Very excited to announce that I am this year's recipient of the Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award from the Ontario Arts Council! You can read all about it here!

The winning song, Jordan, is on my new album -- Hide Nor Hair -- out January 20th through Coax Records/Outside. Toronto launch January 19th, 2017 at the Burdock Music Hall -- save the date, and more dates TBA soon!

The album was produced and engineered by Chris Stringer at Toronto’s Union Sound, and features Benjamin Hermann (drums, vocals), Rachael Cardiello (viola, vocals), Joe Ernewein (bass), Jessica Moore (vocals) and Mike Eckert (pedal steel). Mastered by Fedge. 

Jordan video by Matthew Maaskant:

Here’s a brand new video recorded last month at Hugh’s Room. It was my first time playing at the legendary toronto venue, and a beautiful night. The song is called Full Moon. 

In other news, summer is officially here, and I have several lovely summery solo shows coming up in Toronto, Barrie, Orillia, Elora, Georgetown and Huntsville. I’m also making plans to finally release my sophomore album, which is going to be called Hide Nor Hair. It’s a fitting title for a record that has been long-rumoured but little seen. Stay tuned for more news! xx

Brand new video by Mitch Fillion from Southern Souls!  

We filmed it at Friends House, a stately Georgian mansion that’s home to Toronto’s Society of Friends (Quakers) and many other non-profit community groups. Thanks to Ben and everyone there for having us, and stay tuned for Video PART II. 

I have a few shows coming up in the next couple of months around Toronto, Western Ontario, Michigan and Montreal. If you’re in the area I’d love to see you there. 

xo

Hey! A few Toronto shows coming up this month, and a visit to Folk Alliance International — click here for details.  

Tonight is my monthly night at the Tranzac, Early Birds, featuring Shawn William Clarke. Shawn’s songs cast a gentle but powerful spell, setting vivid stories and simple, catchy melodies against intricate finger-style guitar.  

Check out this poster I made using my cool new design skills, which mostly involve yelling at my computer.  

Early Birds is normally the first Saturday of every month at the Tranzac. Next month ONLY, we switch to 10pm Thursday March 3rd, with rad guest star Ada Dahli. Stay tuned for more poster magic.  

Read on for more February stuff…

One last update for 2015: I’m playing a last-minute Tranzac holiday revue tonight in Toronto:

• David Celia

• Kat Goldman

• Sarah Greene

• Kyp Harness

• Paul Kolinski

• Abigail Lapell

• Signe Miranda

• Eric Sorensen

• Doug Tielli

And in other holiday news, here are two traditional songs captured in rehearsal with stunning vocalist Laura Spink. Seasons greetings from both of us. xx

Seasons greetings. December is upon us and I write with tidings of joy and good cheer.

To wit: this Saturday, December 5th, it’s my last show of the Old Year alsongside country-folk wunderkind Zachary Lucky at this month’s Early Birds.

Early Birds is the first Saturday of every month at the Tranzac, 7:30-9:30pm sharp. Early songs. 292 Brunswick Avenue. PWYC. Great times 100% guaranteed or your money back!

Speaking of great times, I have some exciting news regarding my new album, to be released in the year 2016–which is only a few short weeks away.

Produced and recorded by Chris Stringer at Union Sound in Toronto, the album features local collaborations like Ben Hermann, Joe Ernewein, Rachael Cardiello, Michael Eckert and Jessica Moore. Stay tuned for more info about how to pre-order a copy! Using the space-age technologies of tomorrow!!!

In the meantime, here is a new video from Benjamin Hermann’s beautiful Toronto album launch last month. It features gorgeous pianist and vocalist Lara Dodds-Eden, whom I hope to commandeer for many more performances in the future. Thanks John Victor for the videography.

That is all my news for now, but as always please keep in touch and don’t be a stranger and stay warm and dry and try to be good to each other… and to yourselves.

