www.manitobahal.com

Uke on the Rails tour - Feb 2012

2012-01-26T12:55:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is a big day for me. Tomorrow I begin my journey west by rail on the Uke on the Rails tour. It's also the first tour with my new CD Flirting With Mermaids. This tour is made possible by the good folks at VIA rail and their On Board Entertainment Program with special thanks to Genvieve Beland for putting this together. I'll be performing in the lounge car a few times as I head west and again when I return home. Lucky for me I managed to secure a sleeper berth so I'll have plenty of time to read, write and explore train travel! It's my first time on a train trip since I was a small small boy. I vaguely remember taking a train once in California on a family vacation.

First stop on the tour isn't by train though. I play tomorrow night (Jan 27th) in Lunenburg at the Scuttlebutt Restaurant. Traci and Rob have gone out of their way to bring quality music in and it's a favorite place of mine to stop and play. I'll be starting at 6pm so if you're in the area please come by and have some of their great food!

Saturday night (Jan 28th) I'll be part of the 3rd annual Night of the UKE concert in Halifax. This concert features myself alongside, Hank Mumps, Nigel D'Eon and Crash Flagg in a concert designed to fill you with uke dreams. The show kicks off at 7:30pm at the venue that is it's own address 1313 Hollis. It's gonna be a great time.

I'll be boarding the train in Halifax and if you should desire to join me on my journey, I'll be on Train #15 to Montreal departing at 12:15pm. I'll be spending a night in Montreal before heading on with my good friend Ian Gray. Ian is a singer/songwriter from Montreal and he's promised me a good smoked meat sandwich. Yum.

The next show on this journey (Feb 3) is a uke workshop and house concert in Cobourg, Ontario. It's being held in an old jail. I wonder if they're trying to tell me something? That night I will be playing at the Hobbit House Concert in Cobourg. It's a small show and from what Lesley Bolieau tells me it's sold out! I'm thrilled to know that folks will be there to enjoy the music.

On Saturday Feb 4th at 2pm I'll be teaching a uke workshop at Broadway Music in Orangeville, Ontario. Broadway Music is the home of steller vocalist Heather Katz and Micheal Griffin. I love coming to this awesome place because they are wonderful people AND they have more ukes on the wall than any other store I know.

Later that night at 8pm, I'll be performing with Mo' Kauffey and Larry Kurtz at the Blues for Food Fundraiser. We'll be kicking it up at the Westminster United Church. Tickets are only $15/door plus any non-perishable food items. Come on out and support great music and a great cause.

Sunday afternoon Mo' Kauffey and take to the stage at the Woolwich Arrow Pub in Guelph for the "Once Upon a Blues Sunday" show. This is part of the Nighthowls tour. The Nighthowls is a duo that I'm in with Mo' Kauffey. It's a fun show because really neither of us knows what the other will do. We fly by the seat of our pants but it works.

On Monday Feb 6th the Nighthowls head to Oakville to play the Moonshine Cafe for their BBQ show. Good eats and good food oh my. Showtime is at 8pm y'all.

Thursday Feb 9th the Nighthowls will be performing in Woodstock in another wonderful acoustic house concert. George Douglas has opened his home up to us so that we can fill his house with the sound of acoustic guitar and ukulele together doing rootsy blues songs. The show starts at 7pm and you can get your tickets by calling 519-608-3231.

Friday night (Feb 10th) we'll be in Toronto at the O'Hara House Concert series in Parkdale. Joanna Mills is an old high-school friend of mine and she's created a wonderful concert series in Toronto. She's also a creative programmer. She has me doing a uke workshop early in the evening at 6:30pm where I cook for the participants and then we discuss all things ukulele.

The Nighthowls play later that night at 8pm. Tickets are $20 for the uke workshop/supper and $15 for the house concert. Tickets can be reserved at http://oharahouseconcerts.webs.com.

The next morning I get back on the train from Toronto to Ottawa where I'll perform at Westboro House Concerts. This concert is sold out and I'm really looking forward to showcasing my new songs for this crowd. The Ottawa community has been very supportive of my music this past year and it really makes me happy that they'll get to hear me perform this stuff in an intimate special environment. One of the real perks of this show is that the original painting that graces the cover of the new CD (painted by Léanne Colbeck) will be on display and the artist herself will be in attendance.

My journey on this tour ends with two uke workshops for the Ottawa Folklore Centre and a drop in at the Bytown Ukulele Group's monthly jam. It will be so wonderful to see all my friends again and to enjoy the sounds of their club strumming away.

I'll see you out there! Keep the baby faith!

Look Ma, I made the paper!

2012-01-17T07:41:00.000-08:00

It's so nice to get some publicity in your home town, even if they spell your name incorrectly. Ah well, takes it where you can get it eh?

I also was mentioned in an article published in InsideToronto.com. Follow this link to read that story.

Flirting With Mermaids - sneak peak

2011-12-31T03:39:00.000-08:00

Copies of Flirting With Mermaids are now available!

Uke On The Rails - CD release tour by train

2011-12-28T03:20:00.000-08:00

I'm very excited to announce that I'll be doing my first tour of 2012 by rail. The good folks at VIA Rail have accepted me into their On Board Entertainment program and I'll be performing for my passage on my way to Ontario and back for the CD release tour of Flirting With Mermaids.

If you're interested in joining me on my journey I'll be travelling from Halifax to Montreal on Train 15 departing at 12:15pm. I'll be doing two shows during the day and we'll arrive in Montreal on 9:05am the next morning. My return performances will occur on Feb 16th when I will board Train 14 departing Montreal at 6:30pm and arriving in Halifax at 5:10pm on Feb 17th. The entire tour schedule can be found on my gigs page.

I plan on taking pictures and even some video footage. This will only be made available to the folks on my mailing list so sign up today to get behind-the-scenes of this great voyage.

Flirting With Mermaids Available ONLINE!

2011-12-10T10:30:00.000-08:00

After nearly a year of planning, writing, recording and fundraising I'm so excited to share that Flirting With Mermaids is now available for download! The fifteen tracks represent a collaboration with several musicians from all over the globe in my greatest recording ever. Check out my music page or the radio link to the left of this blog to listen to tracks and if you want you can purchase the whole album or individual tracks immediately. If you prefer a physical CD those will be available in early January. Thank you to everyone involved in Flirting With Mermaids. I couldn't have done it without you.

My summer overseas 2012

2011-12-07T16:39:00.000-08:00

Well my friends I have good news to report. I have been invited to appear at the Ukulele Festival of Great Britain. (http://www.ukulelefestival.co.uk) in June 2012 and in the Cairns Ukulele Festival (http://cairnsukulelefestival.net/) in Australia in July 2012. This means that I will be spending some time globe trotting with my ukulele. What an awesome life! I'll fill you in with details as I find them all out.

The Ukulele Festival of Great Britain has the following acts scheduled for your listening pleasure;

Gerald Ross

Nico'o

The Re-enterants

Winin Boys

Ukulollo

Chonkinfeckle

Oh and Manitoba Hal!

Flirting With Mermaids update

2011-11-28T12:25:00.000-08:00

So you are probably wondering what happened to the November/December release date of Flirting With Mermaids.

