LESLIE NOEL BUTLER
words and music
from the north woods
News
Since moving from the Alberta prairies to a heritage hunting camp in the Northern Appalachian Mountains, Leslie Alexander is better known as Leslie Noel Butler - having tied the knot with wilderness survival expert and photographer Jeffrey Eaton Butler (aka "Jeb"). She's been busy studying herbalism, foraging the woods, and writing. Her essay "Pilgrimage," a meditation on the the permanence of the impermanent, was accepted by Book of Matches Literary Journal for their September 2023 Issue. Check out her blog to catch up on published and unpublished works.
2022 Leslie left the nursing profession to focus on writing, moving from hometown High River, Alberta, to heritage hunting camp in northern New Brunswick. Her essays appeared in the Humber Literary Review and Open Minds Quarterly. She's currently studying plant medicine and bushcraft, and writing about life in the woods.
"Booty Call"/Humber Literary Review
"Bird in the House" / Open Minds Quarterly
2021 Leslie's essays were published in Queen's Quarterly Literary Review, Existere Journal of Arts & Literature, & You Need to Read This. She reconnected with her high school sweetheart - bushcraft and wilderness survival expert Jeff Butler - and began preparing for a major change.
"My Moccasins" / Queens Quarterly Review
"Love In Cyberspace" / Existere
"Bird in the House " / You Need To Read This
2020 Leslie used the isolation and quiet of pandemic restrictions to focus on learning the art of writing memoir and narrative non-fiction, continuing to publish features and record reviews in Roots Music Canada. Her efforts to promote masking in High River were featured in the Calgary Herald.
"Love & Art on the Edge of Apocalypse " / Roots Music Canada
Jay Gavin: Lost in Austin / Roots Music Canada
High River fights rapidly spreading COVID-19 outbreak
2019 Leslie took time off from work to hit the road with pals Angela Harris & Taylor James on their "Truth Be Told" tour and covered Nashville Americanafest for Roots Music Canada, along with several reviews and features.
"Americanafest Nashville: New Country vs. True Country"
"How I Lost the Muse, Quit the Biz & Found Myself"
Stephen Fearing: Conquering the Unconquerable
Emily Triggs: Middletown
"High Hopes & Hula Hoops"
"Tom Jackson's Huron Carole"
"Top Twelve Musical Moments 2019"
/ Roots Music Canada
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In 2018, Leslie kicked off the year appearing with Shaela Miller at the Foothills Folk Club. Taylor James got in touch and asked if she could record three of Leslie's tunes for her release Backbone, which were also featured in live performance on "The Taylor James Show."
"Backbone" / Taylor James
"Slow Down" / Taylor James Show
In 2017, Leslie graduated from Bow Valley College with a diploma to practice as a licensed practical nurse. She was hired by a mental health rehabilitation center in Alberta to treat clients with illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar, and substance abuse disorders. She developed and led voluntary yoga and meditation programs for clientele which drew consistent and enthusuastic participants.
In 2016, Leslie focused on study at Bow Valley College to attain her license as a practical nurse, while developing and practicing her interest and experience in yoga and meditation.
"How I Lost the Muse, Quit the Biz & Found Myself"
In 2015, Leslie entered the Practical Nurse program at Bow Valley College, working part-time as a health care aide. She also continued to perform locally at pubs and festivals with Four Wheel Drive.
In 2014 Leslie graduated from Bow Valley College Health Care Aide program and went to work for Rockyview and High River Hospitals and for High River Home Care. She continued to promote her single "High River Strong" and formed classic rock cover band Four Wheel Drive.
Licia Corbella / Calgary Singer inspired by Flood response
HeraldFlood of Inspiration BC Musician
In 2013 High River was evacuated due to massive flood. Leslie released the single High River Strong along with a career retrospective compilation CD to raise funds for the town, putting career plans on hold to work on flood restoration.
High River Strong Key of A CBC
"Bird in the House" BC Musician
In 2012, Leslie moved from Ashcroft, BC to her home town of High River Alberta. She performed at festivals and concert venues across Western Canada on the second cycle of the Dirty Laundry tour alongside Jenny Allen, also attending Folk Alliance in Memphis.
Bow Valley Music Club
Okotoks Today / New Duo Will Air Their Dirty Laundry In Black Diamond
In 2011 Leslie released her fourth CD "Nobody's Baby" to critical acclaim, performing across Canada on the first cycle of the Dirty Laundry Tour with Jenny Allen. Her song "Garden in the Stones" was included on the Odd Squad fundraiser CD alongside tracks from Bruce Springsteen and 5440.
Earshot / Nobody's Baby Review
The Free Press / Allen & Alexander Do Their Dirty Laundry
In 2010, Leslie toured the Southern US as opening act for Jane Siberry on on her Dragon Dreams Tour. She also joined Jenny Allen touring Western Canada on their Love'em or Leave'em Tour.
![Jane,Leslie_Michelle[1]_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c96323_86b615cdd19e4d45ad27c3f3deba4464~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_5,y_0,w_240,h_240/fill/w_221,h_221,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Jane%2CLeslie_Michelle%5B1%5D_edited.jpg)
In 2009 Leslie toured Western Canada with her band the Wild Rose Hippies, and with Barney Bentall's Grand Cariboo Opry, and toured major cities from Victoria to St. John, and San Francisco to New York City as opening act for Jane Siberry.
In 2008 Leslie toured Western Canada with her band the Wild Rose Hippies to promote "Garden in the Stones" and joined Barney Bentall's Grand Cariboo Opry, touring Western Canada and appearing on the CD & DVD release.
In 2007, Leslie toured from Victoria to Toronto promoting "Garden in the Stones," also joining Barney Bentall on tour as opening act and band member on his "Gift Horse" CD release tour. Three of her songs were awarded Honourable mentions in the Billboard International Song Contest.
In 2006 Leslie released her third CD "Garden in the Stones" to widespread acclaim, performing concert dates across BC and Alberta with her band the Wild Rose Hippies. Her music was licensed to the television shows DaVinci's Inquest and Roadtrip Nation.
In 2005, Leslie went into the studio to record her third record "Garden in the Stones," with guest performances from Jane Siberry, Barney and Dustin Bentall, and Jeremy Fisher, also playing dates from Toronto to Victoria in support of "Savage Country."
2004 Leslie toured Western Canada in support of Savage Country, donating 10% of album sales to protect the last remaining grain elevator in her hometown of High River, AB.
Leslie's released her second record "Savage Country," featuring guest performances from Harry Manx, Sam Parton, and Linda McRae.