HAPPY EASTER! Hey everybody, As I stepped out of my apartment today, on the boulevard in my parking lot, I saw a huge tree completely covered in white flowers and I was reminded that Spring is finally here once again, the tree looks amazing! I have had some great writing sessions, but did take a break and traveled to Toronto to take part in Missionfest 2008. Missionfest is a three-day conference held every year and is dedicated to furthering missions in our communities. People of diverse cultures, from all over the globe, met to interact and discuss issues related to missions in Canada and around the world. It was a learning experience for me as I participated and, other than the “wild” snowstorm that hit Toronto and area, the weekend was a success. While in Toronto, I was invited to appear on 100 Huntley St. and had the opportunity to perform some of my new songs that I’ve been writing. I will post the dates when they will be aired on television. As we celebrate this Easter weekend, may we remember the reason for this celebration, that Jesus laid down His life for you and me on the cross and because He arose on day three there’s eternal life for you and me. It doesn’t matter what we’ve done in the past, Christ offers us new life if we trust in Him. What an exciting reason to celebrate! It is my Easter wish for you that you will take the time to celebrate this amazing truth with your family and loved ones. Even though I am not able to be at home with my family in person, I know our hearts will rejoice together as we celebrate the best news of that Easter morning….He isn’t here! He has risen from the dead! (Luke 24:6) Happy Easter to you all! In His Grip, amanda 3/21/3008

A CHRISTMAS WISH... It’s Christmastime again and there is always a special feeling in the air during this time of year. This will be my first Christmas traveling home from Nashville, which makes it extra special for me. Moving to Nashville has definitely made me miss and appreciate my family and friends even more. I’m anxious to get home and be around all of them. One of my biggest adjustments has been a December with NO SNOW! I know once I get to Brandon there’s lots of snow there… My first month in Nashville has been all and more than I could have imagined. I’ve been keeping myself incredibly busy working with songwriters and writing new material. I’m so excited about the stuff we’ve been creating. I’m also learning so much from the writers I’m working with. I feel like, with every session, I’m growing as a writer. One of my favorite things to do, during this time of year, is go to different Christmas concerts. As a family, we always used to go together…and it’s something I’ve carried with me. Last weekend, I attended my first concert at The Historic Ryman Auditorium (where the Grand Ole Opry began). I saw the Christmas show “Behold the Lamb of God”. It was such an incredible experience and it really put me into the Christmas spirit. Its focus was on the real meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate the miraculous birth of Christ every year. I want to encourage all of you not to take advantage of the people in your life and show them how much you care. Don’t only do it at this time of year, but take the time to love the people in your life everyday. I pray that God would bless you and give you joy as you celebrate His birth. Merry Christmas to all of you and a Happy New Year… In His Grip…Amanda 12/19/2007

I'VE ARRIVED... Hey Everybody… I’ve finally arrived in Nashville! It feels so good to be here. I’ve moved into my new apartment in Brentwood, TN. It’s a small “feel like” country community, just outside of Nashville, yet only 10 minutes to downtown. It was a long drive down here from Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. We had my little car and my dad’s truck pulling a trailer behind it carrying all of my belongings. We decided to drive through Chicago, IL…it is one of my favorite cities in the US and my Mom and Dad had never seen it. We spent three hours in traffic …just trying to get to downtown Chicago. The plan was to spend some time shopping on Michigan Ave. When we got downtown, we discovered that it was the day of their annual Festival of Lights...there went the idea of shopping !! It then took us 2 more hours to get out of downtown back to the highway. Insanity!! We finally arrived in Nashville, after 24 hours of driving, and started moving into my new apartment. It’s always exciting unpacking and putting everything in its place. For now I’m trying to get settled into this new environment. While we were starting to get our fall/winter weather in Manitoba…it still feels like the middle of summer to me down here! It’s awesome! I could definitely get used to this…warm weather! I’ve always enjoyed discovering new places and I can’t wait to see what Nashville has to offer. I’m looking forward to trying different churches in the area and finding a place where I belong and where God wants me to be. I’m getting ready to start songwriting, actually I have my first songwriting session this week. I started co-writing a couple of new songs the last time I was in Nashville and I’m eager to get those finished and then move on to some new stuff. I’m so excited to begin the creative process. It’s definitely rewarding… I’m looking forward to being challenged and learning from experienced and incredible writers that I will have the opportunity to work with. Nashville is the “city of songwriters”…so I’m excited to be down here amongst them. I will keep you updated with how everything is going… In His Grip…Amanda 11/22/2007

NASHVILLE... Hey Everyone.... I’m actually in the car, driving home from Nashville, after an amazing week of meetings and songwriting. Since finishing "Delirium" a month ago, I’ve had time to relax and spend time with friends and family, such as, attend a friend’s wedding, spend a day at the beach, and enjoy three days in Las Vegas with 2 great friends! On a sad note, my grandfather who was 99 years old passed away a few weeks ago and I was so thankful that I was able to be home at that time. God has been so faithful...He has given me the rest I desperately needed and has opened doors for my future and thus the trip to Nashville. I made the long, grueling 24 hour drive to Nashville, with my parents, and once there God truly did open the floodgates and blessed me so much during our time there. I met some great industry people during the many meetings we had scheduled and was able to song write with three gifted writers and in the midst of all that I also stumbled upon an amazing place for me to live. We can make our plans and when we allow God to direct our path everything falls into place at just the right time. I’m really excited but also admit a little nervous about what lies ahead in the months to come. I will be relocating to Nashville in October and will be concentrating on songwriting for a new project. Nashville affords me the opportunity to connect and write with talented songrwriters and that opportunity would not be there for me if I stayed in Winnipeg. I will continue to keep you updated with my move and with what is happening regarding the new project. Thank you for your constant support and prayers. In His Grip.....Amanda 8/11/2007

BACK HOME... Stepping into my apartment for the first time in 6 months felt so great! I have arrived home after being on the road with Cirque du Soleil's "Delirium". It has been an awesome experience, but it's also great to be back home and reconnect with family and friends. I've missed everybody so much! I'm anxious to catch up with everyone face-to-face and just enjoy being home. I can't wait to cook a meal, clean my apartment (I know that sounds crazy) and become domesticated again. It's been such a really long time.... "Delirium" was an incredible experience, but I have decided to not continue with the tour as they head onto Europe this fall. It was a difficult decision for me, and only after I prayed a lot about it did I feel God was leading me in a different direction at this time. I'm excited to put all my energy back into my solo music career, which has stalled during my touring with "Delirium". Though I have been songwriting while touring, I can't wait to give my career my undivided attention. Touring with a cast and crew of 147 people for 14 months has definitely challenged, stretched and taught me lot about who I am. I feel I have a lot to say and am anxious to share that with you through my new songs. God has opened new possibilities for me and as I stand on the brink of a new tomorrow, I will be forever grateful for my "Delirium" experience on stage, for the wonderful people I worked with and for, and for all those who have become special friends that I will always hold dear in my heart. I am anxiously looking forward to how the future will unfold and will occasionally post updates, so check back often to stay in touch with my new adventures. See you down the road....Amanda 7/5/2007

