New Christmas Single

 I Thought I saw an Angel - Out on all streaming platforms now.

For the full collaborative album Snow Business by The Electric Sprout Foundation and to raise money for lathgroup.org who directly support homeless people, please go to Snow Business

There's No Business like Snow Business

 Our last gig of the year was an unexpectedly sonwy affair. Although snow was forecast the Cheshire Plain rarely gets even a smattering. A few brave souls managed to turn up for the first part of the gig and then quite a crowd later on who I think entertained us as much as the other way around with their dancing and very exuberant sing-alongs.

Not a bad way to end our '23 shows. 

Photo by Jonathan White

I Thought I Saw an Angel

 (Updated November 24th to include latest press) . 

Out everywhere from December 8th.

An unexpected merch' sponsor:

Read an article about the release HERE

Stumped for a sound?

 Updated 28th Oct 23 to include newspaper page. 

I was recently included in this article about The Applestump Sessions 

Read the whole thing HERE

Time for the 'C' word...

 Although I'm possibly one of the least "Christmassy" people you could meet, as a musician and songwriter I often get asked to contribute to Christmas events or projects, and this year is no different.

Mark Sheeky, a multi-disciplinary artist and something of a renaissance man being a composer, sculptor, fine artist, poet and more, asked if I'd write a song and contribute it to this charity Christmas album project. 

Below is a video on my response and a bit on my approach to this. 

The album will raise money for the important work of Lath Group Homeless Charity  who do wonderful work for homeless people in my area.

You can pre-order the album here: Christmas Charity Album

Friends of Friends of Merlin

 Still on a high from last weekend's sellout, tonight was an all-too-common situation of bands playing to other bands kind of a deal, though it's always nice to meet up and hang out with our fellows in this role called "Muso". Flooding from storm Babet put paid to rehearsal so we stuck to familiar recent setlist material. 

Photo by Maz from Friends of Merlin 

Pre-soundcheck
double espresso 

Contemporary Tom's

 

Photo by sister Sue Tarplee-Williams 

Contemporary Nightmare 

We Are Nomad - photo by Tim Lee

Em - photo by Tim Lee

I've learned to at least try never to have any preconceptions as to how good a gig is going to be, but have to admit that the good feelings I had about this one turned out to be more than justified. In spite of considerable difficulties with the sound through soundcheck, Mike (from We Are Nomad) was as ever thoroughly well prepared but had some real issues for a while... But it was all sorted in time for the show. 

As if Mike didn't have enough of an event to sort, he and the other 50% of We Are Nomad , Rona were first up, and what a spellbinding and chilled start to a great night they were. We'd specifically asked them to focus more on original material for this one and it was great to hear their own songs including their epic "The Ocean". 

Next up were brand new band (this would be their third ever gig), namely youth indie-rockers Contemporary Nightmare I knew front-man Dylan Bugg from both his previous band The Buggs with brother Owain and from the fact that I taught them both guitar when they lived in Cheshire. To say we (I think I can confidently speak for everyone there) were impressed was an understatement. A teen band 3 gigs in are supposed to be really rough, battling with the basics like staying in time, maintaining a solid groove and holding a good melody under the pressure of the public gaze and not wanting to let yourselves down... These things typically take many gigs to begin to master before a band goes on to flourish. These lads definitely have "it" - straight out of the box - hugely enjoyable set. 

When it came to my gang The Blue Yellows we felt ready to take some risks on some newer material as well as some old favourites. Everyone seemed to love it. 

The night was certainly massively enhanced by such a thorough approach to sound from Mike, a superbly atmospheric light rig provided by Pod (Jason Podmore), plus a dry-ice machine (I think we're supposed to call it "haze" nowadays having been laughed at by a student working in light shows for calling it "dry ice"!). On top of that, many great photos were taken by Tim Lee, Martin Edwards & others many of which will appear over the coming months no doubt (with credits of course) in our socials and so on. On top of all this, the venue itself - Tom's Tap and Brewhouse - well, we just love the place and love playing here. Not only are their beers, ciders and other beverages and food top notch, but like any great places the personalities of the people running the joint really makes a difference and they have really built a community - one with all the right vibes and a real focus on egalitarianism and inclusivity. 

I will certainly have missed people out in this something of a thanks-fest post but as ever - the people who really make the difference are you lovely lot who come to the shows. YOU give us the energy, you share the emotions and excitement of making this mad, roller-coaster of feelings that is a live music show; thank you so much! 

Mike was prepared on the desk well in advance 

Stumped for a song.

Updated October 14th 2023 

The great team at Applestump Records asked me to play one of their Sessions for them, so I strapped the Martin on for a rare solo appearance. Just 3 songs recorded, one mic to pick up both voice and guitar and no retakes.

I surprised myself at how nervous I was and felt a lot of shakiness in my voice, but hopefully not too much of that comes across (except in After the Morrow Moon where the vibrato in places is deliberate). 

I'll post the results here when they are broadcast. 

Photo: Emily Hardy

Photo: Emily Hardy

A Foxy Situation

02/09/2023

We ventured out to the lovely town atop of a Staffordshire moorland hill that is Leek and it's impressive Foxlowe Arts Centre for this event organised by Situation Records.

Our first time there since 2011 and the debut gig at this venue for our Dave. 

It was great to see promoters Simon & Steve again after all these years in real life rather than just on social media. 

