Hi all,

My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding is in the running for the "Audience Choice" Dora award – the only award that's voted on by the theatre-going public. If you feel that MMLJWW deserves to win, please go to http://www.nowtoronto.com/dora today, then scroll down to "Other" and write in "My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding" - or copy and paste, it's a long title :).

[Note that the shows listed are the ones that were nominated in other categories, so you'll need to type in the title. This means the odds are stacked against us, so every vote counts! Please pass this on to everyone you know who’s supported "the little show that could"!].

While there were many deserving shows nominated, we were disappointed to hear that MMLJWW, along with many other fantastic shows, was not nominated for any other Doras. The Toronto Star's Richard Ouzounian wrote an article this week about his theories why (in the print version, the subheading read "What About Wiccan?"). You can read the article here.

Winning the Audience Choice award would significantly contribute to the show's future - and would support our whole team - our director, producers, actors, band, and designers - none of whom were nominated – and all of whom poured their hearts into this production, making a show that was popular but political, hilarious but heartbreaking, and a true Canadian success story.

The Toronto Star also said "this is a show that the people, rather than the critics, have made a hit. And that's really the most lasting and honest kind of success." Please help us continue that success and spread the show's message by voting now and sending this email to everyone you can.

Thank you so much for your support,

David

My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding has been extended AGAIN till April 11th, when we have to close because another show is coming into the theatre.

Thank you so much to everyone who's come out to see our musical, whether it was at the Toronto Fringe or at the Panasonic. Thank you for supporting original Canadian theatre and for being such wonderful audiences.

If you haven't seen it, or would like to see it again, Mirvish is now offering $20 tickets to all our final shows - use the code WICCAN20 at www.mmljww.com or at 1-800-461-3333. This is the last chance, so please spread the word!

We've had an amazing experience doing this show - from the real-life proposal onstage, to celebrating the olympic hockey victory with the crowd, and the countless wonderful messages we've received, including the 80-year old Jewish woman who told us that her grandaughter is marrying a woman, and she wasn't okay with it, but after seeing the show, she was. We've been so blessed with such an amazing cast, creative team, band, and audiences - and a wonderful story to tell from my moms. It's been a life changing experience - thank you.

If you haven't seen them, check out some new rave reviews at:

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/theatre/article/775100--so-much-more-than-a-weird-wedding
http://www.mytheatreblog.ca/ (you'll have to scroll down)

and there's a new video up at http://www.mmljww.com

Plus, you can follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/mmljww

And finally, if you'd like to get the original soundtrack to the show, click here: http://www.indiepool.com/order/cart.asp?showCompany=1&winsize=

My-Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding, my true story musical about my mom, is returning to the Panasonic Theatre in Toronto on Feb. 26th. Here are some of the rave reviews we've received so far:

The show opens with David and his guitar, and an infectious smile that continues throughout the evening. From the moment he starts the first song "My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding" it is apparent that you are in for a treat. I don't think I stopped grinning throughout the entire show. Between David's infectious smile, the funny and touching lyrics and the wonderfully talented cast it is extremely hard not to enjoy yourself - and that is what is so wonderful about this show. It has heart and soul, something which is lacking in many productions these days.
- BroadwayWorld.com

The play's musical numbers speak for themselves, a good choice since his memorable and often hilarious songs are true crowd pleasers.
- Eye Weekly

For me, the best part of the show was the songs. They are funny, touching and beautifully sung, and often touch on very relevant and important material. I couldn't contain my laughter during "You Don't Need a Penis" and "Don't Take Your Lesbian Mom's to Hooters" and found myself very impressed with the politically charged "A Short History of Gay Marriage in Canada."
- BroadwayWorld.com

With delightfully catchy numbers you find yourself singing in the shower, it is exactly what Toronto has been waiting for.
- Torontostage.com

Easily one of the best shows I have seen this year. It is solid from beginning to end, has excellent pacing, and it is beyond hilarious. I was not expecting to love it as much as I did.
- Plutonica.net