TIME OFF IN MIAMI... I just finished 10 days off in Miami, Florida. What an awesome place! My time off started on April 8th after the Delirium tour played 5 sold out shows in Miami. I decided to stay in Miami and spend my whole 10 days off warming myself on the beach and shopping. It is a great city to do both. My mom flew out on the 7th and spent the whole break with me...it was a great time of catching up, relaxing without timelines and spending time together. It's just nice to talk to her face to face instead of always over a telephone line. We started the break with mostly beach time, but both got sunburnt the first day, even though we were using sunscreen for protection (the sun is really hot out here), so we did have to take a break from the sun which gave us a great excuse to hit the shops!! There are lots of great stores around the city...we probably saw all of them at least once! We went to Aventura Mall, Lincoln Rd Mall and also the Bayside Marketplace...an outdoor mall right beside the Biscayne Bay. A beautiful spot to hang out, along with some great restaurants. We spent a lot of time on Lincoln Rd which was just a couple of blocks from our hotel. We found Ocean Dr...beside and overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Ocean Dr. is in the Art Deco district and the architecture is really something to see. It looks like the street stepped out of the 60's....very cool! My Dad flew out and met us for half of the time off. As soon as he got in we drove to Orlando, FL and saw the Cirque Du Soleil show La Nouba which plays at Walt Disney World. It was amazing! It's always exciting to see another show by Cirque Du Soleil because it makes me appreciate what a great and talented company I'm involved with. It was an unbelievable show and I recommend if you're ever at Disney World that you check it out. Dad really enjoys tours...so we went on an hour and a half boat tour that showed us many of the millionaire mansions of Miami some being the homes of Gloria Estevan, Elizabeth Taylor and P. Diddy. They were amazing to see and extremely expensive...most of them cost about $25 million. Our tour guide pointed out Oprah's condominium overlooking the Ocean that has a price tag of $6 million! During the tour, we passed by a yacht, owned by the Miami Heat and Carnival Queen Cruise Ship owner, that is valued at $32 million!! I'm now at the airport getting ready to fly to San Antonio, Texas to begin the second leg of the tour. We are on the road throughout North America, with a special week long stop in Mexico, for the next 3 months. We're going to some really cool cities, so I'm quite excited to get started on the tour again. This will be your last opportunity to see Delirium as we are moving into Europe after this leg of the North American tour finishes. Make sure you check out the dates on either my website or my MySpace site to see if we're going to be anywhere near you. See you down the road...Amanda 4/18/2007

DELIRIUM UPDATE... Hey everybody... I hope you're all enjoying the first signs of spring wherever you may be. After the winter's cold it's great to enjoy the warm sunshine. I am currently in Charlotte, North Carolina enjoying 4 days off after a very hectic 10 day show run. The tour has been going really well. Every city and every show is an adventure. It's always interesting to see what's going to happen as the musicians in the show are absolutely hilarious, and you never quite know what they're going to do on stage...it definitely keeps the show in the moment every night! Those are the things that keep the show exciting for us, even after we've done it 100's of times. We always have a blast on stage... While we were in Oklahoma City, I had the opportunity to visit the Oklahoma City bombing site. What a profound memorial honoring the ones who died, survived and those who rescued. I was extremely touched by the area at the memorial called the "Field of Empty Chairs"...there is an empty chair representing each person who was killed in the bombing. There are adult sized chairs and children sized chairs. It was an incredibly emotional day and a time to reflect on love and hate. Love is the answer to everything... During days off on the tour, I usually like to go and get a manicure and pedicure. Nothing is as relaxing as "making yourself feel pretty". I also have to do the necessities...it's usually laundry time. I really miss my laundry machines at home, it's just not the same doing it at a Laundromat. Touring life can seem very "not" glamourous sometimes...but it has to be done! Last night I had the privilege of seeing one of my favorite artist's of all time in concert for the first time. Steven Curtis Chapman was playing in Charlotte at a festival called WinterJam. The show was everything and more that I had ever imagined. It was so inspiring to see him live. I'm challenged to songwrite more, and work harder after seeing his show. I am now more of a fan then I was before... I am really excited to announce that I have FINALLY created my official MySpace. It's another way you can stay connected with what's going on in my life...make sure you sign up to be my friend. I always love making new friends! It is also the only place you can hear the remake of "Here Comes The Rain Again" that I recorded for the Departure Lounge series. Please check it out at www.myspace.com/amandastott. As I run out and grab my favorite chai latte at Starbucks, I hope this day has you enjoying some of your favorite things as well. See you down the road...Amanda 3/19/2007

ON THE ROAD AGAIN... The "Delirium" tour has kicked off for 2007! After a 6 week break, I'm back on the road. We played our first show last night in Detroit, Michigan...it felt great to be back on stage. We spent two weeks rehearsing in Dallas, Texas. They were a LONG two weeks. Lots of "hurry up and wait", but the show's creators have made some really cool changes to the show. Along with the changes, there have been new faces and "acts" added to the tour. It's been great getting to know the new cast members. I hope all of you had a great Christmas break and enjoyed bringing in the New Year. My holidays consisted of TONS of family and friend times which was exactly what I needed. It was great to catch up with everyone and spend some quality time with them. We spent lots of time skating, playing games, and of course, my Mom and I had to have our traditional watching of the latest Gilmore Girls Season. We still love that show! While on my break, I was able to shoot a video in Toronto for the song "When We Believe". You can catch this video on www.ctstv.com . I also went into a studio in Winnipeg and recorded some brand new songs that I'd written over the last year. I worked with my past guitar player, Murray Pulver. I love working with Murray and we had a lot of fun. I can't wait to hear the finished songs....it's so rewarding to hear something you've written come to life in the studio. I was able to spend some time songwriting and jamming with my band, Steve and Pat. I definitely do miss playing with these guys after being out on the road without them. Well...as we begin another year may your dreams become realities for you. Follow your heart where it leads you...anything is possible when you believe. Tackle the challenges that may come your way..as it's through these challenges we learn and grow. I know that's true for me! Thanks for your constant support... See you all down the road...Amanda 1/26/2007

Happy Holidays!! Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope this time of year finds you surrounded by family and friends and may your focus be on the Manger and all that it holds. I look forward to seeing many of you down the road in the coming New Year. God bless you...Amanda 12/21/2006

MY YEAR OF DELIRIUM Well...I have finished my first year with Delirium. What an experience! Six months have flown by...and I’m sure my six week break will fly by as well. It feels great to be home surrounded by my friends and family. I’ve missed them all so much! I have learnt so much about myself over the last six months...I really feel like I’ve become a stronger person. I’ve done a ton of traveling and touring throughout my life, but this extensive tour has challenged me in ways no other tour has. I love how through challenges and trials in our lives we become stronger and in turn it makes the hard times easier. I’m certainly ready, for this break in the tour, to rejuvenate myself around the people who know me best. In January, I will be heading to Dallas refreshed for the continuation of the Delirium tour. I am looking forward to spending time with my band jamming and songwriting...we always have a great time when we get together. I’ll also be spending some time in the studio recording some of the new songs I have written in preparation for a new project. Christmas is my favorite time of the year...I get to be around the people I love and it is special to me because it is the celebration of the birth of Jesus. You can feel a joy and a peace in the air when it’s Christmastime. I hope many of you take the time to enjoy this season of the year and the reason we celebrate it. See you down the road...Amanda P.S. Make sure you check the photo section of the website...I’ve updated it with some photos from Delirium. I hope you enjoy them... 11/30/2006