My manager Nicole Colbeck and I have been hard at work with fundraising and we are finally able to move forward to get the physical product out and on the shelves. What can I tell you but things took longer than I expected after the recording sessions. I expect to have the CD out before the end of December. (crossing my fingers)

Plans are currently being made for CD release events all across the Maritimes and eastern Canada. If you would like me to come play in your home town (or even your home) just drop me an email and I'll get right on it!

This year so far - an early round up

2011-11-15T16:43:00.000-08:00

2011 has been a busy year for me, and a great year. I have many things to be thankful for and I thought I'd share them with you folks.

1) This year I've toured all over the country and met lots of cool folks and musicians who all brightened my days and gave me comfort on the road. Thank you all for being outstanding people.

2) I played several festivals including two ukulele festivals and a Finish festival in BC (a first for me). The people at these events were terrific and it's hard to pick a favorite but I'd have to say my favorite moment was my Sunday mainstage at the Kitchener Blues Festival. What a crowd and the sound was excellent.

3) I was lucky enough to host several ukulele workshops this year and I'm so happy that folks got to learn something cool about this instrument. It's a joy to share my knowledge with folks and I hope to do more of them in 2012.

4) The last big thing (and maybe the biggest) was the outpouring of community support I've experienced regarding the recording of my newest CD "Flirting With Mermaids". It's takes a village right? Well there was a village of musicians who came to join me in the recording and a whole town of support for the project which was recorded in September 2011. I'm hoping that I'll be able to get it out early in December so that folks can have it for Christmas. Take a trip over to http://manitobahal.bandcamp.com/releases and listen to the preview tracks.

Well that's it for now. I'll post more as we get closer to release date. OH and the big news so far for 2012 is that I've been invited to perform in Cheltenham UK at the Ukulele Festival of Great Britain in June. Europe, here I come.

Flirting With Mermaids PRE-ORDERS NOW ACCEPTED

2011-09-30T12:32:00.000-07:00

I'm so frickin excited I could burst. My new CD Flirting With Mermaids is almost done mixing, so I can finally put up the pre-order page. With this link (below) you can preview four of the fifteen tracks on this CD and pre-order your own digital download of the CD once it becomes available. There will be some special perks for those who do pre-order versus wait for the physical CDs to be available. For one thing, the download will be available first.

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://manitobahal.bandcamp.com/album/flirting-with-mermaids"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Flirting With Mermaids by Manitoba Hal&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

Anyway the download cost is only $15.00USD and you will be notified the moment the tracks are finalized and you can download the whole project.

For those folks who don't want to go through the process of downloads you can pre-order the physical CD by sending $20USD via paypal to hal @ manitobahal dot com. Just make sure to include what you are ordering and your mailing address. I expect to be shipping CDs in November so they should arrive before Christmas.

Lastly if you don't deal with any online transactions at all you can send me a cheque for $20.00 using this form. Simply print it out and mail the bottom portion along with a cheque or money order payable to Hal Brolund, Box 887 Shelburne, NS B0T 1W0. I'll ship your CD out as soon as it's ready.

Ontario Council of Folk Festivals Showcase

2011-09-25T17:39:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to announce that I'll be showcasing at the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals (OCFF) conference this October. My showcase will be at the Marriott Gateway on the Falls, Niagara Falls, ON on Friday Oct 14th at 8:30pm.

I'll be playing some of the songs from my soon-to-be-released new recording Flirting With Mermaids. Look forward to seeing you there!

Flirting With Mermaids update

2011-09-25T12:19:00.000-07:00

Well I've been remiss in not posting here this month. I've been busy in the recording studio recording the new record and it's been a blast. Here are some behind the scenes pics to entertain you.

Kev Corbett laying some upright bass as Alex looks on

Shawna Caspi studying her harmonies

My Fred Casey soprano ukulele

Lyrics to one of the songs

Me laying down some ukulele with my aNueNue tenor uke

Tools of the trade

Alex the bass player lays down some electric bass

Kathleen Glauser drops by to sing some backing vocals

Alan Crosby gets ready to play some wicked drums

Old Man Leudecke gets ready to play that banjo

Nicole Colbeck has an idea!

Alex checks a harmony on the keyboard

Nigel D'Eon in focused listening mode

Robbie Smith adjusting a chart for his acoustic guitar parts

At the Kitchener Blues Festival Aug 2011

2011-08-23T11:21:00.000-07:00

Here I am captured LIVE by a fan at the Kitchener Blues Festival this past August 2011. On stage with me is Alfie Smith (on guitar) and Patrick LeClair (on upright bass).

Fundraising for my New CD

2011-07-03T07:40:00.000-07:00

I've begun the fundraising process for my new CD Flirting With Mermaids. One year ago I moved from the prairies of Canada to the Atlantic shore and the beautiful Nova Scotia town of Shelburne. I live two blocks from the ocean now and in this wonderful place I have written many songs that are inspired by my seaside home and I'm excited to get in the studio and record these songs for YOU!

Imagine the blues meets the east coast in a boardwalk carnival filled with snake oil salesmen, tattooed women and mermaids! Carney's stealing the gate reciepts share space with fast food vendors and various hucksters.

I've arranged some time in Harbour Tone Studios here in Shelburne and lined up a band of talented musicians from all over the globe. The CD will feature drums, bass, organ, harmonica, guitar and of course UKULELE! Plus some drop dead gorgeous harmonies and killer arrangements.

If you've enjoyed my music in the past I hope you'll drop by the fundraising page and take a look at the rewards I'm giving in exchange for your hard earned cash. The fundraising page is at http://www.rockethub.com/projects/2109-flirting-with-mermaids.

Cross Canada Tour

2011-06-21T15:39:00.000-07:00

Here is my complete summer tour schedule folks. I'm looking forward to being in your community soon! Want me to come play at your house?

Tour Dates
----------------------------------
July 8 - SEADOG SALOON, SHELBURNE, NS (with Leah Morise)
July 9 - PADDY'S PUB, KENTVILLE, NS (with Leah Morise)
July 10 - SCUTTLEBUTT, LUNENBURG NS (with Leah Morise)
July 13 - BOURBON QUARTER, SAINT JOHN NB
July 16 - THE APOLLO, THUNDER BAY ON
July 17 - GREEN ACHERS, WABIGOON ON
July 19 - HOUSE CONCERT, STONY MOUNTAIN MB
July 20 - GHOST TOWN BLUES, MAPLE CREEK, SK
July 21 - TONGUE n 'GROOVE, LETHBRIDGE AB
July 22 - HOUSE CONCERT, CALGARY AB
July 23 - THE AUDITORIUM HOTEL, NANTON AB July 24 - BIGNOTE MUSIC, CALGARY, AB
July 25 - UKE WORKSHOP, AMBLE INN, REVELSTOKE, BC
July 26 - THE MINSTREL CAFE, KELOWNA BC
July 27 - THE MINSTREL CAFE, KELOWNA BC
July 29 - FINNWEST VANCOUVER BC
July 30 - FINNWEST VANCOUVER BC
July 31 - FINNWEST VANCOUVER BC
July 31 - LOREZNO'S, ENDERBY BC
Aug 5 - KITCHENER BLUES FESTIVAL ON
Aug 6 - KITCHENER BLUES FESTIVAL ON
Aug 7 - KITCHENER BLUES FESTIVAL ON
Aug 8 - OTTAWA FOLKLORE CENTRE, OTTAWA ON
Aug 9 - THE ELMDALE TAVERN, OTTAWA, ON
Aug 10 - OTTAWA FOLKLORE CENTRE, OTTAWA, ON
Aug 12 - NEIGHBORS RESTAURANT, PORT ROWAN, ON (with Mo Kauffey)
Aug 13 - ERIN RIBFEST, ERIN, ON (with Mo Kauffey)
Aug 13 - GREYSTONES INN, ORANGEVILLE ON
Aug 17 - THE DOMINION PUB, TORONTO, ON
Aug 19 - THE MUSIC MARKET, NAPANEE, ON
Aug 21 - FRED EAGLESMITH PICNIC, AYLMER ON
Aug 26 - SCUTTLEBUTT, LUNENBURG, NS (with Catahoula Brown)
Aug 27 - UKE WORKSHOP, LONG & MCQUADE, NEW MINAS, NS
Aug 27 - PADDY'S PUB, WOLFVILLE NS
Sept 9 - YE OLDE ARGYLER, ARGYLE, NS

