I was to have been in Toronto today, getting ready to play my second gig with James Vincent McMorrow. Sadly, the visas hit a bump and didn’t get processed in time. They’re in for a treat tonight (and then next week in New York) as James does his inimitable thing. It was after a beautiful solo show a year and a half ago in St Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny, that James spoke to me about his wish to put some horn parts on his new album. I went away from that conversation excited and it’s amazing now to be playing a part in introducing the new material to the world.

The silver lining from not being away this week is that I can go to two gigs that I’d have otherwise missed: Patty Griffin next week (who Jen and I have never seen live — *very* excited about that one) and tonight New Dublin Voices in the exquisite Christ Church Cathedral. I can’t wait to hear what they’ve been working on. Since I stopped singing with them, they’ve gone on to win gold medals in one of the most auspicious choral competitions in the world (in Arezzo, Italy) and have greater things ahead.