Awesome Audlem 2016 !

Nice crowds and atmosphere in the Audlem sunshine.

I'd been asked to play 3 festivals on the same day which proved a) a logistical nightmare and b) a problem in terms on not wanting to overplay the same area. I was already booked to play the Audlem Festival long before I was offered the other ones and in any case it's a great festival to play with a lovely atmosphere.

The only downside from my personal point of view was that a lot of the acts I would most like to have seen were booked at a time when I couldn't see them for various reasons, especially Tiki Black, Michelle Martin, Oli Ng, Headsticks and Hiedi Browne, all wonderful songwriting talents, as I always try to home in on the original artists which have far more interest for me. There were probably other original acts I really love there too that I can't recall right now, sorry!
I did manage to catch some of the great self-penned tunes of Sheena Bratt (although I couldn't see her from where my little entourage were sat) and Megan Dixon Hood's top set with her band. The entourage in question were Mike and Lynne of the shop sessions who really helped me out on the day. Mike is also getting a lot of airplay lately for his very dark, bluesy songs from his Kwalaparla outfit, do check Kwalaparla out, along with all the other acts I've mentioned above (just click on the names, as always) - top tunes!

Little Blue & Red Severn await.

Doggie Day Afternoon!

All sorts of fun going on, with pooches as the main stars of course.
Photo by Tim Lee.

I was delighted to be guest of the lovely people at Redshift Radio to play at definitely cutest gig I've done so far, at the annual Doggie Day Out! 

I failed to win in any of the categories, not even best behaved boy, scruffiest animal (I was robbed) or best biscuit catcher, but had a good time nonetheless.

Other music on hand came from the super-songwriting talent of Tim Lee, and the gorgeous voice of Lucy Ollier, do make sure you check their music out wherever you can.

Thanks to Paul, Liz and most of all Redshift-Pooch Jasper plus it was great to get some audience reaction from one of the cutest dogs there, Wilson (Tim's owner).

Thanks to @RedShiftRadioUK for inviting me to play at their 'Doggy Day Out' event. I had a really fun day! pic.twitter.com/OmDWSV785d

— Tim Lee - Songwriter (@timleesongs) May 22, 2016

Enjoyed @RedShiftRadioUK's #DoggieDayOut Top music @timleesongs & @OllierrrLucyyy & cute pooches everywhere! More at https://t.co/fNGJMR6Prl

— Jonathan Tarplee (@JonnieGitAhhr) May 22, 2016

There's a reason (OK, an excuse) why I'm such a klutz

One of the things I'm enjoying in my first 'home-made' recording sessions is the ability to write a song simultaneously during the recording process, rather than as in the past, having to have a fully prepared song to bring to the studio.
Some lyrics are coming now for some new tune and riff idea's I've had. You might see me walking down the road, but I'll be writing a song, you might see me on the bus, but I could be working out another guitar part, I might walk straight past you without noticing because some lyrics are making their way from the sky into my mind.
All part of the artistic process and, more importantly, all part of my excuse for being an absent-minded, dipsie, faerie-head.
Apologies!

Music Reigns - The Lymelight Festival 2016.

All the fun of the fair, was there.

May 2nd, 2016.

The third outdoor festival gig I've done this spring and the third one done in torrential rain. Even the Signal One stage covering along the roof and sides of the stage area was not enough to stop serious sprayage from getting onto the stage and also wind-blown rain spraying in. The stage crew did a great continual job of trying to keep it in check but like King Cnut, it was to no avail as pools ever closenned to my pedal board and rain sprayed onto my mic.

Luckily the rain normalized a bit otherwise I think it would've either been called off for safety reasons or stopped anyway due to my sudden death. The love of music surpassed all this wet nonsense however and the music-loving crowds snuggled under umbrellas and bopped in their kagools.
Thanks all at The Lymelight Festival for making this happen! :D