Where I Need to Be Wins ECMA for Rising Star Recording of the Year…Thank You!

Hey folks!

It’s pretty hard to contain my excitement today… in case you haven’t heard, Where I Need to Be won Rising Star Recording of the Year at the 2010 East Coast Music Awards in Sydney, Nova Scotia last night!

As exciting as it is… it’s also incredibly humbling to receive this award. It’s hard to believe that at last year’s ECMA’s I was totally under the radar and this year was the craziest, busiest, most exciting and gratifying experience.

There are so many people I have to thank for helping me make this record, get it out there and (surprise, surprise!) have it recognized with this award. First, the two HUGE thank-you’s I forgot in my speech last night… Mickey Quase and the Department of Tourism Culture & Heritage for all their support for this project. The second, to the Galaxie Rising Star program for the support that comes with this award…a much needed financial boost to help me get my music heard. Thank you all so much! I also want to thank my manager, Adam Lomas, Scott Ferguson who recorded and produced the record and all the musicians who played on it, my man Warren, my unbelievably supportive family, Music Nova Scotia, the ECMA, all the amazing East Coast musicians who continually inspire me, the radio stations that are playing the songs, everyone who has supported me by buying the album… the list goes on…. thank you all soooo soooo much! And thank you to the East Coast for making me feel so at home here that I know it’s where I need to be.

I’m going to take a bit of a break now to relax, finish my new record, and plan for the next few months. Keep checking back here, become a fan on Facebook, follow me on Twitter or sign up for my email updates to find out when the new record will (finally) drop and when I’m heading back out on the road.

And… if you don’t have a copy of Where I Need to Be yet… click here and enter the code “risingstar” for a 10% discount on the limited edition “EP + Signed ECMA Poster” package. The code expires on Saturday!

You can also head over to kimwempe.com/help to preorder the NEW record (which I’m pretty sure is going to be killer)!

Thanks again everyone….can’t wait to see you soon.

much love,

Kim
xo

KIM WEMPE’S STAR RISING FROM COAST TO COAST

Prairie born songwriter’s career taking off thanks to East Coast support

February 19, 2010

HALIFAX, NS – February is a busy month for Kim Wempe, and one she’ll probably never forget. The Halifax folk/roots artist recognized for a voice as fierce and powerful as a North Atlantic storm has been thrown into a whirlwind of her own, crisscrossing the country with a series of winter festival dates and a two-week residency at Atlantic Canada House for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Pavilions.

But it doesn’t end there. The Saskatchewan born songwriter, whose most recognized song tells her story of falling in love with Atlantic Canada and her move to Nova Scotia, returns from her last Olympic gig just in time to finish rehearsals for performances at the East Coast Music Awards where her May 2009 release Where I Need to Be is nominated for Female Solo Artist and Rising Star Recording of the Year.

“The support for emerging artists on the East Coast is amazing,” says Wempe. “Everyone appreciates music, it’s such an important part of culture out here, and that is reflected all the way up to industry organizations like Music Nova Scotia, the ECMA and the funding partners.”

After a digital release of the record in May, Wempe hit the road with pal and musical soulmate Carmel Mikol (the pair formed their bond travelling together to last year’s ECMA’s) on their “Guess Who’s Driving?” Tour – an ambitious series of more than 50 dates from Newfoundland to Gabriola Island, BC and back to Nova Scotia. The adventure netted them new friends and fans, endless stories and a Canada-wide co-write that will be featured on Kim’s upcoming full-length release, Painting With Tides.

Kim hibernated in Halifax’s Echo Chamber with producer Charles Austin (Joel Plaskett, Thom Swift, David Myles) through January to record the new album which follows her more alt-country Where I Need to Be with a folk/roots sound and added influence from some of Atlantic Canada’s best players including Joel Plaskett, Thom Swift, Chris ‘Old Man’ Leudecke, and David Bradshaw. Currently in mixing, the record has so far been funded by fan support and the Province of Nova Scotia through the Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage and is currently available in one of five custom pre-order packages at http://kimwempe.com/help.