NEW YORK CITY!!! Hey Everybody.... I finally arrived in my dream city...New York! What an amazing place this is! It is everything I thought it would be and more. Tonight we have our first show in Madison Square Garden....what a huge honor to play in a place where so many artists I’ve looked up to have played. This last week was awesome! My mom came to visit me in East Rutherford, NJ and we went into New York City every day. We did all the tourist things...Empire State Building, Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, Carnegie Hall, Central Park, Ground Zero (very emotional), we walked the SOHO and Greenwich Village districts...did a little shopping!! There was a lot of walking and a lot of enjoying all of the sights, smells and sounds of New York. We were also able to see some Broadway Shows...Mary Poppins and Phantom of the Opera. Both were very different, but very amazing! There is such incredible entertainment in this City! My mom was also able to stay and see our first show in East Rutherford last week. It was a great break for me to see my mom and to be able to explore New York City with her. A couple of days ago, a friend and I went to Madison Square Gardens to see a basketball game between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. It was so much fun! It was my first ever professional basketball game...I had a really great time and it was cool to see the spot where we will be playing tonight and tomorrow night! This is definitely the tour stop I’ve been looking forward to the most on the whole Delirium tour....tonight we’re going to rock New York City!! See you down the road....Amanda 11/8/2006

HELLO FROM PORTLAND... Hey Everyone... The Delirium Cirque tour has taken us through many States and Provinces since the last time I checked in. We spent a couple of weeks in Western Canada and I was fortunate the tour was in Calgary during the Thanksgiving weekend, which gave me the opportunity to spend Thanksgiving Day with some family in Calgary. Though we’ve all become family out here on the road...it was great to see some familiar family faces. I hope that all of you enjoyed a great Thanksgiving weekend being surrounded by your family and friends. We are currently in Portland, Oregon and will be finishing this leg of the tour back in Canada in Ottawa on November 25th. We will then be taking a 6 week Christmas break giving all the Delirium cast and crew, which represent 23 different countries, the opportunity to travel home to spend the Holiday Season with their family and friends. I’m continuing to write new material while on tour and am enjoying this amazing adventure traveling and working with so many amazing talented musicians. I hope many of you have made it out to the show, if you missed us, there are more dates coming your way in 2007. Make sure you keep checking the website for information... See you down the road....Amanda 10/17/2006

HELLO FROM LAS VEGAS I've travelled many miles since the last time I've written. Things have been flying by so quickly...I've been trying to take in as much of each city as my free time allows. The tour is currently in Las Vegas...we've had the last couple of days off, so I've been able to see some of Cirque Du Soleil's Las Vegas shows like "O" and "Love". They were both unbelievable! I absolutely loved them! There has also been some time spent relaxing by the pool and enjoying the desert sunshine and we were invited to performed on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. It was an amazing experience...something I was thrilled and honored to be apart of. A couple of weeks ago "Delirium" stopped in Winnipeg, MB. It was so exciting to bring the show to my home province. The crowds were incredible...the best so far! I was anxious for the cast and crew to see and experience the great things Winnipeg has to offer. Everyone loved the city! It was also really exciting for my family and friends to see what I've been up to the last couple of months. They all loved the show! After Winnipeg we spent a week in Denver, Colorado. I love that city! During our stay we were able to take in a Earth, Wind and Fire concert...incredible entertainers. I went to a Colorado Rockies baseball game and, of course, did a little bit of shopping. There is usually time in the schedule for shopping! It's been an awesome experience spending time in all of these great American cities. The city I'm most excited about is still to come...NEW YORK! I'm so excited to go to New York for the first time...I just have this feeling that I'm going to love it! Anyways, I hope all of you got to enjoy a great summer holiday season. Thanks for your continued support... See you down the road...Amanda 9/7/2006

FLYING REHEARSAL... We arrived in Boston a couple of days ago...a super cool city! I wish I could have spent more time exploring the downtown area. However, I had to fly to Toronto for a couple of days to record a new song. I am going to be singing the new theme song for CTS television in Canada. I'm really excited about being apart of their "I Believe" campaign. We all need something to believe in... It's an awesome message that I feel needs to be heard. The new theme song will be revealed in the coming fall season...make sure you watch out for that. I am now back in the US rehearsing for the coming shows. I have been training to fly for the last couple of weeks. It is such a strange sensation being up in the air flying...it's hard to describe. It's exhilarating and also frightening at the same time. I've looked forward to the chance to fly, so this is, in some way, a dream come true for me. It takes awhile getting used to singing without the ground beneath your feet...but I'm up for the challenge. I still can't believe I'm able to have these opportunities...it's so exciting! I've already made so many great friends and seen so many great places... We play in Worcester, MA this weekend and then our schedule really starts to get busy. So far we've really been able to explore each city we've gone to...after this weekend we only have one day in each city prior to performing. The next couple of weeks are going to go by really fast. After we finish this next stretch of shows, we have a one week tour break, so I'm flying home. I'm really looking forward to seeing all of my friends and family. My Mom and I have planned manicures and all that fun stuff...it'll be a great week of relaxation! Anyways, I hope many of you have been able to see the show! If not, check out the website, www.cirquedusoleil.com, to see if we're going to be coming anywhere near you! Thanks for your continued support... See you down the road...Amanda 7/20/2006

HELLO FROM PHILADELPHIA... It's been great finally getting into the touring mode with Cirque Du Soleil. After leaving Toronto we headed across the border into the USA. Our first stop was Pittsburgh, PA. I enjoyed a couple of days off in the city, as it had been non-stop since I arrived in Montreal for rehearsals. I did some walking around in the city, went to a jazz jam one night and tried to take in as much of Pittsburgh as I could. I also went to a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game one night...I love going to any live sporting events! We had a lot of fun. We ended off our week by playing three shows at the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh. It felt great to be back on stage after enjoying some time off. After our last show in Pittsburgh, we drove all night to Philadelphia. Philadelphia is a really cool place! I've spent the last couple of days walking around the city, of course...shopping, and checking out all the interesting tourist spots. I was able to see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, which is where the Declaration of Independence was written. It was really exciting to stand in the spots where so many historic moments have happened. Last night we celebrated Independence Day by attending a Lionel Richie concert outdoors in the middle of the city. It was an awesome concert and the fireworks after were amazing! I'm a huge sucker for fireworks!!! I'm now definitely ready to get back on stage and play some more shows. We have two shows this weekend in Atlantic City and then move onto Baltimore. I know the adventure is just beginning...I can't wait to see where it's going to take us. See you down the road...Amanda 7/8/2006

FIRST COUPLE OF SHOWS.... We just finished our first shows in Montreal at the Bell Centre. I can't believe how fast the time has gone by. It seems like just yesterday that I arrived in Montreal for rehearsals and now we're on the bus making our way to Toronto. The tour has officially begun! The first shows have gone really well. I'm just happy I didn't cause any collisions on stage...I'm not used to having so many people including band, dancers, acrobats, singers, etc. on the stage at the same time. This coming weekend we play in the Air Canada Center in Toronto. I'm super excited because my Mom and Dad are coming out to see the show. It will be great to hear what they think...they've never seen anything like this! Everyone in the show is extremely talented and it's challenging and inspiring me to be the best that I can be. It's not often that I get a chance to harmonize, so I'm definitely enjoying this opportunity of singing with the other artists on the show. They've really welcomed me into the "Delirium" family. After Toronto we cross the border into the United States. This will be my first time touring in the US. I hope many of you in the US, who have written me, will be able to come to the show when it stops in or near your city. Please check the tour section for the upcoming dates or go to www.cirquedusoleilcom. I'm sure I'll have some good stories to share as we continue across the country... Until I write again... See you down the road...Amanda 6/21/2006

