August 25th - The Northern Quarter Festival, Chester

3 Cities, 1 weekend mini-tour, 3.

Big, attentive crowds in the sunshine.

I think the photos will say more than too many words can say here, Chester was blessed with both fine weather and huge, friendly and most importantly music-loving & listening crowds. Thank you, I really appreciate another wonderful audience like that. Huge thanks also to Zola from Alexander's for doing so much behind the scenes and to my lovely friends Steph and Jose with their daughters Alba and Estrella who I think managed to dance through every song of mine - even the slow, miserable ones! Well done them! :)

An on-street stage.

Crowds overlook Alexander's from the famous
Roman city walls.

I saw Ellie Larke play at the Eisteddfod, a great talent,
good to see her again.
(Follow Ellie and her lovely songs HERE).

August 24th - The Greystones, Sheffield.

3 Cities, 1 weekend mini-tour, 2.

The watery scene which awaits you from Sheffield Railway Station.

Sheffield, where the sturdy buildings seem carved out of the rock itself and seem as tough as the surrounding hills. Sheffield, where straight-talking, no-nonsense, macho blokes call each other "love". Sheffield, where a long-unseen friend I recently got back in touch with (via the magic of facebook) invited me to the awesome venue for a charity gig she helped put together and run, in aid of the Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity.

Sadly I missed Chrisy's performance (she has moved over the years from being a talented visual artist to a full-on commitment to music) but it was great to catch up with her and see her again after so long, in a double-whammied, synchronitic bit of luck and niceness, another 'old' friend, Jenni who came along too it was really lovely to see her again and see how well things are going for her as well.

The Greystones is a great venue, and just a look around the posters at the awesome, legendary acts they've had on and coming up shows what a good job they are doing, have a look yourself here. It's sort of a normal, if larger than average pub at the front with a sizable "backroom" venue at the back. Superb. The locally brewed Thornbridge beers are nice too! 

A lot of appropriately very high-quality acts on, I was particularly impressed with Richard Brind who played an engaging and in places acerbic set which was highly individual and distinctive in both guitar-playing and songwriting.  
This is a venue I can't wait to return to some time.

The views from the train window (when not in tunnels) were often spectacular.

Richard Brind impressed everyone.

Rosie's view (my guitar), well, if she was out of the gig-bag.

August 22nd, Manchester - Tuesday on a Thursday.

3 Cities, 1 weekend mini-tour, 1.

So I played a set to the friendly folk of The B Lounge, Manchester courtesy of Manc promoter extraordinaire, Mr Tuesday Tony no less. 
Tony (or should that be 'Tuesday'?) did an even better accidental impression of Jools Holland in introducing the acts than my own accidental impression of him (or so I'm often told).
A lovely relaxed evening, awesome artists (as usual!).

Across the Pennines for the next one!.

Piccadilly Station, Manchester (view from an espresso bar).

The Lovely B Lounge, nearby www.blounge.co.uk/piccadilly

A bloody nice jam.

My Robert's Firebird - a bloody good guitar all in all.

Not had a jam for a long time... I was invited by Mr Dan Logan of Orchard Studios along with Chris, a guitarist who had worked with him before and Wal, bassist from Skeletal Damage for a jam. As you can see I ended up with blood all over my Firebird. I realised later that this was due to the style of playing i had been using for hours earlier in the day and the day before in which I use lots of upstrokes with the back of my thumb - a bit of funkyesque popping in the jam must have finaly broken the skin.
Looks quite aesthetically pleasing don't you think?

Dan said beer was compulory so who am I to argue?

August 11th - Not just a House Concert...

House concerts seem to have taken off in many countries, particularly the States or so I'm told, but they don't seem to have quite caught on here yet. But, given that "staying in is the new going out" (much to the detriment of the live music scene I might say!) the idea is that instead of having a boring dinner party you have a really inspiring and heart-warming one by inviting your favourite musical artists into your home to do a gig there in your own home to you and your guests.

Now this was a particularly lovely occasion because Martin, whose house this one was, has a beautiful garden and it all took place in this gorgeous setting, whats more we had host of great talent performing (please check out the links below) including Guitar-George Borowski himself. Dayve Dean, as often recently was in dual-role as sound engineer and an as-always engaging performer.

Also, it wasn't all as entirely private as it could have been because highlights will be available on a podcast as part of The Backstage Pass radio show, and I will provide a link here when it is ready. Simon J. Newbury, who presents the show is also a renowned photographer and he brought along an exclusive copy of his Urban Portraits book which generated much interest.

A wonderful occasion, thanks Martin and all your guests.


P.S. I'm free to discuss terms for similar plus weddings, funerals, divorce parties, new pet arrivals etc ;) jtarplee@hotmail.com

Simon J. Newbury, as well as arranging for highlights to go on his radio podcast,
also brought in a special copy of his "Urban Portraits" book.

Links:

George Borowski with Gaynor Wilson
Angus McTwangstick
Dayve Dean
Paul Ellson
The Sladens
Simon J. Newbury - Urban Portraits.

July 31st - The Teenage Cancer Trust Benefit Concert.

Louise Gibson was once again the instigator for a wonderful evening of music which as well as myself included the talented artists Oli Ng, Nigel Kurtis Blonde, Dayve Dean, Connor Thackery, Neil Smith and Ben & Aaron. 
To be honest I was absolutely cream crackered from all i was involved with over the previous days and nights but still enjoyed a great night in Sandbach.

Photo by Dayve Dean. Thanks Dayve!

Oli Ng, who is also the frontman for The Eyres,
giving it some solo goodness!
Sorry for the poor pic quality.

July 28th - Bidstock Festival Sunday.

Day 2 of Bidstock was band day for us, and also (as last year) a mixture of sunshine and torrential rain. Luckily we missed the worst of it as some of the music was delayed for a number of hours and the main stage had to re-convene indoors, such was the deluge.
As well as our set it was a nice chance for me to catch up with some old friends while watching a couple of my favourite live bands, Flux and Roots to Nowhere.

With enormous thanks to all those involved in organising the event and to SD Photography for these great photos.

Photo by Simon Dunkerley. SD Photography.

See the full SD Photography album for the day
here.

Photo by Simon Dunkerley. SD Photography.