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Newz August 18, 2009 IMPORTANT INFO: Our Shopping Cart Page is now open for CD orders through Pay Pal. Just click to the left of the page on CD's and you will find all three of our CDs ready for purchase. 2009 So Far! ChoirGirlz have been BuZZZZy! SUMMERFOLK, 2009
August 14 - 16th  This photo comes compliments of Jacob Moon We were so blessed to have
been chosen by Richard Knechtel, AD of this festival, to add our voices
to the plethora of talented artists sharing their musical gifts with
the thousands of attendees at Summerfolk. We were again treated
like royalty - everything was organzed to a tee, and duties ably carried out by
hoards of devoted volunteers. They shuttled us to the Kelso Beach
Park in Owen Sound; they schlepped our gear from one stage to the
other; they fed us; they set us up; they guarded our equipment - not a
stone was unturned! We shared the stage with Valdy, Tanglefoot,
The Austin Lounge Lizards, Soul Influence, Susan Werner, Vance Gilbert,
Jacob Moon, Suzie Vinnick, and checked out many wonderful artists like
the legendary Peggy Seeger, Wendell Ferguson, Evalyn Parry, The McFlies
and other melodious acts that sweetened the air over the hills and
valleys of this fantastic park. For an album of photos of the
event - if you are on Facebook, please visit Facebook and check out Debbie's Photo album called Summerfolk 2009.
CORKTOWN UKULELE JAM
ChoirGirlz have taken up the ukulele, and our first official appearance at Toronto's Corktown Ukulele Jam
took place on August 5th, where we sang a song Debbie wrote for the
Girlz to sing and play together, honouring the mighty uke! You
can see us on You Tube singing
our slightly naughty little song "Play Me".
It was such a pleasure to drive to Beaverton together to be featured in Beaverton's 125th Anniversary entertainment lineup. The day was gorgeous, and by the time we arrived, there had been a parade and horse show, clowns, and art displays. We were slotted in the evening between two rockin' country bands Wolfgang and Alex J. Robinson. We performed on a stage overlooking the fairgrounds, with the audience across a field from us - but the sound system was superb, and from what we could see, the audience really enjoyed themselves. We had a great time, and hope to return to Beaverton soon! PLEIN AIR SALON: July 1st
Part of our appreciative audience in the trees above!
TORONTO TASTE: June 14th
 Debbie and Dorothy enjoy Yorkville during Toronto Taste We drove back to Toronto
from Harriston in the morning, and took a short breather before heading
to Yorkville, for soundcheck at this annual festival, which is a
fundraiser for Second
Harvest. All the superstar chefs from Toronto restaurants were
set up in tents on Cumberland Avenue, handing out portions of some of
their specialties - from succulent
h'ors d'oevres made of elk meat, to chocolate treats, fine wines from
our Niagara region, and micro-brewery beers. Before we performed,
we made the rounds, and tasted nearly everything- YUM! We went onstage
to do our show just as the clouds were rolling in, and the rain held
off until our last song. Then the sun came out, and the party
continued. We consider ourselves so lucky to have been invited
back to add our entertainment to this worthy event, and to partake of
the sumptuous culinary treats!
MINTO ARTS COUNCIL BASEMENT CAFE: June 13th This wondeful opportunity
took place in Harriston Ontario, and it has to be one of the best gigs
we've ever done! We were hired by the mega-talented Juanita
Wilkins, and from the get-go, were treated like royalty. We were
wined and dined in style by Minto Arts Council treasurer Gord Duff
before our show. The audience was so appreciative of us,
our crazy humour, and our songs - the Harriston Library was packed, and we sold quite a
few CD's. We were billeted at the farm of Dorothy and Pete
Harrison, descendents of the original settlers of Harriston (Northwest of Toronto), after whom
the town is named. We jammed with many of the local musicians at
Dorothy and Pete's, while basking in the warm light of Dorothy's
stained glass tiffany lamps. Mary Ellen finally felt ready to
pull out her banjo, on which she's been practising for some time, and
jammed with the excellent local musicians. After an amazing sleep in a beautiful,
quiet farm atmosphere, we were treated to a delicious stick-to-yer-ribs
farm type breakfast by Dorothy Harrison. What a fantastic
experience!!! We are so blessed!
Here we are with Dorothy and Pete Harrison just before leaving for Toronto on Sunday morning!
MUSIC ON THE HILL: May 14th FREE TIMES CAFE: April 17th We were delighted to be
invited back to our favourite Toronto venue, to do a night of our songs
for a very appreciative audience!
WINTERFOLK: Feb. 14 - Black Swan-
We performed our show at prime time on Valentine's Day - brought a little love into the hearts of all who attended. November 2008 - Livin' It is released!Our third CD! Sept. 25, 2008
NEW CD -- LIVIN' IT!
Throughout
the past two summer months, we've been recording our third CD.
The recording consists of thirteen new tunes written by Debbie
Fleming (2 have been cowrites with ChoirGirlz). We've entitled it
"Livin' It" because the material is all about life -- the ups and
downs, the laughter the tears, the changes.....
Our CD Release Launch falls on November 9th, a day when there will be many Remembrance Day services throughout the world. One of the songs on the CD entitled "Ode to a Vet" was written by Debbie to honour her late father - Major William A. Duncan, who fought with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in WWII. "My father was so proud about his role in the war, and sometimes I think that was the most important part of his long life. He never tired of talking about WWII and his military experiences overseas - he was one of the first soldiers to enter Holland to liberate the Dutch at the end of the war" says Debbie. Another heart-wrenching song "Moving Day" involves the experience of moving elderly parents from their family home, to assisted living facilities -- inspired not only by Debbie's experience, but also by similar experiences of friends. But then -- we have humorous songs -- usually a tongue-in-cheek look at the frustrations of this changing world around us -- "ComFTRble" (a fashion statement about the changing body); "Five Remotes" (looking at technological challenges); "Summer in the City" (winner of the Sentimental Songs award at the Flying Cloud Folk Club - exploring the noises and distractions that make city summers so.....interesting..); and "Dream Baby" -- all about that purrrrfect man! We have wedding songs -- two of which were sung by the ChoirGirlz at Debbie's son Gordon's wedding to Sara -- "My Beautiful Boy" and "Will You Stay With Me". We have a couple of easy singalong folk tunes -- Peace on Earth and The Earth Hour Song (which was featured on the Toronto Star website in March 2008, in honour of the first "Earth Hour" day). Other songs -- Simple Life, Tormented Soul and The 505 cover pleasure, displeasure and riding the streetcar. The CD will be available to order through our Shopping Cart as of October 20, 2008.
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