BONJOUR FROM MONTREAL My first week of rehearsals for Delirium has been an extremely interesting and rewarding experience. The past week has been filled with vocal rehearsals and movement classes. The vocal rehearsals have challenged and strengthened me as a singer. I'm excited about what I'm learning and feel that, at some points, I am discovering my voice for the first time. Taking a break from rehearsals on Saturday, I took the subway to downtown Montreal. While sitting in Starbucks, enjoying my Chai Latte with one pump of vanilla, I suddenly regretted not taking more French classes in High School. I missed being able to eavesdrop on peoples conversations and actually understand what they were saying!!! I have another week of rehearsals, costume fittings, etc. before meeting the rest of the cast members. There is so much to learn and remember, but I am taking it day by day and enjoying every moment. See you down the road.....Amanda 6/6/2006

BACK IN CANADA Well...I am back on Canadian soil.  It's amazing how much you can miss the feel of grass and the smell of rain.  My experience in Afghanistan changed my life.  There is no other way to describe it.  I felt so many emotions...from happiness to sadness and feeling safe to feeling scared.  To see our military men and women representing Canada with everything they are...is an emotional experience.  To spend time with them, play "foose" ball, "jam" with our guitars, sit around and chat, hear about their experiences...I will never be the same because of them. It also makes a difference when you're spending time with an awesome group of people...everyone in our group touched me in some way.  We shared something together that will keep us connected for the rest of our lives.  Make sure you check the photos section of the website because I'm going to be posting some pictures from my trip. I also have some extremely exciting news.  As of Monday, I will be apart of a new Cirque Du Soleil production called "Delerium".  I'm so honored to be able to be involved with such an incredible company.  "Delerium" is a live music event that pushes the limit of arena performance.  I begin rehearsals on Monday in Montreal and June 16th is my first show.  We are touring all over North America!  If you want more information about where we'll be performing please check out the Cirque Du Soleil website at, www.cirquedusoleil.com.  I hope many of you will be able to see this "one of a kind" performance. And don't worry...I will be working hard songwriting for a new project as I travel the globe.  I'm excited to experience new things and put them into the process of my next album.  Keep checking out the website for information about the new project.... Thanks for all your support and prayers while I was overseas.  I look forward to seeing many of you as I head across this country... See you down the road...Amanda    5/28/2006

ANOTHER BIRTHDAY... Well another year has gone by for me with the celebration of my Birthday this past Saturday. This past year has been amazing for me...a year of learning more about myself and growing as a person. I look forward to the year ahead and to the many adventures that are in my future. We just finished rehearsals in Kingston, ON for our military tour to Afghanistan. The boys in the band are exhausted! Steve and Pat are playing with every artist on the show...so they've been learning music like crazy...54 songs!! It's been overwhelming for them, but they're doing an amazing job. We now have a couple of days off in Trenton before we fly to Afghanistan. I am feeling many emotions about our trip to Afghanistan. Apprehensive, excitement, obligation to fellow Canadians....it's hard to describe. This is probably the last journal entry you'll read from me until I get back at the end of May. I would appreciate your prayers as I bring a bit of Canada to our troops. See you down the road...Amanda 5/9/2006

HAPPY EASTER! Well...I would say summer is officially here! It's so exciting to look outside and not see snow! It's also great to be able to go outside and not feel like you're never going to warm up again...it's very refreshing! Things have been going really well with me. My band and I have been working a lot together lately. Both with rehearsing for upcoming gigs and also songwriting together. We're convinced we're going to write the next "big hit". It's been a lot of fun and exciting to see what we've been coming up with. We're also getting ready for our tour to Afghanistan. I can't believe we leave in three weeks! I'm excited to bring some Canadian entertainment to the troops in the hope that it will lift up their spirits for the remainder of their time overseas. I want to wish all of you a Happy Easter. My faith is extremely important to me and this time of year is incredibly uplifting and heartbreaking at the same time. I hope that all of you are able to surround yourself with people you love and remember the sacrifice and miracle this time of year represents. Happy Easter to you all! See you down the road...Amanda 4/12/2006

EXCITING NEW TOUR... Hey Everyone... I just recently arrived home from Canadian Music Week in Toronto. It was great to be in that environment and around so many fellow musicians. The band and I performed "Homeless Heart" at the Radio Music Awards on Saturday...which went extremely well. It had been awhile since the band and I had done a show together so it was great to be up on stage with them again. Last week, I also got some extremely exciting news. In May, along with some other awesome artists, I will be travelling to Afghanistan to perform for our Canadian troops. I have gone on two previous tours overseas to perform for our troops, and I'm excited to once again have this amazing honor especially with what's been going on in Kandahar recently. Our Canadian Military really need something to lift their spirits and know that we are thinking and praying for them back home in Canada. This coming week I'm heading home to Brandon to perform at the Grand Opening of the Agricultural Center of Excellence as part of the Keystone Center complex. I remember showing cattle, in the old barns, as a 4-H member...it's going to bring back a lot of memories being in that environment again. I had a pet cow named "Annie" who actually became extremely famous. She was even on the CTV National News with Lloyd Robertson. When I was bottle feeding her as an orphaned calf, I always knew that she was bound for bigger and better things! In all seriousness, it's great to see Brandon growing and expanding....the best part about it all is that they now have a STARBUCKS! I gotta have that nonfat chai latte with one pump vanilla. Anyways, make sure you continually keep our Canadian troops in your thoughts and prayers. I look forward to seeing all of you down the road....Amanda 3/8/2006

BACK FROM TORONTO... Hey Everybody... I just got back from Toronto after being there for a couple of days. It started with getting up insanely early on Thursday morning to appear on the daily televised 100 Huntley St. I have appeared on the show before and it was great once again to play my music and to share how my faith is an important part of my musical journey in the interview. My mom accompanied me to Toronto so after the show we went shopping downtown. It doesn't take us very long to do some pretty good damage, but oh, it's so much fun! On Friday I was scheduled to go to Barrie, ON to be a part of the I.E. launch. Unfortunately, on Thursday night there was a major snow and wind storm in southern Ontario and as a result of this storm, the Friday evening i.e. launch had to be canceled, but I'm excited to announce the event is being rescheduled for March 24th. So if you didn't get your tickets to come last time...make sure you get your tickets for the rescheduled night. The organizers have an unbelievable night planned "just for the girls"! I am busy rehearsing with the band to get ready for the shows we have coming up in the next couple of months. I'm really excited to be apart of the Canadian Music Week which is held in Toronto from March 2 - 4. I've been nominated for a Canadian Radio Music Award in the category of Best New Group or Solo Artist (Mainstream AC) and I'm excited to play "Homeless Heart" at the Canadian Radio Music Awards gala luncheon. I will be sure to keep you posted with all the new stuff that is coming up...thanks for your continued support! See you down the road...Amanda 2/20/2006

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! I just wanted to wish all of you a Happy Valentine's Day! May you surround yourself with people you love today and everyday. In His Grip...Amanda 2/14/2006

