June Newsletter - Three Upcoming Shows



Well, hi!

What's happening, good people? Here in my corner of the world spring has sprung and summer is in the air. I am enjoying all the green around, and all the colorful gardens. (I will admit to not enjoying the air thick with pollen, but I have decided to try to ignore that as much as I can.) The summer always seems ripe with possibility to me, and I'm looking forward to seeing what this one brings.

I have a few shows this month, and they run the gamut - one with the Sweet Janes, one with Dave, and one solo. Info is below. I had a great time in April at the High Street Coffee House in NH - lovely folks all around and a very fun place to play. Thanks to all the volunteers who make that coffee house happen!

As usual, thank you for your interest in and support of my music! I hope to see you out at a show! 

:)  Kirsten

Upcoming Shows

Monday, June 8
The Sweet Janes 

6 - 8 p.m.
Melrose, MA 

The Sweet Janes are back at the Eagle, one of our favorite places to play! We'll be doing a bunch of fun covers, singing harmonies, and overall having a great time. This neighborhood place has great food and drink.
 
 
Saturday, June 27
Kirsten & Dave
12 - 1 p.m.
Manville Stage 

Dave and I will be the first act on the Manville Stage at this year's Reading Porchfest. Following us will be Tim Foley (aka my husband), Randall Kromm, and Art Grossman. This event is rain or shine, and always a lot of fun!
 
Sunday, June 28
Kirsten solo
8 p.m.
Open Mike feature 
Walnut Street Cafe

I will play a 30-minute set around 8 p.m. at this long-running open mike. The open mike starts at 7 p.m. Come on by and perform - sign up starts at 6:30. Or hang out and listen to all the different acts. Walnut Street serves sandwiches, salads, snacks and more, and beer, wine, and liquor.
 
 
For shows further in the future, please visit my website!
 

Creative Musings

During the past few weeks, I have been learning how to be a beginner again. Some of you may remember that before the pandemic, I was a bit of a fitness nut. I ran road races, practiced mixed martial arts, went to HIIT boot camps - the works. I felt strong and in shape, and was always up for the next fitness challenge (100 burpees at once - let's do this!) 
 
Well, let's just say things are, um, different now. Between the pandemic, perimenopause, and a very frustrating case of bicep tendonitis, I am decidedly not in good shape any more. And when I have tried to get back in shape, I have been impatient and overdone it. My tendonitis flares up, and then I am in (pretty bad) pain for a week, and right back where I started. 
 
So I finally admitted that I need some help. I have hired a personal trainer, and she has put together a workout for me that is safe for my bicep tendonitis, and one we can build on.  She came right out and said to me "This probably feels like a baby workout to you." And oh, does it! It is very humbling.  But, you know what? It's working. My muscles feel like they have been challenged, and my bicep tendon is pain free. And just this week I noticed some actual definition in my arms. I am starting to accept I can't just return to my pre-covid fitness state without doing this "baby workout" and then building from there. It will take awhile, and I am now OK with that. 
 
I have decided to apply this same idea to my creative life. I have gone back to doing beginning vocal exercises, and building on those. And you know what? My voice is stronger. If you read my last newsletter you may remember I have been struggling with my songwriting. Well, I have approached that problem the same way I used to when I was first starting to write, really thinking through structure and story. I have made some progress on some of those half-written songs that were stuck. It's still slow, but I am moving forward. I guess that old adage about going back to the basics is true. It may take awhile to finish these songs, and I'm now OK with that, too.

Good Stuff


I know I have featured it in this space before, but I have to mention the Newburyport Literary Festival again. I always love hearing about and am inspired by the authors creative journeys and their writing processes. And I always discover some good books to read. This a free event that takes place every year on the last weekend on April in the lovely coastal city of Newburyport, MA. My friends and I always make a day of it, and it is one of my favorite things to do each year.

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