heidi
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The Subway Diaries – Adventures of a Subway Musician

Taylor rocks the “A” train & singin’ 4 @OccupyWallStreet

So, tonight, before the cops messed me,the father of this little 8yr old girl named Taylor asked me “What should she do if she thinks she wants to sing?” My answer; “If she wants to sing, she should sing. Kids always know their calling. There’s rarely a question mark with them” – at which point I called Taylor up & handed her my mic & guitar (which she does not yet play btw) & let her have at the audience @ 42nd St. I was so proud of her! 🙂 #goTaylor!

 

Tonight, after Taylor (featured above: ) handed me back my guitar & mic I sang…I sang for Occupy Wall St. & our all-connectedness and though I was far away from Wall St there @ 42nd, every time I spoke the words “& this one’s for @Occupy Wall Street “- the platform erupted in cheers. It let me know and you should too @Occupy Wall Street , that this city is 100% behind you. Even if they are not all physically down there @Liberty with you, they and their energy are with you. Know that, feel that & let it propel you forward @Occupy!

I’m sure at this point, even though it’s taken over two weeks for the press to cover, you’ve seen some of the footage – but if you’ve not, here are a few links to fill you in on what’s going on here in NYC

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zgr3DiqWYCI[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqWEPwuIYtA[/youtube]

& Finally, on my way home, I always pass these guys, but tonight the irony just smacked me in the face …

 

“They must find it difficult…Those who have taken authority as the truth, Rather than truth as the authority…” ~G.Massey – Egyptologist

Peace, Love & Namaste to all of us in our peaceful protests that one day soon we WILL have a voice & we WILL be heard ~ Heidi & The Subway Diaries

Dstripped, Stunts, Taking Wall Street & Tonight’s Sunset ~

This Fall DStripped Magazine is featuring “The Subway Diaries” in it’s newest edition now in print here http:/www.dstrippedmagazine.com and soon to be available @ your local Barnes & Noble store in October!

And yesterday I did the first of a few days of stunt work on a horror film called “Found Footage”  – it was a rainy day but warm & the first day went well -Four of us were lynched –  lovely, right? 🙂

And perhaps most importantly, I want to make everyone aware of what is going on here in NYC and multiple cities around the US. The mass media is not only not covering this but has banned all coverage of the protests – so to be aware and tuned in to what is going on you must connect on Facebook or Twitter via sites such as this http://www.occupywallst.org

Here are some photos from what is going on – http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/media/set/?set=a.10150297287072282.331872.680962281

Photo – Jeff Prager

And here is a a video of today in Union Square where the NYPD put up Police Netting before conducting mass arrests of the peaceful protesters:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z5AyGANrRk

“You know you’re doing something right, something of vital importance when mainstream media intentionally blocks all coverage of it’s occurring” #thatsthelitmus” ~ yours truly

PS here is their food fund for those of you who want to help & are not in NYC to physically protest – https://www.wepay.com/donate/99275

And finally here is tonight’s sunset over the Hudson from my window in 45P – be aware, be awake, the world is shifting – Namaste world from Heidi Kole & The Subway Diaries ~

 

Angels, Virtual Shopping & Love Until It Hurts

I had a tough day today so I grabbed my guitar & headed under regardless of it being 9PM at night by the time I got to the platforms.

There was a Cuban vocalist singing Spanish love songs on the Uptown A,C,E so I sat on the bench & waited ’till he was done since he said he wasn’t going to be much more than 20 minutes more

I sat down next to a happy, round-faced  Hispanic woman named Tina with her shopping bags on her lap. One was a huge MACY’S bag and I asked her; “So, what did you get?” as I pointed to the bag.

“Oh” she said confidently, “I found it”

“You found what?” I said as I peered into surprisingly empty bag

“I found the bag and it made me smile because even though I didn’t have the money to go shopping, I feel like I’ve gone shopping just carrying it”

 

“Oh my God, that’s brilliant. It’s like virtual shopping!”  I said to her & she smiled back a very proud smile.

Sing of the times – I thought to myself … maybe we’ll all be taking a hint from Tina soon and doing all our shopping ‘virutally’ : )

We chatted some more & she told me she and her boyfriend had just broken up but, “I really love my freedom” she added “We have things in common & he is very well to do, but I love my freedom too.” she added, her round, jovial cheeks glowing.