BRAND NEW SINGLE Hey Everybody... Wow..the month of January is all but gone! I have enjoyed my time in Winnipeg. I have had time to really live in my apartment, concentrate on my songwriting, spend great quality times with friends and have enjoyed the warm winter weather!! I feel like I’ve finally revived my one lonely plant...which usually struggles to stay alive for lack of water during my absences. My mom also came into Winnipeg for a couple of days to supervise me while I did a major cleaning...I didn’t realize how much dust could collect under furniture in 4 years!! My mom is the best...I know I owe her big time!! In February I’ll be back on the road. One of the events I’m really excited about is an organization called I.E. The organization’s focus is to inspire excellence in the lives of young women between the ages of 13 to 19. I’m thrilled to be singing at the launch of the I.E. event, which will be in Barrie, ON on February 17th. It’s going to be a great evening of music, speakers, skits, etc. dealing with life-changing issues teenage girls deal with on a daily basis. For more information about the event or the organization their website is www.byexample.ca. I also have some BIG news! I have a brand new single that has just been released to radio. It is a remake of the Eurythmics song "Here Comes the Rain Again". It’s a totally fresh and new take on this amazing classic song. It was officially released last week so make sure you listen to your local radio stations to hear it. I’m really proud of it and can’t wait to hear what all of you think. I’m looking forward to seeing you down the road soon....Amanda. 1/27/2006

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Firstly, I want to wish all of you a very Happy New Year! I hope you all had a great time over the Christmas holiday's with family and friends. I am just finishing up my holiday time. It's been so great to just relax! I've enjoyed sleeping in and spending lazy afternoons watching "Gilmore Girls" with my mom! I've also spent many nights with my family and friends playing "Dutch Blitz" and "Sequence" (we can be very competitive) and eating lots of Christmas snacks! We also were able, because it's been so beautiful in Manitoba this Christmas, to go skating and skidooing. It's fun to see my 10 and 5 year old nieces bouncing along on the tube behind the skidoo trying to stay on! It's been awesome. It's sad to see it end, but also exciting to see what's coming up in the year ahead! I am now eager to get back to Winnipeg and begin songwriting again. My biggest focus is expressing myself through my songs with the message of what is important to me. I don't want to give anything away yet, but we were working in the studio right before Christmas on a very exciting new song. As soon as I can, I will keep you all updated with when you can hear it! It's so exciting and different for me I can't wait to hear what you all think! Thanks again for your continued support! See you down the road...Amanda 1/4/2006

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE I want to take a moment and wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. My prayer for you this season is that you may see Christmas miracles happen around you and that you would feel the spirit of that first Christmas. As you look forward to the New Year, may the dreams you have become realities for you throughout the coming year. Have a wonderful Holiday Season...Amanda 12/21/2005

HOLIDAY TRAIN... The Holiday Train tour is in full swing! We are currently in Calgary, AB. We arrived here late last night and had our first night off the train for over a week. Tonight we have our show in Calgary. The audiences have been absolutely unbelievable. So many people have been coming out to see the shows which is awesome! The weather has also been crazy beautiful...it doesn't even feel like wintertime. It's so exciting, as an artist, to be apart of something like the Holiday Train. It's great to see a community pull together to fight hunger. At this time of year, it seems like every one is in the giving spirit...it feels like we are really making an impact as we travel the country. Living on the train has been great. We all have our own little rooms. There is a shower, bathroom...everything you could need. You definitely move in and make it your home away from home. It has also been great getting to know the other artists and musicians on the tour. It's amazing how quickly you can get to know people in such close quarters. There is no hiding! The people at CPR and everyone involved in the tour have been amazing! I hope that many of you have been able to come out and catch the show. After Calgary tonight we continue to move west. It is always exciting to get into the mountains and see the view on the train ride. We live in a beautiful country! I hope that everybody is doing well and enjoying this wonderful time of year! See you down the road...Amanda 12/12/2005

Rough Weekend... Well...it has been a rough weekend for me. Between going to the doctor and fighting "pink eye" and "tonselitis" it has not been fun! As of now, I'm starting to feel better. I was so disappointed that I got sick this weekend because I was home in Brandon. It was nice that my Mom was there to make me feel better (I know I'm pathetic), but it stunk because I didn't really get to visit with my friends and family like I wanted to. Now I'm getting all ready to leave on the Holiday Train. I fly out on Wednesday to Montreal. We spend two days rehearsing there before we take off. I'm really excited about this Train tour especially because we are using a live band...in my previous Holiday Train tours we always used tracks. I'm only hoping my fingers won't freeze when I'm playing the piano...oh well, it will be worth it. I hope that many of you are able to come out to one of the stops...it's going to be a great time! Anyways, I better say goodbye for now. I will make sure and keep you all updated as we move across the country. I hope you are all staying healthy and starting to get into the Christmas spirit... See you down the road...Amanda 11/28/2005

THE SNOW IS FINALLY HERE!!! We are currently in the middle of our first real snow storm in Winnipeg this year...I'm so happy I'm in my apartment and not outside tonight. I think the snow may be here to stay! Things have been awesome lately! I've been enjoying my time at home with friends and family. It's also great to spend this time songwriting. I'm so excited with the new stuff that I'm working on. I'm really trying to find topics that all of us can relate to and identify with. It's such a challenge to take issues and turn them into music that's going to encourage people. I can't wait for everybody to hear it. I've also been busy Christmas shopping...I'm pretty organized with these kinds of things. I love searching for that perfect gift that one of my friends and family will love. It's such an fulfilling feeling! I'm also getting excited about the Holiday Train tour which starts December 2nd. I've been on the Holiday Train two times in previous years and it is always an incredibly rewarding experience. To travel across the country in a train, firstly, is one of the most beautiful things! We live in an absolutely beautiful country. Secondly, I love singing Christmas music. And thirdly, it's great to be able to give back to each community we enter. The CPR Holiday Train fundraises to support the fight against hunger in Canada. The Holiday Train's goal is to throw the focus on the important job local food banks do in our communities and to support local leaders in fighting hunger in their neighbourhoods. It definitely puts you in the Christmas spirit. I hope that many of you will be able to come out and support this great cause. The tour also includes Canadian singer/songwriter/story teller, Wayne Ronstad and international recording artists, The Moffatts. The train is also decorated with hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights which make it an incredible sight to see! I can't wait to be apart of this incredible event again! You can check out all of the tour stops in the "tour" section of the website. See you down the road...Amanda 11/14/2005

Can't Believe It's November... Right now I'm home in Brandon spending some time with my family. Tonight the ladies in our family are getting together to watch the "Amazing Race". We love that show! Whenever I'm home in Brandon, and the "Amazing Race" is on, we watch it together. It's great! A couple of days ago I got back from finishing the John McDermott tour. It was so much fun and such a great new experience for me. I made some great new friends and enjoyed seeing John perform every night. I flew back to Winnipeg from Toronto only to drive straight to Brandon to take part in a Women's Alive Conference on Saturday. It was such a great day! My mom spoke in the morning (she was absolutely amazing...it was her first time public speaking) and then I did a concert in the afternoon. It's great to be able to play my songs and talk about the spiritual impact they have had on my life. I can't believe it is already November now! Time really flies. I am spending the month...locked in my apartment....songwriting! I'm looking forward to being able to concentrate fully on songwriting and being creative. Thanks again for all of your continued support. I've added some brand new pictures on the "photo" section of the website. Some from the John McDermott tour and some from a Mattel Teen Trend launch I was able to be apart of in Vancouver. They were launching their brand new dolls called the "it girls". It was a great time! Make sure you also keep checking the "tour" section of the website because we will be posting the exact "stop" locations for the Holiday Train. Hopefully many of you will be brave the weather to come out and see the Christmas show. See you down the road...Amanda 11/1/2005

