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Posts tagged: Underground

Sep 12 2011

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

Sep 05 2011

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

Aug 14 2011

Good Day for Busking & Sign Of The Times

#Goodday4busking

"Sign Of The Times"

Aug 05 2011

Steamy here in NYC ~

This past week’s been, well, just as hot & maybe even a bit busier than normal ( if that’s at all possible 🙂

Along w/ my normal busking schedule in this rediculous heat the week  began w/ a 6 hr photo shoot (w/ no a/c ) w/friend and fabulous musician/photographer, Mitchell Parsons http://www.mitchellparsons.com. We shot up in this spooky old house that was being renovated in ‘da Bronx 🙂  Some of the fun below….

Then….the next day I spent the day with Danny & German news anchor/reporter Pia Osterhaus filming underground for RTL Television (the German 20/20). The next day we went to “The Cotton Club” got the gift of seeing Danny perform live on stage – that man is a powerhouse! He lives to sing!!! And, we…the lucky ones live to hear him 🙂

The rest of the week’s been spent mailing books and T-shirts to all you fabulous souls who pledged to my ‘busktheworld’ tour – Thank you all! Updates to each of you who did, coming very soon 🙂

Now I’m re-grouping and preparing for some pretty fun news that I”ll be posting for you super soon!

Stay cool all of you. The heat’s been wicked so sit back, pick out your favourite tune, grab a glass of lemonade & let the music cool you down.

Love & music

Heidi & “The Subway Diaries”

May 28 2011

Red Carpet Premier of film I did stunts in & rockin’ the Hudson @ Fleet Week!

Fri was  a  jam packed  night starting w/  the NYC premier of “Tied To A  Chair”  the film I did  stunts in described in “The Subway Diaries”  followed by a party along the Hudson River where Fleet Week was in full swing. Here’s the  New  YOrker  review of the film  & some pics of the fun : )

The Front Row: “Tied to a Chair”: Bound for Glory : The New Yorker

Happy Start To Summer! : )

May 18 2011

Performing, Signing Books & on Arts Panel @ Wesleyan University this Saturday!

Hi guys ! As thousands gather for Honecoming and Commencement weekend, Wesleyan University has asked me to perform, sign copies of “The Subway Diaries” and be part of an Arts Panel on Saturday May 21st.  It’s gonna be a rockin’ weekend so stop on by & soak up some rockin’ culture, food & fun!

A) PERFORMANCE:

1–3 P.M.

WESEMINAR 5,000 Women

A\This is a satellite production of a project called “5,000 Women” whose mission is to have 5,000 women artists performing in tandem. The name comes from the fact that every hour 5,000 women are giving birth at the same time throughout the world. “5,000 Women” honors that amazing creativity, by showcasing the creativity of women artists. The performance will include singer-songwriters, comedians, dancers, actresses, spoken word artists, independent films by independent filmmakers, and one-woman shows.

Performers: Naaz Hosseini , Aleta Staton , Heidi Kole, Lisa Porter, Jennifer Blaine, Elizabeth Liang  Nafeesa Monroe, Karen Gross , and Stephanie Fungsang

Center for the Arts Hall (formerly CFA Cinema)

B) PANEL:

3:30 P.M.

WESEMINAR Making It In the Performing Arts–Is it Possible?

This seminar, conceived by Wesleyan alumnae who have established careers in the arts, is a forum to share experiences and insights. For those who are contemplating a career in the arts we may ask ourselves: How can I make it as a performer?, Will I be able to support myself?, In what ways can I distinguish myself and establish a career? Through this seminar we hope to create a network of support for students and alumni in these challenging fields. All students, graduates and artists are welcome to attend. Networking session and screening of Fly Away, a film by Janet Grillo ’80, will follow.

Presenters: Dana Leslie Goldstein, playwright and poet; Heidi Kole, author, singer-songwriter; Lisa Porter, actress and vocal coach; Jennifer Blaine , actress and one-woman show; Karen Gross, cabaret artist and singer song-writer; Grace Overbeke ’08, director of marketing at Theater J; Martha Meade, muralist; and Tamina Davar, filmmaker.

