Hello again, I just wrote a blog for about ten minutes and then my time ran out so the blog was deleted...mildly annoying...

Anyway I just wanted to say a bit about what I've been up to lately and whats coming up...

Firstly, I recently finished recording my first album 'Where You Rest'.  It was initially recorded in March 2005 and the songs were written from when I first started playing the guitar in 2002 through to 2004/5.  We recorded all songs at The Metway over a period of two days.  Completing the rest of it by doubling vocals and adding harmonies was a good experience for me (and thankyou so much to Iain)...its an album from my past but I feel I've resolved something by bringing it into the present if that makes sence.  I feel the same when i hear the album as I do if i see an old photograph, so i guess its good to have a memory like that in musical form and the songs take on a new meaning through heinsight.   The album should be released in January on Isolation Recordings (see their website isolationrecordings.com for downloadable songs available now in the unreleased section.)

Since recording a couple of weeks ago, I have started playing my solo stuff live a little again. Last Thursday, I played two songs at The Cella Sessions open mic at The Cella Bar (below the Sanctuary cafe, Hove, Brunswick street east).  For anyone who hasn'e been before and is interested in performin their own songs its a really good open mic to do with an attentive audience and a good,cosy atmosphere-also the people who work there are really nice.  Its now running every thursday from 8pm.

This Thursday however(!) i'm performing at an acoustic competition called A band on Ship Street at the sussex arts club (see upcoming shows).  There will be some good acts who I've heard/am friends with including Vern Asbury and Stephen Olley.  I'm not sure how I feel in general about music contests but I felt this time it was a good opportunity to practise live and to hear other acts I really like play live.

I am also looking forward to playing at Brighton Live-I'm hoping to rope some friends into performing with me, vocals, strings, bass, guitar etc and possibly keyboard for some layering on new songs. 

Hope to see you at one of my gigs, get in touch if you like

Astra xxx

p.s Di and Kath if you read this i had a lovely evening with you guys on Saturday, have an amazing time in Poland xxxx and (Diana The Brave) thanks for being the reason why my total plays is so much higher than my profile view! xxx