Live Concert Footage from The Osprey Arts Centre June 4, 2011

2011-06-11T12:03:00.003-07:00

Here I am playing with my South Shore Blues Band which is Mimi Champagne on percussion, Nigel D'Eon on 2nd ukulele and Chett Buchanan on bass (unseen to the right). We had an awesome night folks.

Secrets of my sound

2011-05-26T11:25:00.000-07:00

I get a lot of questions about my sound and if you've ever seen me play live you might have noticed the collection of stuff at my feet. This is my secret weapon to using the ukulele as a solo instrument. The devices at my feet provide me with echos and effects that help me create the right atmosphere along with distortions and bass sounds. Plus there is a loop station that lets me "record" a passage of music, loop it back and play over top of it creating the illusion of more than one instrument. Here is the whole board.

I'll go into detail about each device from right to left. First up on the lower right is an A/B/Y switch. I plug my ukulele into this box and it directs the flow of the signal along one of two paths (or along both). The 'A' path the uke travels is to the Yamaha AG-Stomp. (seen at right). The AG-Stomp is a great pre-amp from Yamaha that simulates 4 different microphone types and allows me to blend between the simulated sound and the direct sound of the uke's pickup. This helps my uke sound more natural plugged in. The pre-amp also gives me custom equalization along with compression/limiting effects, chorus, reverb and digital delay. It has programmable memory for up to 30 instruments as well so I can run my guitar through it or my uke and still get great balanced signal.

The 'B' path takes the uke toward two other pedals (shown above). The first of these pedals is the Boss Blues Driver. This is an overdrive pedal which gives my uke that distorted lead solo sound that I use during certain blues numbers. The 2nd pedal is an Electro-Harmonix POG pedal. POG stands for Polyphonic Octave Generator. This pedal can take the uke signal and either drop it one octave or raise it one octave. This lets me simulate a bass sound or I can blend in an octave up and make the uke sound like a mandolin (sort of).

After the AG-Stomp, the Blues Driver and the POG is the Boss RC20XL loopstation. This pedal is a little recorder. It takes the signals that are fed into it and when I press the left button it begins recording anything that comes into the pedal. When I press the left button again it stops recording and immediately plays back the stuff it just recorded. This allows me to play over it. So I'll start with a simple groove, record that, set up a bass tone and play a bass line and record it. Then add any decorative elements and the loop is done! After that it's just a matter of playing with it to make it a performance. (by the way the bespeco pedal beside the loopstation is a selector that reverses the loop for some tripy psychedelic sounds.)

So there you have it. This is my live one-man-band rig. It certainly helps me provide a larger sonic pallet for my songs. I'll see you out on the road!

Hal Fixes It!

2011-05-24T12:13:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone. This is my new blog! I wanted a place to show you some of the projects I've been working on here at home. You can expect to find home repair projects, recipes of stuff that I cook here at home and technical stuff that I do related to my live show. It's Hal Fixes It! TV. Tune in today!

Manitoba Hal Signature Ukulele

2011-04-06T08:47:00.000-07:00

The good folks at aNueNue Ukuleles (www.anuenue-uke.com) have issued a Manitoba Hal signature model ukulele. This uke is a beautiful solid Mango ukulele with a Rosewood/Maple rope binding and some high quality electronics installed. It plays beautifully and I couldn't be happier to be associated with this fine company.

Here is a video showcasing the uke along with an instrumental track of mine called The Incredible Bread Machine. The video is recorded fully acoustic using only the camcorder microphone. It's a pretty great sounding uke and I didn't want any doubt that it's the uke not the gear that you hear.

2011-01-24T13:39:00.000-08:00

I am pleased to announce the first edition of my ukulele songbook featuring songs from my new CD Huckster and from Little Box of Sadness. The book features 16 songs arranged for EASY PLAY and is beautifully illustrated by Nicole Colbeck. The book can be ordered by Paypal for $10.00 (US dollars) plus $2.50 for shipping.

Songs inside
High Fever Blues
Ten Bucks Too Light
Poulet Shack
Dig Me A Grave
My Babe
All Around The World
I Hear Music
Freight Train
30 Odd Days
Built 4 Comfort
Cost Of The Blues
Let Me In
Call of Angels
Automobile
Somebody On Your Bond
Line & Pole

Should olde acquaintance be forgot

2010-12-28T10:42:00.000-08:00

It's this time of year that I look forward to. Not so much the cold or the holidays but the long nights of hibernation and reflection that come along with the start of a new year. It's been a crazy year for this ukulele playing man. It started with moving out of my house Dec 30, 2009 and ended up with recording a new CD. Along the way I moved 4000 kms away from Manitoba to Nova Scotia, appeared in The Mighty Uke a ukulele documentary, I bought a new house, booked a mammoth summer tour and replaced a bunch of old equipment and finally recorded a new CD. What a year!!!

This past year I added three new companies to my team and they have all played an important role in my career this far.

Rockethub.com has already been a great tool to use in raising funds for projects and I have a few ideas about new projects to put out there.

Bandcamp has been a great way to sell my CDs and downloads and I can't wait to get out there on tour with them in my back corner. I'm going to set up some download cards for the next tour for back catalog.

Anuenue is still planning a "Manitoba Hal" signature model ukulele. Once I have pics I'll share them with you along with recordings of that uke. With each conversation about the design I get more and more excited.

Ok. So what's up? What's happening? What is the plan Stan?

TOURING: My year begins with some local shows this February in Shelburne, Liverpool, Kentville, Wolfville and Yarmouth. Then I head to Ottawa and southern Ontario in March. I'm still booking the summer schedule but I have been invited to the FinnWest festival in Vancouver this coming July so it looks like another cross Canada tour is in the planning. I can't wait to feel the open road again and the freedom of this life. It's awesome! Plus it will be wonderful to visit all my friends and feast at all my favorite restaurants across this great country.

UKULELE SONGBOOK: I will be releasing a songbook featuring songs from Huckster and Little Box of Sadness in January 2011. This has been a long time coming and I hope to do more publications like this as the year rolls on.

