Allison Crowe is soon to return to Canada from Europe - following performances at the John Lennon Northern Lights Festival in Durness, Scotland. As noted last week, it was a magical event, truly in the spirit of John Lennon. (More about the festival, soon, too.) On the event's classical music night, Allison had originally been invited to perform Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah (which she did). However, due to circumstances - involving a cellist unable to catch a plane from London - she was invited to perform a full set of music following Carol Ann Duffy, the UK's most popular living poet, and a performance by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and the Royal Academy of Music. This was Sir Peter's first public performance in 15 years - and a World Premiere of his "Beatles Prom". Called back for an encore, Allison, naturally, performed Imagine.

Happy Birthday, John.

Imagine peace!