Artist Activist Award & SFSR Concert Window Music Fest

Song Finalist & Award Winner!

I am incredibly honored and excited to share with you all that I have been awarded the Artist Activist Award for the National Social Justice Songwriting Competition! I was invited to perform last week at the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura, CA as one of the 12 finalists. Then it was announced that I was given the Artist Activist Award, which honestly felt like a dream come true. The award grants the winner a fund that goes towards any social justice project of their choice. My dream project is to work within our homeless community and create a music program...and I will definitely be sharing more on this as it develops. As of right now I am meeting with many folks to get the ball rolling and really could not be more excited about all of it.

The entire festival was just beyond inspiring and I learned so much from other artists and felt deeply moved so many times. I also got to sing "If I Had a Hammer" on stage with Peter (of Peter, Paul and Mary) which was the first song I ever performed live at the tender age of 5, and heard Peter and Paul sing "Blowing in the Wind". The final closing show was absolutely amazing and just blew me away. Poets, activists and artists all coming together to make a beautiful statement of how very important it is to keep fighting for peace and justice in our world today. I know I came home feeling empowered to use my voice for good in this world.

 
 
 

Playing a show this week on Wednesday in your home

This Wednesday evening, I will be performing in my home and will have a live recording going so that you can attend from YOUR home wherever you are! It will be a one hour long performance from 8:30-9:30pm CST, and you can tune in at https://www.concertwindow.com/5217-vanessa-lively

I will share some new songs with you and look forward to hearing from you too, since you can chat and comment the entire time! It's pretty neat and if you have never experienced a Concert Window show, this would be a great time to start! Feel free to email me with any questions you might have...and tell your friends too! If it is something you all like, I will set up more of these online concerts to sing to you wherever you are (while you are in your PJs sipping wine and I am in my house with my babies fast asleep).

https://www.concertwindow.com/5217-vanessa-lively

About this show: This online performance will be part of the Songs for Standing Rock CONCERT WINDOW FESTIVAL. Artists worldwide are uniting on Concert Window to raise funds and awareness for the Standing Rock Film Festival which will be held in North Dakota June 2-4th. This #SFSRFest celebrates the release of the 6th "Songs for Standing Rock" album and serves as a reminder that this struggle is not over. Throughout this online Music Festival, the water protectors will be hosting a Treaty Convention, which is Oceti Sakowin Independent traditional meeting adopted at the Vienna Convention. 

These funds will aid in supporting the Standing Rock Film Festival in South Dakota June 2-4th, and additional funds will support legal fees.

Here are some lovely pictures from Ojai, CA / Natalie Gelman's East Eden Permaculture Commune Heavenly abode where even the spills make hearts...

Well, I hope this finds you well. Sending lots of love from Austin!

Love,
Vanessa

Hello friends-

I am writing to you from my studio/study/garage space when all is quiet here in South Austin. Fall seems to have officially arrived and the air feels fresh & cool. This is my favorite time of year...

I have been quite busy with various projects these days (besides motherhood!) and would love to share with you some of what has been going on. Recently, one of my friends & fellow songwriter Miranda Dawn invited me to be a part of this great workshop that she created. I facilitated a song healing circle with her, and we connected with people who were grieving the loss of loved ones, which was the theme of this particular event. As part of the workshop, the participants were led to freeform write and together we wrote a song for each person using their words. The amount of love and support that was present was just incredible. I left the circle feeling uplifted and renewed. It was such an honor to be a part of this.

Miranda and I will be giving another workshop this Sunday in South Austin. If you happen to be in town, I encourage you to come to the event. The theme is Family Connection and Communication, but is really open for anything. There will be a new moon in the sky, and our focus will be on renewal, hope and new beginnings. Visit http://www.redwolfhealing.com/ for more info.

Me & Miranda after the Song Healing session

Singing "Circle Game" with Shawnee Kilgore

This past weekend I was a part of a great lineup for a Joni Mitchell Tribute Show. I sang the song "Circle Game" with Shawnee Kilgore. The event was a fundraiser for Kerry Polk, who is a fellow songwriter dealing with some health issues. It was such a beautiful show with so many amazing voices singing Joni's songs.

As some of you know, I am also a painter. I have been teaching painting classes and have some really fun events coming up soon. I give lessons at schools, homes, breweries & more! If you would like to attend one of these classes, or want to host one of your own, please email me back to chat.

Sending you all lots of love,

Vanessa

New Music Video for "Unleash the Words

Hooray! The video is ready and I am so excited to share it with you. We filmed this in South Padre Island, TX this past summer (big thanks to Jason Fry, Jason Lively, Sherrie Gomez & Carolyn Reilley!) then sent it off to our talented friend Paul Curreri to edit (thank you Paul!) - he also produced the album, so it is very fitting...

Watch the video "Unleash the Words" now

You can also click this link:  https://youtu.be/hZQCo63yjvE

HAAM Benefit Day 2015

Hello friends!

As some of you might know, there is an AMAZING organization here in Austin that takes care of the many musicians living here. It is called the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, otherwise known as HAAM. Today is a very special day where we raise lots of money for this organization that gives us health care for the entire year. So Austinites - get ready for a fun filled day of music, free activities and so many cool things to check out!! Just visit http://benefitday.myhaam.org/ for the day's events. I will be performing at Whole Foods and Metropolis in the evening.

