Lynn Miles inspires at Wintergreen

May 05, 2011

Photo: Lynn Miles at Wintergreen StudiosMusic lovers looking for some inspiration this Easter weekend were not let down as Lynn Miles took to Wintergreen Studios' stage for an intimate night of song. The show was the third in Wintergreen’s 2011 dinner/entertainment series, and not surprisingly, it was sold out. Guests were treated to a fine meal of East Indian cuisine and delicious desserts, and then they hunkered down to listen to one of Canada's finest singer/songwriters. Miles, who is a master at turning life's trials and tribulations into perfect songs of love, loss, beauty and hope, seemed the ideal choice for an early spring concert on Easter weekend – a time that tends to make one to yearn for new beginnings.

Lynn did not disappoint and treated the over 40 guests to an evening of some of her most recent and best. Accompanying herself on acoustic guitar and harmonica, Lynn played a number of tunes from her most recent recording, the Juno-nominated “Fall for Beauty”. The recording is her seventh to date and was released in 2010 on True North records. She opened with “Fearless Heart”, where she yearned for “a quiet mind, sweet old time and a pair of wings.” In “Cracked and Broken” she mused on the pitfalls of being lost and left in love. As always, her playing was high caliber, but her forte by far is both her aerobatic voice, which covers a huge tonal and emotional range, and her truthful, heart-felt lyrics, which taken together make her one of the best singer/songwriters around.

Lynn's talent lies in the precision she brings to every note and word. She has the uncanny ability to cut to the chase, transforming her life experiences into meaty, revealing and deeply-felt poetic musical offerings. Her version of “Black Flowers” was a soulful, sombre lament, an example of what she is best known for, but she was also quick to demonstrate how she is equally adept at the rosier end of the rainbow. She played a number of upbeat, hopeful tunes like the prettily plucked “Love Doesn't Hurt”, inspired by an Oprah show on abuse. In that same hopeful vein was “Let the Sun Have Its Day”, which was also likely the most recognized tune from her new album “Something Beautiful” where she sings that even though we live in a world where “everything is broken or about to break”, we still crave “bells to ring and banners waving in a clear blue sky.” Indeed.

Owner of Wintergreen Studios, Rena Upitis, who hosted the evening, is excited to be offering Wintergreen’s second series of dinner and entertainment evenings. “It's a very diverse series and we are always looking to attract superb artists from near and far. This year we have everything from classical musicians to poets and singer/songwriters and in these nine evenings there is really something for everyone.” Upcoming at Wintergreen are poet Lorna Crozier, writer James King, author Helen Humphreys, harpist Scott Hughes and the Triola string trio. For more information, or to reserve tickets, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 613-273-8745. Visit www.wintergreenstudios.com.