The night we have all been waiting for is upon us. The Opening of Ludlow Garage! This intimate venue is going to be the perfect setting to see your favorite artists up close and personal.
On Thursday, October 29th Joshua Hyslop and Vanessa Carlton will get to be the first artists to break in the new stage. It’s quite fitting that Joshua Hyslop would be playing at Ludlow Garage.
Canadian singer and songwriter Joshua Hyslop has played over 50 intimate “House Shows” since 2013. You read that right—he literally performs in a fan’s living room for a crowd of their friends and family. However, it’s more than that. After finishing the set, he doesn’t immediately pack up his gear and hit the next town.
Joshua would break bread with these families across the country and often end up staying awake late into the night talking about life, loss, love, and everything in between. These revealing conversations awakened something inside of him. He felt he was being given a unique opportunity to truly open up to these people and to share his own thoughts, fears, and doubts. It helped to serve as the catalyst for his second full-length album, In Deepest Blue. In an age when we’ve become more isolated than ever, he connected in the most old-fashioned way possible.
We sat down with Joshua Hyslop prior to the show!
Tell us a bit about you and how you got your start...
My name is Joshua Hyslop and I started playing guitar when I was 15 years old. I'm self taught so it took me a while to get started but once I could play a few chords I was pretty much hooked. My friend Dave and I started writing songs together. We formed a band and booked our own shows for years. Eventually we went our own ways but we're still great friends. I've been writing and playing on my own since then. It's what I love to do.
What can one expect at a live show?
Honesty. I approach each show the same way, which is to be honest. I will often tell stories about the inspiration behind my songs and joke around a bit, but I always try to do my best with each song and each performance. I don't feel particularly comfortable being the center of attention, and I'll mention that sometimes, but at the heart of each show I'm just being vulnerable and trying my best to connect with as many people as possible.
What was the best experience you had playing a house show?
It's hard to say because each house show is so unique. They've all been pretty great. There is one house I've played a few times though, and it is something else. The hosts like to have a good time, and we've had a bit of an adventure every time I've come over. We've had massive bonfires, we've gone 4x4ing, we've done some snowmobiling and we've blown some stuff up. I never know quite what to expect, but I'm always looking forward to coming back.
What is next for Joshua Hyslop?
I'll be doing more house shows across Canada in February and March of 2016, and I'm hoping to be back in the studio before too long recording my next album!