The then reached into her purse for a pen and said “I have something for you” She pulled out a green pen and folded her prize Macey’s bag onto her lap. Then she proceeded to write as she spoke these words:“Ama hasta que Te duela y si te Duele, es un buena senal” ~ Mother Theresa (which, translated means, Love until it hurts & if it hurts it’s a good sign” ~ Mother Theresa

“Keep this” Tina said, “Keep it near you and you will remember it’s power”

Tina proceeded to buy a copy of “The Subway Diaries”, sharing more of her relationship woes and stayed for the first 1/2 hour of my time on the platform. After she left, sharing big hugs and kisses with me , her energy remained.

I continued to sing and to be quite honest, the love that started the night continued non stop through out the evening. Commuters donated, smiled, blew & gave kisses and shared hugs with me all night long. Many shared their stories of where they were from, where they were going and how the music had moved them this evening.

I share this night’s adventures with you guys out there in “The Subway Diaries” – Land because I am eternally beyond floored at what these trains give me daily, nightly, week after week, month after month. I want you to know. I never know where these ‘angel’s come from – I never know where they go afterward as I rarely see the ‘angels’ again. But I have no doubt now, after 6 yrs underground, that angels do exist.I know they exist & I hope you too may be inspired to listen for the angels as they talk to you. Because they will, if you listen closely : )

Love & Peace Heidi & The Subway Diaries

In the top 5% to be on a Times Square Billboard!

Please help me get there by making two clicks on this link!

http://about.me/HeidiKole Vote button upper right hand side

PS you can vote once a day, every day ’till Sept 20th!

Thanks & keep you updated on our progress

This could be fun 🙂

 

Riding On The Rails & The Busking Project

So, this past week I was visited all the way from the UK by the fabulous documentary film “The Busking Project” – it’s one of the most down to earth & real projects on busking that I’ve been involved with.

Of course the day we filmed it was 104 degrees underground & we all almost passed out – but we got it done in between the rushing “A” trains and stifling heat

Then, directly after our shoot I had been asked to do an interview on the radio show Riding On The Rails which is a show by buskers, for buskers (and anyone of course who is curious about our world 🙂

Enjoy the interview & links !

Love & music Heidi Kole & The subway Diaries

 

Finally some Lawrence Busker Stuff!

The Lawrence Busker Festival in Lawrence KS rocked! It’s taken me a little bit to post some photos due to earthquakes and hurricanes passing over The Big Apple & taking up most of my energy

Anyway – we’re in a lull here, amidst the storms and so here ya go!

  • The first day I flew into KS City and was driven straight to perform at the opening benefit concert for Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Lawrence.
  • The next morning I did an early AM breakfast concert at the hotel I was staying in (omg – not my best time of day!)
  • Later that day the movie I’m in, Busking The System had it’s first screening and I did the Q&A after which was superb fun
  • I busked the streets of Lawrence – (my most favourite part!) met some fabulous people and absorbed festival energy while I sang, way into the night
  • Next day we had another morning Q&A for Busking The System
  • Followed by a stage show that went superbly & where many bought CDs
  • Followed by a book signing/reading & concert of “The Subway Diaries”@ Signs Of Life , the bookstore hosting my book signing and reading at the Festival
  • Finally I busked into the evening that, my last night in Lawrence – too the plane back the next day & collapsed for a blissful 14 hrs of sleep!

Lawrence KS, I would busk your city any day! Lookin’ forward to next year!

And finally an album of shot of the beautiful environment @ The Lawrence Busker Fest – soak it up!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10150288641627295.347509.728737294

Love, Light & Music

Heidi & The Subway Diaries

My Pre-Irene dance around Manhattan & our Post-Irene status

Prior to Irene’s arrival I took my bike & toured from 42nd St down to Battery Park, the ocean as I wanted to see what was going on. The city was a ghost town with almost every window taped up in preparation for Irene. I have no real camera so the shots are pretty bad – but I did find some interesting stuff. It was a magical ride & the energy was something I’d never felt before in this city.

So – we’re on the ‘backside of the Hurricane’ now as CNN’s  Anderson Cooper do deftly reported while, of course, not one hair was displaced by the gail force winds whipping behind him 🙂

Public Transport is still completely out in the 5 boroughs and NJ is bracing for some major flooding as storm surges and rivers crest tonight and tomorrow. But NYC has taken it well and seems to do the hunkering down thing pretty well when it’s needed.

Finally, just two hours ago, right as she is pulling out Irene’s wind  locked me out of my apartment actually by slamming the door on me & I just got let back in to finish writing you all this update. Thank you Irene – you crazy Hurricane, you!