David Hein portraying himself in the touching autobiographical account that gives the production extraordinary flavour. There is no mistaking the honest place in which the narrative originates as he takes playgoers from song to song on an acoustic guitar and four piece band.
- Torontostage.com

Hein is all charm as the singing narrator. He and his wife Irene Carl Sankoff wrote the delightful book, and Hein composed the songs, a tuneful mix of country, folk and rock. Some of the lyrics are absolutely hilarious.
- Paula Citron, Classical 96.3

David Hein is so affable and lighthearted throughout, you'd like to bottle his enthusiasm and sell it on e-Bay.
- Scene Changes

Hein is a charmingly casual actor-singer-narrator. He gets a real glow going.
- The Globe & Mail

Hi all,

I wanted to give you a quick update on My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding, as well as a code to get cheap tickets.

We've been extended twice and are now running as long as we can - until January 3rd - when another play comes into the theatre. Hopefully you've had a chance to see it. We've been selling out almost every night and have been receiving some wonderful feedback.Check out http://www.mmljww.com for video, songs, and testimonials at the bottom.

But if you haven't seen it yet or if you'd like to see it again, enter the code WEDDEC for $25 tickets to any show.

From a press perspective, we were featured on CTV's W5 program - they followed us around for over a month - so it's worth a look for a behind the scenes view (and for a certain picture of me in a sheepskin vest):

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091120/w5_fringe_091121/20091121?hub=WFive

And Irene and I were just on Q with Jian Ghomeshi (who taught Irene to sing when she was a kid) - he's a totally nice guy who loves the show and thinks we should tour it across Canada. Here's a link to the podcast (we're on second):

http://podcast.cbc.ca/mp3/qpodcast_20091119_23327.mp3

Also, the original Fringe Cast Recording is now available online - perfect for holiday gifts:

http://www.indiepool.com/order/cart.asp?showCompany=1

Hope you're all well and hope to see you soon.

Best,
David

Hi everyone - My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding has now opened at the Panasonic Theatre (651 Yonge St. in Toronto) and you're all invited. You can get tickets at www.mmljww.com - and to wet your appetite, here are some previews that have just come out.

http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?id=2197262

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/theatre/article/721780--more-songs-more-dance-more-love

http://www.eyeweekly.com/arts/theatre/article/76207--thank-you-nia-vardalos

http://toronto.broadwayworld.com/article/MY_MOTHERS_LESBIAN_JEWISH_WICCAN_WEDDING_Hits_...The_Panasonic_Theatre_117_20091107

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/134418-Youre-Invited-My-Mothers-Lesbian-Jewish-Wiccan-Wedding-Begins-Toronto-Run

http://www.xtra.ca/public/Toronto/You_Dont_Need_a_Penis-7785.aspx

http://www.yorku.ca/yfile/archive/index.asp?Article=13625

http://alumni-matters.blog.yorku.ca/2009/11/my-mother%E2%80%99s-lesbian-jewish-wiccan-wedding-2/

See you soon!
David

Meanwhile, on Sept. 24th and 25th, Irene and I are also remounting our previous Fringe show, MOVING AT THE SPEED OF LIFE, for a two-day run at the Vaughan City Playhouse as the gala opening of their "All Canadian Series".

Directed by Second City alums Leslie Seiler and Karen Parker, and with design by Yours Truly, it's a great one-woman show that EYE raved about, saying "Irene Carl Sankoff excels at playing dozens of different types of women."

Tickets are available by phoning 905-882-SHOW (7469) or click here for more details.

We've received some amazing reviews and some incredible support from the Gay & Lesbian, Jewish, Wiccan, and theatre communities. Here's some examples:

"Fabulous! Every once in a while you see a show that's so amazing that you want to grab people on the street and tell them to go and see it... It's funny, touching, the performances were wonderful and it's going to go places. See it now!"
- Mooney on Theatre

4 STARS - "First off, My Mother's Lesbian Jewish-Wiccan Wedding isn't just a clever title; David Hein turns autobiography into musical theatre as the story of his two moms is told through songs like 'You Don't Need a Penis' and 'Straight White Male,' as well as an awkward dinner date at Hooters and a sidebar on gay rights in Canada... genuinely moving and well-executed, packing a lot into 60 minutes... an all-ages lesson in tolerance"
- EYE weekly

