On Tap

 Oct 10th 2026

Great music venues & great beer all too often fail to coincide but following Tom's Tap last night, we find ourselves in another top venue with top beer. The Artisan Tap in Stoke. 

Up the hill in the general direction of my old Uni, that of Keele - & I was so glad that a fair few current Keele students came along to enjoy the night and chat to me afterwards, though this was tinged with sadness on hearing from them about the huge impacts of the cuts to departments and staff there, along with heart rending accounts of lecturers in tears and music students having to be submerged into the humanities department, something which must surely diminish the up-to-now facilities and levels of expertise on hand?

Sad also because this was the last outing for us on an Athens to Aberdeen tour date with our beautiful friends from somewhere-near-Heidelberg, Sina and Simon of Barn54. Once again, Sina's gorgeous voice was out of action due to the flu - but like the true tour champions of music they are, they don't cancel, they struggle on, not that anyone would have noticed the struggle as they absolutely stormed ('barnstormed', sorry) the place - everyone, as always, loved them. 

I did a bit more on vocals for them, as well as guitar, the same as last night - to make up for the lack of vocal input from Sina, not that it ever could...

Last face to face words, hugs and written messages were exchanged, for now. 

Beautiful, thrilling and sad - which is not a bad discription of much of the music I love, but I am also discribing here this night, as in what it represents as an ending but also a beginning, because big plans are already afoot for a wonderful 2027!

It was great to see Joe, who was in 
our 1st music video as a boy, 
No Tobacco No Jesus

Barnstorming Tom's!

Oct 9th 2026

We had an absolute blast with Barn54 at Tom's Tap - though none of us live in Crewe, this always feels like our "home" venue, our local.

Sadly, Tom's Tappers didn't get to hear Sina's beautiful vocals as she's suffering from the flu at the moment and, having hardly been able to walk from being so ill on the morning of this gig, her voice was still gone for showtime. But, as always with professional musicians “the show must go on" as did Sina, if without that voice this time.

Me and Dave from The Blue Yellows were delighted to be asked to join the German duo for their set as well, jamming along seat-of-the-pants style, following Simon's directions. It was so much fun, I love their songs so much!

We've nearly finished our run of shows with them, one last time with them at Artisan Tap (our debut there), but more is already being organised for 2027.

I'm missing my wonderful German friends already.

Simon from Barn54 joined us on drums again for The Stronger You Love - photo by Marina Red

Photo by Neil - sickly_b on bluesky 

Photo: Marina Red

Photo: Marina Red

Blackberry Season

 Oct 3rd 2026

We gathered, along with many others on a multi-artist evening at the best city center rock venue that just happens to be in a small market town, somehow, instead - Percy's!

Barn54 we're the headliners once again and at the time of the booking more than a year ago, we weren't aware that it also coincides with Whitchurch's biggest event of the year - The Blackberry Fair.

It was our 1st of 3 gigs with super-pro musician Dayve Dean. He has had just one rehearsal with us and is absolutely nailing our songs. Top work, Dayve.

I had some technical issues surrounding my pedalboard or power to it for a time, Sina (from Barn54) having similar issues too with her sustain pedal, Emma swapping it out for hers didn't seem to help so it may have been a socket issue perhaps. 

The gig was a reminder though that technical issues or not (they will also be a part of the rough & tumble of live shows, though of course you try to minimise them) it is the over all vibe and communication of feelings that really counts - I think we got away with it & Barn54 were mesmerisingly good, as always.

Photo: TMR Photography 

Photo: TMR photography 

Photo: TMR photography 

What a night! Photo: TMR photography 

Dave, Jonathan, Bass-Depp Dayve Dean & Em of The Blue Yellows. Pic by Dave Coomer. 

Where We Belong

 Oct 2nd 2026

A very short commute to the gig in my adopted home town of Nantwich to join the wonderful Barn54 who are well into their epic Athens to Aberdeen tour. I did a half hour support set with last minute addition, my Blue Yellows compadre - Dave on Cajon. 

It really was such an absolute joy to join them on stage - to be alive and live these precious moments is just so incredible.

Thanks to all who turned out! 

Blackpool Rock

19th Sept 2026

(updated 20/09/26)

Another Barn54 show with me opening and acoustic duo with a strong percussive element The J&J Experience next. I then joined Barn54 for all but one in their set.

This all occurred in the literal underground super-cool live music & DJ bar Sub.

Wild winds all day & night may have ironically kept it from being a wilder night, but we all did our (in my case somewhat under-rehearsed) best.

Earlier, in powerful winds. 

When the Green Room is red