RECORDING: The planning and writing has already begun for a Christmas concert for next year that will feature a small ensemble performing in a cross between a musical concert and a dramatic production. It will be a wonderful evening and I'll share details as we inch closer to the goal. Along with that comes the promise of a Christmas recording. Yes I think I will finally make a full length Christmas CD. Those who've been with me since the beginning know that my first recording was in fact a Christmas release and it did fairly well. It's time to dig back into that bucket and find some more music. The plan has begun and I'm working out arrangements. This will continue until sometime closer to fall when the entire thing will spiral into a chaotic mix of production, mixing, artwork and release. Stay tuned!

I have been blessed this year by the support of my fans and friends. I have found new friends and allies across this great land and I hope to see all of you again as soon as I can make my way across the country again. There are a few people that have made a huge contribution to my path and without naming them (you know who you are) I want to say thank you so very much for your involvement and support this past year.

Have a funky Christmas y'all!

2010-12-13T07:59:00.000-08:00

Click this image for a special performance by Manitoba Hal

Re-Issue of past product

2010-12-06T20:20:00.000-08:00

I am happy to announce that I have uploaded two my older CDs to my music page and you can download them immediately. The two recordings are This Condition (2002) and Come The Ruination (2006). I will be getting all of my past work online in the coming winter months so stay tuned. Here are a couple tune packs of the these two recent additions.

Getting floored and other diversions

2010-12-05T02:53:00.000-08:00

Not much new to report this week. My new CD is out and the initial copies have been sent forward to the amazing folks who pre-ordered the CD. I am so grateful to you all for the support you've shown me and I'm looking forward to a huge amount of touring in 2011. For the rest of the year though I'm going to be settling into my Nova Scotia home and taking care of a few of the jobs that I've wanted to do all year!

Starting with a new floor in my studio! Yup this is the floor of my studio. Great wide plank flooring that is original to my old home. The problem is my office chair is tearing the crap out of it. I have wood dust and slivers all over this room simply because the chair catches on the edges of the board. You can see the damage in this photo. So I decided that it was time to get a new floor in here. What do ya think? I picked this style because I think it suits the old Victorian look that is my home, plus it looks old so it's not that apparent that it's a modern laminate floor. Anyway after a day and a half of knee breaking work the floor is in and the office is taking shape again.

Sunday Breakfast with Hal

2010-11-21T08:56:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Sunday Breakfast with Hal. Today on the menu we're having two farm fresh eggs with potatoes, onion and bacon along with two pieces of multi-grain toast. mmmmmmm mmmmmmm.

So start by gathering your ingredients together and slicing your onion and potatoes into small bite size pieces. I season the pan with left over bacon fat from Saturday's breakfast and some canola oil. Setting a low medium heat I put the potatoes and onion into the pan to simmer. Stirring every 15 minutes until they are nicely browned. This should take about one hour and 15 mins.

After about 45 minutes add the bacon and cover to simmer stirring occasionally.

Finally at about 1 hour and 15 minutes put your toast on and push all the potatoes to one side of the pan and add the eggs. Season the eggs and cook to taste. What a great way to start your Sunday off! You can also prepare this by using a fresh pan for the eggs but there is no need to dirty another pan unless you don't want your food touching.

So there ya have it. Sunday Breakfast with Hal. So yummy! This goes great with Clementine oranges and a big glass of juice.

What's on the menu?

2010-11-20T10:37:00.000-08:00

It's a blustery fall day here in Nova Scotia and I decided it was a good day to do some web cleanup. So you might have noticed that I got a whole new look going on and a few changes with the navigation. Also I've added a brand new download service that works great. Bandcamp let's the visitors preview the cuts in a full length format and then download either individually or as a full album of material. Plus you can purchase the download AND have a physical CD mailed to you. Cool!

The first copies of HUCKSTER will arrive this week and I'm pretty excited about that. In case you missed the notice, thanks to you my friends and fans and Rockethub, I was able to raise all the money needed for a manufacturing run of the CDs. This is very exciting and it means that I'll be able to release a full run this time out. The initial run is only 100 copies because before the funding drive completed and I needed copies for the shows I have coming up next weekend. I'll be playing a house concert in Martins River, NS and for the second Night of the Uke at The Company House in Halifax. This show features Ukulele Mike, Rev Hank Mumps from the Urban Surf Kings and me in an all out knock down showcase of the ukulele. It's gonna be an amazing night so grab your uke and come on down for the party. And while you're there you can get your copy of HUCKSTER!

In other news, the planning is ongoing for a spring tour to promote this new recording. If you have a coffee house or a concert hall (or even a living room) and you'd like some cool ukulele playing then please drop me a note by e-mail and we'll set something up. I'd love to come and perform in your town for your friends and neighbors. If you are a DJ playing folk or ukulele music on your radio program also drop me a line and I'll get a CD off to you right away so that you can share the gospel of blues ukulele to your listeners.

Well peace out uke fans and we'll see you out there.

My Babe and HUCKSTER update.

2010-11-17T09:49:00.001-08:00

HUCKSTER Now available for download and orders

2010-11-11T12:37:00.000-08:00

After months of fundraising and recording, days of mixing and mastering and two days of working with the manufacturer to get the specs all in line I'm happy to report that HUCKSTER is now available for digital download and in two weeks for physical delivery! YAY!

The road to this one was long and more than a little frustrating. Hardware upgrades, computer incompatibilities, songwriting delays, family matters causing interruptions and finally throwing out the first recording session and starting over. OH BOY! But now it's done and I'm mighty pleased with it let me tell you.

The recording is a "live-off-the-floor" recording of me and my ukulele with NO OVERDUBS. That means that it is a true representation of my live performance and of a moment in time. I recorded it in my 100 year old Victorian cottage in Nova Scotia over a weekend in late October. Drop on over to the MUSIC page to check out the tracks and place your order.

Bourbon Quarter Saint John NB Nov 12

2010-11-02T10:39:00.001-07:00

I need your help

2010-10-27T12:56:00.000-07:00

Maybe by now you know that I've been recording a new CD called HUCKSTER. Maybe not. Either way I need your help. After months of work getting my home studio set up and working, fixing hardware failures and handling software upgrades I'm almost done the actual recording of the CD however I'm still trying to raise the money needed to actually manufacture the project. I have set up a funding page at Rockethub.com that is handling all the collection duties. All I'm asking is that you consider pre-buying the CD. It's important that you know that 1) Rockethub isn't a charity, it is an exchange of goods for money between fans and artists. You pre-order the CD or one of the other packages I've put up for sale and when the project is complete you get what you paid for; and 2) It's all or nothing. What that means is that if the project doesn't achieve it's funding goals in the timeline laid out then all the money is returned to the fans. I don't receive partial funds at all. That means that without your help the recording won't get manufactured into a finished CD. Ok, enough of the guilt trip. It's not like this is for starving people or a great tragedy. It's just my CD project but if you are a fan of ukulele blues and you want to hear more from me then please take a moment to visit the page and consider donating. Thanks.

http://rockethub.com/projects/370-huckster-cd-ukulele#

OCFF, Recording, Tour Update and more

2010-10-17T05:02:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting here at 7:50am on Sunday Oct 17th. I've just spent the weekend at the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals conference in Ottawa ON. Three nights of performer showcases, three days of workshops and conference info and three solid days of networking. It's been awesome and I have reconnected with old allies and made some new connections that I hope will help me as I go forward into booking next year. One thing is becoming clearer to me. I need to scrap some of my recording efforts and start over. Good thing that there is a recording pannel this morning chaired by several great record producers. Maybe I'll learn something? We can only hope.

