Steve Bell | Singer, Songwriter, Storyteller

Sacred Head, Bubble Head and Wounded Body

Steve — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:08:49 +0000

Rublev's Trinity

By now I would like to have written some kind of reflection on the season of Easter which, like Christmas, is really a complex of seasons including Lent, Holy Week, Easter Sunday, Ascension Sunday, Pentecost – all pointing to Trinity Sunday. Trinity Sunday celebrates the uniquely Christian understanding of God as a communion of persons ever locked in a dynamic relationship of mutual-othering and self-donation from which we get a present vision for personal dignity, social wholeness and a bright hope for life eternal.

I would have liked to have written something, but the truth is…. I got nuthin’. I can’t concentrate. The last weeks have been a whirlwind of travel and concerts – all good, but not exactly conducive to thoughtful reflection.

Meanwhile, my body is revolting (no comments please). Since before Christmas, my left arm has flared into a searing agony of pain from what doctors are telling me is advanced repetitive stress injury. I’ve been in regular therapy several times a week to try to get control of the situation, but I’m now being told that without extended rest (at least six weeks), healing should not be expected. And so now - we have the task of finding time when I can get off the road for six weeks of dedicated rest with another few weeks of buffer to gradually return to playing. The assumption is that there will also have to be some lifestyle changes including regular rest, good food and exercise. Sigh…

And so… it seems most logical to take mid-June to early August for rehabilitation. Summer is not typically a great time for concert touring anyway and therefore the loss of revenue will be less than if I take the time off now or in the fall. I’ll take a couple weeks for intensive therapy, a couple just to relax with Nanci, and maybe a couple to get a good start on that book I’ve been threatening to write. I sure covet your prayers for the work I need to do in the meantime.

Otherwise, there is lots going on: many concerts ahead, some new songs and new opportunities to share this music in novel ways. My recent trips to California have been very exciting in terms of opening new possibilities for future symphony concerts into the U.S. As much as I love solo concerts, and will happily do them for the rest of my life, there is a marvelous opportunity with symphony concerts. With an orchestra, a concert can take folks right to the edge of the Grand Canyon (metaphorically speaking.) What God does with them there is none of my business, but these kind of events can help get them/us there. The very act of symphony, in my mind, is a reflection of the Tri-unity of God. It can be an experience of THE experience. I love it.

Finally - If you haven’t already done so, check out the free Easter Radio we just put up. I gathered songs from all the Signpost artists that touch on the general themes of Easter (penitence, prayer, disorientation, re-orientation, death, resurrection, browning, greening, biblical narrative etc.) and put them on one player you can access for free anywhere or any time you have a computer and speakers. It’s there simply to help you enter into the constellation of seasons we call Easter. Please feel free to let others know about it through your social networks.

Thanks for reading and staying in touch.

Cheers!

Steve

To listen to our Easter Radio, click HERE

Marriage: Renew and Strengthen

Steve — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:01:29 +0000

A Weekend to Remember | Banff – April 30 to May 2

A couples retreat with the sole purpose of focusing on each other…leaving the everyday distractions behind…to laugh together…work through your differences…rekindle your romance…and have a blast?

Greg and I after recent house concert at their place in southern CA

This is a first for me – singing at (or attending for that matter) a marriage conference. I must say I have tended to avoid these things like the plague. The idea of being forced into some public vulnerability that is someone else’s bad idea of a good idea is not a position I like to find myself in. But when I objected to my friend Greg Leith, (keynote speaker at the conference) Greg just laughed and assured me that everything I was afraid this would be, it woudn’t be. Before I accepted the invitation I made him pinky-swear!!

Shelley Leith

Greg Leith and his wife Shelley are friends of mine from Southern California. They speak at these conferences all the time and if the conferences are anything like they are, it’ll be great. In fact, I just heard Shelly give an address last week (in a totally different scenario) in Huntington Beach, CA. She was excellent! Great teacher, great content; she is a remarkably honest and believable presenter.

