo island Newfoundland to do a fundraising and awareness event for the Shorefast Foundation. Zita Cobb and this foundation have taken to revitalizing Fogo Island. The heart of the effort is the Fogo Island Inn, perhaps the greatest feat of architecture in Newfoundland’s history. It is an amazing place to see and stay.

I spent most of Saturday plying my normal trade, singing a few songs and entertaining the crowd from the stage. The day before was the real trip for me as I switched places with Chef Todd and I was on the line in the kitchen with the Inn’s Chef Murray and his team. I can cook a few things, but I am no Chef. I spent the whole day in the kitchen with the real Chef’s and sous Chef’s. A crash course in Professional food and Beverage preparation. Did you know that you can make your own mayonnaise? Holy Shite. Blew my mind.

For early appetizers, I made Smoked Cod Pate, and smoked Brie sandwiches, both using Mom’s Bread. For the main meal I was responsible for the Amuse Bouche (sp?), which was a twist on cod chowder where we used a fresh fried cod tongue. It was awesome.

For the main meal, I was one of the helpers on the line. I helped all the Chef’s keep their stations on time. The pressure is on when a table of 8 and a table of 6 order at exactly the same time.

For late night, I cooked midnight chicken wings and chili. I fell into bed around 2am, as tired as I’ve ever been in my life. Hats off to Chef’s and Cooks and Kitchen Staff everywhere. Hard work indeed.

On Saturday there was Ice skating and ice fishing, snowmobiling, and all kinds of winter fun stuff. I sang a few tunes and had Mom and Dad as well as my old friend and uber composer Keith Power to join in the fun. That night I sat and enjoyed Chef Todd’s cooking. With my new found respect for the skill and effort required to prepare a fine dining meal, I enjoyed every bite a wee bit more than normal.

After a snowed in bonus Super Bowl Sunday, we made our way bid Farewell to Fogo Island. I look forward to my next chance to dance there.

This past weekend, I got up early Saturday to help open The Loop, a skating facility in Bannerman Park. This outdoor track wanders through the historic park and is easily the coolest winter recreational place I’ve seen in a long time. Well done Bannerman Park folks, and special thanks to the St Paul’s Choir for letting me sing with them. They are awesome.

Saturday night was all about a fundraiser for another recreational facility. This one for Vanier Elementary School, where myself and VOCM Radio’s Open Line host Paddy Daly held court over an evening of auctions and songs to raise money for what will be a great adddtion to the school and community. Thanks Paddy for the fun chats from the stage, thanks to Greg Gill who’s awesome high notes saved me in the 80’s Hair Metal request portion of the evening (yes, it was as fun as you think) and most special thanks to Paddy and my better halfs Lie and Jo who amongst a cast of dedicated people put the whole thing together. Fun times for a good cause.

I jumped on a plane early Sunday and flew to Nashville trough Toronto. I’ve had some great chats with folks and had a blast writing with Jimmy Rankin, Gordie Sampson, and Meghan Kabrir. I am a Lucky Bastard to get the chance to work with the likes of them all.

Currently jetting to Los Angeles to more work with more talented folks, ever pressing to get my new Solo CD out in the fall, ideally around the same time the book drops in October.

Really looking forward to seeing Winters Tale, the film featuring a pile of famous people and me. Trailers look amazing. Please check it out when it comes to a cinema near you.

Alright. Keep you posted here and on Twitter as developments occur.

I must surf the web from Seat 20. Because I can,

Cheers,
Alan

Happy 2014.

Let me begin by saying the biggest thanks in history to all if you who came once twice or many times to the concerts on the GBS XX Tour. What a thrill to celebrate two decades on the road with you. I am grateful for it all. The songs and dances and nights out before during and after the shows. What a life your support has given me. Thank You Very Much.

With the GBS XX tour behind us, we enter into a hiatus and a much-deserved rest for the Mothership. In the mean time, much ado for the individuals you know on the GBS stage.

