Keeping up in today’s world isn’t always easy. Making the time to do what fulfills you with love and joy is challenging at the best of times but when life throws you an unexpected curve ball you have to make the most of it and keep moving forward.
For Erin Briggs, singer and guitar player in the band, “Therapy Seekers” that curve ball came when her marriage ended 2 years ago. The change gave Erin an opportunity to re-evaluate her life’s priorities and focus her time and energy on what she is really good at, being in the spotlight playing music. Through it all she has found new strength and independence to create a life that fulfills her own uniqueness and empowers her to keep moving forward one step at a time and live the life she loves every day.
Making time to be a single Mother of 2 young children, working and finding time for hobbies and a social life requires a lot of organization and good decision making and problem solving skills. Erin balances life’s daily stress with a healthy diet and regular exercise. When you are truly passionate about what you are doing, the time, energy and resources to get it all done somehow seem to flow in exactly the right time and space the way everything needs to be. Erin is conscious about the need to keep it all in balance and take care of herself in the process.
Erin’s passion for music and its positive vibes and energy have always held a special purpose in her heart and uplifted her spirit. Erin has been singing since she was 3 years old with her Grandmother playing piano, Dad on guitar and her Mother and Sisters singing as well. She had no formal music lessons and says she learned to play the guitar by ear because she doesn’t read sheet music. For Erin, music has always been a hobby and one that she is very passionate about. She prefers to play at smaller venues with a family atmosphere so she can remain more personal with the crowd and everyone can join in on the healing power of music in the same way she was blessed with her own family.
In 2013, Erin played her first public performance in Georgina as a soloist. She was invited to play at the Black River Coffee Shop during the High St. Festival in Sutton. Erin teamed up a with close friend and fellow musician, Johnny Beaudrow, and the two began playing duos at smaller venues, bringing out a variety of instruments from guitars, ukeleles, tambourines and shakers. Johnny’s philosophy: “you are only as good as your crowd,” so the duo puts a lot of effort in to making sure the audience has opportunities to shout out song requests and to get up and play instruments with them.
In 2013, Erin played her first public performance in Georgina as a soloist. She was invited to play at the Black River Coffee Shop during the High St. Festival in Sutton. Erin teamed up a with close friend and fellow musician, Johnny Beaudrow, and the two began playing duos at smaller venues, bringing out a variety of instruments from guitars, ukeleles, tambourines and shakers. Johnny’s philosophy: “you are only as good as your crowd,” so the duo puts a lot of effort in to making sure the audience has opportunities to shout out song requests and to get up and play instruments with them.
As the gigs grew from small town coffee shops to larger venues around York Region and surrounding areas to include weddings, country jamborees, outdoor events and fundraisers so did the need for a full band began to form. Today, “Therapy Seekers” includes Erin Briggs, Johnny Beaudrow, James Smith and Ryan Duffy. All the members play a variety of instruments and take turns singing which adds variety to their performances of classic rock, country and alternative genres. Music is the one Universal language. “It’s in our genes, it’s in our bones, it’s good for the soul.”
The band believes you have to give something back in order to truly understand the experience of success as a musician and that includes giving support to individuals in the community and to charitable fundraisers is very important.
On February 14, 2016, “Therapy Seekers” performed at the fundraising event, Kill Cancer With Love, Team Heidi. They teamed up with local performers “Unglued” and “Walter Ego” to provide a night of music, positive vibes, healing, love and friendship to raise money for Heidi Comer, a Georgina woman who had been struggling on a difficult journey with cancer.
On March 15, 2016, the band received devastating news that their drummer, Jason Corby, had passed away suddenly in a car accident. The news hit all the band members hard and this was a particularly difficult time for Erin stating, “Jay had always played such a prominent role in my success. He taught us all the importance of living with an open heart and to be compassionate.”
In summer 2016, Erin personally entered her first two music competitions. Those who qualify will receive a spot on the stage at the final venues along with cash and other prizes.