Hope all of you  are safe & sound & with power

Love & light & dryness & calm for a while 🙂

Heidi & The Subway Diaries

Namaste NYC – Namaste

Hi all

It’s been beyond hectic here – Lot to tell re the Fabulous Busker Fest Experience in KS and all it shared w/ me  – but for now, after a week of earthquakes and after shocks I and most of NYC is a tad occupied w/ the impending visit of Hurricane Irene

The city of NYC is slated to shut down all rail, bus, train and toll roads into and out of the city – so I guess if I do not leave now – I’m here to ride it out w/ Irene.

My concern is, as many of you know, I live on the 45th floor which I looove – however the height combined w/ the wall of Wet facing windows is causing me great concern since that’s the direction Irene will be hitting us from. That plus I live a block from the Hudson and when Irene hits at high tide, flooding is inevitable.

I may have to evacuate- waiting for “Emperor Bloomber’s’ word on that as I type. But either way I’m busy taping up windows, putting plastic up as well in case they shatter and pulling all items down off shelves and filling the bathtub with a large amount of H20

I swear the apt’s gonna look like a Hurricane hit it before anything actually happens!

Favourite quote from Apt Building’s “Hurricane Warnings & Precautions” letter left under my door : ) 1) If at any time you are uncomfortable or feel unsafe, go sit in the stairwell. Favourite Quote #2  There is a possibility that there will be a loss of electricity, In this event you will want to do the following. Fill containers with water and put them in the refrigerator.”

Here’s my “Gift Basket” that I’ve prepared for Irene’s arrival : )

Please pray for NYC and all of the East Coast

The ‘storm’ may go on for a few yrs here, the ride will be tough but so worth it on the other side  – so buckle yourself in & connect w/ all that you love

Big changes are occurring on the planet – the “Shift” is happening. Stay aware, stay awake, use your right brain more than your left, see the big picture and stay positive because marvelous things  exist on the other side of the storm as the old is washed away and the new is ushered in.

Namaste Lovely World

Heidi ~

 

On NPR tomorrow & US Tour begins!

I’ll be on NPR – KCUR http://www.kcur.org/ this Tues, August 16th from 11:45AM EST on the show Central Standard with host Jabulani Leffall.

http://www.kcur.org/centralstandard

gonna be a fun show so TUNE IN!

I’m happy to announce the start of our joint US tour; myself & The Subway Diaries in conjunction w/ the movie “Busking The System” http:/www.buskingthesystem.com

We’re excited to start our tour at The Lawrence Busker Festival in Lawrence KS from August 19th- 21st  http://www.lawrencebuskerfest.com followed by August 25th – 28th at the Indy Fringe Festival in Indianapolis, IN http://www.indyfringe.org/fringefest www.indyfringe.org

I’ll also be signing copies of “The Subway Diaries” & doing a reading & concert while in Lawrence at Signs Of Life Bookstore http://www.signsoflifebooks.com on August 21st @ 7:30 PM

View the entire schedule below:

KANSAS

  • 8/18/11 7PM Lawrence Busker Festival’s Preview show benefiting the Big Bothers/Big Sisters of Douglass County @ Abe & Jakes http://www.abejakes.com
  • 8/19/11 Performing Lawrence Busker Festival http://www.lawrencebuskerfest.com/ , Lawrence, Kansas Time, TBA
  • 8/19/11 7:30 PM – Q&A and concert following Screening of “Busking The System” – Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence KS
  • 8/20/11 1:30 PM – Q&A and concert following Screening of “Busking The System” – The Granada, Lawrence KS
  • 8/20/11 7:30 PM Book Signing/Reading and concert @ Signs Of Life Bookstore, Lawrence KS
  • 8/20/11 4:45 PM Performing Lawrence Busker Festival http://www.lawrencebuskerfest.com/ , Lawrence, Kansas Lawrence, Kansas – 10th St People’s Bank Stage, between Massachusetts and New Hampshire

INDIANA

  • 8/25/11 8:00PM Performing & Q&A following screening of “Busking The System” for the Indy Fringe Festival at Indiana Landmark Center, Indianapolis, IN
  • 8/26/11 8:00PM Performing & Q&A following screening of “Busking The System” for the Indy Fringe Festival at Indiana Landmark Center, Indianapolis, IN
  • 8/27/11 2:00PM Performing & Q&A following screening of “Busking The System” for the Indy Fringe Festival at Indiana Landmark Center, Indianapolis, IN
  • 8/27/11 8:00PM Performing & Q&A following screening of “Busking The System” for the Indy Fringe Festival at Indiana Landmark Center, Indianapolis, IN
  • 8/28/11 6:00PM Performing & Q&A following screening of “Busking The System” for the Indy Fringe Festival at Indiana Landmark Center, Indianapolis, IN

 

 

Good Day for Busking & Sign Of The Times

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