News
News and Updates
January 9, 2012
So it is 2012!
I am in Victoria, BC, where it has been grey and rainy for two and a half weeks. And on Wednesday I’m going to England. Obviously I did not plan that one so well.
I’m house-sitting for my parents while they are away. They have a fireplace, and a blender, and a washing machine five feet from the bedroom door. Things that seem so novel when you’ve been on the road for two months. The ‘recorder’ that tapes their favourite TV shows (I almost wrote VCR – that’s how long it’s been since I’ve had a TV in my life) comes on every night at random times and makes a low whirring sound that reminds me so vividly of my dad mowing the grass in the summer, near Tolstoi, Manitoba, and it makes me long for the smell of that grass and for garden carrots and prairie sun.
I am staying in tonight. Loading british maps on to my GPS. Hemming a dress. Recording a couple of new songs to send to the boys for the tour….I’m a little late in the game on this but they are fast. Wrapping up the fall tour in various ways on my laptop. Trying to make sense of some tax forms I have been avoiding for two months (at least that’s my plan, but I can guarantee it’s the last thing I will look at and I might just go to sleep before i get around to it.) Portioning out hemp seeds, spirulina, and vitamin D capsules for the tour.
I long for an extended period of time to play and write music…I can feel things brewing and want to record again soon but I haven’t had a lot of time to tend to these creative stirrings. I almost feel afraid of them. But I am glad they are persistent and have not given up on me. The administration side of running your own business can take over everything. It’s very rewarding as an artist to have a hand in all aspects of what you do, but that particular aspect tends to become almost all of what you do. Perhaps there is such a thing as being too thorough. Maybe every decision need not be considered quite so carefully. For as careful as you might be, you might still end up planning your schedule in such a way that you don’t see the sun for seven weeks.
I am so thrilled to be going to the UK though. I haven’t been since 2008. The boys are excited too – It’s Sam’s first time. And Ireland! It will be quick, but we are going. Our show in Sligo will mark my first time ever playing in Ireland. I am especially thrilled to be joining the Celtic Connections Transatlantic Sessions tour in February. Many of the musicians on the tour are heros of mine, in some form or another – people who are partly responsible for why I write songs and sing traditional music in the first place. ??!! It’s a huge honour, and I couldn’t be more excited.
Happy New Year, everyone. See you on the road, very soon…
xo
Ruth.
December 24, 2011
Hi everyone!
Just a quick note to wish you all a happy and peaceful holiday season.
I am home and in one place now for 3 weeks – I can hardly believe it!
A Celtic Christmas Sojourn was amazing – I had so much fun being a part of it. We did 12 shows in 10 days around the New England area. Thanks to Brian O’Donovan and everyone involved for making it such a memorable experience, and thanks for all your kind messages about the show.
Many exciting things coming up next year which I will tell you all about soon…but for now, a couple of days of rest.
Thanks again for all your support this past year, I am tremendously grateful. Wishing everyone all the best over the Holidays and in the coming year!
Love,
Ruth
photo by Whit Wales
December 9, 2011
I’ve been in rehearsals all week for A Christmas Celtic Sojourn and it’s sounding amazing! Our first show is tonight in Worcester, MA. We’ll be touring all around New England for the next 10 days. You can find more details on my tour page. Thanks!
November 30, 2011
Hi Everyone! Just a quick note to let you know that tonight, CBC Radio2′s Canada Live is broadcasting my Winnipeg show recorded last December. Canada Live airs at 7pm/7:30PM NL. For more details, visit their website. Thanks!
November 28, 2011
Hello Everyone!
Well, we’ve been home for a luxurious six days, which means it’s time to head out on the road again! Tomorrow, we’re off to the southeast United States with fives shows in a row starting on Wednesday, November 30th in Roanoke, VA. From there, we continue to Charlotte, NC; Greenville, SC; Savannah, GA; and Atlanta, GA. Then the band heads home and I fly to Boston for a tour of New England as part of a Christmas Celtic Sojourn. For more details, visit the tour page.
November 10, 2011
Hi Everyone! We’ve just returned from a fabulous leg of touring through Oregon, Washington, and California. Thank you so much to everyone who came out to the shows and supported us! This weekend, we’re off to Alberta, with shows in Edmonton (Friday), Calgary (Saturday), and Red Deer (Sunday). And from there we drive south across the border for shows in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. We hope to see you out there! You can find more details on the tour page.
October 26, 2011
Still riding high from an amazing weekend of music at the BreakOut West Festival/Western Canadian Music Awards in Whitehorse, Ruth and her band leave this week for their first leg of U.S. touring. They’ll be winding their way down the West Coast with stops in Portland, Mt. Vernon, Kent, Felton, Sacramento, Chico, Philo, and San Rafael. You can find more info on the Tour page. Come on out to a show if you can, we’d love to see you!
October 20, 2011
We’re packing our wool socks and getting ready for a trip up north to beautiful Whitehorse in Canada’s Yukon. This weekend, Whitehorse is hosting the BreakOut West Music Festival and the Western Canadian Music Awards (WCMA). Ruth and her band will be playing two showcases (Friday and Saturday night) as part of the Festival and then Ruth will perform in the WCMA Awards Gala on Sunday night in a collaboration with Steve Dawson, Jim Byrnes and The Sojourners. It’s going to be an exciting weekend – Ruth, The Wailin’ Jennys, and Ruth’s brother Richard Moody are all nominated for awards; also nominated is talented designer Ron Sawchuk who designed all three artists’ album covers.
As we prepare for the WCMAs, we also learned that The Garden received three Canadian Folk Music Award nominations – for Solo Artist of the Year, New/Emerging Artist of the Year, and Pushing the Boundaries. And to add to the excitement, The Jennys’ Bright Morning Stars also received three nominations – for Vocal Group of the Year, Ensemble of the Year, and Producer of the Year for our wonderful producers David Travers-Smith and Mark Howard. Congratulations to all the nominees!
October 8, 2011
Hello everyone! This is just a quick note to let you know that there have been some updates to Ruth’s site, including some new videos and merchandise (sheet music and Ruth’s solo EP Blue Muse is now available on CD Baby). We’ve also added lots of new tour dates, including a show in New York City next week as part of a Manitoba Music showcase. Five Manitoban acts performing in one night, including Del Barber, Chic Gamine, Ruth, Oh My Darling, and JP Hoe. The show starts at 9 pm. To reserve tickets email rsvp@manitobamusic.com.
June 6, 2011
Ruth will be touring with her own band in the latter half of 2011 & 2012! Check out the current dates, with more to be added soon.
Visit the Tour section for up coming concert dates, and the Journal for personal notes from the road.
Subscribe to our e-Newsletter to recieve a wide range of updates.
Check back here for updates, releases, news and special events.