Love,
Abigail

P.S. If you need stocking stuffers I have several hand-crafted locally-printed CD Albums available right here: store.abigaillapell.dreamhosters.com/

It’s summer! I’m leaving right now to go paddle down the Grand River with five other lovely musicians for the 5th annual Fish Quill Canoe Tour. See below or visit http://fishquill.weebly.com/ for more details. Here’s a shot from our launch yesterday at Toronto’s Dufferin Grove Park, photo by Alix Aylen. 

See you on the river!

Fish Quill Canoe Tour is an annual event that takes place on the Grand River in southwestern Ontario.

Each year a group of contemporary Canadian musicians and poets canoes from town to town giving readings in cafés, arts centres, and at historic landmarks along the way.

Mosquitoes in our ears. Sunburns on our knees. And a song in our hearts. Fish Quill Canoe Tour is heading down the river—to you.

http://fishquill.weebly.com/

THANKS TO OUR MAIN SPONSORS:
Ontario Arts Council
Grand River Conservation Authority
Bingemans Camping

I’m so honoured and a little intimidated to be a part of the 2014 Tune Your Ride Tour, an Eastern Ontario bicycle-powered music revue. We’re gearing up… Rolling into town… Back in the saddle… Toronto to Brockville, check out our website for dates and details. See the official publicity blurb, below. Come to our Toronto launch at Dufferin Grove Park Friday, August 22 at 6:30pm.

The 2014 Tune Your Ride Tour, a bicycle-powered travelling music tour, takes four folk musicians from Brockville to Toronto this August. Covering nearly 400 kilometres entirely by bicycle, with all instruments and a full sound system in tow, these pedal-pushing troubadours perform eight bike-powered concerts in towns along the route. Join them for a free concert in Picton’s Benson Park on Wednesday, August 27th at 6 pm. The family-friendly shows open with a set of children’s music from Great James, continuing with performances by acoustic singer-songwriters Abigail Lapell, Ben Hermann and Jessica Moore. Find out more at www.tuneyourride.com.

I’m so excited to be part of the first annual Tune Your Ride Tour, a pedal-powered road show taking three Toronto artists to Ottawa by bike. We’ll travel with all gear and instruments in tow, playing a series of outdoor concerts along the route — with audience members providing all electricity via a bespoke pedal-powered P.A. system.

Our Toronto launch is August 11th in Dufferin Grove Park, 4:30-6:30pm. For complete schedule and details visit tuneyourride.com.

I just got back from participating in my first ever artist residency in northern Michigan. THANK YOU to everyone at ISLAND for the amazing opportunity to write and be alone with the voices in my head for two weeks in a freaking cabin.

Look out!

If you’re a writer, artist or musician and would like to spend some time working in the coziest log structure ever, here is more info on how to apply.

Woodshedding

I arrived just in time to catch a riot of fall colours breaking out, and spent so many beautiful days writing songs and walking in the woods — sometimes at the same time. If you would like to hear some of these new songs, I’m playing shows in and around the Toronto area over the next months. Then, in the new year I will be recording some of these songs so as to release a new record.

Then I will tour all over. So stay tuned.

Debuting new songs at Wagbo Farm house show

xoxo

Abigail

Well it’s been a few months and at least seven countries since my last update. Touring/traveling across Europe and the U.K. has been a pretty wild ride, as they say – so many new and old friends have made the road feel more like home, and I miss you all already. Can’t wait to visit again soon.

Good Voodoo at the Halfmoon in Putney, London. (Photo: Kat Macaulay.)

If you’re in the London area, I have a couple more shows coming up this weekend before flying away home.

Then I’m heading back to Canada, where I’ll play a string of shows around Ontario and Quebec in December/January. As always see here for the latest.

What else? I’m planning to head west and south this winter to visit B.C. and California. If you can help set up a show in your town, please email me! Also finishing up some new songs and, with any luck, will start working on a new record some time in the new year.

In the meantime keep in touch and stay tuned. Huge love.

At the Giants' Causeway in Northern Ireland

Is it really September? If so, I’m gearing up for my first overseas tour, with Montreal’s Malcolm Bauld, who is rad. If you’re in France, Germany, the Netherlands, England or Scotland, this is your chance to see some of that Canadian magic that we Canadians are known for.

