"The Disappearance of Heather Alexander" has also appeared in the San Francisco Bay Times, in a slightly altered form. HTML link this time :)

Other than a brief glimpse from the distant distance during Faerieworlds, this was my first chance to meet Himself. I was impressed with how relaxed and mellow he seemed, happy just to be able to be who he is.

And his concert was a good one. I liked some of the twists he did on some of our old Heather favorites, especially the Devil Goes Down to Limerick one. Many songs in his set had double meanings about change. I usually have a hard time swallowing people singing about themselves, but in this case it was completely appropriate, inspirational, delightful and somewhat didactic. Just like I had come to anticipate after years of Alexander concerts.

Oh yes, and the pixie-like glint in the eye was very familiar. I'm glad.

Seems like Alex is going to be a good friend to those of us fortunate enough to cross paths frequently.

This "limited release" is available on the Tricky Pixie website. You can also hear a few of the songs on myspace. It's the first recording of Alec's voice thus far, and it's a treat to hear Alec's fiddle on March of Cambreadth and Creature of the Wood.

The album also includes Daughter of the Glade (s00j's companion song to Creature of the Wood) the Wendy Trilogy, and stealthcello's Alligators in the House.

(I added the album to Alec's wiki too.)

On the one hand, it's not about Alec or Heather per se, or about the music. And I note that while Alec is quite frank in one-on-one conversation, on stage he sticks to the faerie tale.

On the other hand, it's a topic we've touched on multiple times. So...

( lj-cut )

Alec took some time to give an extended hello. He also granted and renewed a few commissions of the Heatherlands (yes, Alitor has been reaffirmed as Lord Protector).

Alec performed:

• Three completely new songs
  
• A reworked version of Faerie Queen
  
• Smoke-Filled Pictures
  
• Creature of the Wood
  
• March of Cambreadth
  
• The werewolf song from Merlin's Descendants
  
• The a capella dog song from Merlin's Descendants
  

...I'm sure I'm missing other songs ... that's what I get for not taking notes ...

Toward the end of the concert, Alec thanked everyone for being welcoming and accepting, and said that a lot of his fears are for naught. :) I think it took a lot of guts to go through this sort of change and perform this soon. I also think it was mostly a crowd of hardcore fans ... :)

Duncan the familiar is recovering, once his vet bill is paid the new site should be up.

A few miscellany....
...Alec is about Heather's height but more muscular, and has a deeper voice.
...He answers to Alexander, Aja, AJ, and Alec, but Alec is his preference.
...No, I don't have a camera, but I saw lots of flashbulbs yesterday.
...When affirming the LP's squire, the squire slipped and said "Yes Ma'am" as Alec was "knighting" him. Naturally the crowd went wild. Alec handled it with humor - adding "and mischief!" - with a rap on the head - and the crowd went wild again. (Good that it was the violin bow and not a sword, eh? ;)
...Alec first saw the FaerieTaleMinstrel ribbon on runnerwolf, and loved it.
...Alec held off on putting on his pro ribbon until I got him a FaerieTaleMinstrel one. (We've handed out most of them now, including a bunch at the show. I gave most of the leftovers to Kore.)
...I was called up to the front and made "Lady Duchess" of the Heatherlands (eep!) largely for what's been going on in this community. I feel a bit weird about this, as it's not why I created the community (I created it in 2002!) but I am glad that Alec and Kore are appreciative.

FYI for those in the area: When not actively in a panel or workshop, Alec is mostly hanging 'round the Dealer's Room. Con membership is not required to enter the Dealer's Room (I confirmed this with the DR coordinator). So if you're willing to brave airport-area parking and want to meet the Heir, it is possible. :)

This will be Alec's first con and performance. I thought something should be done to commemorate this. So I had "FaerieTaleMinstrel" badge ribbons made - silver lettering on forest green. Jesse & I will be arriving at the con on Thursday & handing them out there, so if you see one of us come over.


Please do NOT tell Alec or Kore about this in advance - I want this to be an onsite surprise, whenever they see the ribbons.


DISCLAIMER: I do not represent Alexander James Adams, Heather Alexander, Kore Bommeli, or Seafire Productions in any way. I will not accept payment for the ribbons. I paid for the ribbons & will give them out to whoever I choose free of charge. This is a **fan**, non-commercial activity in support of Alec. :)


Edited to add: At-the-door registration is $60; a Friday day pass is $40. More info is here.

Edited on 4/8 to remove the friends-lock now that Alec and Kore have seen the ribbons.

The community has been renamed.

I also updated the community info & uploaded a new default icon for the community. No, I don't have any pictures of Alec as yet.

Old links to heatherfans are being automatically redirected to alexanderfans.

As you know, Heather Alexander performed her last concert at Orycon 2006.

Alexander James Adams (aka Alec) will perform his first concert at Norwescon 2007.

I expect that this community will continue to follow the music through this transition ~ so unless someone has a better idea I can borrow, I'd like to follow cheetah_spotty's suggestion and rename this community to AlexanderFans. I like "AlexanderFans" because it reflects both the old and the new :)

What do y'all think?

Well- there's an interesting thread over at the Heatherland forums, Started by the Heir himself... Curiouser and Curiouser.
http://www.heatherlands.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=575
here you go, Y'all...