4 NNNN's - Critic's Pick! - "The title sounds somewhat silly, but writer/performer David Hein has created a true, heartfelt, family tribute in musical comedy form. Director Andrew Lamb skilfully squeezes a live 3-piece band and a gifted seven-member cast onto the small stage while keeping the action fluid and fun, and the audience cheers wildly through 18 witty songs."
- NOW

"YES, YES and YES! MMLJWW is folksy, it's fun, it's charming, it's honest and it's a crowd pleaser! David Hein and Irene Carl have created a very sweet and endearing love musical for his mothers. The crowd fell in love and how could they not with the well thought out lyrics, perfect casting and perfect pacing that all Fringe Shows should try to follow."
- Dead Sexy Magazine

Want to read more? Here are some links:

http://www.mooneyontheatre.com/2009/07/toronto-fringe-my-mothers-lesbian-jewish-wiccan-wedding/
http://www.mooneyontheatre.com/2009/08/my-mothers-lesbian-jewish-wiccan-wedding-is-coming-to-mirvish/
http://www.gracingthestage.ca/?p=3270
http://www.eyeweekly.com/fringe/article/64215
http://www.nowtoronto.com/stage/story.cfm?content=170407
http://www.plankmagazine.com/theatre/my-mothers-lesbian-jewish-wiccan-wedding
http://www.cjnews.com/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17231&pop=1&page=0&Itemid=86
http://www.deadsexymag.com/Toronto/2009/July/Theatre/MMLJWW.html
http://deadsexymag.blogspot.com/2009/07/more-fringe-my-mothers-lesbian-jewish.html
http://www.xtra.ca/public/Toronto/Fringe_fests_extreme_theatre-7035.aspx
http://www.jewishtribune.ca/TribuneV2/index.php/200907221841/Fringe-Festival-succeeds-financially-and-artistically.html
http://torontoist.com/2009/07/drama_club_fringe_preview.php

A birthday party... in a spa... in Hamilton... for about fifteen 10-year old girls.

My friend Janet, who owns the spa, and books me shows in the Hammer a lot - and whose girls, Nancy and Jade like my tunes - asked me to play their joint birthday party - which apparently they've been planning since they first saw me play... how could I say no?

I'll be honest - I wasn't sure about it. I love the girls, but my knowledge of Hannah Montana tunes isn't great. But I rented High School Musical and learned "We're all in this together" and "Breaking Free"... no idea if I'll ever be able to use them again...

I got there late due to "a police action" according to the radio which involved a ton of cops in swat team outfits blocking off the entire QEW - followed by an accident a couple klicks later. Craziness. And then I realized I'd forgotten my microphone. If there's one thing you want at a birthday party of screaming girls... it's a microphone. But my voice put up with belting tunes for 4 hours.

I started off with "Breaking Free" and got... blank looks from the girls. One whispered to another "I think this is from the first High School Musical" - first mistake - learn the songs from the latest movie... Still, the other HSM tune proved more popular and for some reason in the back of my head, I pulled a surprising number of Spice Girl tunes, which was the hit of the day. 10 year old girls like Spice Girls a lot.

So the party was a hit. The girls got their nails and toes done - I played a number of songs written before they were born - and we all hung out and had a pretty great time.

As I was leaving, one of Nancy & Jade's friends made me promise to come back and do it all again next year or she'd (and I quote) "die and haunt me forever."

I was just down at the Susquehanna Folk Festival, where I won their songwriting contest last year. Despite driving about 22 hours in a weekend, I had an amazing time with some fantastic performers and new friends. I'll blog about it soon, but highlights include a workshop in a Victorian parlor, a late night trip to Waffle House, phoning my mom from stage and getting the crowd to wish her a "happy lesbian jewish-wiccan mother's day", and debuting some songs from my new musical - which apparently got everyone planning roadtrips up to Toronto to see it. Filled with crabcakes and sunburned, but all shades of happy.