In the meantime, here’ is a picture from the last night of the Fish Quill Poetry Boat Tour! Read more about our traveling river adventures at Open Book Ontario, one of the trip’s generous sponsors.

Today I’m leaving for 10 days of shows along the grand river with a troupe of poets! Via canoe! It is called the Fish Quill Poetry Boat Tour and I’d love to see some of you there.

See below for itinerary, and for info on the participants etc:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=139020016119319

Friday, August 5th: Elora: 7pm @Bissell Park Pavilion

Saturday, August 6ht: West Montrose: 7pm @West Montrose’s Kissing Bridge

Sunday, August 7th: Kitchener: 7pm @Waterloo Region Museum in the Christie® Theatre
Joining us are The Good Hearted Women Singers and author, Roy Lewis

Monday, August 8th: Kitchener: Paddle with the Poets Day!: Meet at Bingemans Camping at 10am: Reading 12:30pm @Canoeing the Grand picnic area: Ending the day at Riverbluffs Park, Cambridge
*Canoe rentals are available through Treks in the Wild (www.treksinthewild.com) or Canoeing the Grand (www.canoeingthegrand.com)

Tuesday August 9th: Cambridge: 7pm @O’Keefe Cottage Café & Ice Cream Parlour
Joining us is author, Antonio Michael Downing

Wednesday, August 10th: Paris: 7pm @Brown Dog Café

Thursday, August 11th: Brantford: 7pm @Brantford Arts Block
Joining us is John B. Lee, Poet Laureate of Brantford and Norfolk County

Friday, August 12th: Campfire Reading!: Brant Conservation Area Pavilion

Saturday, August 13th: Six Nations of the Grand River Territory: 7pm @Chiefswood National Historic Site

Back home in Toronto after an amazing time crossing the country. Huge thanks to all the amazing people who helped me out along the way.

I have a few exciting shows coming up here, with Europe and UK Fall tour dates to be announced soon. In the meantime I am doing a lot of writing and generally enjoying the sunny hometown summer days.

Besides that, my album Great Survivor is now available at select retailers across Canada, as well as through mail order/download — please see music for details.

As always feel free to drop me a line with any questions or comments, or if you want to review my record or interview me or have ideas for a show in your town, that sort of thing. Your support is always much, much appreciated!

Till soon,
A

Got back from the east coast last weekend, where amazing times were had. After a few days off, I’m now heading WEST — Thunder Bay and Winnipeg so far (both of which I’ll revisit on the way east) with Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C. shows coming up. (Nine provinces in four weeks.) Then home to Toronto, where I’m doing a couple of exciting shows in June.

The “Shows” page doesn’t seem to be working right, so for now I’ve listed all the remaining dates below. Hope to see some of you there.

May 7 Birch Hills, SK – New Ground Cafe w / Zachary Lucky
[***Regina – Fainting Goat = CANCELLED***]

May 8 Saskatoon, SK – Caffe Sola w / Zachary Lucky
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=167637306623520
[***Flint = CANCELLED]

May 9 Edmonton, AB – Wunderbar
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=205175969513468

May 10 Revelstoke, BC – Big Eddy Pub
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=198532806855348

May 11 Nelson, BC – Outer Clove

May 12 Kamloops, BC – The Art We Are

May 13 Vancouver – Prop House

May 14 Victoria, BC – Solstice Cafe w/ Compassion Gorilla
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=121469251267356

May 15 Victoria, BC – Spiral Cafe (matinee 2-4pm)

May 16 Duncan, BC – Duncan Garrage Showroom
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=178867968829447

May 17 ***Powell River, BC – Higgins Inn – CANCELLED***

May 18 Vancouver, BC – The Railway Club w/ Primrose + Abramson Singers
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=221132884570585

May 20 Penticton, BC – Voodoo’s w/

May 21 Kelowna, BC – Streaming Cafe w/ Andy Shauf
watch FREE Live online at www.streamingcafe.net !
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=107782812640118

