July 20


June 25

Well to answer the question you've all been asking...SouljahFya, an amazing Edmonton reggae band was chosen to open Lilith Fair this year. While I would have loved to play, I know they will be an awesome addition to the festival! The support I received during this competition blew me away! People I hadn't spoken to in years got online to vote, and over 30,000 people got to hear my song Pictures during the month of May because of this experience. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart to all of you who spent countless hours voting and being so supportive to me! I'm a pretty firm believer that life works out the way it will and good things are always around the corner!

Now some great news...I was recently given a grant from Rawlco Radio to go towards my next full length album! Thanks so much to them....I'm so excited to get started on this project and can't wait to have some new music to share with you! The next few months will be more writing, and I'm looking forward to that :)

On June 5th I played a show at Axis Cafe with my amazing friend Lisa Nicole Grace! I was so happy to see much a packed house...with people standing all the way up the steps. This kind of support for artists is incredible...and it meant so much to both of us to that! Even more exciting were that many people I had never met were there...singing along to my songs!!!! That was such a cool feeling AND a group of my old elementary school teachers surprised me by coming out too! Lisa blew everyone away when she opened, and we even got to sing a new song we had written together! It was a wonderful evening....thanks to all who came out! :)

Lots of shows coming up this summer and looking forward to seeing lots of you out and about!

Smiles,
Erica :)

June 1

Phew! It's been quite the busy last few weeks and I want to say such a big THANK YOU!!! to everyone who voted on the Lilith Fair site, and took the time to support not only me but other wonderful local musicians who were part of the contest. While I won't find out for another week and a half who the chosen artist will be, I was told that Sarah McLachlan will be listening to the top songs, which is pretty darn exciting in itself! I know the voting process could get long, and I am so grateful for the time spent on there! I'm crossing my fingers and toes, but also trying to trust that things work out the way they are meant to :) Also a big thanks to everyone who sent "Every Sunday" around to their friends and families. I got some pretty amazing stories back from people about their own experiences going home every Sunday, including a family of three generations of women that gather at their grandmother's house every week. So cool!

I would love to see you out this Saturday, June 5th at Axis Cafe! My good friend Lisa Nicole Grace and I are doing a show together with some awesome musicians, and I'm really looking forward to it! Music starts at 8pm and details are on the side "show" panel of the site! I'll also be part of the "Heart of City Festival" Saturday morning at Giovanni Caboto Park.

I was also really fortunate that ACCESS TV was interested in doing a feature on me and my music, as well as the volunteering I did in India . You can watch it online at:
http://www.albertaprimetime.com/Features.aspx?FlashVars=Video%2FAS_052610.flv

So...enjoy the summer weather (hehe it's starting to feel like it some days over here in Edmonton despite some brutal rain) and enjoy the abundance of live music, festivals, and outdoor food (you know I would throw that in;) coming your way :)

Erica 
 

May 6

Mother's Day is coming up (on May 9th!) and below is a song I wrote for my Mom, that I'd love to share! Because you have been so amazingly supportive I want to give the song away as a free gift to say "thank you!" for buying the CD, visiting the site and spreading my music. If you like it you can put it on your ipod, send it to your Mom on the 9th, to your friends, or someone you think might enjoy it and let's see how far and wide we can spread it around!!!!  Mostly, I hope it just makes you smile....for all those who go home for dinner, call home, or even just think of home "Every Sunday". Click, download away, and enjoy ;)

Click to listen

 
Link to Lilith Fair Competition is:
http://www.ourstage.com/contests/3992-lilith-local-talent-search-calgary-and-edmonton

Please judge if you get the chance (the little tab beside standings will bring you to a page where you get to rate the songs) Extra points get given out to songs you give "thumbs up" to, and I know it's a process, but if you go to my profile and join my fanclub, you are guaranteed to hear "Pictures" in the first few rounds. THANKS a million!

April 20

Helllo everyone! This one is going to be pretty short, just because the next few updates will probably be longer and I want to save your attention span :) I got to be part of a really really cool project, with a super cool guy, Harvey Miedriech. He started a project for Edmontonians called the "100 People Project" featuring interesting people from the community (which...suprisingly I got to be included in!)  If anyone else would like to be a part of project, he is always looking for new Edmonton people and it was a very fun time, so get in touch with Harvey! Also...just added a media section to the website if you wanna take a peak at some of the things that have been going on...ANNND would love to see some familiar faces at some of the new upcoming gigs I've posted up here too! I was out of town working for a little while, got back, and am ready to release a new free song in about a week so stay tuned!!!! The weather here in Edmonton is gorgeous....so enjoy if you live here! And take a minute to tell the people you love that they matter to you, because I've realized this week just how important that really is!

