A crowd of around 60 people convened at the Little Red Wagon Winery in Clarendon, as Ottawa-based singer-songwriter Lynne Hanson celebrated the release of her eighth . . .

studio album Just Words with an intimate performance.

The event was the second of Hanson’s three album release concerts in as many nights, the first being at the Centrepointe Theatre in Ottawa on Friday night and the third inside the Vankleek Hill Art Gallery on Sunday.

A wide selection of Hanson’s merchandise, including t-shirts, cd’s and vinyl copies of Just Words, was displayed on a table at the entrance of the building.

After a sit-down dinner, attendees settled on the edges of their seats, as the two-time Canadian Folk Music Award winner kicked off the show with a southern-style folk track from her latest album, Higher Ground.

Hanson explained that the opportunity to play at the winery came after she played a house concert in the Pontiac around a year ago.

“I got to know some of the people in the area and they recommended that I do a show here,” she said.

Having previously tested out every single song from Just Words at the winery before its release on Feb. 7, Hanson said that including the venue in her album release tour was a no-brainer, noting the impeccable hospitality of Scott and Jennifer Judd.

“It just felt like a really safe place to do it,” she said. “It just made sense to do an album release here because a lot of these songs were played for the first time ever here.”

With the winery gaining a positive reputation from artists around the Ottawa Valley, Hanson said that she feels grateful for the opportunity to play in such a cozy setting.

Performing up-close in front of a smaller-than-usual crowd, Hanson believes that one of the most enjoyable aspects about performing at the Little Red Wagon is the connection she feels with the audience.

“I’m willing to play somewhere, like if I feel really comfortable and it’s a really warm place, I feel invited,” she said. “I love to play in places like that.

“They might not be as big as places I normally play or it’s just a little bit out of the way or whatever,” she added. “But honestly, the experience in itself is so rewarding. You feel like part of the community.”

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