I've been working full-tilt on "My Mother's Lesbian Jewish-Wiccan Wedding" - a new musical comedy in The Toronto Fringe Festival, July 1-12. Based on the true story of how my mom came out to me, met her partner and got married, it features around 20 completely new songs, a cast of 7 and a live band - all at Bread and Circus in Kensington Market (299 August Ave.) - one of my favourite venues.

Irene Carl and I wrote the script and Andrew Lamb is directing - the cast is now finalized and the band is made up of Sarah Calvert, Jeff Daze and David Pontello. Irene and I are also acting in and producing the show which means we're both getting about 2 hours of sleep a night - but it's worth it - we're really proud of the script and songs and I think it's going to be great (crossing fingers and knocking on wood). Wish us luck!

For more info, visit www.mmljww.com.

The Playwrights of Spring Festival Fundraiser, was, like last year, a lot of fun. Irene and I took our Now Sweetheart Required shows up north and played for a good cause. And there was a crazy good magician who made 100 dollar bills appear in the center of lemons and made a rose explode into flame. PRETTY COOL.

I played two sets. During the second, the theatre's guitar cable gave up the ghost half way through with the sound of someone being shot. I stomped on it, making more gunfire during guilt trip song and eventually gave up and just played - to a lovely audience.

Thanks to everyone who came out! Check out the actual festival at http://www.playwrightsofspring.com/

Valentine's Day was awesome. Normally a somewhat stressful day of which flowers, restaurant, movie to pick to maximize romancification - instead Irene and I celebrated by doing a show together called "No Sweetheart Required" at Whistler's which ran for 4 days, including Feb. 14th.

A fun little cabaret show featuring monologues, music, dance, and theatre - NSR has been running for about 80 years - and is still a lot of fun to take part in. Irene was in a short play (a shplay) called "Marred Bliss" and I played goofy songs - one of which was written specifically for the show. Panicked on the way there, after realizing that Kim, one of the producers, had asked me to write a special valentine's day number - I quickly wrote this:

**

Grade three
My dad took me to the Shopper's Drug Mart
To get me a pack of Valentine's cards
And candy hearts

That night
My mom made me write out all my classmates
Be my valentine, the Garfield card said
From David H.

On the way to school
Out of the window of the school bus
I threw all the Valentines
And ate the candy hearts at recess

Forgive me if I - I get this wrong
In all this time, I've never got this right
Let's keep this simple, no cards, no songs
And there's no sweethearts required tonight

Grade nine
I shoved 50 Valentine cards into
Wendy Lawson's locker after school
Hoping she'd like me too

I didn't know
Wendy had just started dating Jason Bleem
The head quarterback of the football team
He beat the crap out of me

And ever since I healed that day
I learned to play my part
Telling someone how you feel
Can break more than just your heart

Forgive me if I - I get this wrong
In all this time, I've never got this right
Let's keep this simple, no cards, no songs
And there's no sweethearts required tonight

Can't I just tell you how I feel
By staring at you cross this bar
How come I have to say the words
How come I can't love you from afar

Forgive me if I - I get this wrong
In all this time, I've never got this right
Let's keep this simple, no cards, no songs
And there's no sweethearts required tonight

**

And everyone seemed to like it. I also played my I've got soul, but I'm not a soldier song, which I think is now called "David Hein is made for loving" - as well as My Mother's Lesbian Jewish-Wiccan Wedding (which went over especially well with a very nice lesbian-catholic married couple) and Guilt Trip Song - which I dedicated most nights to my new friend Kevin at the sound board, who had just been dumped for the 6th time... by the same girl. Kevin is an awesome guy - so single ladies, let me know.