Center for the Arts Hall (formerly CFA Cinema)


May 17 2011

Documentary Film “Busking The System” today

Hi all – today (despite the monsoon outside) I’ll be filmed & interviewed by the documentary film “Busking The System”. It’s a fabulous film & great crew so keep your eyes & ears peeled as we’re gonna make some waves : )

http://www.buskingthesystem.com

Apr 28 2011

The First Amendment…Porn’s ok & Music’s not???

Seriously – so under the First Amendment Porn is now ok/legal in NYC Public Libraries but music is still not allowed/legal in the NYC Subways????
Apr 26 2011

Damn Cops!

Seriously – there’s other stuff to do down there in the trains than mess w/ me to save your job!!!

Damn Cops! Ticket – summons – court! All surpassed the ridiculous tonight. This cop passed by me, listed for over 45 minutes, smiled and said nothing, not a thing, nada! Then, out of the blue he comes up behind me & says “Ummmm…do you have an ID? I’m sorry but I’m gonna have to write you a ticket, you’re gonna get a summons & you’ll have to go in front of the judge, but it’s all bullshit so he’ll dismiss it.By the way, are there any warrants out for your arrest? Tell me, honestly, ’cause if you  don’t I’ll get in trouble”
“No, no warrants Officer Chin” I answered, grabbing his name from his badge and name tag
“You’re sure, right? I mean everyone says that but you’re  sure  there are no warrants out for you?”
“As far as I know, nothing” I bit  my  tongue at this  point as I was itching to sing as me and the audience were having a very good night underground
“Ok, well, I ‘ll go on your word ’cause I don’t want to go back up there and see  my supervisor to run your ID through the system.  So, here’s the deal, once I”be given you the ticket, you can keep on playing. I just have to show my supervisor that I”m doing something or else I get fired. See, there was apparently this guy with a gun that we were looking for and because I did not find him  my  supervisor thinks I’ve not been  doing anything. So, I’m gonna have to write you up so it looks like I’ve done something, otherwise I’ll get in trouble.”
wtf!!!
“Really? I can  keep singing even  after you’ve  given me a summons? But what about your  supervisor?”
“Oh, she’s super lazy, she’ll never  come  down here, believe me. She never  does  anything but  sit up there”  and he  pointed up to the landing above me where I guess the ‘grand mistress’ that is  the new female “Lazy Lieutenant’ resided
As officer Chin wrote the ticket he  kept chatting saying; “Yeah, I told the Lieutenant I was doing my job, I was down here, right? You saw me right? I was doing my job. But she saw me resting once and said “What are you doing, go do something useful” So, yeah, now I have to write  you up or I’ll get fired.”
“So, why me, and not the guy playing piano across the platform?
“Oh, he’s just lucky. I just saw you first. But don’t worry, it’s all bullshit. Hmmmm…I don’t even know what to write this up for. I guess I’ll just put that you’re blocking traffic”
Blocking traffic? Blocking traffic? Seriously? God – where was my tape recorder!!! I mean the entire conversation was beyond absurd!!!It was eight thirty at  night on he Downtown A,C,E Port  Authority and barely an audience member around. Although the few people sitting on the bench watching this  whole thing in awe  had  been  a fabulous audience just a few minutes prior and for that I was supremely  grateful.
Anyway, as  rediculous as this act was on the cop’s part, now I’m ‘on record’ which means if another cop  decides to save his or her ass at my expense before the court date of July 11th, 2011,   I go to jail. Seriously, you couldn’t make this stuff up….it’s beyond absurd &  I  don’t wanna play this game…& need to busk. I need to make a living.
God, I’m just trying to earn the cash to eat & finish my album! ‘leavemealonenypd’…..this was  harassment!
PS the gunman…he’s still out there ‘sans’  summons
Mar 05 2011

Last few days of Winter Busking 2011

Two fabulous photographers, Mickey Holiday (www.birdhouserevolution.com), NYC, NY & Saburo Horikowa, from Tokyo Japan, followed me underground this past week during one of the last (hopefully) fridgid weeks here in NYC 🙂

59th St w/ Photoggrapher Mickey Holiday

59th st Columbus Circle w/ photographer Mickey Holiday

59th st/Columbus Circel - photographer Mickey Holiday

Danny @ 59th - Photo Sab Horikowa

59th St w/ my 'rock' Danny - Photo Sab Horikowa

59th St/ Coumbus Circle, my little 'enclave' - photo Sab Horikowa