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Well folks, I’m in Winnipeg for 5 weeks to record the next album. YEAH!!!!!
As you can see from the photos on my facebook page (please visit it!), and some may have even seen us perform, I am working with a 5 piece band from Winnipeg. You may know them as the F-Holes. I also call them The Winnipeg Five. So, we have a bunch of new tunes, a barn on a bison ranch, a super excellent and excited recording engineer Steve Loree, and we're going to mix it up and make it happen. I will keep you all posted with stories and pictures!
Love and peace to you all!
LMH
This message was posted on the LMH Website Guestbook Page. Had to share it:
Thanks for the Prince Albert concert on Wednesday. I think your songs should always be heralded with horns. There is something I must tell you. Our six year old granddaughter, is also a great Little Miss Higgins fan, even if she wouldn't sing Bargain Shop Panties at her kindergarten recital, has named he chinchilla after you! You wouldn't know this unless I told you.
Munden Coates
Arborfield
Little Miss and this fabulous 5-piece band are playing the Broadway Theatre in Saskatoon on Friday, November 30th with special guests The Midnight Roses. Doors at 7:00pm, Show at 8:00pm.
Little Miss Higgins & The Winnipeg Five will trail blaze their way onto the stage with full arrangements of Higgins’ songs as well as a handful of new numbers to give a sneak peek at next year’s anticipated new release.
The Winnipeg Five are a 5-piece band from that very city, that have made a name for themselves across the country under the handle of The f-Holes. Higgins has shared the stage with these fine, five fellows in the past, including two shows at 2012 Festival du Voyageur in Winnipeg MB. The trumpet player, James McKee, also performed on her last two album Across the Plains and Live: Two Nights In March, as well as fellow band member and bass player, Patrick Leclerc coached Higgins on her French singing and co-wrote on “Beautiful Sun”. So, in addition to their history, future endeavors with this group of fine players are not to be missed.
Guitar and Lead Vocals: Little Miss Higgins
Banjo, Steel Guitar and Backing Vocals: Eric Lemoine
Guitar and Backing Vocals: Blake Thomson
Trumpet and Backing Vocals: James McKee
Bass and Backing Vocals: Patrick Leclerc
Drums and Backing Vocals: Evan Friesen
The past few months have been a time of staying closer to home and…let's say, “artistic housekeeping and creative maintenance”.
There have been a handful of shows that have kept the touring bug alive. In June, Foy and I played at The Midsummer Festival in Smithers BC, a part of the country we’ve never been before. It was beautiful and we met some wonderful people including a young band from Vancouver called The River and The Road.
One show in July enticed us out of home hibernation to open for Marty Stuart and the Superlatives at the Bear Claw Casino in southern Saskatchewan. An excellent show and Marty and his band were phenomenal—hot shot Nashville cats! We played as a trio with bass player Joey Lorer, which we did as well this past weekend in Winnipeg at the first annual BBQ and Blues Festival. A really fun event with other performers like Eddie Shaw from Chicago, Austin’s Jimmy Vaughn and Winnipeg strong-arms Big Dave McLean, Scott Nolan and Romi Mayes.
There is one more festival to play before autumn sets in and the last of the garden needs tending. Next weekend, August 25th, is the Wood Mountain Folk Festival. This performance will be with the Winnipeg band the f-holes, who are a fantastic 5-piece with chops and style. I will also be touring with these fellas in the fall throughout Saskatchewan and Alberta. Check back in September for dates.
Hope all is well in the world out there! Hope the gardens are good, the lakes are refreshing, the bears are staying out your tents, and the heat is making you sweat!
June 26, 2012, Nokomis – As students all across the province are getting excited about the upcoming summer break at the end of the school year, students at Nokomis School are heading into summer singing a song they wrote, recorded and shot a video for with blues recording artist Little Miss Higgins!
Over the past year Nokomis School underwent a school review. But with the unanimous vote of the Horizon School Division to keep the school open, students are relieved and happy to know that they will be going back to the familiar surroundings of Nokomis School after the summer break.
It was during the review process, when things were uncertain, that Little Miss Higgins began a series of song writing workshops for students from kindergarten through grade 12. The workshops were part of a song-writing project supported in part by the Saskatchewan Arts Board. The workshops, rehearsals and performances have resulted in the creation of the song, “I’ve Been in Grade One”.