As for the fall tour, I'm sad to say that it's not much of a tour. Due to family issues and timing I wasn't able to book very much work so I'm going to table the grand tour idea for now and start working on a proper tour next spring. Fear not maritime fans I'll get to your town to bring the gospel of blues ukulele to you! I'm also beginning the process toward working in Germany in 2011. If you have any contacts in Germany you'd like to share, please send them my way! It's a very exciting prospect and I think it will be an awesome tour but for now it's just thinking. I need help.

I think sometimes as artists we stare into the abyss that is our career choice and can whither and fade or feel energized. I have felt the fear and found myself second guessing my gut and I'm sad to say that I gave in briefly to that fear. But I have found my resolve and turned the car around and am now headed down the path I had intended to travel once again. After my summer tour I was a little freaked out by my choice to play only the ukulele going forward and started to think I needed to showcase guitar as well. I think that is true in my live show but the real special thing I do is play the uke. I play it like the devil is dancing on my fresh dug grave and that needs to be seen and heard. So in so much that I am a ukulele player and that my passion and joy is the ukulele I hearby resolve to not shrink in the face of adversity but instead to buckle down and overcome the challange with the four strings that have sustained my spirit thus far. Do I hear a seconder for the motion?

Ukulele Cabaret Roundup

2010-10-11T18:58:00.000-07:00

Manitoba Hal (left), Bert Jackson (middle), Anna Hirst (right)

The ukulele cabaret was awesome. The event was a fund raiser for an Orleans youth group and it was a total success! We raised over 150% more than last years cabaret did. Anna Hirst was incredible. She's a 17 year old student and writes incredible songs. Bert Jackson plays jazz instrumentals and really swings.

Tim Sweeney and Ed Banks and his drummer (Lucas?) played great popular songs from the American Songbook. Tim was the organizer of the Cabaret and is a real inspiration to Cape Cod uke players. Tripping Lily and Bert Jackson acknowledge him as the reason they play the ukulele. Awesome!

Tim Sweeney (left), Ed Banks (right)

Tripping Lily

I'm off to Ottawa now for a house concert with Westboro House Concerts and then the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals Conference this coming weekend. Should be exciting!

Now Booking Maritime Tour Fall/Winter 2010

2010-08-30T19:54:00.000-07:00

Well folks the big summer tour is over. I've crossed Canada playing in small concert venues, clubs, bowling alleys and blues festivals and returned home again to my new home in Nova Scotia. I've begun work on the long awaited new CD (don't forget to pre-order your copy!) and am enjoying a little bit of the maritime summer that remains.

I have also begun the marketing and booking for a "maritime tour" this November/December. I will be contacting venues all across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland putting together a little tour of pubs and concert venues. If you are a promoter or know someone who will host a show, let's make something happen! I am open to house concerts and workshops as well as Pubs, concert halls, restaurants and any reasonable concert opportunity.

The tour will feature me playing slide blues guitar along with my trademark ukulele blues performances and I'll be using my one-man-band rig with the loop station. I'm pretty excited to spend a few weeks travelling all over Nova Scotia playing music and meeting people across the whole province. I'll see ya out there!

Home by any other name would still be as sweet

2010-08-24T18:21:00.000-07:00

The night was cool and the air was fresh when I stepped out of my van this morning. Home. I instantly knew I was here because of the particular smell of this place. It's a fragrant smell but not overpowering. Sweet but not flowery. Maybe it's just the scent of the Atlantic Ocean but Shelburne truly smells like no other place I know.

I've been all across this land and lived on the Pacific coast, in the Prairies and traveled to most of the cities. Northern BC has a freshness to it. The prairies smell like cut grass in the summer (which is a scent I also love deeply) and Ontario smells like a highway. The way that diesel and concrete smell on a hot summer day. Manitoba smells like a muddy river should smell. Full of aromas of cut grass, dirt, diesel and stagnant pools of water. Winnipeg smells best in the winter when it's too cold to smell. Then it smells fresh and clean. Shelburne on the other hand smells clean and crisp with a pleasant sweet aroma that makes me smile when it passes my nose.

I am home.

So what's next? Well recording for one thing. Yard work. Gigs and more gigs. Also setting up teaching. I plan to offer ukulele instruction in the form of individual lessons as well as group workshops. I also want to try my hand at teaching by SKYPE. Yup remote teaching over a webcam. I think this could be a great way to reach students all over the country and the world. What do you think?

2010-08-23T03:47:00.001-07:00

I'm on the long drive home. Tonight I'll be in my bed!

2010-08-21T04:55:00.001-07:00

Warming up for the ukulele blues workshop @ Folkway Music in Guelph this morning at 10:30am. See you there!

What's in a name?

2010-08-20T05:54:00.000-07:00

This is the prototype artwork for my new CD. It will either be called Huckster or Hucksters & Bamboozlers. Which do you prefer?

Let me tell you all about this CD. I have 18 tracks that I am working on for this record. My hope is that all of them make the final cut. I will be recording live off the floor. Which means that there will be no overdubs on this record. What you hear will be what was played at the time the record button was pushed. That means if a song is just a ukulele and my voice, that is what you'll get. If the song is a loop performance with a groove track and other stuff, the loop will be created first but the recorded performance will be one take. Loop, Guitar or uke and vocal all at once.

I'm very excited about this recording because so many of you have told me that this is what you want to hear from me. Live honest music performed with passion and style. But you're probably wondering what the title has to do with the songs? I could go on and on about some artsy pre-text about how songwriters create some artificial world that we sell to you. How those moments are themselves hucksters because they often aren't real or genuine but somehow feel that way. The truth is that the title comes from the marketing slogan for the tour I did this summer with Allison Brown and Leah Morise. We advertised that you "the audience" weren't to be fooled by Hucksters and Bamboozlers, there was only one true Dr Pinkham's Medicine Show. Well during the promo shoot for the tour I posed for the picture above. I never thought I'd use it but then something in my head started saying Hucksters and Bamboozlers over and over again and I remembered the picture. That's the true story. Now lets explore the world of the artificial authenticity...

I am pre-selling the CDs to pay for manufacturing costs so if you'd like to be a part of this send $20 plus $5.00 shipping to

Hal Brolund

Box 887

Shelburne, Nova Scotia

Canada B0T 1W0

In the next week I'll be putting a link up to accept credit card payments as well. Thanks for reading!

2010-08-17T18:34:00.001-07:00

Been writing songs on the road for my new record. Can't wait to get home and get recording!

10 days left on the highway

2010-08-11T10:22:00.000-07:00

Well it's been a long road. I have 10 days left on this tour before I'm back home in Nova Scotia. I will be glad to be able to sleep in my own bed and wake up knowing I don't have anywhere to drive to. It amazes me how time flies. I can remember sitting at home booking this tour and thinking I had lots of time left. Now it's almost over and I am thinking where did the time go? I've been all across this land and played in every province except Quebec.

Recording update: I tried to do some recording in the van at various campgrounds and I may use one or two of the tracks but I'm not certain they are of a sufficient quality recording wise. There are some great tracks but I won't know if they're good enough until I get home and can listen to it on my studio monitors. The bulk of my new CD will be recorded at home, hopefully before the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals (www.ocff.ca) conference in Ottawa in October. I am happy to say that I've narrowed the material down and have finally settled on a concept and title for the completed project. I won't reveal it here until closer to the release date but it's a good one.

