It’s been awhile for sure! Things have been busy. I moved to the woods just outside Antigonish, finished recording, signed with a label, played for my first time at the Rebecca Cohn, had two loads of family come visit, and now we’re planning the release of “Painting With Tides”…life is good.

Summer is here and so I’m trying to soak up the sun and do things that I love since I have some time. Camp, sit by the fire, wakeboard, watch movies… I actually have time to write again too which is fascinating lol! I finished my first song since “Painting” started just the other day…it’s been 5 months! Had a little bit of writer’s block but I tried not to freak out too bad. I’m just glad it’s over, put it that way. lol…

I’m keeping busy with the release coming up..lot’s of things to do. Approve artwork for the album, get photos done, book gigs, get the final master of the album out to people, etc. etc. etc. I do have a few gigs amongst the craziness though…make sure to check out the gigs link to see if I’m near you. If I’m not, I will be soon, and I hope to see you! The release tour for “Painting With Tides” will definitely cover some serious ground. Up next for me is Cavendish Beach Music Festival which is going to be amazing! So many great acts! I play twice on Saturday, once at 2:00 and once at 3:30! Check it out if ya can or tell anyone you know who is going.

Preorders are still available for the album and we still need your help always. Check out www.kimwempe.com/help and pick a package. If you already preordered, please spread the word. Thank you thank you thank you!!! As soon as we know a release date, I’ll scream it at the top of my lungs!!! lol…I’m impatient by nature so this album has been helping me with that characteristic. lol.

Next weekend I’m headed to Stanfest to check out some wicked acts…I’m very much looking forward to Kathleen Edwards, The Deep Dark Woods, Baskery, The Stanfields, and so many more. Hope to see ya there! Happy Summer everyone…make sure you put the things you love to do on your to do list.

Much Love!
Kim

Well these past months feel like a blur…some of them I question whether or not they actually happened and some of them are blurry like a bad drunken night…by that I mean they were blurry with excitement and endorphins that caused me to relate them to an experience or two I may have had with a bad drunken night…just to clarify lol.

From Halifax’s In The Dead of Winter Festival (IDOW) to Wakefield Quebec’s IDOW to Toronto, Ontario’s Winterfolk to a Valentine’s Day show in Antigonish, Nova Scotia to the Atlantic Canada House for the Olympics in Vancouver British Columbia to Sydney, Cape Breton for the ECMA’s… I needed a good break lol. So that is what I did…I spent a week in a wooded area with a wood stove and a house that kind of looks like a ski lodge (also my soon to be home in June lol).  Although I was supposed to do nothing…I filled up my time by constructing to-do lists in my sleep for fear of sitting still and going crazy.  We fixed and painted and bought and drank and walked and drove and visited and when the week was over I realized I had done nothing close to relax or take a break.  My body is naturally set on go mode due to my Mother’s upbringing (If you met her, you would understand…and here is where all my friends laugh)  (Oh  yeah..and if you met my sister’s…and my Dad…so yes my whole family is like this).  To sit still is to be tortured.  Don’t get me wrong, I think I’m abnormal and crave to be able to one day sit down in the woods and have nothing float through my mind but “what shall I drink…a beer or a spiced rum?” but highly doubt I will see the day.  lol (bahahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahahahha…that one’s for Adam)

So here I am back in Halifax and back to ‘Painting’ my album.  It feels like months since I’ve been in the studio and “Painting With Tides” is one of those things where I question if it really happened.  The good thing about this is I can listen to the recording and know for sure that yes it did. lol.

Yesterday I had Phil Sedore play some guitar…nicest guy ever and sure knows how to make a guitar seep into a song instead of sit on it..I like that a lot lol.  And I also just found out I get another special guest on my album…Geoff Hilhorst from The Deep Dark Woods playing that amazing organ he does!! I’ve been listening to these guys non-stop for these past two months of craziness and they have kept me sane.  LOVE their music…so to have him play that sweet sweet organ means a lot..and they are from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.  Love it.

As we all know, things don’t always turn out like you plan.  It’s looking like the album will not make the May release date we would have liked. Some great opportunities came up these past two months (like spending two weeks at The Olympics) and set the process back a bit.  We are also thinking about staying away from summer, as most do, as there are festivals and hopefully I’ll be playing a few.  So I’m sure you can guess that you may have to wait a little longer that you may have liked, but….I can guarantee it will be worth it! And to all of you who have pre-ordered the album and showed your support and helped fund the recording, I will be forever in debt to you…literally. lol Just jokin..seriously, I hope you feel good like you should knowing that just by pre-ordering the album, you’ve helped directly in the making of it..and that’s pretty special…so special that your name will be in the credits.  And for those of you who haven’t pre-ordered the album but want to and want your name in the credits, because we still need help, you can do it right here or click the right hand side of the page on “Help Kim Make Music”….literally. lol

Til next time…I must get back to ‘Painting’…thank you for all your support…without you, none of this would happen.

Much Love…

Kim

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

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

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

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

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

Hey folks!

I just got some really exciting news and wanted to share it with you.

One of my favorite songs, “Oh Heart” is going to be on TV! After being placed on the ECMA/Atlantic Film Festival’s Music & Image compilation in November, the director of the show Cra$h & Burn (Thursdays on Showcase, 10pm ET or online at showcase.ca/video) asked if he could use it in a scene!

We just worked out the details and it will be on this Thursday night. Crash & Burn is a new Canadian TV show about our favourite people in the world…insurance adjusters lol. That’s all I’ll say… tune in to check out the show on Thursday night! (11pm for us on the East Coast!)