All in all a pretty awesome evening. A fun show written & directed by Kathryn Malek, who also wrote and directed Death to Dating, my first foray into trying to write for musicals. Plus a monologue by our new friend Hannah, pretty freakin funny standup by June Morrow, and some incredible dance by Miranda Abbot and Libydo (check them out at http://www.eventhorizondance.ca). And a sweet two-hander by new friend Dave & Carol. Oh, and Irene's show was great as usual, but then I'm biased.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I arrive in Kamloops at 3 in the morning. It's been a rough trip. First of all I started this day in Victoria at 5 in the morning, followed by a full day of friends in kilts, getting lost, and then a show... "Thou must have tire chains" signs pepper the Mountain passes (I don't) and at this time of night you don't necessarilly see anyone for a while leading to thoughts of getting eaten by wolves. My bare all-season tires skitter along the road and I drive sloooowww... At one point my GPS tries to kill me (not its first attempt) by driving me down an exit and then back up the same entrance for no reason - which would be fine, except that the entrance is unplowed, filled with snow, and totally barren of human life. It's a scary trip, but Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallowes on my ipod gets me through. I stop for donuts and ice tea somewhere along the way. And just when I think I will die without sleep, I arrive in Kamloops.

I debate sleeping in the parking lot - I really only have time for 4 hours of sleep in order to make it to Calgary in time to return my rental car and catch my 6pm flight. But the lure of a shower, continental breakfast, charging my cell phone, and a brief, but infinitely more pleasant sleep pull me in.

The next thing I know it's 7am and I'm stuffing muffins in my pockets and back on the road. Somehow in the light the road seems less daunting. I'm in the middle of the mountains and they are stunning - giant snow-capped peaks. Even though it's snowing, it's still brilliant. And all along the sides of the road, miles and miles of white forests and chilled lakes border the road. Hundreds of feet below on my right is a railroad, next to a lake, both of which I'd prefer not to hurtle onto or into.

Around mid day I am a little bit worried about time - it should be a seven hour drive to Calgary... but driving safely means driving slowly and I'm now going to hit Calgary with only an hour or two to spare to get on my plane. I pass a miniature village on the left. There's a pullover on the right and I stop for a quick stress break, driving into a lot of deep snow. And suddenly I am stuck. The wheels spin but don't reverse.

I get out and look at the trees and the mountains and the highway and am surprisingly calm that this is the start of my "how I was almost eaten by wolves" story. Luckily, I'm not totally alone - there are technically people in the cars ignoring me as they pass by.

Still none of them stop - not that I'm really flagging them down. I'm just kind of standing there. Instead, I opt to walk back a ways, along the highway, jumping into the ditch filled with snow as trucks approach. After a while, I find a man with a snow plow, next to the minature village. He tells me that he can't take the plow on the highway, but that he'll lend me a shovel. I follow him up the hill to his house, get a shovel, and walk back to the car, where I start digging.

Countless cars pass by, until finally a nice local guy pulls up in his trucks, grabs the shovel from me and finishes up. We put some David Hein posters under the wheels for traction and with a push, I've reversed into shallower waters. Hooray for Rocky Mountain good samaritans...

Not celebrating too early, I now have no time to spare, but still need to drive extra slow. I call Air Canada and find out that there's another flight at midnight, which sounds awful, but at least I won't have to sleep over if I don't make my 6pm flight...

But then I get stuck again - stopping at another rest stop. This time, luckily, there's a crowd of stuck people - about 10 cars. I spend half an hour helping a truck get out of the frozen lake of a parking lot and then they help me.

And then the storm starts. I'm getting a little freaked out. The bald, all-weather tires seem to be ice skating (which I am not particularly good at). I phone Air Canada to ask them to switch my flight, but suddenly the phone crackles out and I lose all reception. I turn around and head back to the last town, where my phone last worked. The flight switched I head onward into the darkness and the snow.

And after a veeeeery long, scary time, I get to Calgary. I drop off the car. I get a cab to the airport. I sleep a tiny bit. I arrive. I get a bus to the subway. Take the subway to my station and take another bus home.

It's 8:30 am. The tour was awesome, but it's so good to be home.

I wrote a song right before going on this tour called "Hold On, Maria" - I've been playing it out here and one of the last lines is:

One more town, Maria, and I'll come home
You can hang up now, Maria, but please don't let me go

Well it's one more town and one more show in Vancouver before the end of my big West of Wherever tour. After a somewhat regretful car switch at Enterprise (from my new blue car to the older red alberta car with the bald all-weather tires and the sullied lock), I head to a Starbucks for internet (which doesn't work), then head to another Starbucks (which does) and then wander around looking for more presents for girls and cats back home.

