“…I learned so much that year, about the difference between dreaming and pretending.  Dreaming is so important for all of us and helps us live our aspirations… but pretending is really just fooling yourself, lying to yourself so you don’t see the truth.  So here’s to truth, and here’s to growing up.”  Jewel, the folk/pop/country signer-songwriter, producer, poet, novelist and actress… sharing one of many life lessons she has discovered in her remarkable journey, wherein the deeply personal has at times collided with her career and success.  Creating an intimate atmosphere to a sold out crowd in Grass Valley, in the unique way only Jewel can, she had everyone captivated with not only her musical gifts but her insights based on a lifetime of experiences and challenges.  It was a remarkable show, and she always seems to drive each performance as though it might be her last…  Not only one of our most original songwriters, but one of our most talented and gifted vocalists, performing unique renditions of her songs, new and old, that at times left the crowd stunned.  Jewel put on a showcase of storytelling in the personal and captivating way in which she has built her reputation over decades now.  Those timeless songs and stories and poetry readings…  Jewel lives her life authentically, one moment out loud and the next softly… but real in all it’s various forms and emotions. [Read more…]