I have disappeared again down the rabbit hole that is bipolar depression.  Medication is helping but the rest of my gigs for this year have been cancelled as my arms are still not better and I’m just not mentally up to performing.

I will resurface, I always do.  In the meantime, I want to say a huge thank you to all my fans for their incredibly lovely messages of support, especially Geoff, Rebecca, Stan and Paul who actually sent me beautiful flowers and gifts that was such a wonderful surprise and made my day.  And Marion and Tony who offered to send me a bottle of wine.  You are all amazing, thank you so much.

The gigs I have cancelled will hopefully all be rearranged for next year so please join my mailing list if you’re not already on it so I can let you know dates as and when they are confirmed.

I am trying to keep my spirits up after having to cancel 8 gigs due to breaking my right arm in a fall (I slipped on some wet cobblestones in Bath). Apologies to everyone who was going to come and see me perform and to the promoters for all their hard work. I hope to reschedule the gigs at some point in the future.

On the upside, I am working with renowned producer David Lord on my new album which will be out next year. There are 12 tracks in all and I can’t wait for you to hear them. I’ll be launching a crowdfunding campaign in the autumn as I’ll need to raise the funds to release it. All support will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks to everyone who joined my Patreon membership group recently – I’ve been really enjoying choosing my secret songs to share with you. If you haven’t joined but are interested, please visit www.patreon.com/EmilyMaguire.

I was so gutted to have to cancel my gigs in Orpington and Devon after I’d slipped on some wet cobblestones in Bath and fractured my right arm.  I’m so sorry to have disappointed you if you were planning to come.  It was my right arm which is tricky as I’m right handed but I was very lucky not to put an eye out as I broke my glasses when I fell!

Now I’ve just posted my new secret song to my Patreon membership group,  This is another song I wrote during a bipolar manic episode that had been triggered by the lockdown in Australia in May 2020.  I arranged the song at the time, writing a string arrangement and programming the drums and bass.  It is called ‘All There Is’ and the lyrics reflect my abiding preoccupation with Buddhist philosophy, psychology and practice that has been the backbone of my life since meeting my teacher Lama Jampa Thaye in 1999.

If you would like to hear and download my monthly secret songs and support my music, you can become one of my Patreon members for £3 per month when you sign up at https://www.patreon.com/EmilyMaguire.

I was shocked and saddened to hear about the death of Dennis Locorriere of Dr Hook fame.  I first met Dennis in 2011 and did over 50 shows supporting him on his UK tour that year.  He was touring on his own and so I got to spend a lot of time with him backstage after soundcheck.  He loved talking (and I love listening!) and was always greatly entertaining.  We stayed in touch in the years since then – the last time I heard from him was when I was in Australia.  He never mentioned his illness.  He was a great songwriter and musician and I’m sure will be much missed by his family and friends.

I’ve just posted a new ‘secret song’ for my Patreon membership group.  This one is called ‘All In Your Mind’.  I wrote it in May 2017 when I was living in Bath with my husband Christian just after the release of my fifth album ‘A Bit Of Blue’.   I then arranged and orchestrated it when we were back living in the Australian bush a couple of years later.  I had a lot of fun with the string arrangement as I love pizzicato strings.  This is one of those strange songs with quite sad lyrics but happy music and so it’s always felt kind of uplifting to me.  I hope you agree!  You can hear a clip on my Instagram feed.

Joining my Patreon membership group costs £3 per month ($4.50 in US dollars).  If you’re interested or would like to gift membership to a friend, please visit my Patreon site at patreon.com/EmilyMaguire.

Thanks to everyone who came to my recent gigs at Green Note in London and at Letcombe Bassett Village Hall last weekend.  Both gigs were with my violinist Sue Lord and we had such a great time performing together.  Thanks to Graham Smallwood from Folk & Roots and to Tony and Astrid Haupt from Thatchcombe B&B for promoting these events.  I’ve just posted some photos on Facebook and Instagram.

In May we are doing a couple of private house concerts then in June we are doing 2 gigs back to back in Orpington.  At the start of July I’m very much looking forward to a return visit to the beautiful Hatch Court in south Devon.  Payment is by cash donation on the door – to reserve your place, please contact Mark on 07730 921192 or email him at wheelwrightmark@gmail.com.

I’ve just sent my second ‘secret song’ to my Patreon membership group – a song that has never been released on an album or performed in public.

Some songs fall out of my head in a day, others don’t get completed for years. I started this song in January 2008 but didn’t finish it until April 2020 when we were back living in the Australian bush and the world was in lockdown. The fear and anxiety I shared with millions of others triggered a bipolar manic episode during which I wrote 32 new songs (some of which ended up on my album ‘A Light To Follow’ and the new album I’m currently working on). Suddenly the initial words I’d written for this song all those years ago made sense to me and I was able to finish the rest of the lyrics. I then arranged and orchestrated it at home (writing string arrangements for my songs is one of my favourite things to do).

If you would like to hear and download my secret songs, please visit www.patreon.com/EmilyMaguire to subscribe to my Patreon membership.  It costs just £3 a month (or $4.50 – it is an American site) for a new secret song in your inbox each month.  You can also gift membership to family or friends.  Your support of my music would be much appreciated.

I had a fantastic time playing Sandy Hill Arts in Corfe Castle last weekend.  It was sold out and there were some wonderfully familiar faces in the crowd.  Jody Prewett played a great set (he has a new album coming out very soon).  Thanks to Melissa Viney and her team for organising the gig and to Buzz (pictured) for the lovely sound.  You can watch a video of me singing my song ‘Dreaming’ on the night here.

Next up is the Red Lion Folk Club in Kings Heath, Birmingham on Wednesday 1 April then a matinee show in Camden Town with violinist Sue Lord on Saturday 11 April.  More info and tickets for all my upcoming gigs can be found on my gigs page.

I’m writing this time to let you know about my new membership group on the Patreon website.  Patreon is a well-established way for fans to become patrons and help support creators (musicians, artists, writers, podcasters etc).

Each month, for the cost of a coffee, you will be able to hear and download a song which I’ve written and recorded as a demo but have never released on an album or performed in public.  I was songwriting for 7 years before I made my first album and I’ve only made 7 albums so I’ve got so many songs that have never been heard.

I’m thrilled at the idea of being able to share with you some of these secret songs I’ve been writing over the past 25 years.  And as one of my patrons, you’ll be helping me fund the recording and release of my new albums and the costs of touring.

My first secret song is now available to hear and download.  If you would like to join my Patreon membership and become one of my patrons for £3 +VAT per month, please follow this link:

www.patreon.com/EmilyMaguire

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.