Eventually it's time to meet up with an old friend, Tony, from high school back in Ottawa. Turns out he's now working for IBM in Seattle and is up in Vancouver for the weekend for Cthulhupalooza - an annual fest of all things Cthulhu... what's that? What's Cthulhu? Well of course, it's a fictional giant squid faced monster, one of the "Great Old Ones" in some of H. P. Lovecraft's stories. According to wikipedia, Cthulhu is "often referred to in science fiction and fantasy circles as a tongue-in-cheek shorthand for extreme horror or evil." And my friend Tony is going to watch bands, movies and other things inspired by him. Tony, as it turns out, also wears a kilt - or a Utilikilt(TM) - as he happily endorses.

It's great to see Tony - he seems totally cool and happy and we catch up on over 10 years of not seeing eachother. We hang out at Starbucks, catching up on what old friends and then go to an old Polish restaurant for an awesome all-day breakfast. I wish Tony could see my show (he's at Cthulhupalooza) and I kinda wish I could see Cthulhupalooza. I also wish I had a Utilikilt.

I have a bit of time, so I stop at English Bay, because I'm a ridiculous Blue Rodeo fan. I write Irene's name in the sand and get cooed over for being a romantic by passing joggers.

Next, I head over to see Ray and Connie's place for dinner. Connie's place is an amazing condo in the sky near downtown Vancouver - pretty cool. After possibly the best dinner of the whole trip, I head to the last show of the tour at The Wired Bean.

It's raining though and I get a little lost - my GPS refused to believe that such a place exists, but eventually I find it. The Bean is a cozy little coffee shop. I was playing last with two other local musicians, Debra Whyte and Brandy Gibb. Debra runs a recurring music night there and Brandy has brought out a ton of her students, all very excited to be calling her "Brandy" instead of "Miss Gibb."

I trundle in and out forgetting a million things and feeling kind of rushed. I have an unfortunate tradition of having less-than-stellar final shows on tour and am a bit concerned. Still, everyone seems totally nice. Both Debra and Brandy play sweet sets. I thought there'd be a quick break between Brandy and my set and end up getting introduced while in the bathroom.

Brandy's students stick around for a couple songs, but everyone else stays till the end. I'm a bit worried about time, since I have to drive 4 hours to Kamloops after the show, but I'm having a totally fun time - and Ray and Connie have arrived, so it's a pleasure to play to old friends - especially Ray, who, just days before, I played all of these tunes...

What a nice show - Ray gives me a big bear hug and tells me to phone to tell him I made it okay - everyone else promises to stay in touch - and when I ask for caffeine, I get a big ass coffee... I even sip some of it in the hopes of staying awake... before remembering that I don't really like coffee. And then I'm off. And the long trip home is another story entirely.

I've been flirting with Victoria
She's been trying to catch my eye
She says I should leave Toronto
And I just might

There's a reason I wrote a song about Victoria - although Victorians and even Vancouverites might have forgotten its charms. Victoria is one of my favourite cities. I love the ferry ride over - I even love the crappy cafeteria food on the ferry - I love the islands - I love the whales which I never see - I love downtown Victoria with its cute little tea shops and its hostels and its sunrises and sunsets and the ferry ride back. And I love every musician I know who's from here - they're all good people.

So can I crash, Victoria
In a hostel in your heart
Sing me songs, Victoria
From your little coffee shops
And lay me down, Victoria
And lash me to your masts
Oh Victoria, you're just like all the rest

I always enjoy singing songs with place names in the actual places so I was looking forward to playing here. I had two shows set up on the island and a bunch of friends to see. And my recent break-up with Vancouver over a break-in to my car only furthered my fondness for the island.

Bright and early I headed down to Tsawwassen, where the ferries leave. Cars are parked inches away from eachother and almost everyone locks their doors and heads into the little mall next door. I hopped on my laptop and talked to Ava from the Home Routes concert circuit. Ava and Mitch are awesome folks - aside from booking me on cool house concert tours, they're also just good people. Good people also come from Winnipeg.