Erica ☺

March 30

The best part of the last few weeks for me has been meeting so many people: artists, musicians, songwriters, journalists....who are SOO passionate and creative about what they do. Nothing makes me happier than getting to know people who are really joyful and doing what they love, and I feel that I'm learning so much from these amazing encounters that have been coming my way! I had the opportunity to co-wrote for the first time with my friend Lisa Nicole Grace this last weekend and had a blast trying out something new. I think we came up with a pretty good song too :) I've also been finishing up a special new song and trying to get it recorded in the next few weeks. Personally, I've been through lots of great highs, and a few lows too in the last little while...and it has definately helped to have gotten some amazing messages about my music and what emotions certain songs are bringing out. That is the coolest thing to hear, especially when you are having a day that isn't so great...I really appreciate the notes and encouragement coming my way! There has also been some crazy coincidences and funny links going on lately too (which I am loving :)! In the middle of booking some gigs which should be up soon, and doing some of the "behind the scenes" music stuff that's really important but not quite too exciting :) I was SOO happy to have my song "Pictures" ranked #7 of 569 judged songs our OurStage.com and and looking forward to keeping you updated on the site, as this is also where an Edmonton artist will be picked starting in May to play at the local Lilith Fair this year (which I don't even need to say...would be absolutely amazing!)
And it's Easter this weekend! In our family, since before I could remember, my Dad (errr the bunny) does a rhyming hunt for clues all over our house. It's actually amazing the way he puts parts of our personalities, jokes, and family belongings into the rhyme. We still do it every year, even though my younger brother is almost 22 and look forward to seeing what "bunny" comes up with! Hope you have a great long weekend filled with chocolate and happy memories :)

Erica ☺

March 8

What an amazing week! I am still buzzing from it! Thursday I woke up to see my face on the front cover of the Edmonton Journal, which I never expected! I was so excited....especially to share space with some great musicians from Edmonton. The link to the article is: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/Good+girls+with+guitars/2640241/story.html

We received such a warm welcome at Festival Place opening for Jeff Morris that evening. His show was incredible and it was great to play in Sherwood Park (my hometown) at one of the most beautiful theatres, and see such supportive faces. Some really special friends showed up, and two little girls who inspire me so much through their volunteering work were also there with big smiles and flowers, and made my night! Thanks Taya and Harper :)

Friday night was one I've been waiting for a long time...my CD Release party. Rhea March was a lovely host, and a phenomental supporter of music! Her U22 Productions is an incredible mentorship program for emerging artists and I am constantly standing in awe of the artists on their roster! I was so excited to have Darryl Matthews opening for me, and he blew the crowd away as always with his incredible guitar style! Backing me up and sharing the night with me were some fantastic musicians. My brother Wayne Viegas was on guitar and did a fabulous job. Jered Evangelos on percussion went totally above and beyond for me this week and I can't say thank you enough to him for all his time and amazing talent. Mathias Silveira at many times stole the show with his violin and really brought that extra spark to my songs. Ryan Jacobson added that extra touch with his bass, and Katie Davey shone with her lovely voice! An extra little bit of magic was my friend and fellow singer/ songwriter Lisa Nicole Grace who came up to sing a song with me (I heard her on CBC this morning and could not be prouder!!). So many people made the night special. Thanks to Terence D'Lima for capturing it all with his photo skills and being so supportive! I could never do anything without my amazing family. This night was one I had been thinking about for such a long time, so the joy that came from sharing it with people that I love, and even making some new friends was such a great thrill to me! THANK YOU THANK YOU to all who attended from the very bottom of my heart! I am still smiling! New shows are going to be up shortly, so stay tuned.

I am having so much fun, and appreciate all the support from the depths of my heart...from my fingers to my toes!

Erica ☺
 

March 2

Life continues to be busy but great! I have been practicing up a storm for the shows this week and am really looking forward to it. It’s especially neat for me because I don’t usually play with a full band, and even on the album, in the way it was recorded (track by track) we never really got to actually play it together. I am having way too much fun enjoying the addition of all these new instruments, and rehearsing with some really great people and friends. I am so excited to play both shows this week, especially because the support from friends, family, and strangers (though not for long) has been so wonderful and especially boosting on the days when I’ve felt a little overwhelmed (as we all do from time to time!).

I’ve also been lucky enough to do some pretty great interviews in the last little while, most of them coming out this week, so stay tuned. It’s always really neat to reflect on questions you’ve never pondered before, and to chat with people who have really great careers writing and doing what they love! I was featured in Edmonton’s Profile Magazine this month, and you can take a look here: http://www.profileedmonton.com/profiles/erica-viegas  it was a lot of fun to shoot…although sooo cold that my eyes were watering between pictures! I tried to pass off like it was because I am really deep and sentimental hehe (I don’t think anyone fell for it, but thanks so much to Julian Faid and Craig Hobbs for a fun time…and some sneaky locations ☺) There is also a great article from the Sherwood Park News that went out too: http://www.sherwoodparknews.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2446153

Marc MacKenzie was kind enough to invite us to perform on his CJSR show early Saturday in the morning, and my brother and I were excited to be there. My parents were driving out of town and got to listen in…they thought it was quite neat to hear both their kids chatting on the radio as they headed out, and it was nice that Wayne got a little time to chat as well! Definitely a good reason to get up early on a Saturday morning.

Anyway…looking forward to a great week, with great shows and music… and seeing some of you soon!

Erica ☺