The Blessing & The Curse
I was born with a burning desire to perform. Knee-high to a grasshopper I was staging dances, songs and plays to family & friends wether they asked for it or not. Perhaps a psychologist may deduce it to a need to feel loved due to childhood experiences? meh. It is much larger than that. It is more than receiving acceptance from the audience. I feel it is about taking a journey with my listener that for both of us in some way for a small moment is transformative. The process of distilling feelings into songs and then sharing it live on stage to be felt again with others? well, that is what I call electrifying. It is those brief moments that I feel everything about this path of an independent self-managed musician makes perfect sense. Those brief moments are the blessings. The curse? well that would be the brief times I tried to stop being a musician because it seemed too painful but I quickly learned the deeper pain of not being true to myself.
I'm proud to say my recent house concert experience was like swimming in an ocean of blessings. Thank you to all who came. A sea of bodies strewn over rugs, cushions, chairs and stools sat enthralled, present and engaged. We journeyed together through the songs of my career in chronological order as I joined the dots to the story of my life. The highs, the lows, the shady 'record deals', the marriage-divorce, the lowered lows when I tried to stop being a musician because it felt too hard and then my rise back up again. It was naturally the combination of the people and the space that inspired me to feel so safe. It was the most open I have ever allowed myself to be in a performance. I loved tapping rhythms with the pads of my barefeet, sharing giggles, hearing song requests from albums ago, handing out shakers I had made with old tin cans and Arborio rice and hearing the room sing along with me. It is true that together we all seemed to rise like the tide. Needless to say I am now a house concert addict and predict these will certainly become more popular with artists and audiences alike. It's like fast-food versus A la carte; how can you go backwards?
I have performed a couple of shows since in regular venues and as nice as it is to play on a stage with big sound it just doesn't compare to a lounge room, bare feet, natural acoustics, home-cooked food and plain ol' homely comfort. I am beyond grateful to Parlour Gigs for asking me to perform their Brisbane Launch house concert. I am crossing all my fingers and toes that this movement continues to grow. I encourage you to visit Parlour Gigs online and sign up as a host or just buy a ticket to a concert near you.
If you have never been to one please trust me when I say you will thank me for introducing you to this concept one day.
The lovely and brilliantly biz minded guys from Parlour Gigs Matt & Glenn introduce the Brissie crowd to their new biz and ...me! 19.01.2016
Feeling pretty blessed! (Yup I made some Mexican inspired fairy-lit stage props for the show too) Shot By Nicole Brophy
Next week I hit Melbourne town for TWO full band shows and two private house concerts. Visit the gig page on my website for full listings.
Thursday 14th April - Sooki Lounge (Belgrave)
Friday 15th April - Open Studio (High St, Thornbury)
Saturday 23rd - House concert in Ballarat with the gorgeous Freya Josephine Hollick are available at https://www.stickytickets.com.au/36433
Friday 22nd April - PRIVATE house concert (sorry no public tickets available)
Please email me at info@abbiecardwell.com if you wish to host a house concert.