Ava and I go over my numbers (attendance, sales, etc.) and she seemed pretty pleased - apparently I was one of the top sellers - a good sign hopefully in terms of getting booked next year. And next year, they're looking at expanding from 4 circuits (AB, SK, & 2x MB) to 14 CIRCUITS! HOLY! I'm crossing my fingers for an Ontario route where I can occasionally see my wife and cats. Mitch gets on the line and we talk a bit - he seems pretty pleased with my performance out in Alberta, so I'm pretty pleased myself. Suddenly though, over the intercom, an announcement comes on sending us all scurrying back to our cars. As we hang up, Mitch warns me about the ferry food.

I travel on the "Spirit of Vancouver Island" - it's cold out, but I go out to watch the water - waiting for whales to appear, who never do. After a bit, I head back in and eat some pretty bad cafeteria food.

I head over to Adam's place, but with a bit of time beforehand, I stop in a nearby park and shoot pictures of the prettiest sunset on the entire tour.

No one answers the door at Adam's, but I find him downstairs where he's recording in his half recording studio/half bedroom. Adam is the fiddle player for the Gruff - a band of friends who I met at the Brandon Folk Fest. Adam's also in like twenty seven other bands and spends his days recording local Victoria musicians and nights, on the one day when he's not playing with his other bands, throwing house concerts.

Speaking of his bands, in walks two of three Gruff girls, Phaedra and Terri. It's great to see them again - haven't since they crashed with me while touring through Toronto. They've promised to join me on jetpack, so we do about 30 seconds of rehearsing and then head upstairs.

I'm sharing the stage tonight with another musician - who I assumed was local, but turns out to be an Eastern boy like me. Matthew De Zoet is from Hamilton and, like me, has been touring across Canada. After all the music, Adam comments that Matthew and my shows are like polar opposites. Matthew sings beautiful, serious tunes but breaks them up with bizarre non-stop hilarious banter - whereas my banter is pretty normal and my songs are funny. Anyway, we enjoy our music and so does the audience. Adam joins me on fiddle for Victoria and the Gruff join in for Jetpack - totally fun. We wrap up, get invited back for breakfast, and then I head back to Gruffland - Terri & Phaedra's place - where I'm crashing. Phaedra and I hang out a bit talking about cowboy shirts - she makes pretty cool hand-made cowboy shirts - and now that I'm officially a cowboy shirt owner, I want one. But I have to save up a bit and figure out what colour and style and little flowery animals to sew on...

The next morning Terri makes smoothies and then I head back for breakfast with Adam, his folks and Matthew - followed by... shopping. Having lost several things in the Vancouver late night crazy carjacking, I need to find new presents for a certain girl and two cats back in Toronto. Luckily Victoria is a crazy good shopping town. I wander around for a while and then totally lose my car. I wander in circles for a 10 block radius - freak out a little, wondering if WILL ACTUALLY move to Victoria, which I'm suddenly not sure I want to do and definitely DON'T want to without my girl and cats... and then I find it.

I rush off to a show across town at the Cornerstone Cafe set up by James Kaspar, another Victoria music friend. The Cornerstone is in a cute area of town - parking's a bit difficult, but it's worth it for its charm. Unfortunately, it looks like I'm only playing for James and the two cafe barristas.... but what the hell - I'm still happy to be in Victoria, so I play them a bunch of funny tunes. Finally, another couple stops in and get a full on private show. I ask them what we should make up a song about and they tell me "chicken" and then he gives the plot of "Chicken Run" - the movie - and we make up a nice tune called "Poultry in Motion."

A couple other people come in - and even though it's still one of the quietest night on the tour (after Regina of course), it's pretty nice - and great to see James again. I get paid and also score some smoothies and cookies which I bring back to the Gruff girls.

The next morning I leave uber-early to catch the 7am ferry - I have to get back to Vancouver in time to exchange my new blue wheels for my red, alberta car, now all fixed up from the break in. And even though Phaedra tells me that busking on the ferry is cool and can make you all sorts of money, I opt for terrible cafeteria breakfast and dozing in a chair.