Last week we had two fantastic days where our newly expanded duo were given platforms they were proud and excited to be playing on. 

- first was the Southsea Bandstand as part of the Sunday sessions that happen every Summer in Southsea; the second being a support gig for Ella Edmondson and Lucy Wainwright Roche at the Eastney Cellars.

The bandstand line-up was Amalthea, Chris Ricketts and Kelly's Tattoo - with us in there somewhere too....Chris was the compere - and, in fact, our bass player for the afternoon!

I say, for the afternoon - there will be more appearances from Chris on stage with us - and the following gig at the Cellars featured Chris on bass too.

Anyway!.......

.....significantly, Gavin Jones was drumming for us too - so we were a quartet - an augmented duo - with two people sharing the stage that we are proud to have with us.

We had to wait to go on as it decided to rain - and in the end, went on before it stopped - but luckily it stopped during our 2nd song....so we were mostly playing in the dry - after the 4th song it was getting really sunny....

The crowd were fantastic - there were many many people - and we could feel the atmosphere from where we were - people really with us - kids dancing, adults dancing, people singing along to the songs, some of whom I didn't recognise so could have picked up the words for Jigsaw Song while they were hearing it for the first time....

We started with Freedom - with Gav joining us on congas - then Chris came on, Gav switched to the full kit and we played some of our own songs:
Jigsaw Song, It's Not Enough to Know, Where Will it Lead, Brilliant Fire and People Live On.  We also threw Woodstock into the mix and ended with Crowded House's Weather With You. 

We loved playing as a quartet, and loved the feedback from the crowd and the organisers - also great to be playing It's Not Enough To Know - the newest song in our setlists.

Thanks everyone who came down to see us - it was a very special afternoon.

The next day we had another amazing night at The Cellars - a place we have played many many times  -and a place that ALWAYS gives us a fantastic gig - part of that is the way they are organised and the running of the night - and part of it is because of the audience. One of the best venues for audience respect and attention - amazing consistency that allows us to plan for a more dynamic set, featuring the more commonly heard louder songs with the less frequently played quieter songs. Consequently we played Afraid, a song from our new album we are recording at the moment, that would be lost in a venue where the audience is shouting across the room to their mates.  

- big thanks to the people that came down to that gig too - it was a sizable audience and the sort of night you want to share.

Chris Perrin and the Minor Falls were first on - they are a new band for Chris - although Chris has been gigging for aaaaaages - and been writing for a long time too - his writing is brilliant - and those songs get great treatment from his emotive voice, great solos and tight work from his band - an excellent set from Chris kicked off the night. 

Then we were on, with Chris on bass again - and we kicked off our set with a song for Lucy - The Swimming Song - a song written by her Dad, Loudon Wainwright (and everyone knows what I think of her Dad....) - then we went through some of our own songs again - with Chris providing a third vocal harmony - something we love happening when we work with other singers.

 Ella Edmondson was next on - playing solo - and she was fantastic - beautiful voice and a bunch of cracking songs - can't wait to hear her again - one of those moments when I thought "wish i'd written that" - which is the best indication of a great set - loved every song she played.

Lucy was next - I had seen her before when we went to see her Dad a couple of years back in Southampton - so I knew what to expect - she completely blew everyone away though - you could sense the whole room absolutely fixated on the stage, where she told funny stories, introduced settings for her songs, or sang with that crystal clea, beautiful voice. Her songs were stunning - again, I was thinking "wish I had written that" so many times - fantastic stuff.

The night was magical - and we felt very proud to share the bill on such a glorious night.

Now, it's a week later, and we are about to go to Verwood, to pick up an award for breakthrough artist from Forest FM.

Life is good!

Please listen to Forest FM from 8pm on Monday 6th July to catch our live session and interview.
You can hear it online here: www.forestfm.com

Thanks again guys for your support - see you at a gig soon!!


Gareth