I am truly grateful for all that HAAM has made possible for me, and I try to make this day special every year. For those of you that don't live in Austin, but would still like to learn more & maybe even pitch in a donation, just go here: http://www.myhaam.org/

"Agave at Big Bend" by Vanessa Lively


"La Voz Latina" by Vanessa Lively

My little family recently moved houses here in Austin. It has been lovely to settle into our new home, paint new pictures in this space and start jumping back into musical adventures. Two of my painting are currently being featured at the National Art Show exhibition held at the Dougherty Arts Center in Austin. They should be up for about a month, so feel free to pop over and take a look at the exhibit. It is really neat.

This past summer, we went to South Padre Island and filmed a fun little music video that I will share with all of you as soon as it is ready. The filming was done by Jason Fry and the editing is being done by Paul Curreri (same talented guy that recorded, produced & mixed Return to Waves!) I'm excited to see how it turns out...!

Well, I sure hope everyone is doing well.

Lots of love-

Vanessa

Online CD Release show broadcasting LIVE on March 15th! Join us!

Hello, hello!

I just want to let you know that on March 15th, we will be broadcasting a LIVE show (from Austin, via Concert Window) on the internet that you can tune in to! It is pay what you want, so you just login, pay as little as $1 and watch the show from the comfort of your home...what a deal! There will also be an online chat room you can participate in, run by my good friend Carrie Elkin, and I hear she is a hoot in the chat room! So mark your calendar and get ready to pour a cup of tea or a glass of wine, grab some snacks, sit in your favorite chair (in your PJs even!) and watch the show.


A BIT MORE ABOUT THE SHOW - CONCERTS IN THE GROTTO & CONCERT WINDOW

So this will be our second CD Release, but the first one to get broadcasted all over the world. We will perform all the songs from the album Return to Waves, and will be a full band. Who is in the band? Well, all the fine folks who played on the record!

Paul Curreri on keys
Devon Sproule on lead guitar & harmonies
Andrew Pressman on bass
Matthew Shephard on drums
Vanessa Lively on guitar & vocals

The actual show will be hosted by Danny Schmidt & Carrie Elkin at their music series Concerts in the Grotto. If you live in Austin and would like to attend in person, please go here for more info and RSVP as soon as possible toconcertsinthegrotto@gmail.com

Show details:
Sunday March 15th
7:30pm (CST)
Concerts in the Grotto (East Austin)
Broadcasted online at Concert Window

Click here to watch the show online:
https://www.concertwindow.com/5217-vanessa-lively


I hope you have a lovely day. Sending hugs from Austin!!

Vanessa

CD Release Show + New Website!

Well it's really here. The day has finally come to celebrate the release of Return to Waves - hooray! I am so excited to play these tunes live with the artists who were such a huge part of the record: Paul Curreri, Devon Sproule, Matthew Shephard and Andrew Pressman. It will be a fun time for sure. If you live in the Austin area, please come join us. It's an early Sunday show at Strange Brew in South Austin. Here are the details:

Sunday February 8th
6-7:30pm
Strange Brew Lounge Side
5326 Manchaca Rd.
Austin, TX 78745
(512) 828-7636
http://www.strangebrewloungeside.com/

New Website for Music & Art
We just lunched a new website for my music & art! The art section is coming very soon, and you will be able to see my oil, acrylic & watercolor paintings. A big thanks to my very talented husband Jason for doing all the hard work to create it!

www.vanessalively.com

I hope your February is off to a great start. Please feel free to write back with some updates on what is going on with YOU! It is fun to hear from everyone...

Lots of love,

Vanessa

Whoa, 2015! You came in with quite a BANG!

Well friends, my New Year started out quite differently than most! I was on my way to play a New Year's Day show at Radio Coffee in South Austin, where I was excited to share the stage with many friends & welcome 2015 with open arms...but sadly, two young fellows blew through a solid red light at a very fast speed and our cars collided, all in a split second. It was surreal and shocking, but I was so incredibly grateful that everyone involved was okay. The cars didn't make it, but all people were alive and well - just banged up a bit. So these past days I have been healing up and taking it very easy. I can't stress enough how very grateful I was to walk away from this and go back home to hug my husband and my little baby boy. Things like this really make you stop and appreciate life and not take it for granted. Oh, and I am feeling better & better every day! I should be fully recovered in just a couple of weeks.And coming soon...Return to Waves CD Release party FINALLY!

In happier news, I am so excited to celebrate the release of Return to Waves after all this time. CDs are on their way out to radio and such, and the band has been jamming in preparation for the fun event. It has been a blast playing these songs. If you are in the area & would like to join us for the Austin show, come out to Strange Brew Loungeside on Sunday February 8th at 6pm. More details on the show coming soon!

Also, another great album review just came in from Europe for Return to Waves! You can read it here:
InsurgentCountry.net

I hope you all have a beautiful year ahead of you. Happy 2015!

With Love & Gratitude,

Vanessa