Sean has announced he is leaving the band and is off and running with a solo venture. He’s got a new CD ready to launch on Jan 29th titled Help Your Self. He recorded it with the mighty Joel Plaskett and all hands expect it to be awesome and wish him the best of luck with it all. Check out all the details at www.greatbigsean.com.

Bob is busy as a beaver with Erin’s Pub, which he and his partner Chris have restored to its rightful place as the coolest small music venue in Newfoundland. Right next-door is his restaurant Mediterranean inspired Restaurant Tavola quickly becoming one of the must-visit spots in a bustling downtown gastro scene. Bob is also helping acts like, The Once, Fortunate Ones, and Sherman Downey, take on the planet. Go Bob Go.

Murray Foster is inches away from pushing the green light on his most excellent film/music project “The Cocksure Lads”. You can get involve with or support this cool venture here… http://thecocksurelads.com

Kris MacFarlane is in demand as ever playing drums with Paul Lamb and Wreckhouse, Dave Gunning, and myself.

As for yours truly, I’ve got a few things upcoming. Winters Tale, a film starring Colin Farrell and Russell Crowe hits theatres on Valentine’s Day. Many of you will recall I play the role of a thief Dingy Worthington in the film. I have seen a few sections of the film as I recorded some post production audio and I can tell you it looks amazing. If the trailer is any indication, it should be beautiful, to say the least. Dingy is in there in looking pretty pissed.

My first ever book titled ‘Where I Belong’ is written and in post production at Random House Canada. Fonts are being chosen, archival photos considered and placed and cover shots and art pined over. I am very much a novice in the publishing world and can’t wait to get the ball rolling on the book launch and release later this year.

I have a fantasy that I’ll have a new solo cd ready to drop the same day as the book. If I’m to make this a reality, I have to get cracking in the coming weeks and months selecting tunes I’ve already written and creating whatever new ones are needed. I’ve got a trip to Nashville and LA mid February to work with some incredibly talented people to help me along with it all. Fingers crossed. Keep you posted.

I should also like to pay thanks to Russell Crowe and all the gang who just gathered in Coff’s harbor Australia for the OZIGP gigs. What a time we had. The shows were a blast and getting to record some new tunes with awesome producer Carl Falk was a thrill to say the least. Hope for more of them to come.

All that said, the near future holds a lot of Daddying and Rink making for the kids on the street.

Much more to report in the weeks ahead. Stay tuned, and once again,

Happy New Year.

Hey All

I am typing from a bit of a family beach Vacation. Just a brief note of thanks about what has recently past and a heads up about some stuff upcoming.

What a grand time we had on the West Coast swing; a run that brought us to a few of our favorite spots in Washington and BC. Most lovely was the chance to walk the streets of a couple of new stops. A few of us had a grand munch at the Uptown Café before a fabulous debut in Moose Jaw. Thanks for coming out everyone. Likewise, a few of us had a most welcomed pub crawl after our gig in Bonnyville, which could very well have been one of the best nights of the entire XX Tour. Thanks to you all.

Much on the way in the near future for GBS. The next leg finds us in Southern Ontario and New York State amongst other places. A few of the shows are Sold Out already and I’d love to see them all rammed. Check www.greatbigsea.com for dates near you.

Also recently announced is a rare GBS New Years Eve Gig. We wanted to push our Twentieth Year Celebrations to the last second, so if you are in the Moncton Area, please spin by the Casino to ring in 2014.

As for my own stuff, I’m super excited about the buzz over the Boy on Bridge airing Nation Wide in Canada on CMT Friday, Nov 8th at 9 EST. Please spread the word and check it out if you can.

I saw the first trailer for Winters Tale yesterday. Wow. Congrats to Russell, Colin and Akiva as the first glimpses look amazing. Check out full trailer here:

Dingy looks mighty pissed in this clip. Cool to be flanking RC with the mighty Kevin Corrigan, and Owen and Moley in there somewhere as well. Wow.

Alright. Back to the Lazy River with the Prince.

See you all back on the road in a few days.

Cheers,
Alan