clarion hotel is the new replacement for lydmar. lydmar, for those of you who's not familiar with the term was a amazing hotel in stockholm, where free soul-ful live concerts was always a-happening in their tiny but oh-so-beautiful stage and bar. filled with sophisticated people all trendy and aware in the good way.

 

i went to clarion hotel for the first time tonight, just one day back home in stockholm. maya azucena had a acoustic soul gig and it was unbelievable!

the stage was by a panorama window overlooking the river of south stockholm, with bridges and motorways interchanging and interlocking with the subway....and maya's voice was like WOW. she switched between soul, rap, freestyle... made us sing with her. she had this powerful strength and i was mesmerized. everything was pretty... her voice, the surrounding, the peoples. it was a whole new environment, so different from warwick, and made me realize i really had missed cities. i look forward to more small independent gigs. 

 

the night ended with "hallelujah", and i ended with her cd which she had signed for me:

 

"janie - always believe!"

 

you bet i will.