Busy! Man, I’m doing more now than I was BC (Before Crash).
Everything is on the table, nothing is impossible. With so much time since my
last news I’ll have to settle for a few highlight items.
Last message I described the play in which I’d be acting, a
Highlands Summer Theatre production of “Looking”. It ran two weeks in
mid-summer and we made a success; acting was a new thrilling experience that I
dare say would do again in a heartbeat. It finished up with great reviews for
me and my capable castmates, and commitments to audition next season. Let’s
hope time permits because I am so there.
I’ve been busy with all kinds of gigs. Many shows were Lucky
Dog promos. My trio with Mark and Tim got a few gigs together, always grounding
for me; also had the pleasure of filling in for a few shows with my old friends
from Hotel California. Ahh, musicians; what good people. . I even played the
TIFF gala (seen at left) where I met Sarah Polley and Liona Boyd. That same
night I met Federal NDP member for Rouge Valley Rathika Sitsabaiesan, an
impressive young woman with whom I share the birthdate Dec. 23. Fun!
I’m still wrapping up my book, “Strange Way to Live”. To that end I had a meeting with a publisher
which helped propel me to the finish line. Soon, I promise.
With Andy Steve and Dave I went to England to bring Coney
Hatch to the mother country for the first time ever. At rehearsals we laughed
until our heads and stomachs hurt; there are no friends like old friends. Our
English show at Firefest in Nottingham? Another success on the year’s ledger sheet
and, coupled with the show at Burlington Boston Manor just before we left, that
week reached a high water mark for Coney Hatch performances. Talk of a return
date and even of a record deal was uttered. Ssshhh….stop that now. That’s how
rumours get started. Look for more from us next year.
My wife and girls met me in England after they’d had a
whirlwind tour of Paris (one of my daughter Lauren’s showbiz connections). Once
united, we had family holiday fun in England for about a week. It was a great
time seeing the sights of “Blighty” together: Stonehenge, Buckingham Palace,
Big Ben, Sherlock Holmes Museum, etc.
I’m loving the Christmas album that I initially had to be talked
into and am now claiming was my idea (thank you Betty). As the Yuletide season
nears I’ve just completed the production of SNOW. My description is either “A
wintery Christmas album” or “A Christmassy winter album”… or maybe “An albummy
winter Christmas”.
Good clean fun, nobody got hurt in the making of it (except
maybe a few tins of Maxwell House) and the listening tells the tale. I get a
warm sentimental feeling when I listen to the finished music, like the one I
get when I think about childhood Christmases. Find out more at carldixon.com.
There are samples posted of all the songs so you can hear for yourself, and you
can order direct in time for the holidays. Pre-orders have begun thru the store
on my site. Songs like Let It Snow, Bring a Torch and Snow are creating a
classic sounding album that won’t wear out over the years.
Like I don’t have enough on the go; I will be staging Carl
Dixon’s Christmas Show on December 15th at the Northern Lights Pavilion
in Haliburton. “A rousing evening’s entertainment”: I said that.
My radio show Carl Dixon’s Rock Garden on CANOE-FM
has been picked up for rebroadcast by four other stations in Canada and now, as
a direct result of my appearance in England, it’s also on ARFM in the UK.
People seem to like Rock Garden so I’m glad to do it.
An unexpected but lovely development has occurred. My old
high school, Barrie District North Collegiate, has made this year’s Wall of
Honour recipient (ahem) ME. It is a recognition of accomplishment by BDNC
graduates, so I am right chuffed about the whole thing (look it up). I hope I
have something suitable to wear.
This month our family and this world bid adieu to my
grandmother Hella Magi, who would have been 101 in January. She will always be
one of my heroes. My Aunt Mary, one of the finest of the Dixons, also left us
this autumn. Both ladies will be remembered and cherished.
The home stretch of 2011 lies before us, let’s make
something good with it! My continuing best wishes to all of you,
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