Happy Thanksgiving! I just returned to Canada yesterday...it feels really great to be home! I had an awesome time in LA. First of all, the weather was unbelievable. We were enjoying 30 degree days everyday. It's a shame that while my mom and I were out there....my dad was experiencing snow in Brandon. At least mom and I had something to brag about! The writing was amazing! I'm already so excited about the new material. It's important to me, on this next CD, to grow as a writer and dig deeper inside. I really feel like we started that process during this first writing trip. I can't wait for everybody to hear the new songs! We start the John McDermott tour tonight in Richmond, BC at the River Rock Casino. This is quite the place! It's like a little town in a hotel. I'm excited about the show and seeing John play for the first time...I've heard his show is awesome! Well, that's it for me today! I hope that you all enjoy time with your friends and family this Thanksgiving weekend. I know I have so much to be thankful for and God has richly blessed me! Also...enjoy a piece of pumpkin pie for me (my favorite). See you down the road...Amanda 10/8/2005

John McDermott Tour I'm so excited to tell everybody about the new tour I'm starting with John McDermott on October 8th until October 27th. I am doing 10 dates with him all across Canada. I will make sure I keep all of you updated of our adventures as we head across the country. Make sure you check the tour section of the website to see if we're coming anywhere near you! I'm also really excited about flying out tomorrow to Los Angeles to do some songwriting. I haven't been to LA since I was a little girl on a family holiday so I'm anxious to see the city again! I am spending a week there working with some incredible writers. I'm excited to learn from them and create some awesome new music! I'm sure I'll also make some time to do some shopping as well...my mom is coming down with me so it should be a great time! Anyways, I hope that this journal entry finds everybody well and I will make sure to keep you updated as I continue my travels... See you down the road...Amanda 9/30/2005

Time Off... Things have been going well with me. I've been enjoying some time off in Winnipeg. It's great to be able to spend some time with my family and friends...but I'm also getting anxious to get out on the road again. We have some really exciting things coming up in the future. I know that there are some new dates in October with John McDermott so we will get those on the website as soon as possible. I'm also gearing up for some songwriting trips where we will be working on songs for a new album. I'm sure a lot of you have now started school for another year. I used to love the first day of school. One of my favorite things to do would be to pack all of my new school supplies in my new backpack. I can still remember my first day of 7th grade. I was so in love with Reba McEntire that I actually had seven of her concert t-shirts...one for every day of the week. I'm surprised I had any friends in high school at all!!! School is really an awesome time though...I hope that you all enjoy every minute of it! Anyways, I will continue to keep you updated with everything that is going on...please continue to write in to the question and answer section of the website. I love hearing from all of you. See you down the road...Amanda 9/19/2005

Hurricane Katrina I'm sure all of you are aware of the disastrous hurricane that has hit Southern United States. I just want to encourage all of you to join me in prayer for all the people who have been affected by this disaster. As I watch the images on TV, it doesn't seem real to me and I can't even imagine what they are all going through. My heart goes out to them. It is encouraging to know that God is in control and that He is right there beside us during our darkest days. If there ever were a test of faith it is when a storm rolls into our lives. Sometimes God calms our storms...sometimes He chooses to ride them with us. In His Grip...Amanda 9/5/2005

The Tour Has Finished... I just got home a couple of days ago from the Solo Mobile Eckored Tour. I had such an awesome time! I was able to meet so many great people and make so many great friendships. It was also a lot of fun to watch everybody else's shows each night and learn to appreciate all different styles of music. I hope that someday down the road I'll be able to work with those people again! I can't believe September is now here...the summer has just flown by. September is pretty open for me right now which is nice because I really didn't have a summer. We are planning some songwriting trips to Vancouver and maybe New York!!! New York is the one place in the whole world I'd like to visit. I just think the city has an incredible vibe! I also can't deny that I wouldn't mind going shopping there! It's also exciting to start doing some co-writing with other songwriters again. I always learn so much from working with other writers. Other than that there isn't to much new on my end right now. I hope everyone who is going back to school this coming week is excited... Make sure you keep checking the tour section of the website because you never know when I may be coming your way. We are working on some possible dates for October right now... See you down the road...Amanda 9/3/2005

The Tour Continues... Well the tour continues on... Things have been super busy since the last time I wrote. We have continued across the country including a stop in Winnipeg (my home now). It was really nice to be able to relax at home for a day and sleep in my own bed...it rejuvenates you for the rest of the tour. Today we are in Belleville, ON. We are playing at the mall this afternoon and then at the Empire Theater tonight (a really great place to play). The mall shows are also a lot of fun. Christine Evans and I have been rehearsing together and now we play and sing on each other's songs. It's so exciting for me to be able to sit back and sing along with someone else's music. It also helps you to appreciate each other's style. Travelling on the bus has been awesome. There were quite a few all night drives so it was great being able to go into your bunk and have a good night's sleep. I don't know if I'll ever be able to go back to travelling in a van again...I've been spoiled! We also have the greatest bus driver...Tim. He has so many interesting bus stories. We feel very safe in his hands. Anyways...it is 30 minutes until show time so I better get ready to go. Thanks for listening! See you down the road...Amanda 8/22/2005

The Tour Has Begun... The Solo Mobile Eckored Tour has officially gotten off to an amazing start! We started on Thursday playing in Vernon, BC and then yesterday played in Vancouver, BC. Both crowds were amazing....it was so exciting to play for them! We actually played two shows yesterday in Vancouver. A free concert in the afternoon at a mall in Burnaby and then an evening show at the Vogue theater. At the mall, we do a stripped down version of some of our favorite songs...it also gives us a change to talk about the songwriting process and why the songs are important to us. In the evening, is when we rock out playing with the band. We've only done two shows but I can already tell it's going to be an awesome tour! Today we have a day off in Edmonton before we play here tomorrow. We are doing an afternoon mall show at the West Edmonton Mall (I might have to sneak in some shopping after the show) and then that night we're playing at Red's which is also in the mall. We have also been getting used to riding everywhere in the tour bus. It takes awhile for you to get your "bus legs". It's been an awesome opportunity for us to get to know each other because we are in extremely close quarters. My band and I are sharing a bus with Christine Evans and her band. They are all awesome people and we've been having a great time hanging out and watching movies. It would definitely be hard to go back to travelling across Canada in a van after the bus! We drove all night from Vancouver last night to arrive in Edmonton today! I just want to thank everyone who has come out to the shows already...it has been great meeting you. I look forward to see more of you as we continue across Canada. See you down the road...Amanda 8/13/2005

Klondike Days... I just arrived home from Klondike Days in Edmonton. The band and I had an awesome time. I flew out to Edmonton on Tuesday and that night performed for a EZ Rock radio promotion. It was a lot of fun! It was an intimiate evening out on the EZ Rock patio with a barbeque. The only problem was right when I started to play it started to pour rain. We then had to pack up the show and move it inside. It all turned out great though. The people at EZ Rock in Edmonton have been so incredibly supportive of me. They were actually the first station in Canada to add my brand new single "She'll Get Over It". It was great to be able to go to the station and do a mini concert for them and their listeners. The next day was Klondike Days. There was a huge crowd out for the show which we did with Keshia Chante. I want to take some time and tell you about my band. My drummer is Steve Broadhurst. I have actually been playing with Steve since I was 18 years old. He toured with me when I was promoting my country record in 2000. It's great to be able to have him out on the road with me again...he is definitely the entertainer in the group! My guitar player is Pat Wright. Pat has been with the band since May. He's the new one of the group, but I'm so excited that he's apart of it. Pat is an incredible guitar player and amazing singer. He brings so much to the group! I'm excited to announce that my band will be touring with me during the Solo Mobile Eckored Tour. It's exciting to be able to go across the country with the guys. I also want to take a moment and announce that all the shows on the August tour will be for all ages. I know that some of the venues are over 18 but for our shows all ages with be allowed. I hope that many of you will be able to come out! Thanks again for all your support and we'll see you down the road...Amanda 7/29/2005

