When Ontario singer/songwriter Shawna Caspi last toured the Okanagan, she became so inspired by the landscape that she decided to paint it.

That painting became the album cover of Caspi乌鸦传媒檚 recent drop, Forest Fire, for which the classically-trained folk troubadour is on tour with a March 22 stop at Vernon乌鸦传媒檚 Record City and a March 28 gig at Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 OUR Coffeehouse.

乌鸦传媒淚 was very struck by images of the region in the summer. I had never seen anything like it,乌鸦传媒� Caspi said, recalling the smoke-filled sky illuminated in burnt orange hues. 乌鸦传媒淭he cover of that record is my first attempt at abstract.乌鸦传媒�

Caspi, an Ottawa-born full-time touring musician of five years, took up the brush recently, several years after taking an arts course while studying music at York University in her current hometown of Toronto. Whenever she goes on tour, Caspi captures images with her camera and paints them in her spare time. And, while supplies last, Caspi sells her paintings at the merch desk at shows.

Known for her fingerstyle guitar, Caspi乌鸦传媒檚 folk jams are at the route of her success.

乌鸦传媒淚 try to write a whole band乌鸦传媒檚 sound into the guitar,乌鸦传媒� Caspi said of her performance style. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 fairly mellow; it乌鸦传媒檚 very intimate. My songs are very lyric driven. I do love to tell stories and love to connect with the audience.乌鸦传媒�

Beyond painting beautiful landscapes and playing mellow acoustic jams for audiences, that connection is what keeps Caspi going.

乌鸦传媒淔or me, a lot of it (what I love) is the travel. Before I was a touring musician, I actually hadn乌鸦传媒檛 done a lot of travelling. Now, I乌鸦传媒檓 often going to small towns you don乌鸦传媒檛 often get to see,乌鸦传媒� Caspi said. 乌鸦传媒淚 just love meeting new people and making new friends.乌鸦传媒�

Caspi is about to embark on a B.C. circuit and is excited to return to the area.

乌鸦传媒淚n Canada, I乌鸦传媒檝e had quite the opportunity to see the country from coast to coast. That (B.C.) is still very exciting for me to see,乌鸦传媒� Caspi said.

For the grassroots singer/songwriter, that intimate connection with the audience and a sustainable career is far more important than the opportunity to play Goliath stadiums.

乌鸦传媒淢y biggest goal is to play as many folk fests as possible,乌鸦传媒� Caspi said. 乌鸦传媒淚 love the feel of a folk fest. It feels like you乌鸦传媒檙e at a camp.乌鸦传媒�

Caspi brings her fingerstyle folk jams to Vernon乌鸦传媒檚 Record City March 22 at 7 p.m. Tickets are available for $10 advance or $15 at the door. Students get in for $10 and children 12-and-under have free access. Caspi乌鸦传媒檚 Kelowna jams are slated for 7 p.m. March 28 at OUR Coffeehouse. Tickets are $10 or $5 for Kelowna Arts Council members.

entertainment@vernonmorningstar.com
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