After much consultation with folks across this country I've decided to go back to the style of recording that made This Condition so popular. This Condition was recorded live acoustically with no overdub, just a couple mics and great performances. This will be the basis for the new recording. I will be including some loop performances on this record but those will also be live recordings (meaning the loop and vocals will be recorded at the same time). I believe that my audience (and audiences everywhere) are much more interested in recordings that sound like the live show. They want an honest reflection of what an artist can provide both on record and on stage.

I hope you like it as much as I think you will. :)

2010-08-05T08:05:00.001-07:00

Heading into the wilds of norh western Ontario where I'll be out of cel and internet access. I'll see you all around Aug 17th!

2010-08-04T00:19:00.001-07:00

Swift Current moved my heart once again. Thank you so much Gary, Cathi, Emily, Ev and Jay for being such awesome hosts and to everyone who came out a hearty THANK YOU! You all rock!

The road back home

2010-08-02T16:17:00.001-07:00

I'm sitting in a Boston Pizza in Swift Current waiting on my supper. This is the night before my first gig on the way home. I play a house concert tomorrow night, then drive to Carlyle SK to play a house concert on Wed.

It feels good to know that I'm headed home finally. It will be three weeks before I park in my driveway and go inside my Atlantic home. It's hard to imagine the past two months. I know I did it but it still seems like a dream. Now I'm looking forward to fall booking conferences and gigs, along with recording sessions and home renovations.

What have I learned? I've learned that I belong out here on the road playing music. I also learned that my fans are devoted and happy to find me on tour again. I realize that I've done very little in the past four years to keep them following me so it's a gift they've given me. I am truely blessed.

2010-08-01T16:15:00.001-07:00

Hello highway my old friend. I'm heading east today out of Alberta please watch over my journey.

2010-07-30T11:52:00.001-07:00

Today I gain a nephew, eat a great meal, play with a rock n roll band and party with family. It my niece Megan's Wedding day. Welcome to the family Tyler!

2010-07-29T06:24:00.001-07:00

Tom Petty on the stereo, badlands to my left, prairie to my right, I got the sound of the highway in my soul.

2010-07-28T12:46:00.001-07:00

The road leads on. Thank you Saskatoon for reminding me why I play and what I'm good at. It's good to know that you're still there for me.

2010-07-26T08:29:00.001-07:00

Sometimes while considering my future I get caught in my past. Too much reflection can cause an inability to see the proper direction.

2010-07-24T07:35:00.001-07:00

2 moose by 7:30am. Wow! And 1 ran beside the van for a short while.

The past stays with you

2010-07-22T13:40:00.001-07:00

I'm sitting here in the Bear's Paw cafe in Wells. The walls are filled with posters of the artists who've been here before. There are two of mine up there. I've been here twice before and the last time was six years ago. I've been thinking alot about that on this tour. Everywhere I go, there are memories and history staring back at me. The posters remind me that I have fans. The streets and clubs are familiar and they all seem to say, what are you gonna do now?

Well for starters I'm recording a demo cd in my van in an abandoned RV park here in Wells. I've got 4 tracks down so far and a few more to go. These are basic one voice, one Uke tracks that pay homage to the field recordings of Alan Lomax. I will ask some of my musician friends to join me on a couple of the songs but most will be just me and my Uke. My plan is to release this in the fall for the conference season. I'll let you know when it's done.

Go gently friends.

2010-07-21T14:56:00.001-07:00

Sitting at The Bear's Paw cafe in Wells. Seems like yesterday I was here but it was 6 years ago. Man time flies like a banana!

2010-07-21T10:40:00.001-07:00

Heading north again. 2nd breakfast in 100 Mile House. I'll be in Wells by lunchtime. Maybe.

2010-07-20T10:01:00.001-07:00

It was in love I was created and in love I hope I die. Heading into the mountains and off the grid for a couple days. Be well.

2010-07-19T07:27:00.001-07:00

Gonna spend some time visiting a friend in Vancouver today and then performing solo tonight in Coquitlam at a house concert. See you there!

2010-07-18T09:07:00.001-07:00

Driving thru the past. Do you know this land m'lord? There was once I knew all of it like the back of my hand.

2010-07-17T23:19:00.001-07:00

Tonight was awesome! Thanks Adriaan and all the staff @ Skinny's Grille. What an awesome last show for the trio! Tomorrow Vancouver.

2010-07-17T09:50:00.001-07:00

Off to Hope BC today and Skinny's Grill. Should be a fun night and it's the final show for the Dr Pinkham trio. 21 shows in 30 days whew!

2010-07-16T10:48:00.001-07:00

What a gorgeous day! We're off to Kelowna to play at Minstrel Cafe tonight for the 2nd last Dr Pinkham show. See you there!

Tour Update from the Okanagan

2010-07-16T10:06:00.000-07:00

Specifically I'm in Kelowna tonight with the Dr Pinkham Medicine Show. We're almost done our touring dates and I'll head off on my own to points in northern BC, Saskatchewan and Ontario. It's be an awesome 6 weeks so far and the return home looks like it's gonna be just as cool. I have my niece Megan's wedding in Calgary and a number of house concerts.

I've also decided, based on the success of the last video, to try making my next recording from my van. So I'll be camping a few nights in the Cariboo mountain range and recording some tunes that I've been working up to recording. The result will be a fun solo record. I plan to record some tunes here in BC, some in Saskatchewan and some in Ontario between folk festivals. I'll do my best to keep you informed of my progress.

Remaining dates on my tour are;

July 16 - Minstrel Cafe - Kelowna (Dr Pinkham)
July 17 - Skinny's Grille - Hope (Dr Pinkham)
July 19 - House Concert - Coquitlam, BC
July 20-22 - Recording session
July 23 - Bear's Paw Cafe - Wells, BC
July 24-26 - Edmonton (hiding out at West Edmonton Mall)
July 27th - House Concert - Saskatoon, SK
July 28th - Benefit concert for disabled society in Saskatoon (private)
July 29th - niece's wedding in Calgary
Aug 3rd - House concert - Swift Current, SK
Aug 4th - House Concert - Carlyle, SK
Aug 6-8 - Live from the Rock Folk Festival - Red Rock, ON
Aug 13-15 - Trout Forest Music Festival - Ear Falls, ON
Aug 16 - Serendipity Gardens, Rossport, ON
Aug 17-20 - Recording in Guelph, ON
Aug 21st - Ukulele Workshop - Folkway Music - Guelph, ON

After that I'm heading home to Nova Scotia and a few days sleep I hope. See ya out there!

2010-07-16T00:11:00.001-07:00

Thank you Lorne and Anna at Lorenzo's for an awesome night. The people were great and the food incredible! So happy to have returned to this part of the country.

2010-07-15T17:30:00.001-07:00

Back in the Okanagan. Tonight @ Lorenzo's in Enderby.

2010-07-15T10:44:00.001-07:00

Songwriting workshop with my pal Joanne and Leah Morise & Allison Brown.

2010-07-15T09:04:00.001-07:00

Why do people now believe they need to take phone calls while they drive? Do we really need laws to tell us that it's a stupid thing to do?