So, I’m looking forward to this weekend in Banff that promises us a fun, relaxed and meaningful weekend away to strengthen and renew our marriages (aside: ironically, it doesn’t appear as my own wife will be able to make it – so I’ll be there as a lonely presenter.) I’ll be singing regularly throughout the weekend, sharing stories from my own experience and giving a full concert on the Saturday night. That ought to be worth at least 15 bucks right there!

The Banff Springs Hotel is a spectacular place, the surroundings are breathtaking and the price is exceptional. If this is something that intrigues you – checkout the website. The organizers (Family Life) have made it advantageous for those who can organize several couples to come – but even if you can’t take advantage of the group offer – the price for single couples is more than reasonable. (see

So if this is something you can take advantage of, I look forward to hanging out with you for a weekend.

To check out the details, and to register for A Weekend to Remember click HERE

- Steve

Steve Bell at Life Church on April 29th

Faye — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:11:25 +0000

Online Tickets $15 plus $1.00 Convenience Fee and GST

Online purchases will be held for pick up at the door of the concert. Doors open at 6:30 pm.

Tickets also available at:

Burden Bearers Counselling Centre at 780-542-6045 to reserve – available soon! (Tickets will not be available at Life Church.)

There will also be an offering taken in support of Burden Bearers.

Steve Bell at St. Paul’s Anglican Church on May 2nd

Faye — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:10:01 +0000

Online Tickets $20 plus $1.00 Convenience Fee and GST

Online purchases will be held for pick up at the door of the concert. Doors open at 6:30 pm.

Tickets also available at other locations soon!

Steve Bell at Imperial Theatre on April 11th

Faye — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:19:54 +0000

(Click on image to enlarge)

Devotion Receives JUNO Award Nomination

Faye — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:47:19 +0000

Album: Devotion

We’re so pleased to announce that Steve’s latest CD, DEVOTION has received a nomination for a 2010 JUNO Award - Canada’s top music industry honour.

Receiving JUNO in 2000

a
This is Steve’s fourth JUNO nomination, two of which resulted in wins for his Romantics and Mystics project in 1997 and Simple Songs CD in 2000. Steve’s Waiting For Aidan CD was nominated for Best Contemporary Christian Album in 2001 and today’s announcement marks the fourth time Canada’s music industry leaders have recognized Steve’s work.

Congratulations to Steve and producer Roy Salmond! We’ll be rooting for you on April 18th!

To see the list of Nominees for the 2010 awards click HERE.

For a complete list of Steve’s awards and albums visit Wikipedia’s page on Steve HERE

Steve Bell at Knox Presbyterian Church on April 25th

Faye — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:57:00 +0000

Online Tickets $15 plus $1.00 Convenience Fee and GST

Online purchases will be held for pick up at the door of the concert. Doors open at 6:30 pm.

Tickets also available at:

Knox Presbyterian Church soon!

Steve Bell at Newcastle United Baptist Church on April 10th

Faye — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:50:39 +0000

Online Tickets $15 plus $1.00 Convenience Fee and GST

Online purchases will be held for pick up at the door of the concert. Doors open at 6:30 pm.

Tickets also available at:

Newcastle United Baptist Church starting March 14th.

Steve Bell at St. James Parish on April 9th

Faye — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:48:06 +0000

Online Tickets $15 plus $1.00 Convenience Fee and GST

Online purchases will be held for pick up at the door of the concert. Doors open at 6:30 pm.

Tickets also available at other locations soon!

Steve Bell at Abiding Savior Free Lutheran Church on March 19th

Faye — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:44:43 +0000

Steve Bell | Singer, Songwriter, Storyteller

Sacred Head, Bubble Head and Wounded Body

Marriage: Renew and Strengthen

A Weekend to Remember | Banff – April 30 to May 2

Steve Bell at Life Church on April 29th

Related show info

Steve Bell at St. Paul’s Anglican Church on May 2nd

Related show info

Steve Bell at Imperial Theatre on April 11th

Related show info

Devotion Receives JUNO Award Nomination

Steve Bell at Knox Presbyterian Church on April 25th

Related show info

Steve Bell at Newcastle United Baptist Church on April 10th

Related show info

Steve Bell at St. James Parish on April 9th

Related show info

Steve Bell at Abiding Savior Free Lutheran Church on March 19th