Today is Wednesday, 4pm. I am sat at home watching the beautiful autumn sun from the window and feeling so grateful to have a whole day with nothing to do except catch up on e-mails, blog and enjoy the world.
To say things have been busy would be a bit of an understatement and as much as I love gigging and performing I am truly grateful that I am not going to see the inside of a fiat punto today. Very nice they are fiat puntos but they are most defiantely not designed for gigging musicians for the following reasons:
1. The boot is not big enough for a guitar in a hard case.
2. The back seat is big enough for a guitar but only after you have wrestled getting the front seat forward, manouvered the front seat so it is wedged into the window and shouted at the car for four minutes.
3. The interior of a fiat punto is boring, and if you are a passenger for hours on end there is nothing to look at but grey.
4. The passenger side does not have enough room to do any of the following; stretch legs out, sleep, reach arms up in a yawning fashion, or enough room for my fags, drink, sweets, crisps and book.
5. If for any reason there are more than 2 of you going to the gig, the poor sod on the back seat has to spend the entire journey squashed underneath a guitar, luggage and occasional PA.
Ho hum.
We've had a brilliant few weeks. Dom is working hard on booking up the spring tour to promote the new album, we've had a great response and loads of great gigs lined up. Clive Gregson has been over and we have re-done some vocal takes in Manchester and the new re-mixed tracks will be going to the labels in October. I've also had some repeat airplay on BBC Radio 2, huge thanks to Mr and Mrs Walker and Aled Jones for playing the tracks.
I am sooo looking forward to the new album coming. Clive sent over the first rough re-mixes last week and they are superb. We are only re-mixing 4 of the tracks already recorded and if all goes according to plan (which to be honest is anyone's guess) we'll all be heading off to a residential studio at the beginning of December to get the album nailed.
I've also reached the end of the festival season, with the last big one being Greenbelt in Cheltenham two weeks ago. I have to say I think it was my favourite of the season (except Glastonbury with Johnnie and Tiggy Walker, of course). It had a lovely vibe and the people were exceptionally friendly and kind. I'm hoping to go back next year with the makeshift family band.
Although one part of me is sorry to see the end of the festivals another part of me is more than happy to be putting the tent away for the winter. As much as Dom and I love camping there is only so much one can cope with and I'm happy to spend the winter near a tap and electricity.
I have been having a few problems with finding my creative mojo recently and some friends of ours have very very kindly given me keys to their house so I can get some space on my own during the day without distractions so I'm hoping that'll do the trick.
Not much else to report really, had some wonderful gigs over the last few weeks including the wonderful Megson in Cambridge and a truly fab gig at the Unicorn Theatre with Reg Meuross. If you haven't managed to listen to Megson or Reg before now I highly recommend you have a listen at:
over the next few weeks I'll be back at the Tivoli Theatre in Wimborne to support the legend that is Albert Lee and the start of October sees the start of my supports with Eilen Jewel , both of which I'm really excited about.
Check out Albert and Eilen here:
Here's a few snaps from over the past few gigs:
Lovely dressing room with Megson, I get very excited about nice dressing rooms especially ones with treats in the fridge and walk in showers.
At the wonderful Unicorn Theatre with Reg Meuross, big thanks to Jay Tilston for the photo.
On stage at Junction 2 Cambridge.
On stage at Greenbelt 09. (I'm the tiny dot in front of the screen!)