Oh Heart comes from my Where I Need to Be EP which is up for a couple of nominations (Female Artist & Rising Star Recording of the Year) at the 2010 East Coast Music Awards. It also won Folk Recording of the Year at the 2009 Music Nova Scotia Awards. It should be playing in the box at the top of this page as you read this, or you can check out Oh Heart on the listen page or download it from iTunes (it’s part of my Digital EP). You can also get a signed CD copy of the whole Where I Need to Be EP right here.

I also performed Oh Heart in one of my sets at the In The Dead of Winter Festival last year (see it on the videos page or scroll down to the bottom of this post). It just so happens that I’ll be playing a show at the 2010 IDOW Festival THE SAME NIGHT the song is on TV! I’ve also got shows coming up at the IDOW Wakefield Festival (Feb 6th/7th) at the Blacksheep Inn and the Winterfolk Festival (Feb 12th, 13th) in Toronto on The Danforth. Then I fly right back to Nova Scotia to play a special Valentines Show in Antigonish at StFX University (more on this soon…). Then it’s off to Sydney, NS March 4th – 7th for two shows at the ECMA’s! I’m looking forward to seeing everyone I met the last time I played these towns and meet some new people too so pick up your tickets soon and tell your friends!

See you soon…

Much love,

Kim
xo

I’m working on my new album “Painting With Tides” right now and I’m super pumped to say it sounds wicked so far! This right here is a break for my ears because I feel like I’m going blind listening to the rough mixes! My face is so red is feels like my head is going to explode…popcorn..yes…popcorn cures everything! lol…

Anyhay! I’ve been working with Charles Austin at Echo Chamber Studio and it’s been a riot ! I have some great friends helping me out with this project…Carmel Mikol, Rosie MacKenzie, David Bradshaw,Brian Bourne, Geoff Arsenault, Old Man Luedecke, Joel Plaskett, Thom Swift, Erin Costelo..which makes it mean even that much more! I feel privileged to work with such amazing musicians and people.

Now that things are underway with the record, I wanted to give those of you who would like to be a special part of the making of this record an opportunity to get a copy of it as soon as it’s finished…which with your help should be in the next couple of months. It’s super tough to record an album these days with all the expenses but with your help in the pre-order process, we can get it done like it’s supposed to be done and take the time to make it just right!

If you’d like to pre-order a personalized copy of my new album, Painting With Tides, just click on the image to your right, “Help Kim Make Music”! All the information you need to know is there along with 5 different pre-order packages.

I want to thank you all for your support..it means the world to me…

Hope to see ya soon…

Kim

Even after a week it’s still weird to write 2010…it makes me gulp, slightly panic, want a drink, and want to book a flight to Mexico..but there are a lot of awesome things happening already this year so I really don’t want to escape..it’s just stressful lol.

First on that list is my new album “Painting With Tides” which I’m recording right now! I have a lot of friends joining me on this album which makes it mean that much more. I’m also recording with Charles Austin who is the most chill, down to earth dude and he’s an absolute joy to work with. Echo Chambers is my kind of place…the kind of place where recording is just what you do live being documented in a room full of random instruments and dim lighting from 70’s lamps….the kind of place where the best takes are the first takes where you were completely in the moment. It’s like a little dungeon I can escape to immerse myself in music and not think about anything else.

I have fallen in love musically with so many people since moving to the East Coast and there are so many musicians that I truly respect. Old Man Luedecke and Joel Plaskett are definitely on the top of that list and I am so excited to say that they are both a part of the album! It means a lot to have these two on “Painting With Tides”…I can’t even tell you.

There is no date set for the release yet but I can tell you that you will have to wait a couple months at least! Let’s just say recording is the easy part..and it’s not easy. lol… I’m also opening up pre-orders Painting With Tides today, so you can help me out by ordering a special, just-for-you personalized copy of the new album here right now!

Also! In the Dead of Winter is approaching fast! Ani Difranco, yes..the woman who is the second greatest female influence in my life besides my mom and sisters, is opening the festival to a sold out show on the 26th! I play:

Thursday, January 28th at 9:00pm
FRED on Agricola
with Jon Bryant before me at 8:00 and Ria Mae after at 10:00!

It’s gonna be a killer night at FRED so I hope to see you t here…I’ll also have some special guests joining me.  Find out more info and get a list of the full the schedule at www.inthedeadofwinter.com!!!

For those of you in the Wakefield, Quebec area, In the Dead of Winter is also coming to the Blacksheep Inn for February 4-7th!  18 of us in fact! Find out more information and the list of performers at www.inthedeadofwinter.com! I’ll be playing a song circle with Ruth Minnikin and Pamela Underwater Saturday afternoon at 3:00pm and a solo set Sunday afternoon at 5:30pm where I will bedazzle you with my newly learned skills such as flame throwing and I’m just kidding but I have a few new killer songs from December that I’ve been meaning to share! Ah! I can’t wait to show you the new album!!!

Ok…focus Kim…after Wakefield, I’ll be heading Toronto for a festival called Winterfolk! Check out all info at www.abetterworld.ca !!!

Now…back to recording.  Anyone interested in booking a house concert for the upcoming album release, please feel free to shoot an email to booking@kimwempe.com!  I have some free dates in southern Ontario between Febuary 8th and 11th and am starting to put together dates across the country for the spring! Hope to see you all soon…and my best wishes to all of you for the year 2010. Much Love.

Kim

P.S. – Don’t forget to pre-order Painting With Tides.