Submitted the application for the university of Limerick Community Music Post Graduate program in the hopes that I’ll gain some more effective tools to do the work of promoting a love of traditional song and singing. Now the nail biting begins, and the struggle to figure out how to pay for it.…

The saga continues, I’ve edited my Cv, I’ve paid for copies of my transcript, and I’ve got a number of official recommenders who are interested in my academic goals, and who have seen me in action for a long time. Each can speak to one or more aspects of my work. Fingers crossed, personal statement.

Do I know anyone with professional and/ or academic clout that would be willing to write me a kind/ honest recommendation for a grad school application in community music? I have a BA in studio arts, but I need to support that the application makes sense from other parts of my life. Help?!?!?

Went to the Pelican Inn yesterday, and mapped out next weekend’s sold out Burns supper that I’m performing in. And in the wake of endings and losses I was surrounded by reminders of very old things that still exist. So, what makes relationships and your memories of them, enduring?

And Ray’s gone to make the Angel Band, great. I feel hollow and bereft.

Too many friends feeling lonely and afraid, but if everyone’s doing that, no one gets the hugs they need. See if you can gather your courage to come out of your hidey hole and be the friend you most need right now. It might be really important for you AND the other person. Showing up is vital.

My oldest friend, musical compatriot, and person who saw me first as human received a terminal cancer diagnosis. He’s 80 and fine with an end to the chronic pain, but I’m not. Hospice is a godsend for his family though. He reminds me that seeing and being seen clearly, aren’t for everyone. Bereft.

Winterdance 2025 is a wrap. Here are some photos of one of last performances.

Humbug. Why be a schmuck to service workers in any capacity. Especially now? Lashing out at the people helping you, is just asinine. I was helping someone yesterday and he lit into me! About something I am not able to affect, and made it personal.

Thank you to everyone who came out for our show in Inverness, CA at St Columba’s Church. And especially to our hosts. It was a concert of connection I most needed. I Am honored to have made magic with you. Put Dec 13, 2026 on your calendars for next year & tell friends. We can’t wait. <3

Show on Sunday, Dec 7, 2:30 PM at stcolumbasinverness.org with the lads of Amhránaithe and rehearsal tonight to play the beautiful space as a welcome in to winter. Finding our feet, excited to discover new North-Bay trad music enthusiasts. I would love to see you there for this rare opportunity. <3

Next up: Sunday, Dec 7, 2:30 PM at St Columbas church in Inverness, CA rehearsal this evening with the lads. Come on out for cute pics, with the Christmas celebrity couple (the Clauses), warm and inviting Celtic and seasonal songs, and some toe tapping in the redwoods! You coming?

Someone horribly abusive to me and mine, and a buuunch of other community died last week, in a house fire with his 60 pet & rescue snakes. Mostly I feel relief. The revisionist story in the local rag is gross, but I’m sad for his wife who now has to defend it all. I have a lot of anger to let go of.

I just read that in a war, the psychological impact of yelling helps people feel continue fighting. Every week, even if you don’t think you have anything else you can do, do that, but also, call the political donors corporate offices and rail at the folks working for the companies paying Satan.

I’ve returned from the kingdom of Hawai’i and my heart is full of history. Tales of resilience and survival, and I realized I have a bunch of songs about that theme. So, like some kind of madwoman, I’m gonna dive back in and make another album about it. I need it, and it might be good for you too.

Next up: sessions in Berkeley and Oahu, and show in: Inverness, CA at a beautiful redwood church called St Columba’s Sunday, Dec 7, 4:00 PM in western Marin with Skyler and Jimmy. It really is pretty music with the lads. Flute, guitar, whistles, harmonica, voices, bodhrán, and shruti box. Come play!

HTTPS://pasadenafolkmusicsociety.org/event/amelia-hogab-and-flight-crew/ If you’re in so-Cal in January, (the 10th) I’ll be playing with some of my favorite musicians. Jimmy Murphy, Skyler Blakeslee, & Christa Burch for a spectacular show. 7:30 PM at Knox Presbyterian Church. A rare thing, ya comin?

I feel I should talk about upcoming shows and all, but today I mostly want to be soft and easy in my body. Maybe take a restorative yoga class. I made a giant pot of vegetables and lentils soup. And it feels good in my body to down the warmth and comfort. What’s bringing you ease today?

If you’re a voting member of NARAS, please consider voting for Burnished, for the Traditional Folk Album of the Year Grammy category. And: thanks to every person involved in helping me launch a successful recording into the world. May it move and lift you.

I just read that my album, Burnished made it to the list to be considered for a trad folk album of of the year Grammy. So if you’re a voting member of NARAS member, I’d love for you to give it a listen and consider voting for it for the short list. Thank you.

What do you do to recharge and remember what’s important in these mad times? Today I’m feeling emotionally exhausted

Hosting a benefit concert for World Central kitchen on Wednesday Oct 1, at 6 PM PT w/ my artist colleagues: Mike Berman, Julie Henigan, me, Luca-Mai Ris and Cormac Gannon- let’s help provide humanitarian aid to families in G@za, go to the QR code in the corner to donate any $ and get the zoom link!

I participated in daily antidote of song for European folk music day today, with a Polish woman singing of resistance fighters and a Ukrainian woman who literally had to be moved deeper into her house’s basement while her home was under attack and being bombed. You could hear the munitions. Humbled.

Ridiculously, over the moon excited to host a benefit concert with some stellar performers on Zoom, Oct 1, 6PM PT for WCK. Feeding people in places of turmoil, message me to get the link. I’ll put the performer line-up below.

