Sarah Jane's Blog

Well it was a long flight but Dom and I met up in Toronto airport ready for our flight to Fredericton in New Brunswick. We were met by the gorgeous Juanita who informed us that she was to look after us for the entire trip and she had already sorted out a few treats for our day off before all the concerts started. We were staying at a great hotel across the road to two of the concerts which was good news and there was a gym, computer room and all the usuals so we were fine. The first day began with a massage for both Dom and I at a health spa set up by the festival and followed by a facial for both Dom and I by Catherine (who had kindly already given Dom and I wonderful facial products in a welcome package in our rooms) who was a real fan of Dominics ( having seen Sting many times courtesy of her lovely husband). Dominic took a photo of himself with the face mask on and it has probably cropped up on Doms website, but somewhere I have photos taken by Juanita of Dom and I looking very fresh faced after the facial, positively glowing! Dom was rushed off to yet another massage whilst I had my facial with Catherine and was once again indulged. We were both so laid back afterwards we almost fell asleep in the restaurant. I must say the food in Fredericton was brilliant especially the salmon we had at Juanitas house cooked by her husband on beech wood on our last evening. The concerts took place in the Playhouse Theatre and one was mid afternoon and one early evening. The audiences were wonderful and warm and receptive and we had many people come and tell us that we had made moved them to tears. (Always nice to hear). Our last concert was in the festival marquee followed by the wonderful Eric Bibb whose soft gentle voice really connected with me singing and playing his beautiful evocative blues. Eric comes for a long line of blues/folk royalty just like Calum and Neill MacColl come from American folk history with Mum being Peggy Seeger and uncle being Pete Seeger ( whom Eric said was a good a friend of his families). This audience was full of all ages and about 1000 people clapped along to Piece of My Heart and Don’t Leave Me This Way. We were sad to go as our stay had been made so special and the fact that festival is run by volunteers makes it feel so much friendlier than most festivals. Definitely as positive an experience as playing at Vancouver Folk Festival last year! Onto Montreal and a day off as the concert we were supposed to do on the first night had been accidentally booked in the same venue,( but upstairs) to Motorhead and there was no way you would have heard nylon string guitar and voice over a heavy metal band in the same building. Instead we did a few Live radio sessions and press interviews and met up for the evening with Doms’ North American and Canadian fans, in an Indian restaurant. What a lovely group of strong independent women who originally met through being Dominic and Sting fans to finding out they had more in common than that, and now they meet up each year and have a wonderful female gathering to empower each other. It was wonderful to meet each and every one of them and Dom was on fine form surrounded by 9 of us women. Here is a photo of us in a café having coffee afther the concert. The concert had to be early on the 2nd night so as not to clash with the supporting band for Bloc Party that were playing upstairs at 8.30 so many of audience came later thinking we were starting at 8. Those that were there made us feel very welcome and thanks so much for coming. Johanne Bougie ( who booked me originally for Montreal jazz and then for this) was mistaken for my sister, as her hair is the same mass of read unruly curls. Next day I went onto New York to see my lovely friends Mike and Leila Thorne ( Mike produced my hit Don’t Leave Me This Way’ and Kathryn Williams whose songs I recorded for the Xmas album available on my site. Dominic went on to Boston to guest with Sting and Chris Botti who he tells me is a wonderful musician and guy, so that’s good recommendations! Boy was I jetlagged coming back and it took me days to catch up. I missed my boy a great deal but had a great time. Thankyou everyone for taking such good care of Dominic and I in Canada and US.