Last week I returned from 11 days on the road with Mike Munson, serving as un-official tour manager and very good company over the course of 3,700+ miles of travel and 7 shows. We reveled in mountainous landscapes, time with old friends, and 6 new venues. Highlights included Free Cycles, a bike collective in Missoula, MT where a puppet troupe from Washington was also using the co-operative space. The puppeteers attended the show along with some friends of ours who had traveled over 2 hours to see Mike! At the Madison Theater in Ennis, MT, owned by our friend Josi Severson, we met an impassioned group of music lovers committed to bringing new sounds to their town of 1,000 people. We also spent many long hours staring out the car windows, musing on work and life how best to use our time. Travel is such a clarifying experience with daily patterns and chores in the rearview. 

Though I had not been seeking new projects, I have found one in a collaboration with the Brainerd, MN artist Kelley Smith. We have been bumping into each other for a couple of years and she asked if I might have any interest in helping her with some booking. After a few long conversations via email and in person, Kelley and I decided that we could both benefit from working together. In addition to seeking booking help, I learned that Kelley has been working on a new record for a number of months but has been stalled out and overwhelmed by the remaining steps in the process. Kelley is not only a gifted performer, song-writer and overall musician, she has four kids and a very full life. Thus far my offerings have mostly consisted of simple lists, text reminders to keep checking the lists and some background work gathering information about the next steps in record production. 

Much like working with Liz Draper last year, finding ways to support a woman in this work who does not live in the metro area has already proven to be deeply rewarding. Kelley has offered me glimpses into the extreme balancing act of motherhood, marriage and music. She is an artist with tendencies that are familiar- she dreams as big as possible, which is my favorite place to start any project. In offering her concrete timelines and budget reminders we are making our way through the myriad decisions involved in producing an album without losing sight of those dreams that set us on this path. What a gift to steep so fully in music and art that your mind and heart can float to another place. How helpful for me, the person with spreadsheets, calendars, and endless lists to be reminded to go back out to the garden, look for more tomatoes and green beans and listen to the songs of the birds. Thank you Kelley Smith, what a great adventure we’ve begun together!

~diane