May 23 Lethbridge, AB – Owl Acoustic

May 25 Winnipeg, MB – Sam’s Place w / JD Edwards

May 26 Kenora, ON – Cornerstone

May 27 Thunder Bay, ON – Apollo

May 28 Sault Ste Marie, ON – Loplops w/ Fish and Bird

May 29 Sudbury, ON – House Show

May 30 Hamilton, ON – Casbah Lounge w/ Bent By Elephants, Slowly Slowly

June 1 Toronto, ON – TRANZAC w/ The Cry Break, James Irwin
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=169021449821708

June 4 Sarnia, ON – Artwalk Festival – 12 Noon

June 17 Toronto, ON – NXNE – Czehoski 9pm

Hello from London, Ontario. First, so many thanks to everyone who came out to my album launch this past week. It was a magical night and an honour to share it with so many beautiful musicians and friends. Charms and Simone Downes, your music is a total inspiration. So so lovely all around.

And now I’m off on tour, with a few little breaks, for the next six weeks. Coast-to-coast. No stone unturned. I can’t wait to play in a lot of these towns for the first time ever, and revisit some old faves.

If you live in Canada, chances are good I am playing in (or reasonably near) your town, so check out the “Shows” page and come out and say hi.

xo
A

P.S. My album is now available on iTunes and through “Music” page on this site, in physical and digital forms. It can also be requested from your local college/community radio.

This just in: get a free song download when you join my mailing list and/or pre-order the new album, Great Survivor, out April 14th!

Click here to pre-order CD and/or digital copies of Great Survivor

FREE DOWNLOADS:
Great Survivor
Crescent Moon

(Scroll down, click “free download” and enter your email for infrequent, always pertinent updates. You can unsubscribe from the mailing list any time.)

I’m very excited to announce that my new record, Great Survivor, will be released on Thursday, April 14th.

Recorded by Heather Kirby in Toronto, the album features talented local collaborators like Jessica Moore (banjo, vocals), Lisa Bozikovic (piano, vocals), James van Bolhuis (drums), Aaron Lumley (double bass) and Julia Collins (violin).

Toronto launch will take place April 14th at the Tranzac Main Hall, featuring *Charms* (Jessica Moore & Gabe Levine) and special guests TBA; Montreal launch is April 20th at Casa del Popolo, with LAL and Matthew Maaskant.

More coast-to-coast tour dates will be announced shortly — see shows page for info, and of course, kindly drop me a line if you’d like to help set up a little something in your town! I’d love that.

xo
A

Hello and happy 2011! I have some exciting SHOWS coming up in the next couple of weeks in Montreal, Halifax and Toronto. Also, a NEW ALBUM in the very final stages of gestation and audio wizardry. More ALL CAPS UPDATES soon soon soon.

For now, I’m busy learning Gordon Lightfoot covers and train songs to perform on board the old MTL-HFX line, aka “The Ocean”. (Can a horrible pun about “hot tracks” be far behind!?) If you’re a musician who loves free train trips, you too can get in on VIA Rail’s On Board Entertainment Program.

And if you’re in Montreal on Tuesday, January 25th, you can come hear me play an early set (9pm!) at Casa del Popolo with THE DAMN TRUTH.

Then in Halifax on Thursday, January 27th, at the Bus Stop Theatre, I’m playing with the amazing RAE SPOON and AMBRE MCLEAN as part of In the Dead of Winter Festival.

For those of you in Toronto, on Wednesday, February 2nd my friend and terrific songwriter SARAH GREENE is launching her debut solo album, Toronto Blues, at the TRANZAC Main Hall — along with a lineup of super special guests. I recommend getting there early, at 9pm!

Stay warm and keep in touch, and I hope your year ahead is filled with hot tracks.

Guess what? I recorded a traditional Hebrew song called “Sevivon” (aka “Spin Little Dreidl”) for the wonderful and free-to-download Feats of Strength 2010 Holiday Compilation!!

(Note: to stream/download my song only, click here!)

Love,
Abigail