Growing Up Green CD Now Available at RPW Records Online Store

It is exciting to announce that the Growing Up Green CD is now available at the RPW Records/Magic Puddle Records online store. You can order copies there now and they will arrive in time for Christmas.
Growing Up Green is such a great gift for that special little person in your life.

PRESALE offer: Get a signed copy of Growing Up Green

You can help support the creation of my beautiful new CD by taking part in the presale offer. Order the CD now and get a signed copy hot off the press.
You can hear some of the songs on the player in the blog sidebar.

The Growing Up Green CD features slide guitar by Steve Dawson, fiddle tracks by Shari Ulrich and Blaine Dunaway, backup vocals by Gordon Maxwell of One Horse Blue fame, keyboards by Andy Smyth and guitar by Chris Rolin.

It bounces along quite wonderfully and the songs are singable and catchy.

You can purchase now by clicking on the paypal Buy Now button. Paypal accepts all major credit cards and is easy to do.

This support means a lot to me as an independent artist. Thanks so much and take some time to dance along with your children as you enjoy the new songs.

Art and Songs done for Growing Up Green

I am so thrilled with the art work done by Johnnie at Drop Media. The cover looks great. The CD should be done by Oct 23rd, when I present at the BC Primary Teachers Conference.
I will let you all know when the official release concert is.
So here is the cover.
I have uploaded some of the songs onto the reverbnation player so you can listen to them at the sidebar to this blog.
Sign up for the mailing list if you want updates on how things are going.
Thanks for all the love and support along the way, this has been a beautiful experience.

Maple Ridge Festival of Light: My first show in 2010

I am so happy to have been asked back to perform at the Maple Ridge Festival of Light.
This years event will be at Peace Park, for the Lantern Parade, and then inside Haney Place Mall for the performances.
This is a great community building event and the perfect opportunity for families to shine a light in the darkness of winter.

It is all happening on January 29th and starts at 4. Come out and build your own lantern for the Parade.

The Story Behind the Growing Up Green Project

I am so excited to be re-recording the songs from my original Growing Up Green. I will also be adding a new song, 'My Carbon Footprint...is getting smaller...
I worked with producer Allan Rodger (Rick Scott, Valdy, The Odds and more) on the new title track and I am thrilled to be revitalizing this important project.
BCCMA Award winning producer Chris Rolin is producing the rest of the CD and Steve Dawson (slide guitar) and Shari Ulrich (fiddle) are doing feature performances on the CD.
Blaine Dunaway (fiddle) and Andy Smyth (keyboards) are also feature musicians adding to the magic of the new arrangements. Gord Maxwell is adding harmonies to put the icing on the cake.
An accompanying video and future publication of the Activity Book that goes with the songs is also part of the vision.

Actually Victoria Gibson, VIX Productions, has created a promo video for the project which will by added to PamelaSunshineTV, my youtube channel.


Story Behind the Growing Up Green Project
In 1992, more than 100 heads of state met in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the first international Earth Summit convened to address urgent problems of environmental protection and socio-economic development.
At the time of the Brazil Earth Summit I was teaching in England
I was invited to write some songs for a multi school environmental event in Kings Lynn, Norfolk.
While sitting in a classroom waiting for the morning assembly, at which I had been asked to perform a few songs, the teacher took morning attendance.
I noticed that all the children, 5 and year olds, were wearing badges saying 'Growing Up Green'.
"I wonder if they even know what that means?" I thought as I sat there observing them.
Then the song came to me, and I quickly scribbled it down.
I sang the song at the assembly and the children caught on to the chorus straight away, "Growing Up Green means I care"
I had already written several songs for the project and decided to record them.
It was released in the good old cassette tape format and I feel much of the sound quality suffered as it was digitalised for CD production.
I also want to update the arrangements of some of the songs as my dream is to get this CD heard by as many children as possible.
I am planning on a fall release and an international tour to support this release is already taking shape.
I would love to hear from any environmental organizations and individuals interested in helping support this project via sponsorship or in just spreading the word/songs out into the world.

Christmas Stories and Songs at Burnaby Village Museum

Its great news that bookings are coming in for Christmas already.
After Father Christmas leaves his big chair in the Stride Studios, I get to take over and tell stories and share songs for the Christmas Season in historic Burnaby Village Museum, the perfect setting for a show such as this.
Last year the snow made this a magical time indeed.

Photos in the Garden

Yesterday I had a great photo shoot with Sylvia. I decided to upload one for my profile picture.

We visited community gardens for pictures for my Growing Up Green CD and promo for Pacific Contact.

We had so much fun in McSpadden Parks garden, Figaro's Garden store and a great community garden on a slope off Victoria Drive. There was corn and sunflowers in abundance.

Standing here the tomatoes smelt soooo good.

Look at the beautiful blue sky. The sun shone down on us on this lovely August day in Vancouver.

I hope you like them, let me know what you think. There are more to come soon.

Video Coming Soon for Growing Up Green

This week I begin shooting a video for some of the songs from the upcoming CD, Growing Up Green due for an October release.
I have been blessed with connecting with Blaine Dunaway (fiddle, trumpet, flugelhorn) and Allan Hayley (mandolin) who will be backing me up in some of my shows.
So this week Victoria Gibson of VIX Virtual Design group will begin filming a performance video for Growing Up Green.
I will keep you posted on our progress

Recording songs for new CD out in October

All is going well with the recording for my new CD coming out in October.
The new CD is Growing Up Green with reworked songs from the original Growing Up Green project that was created in the UK at the time of the Brazil Earth Summit.