Using a question and answer format, Little Miss Higgins had the students put to paper the reasons they liked their school. She then used their words to create the lyrics for the song, wrote the music and guided the students in recording the song. Lisa Bart, a past graduate of Nokomis School, was the Sound Engineer and the music for the song was recorded by Nokomis talent as well, David Mark (aka Foy Taylor) on guitar, Irv Fines (Men Without Shame) on bass guitar, and Cory Bart (The Seekers) on drums. The song was mastered by David J. Taylor, one of Saskatchewan’s top recording engineers and producers and Colin Hubick of Red Hat Studios (Regina), generously contributed his time to shoot and produce the video.
You can view the video at: http://vimeo.com/user6528327/nokomisschool
Little Miss Higgins and David Mark will be discussing their experience with the creation of this song and the positive effect it has had on the students heading into this next school year. They will be interviewed on the Morning Edition on CBC Radio on Wednesday, June 27th, at 7:45 a.m.
Hello to everyone in the world who reads this! Little Miss here sending salutations from the Great Northern Pains. To all fans and friends I want to let you all know I am taking time off from touring and enjoying a spring break—watching the snow melt, wearing rubber boots and dreaming about the garden (this year I’m going to plant a lot watermelon and cantaloupe, along with everything else of course).
I won’t be on the road again until the summer and fall. I will keep you all posted! I am going to be playing a lot more with a band from Winnipeg, the f-holes, which is exciting. Foy Taylor and I played with them this past February in Winnipeg at the Festival du Voyageur. The festival was fantastic including the Metis sashes, the fur hats and the Caribous (a Quebecois drink made from red wine, whiskey and maple syrup served in an ice shot glass). And, playing with the band was a blast. To get a taste of the show you can view a couple of Youtube videos:
Little Miss Higgins with the F-Holes - Bargain Shop Panties
Little Miss Higgins with the F-Holes - Dirty Ol' Tractor
For those folks who have inquired online about purchasing my Wash Your Blues Away Lavender Vanilla Soap made by Hempen Stuff in Big River SK, unfortunately it is a specialty item I only sell at live shows. You can, however, purchase music online by visiting my website or ITunes.
Happy Spring wherever you might be!
LMH
Little Miss Higgins and Foy Taylor ventured to Whitehorse, Yukon Territories this past weekend for the 2011 Western Canadian Music Awards. Being their first time to visit, the region, it was a fantastic affair welcomed by great people, good times, a trip to the gun range and two awards.
Little Miss Higgins’ album Across The Plains received an award for Best Blues Album at the Sunday night awards show. Also, the day before at the Industry Awards, Higgins won for Best Album Design.
Higgins is proud of the accomplishments of the album and thankful to all the folks who helped create it (co-producer Jaxon Haldane; engineer Len Milne at Bedside Studio; all the musicians; all the funders including FACTOR, Manitoba Film & Music, Saskatchewan Arts Board).
Little Miss and Foy also performed as a duo as part of the Breakout West Festival along with many other great musicians and friends. Check out www.breakoutwest.ca for details on other awards and performances.
Thanks from LMH to the WCMA’s, to the city of Whitehorse for hosting an excellent event, to Ken for the trip t the gun range, to Gordie Tentrees for the adventure in the woods, SaskMusic for an awesome after-party.
Check out their website at: www.thesheepdogs.com
In celebration of the release of the Bargain! Shop Panties music video, Little Miss Higgins Music will be giving away ten free albums and pairs of panties signed by Little Miss Higgins herself!
All you have to do is take a picture of yourself holding a pair of your favorite under…wear and send it to showusyourpanties@gmail.com. Every Wednesday for the next five weeks we’ll pick two lucky winners and send them their very own copy of Across The Plains and an autographed pair of Bargain! Shop Panties!
RULES: - Fellas and ladies, you don’t have to be afraid to pose with panties if you don’t want to. Boxers and briefs are totally fine! - Only one photo per person please! - Winner's photos will be posted ONLY WITH THEIR PERMISSION So get out there and send in those photos! Remember: the e-mail address to send your pictures is showusyourpanties@gmail.com
Go to the Facebook page to see the winners!
Over the course of the past 2 months, a new video for "Bargain! Shop Panties" has been organized, filmed, edited and even a pre-release viewing at the Nokomis Hotel Bar this past week-end on June 24th.
The official online release will be July 3rd. Until then there will be sneak-peak photos here on the homepage and on Facebook. New photos will be posted each day.
Thanks to The Bargain! Shop who supported this video. The release of the video is in conjunction with a nation wide panties sale. You check more about that on their website:
The pre-release in Nokomis went over with a splash. There 4 different viewing throughout the evening which at 6:00pm and ended at midnight. In between showings, we played assorted games: Pin The Panties On Tony, The Freshly Washed Panty Toss and the infamous Chicken Toss (introduced by the High and Lonesome Club in Winnipeg MB). Many of the local stars of the video and people who donated washing supplies and filming locations where in attendance, including Reg and Ruth Greves, owners of the beautiful, red 1967 Dodge grain truck.