While no release date has been set for Painting with Tides, Wempe is offering free downloads of three tracks from her ECMA Nominated Where I Need to Be. The entire EP can be downloaded for $4.99 or fans can purchase a limited edition CD + poster package with an instant digital download for $9.99 + shipping. All are available at buy.kimwempe.com where the record can also be streamed for free.

Kim’s music is also featured on this year’s ECMA Rising Star compilation (Where I Need to Be: The East Coast Love Song), the Atlantic Film Festival Music & Image Compilation (Oh Heart) and Spincount Music’s Best of the East Coast Volume One digital download card (Out of My Closet).

Stream Where I Need to Be
Pre-Order Painting With Tides

Myspace: myspace.com/kimwempe
Twitter: kimwempemusic
Or search “Kim Wempe” on Facebook

Yup…life is good.

Hola Folks!

Comin’ at ya from my Dad’s house in London Ontario.  I’ve had a pretty chill week here…resting before things get crazy…eating cabbage rolls, perogies, and sausage from Saskatchewan lol…these three things make me very happy…

Last weekend I played In the Dead of Winter Festival in Wakefield Quebec and it was a riot.  Such a great crew….big thanks goes out to Heather Gibson, Amelia Curran, Don Brownrigg, and Tanya Davis, the infamous organizers!  Also big thanks to Paul at the Black Sheep! My new favorite after the past weekend is Del Barber from Winnipeg! I’d never heard him before but he is a 26 year old John Prine…and as you may all know…that is hard to come by.  Check him out or go see him live…he’ s hilarious, a great picking guitar player, and  a pure folk voice.

I played Grooves Records yesterday in London and had a great time! Great staff and thanks to all who stopped by! There ain’t nothing like playing a good record store as your afternoon activity….very chill.  I hope to see these guys again very soon…

Now today I’m headed to Toronto to play Winterfolk! It’s all on Danforth Street and there is plenty to see…for FREE even! So come out if you’re around Toronto!!

Friday, February 12, 2010
Winterfolk @ Willow Restaurant (back room)
193 Danforth Avenue, Toronto, ON
Set: 8:00 PM

Saturday, February 13, 2010
Winterfolk @ Mambo Lounge
120 Danforth Avenue, Toronto, ON
Set: 1:00 PM

Saturday, February 13, 2010
Winterfolk @ The Black Swan Tavern
154 Danforth Ave , Toronto, ON
Set: 2:30 PM
All Ages

When me and Carmel were in Toronto, we didn’t have a lot of time to check out Kensington Market, but today I’m heading over there after my radio interview.  If you can’t make it out to the show but want to tune in..Corby’s Orbit on CKLN 88.1 FM!

On Saturday I head back on a flight to Halifax! Sunday night is the Vday show at St.FX with special guest Carleton Stone! It’s gonna be a great show…and me and Carleton have songs for everyone so if you’re single, in a relationship, in 5 relationships, or never had a relationship..come out! I’d love to see ya.  You can buy tickets just below this blog on paypal, or the sub at St.FX, or XFM radio 98.9 website.  Hope to see ya…

Then Monday morning at 6:40 a.m…I head to the freakin’ OLYMPICS!!!!  Can you tell I’m excited…lol…I have never been to the Olympics and this is going to be one amazing experience..and the Atlantic House Stage is hosting the most unreal music for 2 weeks straight!!!  Go East Coast! I’ll blog you all from Vancouver…til then…take care!! And I hope to see you at one of the upcoming shows.

Cheers!!

Kim

P.S-Don’t forget to preorder “Painting With Tides” if you haven’t…and if you have tell someone else!! Just click on Help Kim Make Music on the right side of this page or hit up www.kimwempe.com/help.  This record is sounded unreal and I can’t wait for you to hear it! Much Love Folks! xo

A Kim Wempe Valentine’s Show with Carleton Stone in Antigonish

Get tickets here!

Buy tickets for A Kim Wempe Valentine’s Show with Carleton Stone in the SUB Cafe, Bloomfield Centre on StFX University Campus (February 14, 2010).

Doors: 7:30pm
Showtime: 8pm SHARP!

Admit One
(One Ticket)
$15

Couple
(Two Tickets)
$20

*Online ticket purchases are subject to a $1.00 PER TICKET service charge.