Family Time in Brandon This past week has been great! It started this weekend with playing in Sarnia, ON. The crowd was awesome and the band and I had a lot of fun. The main headliner, on the night we played, was David Lee Roth (Van Halen). The guys in the band were so excited...I didn't even recognize the name (isn't that awful?). As soon as he started playing I recognized a lot of the songs...my band guys felt like they were in high school all over again! After Sarnia I flew back to Winnipeg and then drove straight to Brandon. On the weekend we celebrated my Grandma and Grandpa's 70th Wedding Anniversary. It is definitely a huge milestone. My Grandparents are pretty amazing people...they are 96 and 97 and totally independent. The rest of the week, I've been hanging out with the rest of my family. Yesterday my mom and I hit all the hot spots in Brandon...and then had a Gilmore Girls marathon evening. My life is so NOT exciting! Pretty soon I have to head back to Winnipeg and start getting things ready for the upcoming tour. I'm so excited about heading across the country with three female artists...this country isn't going to know what hit it! Anyways, hope that you are all outside enjoying the warm summer weather and that I'll see you soon down the road...Amanda 7/20/2005

Back Home... I'm now back home. I had an awesome couple of days in Toronto. On Sunday, my band and I played at the Celebrate Toronto Street Festival. It was so much fun! They shut down the street at Yonge and Eglinton. Then they set up a stage, had some rides, it was just a great day! I now have the rest of the week off until Friday. On Friday, we take off to Sarnia, Ontario to play at Bayfest. I'm also really excited to announce the new tour I will be apart of in August. It is called the Solo Mobile Eckored Tour. It is with Keshia Chante, Christine Evans and Cassie Steele. The tour will be running all through the month of August...please make sure you check the website in the next couple of days to see if we'll be coming to a city near you. I hope that many of you will be able to come out and see the show! See you down the road...Amanda 7/12/2005

Happy Canada Day! I hope everyone had a great time celebrating our nation's birthday! I had the best time! I had never been in Ottawa for Canada Day...it was a great experience. I can't believe how many people congregate in Ottawa for Canada Day...people from all over the country. Being able to perform on the noon show was such a huge honor. I had an amazing time! We live in the best country in the world! This week has started out just hanging around Winnipeg. It's nice after a crazy weekend in Ottawa to come home and see my friends and family. In a couple of days I'm off to Toronto to sing the National Anthems at a Toronto Blue Jays game. I love baseball so I'm excited to be apart of that. I'm also going to be recording more Christmas music and then on Sunday I'm taking part in the Celebrate Toronto Music Festival. That should be a great time. I hope that everyone is continually checking the tour section of the website because we are always coming up with new shows. See you down the road...Amanda 7/5/2005

Celine Dion... I had one of the best weeks last week! I was finally able to see one of my favorite artists of all time perform live...CELINE DION! It was probably the most incredible concert I've ever seen. My mom, dad and I drove out to Las Vegas last week to catch the show. I recommend it to everyone! She is incredible on her albums...but nothing compares to actually seeing her live. We were also able to see a lot of the country while we drove. All in all...I had a wonderful holiday! It's also exciting to be back and getting ready for the summer. We start this weekend playing in Peterborough, Ontario. Make sure you check out the tour section of the website and see if I'm going to be coming anywhere near you this summer! We are also going to be shooting a brand new video for my new single "She'll Get Over It" in the next couple of weeks. I'm really excited about it! I will let you know when and where you'll be able to see it! Thanks so much for your constant support and I look forward to seeing you this summer...Amanda 6/21/2005

Been Awhile... Sorry it's been awhile since the last time I wrote to everybody. Things have been going well and keeping busy. Last week I had a neat opportunity to go play for some kids at an elementary school in Winnipeg, MB. My best friend is a music teacher at Heritage Elementary School and asked me to come in and play for the kids. I was so nervous! I had never done anything like that before...but everyone was really nice and the kids helped me by singing along! The last couple of weeks have also been busy with practing for the upcoming summer dates. I've been working with my band and we're all really excited to get out there and play. We start this weekend in Kingston, ON! Yesterday I went into a studio here in Winnipeg and recorded a Christmas song...I know that sounds crazy, but it's true! We have to record our Christmas songs at this time of year so they're ready for December. You'll have to keep your eyes open because there are a couple of Christmas projects I will be involved with this coming year! We'll give all the information as the dates draw closer! I hope you are all getting out and enjoying the beautiful weather. I feel like summer has finally arrived! Thanks for all your continual support. We'll see you down the road...Amanda 5/31/2005

Happy Birthday to Me!!! I can't believe I'm actually 23! My birthday was actually on the 6th of May. I celebrated with my family in Calgary, AB. We spent a good part of the day at the Calgary Zoo! I have two nieces who are 9 and 4 and they absolutely loved it. My favorite animal was definitely the hippo...they are so cool!!! Last week was extremely busy...I flew out to Vancouver to do some press and promotion. It was nice to escape from the cold weather in Manitoba for a couple of days. It rained while I was out there, but it was still warm! After Vancouver I flew into Calgary to meet my family there. We spent the weekend in Cochrane, AB where one of my cousins was getting married. On Sunday we drove the long trip back to Brandon, MB. I now have a couple of weeks off before we start our festival gigs for the summer. I'm hoping that I'll be able to see as many of you as I can over the next couple of months...thanks for your continual support! See you down the road...Amanda 5/10/2005

Is Winter back? I know we're all in different parts of the country, but here in Winnipeg it is insanely cold. It's like winter wasn't quite ready to give up. I guess we have to enjoy those warm days when they come our way. Things are going really well. It's been wonderful to have the last week off. I was able to go home to Brandon, Manitoba and see my family and some of my friends. One of my favorite things to do is have a big dinner with my family and then play games until all hours of the night. We always have an amazing time when we're together. We have had so many hilarious moments on family vacations...from our hotel being on fire to my father losing teeth....there is always an adventure when we're around. We usually try to take a couple of days each summer and spend some time together. It's always a great time! After this week the craziness starts again. I'm heading out to Vancouver for a week and then to Calgary for a couple of days. I hope that you all have time this summer to enjoy moments with your family and I look forward to seeing you soon! See you down the road...Amanda 4/27/2005

Whitehorse, Yukon Hey everybody... Yesterday I arrived home from playing in Whitehorse, Yukon. What an awesome experience. I had never been in Whitehorse before and I'm so excited I was able to go out there and play. The people were wonderful and the town was really great. It dumped snow on us the day we arrived out there...but wasn't too cold. We had some amazing Mexican food and a great chai latte from the downtown coffee shop. It's so exciting when you're able to go somewhere you've never been before and meet lots of great people. The Yukon was also the first opportunity I had to play my new music with my band. I had two other players with me....Steve Broadhurst (drums) and Pat Wright (guitar). We had a blast on stage and I can't wait for everyone to hear the new show. We did a lot of songs from the new record, plus some of my old country singles and, of course, some of my favorite cover songs! I now have some time off until the beginning of May. It will be great to be able to spend some time with my family and my friends. It doesn't take me long to want to get out on the road again though...it's something that just gets in your blood. I want to make sure that everyone keeps checking the tour section of the website because we are constantly updating the dates! I look forward to seeing as many of you as I can this summer.... Enjoy the sun and we'll see you down the road...Amanda 4/15/2005