Can't wait for you all to see it!
Little Miss Higgins
FINAL TOUR UPDATE:
Sitting in the garden now after the whirlwind kd lang support tour. The seeds we planted before we left have sprouted and there are little mats of green everywhere (veggies and weeds). Today is day 2 of the Bargain! Shop Panties video shoot.
The return trip to the UK was certainly a success, as well as fun! Thanks again to kd lang and the Siss Boom Bang. Also, to the tour and production crew; they were amazing and made our jobs run smoothly!
And one last HOORAH! for Rebecca Kemp, our tour manager! She's a true pro and knows how to pull out the perfect party game!
Here's the press release that went out just before heading back:
LITTLE MISS HIGGINS TO OPEN FOR K.D. LANG TOUR IN UK
"Jolene Higgins attacks it all - blues, country, jazz, folk and nostalgic pop - with heartwarming relish and a voice occasionally reminiscent of Calamity Jane-era Doris Day."
- Mojo Magazine
Shortly after finishing a triumphant 18-date debut tour of the UK in April, Little Miss Higgins is returning to those shores as the opening act for Canadian music legend k.d. lang on a 6-date tour of England and Scotland.
"I have admired her music and her voice ever since I can remember." says Little Miss Higgins. "She is a legendary artist. Being a fellow Canadian, and fellow Albertan, I have heard her music and her name across the country. She is a true inspiration. It will be an honour to open for her and meet her."
The UK concert tour starts at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham on May 30th and ends at the Clyde Auditorium in Glasgow on June 6th.
Those who haven't seen Little Miss Higgins perform live are in for a treat as she combines self-penned songs with old classics from such legends as Memphis Minnie. Her electrifying stage presence, powerful voice and own unique brand of 1930's blues make her an artist you don't want to miss! For information on Little Miss please click on this media kit www.littlemisshiggins.com/press.php for bio, downloadable pics and fully streamed album.
Little Miss Higgins has spent the past year touring behind Across The Plains, which was released in April 2010. The album was recorded at the Bedside Studios in Winnipeg and was co-produced by singer/songwriter Jaxon Haldane and Little Miss Higgins. Foy Taylor, as well as many other fine Western Canadian musicians, joined Little Miss Higgins in the studio to help create this wonderful project with such titles as "Snowin' Today: A Lament For Louis Riel", "Bargain! Shop Panties" and "Glad Your Whiskey Fits Inside My Purse".
"Saskatchewan's economy is boomin' and so is the province's music scene. Leading the way is blues/folk/roots singer Little Miss Higgins, who sings with the soul of a flapper."
--Sandra Sperounes, Edmonton Journal
"She's got a twenties or thirties sound thing goin' on and a voice that's smooth like a prohibition fog rolling in on a lake of honey surrounded by cotton ball trees... with Mint Juleps scattered around the beach, of course."
--Super Turbo Bunny
k.d. lang and The Siss Boom Bang Tour Dates:
May 30, 2011 7:00 PM Symphony Hall Birmingham
May 31, 2011 7:00 PM The Bridgewater Hall Manchester
Jun 2, 2011 7:00 PM Royal Festival Hall London
Jun 3, 2011 7:00 PM Royal Festival Hall London
Jun 4, 2011 7:00 PM Royal Concert Hall Nottingham
Jun 6, 2011 7:00 PM Clyde Auditorium Glasgow
UK Reviews:
June 2011 Edition of MOJO Magazine of Across the Plains (4 out of 5 stars):
"Across the Plains" Good-time music, old-time style, from the Great Northern Plains of Canada - Albums are like people, really. Some scowl at you from behind all the other CD's while others make you instantly warm to them. With its colourful sleeve and ebullient mix of old-time country, pop nostalgia, string-driven things and lively horn outbursts, this is such an album. Occasionally diving in to French, Jolene Higgins attacks it all - blues, country, jazz, folk and nostalgic pop - with heartwarming relish and a voice occasionally reminiscent of Calamity Jane-era Doris Day. She belts out the saucy Bargain Shop Panties with an infectious wink, strums ukulele as she recreates the spirit of a Prohibition-are drinking song on Glad Your Whiskey Fits Inside My Purse, but shows she has the stomach for the heavier stuff with Snowin' Today, an evocative tribute to the resistance leader and Canadian folk hero Louis Reil."
(Portion of Article)
Monday 4th April 2011
WHAT a night this turned out to be. For both acts stormed the place – with, I hasten to add, the vociferous help of a bunch of young, well-oiled and enthusiastic fellow nationals of Little Miss Higgins.