2010-07-15T01:10:00.001-07:00

What a great night. Joanne & Andrew made us some awesome burgers, threw us a gr8 house concert and then finished it off with a hot tub soak!

2010-07-14T09:23:00.001-07:00

Today we visit a ghost town, a railway museum and hopefully some songwriting with my buddy Joanne in Revelstoke.

2010-07-13T06:56:00.001-07:00

Now that I own a washboard, I'm gonna get a horn, bell, and assorted stuff to attach to it and I'm gonna challange Washboard Hank to a duel!

2010-07-12T07:20:00.001-07:00

Somedays you wake up ready to take on the world, other days you just want to order more pie.

2010-07-11T14:55:00.001-07:00

I'm the farthest away from home I've ever been. In one week I'll be at the Pacific Ocean and I'll turn around. 6 more weeks to home.

2010-07-10T06:25:00.001-07:00

Today we leave Nanton for the Kooteney Mountains in BC. Yup! Heading to Invermere tonight and Angus McToogles. Tell yer friends!

2010-07-09T20:33:00.001-07:00

I wanna play ukulele in a southern rock band. Freebird!! Show me the way! Let it Roll!! Gimmie the beat boys...

2010-07-09T05:58:00.001-07:00

Good morning Nanton Alberta! Thanks for bringing the sun out so early for me. I'll see you tonight at the Auditorium Hotel for some hot uke!

2010-07-08T15:00:00.001-07:00

Arriving in Lethbridge AB. Gonna rock the Mocha Cabana tonight with Dr Pinkham. Showtime 6pm. See you there!

2010-07-08T06:49:00.001-07:00

Another hectic day on the road. Today we drive to Lethbridge AB to play at the Mocca Cabana @ 6pm. Then afterward it's on to Nanton AB for the night. Crazy!

2010-07-07T16:12:00.001-07:00

Well we made it to Yorkton and found it still standing. Something like 6 inches of water in 1 hr fell here last week. Hard times in Sask.

2010-07-07T10:01:00.001-07:00

I'm riding in the backseat of my van for the first time headed to Saskatchewan.

2010-07-07T05:46:00.001-07:00

The tour leaves Manitoba (and our gracious hosts) for a whirlwind 10 day tour of Saskatchewan, Alberta and BC. 1st stop - Yorkton!

2010-07-06T11:38:00.001-07:00

Sitting on the pier @ Gimli reminds me of the port at Shelburne. The scent of the fish and big water fills the air. I am happy.

2010-07-06T08:33:00.001-07:00

Off to the beach with Dr Pinkham's musicaners - Leah Morise and Allison Brown. Pics to follow...

2010-07-06T06:17:00.001-07:00

I will fear not the obstakles in my path because fate has vouched safe my reward.

2010-07-05T06:23:00.001-07:00

What a beautiful Manitoba morning. Reuniting with the trio this morning for the western part of the tour.

2010-07-04T16:44:00.001-07:00

Having supper in Gimli at Kris' Fish & Chips. Yup, KFC! Awesome.

2010-07-04T07:33:00.001-07:00

Hmmm a day off all to myself. What to do? What to do?

2010-07-03T12:29:00.001-07:00

Thanks to my nephew, I have a new niece. Welcome to the family Jackie!

2010-07-03T06:05:00.001-07:00

Another rainy day here @ Hecla Island. I'm glad the wedding is indoors!

2010-07-02T15:38:00.001-07:00

Family BBQ and manditory donations of flesh to the black flies, blood to the mosquitos. Yay!

2010-07-02T09:50:00.001-07:00

Thunder bolt and lightning, very very frightening me!

2010-07-02T08:29:00.001-07:00

Ah yes Mosquitos. I had forgotten about these pests.

2010-07-01T06:10:00.001-07:00

Happy Canada Day Winnipeg! Thanks for a great show last night and thanks God for health and friends. Have a great day!

Little Box of Sadness review Yorkton This Week

2010-07-01T04:30:00.001-07:00

LITTLE BOX OF SADNESS
Manitoba Hal Brolund
Indie 8-out-of-10
If you are a blues fan in the Yorkton area you likely recall Hal Brolund. He used to be better known as Manitoba Hal, and performed at the Painted Hand Casino back in the day they offered blues nights.

Well, Hal has since moved to the East Coast, dropped the ‘Manitoba' for obvious reasons, and has also found a new love, the ukulele. Yes I said the ukulele. For most of us the small stringed instrument conjures memories of school, where the ukelele was used as a sort of primer to the guitar.

In terms of musicians who play the ukulele professionally, well there was Tiny Tim and the Hawaiian star Don Ho, but generally we think of it as something of a novelty instrument.

Well listen to Little Box of Sadness and you find out a couple of things rather quickly. To begin with Brolund takes the music he plays with the ukulele pretty darn seriously.

And, secondly, the ukulele works nicely for the sort of roots blues music Brolund performs. I suppose that should be obvious when you consider the music is generally a music of the common people, and the ukulele would be an affordable, easily carried instrument.

The CD has eight songs, six by Brolund, including the best of the bunch Call of Angels, and the fun Line & Pole.

Built 4 Comfort by the great Willie Dixon is also included, as is the traditional Somebody On Your Bond.

This is a real solid, enjoyable roots blues CD, played with an instrument not often thought of, giving it something of a unique feel.

Definitely worth checking out to add to one's CD collection.
Check it out at www.manitobahal.com
—; CALVIN DANIELS

Yorkton This Week Article June 30th

2010-07-01T04:28:00.000-07:00

Playing the blues ukulele-style

Hal Brolund

June 30,2010

By Calvin Daniels
Staff Writer

Hal Brolund has been a bluesman for years now, but his music has evolved and changed over the years too.

“My background is a long tale of trial and error,” said Brolund who will perform at 5th Avenue Cup & Saucer with the Dr. Pinkham’s Medicine Show next Wednesday (July 7). “In the late 80s, I explored the band-in-a-box sequence shows with a partner and we played the hits in small town lounges and beer parlours all over Manitoba and North Western Ontario.

“Then in the 90s I took a more original approach to music and began to develop the style that is more familiar to my audience now. I took up slide guitar in 1993 and ukulele in 1995.

“By early 2000 I was touring pretty regularly all over Canada in coffee places, bars and festivals.”
Now Brolund, long known as Manitoba Hal is evolving again.

“I lived in Winnipeg for 25 years but recently moved to Shelburne, Nova Scotia. I live in a century old house about two blocks from the ocean. I am renovating the house and playing music and enjoying the laid back culture of an east coast fishing town,” he said.

As for the root of his roots music, Brolund said pinpointing the interest is not easy.

“I don't know if I can say what drew me to music exactly,” he said. “I’ve always been moved by a good song and an awesome guitarist. I remember living in Clearbrook, B.C. in 1983 sitting with a friend as he played his acoustic guitar along with a record. I suddenly had this flash and heard this voice in my head that said ‘That is what you will do with your life’. I knew then that I would play music the rest of my days. I was 18 at that time and I’ve been on this journey ever since.”

From that point on, Brolund has drawn from a variety of musicians in defining his own style.
“My musical influences are pretty varied,” he said. “I like a lot of old blues recordings. Skip James, Blind Willie Johnson, Robert Johnson, Son House, Taj Mahal. But I also listen to singer/songwriters like Stephen Fearing and Paul Thorn.

