The good fight needs a soundtrack.

Interview conversations begun for UL dept head. And, I’m going to launch another Kickstarter to complete some songs I started with Ray, before I would even go. Funding big emotional and tangible work, is going to be a bit of a bitch.
But, I need good songs as morale boosts to keep on keeping on.

Submitted the application for the university of Limerick Community Music Post Graduate program in the hopes that I’ll gain some more effective tools to do the work of promoting a love of traditional song and singing. Now the nail biting begins, and the struggle to figure out how to pay for it.…

The saga continues, I’ve edited my Cv, I’ve paid for copies of my transcript, and I’ve got a number of official recommenders who are interested in my academic goals, and who have seen me in action for a long time. Each can speak to one or more aspects of my work. Fingers crossed, personal statement.

Do I know anyone with professional and/ or academic clout that would be willing to write me a kind/ honest recommendation for a grad school application in community music? I have a BA in studio arts, but I need to support that the application makes sense from other parts of my life. Help?!?!?

Went to the Pelican Inn yesterday, and mapped out next weekend’s sold out Burns supper that I’m performing in. And in the wake of endings and losses I was surrounded by reminders of very old things that still exist. So, what makes relationships and your memories of them, enduring?

Large white haired man in bright colored turquoise shirt and rainbow suspenders. Seated leaning on a wooden cane in front of a wooden banjo hanging on the wall.

And Ray’s gone to make the Angel Band, great. I feel hollow and bereft.

Too many friends feeling lonely and afraid, but if everyone’s doing that, no one gets the hugs they need. See if you can gather your courage to come out of your hidey hole and be the friend you most need right now. It might be really important for you AND the other person. Showing up is vital.

My oldest friend, musical compatriot, and person who saw me first as human received a terminal cancer diagnosis. He’s 80 and fine with an end to the chronic pain, but I’m not. Hospice is a godsend for his family though. He reminds me that seeing and being seen clearly, aren’t for everyone. Bereft.

Photo 1 of Performance with (r to l); Paul Kotapish playing guitar, Amelia Hogan playing Bodhrán, Marisa Gilman irish dancing, John Weed playing fiddle, and Tyler weed under a beautiful stained glass image of the female magii, in the Nave of St Mary’s by the Sea, episcopal church. All performers smiling. Wooden interior, and audiences heads in the first few rows of pews.

Photo 2 of Winterdance 2025 with (r to l); Paul Kotapish playing guitar, Amelia Hogan singing, John Weed playing fiddle, and Tyler weed under a beautiful stained glass image of the female magii, in the Nave of St Mary’s by the Sea, episcopal church. All performers smiling. Wooden interior, and audiences heads in the first few rows of pews.

Photo 3 of Performance with (r to l); up the center aisle with: Amelia Hogan playing Bodhrán, Marisa Gilman irish dancing, John Weed playing fiddle, under a beautiful stained glass image of the female magii, in the Nave of St Mary’s by the Sea, episcopal church. All performers smiling. Wooden interior, and audiences heads in the first few rows of pews.

Photo 4 of Winterdance show at the Hillside Club in Berkeley. with (r to l); Paul Kotapish playing guitar, Amelia Hogan playing Bodhrán, John Weed playing fiddle, and Tyler weed playing mandolin, All performers smiling. Wooden interior, tree to stage left. and audiences heads in the first few rows of chairs.

Winterdance 2025 is a wrap. Here are some photos of one of last performances.

So here’s a hint, service workers might not be able to make things better, but they can sure make things worse if pushed.

Humbug. Why be a schmuck to service workers in any capacity. Especially now? Lashing out at the people helping you, is just asinine. I was helping someone yesterday and he lit into me! About something I am not able to affect, and made it personal.

Awe, how lovely! Thank you.
<3 happy holidays.

Thank you to everyone who came out for our show in Inverness, CA at St Columba’s Church. And especially to our hosts. It was a concert of connection I most needed. I Am honored to have made magic with you. Put Dec 13, 2026 on your calendars for next year & tell friends. We can’t wait. <3

St. Columba's Inverness St. Columba's Episcopal Church, Retreat House and Contemplative Center in Inverness, California. Contemplative Spirituality in the Heart of West Marin.

