Small World
Hey y'all! Just wanted to do a very quick update to say hi. Congratulations to everyone who finished their exams!
I haven't been in Manchester all that much - last week (25th-29th May) I played at the Small World festival. It was lovely - the whole things is solar powered. There were some really great acoustic artists playing too. I was silly and just headed down there on the train on the Thursday, with no tent. Only planning to stay a couple of days, but ended up being there till Tue.
The first two nights I stayed in the main marquee (there are 4 stages, and the main one is solar / wind-powered. At night it had cast iron pots with glowing charcoal keeping us warm. A good place to sleep - though come 6am Friday morning we were woken up by a huge cloudburst. We all had to get up while the crew removed the tarpaulins from under us and put them on the roof.
Also I left my glasses in Bristol airport a month ago, so have been wearing lenses by day, but then once I take them out for the night can see bugger all... so it was strange traipsing through a muddy field in the morning being half blind!
I formed a festival band with a guitarist, a fiddle player, a drummer and a second singer. Rehearsals in the tent during the day were lovely. Gigs at various stages went well too. Also saw loads of other great acts, including Martha Tilston. And met huge numbers of lovely people.
Things got going 6pm each night, and went through on the main stage till 6am. By that time, everyone was usually in the mood for carrying on, and there were lots of camp fires in the area outside. And many impromptu jams. I became nocturnal! Luckilly on the 3rd night, I found a tent courtesy of my new friend Jo.
Loads of people from Brighton there, and I now have lots of inivitations to go and visit - so visit I shall!
So... an absolutely amazing 5 days. Ended up very muddy, but really having had a fantastic time.
A few months ago, whilst booking gigs, I thought It prudent to economise on miles by booking a gig on the way home from Small World, on Tuesday, in Crewe. What a silly idea! Lib and John, who lived in Stoke, picked me up from the station, fed me, lent me non-muddy shoes, and took me to the gig. Ended up getting quite a few people into the gig actually. And it went well... Stayed the night at Lib and John (and Boo the dog)'s, then got train home to Manc the next day... finally!
That Thursday, it was Songs for the Bath Tub. We booked Aron Paul, Karima Francis, Bitterly Ironic, and Lisa Redford. All acts were *fantastic* and I managed to get the PA sounding very sweet... was a lovely night.
Next day, it was off to Sheffield to see Clare for a night. Had a lovely meal in town. Then we went to a Sheffield reggae festival the next day - much fun and *so* sunny. I jumped on a train to Somerset that afternoon - first class, too (it was the cheapest available so I snapped it up). Much free tea and coffee... got home 9.45pm.
Next day, beautiful long Somerset walk with Mum, Dad and Charlie the dog. Next two days worked *very* hard doing web design at Merricks... before arriving back in Manchester yesterday.
Went to event at Joshua Brookes last night. Sadly missed katelass's picnic though. Saw Christina and Clare and Jen whom I hadn't seen for *ages* so that was lovely.
Did gig at Arch Bar tonight. Before that, went to "Business networking" event in afternoon with Ian and schmooched with business people. Then went to park with Lisa and Hannah. And bumped into Pip and Angie on way home. And randomly, Owen from MySpace. It is a Small World... heading to bed now. Sorry for length of update!
I haven't been in Manchester all that much - last week (25th-29th May) I played at the Small World festival. It was lovely - the whole things is solar powered. There were some really great acoustic artists playing too. I was silly and just headed down there on the train on the Thursday, with no tent. Only planning to stay a couple of days, but ended up being there till Tue.
The first two nights I stayed in the main marquee (there are 4 stages, and the main one is solar / wind-powered. At night it had cast iron pots with glowing charcoal keeping us warm. A good place to sleep - though come 6am Friday morning we were woken up by a huge cloudburst. We all had to get up while the crew removed the tarpaulins from under us and put them on the roof.
Also I left my glasses in Bristol airport a month ago, so have been wearing lenses by day, but then once I take them out for the night can see bugger all... so it was strange traipsing through a muddy field in the morning being half blind!
I formed a festival band with a guitarist, a fiddle player, a drummer and a second singer. Rehearsals in the tent during the day were lovely. Gigs at various stages went well too. Also saw loads of other great acts, including Martha Tilston. And met huge numbers of lovely people.
Things got going 6pm each night, and went through on the main stage till 6am. By that time, everyone was usually in the mood for carrying on, and there were lots of camp fires in the area outside. And many impromptu jams. I became nocturnal! Luckilly on the 3rd night, I found a tent courtesy of my new friend Jo.
Loads of people from Brighton there, and I now have lots of inivitations to go and visit - so visit I shall!
So... an absolutely amazing 5 days. Ended up very muddy, but really having had a fantastic time.
A few months ago, whilst booking gigs, I thought It prudent to economise on miles by booking a gig on the way home from Small World, on Tuesday, in Crewe. What a silly idea! Lib and John, who lived in Stoke, picked me up from the station, fed me, lent me non-muddy shoes, and took me to the gig. Ended up getting quite a few people into the gig actually. And it went well... Stayed the night at Lib and John (and Boo the dog)'s, then got train home to Manc the next day... finally!
That Thursday, it was Songs for the Bath Tub. We booked Aron Paul, Karima Francis, Bitterly Ironic, and Lisa Redford. All acts were *fantastic* and I managed to get the PA sounding very sweet... was a lovely night.
Next day, it was off to Sheffield to see Clare for a night. Had a lovely meal in town. Then we went to a Sheffield reggae festival the next day - much fun and *so* sunny. I jumped on a train to Somerset that afternoon - first class, too (it was the cheapest available so I snapped it up). Much free tea and coffee... got home 9.45pm.
Next day, beautiful long Somerset walk with Mum, Dad and Charlie the dog. Next two days worked *very* hard doing web design at Merricks... before arriving back in Manchester yesterday.
Went to event at Joshua Brookes last night. Sadly missed katelass's picnic though. Saw Christina and Clare and Jen whom I hadn't seen for *ages* so that was lovely.
Did gig at Arch Bar tonight. Before that, went to "Business networking" event in afternoon with Ian and schmooched with business people. Then went to park with Lisa and Hannah. And bumped into Pip and Angie on way home. And randomly, Owen from MySpace. It is a Small World... heading to bed now. Sorry for length of update!