Last weekend I performed as a Canadian finalist in the Mountain Stage New Song Contest - which is cool for many reasons - the first is that one of my favourite cassettes as a kid was a Mountain Stage "Canadian" live recording featuring Blue Rodeo, Barenaked Ladies, Moxy Fruvous, Cowboy Junkies, Bruce Cockburn, and more. Second, I got to play at the Ottawa Folk Fest with the likes of Broken Social Scene, Sarah harmer, Rufus Wainwright and more. And third, I shared the stage with some amazing other songwriters from across Canada like Andy Sheppard, Linda M, Mary Knickle, Lynne Hanson, Hannah and her Sisters, Tanya Davis, Daniel Casavant, Steve Brockley and Koko Bonaparte. I didn't win, but was in very good company and won some excellent friends - please give it up for Tanya Davis, who'll be representing us canucks down south.