A bit of Country.

November 9th.

On Sunday night I had the pleasure of supporting Aussie Country star Rory Ellis in a big function room in Middlewich. As one of the Cheshire Folk promoters, organisers of the show said; his voice is like rolling thunder. I didn't realise until this night what a funny guy he is, with plenty of comedy in his songs too!

A shot taken during sound-check by Lynne Barnes
Thanks Lynne,

Rory Ellis entertaining.

The Levenshulme Festival 2014

The lights of the big city from my train window on the way home.

Last night I opened up for an evening of acoustic music for The Levenshulme Festival organised by brilliant blues-guitar-man Zacc Rogers, I say organised; he set up the PA, was sound engineer and performed - top man! 

Following me was anther great stomping blues player Ged Wilson, in fact the first 'notes' of his set were his foot stomping on the wooden pub-floor before his grooving, slide-dominated blues-playing kicked it,great stuff!


Then came the band Summer Cross, with beautiful, lilting folk tunes with a contemporary feel. Poignant, expertly played and acutely targeted too - songs about the disappearance of those key centres of our communities; pubs, one about a great long-lost music venue at Levenshulme; The Palace, and songs featuring Irish community history, something which clearly still resonates very strongly in this Greater Manchester town.
He probably wouldn't want me to say this but Greg Mulholland, the lead singer from Summer Cross also has another public role he plays, as the MP for Leeds North West. You don't need me to tell you that MPs get a lot of bad press, but there are those who do go into it for all the right reasons, because they want to make the world a better place, and Greg is definitely one of the good guys!

Ged Wilson - stomping great slide-blues.

Poignant lilting folk from Summer Cross - fronted by Greg Mullholand.

The Radio Tour continues...

Last night I enjoyed the sqaushy sofa and funny banter of the Marmite Junction dynamic duo Andrew Faraday & Sam Smith on ALL FM. 

I also met comedy film-maker & fellow guest Daniel Hutchings, who is making 'Django Away' Check out the trailer at the bottom of this post!

I was of course there to chat about Attachment Theories and next week's LeviFest!

Nowadays a major focal point in Manchester - The Manchester Eye.
I went for a wander and met up with some very good friends before the
evening show came along.

A sofa-selfie. A very squashy Green Room sofa.

Birthday Beats.

Not all the most fun gigs are playing to big music festival crowds, sometimes they're ones which are more personal like this; A surprise birthday party gig for photographer Tina Newbury of Simon Newbury Photography. Indeed, it was The Newbury's who feature as the Photographer for my portrait on the back of Attachment Theories.

Many of the talented usual suspects performed including Angus McTwangstick!