A Minute in the Sun.

Through months of waiting for gaps in the Covid restrictions restrictions lenient enough to allow Covid-secure one-by-one recording  (see 2020 posts!), the EP is now not only finished, but it’s been prepared for the promotional onslaught.

Actually ‘onslaught’ is a bit of a strong word for it in this case but a journalist friend Jonathan White took enough of an interest to write an article for The Cat Radio which also included the exclusive information that we’re releasing the video-single ‘Who Put Bella in the Wych Elm’ on February 5th, two weeks ahead of the whole EP release on Feb 19th, 2021. 

Read the full article on the forthcoming EP HERE

The Festival Spirit - Nantwich 'Jazz Fest Sunday'.

The gang set up.

March 27th, 2016

'Jazz Fest Sunday' as it's known is traditionally the busiest day of the festival where some 40,000 people pour in from surrounding areas to enjoy the music (and alcohol!). This was the most exciting day for me as there is nothing to beat the thrill of playing in a full band and the power, dynamics and emotion this can evoke.

We all seemed relaxed and played really well in the tiny stage area, though Simon said afterwards he couldn't hear the drums at all, many non-musicians are often surprised that hearing good 'on stage' levels for everyone in the band can be quite rare, especially in the often quick turn-arounds you have (an hour between acts in this case). 

It was great to play a full two hour set right through, you can really get into the zone and dig deep into the music, and have time to allow your set to make it's path and tell a musical story.

Tim Lee, whose brilliant solo performance I was lucky enough to catch, also took some great photos;

Me, in monocrome, photo by Tim Lee.

Dave 'The Groove' Coomer, lighting up the electronic kit.
Photo by Tim Lee.

Em, photo by Tim Lee.

Post gig, after loading up in Storm Kate's rain, I had a short break and something to eat before heading out again to catch Tim perform brilliantly in the Singer/Songwriter part of the festival hosted by The Cat Radio on the Blitz stage outdoors. I watched with Dayve Dean (whose set I had sadly, missed) while getting thoroughly drenched meaning I couldn't even feel my fingers when I was playing, luckily muscle memory played it's part but I'd definitely lost some intricacy in my playing.
A few brave (or tipsy) souls danced and sang along at times in the pouring rain, if that's not the festival spirit, I don't know what is!

Tim Lee Rocking the town center outdoor stage

I had cold hands!
Many thanks to Jonathan White for the photo.

Jonathan White, who took the above photo, also published an article about this year's festival at; http://thenantwichnews.co.uk/2016/03/26/nantwich-jazz-festival-packs-music-fans-into-town-venues/

Loving @TheBlueYellows with @Mattlj92 #Nantwichjazzfestival

— CharlotteBirch (@CharlotteyBirch) March 27, 2016

Now playing my favorite!!!! #NoTobaccoNoJesus @TheBlueYellows #MyJam 🌄🌄

— CharlotteBirch (@CharlotteyBirch) March 27, 2016

Watching the always awesome @TheBlueYellows at @nantwichjazz at @UnionNantwich BRILLIANT! pic.twitter.com/sPn5JvO9bt

— Tim Lee - Songwriter (@timleesongs) March 27, 2016

A local gig for me meant nipping home between gigs, Storm Katey making up for my soaking.

Radio Legs.

My avid visitor to this website will know that I recently nipped into The Cat Radio Station to record an interview with Kev 'Legs' Walker.

"... It was watching a concert on TV and him playing about three notes, but those three notes were so beautiful, I thought 'I'll never be able to play lead guitar - never be able to do that'... (the music) all cascades down, goes quiet and he plays these few, plaintive little notes and I thought, 'well maybe I can't do his fancy stuff but I can play those few notes' and then you play a bit more and a bit more, and that's what got me going..."

You can now listen again to the show, Kev played some tracks from Attachment Theories and we also talked about the writing/recording/live cycle and the Nantwich Jazz Festival among other things;

A Nip into The Cat.

Thursday, Feb 25th 2016

Had a quick interview with the affable and musically knowledgeable Kev Walker at The Cat Radio station. We talked about the up-coming Nantwich Jazz Festival among other things.

It is due for broadcast on March 9th between 8 and 10pm.

Broadcaster Kev at mission control.

Radio Daze

Red letter day, a tweet by Master song-crafter and producer Nigel Stonier was re-tweeted by none other than the legendary 'Whispering' Bob Harris!

If that wasn't enough, this was immediately before my first radio interview specifically about the album including some premier track plays on the Coffee with Kirsty show on The Cat Radio! Listen again here;

Coffee with Kirsty 14.09.14 featuring Tom Pope and Jonathan Tarplee by Coffee With Kirsty on Mixcloud

Live Radio Session. Chat on The Cat!

No rest from one of those full day-job type of days, 15 mins with a coffee at home before setting off again. It all seemed like a huge chore but in the end our lovely hosts at The Cat Radio gave us a lovely time.

Here's at least some of what happened, cover versions have had to be removed in respect of copyright restrictions.



Corrections & Clarifications;

Band names; As well as "See Daylight" which nearly became our band name, Simon came up with the potential band name "Beachcombing" (as well as "The Four Cups") this, along with "The Dandylions" were rejected on the grounds that there are so many bands with these names. Emma came up with "The Ferns" which didn't get past the as it were, committee. "Road Kill Cafe" was another one which didn't make it for various reasons.