From the off, Saskatchewan based Higgins and her accompanying guitarist, Foy Taylor, pumped up an energy level bordering on combustible. Playing fabulously good and beefy electric guitar, with songs to match, they wooed the Cluny2 audience like few others.
It didn’t take us long to wonder how good the headline act were going to be if they were better than the bubbly, born-to-entertain Higgins. She had them begging for more with her smart anecdotes and such songs as the Canadian sown and raised The Dirty Ol’ Tractor Song, The Train’s A Comin’ Down and the cheeky Bargain! Shop Panties.
Oldies but Goodies!
Festivalgoers bask in the blues at Deer Lake Park
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun
By Graeme McRanor, Special to the Sun August 15, 2010 Comments (1)
Portion of Article:
The lovely Little Miss Higgins performed next. Nelson’s [Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real] band might promise the authentic but this duo — comprised of Jolene Higgins and her partner Foy Taylor — delivers it. Higgins has been described as a “pocket-sized powerhouse” and that's apt: the Saskatchewan-based singer delivered a big sound as she twanged and sang her way through personal, small-town experiences. Born in Brooks, Alberta, and raised in Independence, Kansas, Higgins brings a down-home vibe to her blend of country and blues. For instance, she makes her own hemp-based soap (which she usually sells at shows), so she wrote a song called Wash These Blues Away. Makes sense, right?
Vancouver Province July 2010 CD Review
Across the Plains (Independent)
For her second album, the Sakatchewan singer has gone deeper into the past,
sounding at times like blues-belter Bessie Smith.
It often sounds like Higgins set up her band in the studio and performed live
while telling the engineer to make the record sound cavernously old.
There is a lot of interchange between her and her band, especially on “Bargain!
Shop Panties,” that seems genuinely spontaneous and therefore is fun.
As well as blowsy horns that create a ragtime feel, there is some mighty guitar
playing, heard to best effect on the swampy seven-minute closer, “Slaughterhouse
(Revisited).” B
— T.H.
The Coast (Halifax) July 2010 CD Review
Across the Plains (independent)
by Laura Kenins
Little Miss Higgins comes from another era; one can only surmise that the roaring
’20s are still raging on in the Saskatchewan village she hails from. Higgins
wraps her deep, rich blues voice on tales from the traditional to the ridiculous,
like “Bargain! Shop Panties” (“So lovely, so divine, I buy
’em all the time, my Bargain! Shop panties”) and “Glad Your
Whiskey Fits Inside My Purse.” This record features more jazzy arrangements
than her last, with sounds stretching from blues to jazz to big band, covering
everything from Canadian history to contemporary mythology to the blues and
boozing. You’re left with the sense that, despite her talents, Little
Miss Higgins doesn’t take herself too seriously---plus a strong desire
to surreptitiously down a bottle of whiskey with her at the back of a bar.
Uptown Magazine, Live at Times Change(d): The High and Lonesome Club,
Winnipeg Manitoba- June 25, 2010
Winnipeg International Jazz Festival
by Jared Story
There’s something in that Nokomis water. The small Saskatchewan town — population 400 — is the birthplace of Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Jordan Hendry, Streetheart frontman Kenny Shields and author Max Braithwaite, not to mention Hockey Hall of Famer Elmer Lach. It also imports ability; just take Alberta-born, Kansas-raised, Nokomis-based Little Miss Higgins.
This diminutive dynamo lit up the Times Change(d) Friday night with her combination
of fiery licks and leads, blues-boogie riffs and irresistible prairie charm.
Speaking of Saskatchewan, most of Little Miss Higgins’ music is inspired
by Canada’s breadbasket. Accompanied by partner/guitarist Foy Taylor,
Higgins performed such made-in-Nokomis numbers as In the Middle of Nowhere,
That Train’s A’ Comin’ Down and Velvet Barley Bed. She also
had spectators in stitches with an embarrassing tale involving a discount store
and delicates before launching into a side-splitting singalong called Bargain!
Shop Panties. Higgins got plenty of audience participation on Beautiful Sun,
after she encouraged people to do their best bird whistles — she was met
with plenty of warbling, a few “ca-caws” and, this being the Times
Change(d), the sweet sound of a rubber chicken. For the most part, though, the
crowd]s contribution was involuntary and hearty, with plenty of toe-tapping
heard during Pig Meat Strut — a fast then faster Big Bill Broonzy instrumental
— while Glad Your Whiskey Fits Inside My Purse moved one woman to buy
shots for Higgins and Taylor. The whiskey was well-deserved.