January 22nd at The Yardbird

I'm performing at The Yardbird on Sunday the 22nd of January as part of an event organised by Birmingham Promoters. Also on the bill are;

Bowen & The Tide

Regal

Velvet Riot

Jack The Biscuit

Louise Petit

The gig is free entry and starts at 6.30pm. My stage time is 7.15pm

Paradise Place
Birmingham
B3 3HJ

New Years Eve Quiz on Milkbar Podcast

Last night I went along to the Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton to play some songs during the New Years Eve Quiz on the Milkbar Podcast.

I'd been asked along by the programme's presenter Jason Forrest, who had also arranged for a very varied array of Wolverhampton and West Midlands based lumanaries to take part in the quizz. They included an Elizabethan instrument maker, an often topless Wolves fan and a cooking Dentist. I'll provide some more information and links for them all later.

I peformed a tune in the breaks between each round, and had a really cool time. I also got a go on a Hurdy Gurdy.

My understanding is that the show will be broadcast on New Years Eve on 101.8WCRfm and available as a podcast at the same time. I will confirm the details ASAP.

Storyjohn Podcast

The excellent Story John played two tracks from the EP on his December podcast, here's the show details.

Episode 59, featuring music from Robert Lane, Billy and Lozz and even a Breton Christmas carol, plus features on Steven Berkoff, the pantomime The Snow Queen at Forest Arts Centre, Walsall, and a review (including samples) of Edgar Broughton's acoustic set at the Robin 2, Bilston. A Merry Christmas To All Our Readers! You can find the Storyjohn Podcast via the iTunes Store or via www.storyjohn.co.uk - and it's free.

Thanks John!

The Milk Bar Podcast

Yesterday evening I recorded a phone interview with Jason Forrest of The Milk Bar Podcast

Jason was also kind enough to play three tunes from Any Place You'd Like To Know. There were many other interesting people on the show, so have a listen!

BBC WM Introducing

Last night Lost But I Can't Care was played on BBC WM Introducing by Louise Brierley and Brett Berks. They were also kind enough to mention my gig at The Tower of Song on Saturday the 10th of December.

You can listen to the show on the iplayer

http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/p00lsl9m/

my bit is at 1.35.28

Thanks Brett and Louise!

Any Place You'd Like To Know

My new EP is available for download now, either by going to the Music page of this blog, or following this link to my band camp

Birthday, Blues and Beaches

The week leading up to my performance at The Tenby Blues Festival and four day holiday in Saundersfoot was not a great one. I was feeling rough, real rough! I won't explain what was wrong but it wasn't pleasant and I'd well and truly had enough by Friday night when I travelled with Maria down into Pembrokeshire, clutching the magic pills the Doctor had given me hours before that just about made me feel human.

By mid day on Saturday we had met up with my Uncle and Aunt who were also in the area and the four of us were enjoying beautiful Tenby. The blues festival is in it's 6th year and swinging away quite happily in the various theatres, pubs and cafes of all sizes and vintages that adorn this quintessential British holiday town.

A bit of personal history; Saundersfoot, the next village on from Tenby, was my family holiday destination throughout my childhood. I stopped going for a few years when booze and night clubs pulled me into planes and across the sea for summer holidays, and then very happily returned a few years ago. I discovered that Tenby hosts a Blues Festival every November, and was lucky enough to be invited along this year. The fact that all this was to take place on my birthday, 12th of November, just added to the very special nature of the gig.

My main performance was to take place in Caffe Vista, a place that had opened since my last visit to Tenby. I went along a few hours early to say hello and check everything was OK. This aptly names establishment boasts a stop you in your tracks view across the Tenby Harbour from it's balcony and through this amazing window...


I was greeted by the owner Yanni, and in our chat I discovered that he has created an excellent live venue through his passion and personal experiences as a musician. Some truly great names perform at Caffe Vista, if you are ever in the area it's a priority to check whether you'll be around at the time of one of these gigs. Here's the facebook page

In the early evening I performed my two hour sets at Caffe Vista. Both sets were well attended by lovely audiences, featuring both locals and Festival holiday makers. Very nice people; they even sang happy birthday to me!

I'd also been booked to perform at a late night session at The Giltar Hotel. I turned up at midnight as requested and played a short set to some very drunk musos and blues music fans. Bit of an odd one but here again people sang along and treated me well. It was also cool to see inside this posh hotel, in a part of the town I hadn't really seen before.

The next afternoon we returned to Caffe Vista to say thanks to Yanni. We also met his daughters, had some great food and generally lived it up. Here's me and Yanni. I'm windswept, he's interesting.

The next few days it was holiday time in really remarkably mild November weather. Carew Castle, Haverfodwest, Skrinkle Heaven, we did it all. Great way to spend a birthday, I love Pembrokeshire, I love playing gigs and meeting cool people.

Love life.

This week anyway!