Cabaret time...

Oct 14th 2015.

Photo by Dick Jones.

It was post-gig anniversary night of The Words and Music Festival with a range of festival performers putting in some decidedly off-piste performances in celebration of this Eighth year, hence the song-themes of bronze, lace and all things railway in honor of our hosts and festival supporters, The Railway Hotel, Nantwich.

Performances from me, Thea Gilmore, Nigel Stonier, Jim Kirkpatrick, Chris Capel, Poet Helen Kay and a hot property in the folk world right now, Kelly Oliver. All the artists performed something especially for the occasion, including a new song from me, "Butterfly (on the railway line)".

Fun!

Thea Gilmore playing in a pub!? Only here. :)
With producer/songwriter Nigel Stonier.

It's all about to happen in Nantwich.

Oct 6th, 2015 (Updated 12/10/15)

My appearances at The Words and Music Festival this week;

Wednesday, Oct' 14th 9.30 - The Railway Hotel, Nantwich - Festival Anniversary Night (expect the unexpected).

Saturday, October 17th 10.30am Oxjam opener with The Blue Yellows, Nantwich Square.

Sunday, October 18th 2pm - Enzo Coffee Shop, Nantwich with Dan Logan (& guests).


The other night I went on Steven Bebe's show on Redshift Radio to talk about the upcoming Words and Music Festival and it's fantastic line up including Super-furry front man Gruff Rhys, Frazey Ford, Barbara Dixon, Mark Chadwick and talented super (not-so-furry) talented buddy, Tim Lee. 
I really think Gruff's American Interior show is going to be unforgettable, perhaps the last time he'll perform this in Northern Europe. I'd recommend finding out a bit more about it, which you can do at http://american-interior.com/. I'm lucky enough to be going to this show and I feel a bit like a 7 year old a week before Christmas.
The Blue Yellows are also playing (see poster) and I'm doing a special show with Dan Logan at the award winning independent coffee shop, Enzo, where I'll also introduce some top talent including UK Folk Award nominees Gilmore and Roberts. That's on Sunday, October 18th from 2pm.

Steve also played a couple of tracks from Attachment Theories.

Listen again here;

What's Happening on RedShift Radio with Steve Bebe (6th October 2015) by Steven Bebe on Mixcloud

Oxjam by Tram.

Oct 3rd, 2015

My first ever ride on a Manchester tram and I couldn't fault this wonderful service, one arrived as soon as I got to the tram station a couple of minutes after leaving the train at Piccadilly, same on the return, are they always that regular!? Clean, quiet, plenty of seats and cheap. Every town and city should have this.

There was a gorgeous, misty backdrop to the canals and buildings of Manchester from the often high vantage-point of the tram window, quite beautiful really, you could almost forget that the evil ones were arriving in town.

My stop was Chorlton, for the Oxjam Manchester Takeover. A great event and all for a good cause, my gig taking place in a cool and characterful bar, Strange Brew, were I enjoyed a gorgeous pre-gig black coffee (espreso-esque in it's tastiness) and one of the fabulous ales to keep the vocal cords lubricated, during.

I also got to see Richard Lomax perform, brilliant lyrics and tunes and not at all an Ed Sheeran sound-alike, unlike almost every other 'original' songwriter these days!

Talking of Oxjam, it's a good excuse to mention my next gig with The Blue Yellows and another one for the charity, in association with the fantastic Words and Music Festival, Nantwich. Radio Two favourites The Reads will also be performing.

To the Edge! Wilmslow & Alderley Beer & Wine Festival.

September 26th, 2015. Wilmslow & Alderley Beer & Wine Festival.

Sadie Pickering entertains the festival goers.

 A full band show for The Blue Yellows, in semi-acoustic mode, and a lovely festival, a first time for us (& may have also been the first one of this particular festival, if so, it was a great success and would have no doubt they will do it again).

Sadie Pickering, who you may know as an accomplished actor having been in Waterloo Road, Splintered and 24 Seven among other things, is also a soulfully-voiced, talented singer songwriter. She entertained the crowds and introduced us, and the other acts who included Liam McClair who had impressed so much at The King's Arms Festival and the astounding vocal-percussion artist, Kimmy Beatbox.
Being a beer and wine festival there was of course more quality drinking (and eating) to be done than anyone could have any right to expect.
With a similar atmosphere, this felt like to me as the other book-end to the lovely Milefest earlier in the year, as we'll be lucky to get such a summery-feeling outdoor show again this year.
Thanks to the people from The Yard on The Edge and all the fantastic young dancers who entertained us!

Sadie Pickering.

The Blue Yellows in semi-acoustic mode. Thanks to Wilmslow & Alderley Beer & Wine Fest for the photo.

No tobacco no Jesus is THE catchiest song ever! Great to see the Blue Yellows yesterday @JonnieGitAhhr @AEWBeerWineFest :)

— georgie johnson (@goglet) September 27, 2015

Birmingham, following in the footsteps of giants...

September 13th, 2015

 My first gig in the second city and I was following in the footsteps of music giants along the Broad Street walk of stars. 

Broad Street's own 'Free Love Club' was the venue, but on this occasion, the illustrious names along the pavement outside and the hard work of the organisers on the inside were not enough to command much of a crowd. This can be and often is, a problem everywhere, though I'm pleased to say the small bunch of music fans who were there made up for their lack of numbers in enthusiasm.

The view from mission control. 

If you find yourself in this great city, check the place out and support this endevour.

An earlier combo
preparing setlists.