1. Chevy Country From The Tailgate finding the next local legend to perform at the 27th Havelock Country Jamboree.http://chevy-tailgate.com/havelockcountryjamboree.aspx
In summer 2016, Erin personally entered her first two music competitions. Those who qualify will receive a spot on the stage at the final venues along with cash and other prizes.
1. Chevy Country From The Tailgate finding the next local legend to perform at the 27th Havelock Country Jamboree.http://chevy-tailgate.com/havelockcountryjamboree.aspx
2. The Magna Hoedown Showdown Talent Competition https://www.facebook.com/MagnaHoedown/?fref=ts
Erin had no idea what the future would hold for her with these 2 competitions but she held her vision and focus to keep playing music no matter what. She achieved her goal and began living her dream when she was voted in to play at the Havelock Country Jamboree and compete among the finalists in the Chevy Tailgate competition on Saturday August 20, 2016. Erin performed an original song that she wrote titled “Sippin On Whiskey” which had become part of her healing journey when her marriage ended. For Erin, the lyrics represent her will to keep moving forward by putting one foot in front of the other and utilising what she is good at.
Erin won the competition at Havelock and feels honored to be among the Top 4 musicians in Canada. Voting will now begin and the final winner from 4 festivals will receive 2 days of recording in Nashville which will be decided on September 10, 2016. Erin’s dream is to be able to take that next step in to the recording studio and she is looking forward to many more blessings and opportunities to give the powerful gift of healing through music to the world.
Erin had no idea what the future would hold for her with these 2 competitions but she held her vision and focus to keep playing music no matter what. She achieved her goal and began living her dream when she was voted in to play at the Havelock Country Jamboree and compete among the finalists in the Chevy Tailgate competition on Saturday August 20, 2016. Erin performed an original song that she wrote titled “Sippin On Whiskey” which had become part of her healing journey when her marriage ended. For Erin, the lyrics represent her will to keep moving forward by putting one foot in front of the other and utilising what she is good at.
Erin won the competition at Havelock and feels honored to be among the Top 4 musicians in Canada. Voting will now begin and the final winner from 4 festivals will receive 2 days of recording in Nashville which will be decided on September 10, 2016. Erin’s dream is to be able to take that next step in to the recording studio and she is looking forward to many more blessings and opportunities to give the powerful gift of healing through music to the world.
As for the Magna Hoedown Showdown? Again Erin was unsurpassed and met her goal to secure her spot among the Top 20 performers to play at the 28th annual Hoedown with special guests, Alan Doyle of “Great Big Sea” and Paul Brandt. This is the largest fundraising event held in York Region and raises funds to support 15 charities and community groups on September 16 & 17, 2016 at the Magna Center, 337 Magna Dr. Aurora ON.
For more information about the Magna Hoedown or to purchase tickets for this event go to:
https://aurora.snapd.com/#/events/view/948401
On September 4, 2016, Labour Day weekend, Erin Briggs and “Therapy Seekers” will be performing live at Hopefest Presents Music 4 Miracles in support of SickKids Foundation and Marnie’s Studio at Eaglewood Resort in Pefferlaw ON.
For more information about Hopefest or to purchase tickets online visit www.hopefest.ca
To follow Erin Briggs and Therapy Seekers on Facebook go to: https://www.facebook.com/therapyseekers
Article Written By: Joanne Pugh
Photos by: E. Photography, Johnny Beaudrow, Sonya Tietgen
For more information about the Magna Hoedown or to purchase tickets for this event go to:
https://aurora.snapd.com/#/events/view/948401
On September 4, 2016, Labour Day weekend, Erin Briggs and “Therapy Seekers” will be performing live at Hopefest Presents Music 4 Miracles in support of SickKids Foundation and Marnie’s Studio at Eaglewood Resort in Pefferlaw ON.
For more information about Hopefest or to purchase tickets online visit www.hopefest.ca
To follow Erin Briggs and Therapy Seekers on Facebook go to: https://www.facebook.com/therapyseekers
Article Written By: Joanne Pugh
Photos by: E. Photography, Johnny Beaudrow, Sonya Tietgen
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