Rail strikes which I fully support, nevertheless made it something of a nightmare for me and many others to get around (to get to the band-van pickup point in my case) and I resorted to a rare taxi ride for some of the way home. 

Nevertheless an I suspect mainly local music loving crowd were enthusiastic and attentive throughout our set and all the other acts. 

It was great to enjoy so much talent and variety. 

The Rode to Recording

A couple of days ago I started a recording project with, refreshingly, no plan, no EP in mind & no particular direction.

Yesterday I also at long last finally invested in a decent quality condenser mic which straight away made me realise how much work it used to take to make my precious model sound good... So maybe this project just stated getting more serious?

His Master's Choice

It was Stoke On Trent's Pride Festival with many around the city adorned with rainbow flags and make up including the very friendly Stewie (pictured).

We were here as part of HMV's "Live & Local" campaign, with certain bands from a region performing in a local store.

It was notable for us as the first time out for a brand new song "Funk 23" which, although only written very few rehearsals ago... was simple enough for us to bash a out a slightly rough & ready version.

Stewie 

Aye Aye it's The Captain's Bar

 Having played our debut at this venue for Bogfest just a few weeks ago, we already knew what a quirky venue this is with such a friendly team and a really cool vibe. The place has rapidly become an essential part of the Stoke scene with a real community feel and as well as live music with a strong focus on original acts, they sell a range of cocktails, real ales and more. And of course there's Rosie the axolotl, but before this starts to sound like a bit of an advert for the place, yes - I like it! 

We had the pleasure of the mesmerising and etherial Crowspeak open for us followed by half of the (usually duo) Johnny Nice Painter weaving some melancholy magic before we began. Thanks for Scott for giving us a great sound on stage too. Other than a slightly higgledy-piggledy version of new(ish) song The Stronger You Love - though I'm pretty sure only we in the band noticed the song structure was in an unusual order, we played with a fluidity and freedom which is always a great feeling. Can't wait for the next one at The Capt'ns already.

Cheat sheet for Closing Time

Johnny Nice Painter (or half of them) 

Crowspeak 

Chilling (literally) with an iced coffee & falafel & humus sandwich in the bus station cafe opposite the venue on this scorching hot day, before going over for set-up & soundcheck. 

That time it got messy

From a videoographer's perspective making a music video typically involves days of planning, storyboarding, liaising with different interested parties not to mention countless hours of editing. That's without the shoot itself. However from a musician's perspective, in my experience it's nearly always a fun day out. 

For this video shot a couple of weeks ago, we were simply helping out a good friend and talented songsmith Tim Lee make this video for his new single out today "Mess Out of Me" and what incredible fun it was! It is also, by a long way, the shortest shoot I've ever been on courtesy of a great but simple idea.

Top song too - enjoy!

And here's a behind the scenes vid I took (some of which made the official cut)... 

Rock the Cap's Bar!

 Today we headed to our 1st festival of the year and our debut show at the Captain's Bar in Hanley. This was for BOGFEST - a festival with a very direct fundraising campaign to support this venue and increase its toilet capacity.

Along with the festival comes a compilation album my gang The Blue Yellows are a part of, which you can download at Rock the Cap's Bar

Unfortunately for Dave, it was his turn to epitomise the doctrine of "the show must go on" as he was playing with a migraine.

It was great to see so much musical variety in a one day festival with acts from the world's of electronica, folk, world music and more - fabulous!

 

True Colours

 Full page interview in today's Sentinal.

And a slightly strange add for Saturday's festival

Stripped down in Salford.

 Photo by Carol Middleton 

It can be a rough old game this music one: a game that more often than not involves juggling portfolio careers as the financial rewards are so low, schedules beset with last minute changes, changing facilities little better than vandalised toilets, and promoters more interested in painting-by-numbers covers than true originality. But now and again you get a wonderful night that reminds you of the wholly positive side of this business of show, and this fundraising night at Acoustic Amnesty was just such an occasion. 

We headed to the historic King's Arms Salford for a rare (for us) stripped-back acoustic set with Dave on his Cajon instead of the full kit and me plugging my acoustic straight into the PA, the rich tones of my Martin Dreadnought Junior actually providing a surprisingly great range in terms of dynamics - you can really dig into that guitar. 

Unfortunately James Heaton had to pull out following a positive Covid test, but Fraser Lindsay, Tracey Browne and Last Race Home all genuinely provided warm, plaintive, uplifting & emotive sounds and the lively audience were great for us too - thank you! 

Sound engineer Gareth gave us a great on-stage sound making it easy for us to really dig in and give it up to the music. 

Many thanks to the organisers who raised hundreds of pounds on the night to one of the local Amnesty campaigns buying books for children & families in the Salford area unable to access or afford reading for their children. 

Just wonderful - thanks again all x 

Photo by Fraser Lindsay 

This Saturday.

 Tickets

Acoustic Amnesty

 We get going again mid-month! 

Radio Goo Goo

 Part of Band-life is being interviewed by various people from time to time, on this occasion Liam from the radio.

We'll post a broadcast link when there is one.

 

Paseo Electric

I'm delighted to have contributed to the upcoming EP "Paseo Electric" from the brilliant producer Jose Manu Arteaga - out everywhere in March. 

Soul Sounds

I've been doing plenty of tracking on a little-but-often basis with Soul over the past few weeks.

It will take a while but I'm looking forward to seeing what comes out of this.