Show on Sunday, Dec 7, 2:30 PM at stcolumbasinverness.org with the lads of Amhránaithe and rehearsal tonight to play the beautiful space as a welcome in to winter. Finding our feet, excited to discover new North-Bay trad music enthusiasts. I would love to see you there for this rare opportunity. <3

Flyer with band pictures, of the musicians, sponsors logos, and event timing.

Red poster with individual photos, with instruments, band names, ticket link: stcolumbasinverness.org

Through the windscreen, Between the towers of the Golden Gate Bridge under a blue sky. Driving north.

Next up: Sunday, Dec 7, 2:30 PM at St Columbas church in Inverness, CA rehearsal this evening with the lads. Come on out for cute pics, with the Christmas celebrity couple (the Clauses), warm and inviting Celtic and seasonal songs, and some toe tapping in the redwoods! You coming?

Someone horribly abusive to me and mine, and a buuunch of other community died last week, in a house fire with his 60 pet & rescue snakes. Mostly I feel relief. The revisionist story in the local rag is gross, but I’m sad for his wife who now has to defend it all. I have a lot of anger to let go of.

Pretend that didn’t come out as word salad.

I just read that in a war, the psychological impact of yelling helps people feel continue fighting. Every week, even if you don’t think you have anything else you can do, do that, but also, call the political donors corporate offices and rail at the folks working for the companies paying Satan.

Working title is currently: backbone. Like a thesis statement, I’ll keep returning to it, and see what things continue its message, and stay sticky on the core.

I’ve returned from the kingdom of Hawai’i and my heart is full of history. Tales of resilience and survival, and I realized I have a bunch of songs about that theme. So, like some kind of madwoman, I’m gonna dive back in and make another album about it. I need it, and it might be good for you too.

Sorry, it’s 3:00

Next up: sessions in Berkeley and Oahu, and show in: Inverness, CA at a beautiful redwood church called St Columba’s Sunday, Dec 7, 4:00 PM in western Marin with Skyler and Jimmy. It really is pretty music with the lads. Flute, guitar, whistles, harmonica, voices, bodhrán, and shruti box. Come play!

pasadenafolkmusicsociety.org/event/amelia-hogab-and-f...
If you’re in so-Cal in January, (the 10th) I’ll be playing with some of my favorite musicians. Jimmy Murphy, Skyler Blakeslee, & Christa Burch for a spectacular show. 7:30 PM at Knox Presbyterian Church. A rare thing, ya comin?

I feel I should talk about upcoming shows and all, but today I mostly want to be soft and easy in my body. Maybe take a restorative yoga class. I made a giant pot of vegetables and lentils soup. And it feels good in my body to down the warmth and comfort. What’s bringing you ease today?

A deep raspberry ground with a QR code leading to Amelia’s Bandcamp page. With a shimmery pale pink outline of a drawing of a pair of roses. And a copy of the referenced album in the lower left corner. Black script text scrawled across the image say: Amelia Hogan. Bottom right says “Burnished, for your Grammy consideration for, Traditional Folk album of the year” followed by my website address: AmeliaHogan.com.

If you’re a voting member of NARAS, please consider voting for Burnished, for the Traditional Folk Album of the Year Grammy category.
And: thanks to every person involved in helping me launch a successful recording into the world. May it move and lift you.

I just read that my album, Burnished made it to the list to be considered for a trad folk album of of the year Grammy. So if you’re a voting member of NARAS member, I’d love for you to give it a listen and consider voting for it for the short list. Thank you.

What do you do to recharge and remember what’s important in these mad times? Today I’m feeling emotionally exhausted

Image shows event flyer including headshots of each artist, on a brown fading to green gradient background with a QR code linking to how to donate in the upper right corner. https://mikebermanmusic.com/world-central-kitchen-benefit-oct-1-2025

Hosting a benefit concert for World Central kitchen on Wednesday Oct 1, at 6 PM PT w/ my artist colleagues: Mike Berman, Julie Henigan, me, Luca-Mai Ris and Cormac Gannon- let’s help provide humanitarian aid to families in G@za, go to the QR code in the corner to donate any $ and get the zoom link!

She sang of a celebratory summer cultural festival. And it was heartbreaking and powerful.