So it's been a busy five months of 2011. I've been all over the UK with Tom McConville (sometimes also bass supremo Phil Murray and Accordion wizard Shona Kipling), from Cornwall to Scotland, plus some solo gigs. Highlights have been: playing in the Lysses hotel as part of Fareham Folk Festival with Shona, in front of a selection of my friends, and family, in a hotel that was very much part of my growing up, being as it was the selected venue for wedding receptions, funeral wakes and many other things. Lovely to hear people singing along at 2am to 'All this work is done'.
Just had a lovely gig with Tom and Phil in Etal, Northumberland, before which I gave a day's guitar workshops. This was a complete delight, all attendees were lovely, asked the best kind of questions, and as with any good workshop, I learnt as much as any of the people I was apparently there to 'instruct'. I don't think it really works like that anyway - it's always a two way thing.
Lots of things that I'm looking forward to in the next few months. I've written most of a new album, so I'll be recording 'acoustic' versions of the songs in the next couple of weeks and following that up with a proper 'band' recording. I'm looking to get this out in October this year, so I need to get my skates on, but I'm confident it'll be ready. 'Cities and Power' is, incredibly, two and a half years old, so needs updating. I'm still very proud of it but I think the time is definitely here for something new with some new songs - I'm confident it'll be the best thing I've done yet. It'll feature some special guests too... and will of course be released on Furrow records. Watch this space.
Summer is a'comin in too, so lots of festivals to look forward to including Warwick, Sidmouth, Swanage, and Whitby. I'll be playing solo in London in August so it'd be lovely to see you there.
Well, the wind is in from Africa, and last night, I couldn't sleep - so I'm off. Speak soon.
