Artist of the Day | DAN FRECHETTE & LAUREL THOMSEN

ARTIST OF THE DAY

05.03.2022

DAN FRECHETTE & LAUREL THOMSEN

LOCATION

Bonny Doon, CA, USA

GENRE

Roots/Folk

 

CURRENT MEMBERS

Dan Frechette and Laurel Thomsen

With the current pandemic, the state of the music and touring industry has dramatically changed. Where were you when everything was brought to a halt? 

We cancelled a number of tours including one of Europe. We have been in Bonny Doon, CA since then, where we are based. We are grateful our Publicist, Eric Alper, is still working to help get our music heard!

How has that affected your plans for the coming year? Did you have a tour planned, upcoming album release?

Those years are in the past. The plans we made were to lay low and keep playing locally as much as possible. The future plans for 2022, 2023 include playing a few local festivals and as many outdoor gigs as we can.

What have you been doing to fill/make the most of your new-found free time at home? How are you supporting your mental health through all of this?

I have written 1600 songs, so I have been busy archiving and recording albums playing all the instruments (they are all up on Dan Frechette - Bandcamp". I'm also working on a big book of all my writing, from 5000 pages over the years. Laurel has been very busy with her teaching violin and viola and building up our websites and creating music videos for our 5th album release.

How are dealing with the Covid fifth wave? Have things locked down again in your region? Have you had to cancel gigs, tours, etc.? Are things reopening & restrictions are lifting in your region? Have you booked any new gigs, tours, etc.? What are your plans for 2022?

Things are ok here - they just stopped the mask mandate, which I think is unwise. Chances are we'll all be in a lockdown again soon. We've called this many times in the past. The law of causation just doesn't seem to register with the folks who call the shots, who are probably only thinking about the economy anyway. I've booked a return trip to Winnipeg to see family, but aside from that there's been no plans for tours until this pandemic dies down and we can finally go back full force as performers again. It's really frustrating to book gigs and have them be cancelled. Touring is very difficult to put together at the best of times, and if one venue cancels the whole tour is in peril of losing money.

Favourite Starlite Room Moment?

Being introduced to you by Eric Alper!

Do you have a message for everyone at home reading this?

Stay safe! Be well! Make the most of everything you can!

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