Allison Crowe has a sweet tooth.

 

In addition to her 15-year music career, the angelic Newfoundland-based songstress also has a blog dedicated to her love of cupcakes.

 

"I love cooking and baking," said Crowe, on a break from her busy rehearsal schedule. "It's still a creative outlet for me, but just different enough to make things new again."

 

But food isn't her only creative outlet. Thanks to a chance encounter four years ago with Tim Fox of the Kidney Foundation of Canada, the 29-year-old took up painting for the foundation's annual fundraiser, A Brush of Hope.

 

Each year, the fundraiser draws on the artistic talents of Canadian musicians, athletes and actors by providing them with canvas and paints, which the celebrities then transform into works of art for an auction, raising money for kidney research in Canada.

 

While Crowe admits she wasn't much of a painter before getting involved with the charity, she finds it a refreshing change of pace.

 

"It's fun to take a break from the musical aspect," she says, her voice bubbling with excitement. "It's great to try a different artistic outlet. When you do so much writing, playing and singing you almost get stuck in one train of thought. So I find doing different things can help open that up."

 

Crowe, who got her musical start at 15 in her hometown of Nanaimo, British Columbia, has recorded five albums and performed on international stages, receiving critical acclaim for her powerful voice and heartfelt lyrics. For this year's Brush of Hope, Crowe will join ranks with Leonard Cohen, Rush's Alex Lifeson and comedienne Catherine O' Hara. She'll also be performing in Fredericton at a special concert coinciding with the fundraiser on April 29, with half the proceeds of the show going to the foundation.

 

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Allison Crowe will perform at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre, 732 Charlotte St., Fredericton, Friday April 29 at 8pm.

Tickets are $20 and are available in advance at Backstreet Records, 384 Queen St., Tony's Music Box, 396 Queen St., Read's Newsstand and Café, 435 King St., UNB Student Union Welcome Centre 21 Pacey Dr. - UNB Campus, the Kidney Foundation's NB Branch 42 Durelle St. and online at www.allisoncrowe.com/shoptickets.html