Cool cool, cancelling everything affiliated with ABC, cause capitulation with actual fascia-ists is bad for everybody. The corruption flows strong, but not stronger than all of us. Everything is built on stories. Must get good at using our voices to tell our stories so they don’t get told for us.

Feeling deeply grateful today. I am okay ATM. Feeling safe-ish and loved and I’m spending a lot of time gathering in and reconnecting to my communities so more people can be okay when the sh!t hits. Checking the edges for the most vulnerable of all. Together is the only way any of us survives. <3

It was fun! Weird but fun to sing with @lightholder.com and @skylerblakeslee.bsky.social for the Essnay theatre in Niles, CA today at an event with the Eugene o’Neill festival and play as backing music for silent films. Made a go of the experiment and with more practice, would do it again. Thx erbdy

What are your best tips for making Instagram videos that pop and are memorable and shareable ? I’m working to up my game and learn how to do this better.

What’s up Ashland?!?!?

New videos from Winterdance 2024 available on my YT channel with the weeds, Paul Kotapish, and Marisa Gilman. Thank you to Wendy Leyden for capturing the fun of it! Yaaay seasonal joy among friends. <3

I was reminded today of what should be intuitive for performers, but is not for me… and that is the importance of stage craft for an audience to respect or value the work. It’s a totally different but important skillset from singing. So, prepare to see me gussy up for performances more going ahead.

Listen to the rest of my conversation with singer @ameliahogan.bsky.social on your favorite podcast outlet or my YouTube channel: youtu.be/kZSXQOoJPXA?... #creativity

How was your birthday?

None of us lives forever, and it’s incumbent upon all of us to leave a positive impact on others while we’re here. That said, other parts of the world, people need help. World Central Kitchen needs money to help pay for feeding people in the Levant. Famine is political not biological alone.

Today’s for painting and writing. Sometimes your heart just needs to turn the tap on and go.

And I made another one… using friends’ footage, my own, and some stock drone footage. Along with digital art from my friend HB M in Texas. The singing of the songs helps us remember ourselves. Dh’eirich Mi Moch Maidainn Cheitein in Scots Gaelic. youtu.be/kXNMbXwX7-Q?... enjoy!

My first music video that I made, with friends, fancy gear, their footage, my footage, long exposures, flyovers from drones, and a lot of love for California. Please forgive odd artifacts. youtu.be/ga7oliT0rYU Share, like, subscribe etc. when you’ve gold in yer bones, you know you are of this place.

What refuels you when your heart needs it? What factors, people, activities, events places, or objects help you remember your wholeness best? How does your community help you have access?

To all my trans beloveds… you are the beating heart of pride month and I am heartbroken for the cruelty. I adore you as blessed, beautiful, and cherished ones. This world is richer and made ever more exquisite for you being in it. Haters here will be blocked.

Estimates put the real numbers at between 12 and 20 million. Mainstream news sources whose editorial and governance boards have been bribed, threatened or cajoled will underestimate and minimize those numbers. If you rely only on the major brands to tell you what’s what, you may be misinformed.

Excited to join T Thorne Coyle for their podcast and record an episode for release later in the summer. What are you doing to nourish your heart and gather strength & resolve? What’s your plan for re regulation so you have the wherewithal? What do you need to do, find, make, or buy to be ready?

I’m feeling the love of California super hard right now, I mean always. But also: we are under attack by a mad president who wishes he were king & is trying his hardest to start $t. So we’re Rolling in the Gold, and San Francisco’s motto is: Oro en Paz, Fiero en Guerro. Gold in Peace, Iron in War.

Musician life, Burnished CD release party at Sláinte in Oakland, CA was amazing vibes, with every seat and then some, filled. We finished out the CD release in the PNW with Vietnamese soup in Davis, which was Pho-King great.

I’m not all about the business side of trying to get my fellow musicians paid for their skill and time, though I care about that a lot, I’m also a singer because I love songs and have since before I could walk. That said, anybody coming on Sunday got carpool room in their vehicle, for friends too?

“Art should make you want to cry or throw up” - Cesar A Cruz I give people a moment or 2 to weep when attending my performances and then I listen to what feels and memories I inspired, shows me I’m doing my job. Great art shows us, how to access our feels and remember our humanity. Go make art!

Sunday, June 8, 5-7 PM rare show of Celtic music legends: John Weed, Christa Burch, Marla Fibish, Skyler Blakeslee, Maureen Brennan, and Skyler Blakeslee at Sláinte Pub in Oakland. I’m so excited for singing and playing with friends. Necessary good right now, our hearts need this so much.

Tonight in Ashland, OR at O’Ryan’s Pub. Traditional and contemporary tunes and songs. May 27, 2025, 7:00 with Skyler and Jimmy. A rare treat. Come to hear live music. <3

Appreciation of art isn’t a zero sum equation. It’s like cake, if someone makes you a cake for your birthday, yaaay, if someone else makes you cake, yaaay two cakes! When you see info about two creators, it means there’s more creativity, and more chances to celebrate creativity. Remember this.

No make-up selfie…. Like that almost every day unless I’m performing. This is what one smiling face of a femme person not trying to be younger or smaller or dumber than I am, looks like. About to drink my afternoon tea and head into the cool, grey garden. Be bright, be big, be as wise as your years.

Nearly done with the first month of Burnished CD release. Thank you to the DJs!!! Gearing up for the PNW tour, Davis, CA 05/21, Salem, OR 05/23, Portland,OR 05/24, Seattle, WA 05/25, Grants Pass, OR 05/26 Ashland, OR 05/27 And Oakland, CA 06/08 AmeliaHogan.com message for details. <3