The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

g (ci. " Ff. . "f,;,. Sn 5 'iii, I hree years ago Lynn I farkstrn was waiting talalts an a Waterloo mammal“. dreaming of the day a guitar and micro- phone would help her pay the bills. Today she is one slap closer to making her fantasy a reality as she prepares to release her first full-length CD, called Night Songs. But the élimb ti, local stardom hasn't been easy. Jackson has overcome a lot, including an over- whelming shyness she's car- ried since childhood. "That's the weird thing." said the 29-year-old. "I've always been really shy So I couldnt ever imagine doing this." Sure, she loved music. As a child she'd sing around the house while her mother played her old country folk tunes like Delta Dawn. And in senior public school. Jackson's interest in music grew to include play- ing the violin. 'Overcoming the odds’ "I remember that one for sure." Jackson said. Singer/songwriter Lynn Jackson releases first CD Perhaps her parents saw a star in the making then. as they would encourage little Lynn to play for guests who would drop by the family's home. But the thought of per- forming in public made her cringe She was content singing along to her mother's record collection. which included offerings from Steppenwolf, Simon and Garfunkel, and the Mamas and the Papas. "I had fun just hahging out and listening to whatev- er was there." Jackson said. The closet songstress put her musical pastime on hold through university. But after school. the pas- time turned to passion when her uncle gave her an old acoustic guitar. "In 1998 I decided I wanted to play (guitar)." she said. "I took lessons - both guitar and vocal. Hearing Get Ready for Summer It's Coming Great Selection _.. Great Prices!! FzrTrsuES3E3C3LASMMC3" REA! Burrs FOR REAL WOMEN BY Mama BAILEY t ‘luunn te Staff - vauwunnu , 'w ' m. tA-NNT-_". JtqWF m WW ”a If“ it' Lynn Jackson has overcome many obstacles - including her own shyness - to produce her first CD, to be released tonight at the Circus Room in Kitchener. myself sing, I thought I was OK. But I wanted to hear what the vocal teacher would say." Jackson spent the next couple of years playing at home. learning from some ofher favourite artists. "I really got more enjoy- ment at home learning the songs I liked," she said. "At that time. I'd have to say my influences were Neil Young. Sarah McLachlan and Sinead O'Connor." With her confidence blooming. Jackson put pen to paper and wrote her first song. a reflective piece called "I'm Here". "It's about working all day, coming home. being broke and tired. and feeling anonymous." she said. "It's also about having to remind yourself that you're still here ARTS FOCUS and that you're living your life regardless if anyone else notices." I wAmii'rjr"j"""i"'j"i'i"iii'jNIcII I 886-2830 Feeling anonymous her- self. Jackson decided to immerse herself in the local independent music scene, catching up and co ing acts performing on "3}pen Mic" nights at local pubs and bars. "Hearing some of the songs really blew me away" she said. "My tastes evolved and I found myself enjoying artists like Elvis Costello. Tom Watts and Ani Difranco. I found myself not only lis- tening to them, but learning them." The local artists them- selves also made an impres- sion. "Danny Michel. Shannon Lyon. Matt Osborne __ they're all great songwriters ANDREA IAILEY PHOTO One of her favourite open stage venues was the former Fitzgerald's reslau- rant in Kitchener. And it was there that Jackson made her uwn stage debut. and they've all fume from this area." “I always wanted to do it full time. but I never found a way. Being a fullvtime musi- cian, you have to be willing to put a lot on the line and make a lot of sacrifices. It's a lot of making ends meet." With encouraging words from the owner, Jackson returned and also began seeking out other gigs. "Il's not like gigs just started falling in my lap," she said. "But I played occa- sionally. Jackson has spent the last three years writing and debuting new songs which range in style from folk. blues and country to pop and rock. "l wanted to have these songs down." she said. "Not just in my head or in the places I perform. I wanted to record them." "My style's very eclectic - it's all over the map," Jackson said. "But I like it that way. It's a good reflec- tion of what I listen to musi- cally." But playing her songs wasn't enough: So with a new part-time job as a copy editor covering the financial burden, and welcome help from other local musicians she's met in the last few years, she made inc the recording studio. She want-ed a permanent record of her work. "The people on the record are all musicians I've met at open stages," she said. "lt's like a tight-knit In de community." Some of the artists appearing on the 16-song CD include Matt Osborne. John McKinley, Chris Han- son, Arun Pal, who co-pro- duced the record, and Mike Damonchuk on the local band kickingThsdy With all a theie musical Continued on page 35 The music of Carole King will be celebrated April 22 to 24 at Kitchener's Victoria Park Pavilion, The show named Tapestry will be presented by k- W Musical Productions. Nightly shows start at 8 p. m with a Saturday mati- nee starting at 2 pm. - _ _ All tickdis an; $25 and are available at the Centre in the Square or by calling 578- 1570. An artist group affiliated with the Royal Canadian Air Force K-W Wing 404 will be hosting an art show this Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m., at the Air Force Club. 510 Dunon Dr., in Waterloo. There will be oil and acrylic paintings on display. as well as stone carvings. - There is no admission to attend. For more infor- mation, call 884- 1272. There will be a variety show held as a benefit for ROOF (Reaching Our Outdoor Friends), entitled "The Rock My Socks Show," set to take place this Saturday at the Registry Theatre. 122 Frederick St., in Kitchen- er. The show will feature a variety of performances, including liyehands. Elma. dance @1311 singing, _ Manfof the performers are either Eon; local bands or attend the Eastwood integrated arts pack- age. - _ _ _ _ _ _ -- V Tickets are can be purchased for $5 each by call- ing Irena at 885-5608 or for $8 at the door. Many Moods of Music is an annual student-run production at Bluevale Collegiate. providing a unique concert experience showcasing a variety of music from many different eras, styles and genres. The show wiiiopen to the public April fit in Blue- vale's cafeteria, and will run through to May I. All perfrymrnces will take place at 7 pm. _ - _ - The show will also incorporaie original artwork. graphics. videos and animations put together by stu- dents to enhance the concert exptrienfe. This year. over 50 students " be featured in the show. hapApickfd by eight student digec‘ps. _ As well. the shows' an; serving as a food drive, and donations for the Food Bank of Waterloo Region will be collected. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $7 or in advance for " by phoning Bluevale student activities at 885-4620. ext. 1605, Musical 'Tapestry' highlights Carole King Variety show will 'rock your socks off' Bluevale students get in the mood Air Force club hosts art show