“I grew up listening to pop radio, old country and heavy rock. AC/DC, Kiss, Bon Jovi … you name it, I’ve probably listened to it at one time or another.

“Lately I’ve been soaking up Hawaiian music and great Novelty acts like the Hoosier Hot Shots.”
The result is a roots/blues sound for Brolund.

“I mostly play blues influenced roots music,” he said. “I try to distill a band experience down to a solo guitar or ukulele. I’ve also been using modern technology to create a ‘virtual band’ on stage with looping effects. I will play a groove, add a faux bass line and then play over the top giving the impression of a whole band.”

It’s a style and sound defined over a quarter of a century.

“I’ve been playing music for over 25 years now and have been on stages with Dr John, James Hill, Colin Linden, David Essig, Ken Hamm, Big Dave McLean,” he said. “A personal highlight was meeting BB King in 1998 backstage in Winnipeg. He is the only musical hero that I was unable to speak to. I stammered like a star struck kid. Not my proudest moment but it still sends a chill down my spine when I think of shaking his hand.”

Recently Brolund has released his newest recoding ‘Little Box of Sadness’.

“Writing a CD takes me some time,” he said. “I used to churn out songs but as I get older it takes me longer and longer to have something to say. But when I start writing it just starts coming. I carry a notebook around with me and I collect song ideas and lines and then after some period of time which varies all the time, a song will begin to pop out. When that starts happening the song can come quickly or take it's time.

“On this record I have one song where the verses came out quickly and it took another year to find the chorus.”

The music though must come from life to feel right.

“I get inspired by ordinary tales of human interaction,” said Brolund. “I look for the heroism in falling in love even though you are flawed. I like to explore extreme emotions without trying to embrace them and then tell the story in which those emotions occur.”

The CD was recorded on Protection Island, BC with David Essig, and at Brolund’s home studio in Winnipeg in 2007 and 2008.

The resulting ‘Little Box of Sadness’ is a disk Brolund is proud of.

“I am very happy with this record,” he said. “It was released in 2008 and has sold well over the internet to audiences all over the world.

“My favorite cut is the traditional ‘Somebody On Your Bond’. The track features myself and David Essig playing a guitar duet that is reminiscent of Maybelle Carter. The ukulele carries the melody on that track and it’s just awesome and sweet.”

Brolund is joined by Allison Brown and Leah Morise on the Dr. Pinkham’s Medicine Show.

2010-06-30T17:07:00.001-07:00

House concert looks like it will be a sell out! Thanks to Julie Vogelsang! So excited!

2010-06-29T06:50:00.001-07:00

Errands, errands, errands. Today I got all kinds of running around to do. Then tonight a movie perhaps? Only time will tell.

2010-06-28T07:02:00.001-07:00

Heading to Chuby's in Lockport for breakfast and then back to the hideout to rehearse for the show Wed. Lovey's tonight at 6:30pm. See ya there!

Grateful reminders

2010-06-28T06:43:00.000-07:00

I have a lot to be grateful for, my health, a good sense of humour, living in Canada, being lucky. All these are good reasons to be grateful but the best reason I have these days comes from my fans. I have the best fans out there. You folks are awesome without a doubt and I am not always certain I deserve the support you give me but I am happy to accept it none the less.

This tour has been reminding me about this like no other I've done. Here are a few of the things that have happened simply because my fans decided to show me how much they appreciate my work.

1) I received an invitation to play at the Mary Berglund Community Health Centre in Ignace this past week. The person who wrote the e-mail said they had been checking my schedule and noticed that I was playing in Thunder Bay one night and then Wabigoon the next night. Since I had to travel by could I work a show in for them. Of course I did and it was great. It turns out that Gloria (I have forgotten her last name) is the Executive Director of the centre and has been a big fan of mine for sometime. She wanted to get me there so that her friends and people she helps could experience my music. Thanks a heap Gloria.

2) In Wawa I reunited with a long time fan named Peter Burgoyne. Peter has been following me since I first played in North West Ontario and took the time to tell me how happy he was that I had returned to touring. Thank you Peter for sticking by me and buying my recordings and attending my shows. Without people like you I'd probably be doing something else.

3) Another long time fan in Saskatoon, Joannie Dueck decided that she hasn't seen me enough in Saskatoon so she is organizing her first house concert to host me this July. It's a humbling thing when fans turn into promoters just to get a chance to hear you play. Thanks so much Joannie!

4) I have to thank Elmer Kuber who went way beyond the call of a fan when he single handedly raised $600 in travel funds for the current tour. Elmer asked me if he could send a message out to his friends and others about helping with my tour and I agreed but I had no idea what he was going to say. Elmer offered to all his friends that he would match dollar for dollar any donation to the tour fund. So ultimately donations were $300 and Elmer matched them all for a total of $600 in gas funds for the tour. Thanks so much Elmer!

5) Last but not least is just thanking everyone who comes to my shows every time I stop in and play. People like Carl Bleitch in Dryden who have been there for years and still invites me for pancakes when I'm in town. People like Joanne Stacey who invite me into their homes to perform for their friends. Cathi and Gary Hammer who wrote to say it's been too long since I've been to Swift Current so they organized a house concert. Lorri Solomon in Carlyle who also is opening her house up for a show.

You have no idea how humbled I am by your support folks. Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to help me make a living. I sure appreciate you and could not have done it without you or without all the people who just quietly like my music and come to shows, watch my videos on YouTube and buy cds. You people are the best!

2010-06-27T12:38:00.001-07:00

Ok, who's in for Lovey's Monday June 28th @ 6:30pm? I'll be there or with the vegitarian Allison Brown. Mmmmmmm Lovey's.

2010-06-27T12:11:00.001-07:00

I am hurtling toward Winnipeg now. I've just returned to cel service and will catch up on all your messages soon.

2010-06-26T04:29:00.001-07:00

Good morning TBAY! Allison and I are headed to the Scandia House for a good Breakfast and then off to Ignace for a matinee performance.

2010-06-25T23:02:00.001-07:00

A very memorable night in Thunder Bay at the Apollo thanks to Sheila and Alex. Tomorrow we roll on to Ignace and Wabigoon hopefully after a good breakfast at the Scandia House.

Beside Superior

2010-06-25T04:54:00.000-07:00

Every time I am beside Lake Superior I feel the pull of the tides. Big water has this effect on me. I usually feel calmer and more ready to deal with anything that comes my way. I am inspired by the rolling waves and the endless movement. I feel empowered by the possibilities that come with each wave. A new opportunity or a new treasure with each crash against the bank.

Last night Allison Brown and I performed at the Rock Island Lodge in Wawa. It was a fantastic night (as it usually is) and the audience proved once again that great audiences can be found anywhere. But what will stick with me this time is the sound of the water. The surf crashing against the rocks and the sound of an early morning rain fall on the leaves.

2010-06-25T04:45:00.001-07:00

Wow what a night in Wawa. Thanks to David and all the staff at Rock Island Lodge for another memorable night on Lake Superior.

2010-06-24T06:39:00.001-07:00

Today we head north to Wawa ON. Home of the big goose. I'll be out of cel range and only have sporadic email over the next couple days so there may not be many posts.

2010-06-23T21:20:00.001-07:00

A huge thank you to Paul and all the staff at the Townhouse and the Laughing Buddah for a memorable Sudbury night! Onward to Wawa!