Use the search bar to sort posts by category or keyword. If you're enjoying a topic, you can also click categories listed below, or the tags listed at the top of a post to organize a new list of posts with the same categories and/or tags. Enjoy!
As of Thursday afternoon no further damage had been made by the CZU forest fire on the property where I live, but no one could get past the CHP blockades yesterday so we don’t know what has transpired in the last 36 hours, except reports that the fire ...
The fire in the Santa Cruz mountains became an imminent threat to us late on Tuesday night and we evacuated to a friend’s house in Santa Cruz. We got all the instruments out and most of the very important stuff. I’ve been kicking myself for forgetting ...
Just a little update to wrap up a long, but rewarding year. I also want to tell you about a few final dates I have with Canadian singer-songwriter Dan Frechette have coming up this month in California and Nevada, ...
Canadian singer-songwriter Dan Frechette and I are excited to announce that our third album, Between the Rain, sat at #1 for three straight weeks in Winnipeg this summer. Which is quite the honor, being ...
Catching up with you from Medicine Hat, Alberta as Dan Frechette and I continue our new album take-over of North America. In all seriousness though, the road can be tough sometimes and we've been appreciating the little lights along the way.
For ...
It was such an honor and pleasure to open for The Wailin' Jennys over the weekend up in Grass Valley. The audience was so supportive (and thunderous!) and the Jennys were so kind and put on a very inspiring show. Above is one of our songs from the ...
I’ve just learned that in late June 2014 Canada repealed it’s work permit requirements for foreign musicians playing time-limited engagements in the country. As someone involved in a Canadian-American musical duo, this is some of the best news I’ve ...
My year started out great - relaxing after the long tours of last year in a cabin by a lake in British Columbia, starting work on a new album and planning a new show for tours later in the year...
However, soon after, unexpected developments ...
The map photo pretty much says it all - I’ve been on the road this year!!! A few of the routes were repeated, but for the most part, singer-songwriter Dan Frechette and I did a counterclockwise trek of North America, playing over 120 concerts and festivals, ...
Flying back to California this afternoon I’m reflecting on my first Western Canada tour with Manitoba singer-songwriter Dan Frechette - 35 shows and five weeks, across four provinces!
We have been fortunate to have some “back by popular demand” ...
Some of you have been enjoying our overdubs on Facebook, while others are finding us at shows around California. Yes, we’ve finally met and are half way through tour!
Some highlights have included playing Mandolino Waltz, our first overdub, ...
Please email Laurel at laurel@laurelthomsen.com if you have a violin, viola, fiddle, music biz, or practice related question you’d like answered in the blog or on a podcast, have a story or insight to share, or if you’d like to inquire about violin, viola, or fiddle lessons with Laurel, in-person or via Skype, FaceTime, or Zoom.
The Violin Geek Blog is a free resource and always will be. We also don't sell advertising, meaning that what you read is a labor of love. If you'd like to support Laurel Thomsen's efforts and help ensure they continue, please consider making a donation. Thanks for your support!