I've been looking around on the forum(s), and I've been looking here. I was unable to find the name of the Heir to the Heatherlands magic. I've got questions rising in my circles, and the website to contact said Heir isn't up yet. If someone could help me out here, I'd appreciate it.

Sidhe Herself will be in the Forum over at the Heatherlands on Sunday Evening, Feb 11th, around 5 PM-ish or maybe a wee bit after, (Sunset, PST) So if you've questions for Herself, try to get them posted there a bit before-hand so there isn't as much insanity as there was last time... (We filled up 15 pages in a matter of less than an hour!)

Herself came out to visit on the forum tonight, for just an hour or so... You can read all that was said about Her Heir, Uffington Horse, and such over here...
http://www.heatherlands.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=362

Sidhe came online around the end of page two-ish...

This was posted by Kore on the heatherland's forum. http://www.heatherlands.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=424
______________________________________________________

These are the words spoken by the Bard at the OryCon concert on November 18th:

Do you believe in Magic?

Do you believe in me?

Then listen close my friends and I will begin a faerie tale for you.
It begins with a Wish. Wishes are very powerful Magic. When Will and Word are combined (I'm talking about that "I wish" phrase), ears prick up that are always listening. Depending on the will behind it and the words that are used, the Wish comes true in some form or other.

I have a Wish. I have had it a long, long time. The will to make it come true has been here from the beginning. But I have never clearly spoken the words...

Four years ago, I stepped out of an airplane with some friends, and yes, I did turn back twenty years! In doing so, I remembered a strength and a Magic that I had long forgotten in myself. From that time until now, I have used this Magic to call up the Fae. Tonight, They have come. They are here. Tonight I will go to them. Tonight I will say the words. Tonight I will start a magical journey.

Is she coming?
Shhhh! Not yet! She's still talking!

This journey is for me to take alone, yet I could use your help in a very special way. I make one request: Do not be afraid. Fear wears many faces and deceives us in vivid details. Anger, despair, grief--these are but a few of the shapes that fear can take. Recognize fear for what it is and do not yield to it.

If you love me, in perfect love, then give me perfect trust and wait until my journey is complete.

Is she still talking?
Yes! Human Child, we will not wait forever.

None of us should. And that includes all of you. Don't wait for "the right time" to fulfill your Wish. Start making it real tonight. Try every day to put a glimmer of your wish into your life. If you can't remember what your Wish is, try jumping out of a plane. Wake up and remember. And when you do, do not be afraid of what you find. You will be looking at your Heart and Soul. It cannot hurt you, but it may present a challenge. What are we if not defenders of our own truths, each one different and yet all deserving of their space. Fight for that space and then fill it with your Truth.

The Magic never dies.
The Sun will rise again.
Life's Wheel will turn, Spring will come and you will hear my Music once more.
Look for the mark of the White Horse, and look carefully because when a Mortal goes to Faerieland as I am going, things are never the same upon return...

I give you my love, my gratitude and my blessings this holiday season. Until the rains are gone--be safe, be strong, and be unafraid. Wait for me and I will see you again. In Faerie Tongue I Speak--Let it Be So.

Come away, Human Child. You have a long journey ahead.

I'm on my way.

Are YOU afraid, Human Child?

Only for my friends Outside.

Do not be. If they do as you told them, they will become part of this Magic that we make.

They mean so much to me. I've always wanted to be there for them.

Sidhe will always be there if they wish to look.

Yes, we will, won't we?

Yes, always and forever.

This was posted on the Heatherlands forum I thought that someone would find it interesting.

"THEY CAME...and they went
And when the Fae left, Heather left with them into the Mist...

This season of holiday Wishes found the Fae granting one Wish to Heather, and she is embarking on a new journey of self empowerment and Magic and Music--one that has been close to the Bard's heart for many, many years.

She asks that if her fans love her, then trust her--she is undergoing a transformation this winter, a Rebirth. The Music and Magic will return in the spring time; there is another, One Transformed, who will carry on Heather's Music and legacy of the Heatherlands.

Listen to her Music: she's been telling this story for two decades. Read her Faery Tale: she tells you in allegory about her journey. Watch the concert DVD: she speaks to the audience for the last 10-15 minutes, telling everyone what is happening--with a little HeatherVision : )

And stay with us here at the Heatherlands which will also soon be linked to www.faerietaleminstrel.com, where Heather's fans can choose to journey with her this winter and into a new Dawn...

In perfect love and perfect trust, Heather wishes all of her fans--her musical family--to know that she loves you, and hopes that you will follow the Bard on this life-long Wish.

She may have gone with the Fae into the Mist, but you can always contact her here through the Forum after Yule season. She wants you to watch and listen and read first--many of your questions will be answered this way. After Yule, she will be personally visiting the Forum from her Faery Circle occasionally to answer questions and tell more of her Wish. Right now, she'd simply smile and say, "you NEVER tell someone your Wish directly, or it won't come True!"

Don't be afraid. This is a Wish worthy of the Bard's Music and life-long experiences. And it is hoped that you will join us as it unfolds...

Peace and love during this holiday season,
CeltiCougar"

Okay, I think I can safely say, they were right... you didn't want to miss this concert.

That said, I'm posting under an LJ cut for the sake of those who would rather wait for the DVD, or at least a more official announcement.

( There be spoilers under here! er somethin... )

Yeah... note to self... don't post when it's /way/ past bedtime... coherent thought becomes an issue!