Spring Has Arrived!!! Can you believe how beautiful it's been the last couple of days? I think it may be safe to say Spring is on the horizon. I am home in Winnipeg enjoying a couple of days of catching up. It's amazing how much can happen while you're away for two months. The last week has been unbelievable in my life. Firstly, we finished the Kalan Porter tour on March 31st in Toronto at Massey Hall. Everyone kept telling me that Massey Hall would be an overwhelming experience...and after playing there I totally understand what they were talking about. Walking out on that stage and hearing the crowd was something I can't even describe. It was probably one of the highlights of my whole career. After finishing the tour, I flew back to Winnipeg and attended the JUNO's. What a crazy weekend! I was involved in three different things over the weekend. On Friday I took part in a welcome reception, Saturday...Junofest, and Sunday was the songwriters' circle. I almost enjoyed watching the songwriters' circle more than I even did performing it. There were some amazing songs played! I also was able to attend the JUNO awards on Sunday night and experience my first "red carpet". Those things are crazy! It's definitely not something you experience every day. On Monday I was able to go to the Keith Urban concert in Winnipeg....it was so great! That guy puts on an incredible show. Tuesday had me flying back to Toronto to perform at a Harry Rosen fashion show. It was showcasing the new spring/summer men's fashions...then Wednesday I finally flew back home! It's great to be able to just chill out for the next couple of days before I take off to the Yukon to perform out there. I have never been before so I'm looking forward to seeing some new and exciting things! Thanks everyone for all the incredible support you gave me during the tour and I look forward to coming your way very soon again! I will be playing at some festivals this summer so please keep checking the tour section of the website! See you down the road...Amanda 4/7/2005

I'M HOME! I can't believe I'm actually at home! We arrived in Brandon yesterday morning after an all night drive from Red Deer, AB where we had just finished playing two shows that day! To say the least, we were all excited to arrive here! Yesterday, after I had a little time to chill at home, I played a special free concert for my hometown at the Brandon Shoppers Mall. It was so exciting to see all my friends and family and many people I've known through the years. Actually, the first competition I ever went into was at the mall when I was 11 years old. It was the karaoke Back to School competition and I won $500 worth of mall gift certificates (it was great for buying all my new school clothes that year). It feels like only yesterday that I was competing on the stage and now I'm here promoting my brand new album. It is so great to have a hometown that supports me so much! Tonight we play here with Kalan...it should be a lot of fun! The tour has been going great! After Brandon we only have three more shows left...I can't believe it! I'm also getting all ready for the JUNO's that are coming up! It's going to be so exciting to be in Winnipeg during that time. Anyways, I hope you are all doing well and I look forward to our paths crossing in the future... See you down the road ~ Amanda 3/22/2005

DAY OFF!!! Well I officially have my first day off in about a month. We are in Calgary, AB where all I'm going to do is chill in my hotel room, shop (of course), and not much of anything else. The tour has been moving along so fast. It was only a week ago that we were in Winnipeg and my album was released. Since then we have been to Regina, Saskatoon, Edmonton and Vancouver. There have been a lot of miles put on our little mini van (I mean, our "bus"). I feel like sometimes my body is molded into the mini van seat I've been sitting there for so long! We met a lot of great people over the last week....thanks also to everyone who went out and bought the album in the first week! I hope that you all enjoyed it and that you found things that you could identify with! The tour has been going amazingly well. I can't believe how fast the time flies. It seems like just yesterday we were starting our first show in Sarnia, ON and nobody knew each other....now we're playing in Calgary tomorrow night with only a few shows left and we are like family. It will be so odd to not see these people every day! You definitely get into a routine! Anyways, I can't wait to see you all as we continue across the country. Please keep sending your questions my way on the Q & A board....I love reading them and answering as many as I can! Thanks for all your support....Amanda 3/16/2005

OFFICIALLY EXHAUSTED!!! Well...I have arrived home in Winnipeg, Manitoba! It has been such a long time since I've been in my apartment...my poor plants are dead as doornails! The last week has been absolutely insane. We started last week by finishing up our maritime dates of the Kalan Porter tour...it was so much fun to be out east with everybody! I always love going to the maritimes because it's so different from where I grew up. In the middle of the week, I took off to Toronto to do press, press and more press. Between TV, newspaper, and radio performances I barely had time to grab a chai latte with one pump vanilla (my favorite drink) from Starbucks. During those two days in Toronto, I was able to be on Canada AM. Along with singing "Homeless Heart", they had me modeling jeans (totally out of my element). The jeans were from this amazing store in Toronto called "Over the Rainbow". It was fun to go into the store and try stuff on for the show! After we finished up in Toronto I drove to Lindsay, Ontario to meet back up with the tour. We played Lindsay that night along with Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie the following two nights. After the show in Sault Ste. Marie last night we drove all night to get to Winnipeg today because we play here in a couple of days! Everything has been going amazing. TOMORROW IS THE OFFICAL RELEASE DATE OF THE NEW ALBUM "CHASING THE SKY"! I have been waiting for this for so long that I can't believe it's actually happening. I want to thank all of you for letting me in and accepting my music! I'll hopefully see you all soon as we continue to travel across this beautiful country we live in! See you down the road...Amanda 3/7/2005

Good Morning Everybody... It is actually 5:30 am and I am sitting in the Fredricton, NB airport waiting to fly to Halifax, NS for a day of press. Everything is going great! The tour has been amazing. We played Montreal a few days ago which was so much fun! I have never been able to really spend time in Montreal so it was wonderful to be able to see the city! The last two nights we played in Fredricton for two sold-out audiences. The single, Homeless Heart, is starting to really latch on at radio. It is really cool when I get emails from family and friends that are hearing it on the radio. I've been working on this new music for so long that I can't believe it's actually time to share it with everyone. I actually got to hear Homeless Heart for the first time a couple of weeks ago in Toronto. It is very odd to hear your own voice coming out of the radio...it still doesn't seem right! Well, they're starting to board my flight so I better run! I hope that you are all doing well and I look forward to seeing you all soon! See you down the road..Amanda 2/23/2005

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! Well we're on our way back to Toronto from St. Catherine's, ON after another Kalan Porter show. The audience was fabulous! I've been able to go out after all of my sets and sign autographs which has been awesome. Every one is so friendly! It was nice to have some time off in Toronto the last couple of days. I can't help but do a little bit of shopping....of course. That is my way of unwinding! Walking around a mall can do wonders for me!!! Tonight is our last night in Toronto...we now begin moving away from the "big city" and travelling to the maritimes! I will keep you all updated as we move along.... See you down the road..Amanda 2/14/2005

Hey Everyone! Firstly, I want to thank you all for stopping by my new website, www.amandastott.com. Make sure you check this section once a week...this is where you'll stay informed of everything that's going on in my life from my point of view. We are in the beginning stages of the Kalan Porter Canadian Tour. Everything is going great. We are actually, at the moment, on our way back to Toronto from Barrie, ON where we played tonight. The crowds have been unbelieveable...sold-out every night. Kalan is an awesome guy...I'm so excited to be able to share the stage with him. I had the privilege of performing with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra last Friday! It was so amazing. To sing in front of such a powerful group is an overwhelming feeling. I was apart of the new music festival which showcases new composers. The piece was called Creation Stories. It told different stories, from different cultures, of how creation came to be. I played the part of Eve in the biblical story. It was a great experience! Anyways, my thumbs are getting sore from typing on my little blackberry keyboard so I'll sign off for now... See you down the road... Amanda 2/11/2005