Looking to buy multiple tickets? Select a ticket type below (Admit One or Couple) and click ‘Buy Now’. On the next page you can change the quantity you wish to buy. (Remember: If you select “Couple (Two Tickets)” below you will be purchasing tickets in packages of two!)

Tickets purchased online may be picked up at the door on the day of the show after 7:30pm.

Note: To claim tickets purchased online, the PURCHASER (cardholder or Bank Account owner) must present to staff at the door a valid Photo ID that matches the name on the card or account used to purchase the tickets. NO EXCEPTIONS!

Tickets

Admit One (One Ticket) $16.00 Couple (Two Tickets) $22.00

Gonna Hit the Highway…or the Airlines…but airlines doesn’t have the same effect..

Hey Folks!

I thought January was good and now here is February, full on ahead. I’ve been recording all of January, then I had In the Dead of Winter Festival, and I got my first licensing deal with a televison series on Showcase called “Crash & Burn” in which “Oh Heart” was featured! (Apparently it’s “cutthroat corporate culture that is big insurance; the con artists that make a living claim by claim; and the city-wide infiltration of organized crime.” “Oh Heart” comes on and then someone gets shot in the head so I’m interested to see the episode since I don’t have cable lol lol).

I had an amazing show at In the Dead of Winter at FRED with Ria Mae and Jon Bryant! Thank you to everyone who works so hard to put on the festival and thank you to all the volunteers. Thank you to all the people who came out to the festival and showed their support.

Now tomorrow it all starts for February…the most full on month I’ve ever had. First I head to Wakefield Quebec for In the Dead of Winter, then Toronto for Winterfolk, then St.FX for a Valentine’s Day show, and thennnn…Vancouver for the Olympics! I’m playing with some amazing artists at all of these events!

Saturday, February 6, 2010
In the Dead of Winter @ Blacksheep Inn
Songcircle with Ruth Minnikin and Pamela Underwater!
Wakefield, QC
Set: 3:00 PM

Sunday, February 7, 2010
In the Dead of Winter @ Blacksheep Inn-Solo Performance!
Wakefield, QC
Set: 5:30 PM

Friday, February 12, 2010
Winterfolk @ Willow Restaurant (back room)
193 Danforth Avenue, Toronto, ON
Set: 8:00 PM

Saturday, February 13, 2010
Winterfolk @ Mambo Lounge
120 Danforth Avenue, Toronto, ON
Set: 1:00 PM

Saturday, February 13, 2010
Winterfolk @ The Black Swan Tavern
154 Danforth Ave , Toronto, ON
Set: 2:30 PM
All Ages

Sunday, February 14, 2010
St.FX Sub, Antigonish, NS
Valentines Day Show with Special Guest Carleton Stone!
Doors at 7:30, Show at 8:00

Olympic Schedule to come…

On top of all of this..I’m trying to finish up my new album “Painting With Tides” which I’ll be listening to from the road..or air. We are just in the final mixing stages of the album. I have had so much help on this album and so much support..I want to thank everyone who preordered the album for helping with the costs of the recording process. I COULD NOT have done this without you! Thank you to Charles Austin who is the main man recording this for me, Graeme Campbell who is mixing the album, all the players who did such an amazing job…Geoff Arsenault, Brian Bourne, Rosie MacKenzie, David Bradshaw, Carmel Mikol, Thom Swift, Old Man Luedecke, Joel Plaskett, Adam Baldwin, Mark Currie, Erin Costelo, Kev Corbett. Thank you to Nova Scotia Tourism, Culture, and Heritage for supporting me again and again. I love you! Thank you to Music Nova Scotia for your unreal support! Thank you to Warren Robertson for being my human sounding board and for always bringing me back to the root of things lol. Thank you to Adam Lomas, my manager, my partner in crime, who helps get everything in line and rolling so I don’t have to panic and freak out like I like to…sighhh…bottom line..thank you.

We still need more preorders for help in funding the mixing, mastering, and packaging so if you know some folks who may like to preorder the album, please send them a message about this. Click on “Help Kim Make Music” for all the information and preorder packages. Thank you from the bottom of my heart everyone…

Your support means the world.

Kim xoxo