This is happening… in less than 3 weeks this is happening. My copilot Nick Howell and I are scrambling to complete my new EP- Life’s Lessons I’ll Never Learn. The father I venture into the studio process, the more I realize that a record is never really “done”. There is always something to tweak, improve, or add. But, … less than 3 weeks. I am excited because this is some of the best musical work I have done. On the evening of November 18, I invite friends, acquaintances, family, and fans (do I have fans?) to join me at the Hidden Agenda Cafe in Midland for a concert and celebration of my 50th birthday. Check out the Facebook Event page for more details.
After my set, I’m requesting something I’ve seen done at other musician’s milestone events. I am inviting my musical friends to come onstage and cover my songs. To get ready for this I prepared a Big, Ugly, Spreadsheet of all of Sean’s Songs. It contains lyrics, chords and demos for my 200+ songs. Before I started it, I estimated that I had written about 150 songs. Digging through notebooks and old digital folders, I kept finding more. There are almost exactly 200 songs in my Big, Ugly, Spreadsheet of all of Sean’s Songs. I’d love to hear my friend’s interpretations of my music at my 50th birthday celebration.
As if one CD release is not enough, I plan to have CDs available for my 2017 February Album Writing Month digital only release, Guitars, Ukuleles, Etc…  Here is the cover art for Life’s Lesson’s I’ll Never Learn and Guitars, Ukuleles, Etc… I found a dozen copies of my 2004 album, For the Sake of the Song, in the basement so those will be available too.
In which I ramble about the travails of recording my 50th birthday EP Tentatively entitled, Life’s Lessons I’ll Never Learn and announce its imminent release on November 18, 2017 at the Hidden Agenda Cafe in Midland. More to follow.
It’s Canadian National Day of Podcasting so I did a bit of a ramblecast/rant about my current thoughts on podcasting and on my creative life in general. Â I also plug my new podcast audiobook, Time for the Fair. Â Please check it out. Â I close out with a recording of This Ain’t My Hat, a song I wrote inspired by a children’s book This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
Happy CNDOP. Â Maybe next year it will be a statutory holiday.
As a lifelong science fiction fan and a folk musician, I have been aware of the existence of Filk music for decades but I had never really investigated it.  I was quite comfortable in my place as a slightly geeky singing schoolteacher and songwriter who told stories about family, faith, childhood, duct tape, and some geeky stuff.
Over the past year, I have come to know a number of Ontario Filkers  through February Album Writing Month and Nanowrimo.  Our family even went to Toronto to our first House Filk this fall and we were very warmly welcomed.  Through these online communities and our one house filk, I feel that I have come to know several people in the Filk community, and I am excited to get to know them better.
But this weekend will still be Ductape Family’s first encounter with the FilkOntario conference. Â My daughter is armed with a couple killer acapella songs from the Doubleclicks and Jane Eggers. Â I have been polishing a few of my most geeky– jam friendly, chorus laden songs from 15 years of writing. Â My wife is eager to meet new people and listen to some great music. Â I have been reading about the event from other attendees, particularly Debs & Errol’s post on What is Filk?
As a virtual introduction to my music, here I am singing my Ballad of Chris Hadfield.
We cannot arrive until Saturday evening, so I’m hoping that someone will email me the topic for the penguin songwriting challenge on Friday or Saturday, because I would love to participate in it. What other advice do you have for relative newbie first- timers to a Filk Conference?
Each January, about 40 friends rent Wildfire Outdoor Education Centre in Wyevale Ontario for a DIY musicians getaway weekend of great food, music, and workshops presented by the participants. Â Here is my DIY workshop on how February Album Writing Month and Nanowrimo changed my creative process.
Song skirmish– someone suggests a skirmish at a certain time. At the given time, they post a title. Then you have one hour to write, record and post a song
Feedback on the site is invaluable. Usually within an hour of posting you will get a couple or more comments from other writers.
Collaboration: some writers are pure lyricists and will post –‘ needs music’ to invite people to set their song to music.
Strong culture of sharing your music and providing constructive feedback to others.
Premise: Write a novel in 30 days from Nov 1 to Nov 30.
Supposed to be a new novel project– not one in progress 1667 words a day– 50000 words minimum. You will not write a novel in 30 days, but if you succeed you will have a very good start on a first draft.
I finished nanowrimo as did my daughter and niece.
Culture of Nanowrimo: Local events and write-ins, online chatrooms and forums,
Word wars– timed writing against others.
Culture of not sharing writing in progress. Would be too time consuming– interfere with people’s ability to write 1667 words daily.
Saturday Songwriters at the MCC. Third Saturday morning of the month at 11am in the Roxy Cafe at the Midland Cultural Centre. For FAWM we will meet Jan 18 then every Saturday in February 1,8,15,22 and March 1.
Time to Write: Song Skirmish Title: Polar Vortex, Snow Day, Do It Yourself
We had 4 writers in the group and here is our finished song.
Do It Yourself
Listen Here
(DIY 2014  Jan 11, 2014)  (c) Mary  Marcolin, Ed Winacott, Sean McGaughey,  Chris Johnston
July 24-28, I attended FAWMSTOCK, a gathering for songwriters from around the world who have participated in February Album Writing Month. Â About 30 musicians from Canada, the United States and Europe gathered at the Emlenton Mill in Emlenton, PA for 3 days of music and merriment. Â This show features some of the music from FAWMSTOCK along with some of my reflections about the event.
As always, the music is copyright its respective authors.
This Friday, May 24, 2013, The Orillia Folk Society closes out it’s Fridayfolk Season with a special 10th anniversary showcase of 10 performers from the Barrie and District Association for Singer/Songwriters (aka BADAS/S).
Leacock Museum’s Swanmore Terrace
50 Museum Drive, Orillia
7:30 pm (doors opens at 6:45)
Tickets are $15 and can be reserved at the Mariposa Office (in person at 10 Peter Street or reserve by phone for ticket pick up at the door 705-326-3655). (cash or cheque only)
Last December, out of our 25+ members, we drew 10 names out of a hat to perform 2 songs at this showcase. I was not initially selected to perform, but we had a last minute cancellation from one of the performers today, so I’m thrilled that I get to be a part of this evening of great music. Â I joined BADAS/S in April or May of 2003, so I have been a member for almost all of it’s 10 + year run.
The evening will be a songwriters in the round format with 3 sets of performers. Each musician will play 2 songs and it will be interspersed with lot’s of stories and laughter in between.
Over the past seven years, I have featured most of these musicians on my show and I have recorded live concerts with many of them.  Tonight, I produced a podcast featuring songs I have recorded of each of  Friday night’s performers.  I have never recorded  John Lemme, so I used another one of his songs.  Enjoy this sampling of ten Ontario songwriters, and if you are able, come out to the show on Friday night.
