The Compass in one's eyes.

Another gig at a new (to me) venue, another fabulous night. This time all sails were set for North by North West and the fab Compass venue in Chester and a lovely acoustic evening run by Dan of The Core, and featuring the formidable talents of Alex Green and Connah Evans. It was also great to bump into super-talented Sophie Morgan in the audience, who was fantastic at the recent Shrewsbury gig.

For my set I played There She Moves, Flamingos, Beachcombing, Big Low Copper Moon, Galleries & No Tobacco, No Jesus.

A print-it-out and draw-our faces poster...... if you like! ;)

Photo by The Core.

Songsmith Connah Evans wows the crowd.

Alex Green captivates with a bit of slap-tapping guitar & great songs.

Review of Attachment Theories in The Musician magazine.

I got my copy of The Musician and inside was this! 

From The Musician, Winter 2014 edition.

For further press coverage and reviews click HERE.

A platform for live music.

Back to The Railway which Barrie & Sarah have transformed into a great, quality bar and acoustic music venue and the launch-venue for my album launch (cupcakes may have also been involved) a mere six weeks ago or so. Sadly they are moving on so Dan called up some of his musical regulars for an open mic 'farewell'. I hope whoever takes over treats the place, and it's customers, as well.

Photo by Mike Willacy of
The Shop Sessions.

A Beautiful night at The Bellstone.

A showcase of acoustic music at the rather lovely Bellstone in Shrewsbury, run and hosted by the wonderful Heidi Browne (UK Open-mic winner, recent play on BBC Radio 1 and 6 Music).
Below are some of the acts I got to enjoy!

 I played There She Moves, Big Low Copper Moon, Galleries and Beachcombing.

Beth Prior, just back from her Europen tour, holds the attentive audience.

Sophie Morgan was brilliant too! She recently played a slightly less intimate venue-
The Royal Albert Hall!

Musicians set up before the night begins under the leadership
of Heidi Browne.

One of many highlights for me had to be seeing Heidi play this, one of my favourite songs ever, by anyone.

A great new album out today - Headspace.

Ardent readers may remember that back in August I blogged about playing a session for Tim Lee and the album he was then working on. Well that album is out now, and I for one love it. It's a beautiful collection of notable songs. 

The emotive opening violin strings set the scene beautifully as a perfect introduction to the whole journey this album takes you on. Great songs, imaginative arrangements and hooky backing vocal organisations.  If you're looking for bombast and hedonistic escapism this might not be for you, these are often simple, deeply reflective songs with a direct honesty which anyone with even half a heart will surely love. 

Plenty of variety here too from the groovy but bittersweet Seven Lies to the almost Golden Brown-esque History, the bouncy bass-line and catchy riffs of the title track, and you can even hear a little of Tim's punk background in the anguished Little Tests. Personal favourites include the lilting Masquerade (one of the tracks which fellow BYs muso Hayley plays on), the lovely, heartfelt simplicity of True Love Starts Today and the outstanding The Source; a song which I think all artists of various kinds will empathise with, in it's understanding of the need to go back to artistic roots and original influences from time to time to feel again what they meant to you, so that you can progress forwards. 

Consciously or not, You Can't Keep a Good Man Down is a fitting description of where Tim is, on his musical voyage right now. 

Playing on the album back in summer
Photo by Tim.