Marbury Reighs

 We gathered, still as a 3 piece while Simon's hand injury mends, to the beautiful surroundings of Marbury Country Park for the Acoustic Music and Ale Festival.

I felt very relieved for this extensively leafy area full of mature trees - serious rain has been a long time coming and much more is still needed. Thankfully the rain didn't seem to put people off and our set was once again received not only with rapturous enthusiasm, but also with lots of joining-in.

Thank you all again so much, it means so much to us and you folk who turn up to live shows and give us so much back is quite literally what enables us to keep doing this crazy live music thang. 

Photo by Sue Tarplee-Williams 

Photo by Sue Tarplee-Williams 

The Green Room!

Return to Casa José

 I was back in José Manu Arteaga's home studio to record some lead and backing vocals for some lyrics I wrote for one of his tunes - to appear some time soon(ish)/eventually on a vinyl album. Oh yes! 

Balmy Days

Towards yet another day of extreme, for the UK, heat - I had a really fun night hopping onto a brief part of Barn54's epic Athens to Aberdeen tour of 2026, in Warwick. These two work so hard night after night, country after country to bring the audience into the night as one united, vibrant celebration of life. It's such a joy to witness and a joy to be a part of. After an opening solo set of half an hour or so, I joined the duo on guitar and the odd backing vocal for for most of their set too.

I'll see them again soon.

Sina and Simon of Barn54

 at Ronnie's of Warwick tonight

Conglomeration

 07/08/2026

A conglomeration of bands and artists gathered in Congleton tonight having agreed to give up their fees in aid of rasing funds for Saint Luke's Cheshire Hospice.

A totally unrehearsed highlight for me, probably for all of us performing, was - with all musical hands on deck - jamming out a raucous version of Mustang Sally honoured to much missed local musician Dave Speakman who died recently. 

It was a great way to end a little run of gigs that have mainly been to really 'listening' typical gig-going audiences, which are great to play to of course. 

This audience however had much more a vibe of friends going out, raising money for an important charity to them & catching up with each other, perhaps for the first time for some while. So it was quite a noisy, chatty crowd - and why shouldn't they be? They enjoyed all the acts and sang and danced to us and all the others. So while they have been a loud, chatty crowd they were up for lots of fun, friendly & a good challenge to win over. 

If you were among them, and now reading this - thanks for your kindness in coming out for a good cause, and bringing the good times!

Organiser & host Louise playing her
maracas alongside Em. 

Violet Blue

 Today we played the wonderful annual(ish) Garden Party booked by wonderful friends and hosts Martin and Elaine. So many lovely, talented acts and a lovely, neighbourly crowd in a still (despite stacking heatwaves) beautiful leafy garden.

One of many highlights for us was pursuading Diane of Violet Cry to join us for a song on the vocals - a great moment!

Diane joining us on vocals