I have rewritten some of the lyrics and the arrangements of the songs are all brand new and so catchy and exciting.
Chris Rolin (Rick Tippe) is producing this project.
Also Shari Ulrich (Pied Pumkin, The Hometown Band) is playing fiddle on one of my songs, "Yes It Matters". I had the pleasure of interviewing Shari at the Vancouver Folk Festival in July for my CFRO Radio Show, The Storytelling Show.

The title song Growing Up Green was produced by Allan Rodger (Rick Scott, Valdy, The Odds and more) and I am thrilled to be revitalizing this important project. The title track can be heard on my Pamela Sunshine website.

I will be uploading some of the new songs as they are completed.
So I will keep you posted on the progress of the new CD and hope you are all enjoying lovely sunny summer weather.

Other special guests are in the works and it looks like being a great CD.

Chilliwack Music and More pictures

Thanks to all the families and children who came out to the show in Salish Park, it was a hot and sunny day, but there were patches of shade scattered around the park and everyone had a good time.

It is so much fun to be able to play my ukulele now as part of the show and all the kids were so enthusiastic about playing along with the instruments and coming up front to play with me.
Thanks again everyone and here are some pictures for you.

Pamela Sunshine at Music and More

I am looking forward to a lovely day in the sun in Chilliwack today. Music and More takes place in Salish Park outside the Chilliwack Library. The YMCA work with the Library to present this special program throughout the summer.
There is a picnic outside and I will be telling stories and singing for the families after they have had their picnic.
So bring our blanket and have some fun in the sun.

Video now on youtube.

I have a new video posted up on youtube. My friend George Faulkner was kind enough to film my performance at the Firehall Arts Centre as part of the Spring Into The Arts: BC Buds Festival in May.
I played with Beth and lots of folks joined in on the instruments I usually bring along to my shows.
This was a great event, spreading over the weekend, and there was dance, drama and music, as well as a magician, pretty special.

Pictures from the Storytelling Tent at Surrey Children's Festival

I had a great time at the Surrey Children's Festival telling stories in the Storytelling Tent.
It was a packed house for each show, and everyone listened so wonderfully. Thanks to all who came out

.

I told stories about Masha and the Bear, The Singing Turtle and a story from Tanzania called, Look Back and See, among others. Lots of chances for the audience to join in with the chanted parts etc, especially in The Three Billy Goats Gruff.
I got the children up front to help out with Ten Empty Pop Cans and everyone had lots of fun.

I would like to thank the Surrey Library for inviting me to perform and all the families that came out in the sun to take in this fabulous day.

There are more pictures posted on my facebook page, Pamela Sunshine

Pamela Sunshine at the Surrey Children's Festival

I am telling stories at the Surrey Children's Festival June 30th at 11 and 12:00.
I am in the Storytelling Tent at Bear Creek Park on 88th in Surrey and this is one of the many free events at this wonderful Chilren's Festival.

Here is more information on this event

Experience the power of creativity. The performances will engage audiences through wonder and imagination. Envision yourself as a tightrope walker with Circus INcognitus, experience life with the Sky People in Story Before Time or assemble an incredible musical instrument from recycled materials with SAM2. No matter which performance you attend, you will see great possibilities in the world around you.

2009 marks the fifth anniversary of the Surrey Childrens Festival. Participants are encouraged to explore circus skills, clay arts, visual arts, dance and many other artistic practices in the free interactive on site workshops. Nurturing young imaginations and encouraging children to stretch their creative muscles empowers them to imagine the impossible as possible.

Firehall Arts Centre Spring Arts Fair: BC Buds

I am playing at this years BC Buds Spring Arts Fair. I am thrilled to be doing songs from my Growing Up Green Show on Saturday and Sunday.
Beth is coming along to play some accordian and penny whistle as well as the djembe so it will be a fun set. The sets are short and sweet at this event and there are theatre pieces, dance performances, hip hop folk and much more.

In the evenings there are showcase concerts.

The fifth anniversary BC Buds - Firehall's Spring Arts Fair wraps up the season with artists, actors, and musicians creating innovative and cutting edge new work in every crack and cranny of the beautiful heritage Firehall building.

This is a FREE event. Don't miss out!
The full schedule of performance is listed online

The fifth anniversary BC Buds - Firehall's Spring Arts Fair wraps up the season with artists, actors, and musicians creating innovative and cutting edge new work in every crack and cranny of the beautiful heritage Firehall building.

This is a FREE event. Don't miss out!

The full schedule of performance is listed online through the link below.

If you cannot see the link, please visit the "On Stage" section of our website.

DATES: May 22, 23, 24
TIME: Friday, May 22nd: 7pm-11:30pm
Saturday, May 23rd: 2pm-11:30pm
Sunday, May 24th: 12pm-5pm

Tonight is the Lantern Parade

It has seemed a long time coming but the night of the magical Lantern Parade is upon us.
It is the culmination of a day of Celebrating Wood at the Spirit Of Wood Festival in Maple Ridge.

The Lantern Celebration starts at 4 with a workshop in the Pett Meadows Heritage Hall, during which you can make your lantern. Then there is entertainment with your truly playing at 6:20 approx. in the Harris Road Park.
Finally there will be the Lantern Parade around the park.
I hope to see lots of families out for this great Valentine's Day event.